JP4167582B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that extracts data for recording from data acquired by transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that records image data acquired by transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves and loop-reproduces (repetitively reproduces) the recorded image data. For example, in Patent Document 1, heartbeat image data from the time phase of one electrocardiographic R wave to the time phase of another electrocardiographic R wave is transferred to an external storage device using the R wave of the electrocardiographic waveform. A device for recording is shown.

JP-A-6-269455

  In order to record the image data for loop reproduction, it is necessary to set the start point and end point of the image data so that the target symptoms are included. In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, an ultrasound image corresponding to temporarily stored image data is displayed on the screen, and the start and end points of the image data to be recorded on the electrocardiogram waveform also displayed on the screen. The phase is specified. However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, the operation for recording is complicated, such as displaying an electrocardiogram waveform and setting both the start point and the end point on the electrocardiogram waveform.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily extract data including a target symptom.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in a space including a target tissue, and controls the ultrasonic probe. A transmission / reception unit for acquiring a reception signal, a memory for temporarily storing data obtained from the reception signal, and a controller for extracting recording data to be recorded in a data recording unit from the data stored in the memory, The controller sets a recording start time based on a recording end time designated by a user, and extracts data corresponding to a period from the recording start time to the recording end time as recording data; Features.

  In the above configuration, the recording start time is set based on the recording end time designated by the user, and the recording data corresponding to the period from the recording start time to the recording end time is extracted. For this reason, for example, the user can easily extract data including a target symptom by specifying a recording end time after confirming that the target symptom has appeared while viewing an ultrasonic image displayed in real time. it can.

  Preferably, the recording start time point is a time point that is a predetermined period after the recording end time point. Examples of the period set in advance include a period set to a desired length by the user, such as a heart rate value or a time value of the heart. Preferably, the recording data is recorded in the data recording section after being subjected to an image forming process in an image forming section provided at a subsequent stage of the memory. Preferably, the memory stores image data that has been subjected to image formation processing in an image forming unit provided in a preceding stage of the memory.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in a space including the heart, and the ultrasonic probe. A transmission / reception unit that obtains a reception signal by control, a memory that temporarily stores reception data obtained from the reception signal, and an end trigger input time by a user as a recording end time, and a time point specified by the user A time point traced back from the recording start point, a controller that extracts the received data from the recording start point to the recording end point from the memory, and an image forming process performed on the received data extracted from the memory An image forming unit that forms data and outputs the image data to a data recording unit.

  Preferably, the received data stored in the memory is attached with electrocardiographic waveform information obtained from the electrocardiographic signal of the heart, and the controller performs only a period designated by the user based on the electrocardiographic waveform information. A time point that goes back from the recording end time point is set as the recording start time point. Preferably, the acquisition time information is attached to the reception data stored in the memory, and the controller uses the acquisition time information to go back from the recording end time by a time specified by the user. The time point is set as the recording start time point.

  Preferably, the image forming unit outputs the image data to the data recording unit, and causes the display unit to display an ultrasonic image corresponding to the image data. With the configuration described above, the user can record the image data in the recording unit while confirming that the target symptom is included in the image data by looking at the ultrasonic image corresponding to the image data output to the data recording unit. it can. That is, it is possible to record image data including a desired symptom more reliably by an easy operation.

  With the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, data including a target symptom can be easily extracted.

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

  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.

  The probe 10 transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave in a space including the heart that is the target tissue. The transmission / reception unit 12 controls the probe 10 to form a transmission beam, and controls the transmission beam to form a scanning plane so as to cross the heart. The scanning plane is formed for each time phase, and the transmission / reception unit 12 forms a reception beam based on the reception result of the probe 10 acquired for each time phase, and acquires a reception signal for each reception beam. In general, a scanning plane for each time phase is called a frame, and a plurality of reception beams forming each scanning plane are called lines. That is, the transmission / reception unit 12 acquires a reception signal for each line in units of frames.

  The AD conversion unit 14 outputs reception data obtained by performing analog-digital conversion (AD conversion) processing on the reception signal (analog signal) for each line supplied from the transmission / reception unit 12 to the ring buffer 16. The ring buffer 16 is a memory that records received data for each line in units of frames. Information related to the frame is attached to the received data for each frame and recorded in the ring buffer 16. The contents recorded in the ring buffer 16 will be described in detail later using FIG.

  The image forming unit 18 acquires received data from the ring buffer 16 based on an instruction from the controller 22. The controller 22 sets the image display mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to a real time mode or a loop reproduction mode according to a user operation. In the real-time mode, the image forming unit 18 acquires received data corresponding to the latest frame recorded in the ring buffer 16 and forms image data corresponding to each frame from the received data. Here, the image data is, for example, heart tomographic image data. The image data is sequentially formed for each time phase and displayed on the display 24 as a real-time ultrasonic image.

  On the other hand, in the case of the loop reproduction mode, the image forming unit 18 forms image data for loop reproduction using received data corresponding to past frames recorded in the ring buffer 16. The image data for loop reproduction is output to the display 24 and the recording device 20. The display 24 performs a loop reproduction display of an ultrasonic image based on the image data for loop reproduction, and the image data for loop reproduction output to the recording device 20 is stored in the recording device 20. As the recording device 20, a VTR, an optical disk recorder, a hard disk recorder or the like is suitable. The recording device 20 may be provided inside the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, or may be provided outside the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The image data recorded in the recording device 20 is read from the image forming unit 18 as necessary and displayed on the display 24 as a loop reproduction image. The operation of recording the image data in the recording device 20 will be described in detail later using FIG.

  The image forming unit 18 acquires the received data directly from the AD conversion unit 14 in the real time mode, and the received data corresponding to the past frame recorded in the ring buffer 16 in the loop reproduction mode. May be obtained.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the recorded contents of the ring buffer (reference numeral 16 in FIG. 1). Hereinafter, the contents recorded in the ring buffer 16 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 will be described using the reference numerals in FIG.

  In the ring buffer 16, data up to frame (F) 130 in the order of frame (1) 110 and frame (2) 120 from the head address is recorded in units of frames. The recorded contents for each frame are as follows.

  Frame No. Reference numeral 112 denotes a frame identification number. For example, a natural number from 1 is assigned in the frame acquisition order. The frame time 114 indicates the time when the frame is acquired, and is recorded based on the time data supplied from the controller 22. The R wave flag 116 is a flag indicating whether or not an R wave is detected when the frame is acquired. The R wave is a wave observed in the electrocardiographic waveform 32 at the end diastole of the heart. An electrocardiogram waveform 32 is input to the controller 22, and the controller 22 detects the R wave timing from the electrocardiogram waveform 32, and sets the R wave flag 116 to “1” for a frame acquired at the R wave timing. And the R wave flag 116 is set to “0” for a frame acquired at a timing other than the R wave. As described above, the frame No. (Reference numeral 112), the frame time 114, and the R wave flag 116 are attached to the line data (received data) 118 from line 1 to line N constituting each frame and recorded.

  In the ring buffer 16, received data corresponding to each frame is sequentially recorded in time series. When the inside of the ring buffer 16 is filled with the received data from the frame (1) to the frame (F), the controller 22 receives the received data of the frame (F + 1) acquired at the next time phase of the frame (F). The area where the received data of 1) is recorded is overwritten. That is, the reception data of frame (1) is discarded, and the reception data of frame (F + 1) is newly recorded. Further, when the reception data of the frame (F + 2) and the frame (F + 3) is acquired, the area where the reception data of the frame (2) and the frame (3) is recorded is overwritten. In this way, received data for F frames is stored in the ring buffer 16 retroactively from the latest diagnosis time.

  The received data stored in the ring buffer 16 is output to the image forming unit 18 according to the reproduction mode. That is, in the real-time mode, the received data of the latest frame stored in the ring buffer 16 is output to the image forming unit 18, and in the loop playback mode, the data for loop playback including the received data corresponding to the past frame is an image. It is output to the forming unit 18. The user confirms a symptom to be diagnosed on the image while observing an ultrasonic image displayed on the display 24 in real time, for example, a tomographic image of the heart, and records loop reproduction data including the symptom to be diagnosed. It can be easily recorded in the device 20. Hereinafter, the recording operation will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the recording operation of the image data for loop reproduction by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the recording operation of the image data for loop reproduction will be described with reference to FIG. 1 will be described using the reference numerals in FIG.

  First, the user operates the probe 10 to display on the display 24 an ultrasonic image of the site to be diagnosed, for example, a tomographic image of the heart. At this time, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is set to a real-time mode, the image forming unit 18 forms image data based on the latest frame received data, and a tomographic image of the heart is displayed on the display 24 in real time (S301). ). Next, while viewing the tomographic image displayed in real time, the user confirms on the image that a symptom intended for diagnosis appears, and inputs the end trigger 30 from the operation panel immediately after the symptom appears (S302). ).

  When the end trigger 30 is input by the user, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is changed from the real time mode to the loop reproduction mode. For loop reproduction, data of past frames recorded in the ring buffer 16 is used. That is, data from a past time point recorded in the ring buffer 16 to a time point when the end trigger 16 is input is extracted. For this reason, when the end trigger 30 is input, the controller 22 searches the data recorded in the ring buffer 16 for data at the start of loop reproduction (S303).

  The loop playback start time is searched based on a preset value input in advance by the user. The set value is preferably an R wave count or a time value. For example, when the count number of the R wave is set to “3”, the controller 22 searches the data recorded in the ring buffer 16 for the data of the frame corresponding to the input time point of the end trigger 30, and A frame having the R wave flag (reference numeral 116 in FIG. 2) of “1” is searched retrospectively from the data, and a frame when the R wave flag “1” is traced back by three is detected as a frame at the time of starting loop reproduction. To do.

  For example, when the time value “10 seconds” is set, the controller 22 searches the data recorded in the ring buffer 16 for the data of the frame corresponding to the input time of the end trigger 30, and further With reference to the frame time (reference numeral 114 in FIG. 2), the frame corresponding to 10 seconds before is detected as the frame at the start of loop reproduction.

  When the loop playback start time is searched, the controller 22 transfers the frame data from the loop playback start time to the end trigger input time as loop playback data from the ring buffer 16 to the image forming unit 18 (S304). The image forming unit 18 forms image data from the transferred loop reproduction data and displays the image on the display 24, and also outputs the formed image data to the recording device 20 to record it as loop reproduction image data (S305). ).

  Thus, by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, the user confirms the appearance of a symptom targeted for diagnosis on the image while viewing the tomographic image displayed in real time, and inputs the end trigger 30. It is possible to cause the display 24 to execute the loop reproduction including the symptom and to record the loop reproduction image data.

  It should be noted that the R wave count number and time value used for the search at the loop playback start time in S303 in FIG. 3 can be appropriately changed according to the frequency of appearance of the target symptom while the user views the real-time image. May be. Further, after all the frames recorded in the ring buffer 16 are reproduced, the user may set a loop reproduction start time point for recording in the recording device 20.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above is only a mere illustration in all the points, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the loop reproduction data extracted from the ring buffer 16 is processed into the reproduction image data in the image forming unit 18 and then recorded in the recording device 20. It is also possible to record the extracted loop reproduction data directly in the recording device 20.

  Further, the ring buffer 16 provided in the preceding stage of the image forming unit 18 may be provided in the subsequent stage of the image forming unit 18. In this case, the image data formed by the image forming unit 18 is recorded instead of the line data 118 shown in FIG. Then, the controller 22 transfers the image data from the loop playback start time to the end trigger input time to the storage device 20 and the display 24 as loop playback data.

  Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a VTR of an external device is used as the recording device 20 and the controller 22 issues a recording instruction via a remote control light receiving unit of the VTR. In this case, the image signal formed by the image forming unit 18 is supplied to the image input terminal of the VTR. Alternatively, a hard disk recorder or an optical disk recorder may be used as the recording device 20, and recording operation control by the controller 22 may be performed via a dedicated control line such as RS232C.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the recording content of a ring buffer. It is a figure for demonstrating the recording operation | movement of the image data for loop reproduction | regeneration.

Explanation of symbols

  16 ring buffer, 18 image forming unit, 20 recording device, 22 controller.

Claims (8)

An ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in a space including the target tissue; and
A transmission / reception unit for controlling the ultrasonic probe to obtain a reception signal;
A memory for temporarily storing a plurality of frames of data obtained from the received signal;
A controller that sets a recording start time based on a recording end time designated by a user and extracts recording data to be recorded in a data recording unit from a plurality of frames of data stored in the memory;
Have
The plurality of frames of data stored in the memory is associated with an R wave flag indicating whether or not an R wave is detected when each frame is acquired as the electrocardiographic waveform information of the heart which is the target tissue. And
Based on the R wave flag , the controller sets the recording start time to a time point that is a predetermined number of R wave counts from the recording end time point, and from the recording start time point to the recording end time point. Data corresponding to the period is extracted as recorded data ,
The recording end time is designated by the user via the operation panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
The R wave count is changed by the user.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The controller retrieves data of a frame corresponding to the recording end point from the data of a plurality of frames stored in the memory, and retrieves a frame from which the R wave flag indicates that R wave is detected retroactively. Then, by searching for the data of the frame corresponding to the recording start time that goes back by the count number of the R wave specified in advance, the recording data is changed from the frame corresponding to the recording start time to the recording end time. Extract data up to the corresponding frame,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording data is subjected to image formation processing in an image forming unit provided at a subsequent stage of the memory and recorded in the data recording unit.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The memory stores image data that has undergone image formation processing in an image forming unit provided in a preceding stage of the memory.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound into the space including the heart;
A transmission / reception unit for controlling the ultrasonic probe to obtain a reception signal;
A memory for temporarily storing received data of a plurality of frames obtained from the received signal;
A controller that sets a recording start time based on a recording end time designated by a user, and extracts received data from the recording start time to the recording end time from the memory;
An image forming unit that performs image forming processing on the received data extracted from the memory to form image data, and outputs the image data to a data recording unit;
I have a,
The received data of a plurality of frames stored in the memory is associated with an R wave flag indicating whether or not an R wave has been detected for each frame as the electrocardiographic waveform information of the heart. ,
Based on the R wave flag, the controller sets the recording start time to a time point that is a predetermined number of R wave counts from the recording end time point, and from the recording start time point to the recording end time point. Extract the received data corresponding to the period,
The recording end time is designated by a user via an operation panel provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
The R wave count is changed by the user.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5,
The controller retrieves the received data of the frame corresponding to the recording end time from the received data of the plurality of frames stored in the memory, and from the received data, the frame in which the R wave flag indicates that the R wave is detected is detected in the past. Corresponding to the recording end time from the frame corresponding to the recording start time by searching retroactively and searching the reception data of the frame corresponding to the recording start time going back by the count number of the R wave specified in advance Extract the received data up to the frame to be
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5,
The received data stored in the memory is attached with the acquisition time information,
The controller uses the acquisition time information to set a time point that is traced back from the recording end time as the recording start time by a time specified by a user.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5,
The image forming unit outputs the image data to the data recording unit and causes the display unit to display an ultrasonic image corresponding to the image data.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

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