JP5065743B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image generation program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a three-dimensional image of an observation target and an ultrasonic image generation program.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can transmit ultrasonic waves to a subject and generate and display a three-dimensional image based on reflected waves from the subject.

  If a portion unnecessary for observation exists around the region to be observed (region of interest (ROI)), it becomes a shielding object, and it becomes difficult to observe the three-dimensional image included in the region of interest. Therefore, conventionally, unnecessary images that are not included in the region of interest are removed. For example, a three-dimensional image is displayed while being rotated on the screen of a display device, and unnecessary images are removed one by one (for example, Patent Document 1).

  For example, a cut plane line indicating a boundary between an image included in the observation target range and an unnecessary image is set on a tomographic image as two-dimensional information, and an image existing between the viewpoint and the cut plane line is removed. The remaining image is displayed three-dimensionally. Conventionally, an operator has set a cut plane line. In other words, while the operator observes the cut plane line displayed on the tomographic image, the operator tilts the cut plane line to a desired angle by using a device such as a trackball and is included in the observation target range. The boundary between the image to be displayed and the unnecessary image was specified.

JP 2006-223712 A

  As described above, conventionally, an operator designates a boundary between an image included in the observation target range and an unnecessary image by tilting the cut plane line to a desired angle. However, this operation is complicated. In particular, in imaging using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic probe is held in one hand and the ultrasonic probe is applied to the body surface of the subject. Under such circumstances, it has been very difficult to set a cut plane line at a desired angle by operating a device such as a trackball with the other hand. Further, since it is necessary to simultaneously operate the ultrasonic probe and set the angle of the cut plane line, it is difficult to concentrate on the operation of the ultrasonic probe.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic image generation program capable of easily setting a cut plane line and reducing an operator's burden. And

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a scanning unit that transmits ultrasonic waves to a three-dimensional region and receives a reflected wave from the three-dimensional region, and a tomographic image based on a reception signal received by the scanning unit A tomogram data generating means for generating data, a display processing means for displaying a tomogram based on the tomogram data on a display means and displaying a cut plane line superimposed on the tomogram at a preset initial position ; A rotation control means for controlling rotation of the cut plane line according to a preset rotation speed with a predetermined axis as a rotation axis; and when the rotation stop instruction is received and when the stop instruction is received, anda three-dimensional image data generating means for generating a 3-dimensional image data based on the data included in the scope of one of the ranges divided by the cut plane line Said display processing means, under control of the rotation control means, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by displaying overlapping the new cut plane line in the tomographic image.
The invention according to claim 8 is a tomogram data generation function for receiving a reception signal acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a three-dimensional region and generating tomogram data based on the reception signal. A display processing function for displaying a tomographic image based on the tomographic image data on a display means and displaying a cut plane line superimposed on the tomographic image at a preset initial position, and a predetermined axis as a rotation axis, A rotation control function for controlling the rotation of the cut plane line according to a set rotation speed, and when the rotation stop instruction is received, and when the stop instruction is received, the range of the range divided by the cut plane line and a three-dimensional image data generating function of generating a 3-dimensional image data based on the data out within the scope of one, is executed, the display Management functions, based on control by the rotation control function, a new cut plane line ultrasound image generation program for causing displayed superimposed on the tomographic image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on the operator due to the operation of the cut plane line by rotating the cut plane line while displaying it on the tomographic image and setting the cut plane line according to the rotation stop instruction. It becomes.

[Embodiment]
(Constitution)
A configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission / reception unit 3, a signal processing unit 4, an image data generation unit 5, a display processing unit 6, a line generation unit 7, a rotation control unit 8, a user interface ( (UI) 9, a contour extraction unit 10, and an inversion determination unit 11.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 is a two-dimensional array probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are two-dimensionally arranged, and can scan a three-dimensional range with ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic probe 2 is a one-dimensional array probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a line in a predetermined direction (scanning direction), and is superposed in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction (swinging direction). A one-dimensional array probe capable of scanning in a three-dimensional range by mechanically oscillating the acoustic wave vibrator may be used.

  The transmission / reception unit 3 includes a transmission unit and a reception unit, supplies an electrical signal to the ultrasonic probe 2 to generate an ultrasonic wave, and receives an echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 2.

  The transmission unit of the transmission / reception unit 3 includes a clock generation circuit, a transmission delay circuit, and a pulsar circuit (not shown). The clock generation circuit is a circuit that generates a clock signal that determines the transmission timing and transmission frequency of the ultrasonic signal. The transmission delay circuit is a circuit that performs transmission focus with a delay when transmitting ultrasonic waves. The pulsar circuit incorporates pulsars corresponding to the number of individual paths (channels) corresponding to each transducer, generates a drive pulse at a delayed transmission timing, and supplies it to each transducer of the ultrasonic probe 2. It has become.

  The receiving unit of the transmitting / receiving unit 3 includes a preamplifier circuit, an A / D conversion circuit, and a reception delay / adder circuit (not shown). The preamplifier circuit amplifies the echo signal output from each transducer of the ultrasonic probe 2 for each reception channel. The A / D converter circuit A / D converts the amplified echo signal. The reception delay / adder circuit gives a delay time necessary for determining the reception directivity to the echo signal after A / D conversion, and adds the delay time. By the addition, the reflection component from the direction according to the reception directivity is emphasized. The signal added by the transmission / reception unit 3 is referred to as “RF data (or raw data)”.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 and the transmission / reception unit 3 correspond to an example of the “scanning unit” of the present invention.

  The signal processing unit 4 includes a B mode processing circuit, a Doppler processing circuit, and a color mode processing circuit. The RF data output from the transmission / reception unit 3 is processed by one of the processing circuits. The B-mode processing circuit visualizes echo amplitude information and generates B-mode ultrasonic raster data from the echo signal. The Doppler processing circuit extracts the Doppler shift frequency component and further performs FFT processing or the like to generate data having blood flow information. The color mode processing circuit visualizes the moving blood flow information and generates color ultrasonic raster data. Blood flow information includes information such as speed, dispersion, and power, and blood flow information is obtained as binarized information.

  The image data generation unit 5 includes a tomographic image data generation unit 51 and a three-dimensional image data generation unit 52. The tomographic image data generation unit 51 converts ultrasonic raster data into image data represented by orthogonal coordinates (scan conversion process) in order to obtain an image represented by the orthogonal coordinate system. For example, the tomographic image data generation unit 51 generates tomographic image data as two-dimensional information based on the B-mode ultrasonic raster data, and outputs the tomographic image data to the display processing unit 6. The display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a tomographic image based on the tomographic image data.

  The three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 generates volume data based on the plurality of tomographic image data generated by the tomographic image data generation unit 51. The three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 performs image processing such as surface rendering processing, volume rendering processing, and MPR processing (Multi Planar Reconstruction) on the volume data, thereby generating three-dimensional image data or arbitrary Ultrasonic image data such as image data (MPR image data) in a cross section is generated.

  When volume data is acquired by executing volume scanning by the ultrasound probe 2 and the transmission / reception unit 3, the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 performs image processing such as volume rendering processing on the volume data. Thus, ultrasonic image data such as three-dimensional image data is generated.

  The display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a tomographic image based on the tomographic image data output from the image data generating unit 5 and a three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data. Further, the cut plane line generated by the line generation unit 7 to be described later is displayed on the display unit 91 so as to overlap the tomographic image.

  The line generation unit 7 creates a cut plane line for designating the boundary between the range for generating the three-dimensional image data and the range excluding the image. For example, the line generation unit 7 generates a cut plane line having a predetermined length. The cut plane line is displayed on the display unit 91 as a straight line. The line generation unit 7 outputs the coordinate information of the cut plane line to the display processing unit 6, and the display processing unit 6 displays the cut plane line on the tomographic image on the display unit 91 according to the coordinate information of the cut plane line. Let The cut plane line is displayed while rotating on the display unit 91. This rotation control is performed by the rotation control unit 8.

  The rotation control unit 8 controls the rotational movement of the cut plane line with a predetermined axis as a rotation axis. The rotation control unit 8 rotates the cut plane line in a preset direction according to a preset rotation speed. This rotational speed can be set to an arbitrary speed by the operator. For example, the rotation control unit 8 rotates the cut plane line through 360 degrees in a preset direction with the midpoint of the cut plane line as the rotation axis. Note that the rotation control unit 8 controls the rotation angle so that the cut plane line is parallel to one axis of the orthogonal coordinate system as the initial angle. The rotation control unit 8 outputs a rotation angle every predetermined time to the line generation unit 7 according to a preset rotation speed. The line generation unit 7 generates a cut plane line inclined by the rotation angle according to the rotation angle, and outputs the coordinate information of the cut plane line to the display processing unit 6.

  In this embodiment, the display processing unit 6, the line generation unit 7, and the rotation control unit 8 constitute an example of the “display processing unit” of the present invention.

  Here, an example of the cut plane line displayed on the display unit 91 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a screen diagram for explaining the movement of the cut plane line on the tomographic image. In this embodiment, as an example, a case where an image of a fetus is acquired and displayed will be described.

  The display processing unit 6 receives tomographic image data generated by scanning with ultrasonic waves from the tomographic image data generating unit 51 and causes the display unit 91 to display a tomographic image based on the tomographic image data. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a tomographic image 100 in which the fetal image 101 is represented. Then, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display the cut plane line 102 generated by the line generation unit 7 on the tomographic image 100 at a preset initial position. A line designated by the cut plane line 102 represents a boundary between a range in which 3D image data is generated and a range in which an image is unnecessary.

  Each time the line generation unit 7 receives the rotation angle of the cut plane line from the rotation control unit 8, the line generation unit 7 generates a new cut plane line that is inclined by the rotation angle according to the rotation angle. Upon receiving the coordinate information of the new cut plane line from the line generation unit 7, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display the new cut plane line.

  The rotation control unit 8 outputs the rotation angle of the cut plane line over 360 degrees to the line generation unit 7 according to a preset rotation speed, and the line generation unit 7 successively generates the cut plane lines inclined to the new rotation angle. And generate. Then, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display the new cut plane line generated by the line generation unit 7 on the tomographic image 100. As a result, a cut plane line that rotates in a predetermined direction at a preset rotation speed is displayed on the display unit 91.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the display processing unit 6 rotates the cut plane line 102 in the direction of arrow A (the direction of the solid line) over 360 degrees. The display control unit 6 repeats the rotation of the cut plane line 102. The rotation direction of the cut plane line 102 (the direction of arrow A) is controlled by the rotation control unit 8. Further, the cut plane line 102 may be rotated in the direction of the arrow B (the direction of the broken line) which is the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow A.

  Note that the cut plane line 102 may be translated on the display unit 91. For example, when the operator gives an instruction to move the cut plane line in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction using the operation unit 92, the line generation unit 7 generates a cut plane line according to the movement instruction. The display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display the cut plane line.

  When the operator gives an instruction to stop the cut plane line using the operation unit 92, the stop instruction is output to the line generation unit 7. The line generation unit 7 outputs the coordinate information of the cut plane line inclined at the rotation angle at the time when the stop instruction is given to the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52. For example, a stop button is installed in the operation unit 92, and the operator presses the stop button to give a cut plane line stop instruction. This stop instruction is output to the line generator 7. In addition, a freeze button for placing the tomographic image in a stationary state and displaying it on the display unit 91 is installed in the operation unit 92, and when the operator presses the freeze button, the tomographic image is stopped and the cut plane line is stopped. You may make it give.

  When the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 receives the coordinate information of the cut plane line when stopped from the line generation unit 7, one of the ranges divided by the cut plane line as a boundary in the volume data. 3D image data is generated by performing volume rendering on the volume data included in the. For example, the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 excludes data included in the range between the viewpoint and the cut plane line at the time of executing the volume rendering, based on the data included in the other ranges. Generate dimensional image data.

  The three-dimensional image data generated by the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 is output to the display processing unit 6. The display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a 3D image based on the 3D image data. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the display processing unit 6 displays a three-dimensional image 103 on the display unit 91. The display processing unit 6 may display the tomographic image 100 and the three-dimensional image 103 on the display unit 91 at the same time.

  As described above, the cut plane line is automatically rotated and displayed on the display unit 91, and the cut plane line is set at a desired position in accordance with the operator's stop instruction. Can be reduced. That is, the cut plane line is automatically rotated, and if the operator gives only a stop instruction, the cut plane line can be set, so that it is possible to concentrate on the operation of the ultrasonic probe 2.

  In the embodiment described above, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 displays the cut plane line on the display unit 91 while rotating the cut plane line over 360 degrees. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment may display the display unit 91 while repeating the cut plane line within the range where the luminance value of the tomographic image is equal to or less than a predetermined value (threshold value).

  When receiving the tomographic image data from the tomographic image data generating unit 51, the contour extracting unit 10 detects a range in which the luminance value of each pixel constituting the tomographic image data is equal to or higher than a predetermined luminance value (threshold value) set in advance. Extract the outline of the range. Then, the contour extraction unit 10 outputs the coordinate information of the contour to the inversion determination unit 11. The threshold value is a luminance value for distinguishing a range to be observed (region of interest (ROI)) from a range unnecessary for observation. That is, the range whose luminance value is equal to or higher than the threshold is included in the range of the observation target, and the range whose luminance value is equal to or lower than the threshold is a range other than the observation target.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the fetus 101 is an observation target, the brightness value of the image representing the fetus 101 is set in the contour extraction unit 10 as a threshold value. As a result, the contour extraction unit 10 extracts the contour of the fetus 101.

  When the inversion determination unit 11 receives the coordinate information of the cut plane line from the line generation unit 7 and further receives the coordinate information of the contour in the range of the predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more from the contour extraction unit 10, Based on this, it is determined whether or not to reverse the rotation of the cut plane line. That is, the inversion determination unit 11 determines whether or not to rotate the cut plane line rotating in the predetermined direction in the reverse direction. For example, based on the coordinate information, the reversal determination unit 11 controls rotation of a reversal instruction for reversing the cut plane line when a part of the cut plane line overlaps a contour in a range of a predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more. Output to unit 8. The rotation control unit 8 changes the rotation direction of the cut plane line in the opposite direction in accordance with the inversion instruction, and outputs the rotation angle to the line generation unit 7 in accordance with a predetermined rotation speed. As a result, the cut plane line is displayed on the display unit 91 while rotating in the opposite direction.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotation control unit 8, the line generation unit 7, and the display processing unit 6 rotate the cut plane line 102 in the direction of arrow A, and a part of the cut plane line 102 has a predetermined luminance value ( When the contour overlaps the contour in the above range, the reversal determination unit 11 outputs a reversal instruction for the cut plane run 102 to the rotation control unit 8. For example, when a part of the cut plane line 02 overlaps the contour of the fetus 101, the inversion determination unit 11 outputs an inversion instruction for the cut plane line 102 to the rotation control unit 8.

  The rotation control unit 8 changes the rotation direction so as to rotate in the direction of arrow B in accordance with the reverse instruction, and outputs the rotation angle to the line generation unit 7. When receiving a rotation angle from the rotation control unit 8, the line generation unit 7 generates a cut plane line inclined by the rotation angle and outputs the cut plane line to the display processing unit 6. The display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display the cut plane line so as to overlap the tomographic image 100. As a result, the cut plane line 102 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, which is the opposite direction of arrow A.

  Then, the inversion determination unit 11 gives the rotation control unit 8 an inversion instruction for the cut plane line every time the cut plane line overlaps the contour in the range of the predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more. As a result, every time the cut plane line overlaps the contour in the range of the predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more, the cut plane line is rotated in the opposite direction.

  As described above, each time a part of the cut plane line overlaps the outline of the range that is equal to or greater than the predetermined luminance value (threshold value), the cut plane line is rotated in the opposite direction so It is possible to repeat the cut plane line within. Since the range above the predetermined luminance value (threshold value) is the range of the observation target, the cut plane line can be repeated within the range other than the observation target while avoiding the range of the observation target. Thus, since the cut plane line can be set only within the range other than the observation target, it is possible to easily set the cut plane line while avoiding the observation target range. Then, it is possible to generate the three-dimensional image data included in the observation target range without removing the image included in the observation target range.

  As described above, when the operator gives an instruction to stop the cut plane line using the operation unit 92, the line generation unit 7 three-dimensionally displays the coordinate information of the cut plane line at the time when the stop instruction is given. The data is output to the image data generation unit 52. Based on the coordinate information, the 3D image data generation unit 52 removes the data included in the range between the viewpoint and the cut plane line, and converts the 3D image data based on the data included in the other range. Generate.

  Note that the contour extraction unit 10 and the inversion determination unit 11 may not be installed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. When the contour extraction unit 10 and the inversion determination unit 11 are not installed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1, the cut plane line is displayed on the display unit 91 while being rotated through 360 degrees.

  The user interface 9 includes a display unit 91 and an operation unit 92. The display unit 91 includes a monitor such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and displays a tomographic image, a three-dimensional image, blood flow information, or the like on the screen. The operation unit 92 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, or a TCS (Touch Command Screen). The operation unit 92 instructs the operator to stop the cut plane line, set scan conditions, set a region of interest (ROI), and the like. Various instructions and settings are made.

  The image data generation unit 5, the display processing unit 6, the line generation unit 7, the rotation control unit 8, the contour extraction unit 10, and the inversion determination unit 11 include a CPU and a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM. ing. The storage device stores an image data generation program, a display processing program, a line generation program, a rotation control program, a contour extraction program, and an inversion determination program. When the CPU executes each program, the function of the image data generation unit 5, the function of the display processing unit 6, the function of the line generation unit 7, the function of the rotation control unit 8, the function of the contour extraction unit 10, and the inversion determination unit 11 functions are executed. That is, the CPU executes the image data generation program to generate ultrasonic image data such as tomographic image data and three-dimensional image data. Further, the CPU executes a display processing program, and displays the cut plane line on the tomographic image on the display unit 91. Further, the CPU generates a cut plane line inclined at a predetermined angle by executing a line generation program. Further, the CPU executes the rotation control program to determine the rotation angle of the cut plane line according to a predetermined rotation speed. Further, the CPU executes a contour extraction program to perform threshold processing on the tomographic image data to extract a predetermined range of contours. In addition, the CPU executes the reversal determination program to compare the cut plane line coordinates with the contour coordinates to determine the necessity of reversal of the cut plane lines.

(Operation)
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(First operation mode)
A first operation mode by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first operation mode by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Step S01)
First, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the subject by the ultrasonic probe 2, and a three-dimensional region is scanned with the ultrasonic wave.

(Step S02)
The tomographic image data generation unit 51 generates tomographic image data along a predetermined cross section based on a reception signal acquired by scanning with ultrasonic waves.

(Step S03)
The line generation unit 7 generates a cut plane line inclined by the rotation angle according to the rotation angle output from the rotation control unit 8.

(Step S04)
When the display processing unit 6 receives the tomographic image data generated by the tomographic image data generation unit 51 and further receives the cut plane line generated by the line generation unit 7, the display processing unit 6 superimposes the cut plane line on the tomographic image. It is displayed on the display unit 91. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display the cut plane line 102 on the tomographic image 100.

  Then, scanning with ultrasonic waves is continued by the ultrasonic probe 2 and the transmission / reception unit 3, and the tomographic image data generation unit 51 continues to generate new tomographic image data. The rotation control unit 8 outputs the rotation angle to the line generation unit 7 according to a predetermined rotation speed. The line generation unit 7 generates a new cut plane line each time a rotation angle is received from the rotation control unit 8. Then, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a new cut plane line on the tomographic image based on the newly generated tomographic image data. As a result, the cut plane line 102 is displayed on the display unit 91 so as to overlap the tomographic image 100 while rotating at a predetermined rotation speed. In the first operation mode, the rotation control unit 8 outputs the rotation angle to the line generation unit 7 over 360 degrees. Thereby, the cut plane line 102 is displayed on the display unit 91 while being rotated through 360 degrees.

(Step S05)
The operator observes the movement of the cut plane line 102 displayed on the display unit 91 and determines whether or not an instruction to stop the cut plane line 102 is given. When the cut plane 102 is displayed at a desired position (angle), the operator gives an instruction to stop the cut plane line 102 using the operation unit 92.

(Step S06)
When the operator gives a stop instruction using the operation unit 92 (step S05, Yes), the line generation unit 7 receives the stop instruction, and three-dimensionally displays the coordinate information of the cut plane line inclined at the rotation angle at that time. The data is output to the image data generation unit 52. On the other hand, if the operator does not give a stop instruction (No at Step S05), the processing from Step S01 to Step S04 is continued.

(Step S07)
Upon receiving the coordinate information of the cut plane line, the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 excludes data between the viewpoint and the cut plane from the range divided by the cut plane line in the volume data. Three-dimensional image data is generated based on the data included in the range.

(Step S08)
The display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the display processing unit 6 displays a three-dimensional image 103 on the display unit 91.

  As described above, by automatically rotating the cut plane line, the operator can set the cut plane line at a desired position simply by giving a stop instruction, which can reduce the burden on the operator. It becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to concentrate on the operation of the ultrasonic probe 2.

(Second operation mode)
Next, a second operation mode by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a second operation mode by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Step S10)
First, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the subject by the ultrasonic probe 2, and a three-dimensional region is scanned with the ultrasonic wave.

(Step S11)
The tomographic image data generation unit 51 generates tomographic image data along a predetermined cross section based on a reception signal acquired by scanning with ultrasonic waves.

(Step S12)
The line generation unit 7 generates a cut plane line inclined by the rotation angle according to the rotation angle output from the rotation control unit 8.

(Step S13)
When the display processing unit 6 receives the tomographic image data generated by the tomographic image data generation unit 51 and further receives the cut plane line generated by the line generation unit 7, the display processing unit 6 superimposes the cut plane line on the tomographic image. It is displayed on the display unit 91. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display the cut plane line 102 on the tomographic image 100.

  Then, scanning with ultrasonic waves is continued by the ultrasonic probe 2 and the transmission / reception unit 3, and the tomographic image data 51 continues to generate new tomographic image data. The rotation control unit 8 outputs the rotation angle to the line generation unit 7 according to a predetermined rotation speed. The line generation unit 7 generates a new cut plane line each time a rotation angle is received from the rotation control unit 8. Then, the display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a new cut plane line on the tomographic image based on the newly generated tomographic image data. As a result, the cut plane line 102 is displayed on the display unit 91 so as to overlap the tomographic image 100 while rotating at a predetermined rotation speed.

(Step S14)
On the other hand, the contour extracting unit 10 receives the tomographic image data from the tomographic image data generating unit 51, detects a range of a predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more, and extracts the contour of the range. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the contour extraction unit 10 extracts the contour of the fetus 101.

(Step S15)
Then, the inversion determination unit 11 receives the coordinate information of the cut plane line from the line generation unit 7, and further receives the coordinate information of the contour in the range of the predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more from the contour extraction unit 10, and the coordinate information Based on the above, it is determined whether to invert the cut plane line.

(Step S15, Step S16)
Then, when the inversion determination unit 11 determines that a part of the cut plane line overlaps the contour in the range of the predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more based on the coordinate information (step S15, Yes), the inversion determination unit 11 The cut plane line inversion instruction is output to the rotation control unit 8 (step S16). On the other hand, when a part of the cut plane line does not overlap with the contour in the range of the predetermined luminance value (threshold value) or more (No at Step S15), the processing from Step S10 to Step S14 is continued.

(Step S17)
The rotation control unit 8 outputs the rotation angle to the line generation unit 7 according to a predetermined rotation speed with the rotation direction of the cut plane line reversed in accordance with the inversion instruction.

  When the line generation unit 7 receives the rotation angle from the rotation control unit 8, the line generation unit 7 generates a cut plane line inclined by the rotation angle and outputs the cut plane line to the display control unit 6 (step S12). Further, scanning with ultrasonic waves is continued by the ultrasonic probe 2 and the transmission / reception unit 3 (step S10), and the tomographic image data generation unit 51 continues to generate new tomographic image data (step S11). In this way, the operations from step S10 to step S17 are repeatedly executed.

  As described above, every time the cut plane line overlaps the outline of the range above the predetermined luminance value (threshold value), the cut plane line is rotated in the opposite direction to cut within the range below the predetermined luminance value (threshold value). It is possible to repeat the plane line. This makes it possible to easily set the cut plane line while avoiding the range of the observation target.

  Then, the operator observes the movement of the cut plane line 102 displayed on the display unit 91. When the cut plane line 102 is displayed at a desired position (angle), the operator uses the operation unit 92 to cut the cut plane line 102. Give stop instructions. When the line generation unit 7 receives an instruction to stop the cut plane line, the line generation unit 7 outputs the coordinate information of the cut plane line inclined at the rotation angle at that time to the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52.

  Upon receiving the coordinate information of the cut plane line, the three-dimensional image data generation unit 52 excludes the data between the viewpoint and the cut plane line from the range divided by the cut plane line in the volume data. Three-dimensional image data is generated based on data included in a range other than. The display processing unit 6 causes the display unit 91 to display a three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure of the screen for demonstrating the motion of the cut plane line on a tomogram. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st operation | movement aspect by the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd operation | movement aspect by the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Transmission / reception part 4 Signal processing part 5 Image data generation part 6 Display processing part 7 Line generation part 8 Rotation control part 9 User interface 10 Contour extraction part 11 Inversion judgment part 51 Tomographic image data generation part 52 3D Image Data Generation Unit 91 Display Unit 92 Operation Unit

Claims (8)

Scanning means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a three-dimensional region and receiving reflected waves from the three-dimensional region;
Tomogram data generating means for generating tomogram data based on the received signal received by the scanning means;
Display processing means for displaying a tomographic image based on the tomographic image data on a display means and displaying a cut plane line superimposed on the tomographic image at a preset initial position ;
A rotation control means for controlling rotation of the cut plane line according to a rotation speed set in advance with a predetermined axis as a rotation axis;
Three-dimensional image data that generates three-dimensional image data based on data included in one of the ranges divided by the cut plane line when the rotation stop instruction is received and the stop instruction is received Generating means;
Have
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus , wherein the display processing unit displays a new cut plane line on the tomographic image based on the control by the rotation control unit . Line generating means for generating the cut plane line;
The rotation control means controls the rotation by outputting, to the line generation unit, a rotation angle for rotating the cut plane line in a preset direction based on the rotation speed,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the line generation unit generates the new cut plane line according to the rotation angle. The line generation unit is configured to generate the new line based on the rotation angle output every predetermined time.
Create a cut plane line
The display processing unit overlaps the new cut plane line with the tomographic image every predetermined time.
3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is displayed. The display processing means is based on the tomographic image data and the luminance value of the tomographic image is within a predetermined value or less.
The display means to display the new cut plane line while rotating
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The display processing means is based on the tomographic image data and the luminance value of the tomographic image is within a predetermined value or less.
Displaying the new cut plane line on the display means while repeating it.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: Contour extracting means for extracting a contour of a range in which the luminance value of each pixel constituting the tomographic image data is equal to or higher than a predetermined value;
Based on the coordinate information of the new cut plane line and the extracted coordinate information of the contour, an instruction to invert the new cut plane line when a part of the new cut plane line overlaps the contour Reversal judgment means for outputting to the rotation control means;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, comprising: Having operating means;
7. The line generation unit according to claim 2, wherein the line generation unit generates a new cut plane line obtained by translating the cut plane line based on an instruction input from the operation unit. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. On the computer,
A tomogram data generation function for receiving a received signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a three-dimensional region and generating tomogram data based on the received signal;
A tomographic image based on the tomographic image data is displayed on the display means, and a preset initial position is displayed.
A display processing function for displaying a cut plane line on the tomographic image,
The cut plane line is rotated according to a preset rotation speed with a predetermined axis as the rotation axis.
A rotation control function for controlling the rotation,
Three-dimensional image data that generates three-dimensional image data based on data included in one of the ranges divided by the cut plane line when the rotation stop instruction is received and the stop instruction is received Generation function,
And execute
The display processing function is a new cut plane based on control by the rotation control function.
An ultrasonic image generation program , wherein a line is displayed on the tomographic image .

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