JP2659664B2 - Ultrasound image display - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image forming apparatus for detecting and displaying a maximum intensity value in echo data of a three-dimensional region in a living body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays a tomographic image in a living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body.
In recent years, an ultrasonic three-dimensional image display device capable of displaying a spatially graspable image using echo data of a three-dimensional region in a living body has been proposed and is being put to practical use. For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-286824 previously proposed by the present applicant.
In the publication, the three-dimensional area is cut by three cut planes orthogonal to each other, and the cut planes are displayed side by side while associating each other as a tomographic image.

By the way, the present applicant has filed a Japanese Patent Application No. 2-198.
No. 309 proposes an ultrasonic echo integration display device. This apparatus sets a virtual viewpoint outside the three-dimensional region and displays an integrated image of the three-dimensional region viewed from the viewpoint. To explain the concept concretely,
Between the three-dimensional area, a screen is provided on the side opposite to the viewpoint, and the echo data is integrated along each line of sight emerging from the viewpoint toward the three-dimensional area, and the integrated value is drawn on the screen, This forms an integrated image.

According to this integrated image, since the tissue information spread in the three-dimensional area can be projected as a planar image, there is an advantage that the outline of the tissue and the like can be clearly displayed.

The applicant of the present invention has disclosed Japanese Patent Application No. 4-49796.
Discloses an ultrasonic image display device. In this apparatus, a viewpoint outside the three-dimensional area described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-198309 is set on an ultrasonic beam. The data is integrated with a line of sight parallel to the ultrasonic beam, a desired organ or tissue is extracted, and an integrated image of the three-dimensional area is displayed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the echo data d1 to the echo data dn within the integration range are set.
Are sequentially integrated along a line of sight 42 set in parallel with the beam direction, and displayed as a luminance value at a corresponding point D on a projection plane (corresponding to an integrated image) 44. Then, usually, a hard tissue (for example, bone) having a large echo value is displayed with a high luminance value (displayed in white in an image).

[0006]

However, in the conventional apparatus proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-49796, when the designated area of the echo data integration range is changed,
There has been a problem that the difference between the brightness values of the hard tissue and the soft tissue is blurred, or the brightness values of the hard tissue and the soft tissue are reversed.
That is, when the integration range is widened (shown in FIG. 8C), there is a problem that the difference between the brightness values of the hard tissue and the soft tissue is blurred, and the reading accuracy of the tissue from the image is deteriorated. This is because there is little difference between the luminance value obtained by integrating the echo data of the soft tissue near the bone 52 and the luminance value obtained by integrating the large echo value of the bone 52 and the extremely small echo value of the shadow 54. caused by.

When the integration range is narrowed including the bone 52 (shown in FIG. 8A), the brightness value of the bone 52 is higher than that of other soft tissues and is displayed in white in the image. ,
On the other hand, when the integration range is narrowed without including the bone 52 (shown in FIG. 8B), the brightness value of the bone 52 is lower than that of other soft tissues, and is displayed in black in the image. in this case,
By changing the setting of the accumulation range, there is an advantage that a desired image can be displayed. However, when only the hard tissue is to be viewed, the accumulation range must be carefully set, which is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to detect the maximum echo intensity value from the best viewpoint position along the line of sight and to freely designate the maximum echo intensity value detection range. It is to provide an ultrasonic image display device capable of performing the above.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic image is formed by transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic wave to / from a three-dimensional region in a living body, capturing echo data, and forming an ultrasonic image. A gaze direction processing path calculating unit configured to calculate a processing path along each line of sight that is directed toward the three-dimensional region from a viewpoint set outside the three-dimensional region, and the line of sight. An echo maximum intensity value detecting means for detecting an echo maximum intensity value from the echo data in each processing path calculated by the direction processing path calculating means; and an echo maximum intensity value detected by the echo maximum intensity value detecting means. And an echo maximum intensity image forming means for imaging.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic image display apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a three-dimensional region in a living body, capturing echo data, and forming and displaying an ultrasonic image. An echo maximum intensity value detection range specifying means for specifying an echo maximum intensity value detection range along the beam;
Echo maximum intensity value detection means for detecting an echo maximum intensity value from the echo data along the ultrasonic beam within the echo maximum intensity value detection range, and an echo maximum intensity value detected by the echo maximum intensity value detection means And an echo maximum intensity image forming means for imaging based on

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic image display device according to claim 2, wherein the position specifying means for specifying the position of two tomographic images intersecting the echo maximum intensity image, and And a tomographic image forming means for forming two tomographic images at the positions where the tomographic images are located, wherein the two tomographic images are displayed together with the echo maximum intensity image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic image display apparatus of the third aspect, means for displaying a cursor indicating the echo maximum intensity value detection range on the two tomographic images is provided. It is characterized by.

[0013]

According to the configuration of the first aspect, the maximum echo intensity value on the line-of-sight direction processing path is collected at each projection point in the image. Therefore, the information of the three-dimensional region can be observed two-dimensionally.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the maximum echo value can be extracted by the maximum echo value detecting means, so that the difference between the brightness values of the hard tissue and the soft tissue can be determined without being affected by shadow. Clear and sharp images can be obtained. In particular, when examining a hard tissue, the image is displayed in white on the image, and the judgment is easy.

According to the third aspect, two tomographic images orthogonal to the echo maximum intensity image are displayed.
Spatial understanding of the observed hard tissue is facilitated. In this case, displaying the cursor indicating the maximum echo intensity value detection range on the two tomographic images makes it easier to grasp the mutual relationship between the images.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an ultrasonic image display device according to the present invention. The ultrasonic image display device 22 is connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic device 24. In addition,
It is of course possible to incorporate the present device 22 into the ultrasonic diagnostic device 24.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 24, echo data of a three-dimensional region in a living body is captured by using an ultrasonic probe for capturing three-dimensional data.
After being digitized by the / D converter 26, it is stored in the three-dimensional data memory 28. That is, the echo data of the in-vivo three-dimensional area is written in the three-dimensional data memory 28.

The three-dimensional data memory 28 includes a bus 30
The bus 30 includes a central control unit 3
2. Maximum echo detector 34, frame buffer memory 3
6 are connected.

The maximum echo detector 34 detects the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data along the ultrasonic beam, and the maximum echo intensity detection range is freely set by the operator as described later. .

The central control unit 32 forms an echo maximum intensity image using the detection result of the maximum echo detector 34 and controls the entire apparatus.

The external input device 40 includes a plurality of dials A to
D and a switch E, and are connected to the central control unit 32. A specific description of the dial will be described later.

Accordingly, each echo data on the ultrasonic beam read out from the three-dimensional data memory 28 is sent to the central control unit 32 after the maximum echo detecting section 34 detects the maximum echo intensity value, where the echo data is sent. A maximum intensity image is formed. Then, the formed echo maximum intensity image is temporarily stored in the frame buffer memory 36 via the bus 30, read out and displayed on the CRT 38.

The central control unit 32 also forms an echo maximum intensity image and two tomographic images orthogonal to the echo maximum intensity image, as will be described in detail below. Frame buffer memory 36
Is once read out and displayed on the CRT 38.

FIG. 2 shows the concept of the three-dimensional region 10 in the living body. In the drawing, the Z direction is the beam direction. That is, the ultrasonic probe is disposed above in FIG.

In this embodiment, in forming the maximum echo intensity image, the search for the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data is performed along the beam direction. That is, the viewpoint for forming the echo maximum intensity image is set on the ultrasonic probe side (upward in the figure), and the line of sight is set in parallel with the ultrasonic beam.

Further, in this embodiment, it is possible to designate the detection range of the maximum echo intensity value, and the dial A and the dial B of the external input device 40 shown in FIG. The end point is set.

In this embodiment, two orthogonal tomographic images are formed on the echo maximum intensity image formed based on the echo maximum intensity value retrieved from the echo data in the processing path along the beam direction. Is done. One of the tomographic images is a tomographic image viewed from the front, and the other is a tomographic image viewed from the side. In the drawing, the surface corresponding to the tomographic image viewed from the front is indicated by 12, and the surface corresponding to the tomographic image viewed from the side is indicated by 14. Also, in the drawing, reference numeral 18 denotes an upper surface showing the starting surface of the echo maximum intensity value detection range.

In FIG. 1, as described above, the start point and the end point of the echo maximum intensity value detection range are designated by the dials A and B in the external input device 40. The dial C specifies the position of the tomographic image from the front, and the dial D specifies the position of the tomographic image from the side. The switch E is a switch for selecting whether the image viewed from above is a tomographic image or an echo maximum intensity image.

FIG. 3 shows a display example of the echo maximum intensity image and two tomographic images formed as described above.

In FIG. 3, the upper left is an echo maximum intensity image 100 viewed from the top (in this embodiment, a fetal echo maximum intensity image), and the upper right is a tomographic image 101 viewed from the front. The tomographic image 102 viewed from the side is shown at the lower right.

In this embodiment, a three-dimensional conceptual image 103 of a three-dimensional in-vivo region is schematically displayed at the lower left of the screen. In this conceptual image 103, wire-shaped cursors 60 and 62 indicating the echo maximum intensity value detection range are displayed, and furthermore, a wire-shaped cursor 64 indicating the position of the tomographic image viewed from the front and the position of the tomographic image viewed from the side. Is displayed.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the conceptual image 103, but may be applied to the echo maximum intensity image 100 (beam maximum value display 10
0) and the tomographic images 101 and 102, the respective cursors are displayed, so that the maximum echo intensity value detection range or the position of the cut surface can be easily grasped.

Of course, these cursors 60-66
Is associated with each of the dials A to D of the external input device 40 described above, and when any one of the dials is moved, the cursor moves accordingly. By operating the switch E, the echo maximum intensity image 100 can be switched to a conventional tomographic image.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing the operation of the ultrasonic image display device. With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, a description will be given of displaying an image by the central control unit 32 using each of the dials A to D and the switch E of the external input device 40 described above.

First, a measurement signal from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is stored in the three-dimensional data memory 28 (step 2).
01). Next, the cursors 60 and 62 are set at arbitrary positions (Step 202), and the stereoscopic conceptual image 103 of the three-dimensional area which is a wire frame is formed (Step 20).
3). While observing the stereoscopic conceptual image 103, the dial A is changed to obtain a desired echo maximum intensity image 100 (step 204), and the cursor 60 is moved to a desired position (step 205). Similarly, the dial B is changed (step 206), and the cursor 62 is changed.
Is moved to a desired position (step 207).
Next, the cursor C is moved by changing the dial C (step 208), and the FRONT tomographic image 1 viewed from the front is displayed.
01 (step 209). Furthermore, dial D
Is changed to move the cursor 66 (step 21).
0), a SIDE tomographic image 102 viewed from the side is formed (step 211).

The data thus processed (shown in FIG. 4) is sent to the maximum echo detector 34 in order to detect the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data in each beam direction. At this time, the switch E is turned on (step 220), and the maximum echo detector 34 detects the maximum echo intensity value (step 221).
Then, a beam maximum value image 100 is formed from the echo maximum intensity values in each beam direction, and this image is also displayed on the CRT 38 (step 222). If the displayed beam maximum value image 100 is a desired image, the observation is terminated at this point (step 223). On the other hand, when observing an image further, the processing is shifted to the processing after step 201 corresponding to that in the figure without ending at step 223,
Each corresponding cursor is moved by each dial, and the same operation as described above is performed.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for detecting the maximum echo intensity value in the maximum echo detector 34 described above. Echo data corresponding to each predetermined position in the XYZ directions of the in-vivo three-dimensional region 10 shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the three-dimensional data memory 28. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, when the cursors 60 and 62 are set in steps 205 and 207 described above, Z
Echo data from = 0 to Z = EZ is searched (step 303). At a certain position in the Z direction, echo data is searched from X = 0 to X = EX along the X direction (step 304). Therefore, when the echo data is searched from X = 0 to X = EX at Z = 0, at Z = 1, X = 0 to X = E as described above.
Echo data is searched up to X, and echo data is sequentially searched up to Z = EZ (shown in the figure).

More specifically, the in-vivo three-dimensional region 1
At Z = 0 on the upper surface of 0, first, echo data is searched from X = 0 to X = EX. The maximum value of the maximum echo detector 34 is set to 0 (step 305). Then, within the range defined by the cursor 60 and the cursor 62, the echo data in the Y direction at Z = 0 and X = 0 is searched (step 306). Y = L1 (cursor 60
) To Y = L2 (the value of the cursor 62) are compared with the max [X] [Y] [Z] values (in this case, the max [0] [Y] [0] values). (Step 307), and the compared echo data in the Y direction is m
max [max] only when it is larger than the value of max [X] [Y] [Z]
[X] [Y] [Z] values are rewritten to the echo data (step 308). When the search for echo data is completed up to Y = L2, ma at Z = 0 and X = 0 is obtained.
The x [X] [Y] [Z] value (that is, the maximum echo intensity value at Z = 0 and X = 0) is converted to the mm [Z] [X] value (in this case, the mm [0] [0] value). Write to (Step 3
08, shown in the figure). Next, the value of X is incremented, and the same operation as described above is performed at Z = 0 and X = 1 (shown in the figure), and max at Z = 0 and X = 1
The value of [X] [Y] [Z] (that is, the maximum echo intensity value at Z = 0 and X = 1) is changed to the value of mm [Z] [X] (in this case, the value of mm [0] [1]). Write.

Similarly, when Z = 0, X = 0
To X = EX, a max [X] [Y] [Z] value (echo maximum intensity value) is detected, and this operation is performed from Z = 0 to Z = EZ.
Until the echo maximum intensity value detection is completed (shown in the figure). As a result, the maximum echo intensity value on the ZX plane is obtained, and the maximum echo intensity image 100 in FIG.
Is formed.

In the above, the embodiment of the ultrasonic image display apparatus for detecting the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data along the ultrasonic beam has been described. Another embodiment of the ultrasonic image display apparatus for detecting the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data of the processing path along each line of sight that appears will be described below.

FIG. 6 shows an ultrasonic image display apparatus according to the present invention when a viewpoint is provided outside the three-dimensional area. In FIG. 6, an echo information area 7 conceptually shown
0 is the same as the three-dimensional area where data is collected in the subject, and this echo information area 70 is formed from a plurality of voxels 70a. The voxel 70a corresponds to the echo information at each position in the three-dimensional area. In this case, the method of detecting the maximum echo intensity value is as follows: the echo information area 70 is detected and projected from the echo data in the line-of-sight direction from the predetermined viewpoint P to the screen 72 in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. Is what you do. For example, the information of the voxel 70a is searched along the line-of-sight path 80 connecting the viewpoint P and the projection point S on the screen 72, the maximum echo intensity value is detected, and the projection is performed according to the maximum echo value. This is to change the luminance value at the point S.

Therefore, by moving the viewpoint P in the Z direction shown in the figure, the line of sight for projecting the maximum echo intensity value on the screen 72 can be changed so as to have a wide range, and a desired projected image can be obtained. Can be. By moving the viewpoint P to infinity, it is possible to obtain a projected image of the maximum echo intensity value in the line of sight in the echo information area 70 along the same Z-axis direction as the orthographic projection. Here, the positions of the screen 72 and the viewpoint P are shown with the echo information area 70 sandwiched in the direction of the Z axis in FIG. 6, but are not limited to this, and are not limited to the X axis or the Y axis. Can obtain a projection image of the maximum echo intensity value in the direction of the line of sight of the echo information area 70 from an oblique direction.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic image display apparatus of the present embodiment, the image can be sharpened by clarifying the difference between the brightness values of the hard tissue and the soft tissue without being affected by the shadow. In particular, when examining hard tissue, the image is displayed in white on the image, and the determination can be easily performed.

It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that noise is cut off legally when the maximum echo intensity value is detected from the echo data.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The hard tissue can be easily observed without being affected by the shadow. In addition, since the maximum echo intensity value on the processing path is collected at each projection point in the image in the direction of the line of sight, information on the three-dimensional region can be observed two-dimensionally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic image display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a positional relationship between an echo maximum intensity value detection range and two tomographic images.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of an echo maximum intensity value detection image and two tomographic images.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an image display by the central control unit 32.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for detecting the maximum echo intensity value in the maximum echo detector 34;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the concept of an image display method when a viewpoint is provided outside a three-dimensional area.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a principle of forming an integrated image of a conventional ultrasonic image display device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the designation of an integration range and image display in a conventional ultrasonic image display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 22 ultrasonic image display device 24 ultrasonic diagnostic device 28 three-dimensional data memory 30 bus 32 central control unit 34 maximum echo detector 36 frame buffer memory 38 CRT 40 external input device

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultrasonic image display device for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a three-dimensional region in a living body to capture echo data, and forming and displaying an ultrasonic image, wherein the ultrasonic image display device is set outside the three-dimensional region. Gaze direction processing path calculation means for calculating a processing path along each line of sight emerging from the viewpoint toward the three-dimensional area; and echo maximum intensity from echo data in each processing path calculated by the gaze direction processing path calculation means. An ultrasonic maximum intensity value detecting means for detecting a value, and an echo maximum intensity image forming means for projecting and imaging an echo maximum intensity value detected by the echo maximum intensity value detecting means, Image display device. 2. An ultrasonic image display apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a three-dimensional region in a living body, taking in echo data, and forming and displaying an ultrasonic image, wherein an echo maximum intensity value along an ultrasonic beam is provided. Echo maximum intensity value detection range specifying means for specifying a detection range, Echo maximum intensity value detection means for detecting an echo maximum intensity value from the echo data along the ultrasonic beam within the echo maximum intensity value detection range, An ultrasonic maximum intensity image forming unit that forms an image based on the maximum echo intensity value detected by the maximum echo intensity value detecting unit. 3. The ultrasonic image display device according to claim 2, wherein: a position designation unit that designates positions of two tomographic images intersecting the echo maximum intensity image; and two tomographic images at the designated positions. An ultrasonic image display device, comprising: a tomographic image forming means for forming, wherein the two tomographic images are displayed along with the echo maximum intensity image. 4. An ultrasonic image display apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for displaying a cursor indicating said echo maximum intensity value detection range on said two tomographic images. apparatus.