JP2009082624A - Ultrasonic observation apparatus, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the ultrasonic observation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely display the property of an organism tissue by using the change characteristic of ultrasonic attenuation rate intrinsic to the organism tissue, and also to find the foreign tissue region of the organism tissue by displaying. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 includes an STC correcting part 14. When the driving frequencies of an ultrasonic vibrator 9 are a plurality of predetermined and different driving frequencies, the STC correcting part 14 obtains color signals by each one of the plurality of predetermined and different driving frequencies from ultrasonic image data, corrects ultrasonic data, which is from a signal processing and image processing part 13, in response to the driving frequencies, so as to allow amplitude levels corresponding to the display luminance of the color signals to be respectively uniform, and then, outputs the data to a memory part 15. A control part 12 controls a transmission/reception part 11 to transmit the plurality of predetermined and different driving frequencies after change-over by sound ray or frame, compares the amplitude levels of the color signals read from the memory part 15 with a predetermined threshold, and then, controls the STC correcting part 14, based on the comparison result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention makes it possible to accurately display the characteristics of a living tissue by using the change characteristic of the ultrasonic attenuation rate unique to the living tissue, and to display and discover a foreign tissue portion of the living tissue. The present invention relates to an observation apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the ultrasonic observation apparatus.

  Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus repeatedly transmits an ultrasonic pulse from an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic probe connected to an ultrasonic observation apparatus to a living tissue, and an echo signal of the ultrasonic pulse reflected from the living tissue. The in-vivo information is generated as a visible ultrasonic tomographic image and displayed on a display unit such as a monitor.

  A typical example of such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a B-mode tomographic display that scans an ultrasonic pulse and reconstructs an echo signal according to the scanning pattern to display a two-dimensional tomographic image. It has been known.

  The living tissue targeted by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a structure finer than the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave used for diagnosis. Therefore, not only a clear echo signal from the boundary surface between organs but also a scattered echo signal due to a fine structure inside the soft tissue other than the organ is reflected from inside the living tissue. The scattered echo signals due to this fine structure interfere with each other, and as a result, there is a possibility of affecting the ultrasonic image (also referred to as a speckle pattern).

Therefore, in view of such a problem, for example, there is an echo image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 in the related art.
In Patent Document 1, an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted by a transmitting means, an echo of the ultrasonic pulse transmitted by a receiving means is received to generate a reception signal, and a receiving signal is generated by a filter means by the receiving means. A plurality of predetermined signal components having different frequencies are extracted from the obtained received signal, and each signal component of each frequency extracted by the filter unit is individually imaged by the display unit. By displaying images for each frequency in correlation with each other, an echo image that can distinguish an actual echo component from the interface between organs and an interference component (speckle pattern) due to a fine structure can be obtained. A technique relating to a forming apparatus is disclosed.

Further, in this Patent Document 1, three frequencies are used as the plurality of frequencies, these three frequencies are respectively associated with the three primary colors of the display means, and the signal components of the three frequencies are respectively represented by the display means. There is also disclosed a technique of forming an image as a corresponding primary color image and displaying it superimposed.
JP 2001-166040 A

  However, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, an image capable of distinguishing a substantial echo component from the boundary surface between organs and an interference component (speckle pattern) due to a fine structure is obtained. By using frequency band signal components as color signals of different colors, interference components due to fine structure are colored, and substantive echo components from the boundary surface appear in near-achromatic colors. However, it is necessary to display the properties of the living tissue with higher accuracy in order to quickly display and discover the different tissue parts of the living tissue. It has not reached.

  In the conventional ultrasonic observation apparatus, a display method such as elastography image display has been proposed as one method for displaying tissue properties (hardness, etc.). Therefore, it is not an optimal method in terms of cost and operation, and a means and method for achieving the above object are desired.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by using the change characteristic of the ultrasonic attenuation rate unique to the living tissue, the properties of the living tissue can be accurately displayed, and the living tissue is a heterogeneous tissue. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic observation apparatus capable of displaying and finding a portion and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the ultrasonic observation apparatus.

  The ultrasonic observation apparatus of the present invention supplies an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives broadband ultrasonic waves while changing the drive frequency applied to the ultrasonic transducer, and from the ultrasonic transducer. A transmission / reception unit that receives echo signals of emitted ultrasonic waves to obtain echo data, a processing unit that processes the echo data from the transmission / reception unit to generate ultrasonic image data, and an ultrasonic wave from the processing unit A color signal is generated from image data, and when the drive frequency is a plurality of different drive frequencies set in advance, color signals for the plurality of different drive frequencies set in advance from the ultrasonic image data And obtaining the ultrasonic image from the processing unit according to the drive frequency so that the amplitude levels according to the display luminances of the plurality of color signals are uniform. A correction unit that performs correction processing on the data and outputs, a storage unit that stores the plurality of color signals output from the correction unit, and a plurality of the color signals read from the storage unit, Controls the transmission / reception unit so as to switch and transmit a plurality of preset different driving frequencies in units of sound rays or frames, and a synthesis unit that outputs the composite signal to a display unit for displaying as an ultrasonic tomographic image And a control unit that compares the amplitude levels of the plurality of color signals read from the storage unit with preset threshold values and controls the correction unit based on a comparison result. Yes.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention supplies a detachable ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving broadband ultrasonic waves, and a drive frequency applied to the ultrasonic transducer, A transmission / reception unit that receives echo signals of ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic transducer and obtains echo data; a processing unit that performs processing on the echo data from the transmission / reception unit to generate ultrasonic image data; When a color signal is generated from ultrasonic image data from the processing unit and the driving frequency is a plurality of different driving frequencies set in advance, a plurality of different predetermined values are set from the ultrasonic image data. A color signal for each driving frequency is obtained, and the processing unit is operated according to the driving frequency so that the amplitude levels corresponding to the display luminances of the plurality of color signals are uniform. A correction unit that performs a correction process on the ultrasonic image data and outputs the correction data, a storage unit that stores the plurality of color signals output from the correction unit, and the plurality of color signals read from the storage unit And a combining unit that outputs the combined signal to a display device for displaying as an ultrasonic tomographic image, and a plurality of different driving frequencies set in advance so as to switch and transmit in units of sound rays or frames. A control unit that controls the transmission / reception unit, compares the amplitude levels of the plurality of color signals read from the storage unit with preset threshold values, and controls the correction unit based on a comparison result; And a display device for displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image generated by the ultrasonic observation device.

  According to the present invention, by utilizing the change characteristic of the ultrasonic attenuation rate unique to a living tissue, the properties of the living tissue can be displayed with high accuracy, and a dissimilar tissue portion of the living tissue can be displayed and discovered. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic observation apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the ultrasonic observation apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the ultrasonic observation apparatus of the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram for explaining the principle and operation of the correction processing by the STC correction unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the ultrasonic pulse transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer and the depth of the living tissue. 3 is a waveform diagram showing the amplitude level of the echo signal obtained corresponding to the depth of the biological tissue shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a vibration of the echo signal for equalizing the amplitude level of the echo signal shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of the amplitude level of the ultrasonic image data after correction processing by the STC correction unit of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram showing waveforms of amplification factors based on two drive frequencies. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of control by the control unit of the first embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the superposition of the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen by a sound wave observation apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 2, an ultrasonic observation apparatus 3, and a monitor 4. An operation unit 5 is connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3.

  In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 2 is, for example, an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe. In the present embodiment, the present invention is also applicable to a configuration in which two ultrasonic probes, that is, the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 and the mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe are connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3. .

  In addition, a monitor 4 as the display device is connected to the ultrasonic observation device 3, but the ultrasonic observation device 3 itself may be provided with a display unit similar to the monitor 4. .

  The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 is configured as, for example, an electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope, and has an insertion portion 7 formed in an elongated shape so as to be easily inserted into a subject or the like, and the insertion portion 7. And an ultrasonic transducer 9 is disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion 7. The ultrasonic vibrator 9 is formed by arranging a plurality of vibration elements 9a.

  The operation unit 8 is provided with a connector 10 that is detachably connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3. Although not shown, the connector 10 has an electrical contact portion to which the signal line 2 a from the ultrasonic transducer 9 is connected and the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 connected to the ultrasonic observation device 3. The connection detection part for detecting is provided.

  In the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2, the ultrasonic transducer 9 is electrically connected to the ultrasonic observation device 3 through the signal line 2 a when the connector 10 is connected to the ultrasonic observation device 3. Connected.

  When the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 is configured as an electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope, for example, it is connected to a light source device and a video processor (not shown). The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 includes an illumination optical system, an objective optical system, and an imaging unit (not shown) at the distal end of the insertion unit 7. The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe illuminates the body cavity from the illumination optical system with the illumination light supplied from the light source device, and captures the reflected light from the illuminated body cavity as a subject image by the objective optical system. Take an image. The electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 outputs an imaging signal to a video processor. The video processor processes the imaging signal to generate a standard video signal, outputs the video signal to the endoscopic image monitor, and displays the endoscopic image on the endoscopic image monitor. It has become.

Next, a specific configuration of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment includes a connector receiver 10a, a transmission / reception unit 11, a signal processing / image processing unit 13, an STC (Sensitivity Time. Control) correction unit 14, The memory unit 15, the synthesis unit 19, and the control unit 12 are included.

  The transmission / reception unit 11 constitutes the transmission / reception unit described in the claims, the signal processing / synthesis processing unit 13 constitutes the processing unit, and the STC correction unit 14 constitutes the correction unit, The memory unit 15 and the combining unit 19 constitute the combining unit. Moreover, the said control part 12 comprises the said control part.

  The operation unit 5 connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 includes, for example, an indication of an ultrasonic image display range, an ultrasonic probe range switching instruction, a normal B-mode display, and a color tomography using a plurality of drive frequencies. An image display switching instruction, an STC correction mode execution instruction at the time of color tomographic image display execution, and a trackball, a keyboard, or the like capable of inputting medical information such as patient information necessary for ultrasonic examination.

  The connector 10 of the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 is detachably connected to the connector receiving portion 10a. Thereby, the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 is electrically connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3.

  Although not shown, the connector receiving portion 10a is provided with a receiving-side electrical contact portion that is in contact with the electrical contact portion of the connector 10 and a fitting portion into which the connection detection protrusion of the connector 10 is fitted. .

  The fitting part (not shown) is electrically connected to the control part 12 through a signal line. And this control part 12 conduct | electrically_connects when the said connection detection protrusion part is fitted by this fitting part, and detects that the said connector 10 was connected.

  The ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 obtains an echo signal from the connected electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2, generates an ultrasonic tomographic image based on echo data (sound ray data) obtained from the echo signal, and the monitor 4 An ultrasonic tomographic image (for example, an ultrasonic tomographic image shown in FIG. 9) is displayed.

  A specific configuration will be described. The transmission / reception unit 11 supplies a drive frequency applied to the ultrasonic transducer 9 of the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2 while changing the driving frequency, and is emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 9. The ultrasonic echo signal is received to obtain echo data.

  For example, the transmission / reception unit 11 includes an A / D converter that converts an echo signal into a digital signal, a beamformer that detects sound source data in a predetermined direction, and the like. Output to the processing unit 13.

  The signal processing / image processing unit 13 processes the echo data from the transmission / reception unit 11 to generate ultrasonic image data.

  Specifically, the signal processing / image processing unit 13 generates sound ray data of luminance information according to the distance from the ultrasonic transducer 9 and the intensity of the luminance level based on the echo data from the transmission / reception unit 11. Then, for the sound ray data, display pixels on the screen of the monitor 4 using filter processing, Log compression processing, detection, gain / contrast adjustment, the arithmetic unit 20 and a coordinate conversion table (not shown). A single ultrasonic image is generated on a frame memory (not shown) by performing a coordinate conversion process for generating pixel data of the position.

  Then, the signal processing / image processing unit 13 outputs image data (also referred to as ultrasonic image data) based on the generated ultrasonic image to the STC correction unit 14.

  The STC correction unit 14 generates a color signal from the ultrasonic image data from the signal processing / image processing unit 12, and the driving frequency of the ultrasonic transducer 9 is set at a plurality of different driving frequencies set in advance. In some cases, color signals for the plurality of different preset driving frequencies are obtained from the ultrasonic image data, and the amplitude levels corresponding to the display luminances of the plurality of color signals are made uniform. The ultrasonic image data is subjected to correction processing in accordance with the driving frequency and output to the memory unit 15 at the subsequent stage.

  The STC correction unit 14 may be configured to be included in the signal processing / image processing unit 12 and may be configured to perform STC correction before the coordinate conversion process.

  For example, the STC correction unit 14 outputs the color channel ultrasonic image data corresponding to the first drive frequency to the first memory 16 (for the R channel) of the memory unit 15 and sets the second drive frequency to the second drive frequency. The corresponding color channel ultrasonic image data is output to the second memory 17 (for the G channel) of the memory unit 15, and the color channel ultrasonic image data corresponding to the third drive frequency is output to the memory unit. The data is output to 15 third memories 18 (for B channel).

  The memory unit 15 includes at least first to third memories 16 to 18. As described above, the first memory 16 stores, for example, ultrasonic image data for the R color channel corresponding to the first drive frequency, and the second memory 17 stores the second drive. For example, ultrasound image data for the G color channel corresponding to the frequency is stored, and ultrasound image data for the B color channel corresponding to the third drive frequency is stored in the third memory 18. It is like that.

  In this way, the memory unit 15 stores the plurality of color signals output from the STC correction unit 14. If the operation is performed using only the first and second drive frequencies, the third memory 18 stores ultrasonic image data corresponding to the first or second drive frequency. That is, any configuration may be used as long as ultrasonic image data of each color of R, G, and B can be stored based on at least two types of drive frequencies.

  The memory unit 15 reads out the ultrasonic image data of each color from the first to third memory units 16 to 18 under the control of the control unit 12, and reads out the ultrasonic image data of each color read out. Is output to the synthesizer 19.

  The synthesizing unit 19 synthesizes the ultrasonic image data of each color read from the memory unit 15 and outputs the synthesized signal to the monitor 4 for displaying as an ultrasonic tomographic image for display.

  Here, in the embodiment, the control unit 12 controls the transmission / reception unit 11 to switch and transmit a plurality of different driving frequencies set in advance in units of sound rays or frames, and the memory. The amplitude levels of the plurality of color signals read from the first to third memories 16 to 18 of the unit 15 are compared with a preset threshold value, and the STC correction unit 14 performs correction based on the comparison result Is controlled to fine tune.

  The control unit 12 stores the threshold value, STC correction data, and the like, the comparison result between the threshold value read from the memory 21 and the amplitude level of the color signal from the memory unit 15, The signal processing / image processing unit 13 includes an arithmetic unit 20 that performs arithmetic processing such as coordinate transformation.

  Next, the content of correction processing by the STC correction unit 14 which is a main part of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In a normal ultrasonic observation apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2, an ultrasonic pulse 31 generated from an ultrasonic transducer 9 is reflected by a living tissue 30 and a reflected echo signal is received by the transmission / reception unit 11. Therefore, the amplitude level of the echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse 31 greatly affects the depth of the living tissue 30.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the amplitude level S of the echo signal 31 a of the ultrasonic pulse 31 decreases as the depth of the living tissue 30 increases.

  If the drive frequency of the ultrasonic transducer 9 at this time is 5 Mhz, for example, the amplitude level S of the echo signal 31 a has a waveform as shown in FIG. 3 according to the depth of the living tissue 30. That is, the amplitude level characteristic of the echo signal 31a at this time has a characteristic that it gradually decreases as the depth of the living tissue 30 increases, as indicated by the attenuation rate waveform 31c shown in FIG.

  Further, assuming that the driving frequency of 5 Mhz is the first driving frequency and the second driving frequency higher than the first driving frequency is set to, for example, 7.5 Mhz, the amplitude level characteristic of the echo signal at this time As shown in the attenuation rate waveform 31b shown in FIG. 3, the amplitude level S is smaller than the first drive frequency (attenuation rate waveform 31b). In this case, the depth of the living tissue 30 is also increased. It has the characteristic that it becomes small gradually.

  That is, the higher the frequency of the echo signal, the larger the attenuation rate associated with the propagation of the ultrasonic pulse, so the STC correction unit 14 performs a correction process for amplifying data at a deeper position.

  FIG. 4 shows an amplification factor waveform 32 which is an amplification factor for making the amplitude level of the echo signal 31a uniform according to the first drive frequency.

  In the present embodiment, since the ultrasonic probe to be connected is the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe 2, for example, the plurality of different driving frequencies are set in advance according to the depth of the living tissue 30. And the ultrasonic transducer 9 is driven by the transmission / reception unit 11.

  The first driving frequency is set to, for example, 5 Mhz, and the second driving frequency is set to, for example, 7.5 Mhz. When used as the third drive frequency, the third drive frequency is set to, for example, 10 Mhz, which is higher than the second drive frequency. Of course, it is not limited to such a drive frequency, and can be appropriately changed according to the ultrasonic probe used.

  Here, when the first and second drive frequencies are set, the memory 21 of the control unit 12 stores gain waveform data as STC correction data as shown in FIG. 6, for example. . The memory 21 also stores a threshold value for comparison with the averaged R, G, and B of each color.

  The amplification factor waveform data, which is the STC correction data, has been described as linear data as shown in FIG. 6, but may have curve characteristics as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

  Therefore, by performing the STC correction by the STC correction unit 14 in this way, for example, the level of the ultrasonic image data of each color substantially coincides with a tissue having a uniform attenuation rate. In the tissue portion where the attenuation rate is small, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a constant amplitude level S0 (H0), an amplitude level H1 larger than the amplitude level S0 by the amplitude level S1, and the amplitude Ultrasound composite image data having an amplitude level H2 larger than the level S0 by the amplitude level S2 is generated. Further, in the tissue portion having a large attenuation rate, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, a constant amplitude level S0 (H0), and an amplitude level H3 that is smaller than the amplitude level S0 by an amplitude level S3, Ultrasound synthesized image data having an amplitude level H4 that is smaller than the amplitude level S0 by an amplitude level S4 is generated.

  Therefore, when this ultrasonic synthesized image data is displayed on the monitor 4, for example, as shown in the monitor screen 4A shown in FIG. 9, the normal tissue 40 corresponding to a certain amplitude level S0 (H0) is displayed in black and white, and attenuated. The tissue 41 with a small rate is displayed in a cyan color having a larger G and B color than the R color, and the tissue 42 having a large attenuation rate is an R color having a larger R color than the G and B colors. Is displayed.

  As a result, the properties of the living tissue can be displayed with high accuracy, and a dissimilar tissue portion of the living tissue can be displayed and discovered.

Next, a specific control example by the control unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
Now, it is assumed that, for example, ultrasonic diagnosis in the B mode is performed using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 shown in FIG. In this case, the control unit 12 reads the program shown in FIG. 8 from a memory (not shown) and activates it.

  Then, when the operator wants to further confirm the properties of the living tissue 30 while viewing the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 4 when the B mode is executed, the operator operates the operation unit 5 to perform a plurality of operations. The mode is shifted to the color tomographic image display mode using the above driving frequency, and the STC correction mode is executed.

  Then, the control unit 12 determines whether or not there is an operation instruction for executing the STC correction mode in the determination process of step S1, and if there is, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not, the operation instruction is issued. This determination process is repeated until there is.

  In the process of step S2, the control unit 12 calculates the average value of each color of the ultrasonic image data corresponding to each drive frequency, for example, by the calculation unit 20.

  Then, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the calculated ratio of R, G, and B is within the threshold value read from the memory 21 in the subsequent step S3.

  For example, when the threshold value of G is 1: 2, and the calculated ratio of R, G, and B is 1: 1.1: 1, the control unit 12 determines that it is normal. Then, the STC correction mode program is terminated. On the other hand, when the calculated ratio of R, G, B is 1: 1.2: 1, the control unit 12 determines that the normal tissue 40 is not correctly STC corrected and proceeds to step S4. Transition.

  In the process of step S4, the control unit 12 reads out STC correction data corresponding to the drive frequency assigned to a color with a high or low ratio from the memory 21, and the slope of this ST correction data is, for example, as shown in FIG. The STC correction process is finely adjusted so as to lower or lower, and the process returns to step S2.

  That is, by performing the STC correction process and the fine adjustment of the STC correction process in this way, for example, the level of the ultrasonic image data of each color substantially coincides with a tissue having a uniform attenuation rate. In the tissue portion where the attenuation rate is small, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a constant amplitude level S0 (H0), an amplitude level H1 larger than the amplitude level S0 by the amplitude level S1, and the amplitude Ultrasound composite image data having an amplitude level H2 larger than the level S0 by the amplitude level S2 is generated. Further, in the tissue portion having a large attenuation rate, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, a constant amplitude level S0 (H0), and an amplitude level H3 that is smaller than the amplitude level S0 by an amplitude level S3, Ultrasound synthesized image data having an amplitude level H4 that is smaller than the amplitude level S0 by an amplitude level S4 is generated.

  Therefore, when this ultrasonic synthesized image data is displayed on the monitor 4, for example, as shown in the monitor screen 4A shown in FIG. 9, the normal tissue 40 corresponding to a certain amplitude level S0 (H0) is displayed in black and white, and attenuated. The tissue 41 with a small rate is displayed in a cyan color having a larger G and B color than the R color, and the tissue 42 having a large attenuation rate is an R color having a larger R color than the G and B colors. Is displayed.

  Even in the configuration using only the first and second drive frequencies, a heterogeneous portion of the living tissue is displayed at least by increasing or decreasing the ratio of the R color. In addition, when the first to third driving frequencies are used, a heterogeneous portion of the living tissue is displayed due to a difference in the ratio of each of the R color, the G color, and the B color.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the properties of the living tissue can be displayed with high accuracy, and it is possible to display and discover a foreign tissue portion of the living tissue.

  Note that only the STC correction data corresponding to one of the first and second driving frequencies is held in the memory 21, and the other STC correction data is controlled to be calculated by the arithmetic unit 20. You may do it.

  In this case, the control unit 12 calculates the other STC correction data when the operator instructs the operation unit 5 to execute the STC correction mode. In this case, the control unit 12 calculates STC correction data in which the average color of the ultrasonic image is closest to colorless.

  Of course, as the STC correction data, the STC correction data corresponding to the first and second drive frequencies or the first to third drive frequencies may be stored in the memory 21 and read out for use. As described above, only the STC correction data corresponding to at least one driving frequency may be stored in the memory 21, and the STC correction data corresponding to other driving frequencies may be calculated by the calculation unit 20.

  Note that when assigning ultrasonic image data to a color signal, it is not necessary to limit to the primary colors of R, G, and B, and it may be assigned to a complementary color system color signal such as yellow, cyan, and magenta.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the ultrasonic observation apparatus of the present invention, and is a characteristic diagram showing characteristics of the number of pixels of R, G, and B ultrasonic images according to luminance values.

  The ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 of the second embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, but the control content by the control unit 12 is different.

  Specifically, in the second embodiment, instead of the average value of each color of the ultrasonic image corresponding to the first and second drive frequencies, the control unit 12 performs R as shown in FIG. , G and B components are obtained from the histograms 40 to 42, and the ratios of the R, G and B components are obtained using the peaks a, b and c of the histograms 40 to 42 of the respective components. In FIG. 11, the solid line histogram 40 indicates the R component, the broken line histogram 41 indicates the G component, and the one-dot broken line histogram family 42 indicates the B component.

  In this case, the control unit 12 uses the calculation unit 20 to calculate each of the histograms 40 to 42 of the R, G, and B components based on the total number of pixels and the luminance value from the ultrasonic image data of each color. Peaks a, b, and c are calculated to determine the ratio of each component of R, G, and B.

  And the said control part 12 performs the process of step S3 in the program shown in FIG. 8 similarly to the said 1st Embodiment. The subsequent processing is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the histograms 40 to 42 for each of the R, G, and B components are obtained without calculating the average value of each color of the ultrasonic image corresponding to a plurality of drive frequencies, By obtaining the ratios of R, G, and B using the peaks a to c of the histograms 40 to 42 of each component, the same effect is obtained by acting in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasonic observation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the ultrasonic pulse transmitted from an ultrasonic transducer | vibrator, and the depth of a biological tissue. The wave form diagram which shows the amplitude level of the echo signal obtained corresponding to the depth of the biological tissue shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing an amplification factor according to the vibration of the echo signal for making the amplitude level of the echo signal shown in FIG. 3 uniform. The wave form diagram which shows the waveform of the amplitude level of the ultrasonic image data after carrying out the correction process by the STC correction | amendment part of FIG. The wave form diagram which shows the waveform of the gain based on two drive frequencies by the STC correction | amendment part of FIG. The wave form diagram which shows the waveform of the amplification factor which has a different curve characteristic from the amplification factor shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the example of control by the control part of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a display screen by the ultrasonic observation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The wave form diagram which shows the other modification of STC correction data. The characteristic view which shows the ultrasonic observation apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and shows the characteristic of the pixel number of the ultrasonic image of R, G, B according to a luminance value.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... ultrasonic diagnostic equipment,
2a ... signal line,
2 ... Electronic scanning ultrasonic probe,
3 ... Ultrasonic observation device,
4 ... Monitor,
5 ... operation part,
7 ... Insertion part,
8 ... operation part,
9 ... ultrasonic transducer,
9a ... vibration element,
11: Transmitter / receiver,
12 ... control unit,
13: Signal processing / image processing unit,
14 ... STC correction unit,
15 ... Memory part,
19 ... synthesis unit,
20 ... arithmetic unit,
21 ... Memory.

Claims (4)

The ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving broadband ultrasonic waves is supplied by changing the drive frequency applied to the ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic echo signal emitted from the ultrasonic transducer is supplied. A transmitting / receiving unit that receives and obtains echo data;
A processing unit for processing the echo data from the transmission / reception unit to generate ultrasonic image data;
A color signal is generated from ultrasonic image data from the processing unit, and when the driving frequency is a plurality of different driving frequencies set in advance, a plurality of preset values are set from the ultrasonic image data. Color signals for different driving frequencies are obtained, and the ultrasonic image data from the processing unit is corrected according to the driving frequency so that the amplitude levels according to the display luminance of the plurality of color signals are uniform. And a correction unit that outputs
A storage unit for storing the plurality of color signals output from the correction unit;
Combining the plurality of color signals read from the storage unit, and outputting the combined signal to a display unit for displaying the combined signal as an ultrasonic tomographic image;
The transmission / reception unit is controlled to switch and transmit a plurality of preset different driving frequencies in units of sound rays or frames, and amplitude levels of the plurality of color signals read from the storage unit are set in advance. A control unit that controls the correction unit based on a comparison result,
An ultrasonic observation apparatus comprising:   The plurality of different drive frequencies are first and second drive frequencies set in advance according to a depth of a living tissue, or first to third drive frequencies. Ultrasound observation device.   The ultrasonic observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit includes an STC correction circuit that performs the correction process according to the drive frequency. A detachable ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving broadband ultrasonic waves;
A transmission / reception unit for changing the drive frequency applied to the ultrasonic transducer and receiving the echo signal of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transducer to obtain echo data, and the echo data from the transmission / reception unit A processing unit that generates ultrasonic image data by performing processing, and a color signal generated from the ultrasonic image data from the processing unit, wherein the driving frequency is a plurality of different driving frequencies set in advance. Obtaining the color signals for the plurality of different preset driving frequencies from the ultrasonic image data, and the driving frequencies so that the amplitude levels according to the display luminances of the plurality of color signals are uniform. In accordance with the correction unit, the ultrasonic image data from the processing unit is corrected and output, and the plurality of color signals output from the correction unit are output. A storage unit that stores the plurality of color signals read from the storage unit, and outputs the combined signal to a display device for displaying the combined signal as an ultrasonic tomographic image; The transmission / reception unit is controlled to switch and transmit different driving frequencies in units of sound rays or frames, and the amplitude levels of the plurality of color signals read from the storage unit are compared with a preset threshold value. And an ultrasonic observation apparatus having a control unit that controls the correction unit based on the comparison result;
A display device for displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image generated by the ultrasonic observation device;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

Images