JP6714927B2 - Ultrasonic image display device and method, and recording medium storing program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention stores an ultrasonic image display device and method for displaying a short-axis image and a long-axis image of a subject simultaneously on the same screen to support a puncturing operation for the subject using a puncture needle, and a program. The present invention relates to a recording medium.

In medical practice, puncturing of a living tissue (subject) such as general injection, nerve block injection, blood collection, and catheter insertion is widely performed. When a procedure such as nerve block injection or catheter insertion is performed, a living tissue may be damaged unless the target site is accurately punctured. Against this background, in recent years, an ultrasonic guide technique has been used in which a puncture is performed while observing the state of a target site on an ultrasonic image.

Conventionally, in a device using an ultrasonic guide, one tomographic image is displayed and puncturing is performed. With this device, only a short-axis image (transverse section) or a long-axis image (longitudinal section) can be confirmed. Therefore, there is a problem in that even if a blood vessel is punctured by a puncture needle or a tissue such as a nerve is damaged, it is not noticed.

In order to solve this problem, two orthogonal cross sections (horizontal cross section and vertical cross section) are simultaneously scanned to display ultrasonic images (short axis image and long axis image) of each section, and puncture while observing those images. A blood vessel imaging apparatus has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the blood vessel imaging apparatus of Patent Document 1, a short-axis image and a long-axis image are displayed on the same screen at the same time in a screen layout in which they are arranged side by side. In this way, by displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image side by side, it becomes possible to accurately grasp the tomographic structure of the blood vessel. Further, when inserting the puncture needle into the biological tissue, the puncture needle is displayed on the long-axis image after the puncture needle is displayed on the short-axis image. It also has the advantage that

Japanese Patent No. 5771806

By the way, when a worker such as a doctor performs a puncturing action using the angiography device, the direction of the ultrasonic probe should be changed depending on the position of the affected part to be punctured and the difference in whether the worker's dominant hand is right-handed or left-handed. There is. However, since the blood vessel imaging apparatus of Patent Document 2 does not have a function of switching the position (image layout) between the short-axis image and the long-axis image, the short-axis image has an appropriate image layout according to the orientation of the ultrasonic probe. The image and the long axis image could not be displayed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to switch the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the screen according to the orientation of the ultrasonic probe, and to puncture the puncture needle. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic image display device and an ultrasonic image display method that can be rapidly performed. Another object is to provide a recording medium storing a program for operating a computer incorporated in the ultrasonic image display device.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is to acquire a short-axis image showing a transverse section of a subject and a long-axis image showing a vertical section in a direction orthogonal to the short-axis image. An ultrasonic probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers for linearly scanning ultrasonic waves are arranged orthogonal to each other is used, and the short-axis image and the long-axis image are obtained based on a reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves. Simultaneously displaying an axis image on the same screen, an ultrasonic image display device for supporting a puncture operation for the subject using a puncture needle, and generating image data based on the reflected wave signal, An image processing unit for displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image created by using the image data side by side is provided, and the image processing unit is a first switch for instructing left and right switching of image positions. At the time of inputting a signal, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are interchanged between left and right, and the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being horizontally inverted, while the image of the long-axis image is horizontally displayed. While performing image processing, the ultrasonic probe includes a first element unit in which a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a short axis direction to obtain the short axis image, and the long axis. A probe main body internally accommodating a second element unit in which a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a long axis direction orthogonal to the short axis direction to obtain an image; Two kinds of probe-side identifying portions for identifying the minor axis direction and the major axis direction are provided on the side surface of the main body on the side of the first element unit housing and the side surface on the side of the second element unit, respectively. An ultrasonic wave characterized by comprising identification section display means for displaying an image side identification section corresponding to the type of the probe side identification section on the same screen at a position corresponding to the short axis image and the long axis image. An image display device will be the gist.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, the image processing means creates the image data based on the reflected wave signal, and the image data is used to create the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen. Are displayed side by side on. Then, when the first switching signal for instructing the left and right switching of the image positions is input, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are switched left and right by the image processing means. At this time, the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being left-right inverted, and the image of the long-axis image is displayed left-right inverted. When the ultrasonic image display device is configured as described above, the ultrasonic probe is directed to the right side to perform the puncturing operation on the subject, and the ultrasonic probe is directed to the left side to perform the puncturing operation on the subject. The positions (screen layouts) of the axis image and the long axis image can be interchanged between left and right. Then, at this time, the short-axis image showing the cross-section of the subject is displayed as it is without the image being inverted, so that the operator can confirm the cross-sectional structure of the subject without discomfort after switching the screen. Therefore, the puncture needle can be punctured quickly .
Further, according to the above invention, in the probe main body, two types of probe-side identification portions are provided on the side surface on the first element unit housing side and the side surface on the second element unit housing side, respectively. Then, the identification section display means displays the image side identification section according to the type of the probe side identification section at the position corresponding to the short axis image and the long axis image on the same screen. With this configuration, it is possible to easily visually recognize the short axis direction of the first element unit that acquires the short axis image and the long axis direction of the second element unit that acquires the long axis image. Therefore, the operator can accurately move the ultrasonic probe while checking the short-axis image and the long-axis image and the image-side identification section of those images, and can quickly find the puncture site in the subject and puncture the needle. It is possible to quickly perform the puncture.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image processing means further has a function of displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image vertically side by side, and instructing to switch the positions of the images vertically. When the second switching signal is input, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are switched up and down, and the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being inverted, while the image of the long-axis image is moved up and down. The gist is to perform the image processing of displaying the image in reverse.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the invention, the image processing means displays the short-axis image and the long-axis image vertically side by side on the same screen. Then, when the second switching signal for instructing the up/down switching of the image positions is input, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are switched up/down by the image processing means. At this time, the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being vertically inverted, and the image of the long-axis image is displayed with being vertically inverted. In this case, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image can be switched up and down depending on whether the ultrasonic probe is oriented upward or downward. Further, at this time, the short-axis image showing the cross-section of the subject is displayed as it is without the image being inverted, so that the operator can confirm the cross-sectional structure of the subject without discomfort after switching the screen. Therefore, the puncture needle can be punctured quickly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect , the probe-side identification portion is a linear identification portion having a different line type, and at least the minor axis is provided on the side surface on the first element unit accommodation side. Along the direction, and at least along the major axis direction on the side surface of the second element unit accommodating side, the image-side identification portion, depending on the line type of the probe-side identification portion. The gist of the present invention is a line-shaped identification unit that is displayed so as to surround the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the invention, the short-axis direction and the long-axis direction of the probe body can be easily recognized by the linear probe-side identifying portions having different line types. In addition, by the image side identification unit displayed so as to surround the short-axis image and the long-axis image, by confirming the short-axis image and the long-axis image corresponding to the short-axis direction and the long-axis direction of the probe main body, The structure of can be grasped quickly and surely.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, a direction indicating mark for indicating a moving direction of an image according to the short axis direction of the ultrasonic probe is provided on the same screen with the short axis. The gist of the invention is to have a mark display means for displaying at a position corresponding to an image.

Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the mark display means displays the direction indicating mark on the same screen at a position corresponding to the short-axis image. In this case, the operator can move the ultrasonic probe to an appropriate position while confirming the direction indicating mark by grasping the direction of the minor axis, and the puncture needle can be punctured quickly.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects , a direction indicating mark that indicates a moving direction of an image according to the short axis direction of the ultrasonic probe is provided on the same screen with the short axis. The first element unit and the second element unit are provided on the bottom surface of the probe, and are provided with a mark display means for displaying the ultrasonic wave at a position corresponding to the image, and a transducer installation surface for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave by contacting the subject. Is arranged so as to have a substantially T-shape when viewed from the side, and the mark display means displays a T-shaped mark schematically showing the direction of the ultrasonic probe on the same screen. Use as a summary.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 5 , since the T-shaped mark schematically showing the direction of the ultrasonic probe is displayed on the same screen by the mark displaying means, the operator can see the T-shaped mark. By confirming the display direction of the mark, the direction of the ultrasonic probe can be easily grasped. Then, by confirming the positional relationship between the short-axis image and the long-axis image corresponding to the direction of the ultrasonic probe, the puncture needle can be punctured quickly.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the puncture needle is provided on a lower portion of a side surface of the probe main body on a side where the first element unit is accommodated, along the longitudinal section indicated by the long-axis image. The gist is that a puncture guide attachment for guiding the puncture needle to be inserted into the subject at a predetermined angle set in advance is detachably fixed.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 6 , since the puncture guide attachment is fixed to the lower part of the side surface of the probe body on the first element unit accommodating side, a beginner unfamiliar with the use of the ultrasonic image display device by a worker. Even if it is, the puncture needle can be punctured quickly and accurately. Further, in this case, the puncture needle is punctured from the first element unit side, and the puncture needle image is displayed on the short-axis image at a timing earlier than the long-axis image during the puncture. Therefore, when the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are interchanged as described above, by displaying the image of the short-axis image as it is without inverting it, the operator can quickly confirm the cross-sectional structure of the subject without discomfort. be able to.

The invention according to claim 7 is a first element unit in which a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a short-axis direction in order to acquire a short-axis image showing a cross section of a subject , A probe main body internally accommodating a second element unit in which a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a major axis direction orthogonal to the minor axis direction to obtain the major axis image. , Two types of probe side identifying portions for identifying the minor axis direction and the major axis direction on the side surface of the probe body on the first element unit housing side and the side surface of the second element unit housing side, respectively. Using the ultrasonic probe provided, the short-axis image and the long-axis image are simultaneously displayed on the same screen based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave, and a puncture needle was used. In an ultrasonic image display method for supporting a puncture operation on the subject, image data is generated based on the reflected wave signal, and the short-axis image and the long-axis image created using the image data are left and right. Image display step of displaying side by side with each other, a switching signal input step of inputting a first switching signal for instructing left and right switching of image positions, and the short axis image and the long axis image on the condition that the first switching signal is input. The same as the image display switching step of performing the image processing in which the positions of the axial images are switched to the left and right, and the images of the short-axis images are displayed without being horizontally inverted while the images of the long-axis images are horizontally inverted and displayed. An ultrasonic image display, comprising: an identification unit display step of displaying an image-side identification unit according to the type of the probe-side identification unit on a screen at a position corresponding to the short-axis image and the long-axis image. Let the method be the gist.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 8, in the image display step, image data is generated based on the reflected wave signal of the ultrasonic wave acquired by using the ultrasonic probe, and the short axis is generated by using the image data. The image and the long-axis image are created, and the short-axis image and the long-axis image are displayed side by side on the same screen. In the switching signal input step, a first switching signal for instructing the left and right switching of image positions is input. In the image display switching step, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are switched left and right on condition that the first switching signal is input. At this time, the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being horizontally inverted, while the image of the long-axis image is horizontally inverted and displayed. In this way, the operator can confirm the cross-sectional structure of the subject without a feeling of discomfort after switching the screen, and can quickly puncture the puncture needle.

The invention according to claim 8 is a first element unit in which a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a short-axis direction in order to acquire a short-axis image showing a cross section of a subject , A probe main body internally accommodating a second element unit in which a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a major axis direction orthogonal to the minor axis direction to obtain the major axis image. , Two types of probe side identifying portions for identifying the minor axis direction and the major axis direction on the side surface of the probe body on the first element unit housing side and the side surface of the second element unit housing side, respectively. Using the ultrasonic probe provided, the short-axis image and the long-axis image are simultaneously displayed on the same screen based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave, and a puncture needle was used. The computer incorporated in the ultrasonic image display device supporting the puncture operation on the subject generates image data based on the reflected wave signal, and the short-axis image and the long length image created by using the image data. On the condition that an image display step of displaying the axial images side by side is displayed, a switching signal input step of inputting a first switching signal for instructing the left and right switching of the image positions, and the input of the first switching signal, the above short The image display is switched such that the positions of the axial image and the long-axis image are interchanged between left and right, and the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being horizontally inverted while the image of the long-axis image is horizontally inverted and displayed. A program for performing a step and an identifying section displaying step of displaying an image side identifying section corresponding to the type of the probe side identifying section on the same screen at a position corresponding to the short axis image and the long axis image. The gist of this is a recording medium in which is stored.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 9, the ultrasonic image display apparatus can be realized by operating the computer in accordance with the program stored in the recording medium. Then, by using the ultrasonic image display device, the operator can confirm the cross-sectional structure of the subject without a feeling of discomfort after switching the screen, and can quickly puncture the puncture needle.

As described in detail above, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 8 , the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the screen are switched according to the orientation of the ultrasonic probe, and the puncture needle is quickly punctured. be able to.

The front view which shows the blood-vessel imaging device of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the blood vessel imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the short-axis image and long-axis image of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the probe main body of an ultrasonic probe. Explanatory drawing which shows the image layout which displayed the short-axis image and the long-axis image side by side. Explanatory drawing which shows the image layout which displayed the short-axis image and the long-axis image side by side. Explanatory drawing which shows the image layout which displayed the short-axis image and the long-axis image vertically. Explanatory drawing which shows the image layout which displayed the short-axis image and the long-axis image vertically.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a blood vessel imaging apparatus as an ultrasonic image display apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a blood vessel photographing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the blood vessel photographing apparatus 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 includes a device body 2 and an ultrasonic probe 3 connected to the device body 2. The blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is an apparatus that supports a puncture operation of a puncture needle 6 such as a catheter into a vein 5 in a living tissue 4 (subject), and is a short-axis image showing a cross section of the vein 5. 8 and a long-axis image 9 showing a vertical cross section of the vein 5 in a direction orthogonal to the short-axis image 8 are simultaneously displayed on the same screen 10 (see FIG. 3).

The ultrasonic probe 3 includes a signal cable 11, a probe body 12 connected to the tip of the signal cable 11, a puncture guide attachment 14 detachably fixed to the probe body 12, and a base end of the signal cable 11. And a probe-side connector 15 provided in the. A connector 16 is provided on the apparatus main body 2, and the probe-side connector 15 of the ultrasonic probe 3 is connected to the connector 16.

The ultrasonic probe 3 is a linear probe for performing linear electronic scanning, and linearly scans an ultrasonic wave of 5 MHz, for example. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers 23, 24 (probes) are arrayed on the transducer installation surface 20 which is the bottom surface of the probe body 12 so that the array directions are orthogonal to each other and are substantially T-shaped. There is.

More specifically, in order to obtain the long-axis image 9 and the first element unit 25 in which a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers 23 for obtaining the short-axis image 8 are arranged inside the probe body 12. And a second element unit 26 in which the plurality of second ultrasonic transducers 24 are arranged. The plurality of first ultrasonic transducers 23 in the first element unit 25 are linearly arranged along the short axis direction X corresponding to the cross section. Further, the plurality of second ultrasonic transducers 24 in the second element unit 26 are linearly arranged along the major axis direction Y corresponding to the vertical cross section. In the present embodiment, the number of elements of the first ultrasonic transducer 23 arranged in the first element unit 25 is, for example, 48, and the second ultrasonic transducer 23 arranged in the second element unit 26. The number of 24 elements is 80, for example. Therefore, the length of the ultrasonic transducers 23, 24 in the arrangement direction is longer in the second element unit 26 than in the first element unit 25.

In the second element unit 26, the ultrasonic transducer row 27 in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 24 are arranged in the major axis direction Y is arranged along the center line L0 of the probe body 12 on the transducer installation surface 20. Has been done. That is, in the present embodiment, the extension line L0 of the ultrasonic transducer array 27 in the major axis direction Y and the center line L0 of the probe body 12 on the transducer installation surface 20 coincide. Further, the ultrasonic transducer row 27 in the long-axis direction Y is arranged so that the start end thereof is located substantially at the center of the ultrasonic transducer row 28 in the short-axis direction X.

In the ultrasonic probe 3 of the present embodiment, scanning of ultrasonic waves in the substantially T-shaped ultrasonic transducer array 27, 28 is performed by, for example, one end of the ultrasonic transducer array 28 in the short-axis direction X (for example, FIG. 2). Starting from the ultrasonic transducer 23 at the right end (starting end). Then, one element at a time is sequentially performed toward the ultrasonic transducer 23 at the other end (for example, the left end in FIG. 2) of the ultrasonic transducer row 28 in the short axis direction X. After that, from the ultrasonic transducer 24 at one end (starting end which is the lower end in FIG. 2) of the ultrasonic transducer row 27 in the long-axis direction Y located substantially in the center of the ultrasonic transducer row 28 in the short-axis direction X to the other end. The ultrasonic waves are sequentially scanned one by one toward the ultrasonic transducer 24 (the upper end in FIG. 2).

In the ultrasonic probe 3 of the present embodiment, the transducer mounting surface 20 located on the bottom surface of the probe body 12 is a contact surface with the living tissue 4, and serves as a transmitting/receiving surface for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves. In this transducer installation surface 20, a substantially T-shaped acoustic lens 29 (see FIG. 4) is provided in a portion where the ultrasonic transducer rows 27 and 28 are arranged in a substantially T-shape, with an acoustic matching layer (not shown) interposed therebetween. Is provided. The acoustic lens 29 is made of, for example, a silicone resin, and is provided on the ultrasonic wave emitting surface 30 side of the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 in the first element unit 25 and the second element unit 26. The acoustic lens 29 is formed in a convex shape in which the outer surface in contact with the living tissue 4 is curved, and emits a beam of ultrasonic waves output in the normal direction from the ultrasonic wave emitting surfaces 30 of the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24. It is focused and converged at a predetermined focus position.

In the probe main body 12, on the extension line of the ultrasonic transducer row 27 in the long-axis direction Y (center line L0 of the probe main body 12 on the transducer installation surface 20) and the lower end of the side surface 37a of the first element unit housing side (FIG. 4). At the lower end portion of the left side surface), a positioning portion 31 is provided. The positioning portion 31 is a convex portion that serves as a mark for determining the insertion position of the puncture needle 6 into the living tissue 4. Further, on the vibrator installation surface 20 of the probe main body 12 with which the living tissue 4 comes into contact, at both ends in the short-axis direction X, the ridges 32 for avoiding compression of the observation site of the living tissue 4 in the long-axis direction. It is provided along Y (see FIG. 4). By providing the pair of ridges 32 on the transducer mounting surface 20 of the probe body 12 so as to be spaced apart from each other, the region between the pair of ridges 32 on the transducer mounting surface 20 side is not pressed too strongly. Therefore, the vein 5 at the observation site is prevented from being crushed, and the vein 5 can be punctured with certainty.

Further, in the probe main body 12 of the present embodiment, two types for distinguishing the short axis direction X and the long axis direction Y are provided on the side surface 37a on the first element unit housing side and the side surface 37b on the second element unit housing side. Line-shaped probe-side identification portions 38a and 38b are respectively provided. Specifically, the probe side identification portion 38a of the side surface 37a on the first element unit accommodation side is a dotted line identification portion, and the probe side identification portion 38b of the side surface 37b on the second element unit accommodation side is a double linear shape. It is an identification unit. The probe-side identifying portions 38a and 38b are formed by coloring the probe main body 12 in a line shape using a paint (for example, white) different from the color (for example, white). The probe-side identifying portions 38a and 38b may be formed by attaching a seal tape having a dotted line or a double line printed thereon to the side surfaces 37a and 37b of the probe body 12. In the present embodiment, the probe-side identifying portions 38a and 38b are located at positions close to the transducer installation surface 20 on the side surfaces 37a and 38b, and at the same height position with respect to the transducer installation surface 20 as a reference. It is provided so as to surround the entire circumference of 25 and 26.

The puncture guide attachment 14 includes a puncture needle guide portion 34 having a guide groove 33 for guiding the puncture needle 6, an angle adjustment mechanism 35 capable of adjusting the insertion angle of the puncture needle 6 in multiple stages, and a probe. The main body 12 is provided with a fixing portion 36 that is fitted and fixed to the lower portion of the side surface. The puncture guide attachment 14 has the puncture needle 6 positioned at the center of the cross section shown by the short-axis image 8 and attaches the puncture needle 6 to the living tissue 4 at a predetermined angle along the longitudinal section shown by the long-axis image 9. Guide the puncture needle 6 for insertion. The puncture guide attachment 14 of the present embodiment is a resin molded component formed of a flexible resin material.

The lower portion of the probe main body 12 has a hammerhead type outer shape (substantially T-shaped) in which the first element unit 25 arranged on the tip side projects laterally (see FIGS. 2 and 4 ). In the attachment 14 for puncture guide, the fixing portion 36 is formed in an annular shape along the outer shape of the hammerhead type. For example, an engagement recess (not shown) is formed on the inner peripheral side of the fixed portion 36, and the engagement recess engages with the engagement protrusion (not shown) formed on the probe body 12, The puncture guide attachment 14 is fixed to the probe body 12.

In the puncture guide attachment 14, an angle adjusting mechanism 35 is provided at one end of the fixing portion 36, and the puncture needle guide portion 34 is detachably attached to the angle adjusting mechanism 35. The puncture needle guide portion 34 projects at a position separated upward from the vibrator installation surface 20. The angle adjusting mechanism 35 is an adjusting mechanism provided so as to move the puncture needle guide portion 34 in multiple steps in the circumferential direction around the positioning portion 31 of the probe main body 12 and to be fixed at each position. The angle adjusting mechanism 35 is provided with, for example, three-step switching positions.

The guide groove 33 of the puncture needle guide portion 34 is formed so as to extend along the extension line L0 of the ultrasonic transducer array 27 in a projection view from the transducer installation surface 20 side. The puncture needle guide portion 34 is configured by two rod-shaped members 40 that extend in a direction parallel to the array direction of the ultrasonic transducer rows 27 in the long-axis direction Y and that have their base end portions connected to each other. It is formed to have a substantially U shape when viewed. The gap provided between the two rod-shaped members 40 in the puncture needle guide portion 34 serves as the guide groove 33. When the puncture guide attachment 14 is attached to the probe body 12, the guide groove 33 is arranged on the center line L0 of the probe body 12. The guide groove 33 is provided with an opening 41 for introducing the puncture needle 6 and a bottom portion 42 for contacting the introduced puncture needle 6. Further, the guide groove 33 of the puncture needle guide portion 34 is provided with a puncture needle introduction portion 43 formed so that the groove width gradually increases toward the opening 41 side.

Then, the insertion angle of the puncture needle 6 is determined by the combination of the bottom portion 42 of the guide groove 33 and the positioning portion 31 of the probe body 12. That is, the needle tip side of the puncture needle 6 is brought into contact with the lower side of the positioning portion 31 of the probe body 12, and the side surface of the puncture needle 6 is brought into contact with the bottom portion 42 of the guide groove 33, so that the puncture of the living tissue 4 is performed. The insertion angle of the needle 6 is determined. Further, in the puncture guide attachment 14, by operating the angle adjusting mechanism 35 and moving the puncture needle guide portion 34 to change the position of the bottom portion 42 of the guide groove 33, the bottom portion 42 and the positioning portion 31 determine. The insertion angle of the puncture needle 6 is adjusted in multiple steps. The angle adjusting mechanism 35 can also adjust the insertion angle of the puncture needle 6 in multiple stages in the insertion state.

Next, the electrical configuration of the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 2 of the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 includes a controller 50, a pulse generation circuit 51, a transmission circuit 52, a reception circuit 53, a signal processing circuit 54, an A/D conversion circuit 55, and an image processing circuit 56. , A memory 57, a storage device 58, an input device 59, a display device 60, and the like. The controller 50 is a computer including a well-known central processing unit (CPU), executes a control program using the memory 57, and totally controls the entire device.

The pulse generation circuit 51 operates in response to a control signal from the controller 50, and generates and outputs a pulse signal having a predetermined cycle. The transmission circuit 52 includes a plurality of delay circuits (not shown) corresponding to the number of elements of the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 in the ultrasonic probe 3, and based on the pulse signal output from the pulse generation circuit 51, each ultrasonic circuit The drive pulse delayed according to the acoustic wave oscillators 23 and 24 is output. The delay time of each drive pulse is set so that the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic probe 3 is focused at a predetermined irradiation point.

The reception circuit 53 includes a signal amplification circuit, a delay circuit, and a phasing addition circuit (not shown). In the receiving circuit 53, the reflected wave signals (echo signals) received by the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 in the ultrasonic probe 3 are amplified, and the delay time in consideration of the reception directivity is reflected wave signals. Then, the phasing addition is performed. By this addition, the phase difference between the reception signals of the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 is adjusted.

The signal processing circuit 54 is composed of a logarithmic conversion circuit, an envelope detection circuit, etc., which are not shown. The logarithmic conversion circuit in the signal processing circuit 54 logarithmically converts the reflected wave signal, and the envelope detection circuit detects the envelope of the output signal of the logarithmic conversion circuit. Further, the A/D conversion circuit 55 converts the analog signal output from the envelope detection circuit of the signal processing circuit 54 into a digital signal.

The image processing circuit 56 performs brightness modulation processing based on the reflected wave signal output from the A/D conversion circuit 55 and generates image data of a B-mode ultrasonic image (short axis image 8 and long axis image 9). To do. Specifically, the image processing circuit 56 generates image data having a brightness corresponding to the amplitude (signal strength) of the reflected wave signal. Here, image data of a short-axis image 8 showing a cross section of the living tissue 4 and a long-axis image 9 showing a vertical section of the living tissue 4 are generated. Then, based on the image data output from the image processing circuit 56, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 of the living tissue 4 are displayed on the display device 60 in black and white shading.

The input device 59 includes a keyboard 61, a trackball 62, various operation buttons 63 (63a to 63f), and the like, and is used for inputting requests and instructions from the user. The display device 60 is, for example, a display such as an LCD or a CRT, and is used to display the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 of the living tissue 4 (see FIG. 3) and an input screen for various settings.

The storage device 58 is a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device, or the like, and stores a control program and various data in a recording medium. The controller 50 transfers a program and data from the storage device 58 to the memory 57 according to an instruction from the input device 59, and sequentially executes the programs and data. The program executed by the controller 50 may be a program stored in a storage medium such as a memory card, a flexible disk, or an optical disk, or a program downloaded via a communication medium. When the program is executed, it is installed in the storage device 58. To use.

As shown in FIG. 3, a short-axis image 8 and a long-axis image 9 are displayed side by side on the display screen 10 of the display device 60 of the present embodiment. In the screen layout of FIG. 3, the short-axis image 8 is displayed at the right position and the long-axis image 9 is displayed at the left position. In the ultrasonic probe 3, a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers 23 (48 elements) arranged in the first element unit 25 and a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers arranged in the second element unit 26. The ratio of the number of elements to 24 (80 elements) is 3:5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the distribution of the display area of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 on the display screen 10 is set to 3:5 according to the ratio of the number of elements. Further, on the display screen 10, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed in a state where the position P1 of the surface of the living tissue 4 is matched.

On the display screen 10, the image-side identifying units 68a and 68b corresponding to the types of the probe-side identifying units 38a and 38b (line type of dotted line or double line) are displayed at positions corresponding to the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9. Has been done. Specifically, the dotted line image side identification portion 68a is displayed so as to surround the short-axis image 8 in correspondence with the probe side identification portion 38a on the first element unit accommodation side, and the second element unit accommodation side is displayed. A double-line image-side identification section 68b corresponding to the probe-side identification section 38b is displayed so as to surround the long-axis image 9.

In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, on the display screen 10, the positions of the two images of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are left/right switched to perform image display. It has a function. The switching of the image layout is performed by operating the operation buttons 63a and 63b for screen switching on the input device 59, for example.

In the display screen 10 shown in FIG. 5, the short-axis image 8 is arranged on the right side, the long-axis image 9 is displayed on the left side, and in the display screen 10 shown in FIG. 6, the short-axis image 8 is arranged on the left side. The long axis image 9 is displayed on the right side. In the blood vessel photographing apparatus 1, for example, when the operation button 63a for instructing the left direction is operated with the display screen 10 of FIG. 5 being displayed on the display device 60, the display screens of FIG. The screen is switched to the display screen 10. That is, on the display screen 10, the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are switched left and right, and the image of the short-axis image 8 is displayed as it is without being horizontally reversed, while the image of the long-axis image 9 is horizontally reversed. The image processing for displaying is performed. Similarly, when the operation button 63b for directing the right direction is operated while the display screen 10 of FIG. 6 is displayed on the display device 60, the display screen 10 of FIG. 6 changes to the display screen 10 of FIG. Can be switched. That is, on the display screen 10, the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are switched left and right, and the image of the short-axis image 8 is displayed as it is without being horizontally reversed, while the image of the long-axis image 9 is horizontally reversed. The image processing for displaying is performed.

Next, an operation example when inserting the puncture needle 6 of the catheter into the vein 5 of the living tissue 4 using the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described below.

Here, first, an operator such as a doctor determines the insertion angle of the puncture needle 6 suitable for the treatment section of the patient. Then, the operator attaches the puncture guide attachment 14 in which the position of the puncture needle guide portion 34 is set to the probe body 12 by operating the angle adjusting mechanism 35 so as to have the insertion angle. Further, the operator applies an acoustic medium (sterile gel or sterilizing gel) to the surface of the living tissue 4 to be the treatment portion, and then contacts the transducer installation surface 20 of the probe body 12 via the acoustic medium. Further, the operation button 63 or the like provided on the input device 59 is operated to set the image layout corresponding to the orientation of the ultrasonic probe 3. For example, when the operator holds the ultrasonic probe 3 with the left hand and performs the puncture operation of the puncture needle 6 with the right hand, an image layout is displayed in which the short-axis image 8 is displayed on the right side and the long-axis image 9 is displayed on the left side. Set (see FIGS. 3 and 5). At this time, the controller 50 temporarily stores the image layout setting information in the memory 57.

Then, the operator operates the scan start button 63e (see FIG. 1) provided on the input device 59. Then, the controller 50 as the image processing means determines the button operation and starts the process for displaying the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 of the living tissue 4.

In this process, the controller 50 operates the pulse generation circuit 51 to start transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic probe 3. Specifically, the pulse generation circuit 51 operates in response to the control signal output from the controller 50, and a pulse signal having a predetermined cycle is supplied to the transmission circuit 52. Then, in the transmission circuit 52, a drive pulse having a delay time corresponding to each of the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 is generated based on the pulse signal and is supplied to the ultrasonic probe 3. As a result, the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 of the ultrasonic probe 3 vibrate and the ultrasonic waves are emitted toward the living tissue 4. A part of the ultrasonic waves propagating in the living tissue 4 is reflected by a tissue boundary surface (for example, a blood vessel wall) in the living tissue 4 and received by the ultrasonic probe 3. At this time, the reflected waves are converted into electric signals (reflected wave signals) by the ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 of the ultrasonic probe 3. Then, the reflected wave signal is amplified by the receiving circuit 53 and then input to the signal processing circuit 54.

The signal processing circuit 54 performs signal processing such as logarithmic conversion and envelope detection, and the reflected wave signal converted into a digital signal by the A/D conversion circuit 55 is supplied to the image processing circuit 56. The image processing circuit 56 performs image processing for generating the image data of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 based on the reflected wave signal. The controller 50 temporarily stores each image data generated by the image processing circuit 56 in the memory 57.

After that, the controller 50 refers to the image layout setting information stored in the memory 57 and outputs the image data of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 corresponding to the image layout to the display device 60 (image display step). ). Further, the controller 50 as the identification unit display means outputs the display data of the image-side identification units 68a and 68b of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 to the display device 60 in accordance with the image layout. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed side by side on the display screen 10 of the display device 60 at the same time, and the frames around the images 8 and 9 are displayed. The image side identification parts 68a and 68b are displayed respectively.

Here, when the operator changes the orientation of the ultrasonic probe 3 and operates the operation button 63 to set the image layout corresponding to the orientation of the ultrasonic probe 3, the left and right positions of the images are switched. A switching signal (first switching signal) to be instructed is input from the input device 59 to the controller 50 (switching signal input step). When the switching signal is input, the controller 50 outputs the image data of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 corresponding to the image layout to the display device 60 (image display switching step). Further, the controller 50 outputs the display data of the image side identification units 68a and 68b of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 to the display device 60. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed while being left-right reversed, and the image of the short-axis image 8 is displayed as it is without being horizontally reversed. , The image of the long-axis image 9 is displayed with left and right reversed.

Then, the operator confirms the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 displayed on the display screen 10 of the display device 60, and adjusts the position of the ultrasonic probe 3. Here, first, the first element unit 25 side of the ultrasonic probe 3 is moved so that the transverse section of the vein 5 is imaged in the center of the short-axis image 8. Further, the second element unit 26 side of the ultrasonic probe 3 is moved so that the vertical cross section of the vein 5 is imaged along the long-axis image 9 so that the vein 5 extends (axial direction) and the probe body. 12 is aligned with the major axis direction Y.

Then, the operator introduces the puncture needle 6 of the catheter through the opening 41 of the guide groove 33 in the puncture needle guide portion 34 of the puncture guide attachment 14. Then, the operator brings the needle tip of the puncture needle 6 into contact with the position of the positioning portion 31 of the probe body 12 and brings the side surface of the puncture needle 6 into contact with the bottom portion 42 of the guide groove 33, and then the living tissue 4 Then, the puncture needle 6 is inserted. Then, the puncture needle 6 is displayed on the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9. In the present embodiment, since the puncture needle 6 is inserted from the first element unit 25 side, the puncture needle 6 is displayed in the long-axis image 9 after the puncture needle 6 is displayed in the short-axis image 8 and the puncture needle 6 is displayed. The puncture needle 6 can be inserted while grasping the insertion route of.

When the needle tip of the puncture needle 6 reaches the blood vessel wall of the vein 5, the needle tip does not penetrate the blood vessel wall and the blood vessel wall is recessed into a tent shape (tenting). The operator moves the rear end side of the puncture needle 6 to the opening 41 side along the guide groove 33 when it is determined that the tenting has progressed sufficiently based on the depression of the blood vessel wall. As a result, the insertion angle of the puncture needle 6 is changed so that the puncture needle 6 runs along the direction of the vein 5, so that the needle tip easily penetrates the blood vessel wall of the vein 5 and the needle tip enters the blood vessel. Is inserted. The operator confirms that the needle tip of the puncture needle 6 has reached the vein 5 based on the long-axis image 9, and stops the puncture operation of the puncture needle 6. After that, the operator operates the scan end button 63f (see FIG. 1) provided on the input device 59. The controller 50 determines the button operation and ends the process for displaying the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 of the living tissue 4.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are switched to the left and right when the first switching signal for instructing the left-right switching of the image positions is input. The image of the axial image 8 is displayed without being horizontally inverted, while the image of the long axis image 9 is displayed with being horizontally inverted. In the present embodiment, the puncture needle 6 is inserted into the living tissue 4 from the side of the first element unit 25, which is the tip side of the ultrasonic probe 3, so that at the time of puncturing, the puncture needle 6 is shorter than the long-axis image 9 at a shorter timing. An image of the puncture needle 6 is displayed on the axis image 8. Therefore, the operator will confirm the cross-sectional structure of the vein 5 with reference to the short-axis image 8 that is the cross-sectional image viewed from the distal end side of the ultrasonic probe 3. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, when the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are exchanged, the image of the short-axis image 8 is displayed as it is without being inverted, so that the operator can see the vein 5 without any discomfort. The cross-sectional structure can be confirmed quickly.

(2) In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, in the probe body 12, the probe-side identifying portions 38a having different line types are provided on the side surface 37a on the first element unit housing side and the side surface 37b on the second element unit housing side. 38b is provided. Then, at the positions corresponding to the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 on the display screen 10, image-side identifying units 68a and 68b corresponding to the line types of the probe-side identifying units 38a and 38b are displayed. By doing so, the minor axis direction X of the first element unit 25 that acquires the minor axis image 8 and the major axis direction Y of the second element unit 26 that acquires the major axis image 9 can be easily visually recognized. You can Therefore, the operator can move the ultrasonic probe 3 accurately while checking the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 and the image-side identification sections 68a and 68b of those images, and the puncture of the biological tissue 4 is performed. It is possible to quickly find the vein 5 that is the site and quickly puncture the puncture needle 6.

(3) In the ultrasonic probe 3 of the present embodiment, by using the puncture guide attachment 14 fixed to the probe body 12, even if the operator is a beginner who is unfamiliar with the use of the angiography apparatus 1, The puncture needle 6 can be punctured quickly and accurately.

(4) In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the plurality of first ultrasonic transducers 23 arranged in the first element unit 25 and the plurality of second ultrasonic transducers arranged in the second element unit 26. The distribution of the display areas of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 on the display screen is set according to the ratio of the number of elements to the ultrasonic transducer 24. Further, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed in a state where the position P1 on the surface of the living tissue 4 is matched. By doing so, in the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9, the veins 5 to be punctured have the same display magnification and are displayed at the same depth position from the tissue surface. Therefore, the cross-sectional structure of the vein 5 can be grasped more accurately, and the puncture operation of the puncture needle 6 can be performed quickly.
[Second Embodiment]

Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a blood vessel imaging apparatus as an ultrasonic image display apparatus will be described based on FIGS. 7 and 8. The blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has the function of displaying the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 side by side (see FIGS. 5 and 6) as in the first embodiment, and It has a function of displaying the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 vertically side by side (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The configuration of the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment displays the images on the display screen 10 by vertically switching the positions of the two images of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9. It has the function to The image layout is switched, for example, by operating the operation buttons 63c and 63d (see FIG. 1) for screen switching, which instruct the up-down direction in the input device 59. Note that the display screen 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 displays the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 in a state where the position P1 of the surface of the living tissue 4 is aligned to the right side.

In the display screen 10 shown in FIG. 7, the short-axis image 8 is arranged on the upper side and the long-axis image 9 is displayed on the lower side. In the display screen 10 shown in FIG. 8, the short-axis image 8 is arranged on the lower side. The long-axis image 9 is displayed on the upper side. In the blood vessel photographing apparatus 1, for example, when the operation button 63c for instructing the downward direction is operated while the display screen 10 of FIG. 7 is displayed on the display device 60, the switching signal (from the input device 59 to the controller 50 The second switching signal) is input. Then, the controller 50 switches the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 up and down when the switching signal is input (display screen 10 of FIG. 7 to display screen 10 of FIG. 8). At this time, the controller 50 displays the image of the short-axis image 8 as it is without vertically inverting it, while displaying the image of the long-axis image 9 by vertically inverting it.

Similarly, when the operation button 63d for instructing the upward direction is operated while the display screen 10 of FIG. 8 is displayed on the display device 60, a switching signal (second switching) from the input device 59 to the controller 50. Signal) is input. Then, when the switching signal is input, the controller 50 switches the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 up and down, and displays the image of the short-axis image 8 as it is without vertically inverting it, while the long-axis image 9 is displayed. The image is displayed upside down and displayed (see FIG. 7).

In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the direction indication mark M1 that indicates the moving direction of the image according to the short-axis direction X of the ultrasonic probe 3 is provided at the position corresponding to the short-axis image 8 on the display screen 10. It is displayed. In the image layouts of FIGS. 7 and 8, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed with the position P1 of the surface of the living tissue 4 aligned on the right side. That is, with respect to the image layouts of FIGS. 5 and 6, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are in a display state rotated by 90° in the clockwise direction. Therefore, when the ultrasonic probe 3 is moved to the left and right in the short axis direction X, the short axis image 8 moves up and down on the display screen 10 of FIGS. 7 and 8. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the direction of the short axis image 8 corresponding to the horizontal direction of the ultrasonic probe 3 (short axis) indicates the right direction (R) and the left direction (L). Displayed by M1.

Further, on the display screen 10, a T-shaped mark M2 schematically showing the orientation of the ultrasonic probe 3 is displayed. That is, the direction indicating mark M2 in FIG. 7 is displayed in a direction in which the T-shape can be read correctly, and indicates that the ultrasonic probe 3 is facing upward. On the other hand, the direction indicating mark M2 in FIG. 8 is displayed with the T-shape turned upside down, which indicates that the ultrasonic probe 3 is facing downward.

In the present embodiment, the controller 50 determines the image layout corresponding to the orientation of the ultrasonic probe 3 based on the switching signal input from the input device 59 to the controller 50. Then, the controller 50 as mark display means outputs image data for displaying the direction indicating mark M1 and the T-shaped mark M2 to the display device 60. As a result, the marks M1 and M2 are displayed on the display screen 10 of the display device 60.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the second switching signal for instructing the up/down switching of the image positions is input, the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are vertically switched, and The image of the axial image 8 is displayed without being vertically inverted, while the image of the long axis image 9 is displayed with being vertically inverted. Thus, when the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are exchanged, the image of the short-axis image 8 is displayed as it is without being inverted, so that the operator can quickly confirm the cross-sectional structure of the vein 5 without discomfort. can do.

(2) In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the direction indicating mark M1 is displayed on the display screen 10 at a position corresponding to the short-axis image 8. In this case, the operator can move the ultrasonic probe 3 to an appropriate position while recognizing the direction indicating mark M1 and grasping the short-axis direction X, so that the puncture needle 6 can be punctured quickly. You can

(3) In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the T-shaped mark M2 that schematically shows the orientation of the ultrasonic probe 3 is displayed on the display screen 10, so that the operator can make the T-shaped mark. By confirming the display direction of M2, the direction of the ultrasonic probe 3 can be easily grasped. Then, by confirming the positional relationship between the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 corresponding to the orientation of the ultrasonic probe 3, the puncture needle 6 can be punctured quickly.

The embodiments of the present invention may be modified as follows.

In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, from the image layout (see FIGS. 5 and 6) in which the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed side by side, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed. May be switched to an image layout in which images are arranged vertically (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Specifically, in the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1, for example, when the operation button 63c for instructing the downward direction is operated while the display screen 10 of FIG. A switching signal (third switching signal) is input to 50. Then, when the switching signal is input, the controller 50 changes the image layout in which the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed side by side (see FIG. 5) to the image layout in which they are displayed side by side (see FIG. 8). Switch. Further, at this time, the controller 50 rotates the image of the short-axis image 8 by 90° in the clockwise direction and displays it, while rotating the image of the long-axis image 9 by 90° in the clockwise direction and vertically inverts the displayed image. Perform processing.

Further, for example, when the operation button 63a for instructing the left direction is operated with the display screen 10 of FIG. 7 being displayed on the display device 60, a switching signal (third signal) from the input device 59 to the controller 50. A switching signal) is input. Then, when the switching signal is input, the controller 50 changes from the image layout in which the positions of the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 are displayed side by side (see FIG. 7) to the image layout in which the positions are displayed side by side (see FIG. 6). Switch. At this time, the controller 50 rotates the image of the short-axis image 8 counterclockwise by 90° and displays it, while rotating the image of the long-axis image 9 counterclockwise by 90° and horizontally flips the image. Image processing.

Even when the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 is configured in this manner, the image of the short-axis image 8 is displayed without being inverted when the image layout is switched, so that the operator can quickly check the cross-sectional structure of the vein 5 without discomfort. can do. In addition, by confirming the image-side identification units 68a and 68b displayed around the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9, the short-axis image 8 of the short-axis direction X and the long-axis direction Y of the display screen 10 are confirmed. The position of the long-axis image 9 can be quickly grasped.

In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image in the state where the position P1 of the surface of the living tissue 4 is aligned to the right side. 9 and 9 are displayed side by side, however, on the contrary, the short axis image 8 and the long axis image 9 may be displayed side by side with the surface position P1 aligned on the left side. Good.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the probe-side identification units 38a and 38b and the image-side identification units 68a and 68b are identification units of dotted lines and double lines having different line types. It may be a different line, a one-dot chain line, a two-dot chain line, a wavy line, a crank-shaped line, or the like. Further, the probe-side identification units 38a and 38b and the image-side identification units 68a and 68b may be line-shaped identification units having different display colors. Further, a dotted line-shaped concave portion or convex portion or a linear concave portion or convex portion is formed as the probe-side identifying portions 38a and 38b, and an identifying portion corresponding to the shape of the concave portion or convex portion is formed as the image-side identifying portions 68a and 68b. May be displayed. In this way, when the probe-side identifying portions 38a and 38b of the concave portion and the convex portion are provided, the identifying portion can be visually and sensibly grasped. In this case, the operator touches the probe-side identification parts 38a and 38b with his/her hand without changing the line of sight from the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 on the display screen 10, and the short-axis direction in the ultrasonic probe 3 is detected. X and the major axis direction Y can be confirmed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the probe-side identifying portions 38a and 38b are provided so as to surround the entire circumferences of the element units 25 and 26 on the side surfaces 37a and 37b of the probe body 12, but the invention is not limited thereto. Not a thing. A side surface 37a parallel to the minor axis direction X on the first element unit accommodation side is provided with a probe side identification portion parallel to the minor axis direction X, and a side surface 37b parallel to the major axis direction Y on the second element unit accommodation side. The probe-side identification portion may be extended in parallel with the long axis direction. Further, the probe-side identification units 38a, 38b and the image-side identification units 68a, 68b are not limited to the line-shaped identification units, and a mark having a predetermined shape such as a triangle, a quadrangle, or a circle may be used as the identification unit. ..

In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of each of the above-described embodiments, the puncture operation of the puncture needle 6 is performed using the ultrasonic probe 3 having the puncture guide attachment 14 attached, but the invention is not limited to this. .. For example, by repeatedly performing the puncturing operation of the puncture needle 6 using the puncture guide attachment 14, a working sensation such as an appropriate insertion angle of the puncture needle 6 and the degree of force application can be acquired. Therefore, when a skilled operator uses the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1, the puncture operation of the puncture needle 6 may be performed using the ultrasonic probe 3 without the puncture guide attachment 14.

In the ultrasonic probe 3 of each of the above-described embodiments, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 23 and 24 for linearly scanning ultrasonic waves are arranged in a substantially T-shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. is not. In the ultrasonic probe 3, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 23, 24 may be arranged orthogonal to each other, and may be arranged in, for example, an L shape or a cross shape.

In the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 of each of the above-described embodiments, the short-axis image 8 and the long-axis image 9 of the vein 5 are displayed and the treatment using the catheter is performed, but other treatments such as blood sampling are performed. In that case, the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 may be used. The blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 is not limited to the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1, and an ultrasonic image display apparatus that displays a short-axis image and a long-axis image of a nerve other than blood vessels to perform nerve block injection treatment, a short-axis image of a tendon, The present invention may be embodied in an ultrasonic image display device that displays a long-axis image and performs a procedure of steroid injection into the tendon sheath.

In each of the above embodiments, the blood vessel imaging apparatus 1 that does not display by the color Doppler method is embodied, but the present invention may be embodied by an ultrasonic image display apparatus equipped with a display function by the color Doppler method. ..

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by each of the above-described embodiments will be listed below.

(1) In claim 2, the image processing means gives a third switching instruction to switch from a screen layout in which the short-axis image and the long-axis image are displayed side by side to a screen layout in which they are displayed side by side. At the time of inputting a signal, the screen layout in which the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are displayed side by side is switched to a screen layout in which the positions of the short-axis image are displayed side by side, and the image of the short-axis image is rotated 90° clockwise. An ultrasonic image display device, which performs image processing for displaying the image of the long-axis image by rotating it by 270° while rotating it by 90° or 270° in the clockwise direction and vertically inverting it.

(2) In claim 2, the image processing means performs a third switching for instructing switching from a screen layout in which the short-axis image and the long-axis image are displayed side by side to a screen layout in which they are displayed side by side. When a signal is input, the screen layout in which the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are displayed side by side is switched from the screen layout in which the positions are displayed side by side, and the image of the short-axis image is rotated 90° counterclockwise. Alternatively, the ultrasonic image display device is characterized by performing image processing of rotating the image by 270° and displaying it while rotating the image of the long-axis image by rotating it counterclockwise by 90° or 270° and horizontally reversing it. ..

(3) In any one of claims 1 to 7, the image processing means displays the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen with the position of the surface of the subject being aligned. An ultrasonic image display device characterized by the above.

(4) In any one of claims 3 to 7, the plurality of first ultrasonic transducers arranged in the first element unit and the plurality of first ultrasonic transducers arranged in the second element unit. The ultrasonic image display device is characterized in that the display areas of the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen are set in accordance with the ratio of the number of elements to the ultrasonic transducer of No. 2. ..

(5) The ultrasonic image display device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the probe-side identification portion is provided at a position closer to the transducer mounting surface on the side surface.

(6) In any one of claims 3 to 7, the probe-side identification portion surrounds the entire circumference of each of the element units at the same height position on the side surface with the transducer installation surface as a reference. An ultrasonic image display device, comprising:

(7) In any one of claims 3 to 7, the probe-side identification portion is a concave or convex identification portion having a different shape, and the image-side identification portion has the same shape as the probe-side identification portion. An ultrasonic image display device, which is an identification unit that is displayed correspondingly.

(8) In any one of claims 3 to 7, the probe-side identification unit is a line-shaped identification unit having a different display color, and the image-side identification unit is a line-shaped identification unit according to the display color. An ultrasonic image display device, which is an identification unit and is displayed on the same screen so as to surround the short-axis image and the long-axis image, respectively.

(9) In any one of claims 1 to 7, the image processing means performs a brightness modulation process on the basis of the reflected wave signal to obtain the image data having a brightness corresponding to a signal intensity of the reflected wave signal. An ultrasonic image display device characterized by generating.

(10) In any one of claims 3 to 7, the probe main body of the ultrasonic probe has a hammerhead type outer shape in which the first element unit arranged on the tip side projects laterally. An ultrasonic image display device characterized by:

(11) In any one of claims 3 to 7, in the probe body, an insertion position of the puncture needle is provided on an extension line of the second element unit and at a lower end portion of a side surface on the first element unit accommodating side. An ultrasonic image display device, characterized in that a positioning part for determining the position is provided.

(12) The ultrasonic image display according to claim 7, wherein the puncture guide attachment guides the puncture needle so that the puncture needle is located at a central portion of a cross section indicated by the short-axis image. apparatus.

(13) In claim 7, the puncture guide attachment is formed so as to extend along an extension line of the arrangement direction of the second ultrasonic transducers in a projection view from the transducer installation surface side. An ultrasonic image display device comprising a puncture needle guide portion having a guide groove.

(14) The ultrasonic image display device according to claim 7, wherein the puncture guide attachment includes an angle adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the insertion angle of the puncture needle in multiple stages in the insertion state.

(15) The ultrasonic image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the subject is a living tissue having blood vessels therein.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Vascular imaging device as an ultrasonic image display device 3... Ultrasonic probe 4... Living tissue as a test object 6... Puncture needle 8... Short-axis image 9... Long-axis image 10... Display screen as the same screen 12... Probe Main body 14... Attachment for puncture guide 20... Transducer installation surface 23... First ultrasonic transducer 24... Second ultrasonic transducer 25... First element unit 26... Second element unit 37a... First element unit accommodation Sides on the side 37b... Sides on the second element unit accommodating side 38a, 38b... Probe side identification section 50... Controllers as image processing means, identification section display means, and mark display means 68a, 68b... Image side identification section M1... Direction Instruction mark M2...T-shaped mark X...Short axis direction Y...Long axis direction

Claims (8)

A plurality of ultrasonic transducers for linearly scanning ultrasonic waves are orthogonal to each other to obtain a short-axis image showing a cross-section of the subject and a long-axis image showing a vertical section in a direction orthogonal to the short-axis image. Using the ultrasonic probes arranged in parallel, the short-axis image and the long-axis image are simultaneously displayed on the same screen based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves, and the puncture needle is used. An ultrasonic image display device for supporting a puncturing operation on the subject,
Along with generating image data based on the reflected wave signal, with an image processing means for displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image created using the image data side by side,
The image processing means, when inputting a first switching signal for instructing left-right switching of image positions, laterally switches the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image, and horizontally reverses the images of the short-axis image. While performing the image processing of displaying the image of the long-axis image by horizontally reversing the image without displaying ,
The ultrasonic probe includes a first element unit in which a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a short axis direction to obtain the short axis image, and the first element unit to obtain the long axis image. A probe main body for accommodating therein a second element unit in which a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a major axis direction orthogonal to the minor axis direction;
Two kinds of probe-side identifying portions for identifying the minor axis direction and the major axis direction are provided on the side surface of the probe body on the first element unit housing side and the side surface of the second element unit housing side, respectively. The
The display device further comprises an identification unit display means for displaying an image-side identification unit according to the type of the probe-side identification unit on the same screen at a position corresponding to the short-axis image and the long-axis image. Ultrasonic image display device. The image processing means,
It further has a function of displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image vertically side by side,
At the time of inputting the second switching signal for instructing the up/down switching of the image positions, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are switched up/down, and the images of the short-axis images are displayed without being vertically inverted. The ultrasonic image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image processing is performed to display an image of the long-axis image by vertically inverting it. The probe-side identification portion is a line-shaped identification portion having a different line type, is extended along at least the minor axis direction on the side surface of the first element unit accommodation side, and the second element unit accommodation Extended along at least the long axis direction on the side surface of the side,
The image-side identification unit is a line-shaped identification unit according to the line type of the probe-side identification unit, and is displayed so as to surround the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen. The ultrasonic image display device according to claim 1 or 2 . It is characterized by further comprising mark display means for displaying, on the same screen, a direction indicating mark for indicating a moving direction of an image corresponding to the short axis direction of the ultrasonic probe at a position corresponding to the short axis image. The ultrasonic image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . Along with the mark display means for displaying a direction indicating mark for indicating the moving direction of the image according to the short axis direction of the ultrasonic probe on the same screen, at a position corresponding to the short axis image,
The first element unit and the second element unit are located on the bottom surface of the probe and are arranged so as to be substantially T-shaped when viewed from the side of the transducer installation surface that contacts the subject and transmits and receives the ultrasonic waves. Cage,
The ultrasonic wave according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mark display means displays a T-shaped mark schematically showing the direction of the ultrasonic probe on the same screen. Image display device. The lower part of the side surface of the probe body on the first element unit accommodating side is provided with the puncture needle so that the puncture needle is inserted into the subject at a preset predetermined angle along the longitudinal section indicated by the long-axis image. The ultrasonic image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the puncture guide attachment to be guided is detachably fixed. A first element unit in which a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a short axis direction to obtain a short axis image showing a cross section of a subject , and the first axis unit to obtain the long axis image A second element unit having a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers linearly arranged in a long axis direction orthogonal to the short axis direction is provided, and a probe body is housed therein, and the first element in the probe body is provided. An ultrasonic probe in which two kinds of probe-side identification portions for identifying the short axis direction and the long axis direction are provided on the side surface on the unit accommodation side and the side surface on the second element unit accommodation side, respectively. , Simultaneously displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave, and assists the puncture operation for the subject using the puncture needle. In the ultrasonic image display method,
An image display step of displaying image data based on the reflected wave signal and displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image created by using the image data side by side.
A switching signal input step of inputting a first switching signal for instructing left and right switching of image positions;
On the condition that the first switching signal is input, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are interchanged between left and right, and the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being horizontally inverted, while the image of the long-axis image is displayed. An image display switching step for performing image processing of horizontally inverting and displaying ,
An identification unit displaying step of displaying an image-side identification unit according to the type of the probe-side identification unit on the same screen at a position corresponding to the short-axis image and the long-axis image. And ultrasonic image display method. A first element unit in which a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers are linearly arranged in a short axis direction to obtain a short axis image showing a cross section of a subject , and the first axis unit to obtain the long axis image A second element unit having a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers linearly arranged in a long axis direction orthogonal to the short axis direction is provided, and a probe body is housed therein, and the first element in the probe body is provided. An ultrasonic probe in which two kinds of probe-side identification portions for identifying the short axis direction and the long axis direction are provided on the side surface on the unit accommodation side and the side surface on the second element unit accommodation side, respectively. , Simultaneously displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen based on the reflected wave signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave, and assists the puncture operation for the subject using the puncture needle. In the computer built in the ultrasonic image display device,
An image display step of displaying image data based on the reflected wave signal and displaying the short-axis image and the long-axis image created by using the image data side by side.
A switching signal input step of inputting a first switching signal for instructing left and right switching of image positions;
On the condition that the first switching signal is input, the positions of the short-axis image and the long-axis image are interchanged between left and right, and the image of the short-axis image is displayed without being horizontally inverted, while the image of the long-axis image is displayed. An image display switching step for performing image processing of horizontally inverting and displaying ,
An identifying unit displaying step of displaying an image-side identifying unit corresponding to the type of the probe-side identifying unit on a position corresponding to the short-axis image and the long-axis image on the same screen. A recording medium that stores a program.