JP5841107B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for reproducing an ultrasonic image.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an apparatus that forms an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a subject. For example, in an ultrasonic examination of a child's thyroid gland, a plurality of ultrasonic images are acquired from various directions. Various measurements are performed on these ultrasonic images. In this regard, each time a measurement target image is acquired, a “sequential measurement method” is performed, and a plurality of measurement target images are stored in advance and a plurality of measurements are performed on them later. "There is.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying an ultrasonic image corresponding to a specific thumbnail image by selecting the specific thumbnail image from a plurality of thumbnail images. . Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique for supporting reproduction operation and summary measurement according to the situation.

JP 2007-29458 A

  There is a demand for improving the efficiency of ultrasonic inspection and shortening the inspection time. Particularly in pediatric ultrasonography, it is required to shorten the restraint time of a subject (that is, a child) as much as possible. However, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, in order to reproduce an ultrasonic image to be measured, it is necessary to go through a process such as inputting an image selection condition prior to that. That is, the ultrasonic image to be measured cannot be reproduced quickly. Further, the conventional reproduction operation is not necessarily compatible with the above-described summary measurement method.

  An object of the present invention is to realize an image reproduction technique with high practical value that can shorten the ultrasonic inspection time. Alternatively, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus suitable for summary measurement.

  (1) An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention stores an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a subject, and an ultrasonic image. And a reproduction control unit that reads out an ultrasonic image from the storage unit and reproduces it in accordance with an inspector's readout instruction, and the reproduction control unit receives the readout instruction during an ultrasonic examination period. A reproduction mode selection unit that selects a direct reproduction mode based on the occurrence, and when the direct reproduction mode is selected, an ultrasonic image group that is stored in an ultrasonic examination that is currently being performed is stored from the storage unit. And a direct reproduction control unit that reads and reproduces the data.

  According to the above configuration, the playback mode is selected according to the situation (status) at the time when the read instruction is issued. Specifically, when a read instruction is issued during the ultrasonic examination period, the direct reproduction mode is selected. In that case, other conditions may be considered. Desirably, in the direct reproduction mode, after inputting a readout instruction, an ultrasonic image group stored in the currently performed ultrasonic examination is reproduced without going through an image selection process that requires the examiner to input an image selection condition. The In that case, the ultrasonic image groups may be displayed sequentially or simultaneously. According to the direct reproduction mode, it is possible to quickly reproduce an ultrasonic image group that the examiner wants to see and is likely to perform measurement. Therefore, it is possible to carry out the above summary measurement smoothly.

  Preferably, the reproduction mode selection unit selects a non-direct reproduction mode based on the occurrence of the readout instruction outside the ultrasonic examination period, and the reproduction control unit selects the non-direct reproduction mode. Indirect reproduction control for reading out and reproducing the ultrasonic image group selected by the image selection process from the storage unit after undergoing an image selection process for requesting the examiner to input an image selection condition Part. According to this, it can avoid that the ultrasonic image group which an inspector does not want will be reproduced | regenerated arbitrarily.

  Preferably, a plurality of measurements are continuously performed collectively based on an ultrasound image group displayed on the screen during the execution of the direct reproduction mode. According to the above configuration, no complicated input or operation is required when reproducing an image for summary measurement. Thereby, the ultrasonic inspection period can be shortened.

  Preferably, the direct reproduction control unit has a function of sequentially displaying the ultrasonic image group according to a display order set in advance. Preferably, the direct reproduction control unit has a function of displaying the ultrasonic image group according to a display format set in advance.

  Preferably, the reproduction mode selection unit selects the direct reproduction mode when the readout instruction is generated during the ultrasonic examination period and the total amount of the ultrasound image group read from the storage unit satisfies a predetermined condition. select. Preferably, the predetermined condition includes a first condition for the data amount of the ultrasound image group read from the storage unit and a second condition for the number of ultrasound image groups read from the storage unit.

  (2) The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image processing method for processing an ultrasonic image formed based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a subject, and the ultrasonic image is stored in a storage unit. And a reproducing step of reading out an ultrasonic image from the storage unit and reproducing it in accordance with a reading instruction from an inspector, wherein the reproducing step causes the reading instruction to occur during the ultrasonic inspection period A direct reproduction mode is selected based on the non-direct reproduction mode based on the occurrence of the readout instruction outside the ultrasonic examination period, and the direct reproduction mode is selected when the direct reproduction mode is selected. A process of reading out and reproducing an ultrasound image group stored in an ongoing ultrasound examination from the storage unit, and the image selection process when the indirect playback mode is selected. Above and is characterized in that it comprises a step of reproducing the ultrasound images selected by the image selection processing is read from the storage unit. The image processing method is preferably realized as a function of a program (software). The program is preferably installed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus via a storage medium or a network.

  According to the present invention, the ultrasonic inspection time can be shortened. Alternatively, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus suitable for collective measurement can be provided.

1 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating nondirect reproduction | regeneration mode and direct reproduction | regeneration mode. It is a figure which shows an image selection screen. It is a figure which shows a list display screen. It is a figure which shows an individual display screen. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of image reproduction conditions. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a sequential measurement method. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a summary measurement method. 3 is a flowchart showing an image reproduction operation in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an apparatus that is installed in a medical institution or the like and forms an ultrasonic image by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to a subject. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment executes an image processing method described below. This image processing method is substantially realized as a software function.

  In FIG. 1, a probe 10 is a transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. In this embodiment, the probe 10 includes an array transducer including a plurality of vibration elements. An ultrasonic beam 14 is formed by the array transducer. The beam scanning surface 12 is formed by electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam 14. The beam scanning plane 12 is a two-dimensional echo data capturing area. As an electronic scanning method, an electronic sector scanning method, an electronic linear scanning method, and the like are known. The probe 10 may be provided with a 2D array transducer to acquire three-dimensional echo data, that is, volume data.

  The transmission unit 16 is a transmission beamformer, and supplies a plurality of transmission signals in parallel to the array transducer during transmission. As a result, a transmission beam is formed. At the time of reception, the reflected wave from the living body is received by the array transducer. Thereby, a plurality of reception signals are output in parallel from the array transducer to the receiving unit 18. The receiving unit 18 is a reception beamformer, which applies phasing addition processing to a plurality of reception signals, thereby outputting beam data as reception signals after phasing addition. A beam data processing unit (not shown) performs predetermined processing on the beam data, and the beam data after the processing is sent to the image forming unit 20.

  The image forming unit 20 is configured by a digital scan converter in this embodiment. That is, a B-mode image (hereinafter, simply referred to as “image” in some cases) that is a black and white tomographic image is formed based on a plurality of input beam data. The image forming unit 20 has a coordinate conversion function, an interpolation function, and the like. In the present embodiment, a B-mode image is formed, but other ultrasonic images such as a two-dimensional blood flow image may be formed. The B mode image generated by the image forming unit 20 is output to the display processing unit 22 in the present embodiment. When an inspector (user) save operation is performed, an output image of the display processing unit 22 is stored in the storage unit 24. Further, the B mode image generated by the image forming unit 20 may be stored.

  The display processing unit 22 has an image composition function and the like. The image data output from the display processing unit 22 is sent to the display unit 40. A B-mode image is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 40. The B-mode image is usually a moving image. When the freeze operation is performed, the B-mode image becomes a still image. Thereafter, when the freeze is released, the B-mode image as the moving image is displayed again.

  The storage unit 24 is configured by a hard disk, a semiconductor storage device, or the like. The storage unit 24 may be configured by a single storage device or may be configured by a plurality of storage devices. Incidentally, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a cine memory having a ring buffer structure, which is not shown in FIG. In any case, in this embodiment, when a save operation is performed by the examiner, the B-mode image displayed at that time is saved on the storage unit 24. Normally, image storage is executed in a frozen state, but image storage may be executed in a normal moving image display state. In FIG. 1, a B-mode image that has been combined by a display processing unit 22 described later is sent to the storage unit 24. A B-mode image may be sent directly from the image forming unit 20 to the storage unit 24.

  The thumbnail image generation unit 26 is a module that generates a thumbnail image as a reduced image based on the B-mode image stored in the storage unit 24 as necessary. The generated thumbnail image is sent to the display processing unit 22. Separately, the B-mode image read from the storage unit 24 is sent to the display processing unit 22. At the stage of saving the B-mode image from the image forming unit 20, a corresponding thumbnail image may be generated.

  In FIG. 1, the control unit 28 is configured by a CPU, an operation program, and the like. In the present embodiment, the control unit 28 includes a storage / reproduction control unit 30, a status management unit 32, a graphic image generation unit 34, a measurement unit 36, and the like. The storage / reproduction control unit 30 is a module that controls storage of an image in the storage unit 24 and controls reading and reproduction of the image from the storage unit 24. In the present embodiment, the storage / playback control unit 30 has preset data that defines operating conditions when performing an image playback operation. Specifically, the preset data is stored on the memory 31. The inspector can rewrite the contents of the preset data.

  In the present embodiment, “non-direct playback mode” and “direct playback mode” are provided as modes for playing back images (B-mode images) stored in the storage unit 24. When the read key is operated by the inspector within the ultrasonic inspection period, that is, after the start of the inspection and before the end of the inspection is recognized, the direct playback mode is basically selected, and the direct playback mode is Executed. On the other hand, when the read key is operated by the examiner outside the ultrasonic examination period, the non-direct reproduction mode is selected and the non-direct reproduction mode is executed. However, the reproduction mode selection condition and the operation condition of each reproduction mode may be customized. Each playback mode will be described in detail later.

  The status management unit 32 is a module for recognizing and managing the operation status in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the present embodiment, in particular, the status management unit 32 manages whether or not an ultrasonic examination is currently being performed. The storage / reproduction control unit 30 refers to the status managed by the status management unit 32 and selects a reproduction mode.

  The graphic image generation unit 34 is a module that generates a graphic image to be combined with the ultrasonic image. The graphic image includes text, markers, and the like. The measurement unit 36 is a module for executing measurement based on a B-mode image. The measurement unit 36 has, for example, a function for calculating a distance between two markers set by an inspector, a function for calculating an area of an area designated by a user, and the like. The measurement result obtained by the measurement unit 36 is sent to the display processing unit 22. The measurement result is displayed as a numerical value on the screen of the display unit 40 as necessary. Separately, the measurement result is electronically written in the inspection report.

  An operation panel 38 is connected to the control unit 28. The operation panel 38 has various switches and trackballs. Specifically, the operation panel 38 includes a save key, a read key, a freeze key, and the like in the present embodiment.

  For example, image data read from a DVD or image data received via a network may be stored on the storage unit 24 via the control unit 28 as indicated by reference numeral 29. Alternatively, the image reading process may be directly applied to a storage medium such as a DVD or an image server.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows the non-direct playback mode and the direct playback mode. In the present embodiment, when the read key 50 on the operation panel is operated, the status at that time is determined and the reproduction mode corresponding to the status is selected as indicated by reference numeral 52. Specifically, when the read key 50 is operated during the ultrasonic examination period, the direct reproduction mode 64 is selected on the assumption that a predetermined condition described later is satisfied. On the other hand, when the read key 50 is operated outside the ultrasonic examination period, the non-direct reproduction mode 54 is selected.

  The indirect playback mode 54 will be described. In the non-direct playback mode 54, first, an image selection screen 56 is displayed. The image selection screen 56 is a screen for executing an image selection process that involves asking the examiner to specify image selection conditions. It can also be understood as an image search screen. As will be described later, the image selection screen 56 includes a column for designating an image selection condition and a column for displaying a thumbnail image list corresponding to an image group that matches the image selection condition. . On the thumbnail image list, the user selects an image group to be actually displayed on the screen. When a predetermined operation is performed after this selection, a list display screen 58 is displayed. In the above description, the thumbnail image list is exemplified, but instead, a list that can specify images such as the storage date and time and the image format without thumbnail images may be used.

  For example, when four images are selected on the image selection screen 56, a list display screen 58 having four images as shown is displayed. On the list display screen 58, the examiner selects an image to be displayed alone first from the displayed images. When no selection is made, an image designated as a default is selected. After this selection, when a predetermined operation is performed, the individual display screen 60 is displayed.

  The individual display screen 60 includes one image 62. On the individual display screen 60, it is possible to display an image group that is squeezed out from the storage unit in a predetermined order. When an image to be measured is specified, measurement is performed by the inspector, and the measurement result is automatically saved.

  According to the indirect reproduction mode 54 described above, the inspector is always required to specify the image selection condition. Further, image selection on the image selection screen 56 is also required. Therefore, it takes some time and effort to display the image group to be measured. When performing the collective measurement, the measurement target is basically a group of images acquired and stored in the currently executed ultrasonic examination. According to the indirect reproduction mode 54, such an empirical rule is used. Can't make use of. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the direct reproduction mode 64 is selected when the read key 50 is operated during the ultrasonic examination period.

  The direct playback mode 64 will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 2, when the direct reproduction mode 64 is selected after the operation of the read key 50, the individual display screen 60 is displayed immediately. On the individual display screen 60, an image group acquired and stored in the currently executed ultrasonic examination is read from the storage unit and displayed. Specifically, first, an image specified according to a display order set in advance is displayed. Thereafter, the display image is sequentially switched by repeating the page turning operation. According to the direct reproduction mode 64, one of the image groups can be immediately displayed on the screen without requiring the examiner to input an image selection condition. Thereafter, the images are switched as necessary. Therefore, according to the direct reproduction mode, the burden on the inspector can be reduced and the inspection time can be shortened. In addition, by referring to the attribute information of each image stored on the storage unit, it is possible to easily specify the image group acquired and stored in the currently performed ultrasonic examination. By storing an image group acquired and stored in the currently executed ultrasonic examination in a specific storage area, the image group may be identified from other image groups.

  As will be described later, in this embodiment, the individual display screen 60 is displayed as an image as indicated by reference numeral 66 by operating a predetermined button (icon) as necessary during execution of the direct playback mode 64. It is possible to switch to the selection screen 56. Similarly, it is possible to switch the individual display screen 60 to the list display screen 58 as indicated by reference numeral 68 by operating another predetermined button as required.

  Next, each screen described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an image selection screen 56. On the image selection screen 56, for example, as indicated by reference numerals 70 and 72, other items having columns for specifying the subject and the examination date and time may be designated as the image selection conditions. An image group satisfying an image selection condition is specified from among a large number of images stored in the storage unit. The two-dimensional thumbnail image list 74 represents them. The thumbnail image list 74 includes a plurality of thumbnail images 76, and each thumbnail image has a check box. By checking the check box corresponding to the display target image, it is possible to individually specify the display target image. In the example shown in FIG. 3, four images are checked. After such processing, the list display screen can be displayed by operating the playback button 80.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a list display screen 58. The list display screen 58 includes a plurality of images selected by the user. In FIG. 4, an image set 82 composed of four images is displayed. The number of images to be displayed simultaneously can be set in advance. As indicated by reference numeral 84, the initial display image is selected by the inspector from the plurality of displayed images. Incidentally, reference numeral 86 denotes a button for returning to the image selection screen. Reference numeral 88 indicates a button operated when shifting to the individual display screen (one image display). The buttons 90 and 92 can be used when other pages exist, and are a transition button to the previous page and a transition button to the next page.

  FIG. 5 shows an individual display screen 60. On the individual display screen 60, one image 94 is displayed in a large size. On the individual display screen 60, an image to be displayed can be switched. In that case, the buttons 98 and 100 are operated. When such an operation is repeated, in the non-direct playback mode, the image group selected by the inspector is sequentially displayed on the image selection screen, whereas in the direct playback mode, it is acquired in the currently performed ultrasonic examination. The stored image order is sequentially displayed. By such an operation, an image to be measured can be selected, and an image to be measured can be switched. When an image to be measured is displayed, the necessary measurement is performed as indicated by reference numeral 96. For example, by specifying the coordinates of two markers, the size of the tissue can be obtained. When the button 102 is operated, the individual display screen 60 is switched to the image selection screen. Further, when the button 104 is operated, the individual display screen 60 is switched to the browsing display screen.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a screen 106 for setting the playback condition. Specifically, the screen 106 is for defining the operation content when a read key is input during inspection. When the item 107 is selected, the non-direct playback mode is executed regardless of the status when the read key is input. On the other hand, when the item 108 is selected, the direct reproduction mode is executed if the read key is input within the ultrasonic examination period.

  Columns 110 and 112 are for defining operating conditions in the direct playback mode. A column 110 is for defining a display format. That is, individual display or list display is selected as the display format. When the individual display is selected, the individual display screen is displayed immediately after the read key is input. On the other hand, when the list display is selected, the list display screen is displayed immediately after the read key is operated. A column 112 is for determining the display order. That is, ascending order or descending order is selected as the display order. When the ascending order is selected, the image group is displayed in chronological order. When descending order is selected, it is displayed in reverse order.

FIG. 7 shows a sequential measurement method. Reference numeral 114 indicates the entire ultrasonic inspection period. The subject is registered in the subject registration 118. This corresponds to the start of inspection. That is, the examination is started when the examiner inputs the subject to be registered (in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 described later, for the sake of convenience, the ultrasonic examination period 114 is shown as including the entire subject registration. Have been). Reference numeral 120 denotes a period of image (moving image) display. Reference numeral 122 denotes a freeze operation. By the freeze operation, transmission / reception is stopped and the moving image is switched to a still image. During the freeze, it is possible to read and reproduce the image sequence temporarily stored in the ring buffer as necessary. Usually, measurement is performed as indicated by reference numeral 124 in a frozen state. After the measurement, as shown by reference numeral 128, a storage process for the measurement target image and the measurement result is executed. Such a combination of the image display 120 and the measurement 124 is repeatedly executed. As shown by reference numeral 130, the inspector is inspection is completed by performing a predetermined input. For example, if the next subject is registered, it is considered the end of the previous ultrasound examination. A subject's restraint period in such a sequential measurement method is indicated by reference numeral 116. The content shown in FIG. 7 is a comparative example for understanding the summary measurement method described below.

FIG. 8 shows a summary measurement method. In addition, the same code | symbol was attached | subjected to the structure similar to the structure shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, an ultrasonic inspection period 114 is a period from the start of inspection as the subject registration 118 to the end of inspection 130. After the subject registration 118, image display is executed as indicated by reference numeral 120. When an image to be measured appears, a freeze operation 122 is executed. As a result, a still image is displayed on the screen. A frozen state (still image display state) is indicated by reference numeral 132. In such a state, the display image is switched as necessary. When the image to be saved is specified, the save key is operated by the examiner without performing the measurement. Thereby, the storage process 128 is executed. Such a combination of specifying the storage target image and the storage process is repeatedly executed. Then, the final measurement 136 is finally performed. In the summary measurement 136, after the total measured is performed, in order to leave an image including the caliper, is the save operation, these measurements the operation and storage operation is repeatedly executed. That is, a group of images to be measured are read from the storage unit, and are sequentially reproduced by the operation of the subject (see reference numeral 134). Necessary measurement is performed for each image reproduction. Of course, the measurement for an image that is not a measurement target is omitted.

  Prior to the sequential reproduction, the read key is operated by the inspector. Then, it is determined that the read key has been operated within the ultrasonic inspection period, and thereby the direct reproduction mode is selected. By performing a predetermined button operation during execution of the direct reproduction mode, it is possible to sequentially switch display images according to a display order set in advance. Then, necessary measurement is performed on each display image. According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to promptly and automatically display the measurement target image on the screen without performing image selection processing such as designation of image selection conditions during the collective measurement. According to the summary measurement, the subject's restraint time can be shortened as indicated by reference numeral 116.

  Next, an example of the image reproduction operation in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In S10, it is determined whether or not a read key has been operated. If there is such an operation, in S12, it is determined whether or not the current time is during the ultrasonic examination. When the ultrasonic inspection is not being performed, that is, when the read key is operated outside the ultrasonic inspection, the processes after S14 are executed. On the other hand, if there is a read key operation during the ultrasonic examination, the steps after S30 are executed.

  In S14, the image selection screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. On the image selection screen, an image selection condition is designated by the examiner, and an image group to be displayed is selected. In S16, a plurality of selected images are displayed in a list. An initial display image is selected by the inspector on the list display screen.

  In this operation example, display of an image group is started in S18. In S20, measurement is performed on the displayed image. In S22, it is determined whether or not to perform further measurement. If YES, the image is switched as necessary in S24. And the process after S20 is performed again. In the example shown in FIG. 9, in S26, a process for creating or confirming an inspection report representing a measurement result is executed.

  In S12, when it is determined that the timing at which the read key is operated is during the ultrasonic examination, the image saved during the ultrasonic examination currently being executed is saved in the storage unit in S30. It is determined whether or not. If there is no saved image, S14 is executed. If there is a stored image, S32 is executed.

  In S32, it is determined whether or not an image group saved in the currently executed ultrasonic examination satisfies a predetermined condition (total amount condition). Only when the total amount condition is satisfied, the direct reproduction mode is executed as indicated by reference numeral 136. This is equivalent to a shortcut.

  In this embodiment, two conditions are provided as the total amount condition. The first condition is a condition related to the data amount. When the data amount of the entire image group to be read exceeds a predetermined upper limit value, it is determined that the first condition is not satisfied. The second condition is a condition related to the number of images. When the number of images constituting the image group to be read exceeds a predetermined upper limit value, it is determined that the second condition is not satisfied. The direct playback mode is selected only when the first condition is satisfied and the second condition is satisfied. In other cases, the non-direct playback mode is selected.

  By setting the total amount condition in this way, a huge amount of data is read and an excessive load is generated on the CPU, a large image processing storage area must be secured because of excessive data, or It is possible to avoid the problem that the selection of the measurement target image becomes very complicated for the examiner. Other conditions may be determined instead of or in addition to the total amount condition. Since the first condition and the second condition are set, the direct reproduction mode is executed when the total number of images is not excessive but the total amount of data is excessive, and when the total data amount is not excessive but the number of data is excessive. It is possible to limit.

  As indicated by reference numeral 136, when the direct playback mode is selected, the image selection screen (and the list display screen in the illustrated example) is not displayed, and the first image in the image group is displayed in S18. The The preset condition 138 is referred to when the direct playback mode is executed. During execution of the direct playback mode, it is possible to switch the image to be displayed by operating a predetermined button.

  If an instruction to shift to the image selection screen is input in the process from S18 to S22, the process shifts to S14 as shown in S34. When an instruction to shift to the list display screen is input, as indicated by reference numeral 36, the process proceeds to S16. That is, in the present embodiment, it is possible to move to another screen as necessary even during execution of the direct playback mode. Thereby, the operability can be improved.

  According to the above embodiment, when the read key is operated during the ultrasonic examination period, the direct reproduction mode is selected, and the image is reproduced accordingly. In the direct reproduction mode, after the operation of the read key, the image group acquired and stored in the currently executed ultrasonic examination is read from the storage unit and displayed. Therefore, according to the direct reproduction mode, it is possible to promptly display an image group that the examiner wants to see and is likely to perform measurement. Therefore, the entire ultrasonic inspection period can be shortened. In particular, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain an advantage that image reproduction suitable for collective measurement can be realized.

  The storage / playback control unit 30, the status management unit 32, the graphic image generation unit 34, the measurement unit 36, the thumbnail image generation unit 26, the display processing unit 22 and the like shown in FIG. 1 can be realized as software functions. Together with the storage unit 24 and the like, they constitute an ultrasonic image processing unit. In the above-described embodiment, the B-mode image is displayed. However, other ultrasonic images such as a color flow mapping image (CFM image) may be displayed.

24 storage unit, 26 thumbnail image generation unit, 30 storage reproduction control unit, 32 status management unit, 34 graphic image generation unit, 36 measurement unit, 50 readout key, 54 non-direct reproduction mode, 56 image selection screen, 58 list display screen , 60 Individual display screen, 64 Direct playback mode.

Claims (9)

An image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject;
A status management unit that manages whether or not an ultrasonic inspection period from the start of the test to the input of the end of the test is registered,
A storage unit for storing an ultrasound image for each storing operation during the ultrasound examination period;
A reproduction control unit that reads out an ultrasonic image from the storage unit and reproduces it in accordance with an inspector's readout instruction;
A measurement unit that performs measurement on the reproduced ultrasonic image;
Including
The reproduction control unit
A reproduction mode selection unit that selects a direct reproduction mode based on the occurrence of the readout instruction during the ultrasonic examination period;
When the direct playback mode is selected, direct playback is performed in which an ultrasound image group consisting of a plurality of ultrasound images sequentially stored in the currently performed ultrasound examination is read from the storage unit and played back in a predetermined display order. A control unit;
Including
The direct reproduction mode is a mode for collective measurement in which a plurality of measurements are continuously performed on the ultrasonic image group after the ultrasonic image group is stored during the ultrasonic examination period,
When the direct reproduction mode is selected, the ultrasonic image group is reproduced in the predetermined display order without going through an image selection process for requesting the examiner to input an image selection condition in the summary measurement. The
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The reproduction mode selection unit selects a non-direct reproduction mode based on the occurrence of the readout instruction outside the ultrasonic examination period that is not in the ultrasonic examination period,
When the non-direct reproduction mode is selected, the reproduction control unit performs an image selection process for requesting the examiner to input an image selection condition, and then selects the ultrasonic image selected by the image selection process. Including a non-direct reproduction control unit that reads and reproduces a group from the storage unit;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The predetermined display order is a chronological order,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The combination of the storage target image specification and the storage operation is repeatedly executed during the ultrasonic examination period, thereby storing the ultrasonic image group.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The direct reproduction control unit has a function of displaying the ultrasound image group according to a display format set in advance.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The reproduction mode selection unit selects the direct reproduction mode when the readout instruction is generated during the ultrasonic examination period and the total amount of ultrasonic image groups read from the storage unit satisfies a predetermined condition.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The apparatus of claim 6.
The predetermined condition includes a first condition for a data amount of an ultrasound image group read from the storage unit and a second condition for the number of ultrasound image groups read from the storage unit.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In an ultrasonic image processing method for processing an ultrasonic image formed based on a reception signal obtained by transmission / reception of an ultrasonic wave with respect to a subject,
A process of managing whether or not an ultrasonic inspection period from an input of an inspection start to an input of an end of an inspection in which the subject is registered;
A step of storing an ultrasonic image in a storage unit for each storage operation during the ultrasonic examination period;
In accordance with a read instruction from the inspector, a reproduction step of reading out an ultrasonic image from the storage unit and reproducing it,
Performing measurement on the reproduced ultrasonic image;
Including
The regeneration step includes
The direct reproduction mode is selected based on the occurrence of the readout instruction during the ultrasonic inspection period, and indirect based on the occurrence of the readout instruction outside the ultrasonic inspection period that is not during the ultrasonic inspection period. Selecting a playback mode;
When the direct reproduction mode is selected, reading out an ultrasonic image group consisting of a plurality of ultrasonic images sequentially stored in the currently executing ultrasonic examination from the storage unit and reproducing them in a predetermined display order; ,
When the non-direct reproduction mode is selected, an ultrasonic image group selected by the image selection process is obtained from the storage unit after an image selection process for requesting the examiner to input an image selection condition. Reading and playing, and
Including
The direct reproduction mode is a mode for collective measurement in which a plurality of measurements are continuously performed on the ultrasonic image group after the ultrasonic image group is stored during the ultrasonic examination period,
When the direct reproduction mode is selected, the ultrasonic image group is reproduced in the predetermined display order without going through an image selection process for requesting the examiner to input an image selection condition in the summary measurement. The
An ultrasonic image processing method. A program for executing an ultrasonic image processing method in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that processes an ultrasonic image formed based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject,
A function for managing whether or not an ultrasonic inspection period from the input of the start of the test to the input of the end of the test is registered;
A function of storing an ultrasound image in a storage unit for each storing operation during the ultrasound examination period;
In accordance with a read instruction from the examiner, a reproduction function for reading out an ultrasonic image from the storage unit and reproducing it,
Including
The playback function is
The direct reproduction mode is selected based on the occurrence of the readout instruction during the ultrasonic inspection period, and indirect based on the occurrence of the readout instruction outside the ultrasonic inspection period that is not during the ultrasonic inspection period. A function to select the playback mode,
A function of, when the direct reproduction mode is selected, reading out from the storage unit an ultrasonic image group composed of a plurality of ultrasonic images sequentially stored in the currently executed ultrasonic examination and reproducing them in a predetermined display order; ,
When the non-direct reproduction mode is selected, an ultrasonic image group selected by the image selection process is obtained from the storage unit after an image selection process for requesting the examiner to input an image selection condition. Read and play function,
Including
The direct reproduction mode is a mode for collective measurement in which a plurality of measurements are continuously performed on the ultrasonic image group after the ultrasonic image group is stored during the ultrasonic examination period,
When the direct reproduction mode is selected, the ultrasonic image group is reproduced in the predetermined display order without going through an image selection process for requesting the examiner to input an image selection condition in the summary measurement. The
A program characterized by that.

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