JPH0749040B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays ultrasonic tomographic images and display symbols such as diagnostic condition parameters on a monitor screen.

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, display symbols such as letters, numbers, and scale markers are displayed as diagnostic condition parameters around an ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on a monitor screen. In this case, in order to make the ultrasonic tomographic image easy to see, the display symbol is displayed with a lower luminance than the brightest part of the ultrasonic tomographic image portion.

Then, when recording the display content of the monitor screen with an external recording device such as a video printer, an image signal relating to the ultrasonic tomographic image and the display symbol is output to the external recording device with low brightness. Has become. Moreover,
The brightness and gradation of the display symbol are variable in association with the change of brightness and gradation of the ultrasonic tomographic image.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-described conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, since the brightness of the display symbol displayed around the ultrasonic tomographic image is lower than the brightness of the ultrasonic tomographic image, the monitor screen is displayed on a video screen. When recording with an external recording device such as a printer, the display symbol may not be recorded clearly.

Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to clearly read and confirm the date such as the diagnostic condition parameter indicated by the display symbol, various data of the patient, and the record of the system state from the recording paper or the like recorded by the external recording device. It was

It should be noted that this problem also occurs when the monitor screen is directly photographed by the camera.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and when recording and shooting the display content of the monitor screen with an external recording device, a camera, etc., the display symbol is clearly recorded and photographed, and the recording paper and photographic film etc. which are recorded and photographed Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of clearly reading a display symbol.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention generates a display symbol including a status display of diagnostic condition parameters and a scale marker and outputs a display signal, and the display signal and the display signal. Video signal synthesizing means for synthesizing the ultrasonic tomographic image signals from the probe and outputting a video signal for the display screen, and instructing data regarding the diagnostic condition parameter and the display scale of the ultrasonic tomographic image and recording of the display screen The control panel to which the data is input, the switch detection means for determining whether the data input from the control panel is the data for instructing the recording of the display screen, and the input data is recorded by the switch detection means for the recording of the display screen. When it is determined that the data is the instruction data, an ON signal is output, and a predetermined signal is output from the ON signal output. A timer is provided for outputting an off signal after a lapse of time, and a brightness adjusting means for adjusting a signal level relating to the display brightness of the display symbol based on the on signal and the off signal from the timer.

With the above configuration, when the display content of the monitor screen is recorded and photographed by the external recording device, the camera, or the like, the display symbol is clearly recorded and photographed, and the display symbol is displayed from the recording paper, the photographic film, or the like. Can be clearly read.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First
1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a normal display state of a monitor in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (A) is a display. FIG. 3B is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of the display signal when the display brightness of the symbol is in the normal state, and FIG. 3B is the waveform of the display signal when the display brightness of the display symbol is adjusted to a higher level than usual. It is a waveform diagram showing.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a monitor on which an ultrasonic tomographic image 21 as shown in FIG. 2, a scale marker 22 matched to the scale of this ultrasonic tomographic image 21, and a status display 23 indicating diagnostic condition parameters are displayed. Is.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a control panel including a keyboard and various switches (not shown), and the ultrasonic tomographic image 21
The data relating to the display scale, the data relating to the status display 23, and the data for instructing the recording of the display screen by the external recording device (not shown) are input.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a switch detection unit whose input side is connected to the output side of the control panel 2 and which determines whether or not the data input from the control panel 2 is data for instructing recording of the display screen. Is provided as.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a character generator whose input side is connected to the output side of the switch detection section 3, and the data input from the control panel 2 is displayed on the status display 23.
When the data is related to the input data, characters such as numbers, characters, and symbols that form the status display 23 based on the input data are generated.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a scale marker generation unit whose input side is connected to the output side of the switch detection unit 3, and when the data input from the control panel 2 is data related to the display scale of the ultrasonic tomographic image 21, It is provided as a means for generating a scale marker 22 that matches the ultrasonic tomographic image 21 of the display scale based on the input data.

The character generator 4 and the scale marker generation unit 5 allow the status display 23 and the scale marker to be displayed.
A display symbol generating section A is configured as a means for generating a display symbol consisting of 22 and outputting a display signal 32 as shown in FIG. 3 (A).

Reference numeral 6 denotes a timer whose input side is connected to the output side of the switch detection unit 3, and the switch detection unit 3 determines that the input data from the control panel 2 is data for instructing recording of the display screen. At this time, an ON signal is output, and an OFF signal is output after a lapse of a predetermined time (2 seconds in this embodiment) from the output of this ON signal.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a brightness adjusting section to which the input side thereof is connected to the character generator 4, the scale marker generating section 5, and the output side of the timer 6, and a signal of the display signal 32 based on the ON signal and the OFF signal from the timer 6. It is provided as a brightness adjusting means for adjusting the level and adjusting the display brightness of the display symbol.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a probe that emits an ultrasonic beam to the subject and receives an ultrasonic echo from the subject, and 9 is an operation conversion device whose input side is connected to the output side of the probe 8. The ultrasonic tomographic image signal as shown in FIG. 3 (A) based on the ultrasonic echo from the subject received by the probe 8.
It outputs 31.

Reference numeral 10 denotes the brightness adjusting unit 7 and the operation converting unit 9 on the input side thereof.
Is a video signal synthesizing unit connected to the output side of the display signal 32 whose signal level from the brightness adjusting unit 7 is adjusted.
And the ultrasonic tomographic image signal 31 from the operation conversion unit 5 are combined to output a video signal 30 as shown in FIG. 3A to the monitor 1 and a video signal output terminal 11 described later. It is provided.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a video signal output terminal connected to the video signal synthesizing unit 10 for outputting the video signal 30 to the outside.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

When data is input from the control panel 2, the switch detection unit 3 determines whether the input data is data for instructing recording of the display screen, or other than that, input or change of diagnostic condition parameter condition parameter, A determination process is performed to determine whether the data is an instruction to change the display scale of the sound wave tomographic image 21, and a determination processing signal based on the determination result is output.

Then, when the determination processing signal output from the switch detection unit 3 indicates the input or change of the diagnostic condition parameter, the character generator 4 changes it according to the input diagnostic condition parameter based on this data. The generated character is generated and output to the brightness adjusting unit 7.

On the other hand, when the determination processing signal output from the switch detection unit 3 indicates a change in the display scale of the ultrasonic tomographic image 21, the ultrasonic waves designated and input by the scale marker generation unit 5 are based on this data. Generates the scale marker 22 changed according to the display scale of the tomographic image 21,
It is output to the brightness adjusting unit 7.

The brightness adjusting unit 7 includes the character and scale markers from the character generator 4 and the scale marker generating unit 5.
Based on the input of 22, the signal level of the display signal 32 is set as shown in FIG. 3 (A) so that the display brightness of these display symbols becomes about 70% of the brightness of the brightest part of the ultrasonic tomographic image 21. And output to the video signal synthesis unit 10.

Then, the video signal synthesis unit 10 synthesizes the display signal 32 and the ultrasonic tomographic image signal 31 from the operation conversion unit 5 to generate a video signal 30, and outputs the video signal 30 to the monitor 1. As a result, the monitor 1 simultaneously displays the ultrasonic tomographic image 21, the scale marker 22, and the status display 23, as shown in FIG.

Here, when the display screen displayed on the monitor 1 is recorded by an external recording device, a camera (both not shown), etc., the video signal output terminal 11 and the input terminal of the external recording device are used for recording by the external recording device. After connecting and with a signal cable or the like, data for instructing recording of the display screen is input by operating a dedicated key provided on the control panel 2.

Then, the switch detection unit 3 determines the content of this input data, and outputs a determination processing signal indicating that the data for instructing the recording of the display screen has been input to the timer 6. The timer 6 operates based on this determination processing signal and outputs an ON signal to the brightness adjusting unit 7.

In response to the input of the ON signal, the brightness adjusting unit 7 displays the character level output from the character generator 4 and the signal level of the display signal 32 related to the display symbol including the scale marker 22 generated from the scale marker generating unit 4. The display brightness of the symbol is changed and adjusted so as to be the same as the brightness of the brightest part of the ultrasonic tomographic image 21.

That is, the display brightness of the display symbol, which has been adjusted to about 70% when the brightness of the brightest part of the ultrasonic tomographic image 21 is 100%, is the same as the brightness of the brightest part of the ultrasonic tomographic image 21. %, And the display signal 32a as shown in FIG. 3B is output.

Therefore, the video signal synthesizing unit 6 outputs the video signal 30 obtained by synthesizing the display signal 32a and the ultrasonic tomographic image signal 31 to the monitor 1 and the video signal output terminal 11 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the display brightness of the display symbol displayed on the monitor 1 or recorded by the external recording device connected to the video signal output terminal 11 is increased, and the display symbol recorded by the external recording device or the camera can be clearly read. Like

By the way, the timer 6 outputs an OFF signal to the brightness adjusting unit 7 when 2 seconds have elapsed after the output of the ON signal, and the brightness adjusting unit 7 receiving this OFF signal changes the display brightness of the display symbol to the ultrasonic tomographic image 21 again. The signal level of the display symbol 32a is adjusted so as to be about 70% of the brightness of the brightest portion of the display signal 32a, and the display signal 32 as shown in FIG.

As a result, during normal times other than when the display screen is being recorded, it is possible to make the ultrasonic tomographic image 21 easier to see by providing a difference between the display brightness of the display symbol and the display brightness of the ultrasonic tomographic image 21.

Although the operation time of the timer 6 is set to 2 seconds in the present embodiment as described above, this operation time can be arbitrarily set and changed as required.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, a display symbol generating means for generating a display signal by generating a display symbol composed of a status display of diagnostic condition parameters and a scale marker, and the display signal and the probe. Video signal synthesizing means for synthesizing ultrasonic tomographic image signals and outputting a video signal for a display screen, data relating to diagnostic condition parameters and display scale of ultrasonic tomographic images, and data for instructing recording of the display screen are input. A control panel, switch detection means for determining whether or not the data input from the control panel is data for instructing display screen recording, and the input data by the switch detection means is data for instructing display screen recording. When it is determined that the ON signal is output, the ON signal is output and after a predetermined time has elapsed from the output of the ON signal. A timer for outputting a signal and a brightness adjusting means for adjusting a signal level relating to the display brightness of the display symbol based on the ON signal and the OFF signal from the timer are provided.

Therefore, when the content displayed on the monitor screen is recorded and photographed by an external recording device, a camera, etc., the displayed symbol can be clearly recorded and photographed, and the displayed symbol can be clearly read from the recording paper, photographic film, etc. that was recorded and photographed. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a normal display state of a monitor in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (A) is FIG. 3B is a waveform diagram showing a waveform of a display signal when the display brightness of the display symbol is in a normal state, and FIG. 3B shows a display signal when the display brightness of the display symbol is adjusted to be higher than usual. It is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of. 2 ... Control panel, 3 ... Switch detector, 6
...... Timer, 7 ...... Brightness adjuster, 8 ...... Probe, 10 ......
Video signal synthesizer, 21 ... Ultrasonic tomographic image, 22 ... Scale marker, 23 ... Status display, 30 ... Video signal, 31 ... Ultrasonic tomographic image signal, 32, 32a ... Display signal, A ... ... Display symbol generator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display symbol generating means for generating a display signal by generating a display symbol composed of a status display of diagnostic condition parameters and a scale marker, and this display signal and an ultrasonic tomographic image signal from the probe are combined. Video signal synthesizing means for outputting a video signal for a display screen, a control panel to which data relating to diagnostic condition parameters and display scales of ultrasonic tomographic images and data for instructing recording of the display screen are input, and from this control panel Switch detection means for determining whether the input data is data for instructing display screen recording, and an ON signal when the switch detection means determines that the input data is data for instructing display screen recording. And a timer that outputs an OFF signal after a predetermined time has elapsed from the output of the ON signal, Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a brightness adjusting means for adjusting the signal level for the display brightness of the display symbol on the basis of the ON signal and the OFF signal from the timer.