JP6864555B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and particularly to an apparatus suitable for diagnosing the heart.

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is used for diagnosing various tissues in the living body. For example, an ultrasonic diagnostic device is very important in the diagnosis of the heart, and technological development suitable for the diagnosis of the heart is also active.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for accurately extracting the contour of a ventricle by preventing erroneous extraction by a structure such as a papillary muscle in a tomographic image of a heart obtained by using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. There is. Further, in Patent Document 2, the contour region corresponding to the contour of the myocardium is tracked by analyzing the moving image data obtained by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the contour image data stored in advance in the storage unit. A technique for obtaining parameters of wall motion is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-217818 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-172186

As a specific example of a technique used for diagnosing the heart by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, VFM (vector flow mapping) that two-dimensionally expresses the state of blood flow in the heart in an ultrasonic image is known. By using VFM, for example, it becomes possible to visually and intuitively confirm the state of blood flow such as vortex, turbulence, and stagnation in the left ventricle of the heart.

For example, in recent diagnosis using VFM, it is important to analyze the blood flow in the left atrium and the aorta connected to the left ventricle in addition to the blood flow in the left ventricle. Therefore, for example, in addition to the ventricle such as the left ventricle, it is desired to introduce a device suitable for diagnosis targeting the cavity such as the aorta and the aorta connected to the ventricle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device suitable for diagnosis of a cavity connected to the ventricle in addition to the ventricle.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the related technique of the present invention includes a contour extraction means for extracting the contour of the ventricle and the contour of the atrium in the ultrasonic image of the heart obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the above-mentioned super. A trace line including the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the atrium, and the boundary demarcating the inside of the atrium as components having a boundary setting means for setting a boundary dividing the inside of the atrium in a sound wave image is obtained, and the above is described. The boundary setting means is characterized in that a boundary that divides the atrium is set so as to pass through a designated point designated by the user in the atrium.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having the above configuration, it is possible to obtain a trace line including the contour of the ventricle connected to the ventricle and the boundary separating the inside of the ventricle as a component in addition to the contour of the ventricle. This makes it possible, for example, to diagnose blood flow in the heart by, for example, VFM (vector flow mapping) or the like, targeting a region specified by a trace line including at least a part of the ventricles and the atrium.

Further, the present invention provides a contour extraction means for extracting the contour of the ventricle of the heart and the contour of the atrium in the ultrasonic image of the heart obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the intraatrial in the ultrasonic image. A boundary setting means for setting a boundary separating the heart is obtained, and a trace line including the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the atria, and the boundary separating the inside of the atria is obtained as a component, and the boundary setting means is the heart. By moving the line connecting the auxiliary points set by the user to the positions of the two annulus portions in the atrium by a predetermined distance in the depth direction of the atrium, the boundary separating the inside of the atrium is set. It is a feature .

Further, the present invention provides a contour extraction means for extracting the contour of the ventricle of the heart and the contour of the atrium in the ultrasonic image of the heart obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the intraatrial in the ultrasonic image. A boundary setting means for setting a boundary for dividing the heart is obtained, and a trace line including the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the atrium, and the boundary for dividing the inside of the atrium is obtained as a component, and the contour extraction means is super The feature site in the heart is detected in the sound wave image, the contour of the ventricle and the contour of the atrium are extracted based on the position of the detected feature site, and the boundary setting means is the said contour extraction means detected. A boundary that divides the atrium is set at a location geometrically determined according to the position of the feature site in the heart, and the boundary setting means is used as a feature site in the heart that is detected by the contour extraction means. A line connecting the positions of the two annulus portions is moved in the depth direction of the atrium by a predetermined distance to set a boundary separating the inside of the atrium.

For example, the contour extracting means extracts the contour of the aorta connected to the heart in the ultrasonic image, and the boundary setting means sets a boundary separating the aorta in the ultrasonic image and sets the contour of the ventricle. It is desirable to obtain a trace line composed of the contour of the aorta, the contour of the aorta, the boundary separating the inside of the aorta, and the boundary dividing the inside of the aorta. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus preferably includes a tracking processing unit that sets a plurality of tracking points for vector flow mapping on the trace line and executes tracking processing for each of the tracking points.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides a device suitable for diagnosis of a cavity connected to the ventricle in addition to the ventricle. For example, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a trace line including the contour of the ventricle connected to the ventricle and the boundary separating the ventricle as a component in addition to the contour of the ventricle. This makes it possible, for example, to diagnose blood flow in the heart by, for example, VFM (vector flow mapping) or the like, targeting a region specified by a trace line including at least a part of the ventricles and the atrium.

It is a figure which shows the specific example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus suitable for carrying out this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example 1 of the trace line forming process. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example 2 of the trace line forming process. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example 3 of the trace line forming process. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example 4 of the trace line forming process. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example 5 of the trace line forming process. It is a flowchart which shows the preferable procedure of the trace line forming process. It is a figure for demonstrating a specific example of a boundary setting process.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1 has a function of obtaining movement information of blood flow (blood flow), and is particularly suitable for diagnosing blood flow in the heart of a living body.

The probe 10 is an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to a region including a diagnostic object such as the heart in a living body. The probe 10 includes a plurality of vibrating elements, and the plurality of vibrating elements are electronically controlled by scanning to scan an ultrasonic beam in a space including a heart. The probe 10 is used, for example, by being grasped by a user (inspector) such as a doctor and abutting on the body surface of the subject. The probe 10 may be used by being inserted into the body cavity of the subject, or may be a probe that combines electronic scanning and mechanical scanning. The probe 10 is preferably a convex type, but may be a sector type, a linear type, or the like.

The transmission / reception unit 12 has functions as a transmission beam former and a reception beam former. That is, the transmission / reception unit 12 forms a transmission beam by outputting a transmission signal to each of the plurality of vibration elements included in the probe 10, and further, with respect to a plurality of received signals obtained from the plurality of vibration elements. The received beam is formed by performing phasing addition processing or the like. As a result, the ultrasonic beams (transmitted beam and received beam) are scanned in the scanning plane, and a received signal corresponding to the ultrasonic beam is formed.

The image forming unit 20 forms ultrasonic image data (image data) based on the ultrasonic received signal obtained from the scanning surface. The image forming unit 20 forms the image data of the B mode image based on, for example, the received signal of the ultrasonic wave subjected to the detection processing, the filtering processing, the AD conversion processing, and the like. Of course, image data related to known ultrasonic images other than the B-mode image may be formed.

The Doppler processing unit 30 measures the Doppler shift included in the received signal corresponding to the ultrasonic beam. The Doppler processing unit 30 measures the Doppler shift generated in the received signal of the ultrasonic wave by the blood flow by, for example, a known Doppler treatment, and obtains velocity information (Doppler information) in the ultrasonic beam direction regarding the blood flow.

The velocity vector calculation unit 40 forms a two-dimensional velocity vector distribution in the scanning plane from the velocity information in the ultrasonic beam direction regarding the blood flow. The velocity vector calculation unit 40 is obtained from the tracking processing unit 70 in addition to the velocity information in the ultrasonic beam direction regarding the blood flow by a known method described in, for example, Reference 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-192643). The motion information of the heart wall is used to obtain a two-dimensional velocity vector of blood flow at each position in the scanning plane.

The contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contour of the ventricle of the heart and the contour of the atrium in the ultrasonic image (B mode image) of the heart formed by the image forming unit 20. Further, the boundary setting unit 60 sets a boundary that divides the inside of the atrium in the ultrasonic image (B mode image) of the heart formed by the image forming unit 20. As a result, a trace line including the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the atrium, and the boundary separating the inside of the atrium is formed in the ultrasonic image (B mode image) of the heart as a component.

The tracking processing unit 70 sets a plurality of tracking points on the trace line formed in the ultrasonic image of the heart, executes tracking processing (tracking processing) based on, for example, image data for each tracking point, and a plurality of tracking points. Tracks the movement of the heart wall (inner wall) over the frame (multiple time phases). As a result, motion information of the heart wall can be obtained from a plurality of tracking points. Then, as described above, the velocity vector calculation unit 40 obtains the two-dimensional velocity vector of the blood flow at each position in the scanning plane by using the motion information of the heart wall.

The display processing unit 80 two-dimensionally changes the state of blood flow in the heart based on the image data of the ultrasonic image obtained from the image forming unit 20 and the two-dimensional velocity vector of the blood flow obtained from the velocity vector calculation unit 40. The display image shown in the above is formed. The blood flow display image formed by the display processing unit 80 is displayed on the display unit 82.

The control unit 100 controls the inside of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1 as a whole. The overall control by the control unit 100 also reflects instructions received from users such as doctors and laboratory technicians via the operation device 90.

Among the configurations shown in FIG. 1, each unit of the transmission / reception unit 12, the image forming unit 20, the Doppler processing unit 30, the speed vector calculation unit 40, the contour extraction unit 50, the boundary setting unit 60, the tracking processing unit 70, and the display processing unit 80 is For example, it can be realized by using hardware such as an electric / electronic circuit or a processor, and a device such as a memory may be used in the realization as needed. Further, at least a part of the functions corresponding to each of the above parts may be realized by a computer. That is, at least a part of the functions corresponding to the above-mentioned parts may be realized by the cooperation between the hardware such as the CPU, the processor, and the memory, and the software (program) that defines the operation of the CPU and the processor.

Preferable specific examples of the display unit 82 are a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, and the like. The operation device 90 can be realized by at least one of, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a touch panel, and other switches. The control unit 100 can be realized, for example, by cooperating with hardware such as a CPU, a processor, and a memory, and software (program) that defines the operation of the CPU and the processor.

The overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1 is as described above. Next, the functions and the like realized by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1 will be described in detail. Regarding the configuration (part) shown in FIG. 1, the reference numerals in FIG. 1 are used in the following description.

2 to 6 are diagrams for explaining a specific example of the trace line forming process. Each of FIGS. 2 to 6 shows a specific example of the display image 84 including the B-mode image 22 formed by the image forming unit 20. In the image example shown in each figure, the B-mode image 22 includes tomographic images of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta in the heart of a living body (subject).

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a specific example 1 of the trace line forming process. In Specific Example 1 of FIG. 2, first, a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pf are set in the B mode image 22 of the heart by an examiner (a user such as a doctor or an examination technician). The inspector sets a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pf by, for example, operating an operation device 90 such as a mouse, a trackball, or a touch panel to specify a desired position in the B mode image 22.

Auxiliary points Pa to Pd are set at the positions of feature sites in the heart. In Specific Example 1 of FIG. 2, auxiliary points Pa, Pb, and Pc are set at the positions of the three annulus portions, and auxiliary points Pd are set at the positions of one apex of the heart. Further, the auxiliary points Pe and Pf are set at the positions of interest in the heart. In Specific Example 1 of FIG. 2, an auxiliary point Pe is set in the left atrium, and an auxiliary point Pf is set in the aorta.

When a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pf are set, the contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta, and the boundary setting unit 60 sets the boundary that divides the atrium and the boundary that divides the aorta. To.

The contour extraction unit 50 corresponds to the auxiliary points Pa, Pb, Pc corresponding to the positions of the three annulus portions and the position of one apex of the heart based on the auxiliary points Pa to Pd set by the inspector. The contours of the left ventricle, left atrium, and aorta are extracted based on the auxiliary point Pd. The contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta by a known method such as the dynamic contour model described in Reference 2 (Pamphlet 2011/083789).

The boundary setting unit 60 sets auxiliary points Pe and Pf set by the examiner as designated points, and sets a boundary that divides the aorta and a boundary that divides the aorta so as to pass through the designated points. For example, a boundary is set to divide the atrium so that the contour of one side of the left atrium passes through the auxiliary point Pe and reaches the contour of the other side of the left atrium, and the contour of one side of the aorta passes through the auxiliary point Pf and the other side of the aorta. Boundaries that divide the aorta are set to reach the lateral contour.

In this way, a trace line is formed consisting of the contour of the left ventricle, the contour of the left atrium, the contour of the aorta, the boundary dividing the atrium, and the boundary separating the aorta.

When the trace line is formed, the tracking processing unit 70 sets a plurality of tracking point TPs on the trace line. For example, about 100 tracking point TPs are set at equal intervals on the trace line. For example, the average value of the intervals of the plurality of tracking point TPs initially set on the trace line is calculated, the average value is set as a constant interval, and a plurality of new tracking point TPs are set at equal intervals on the trace line. May be good.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a specific example 2 of the trace line forming process. In Specific Example 2 of FIG. 3, first, a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pd are set in the B mode image 22 of the heart by an examiner (a user such as a doctor or an examination technician). The inspector sets a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pd by, for example, operating an operation device 90 such as a mouse, a trackball, or a touch panel to specify a desired position in the B mode image 22.

Auxiliary points Pa to Pd are set at the positions of feature sites in the heart. In Specific Example 2 of FIG. 3, auxiliary points Pa, Pb, and Pc are set at the positions of the three annulus portions, and auxiliary points Pd are set at the positions of one apex of the heart. In the specific example 2 of FIG. 3, auxiliary points in the left atrium and the aorta (auxiliary points Pe and Pf in FIG. 2) are not set.

When a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pd are set, the contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta. The contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta based on the auxiliary points Pa to Pd set by the examiner by a known method such as the dynamic contour model described in Reference 2. Extract.

In this way, a trace line composed of the contour of the left ventricle, the contour of the left atrium, and the contour of the aorta is formed. That is, in the specific example of FIG. 3, a trace line is formed without using the boundary that divides the aorta and the boundary that divides the aorta.

When the trace line is formed, the tracking processing unit 70 sets a plurality of tracking point TPs on the trace line. For example, about 100 tracking point TPs are set at equal intervals on the trace line.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a specific example 3 of the trace line forming process. In the specific example 3 of FIG. 4, first, a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pd are set in the B mode image 22 of the heart by an examiner (a user such as a doctor or an examination technician). The inspector sets a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pd by, for example, operating an operation device 90 such as a mouse, a trackball, or a touch panel to specify a desired position in the B mode image 22.

Auxiliary points Pa to Pd are set at the positions of feature sites in the heart. In Specific Example 3 of FIG. 4, auxiliary points Pa, Pb, and Pc are set at the positions of the three annulus portions, and auxiliary points Pd are set at the positions of one apex of the heart. In the specific example 3 of FIG. 4, auxiliary points in the left atrium and the aorta (auxiliary points Pe and Pf in FIG. 2) are not set.

When a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pd are set, the contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta. The contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta based on the auxiliary points Pa to Pd set by the examiner by a known method such as the dynamic contour model described in Reference 2. Extract.

Further, the boundary setting unit 60 sets a boundary that divides the inside of the aorta and a boundary that divides the inside of the aorta. The boundary setting unit 60 sets a boundary that divides the aorta and a boundary that divides the aorta at a location geometrically determined according to the position of a characteristic site in the heart.

For example, each of the auxiliary point Pa and the auxiliary point Pb corresponding to the annulus portion is moved along the contour of the left atrium in the depth direction (the direction away from the left ventricle) by a predetermined distance, and the auxiliary point Pa after the movement is moved. The line segment connecting ′ and the auxiliary point Pb ′ is defined as the boundary separating the atrium. Similarly, each of the auxiliary point Pb and the auxiliary point Pc corresponding to the annulus portion is moved along the contour of the aorta in the depth direction (direction away from the left ventricle) by a predetermined distance, and the auxiliary point Pb after the movement is performed. The line segment connecting ′ and the auxiliary point Pc ′ is defined as the boundary separating the inside of the aorta.

Further, for example, the line segment connecting the auxiliary point Pa and the auxiliary point Pb corresponding to the annulus portion is translated in the depth direction (direction away from the left ventricle) by a predetermined distance, and the line segment after the parallel movement is in the atrium. It may be a boundary that separates. Similarly, the line segment connecting the auxiliary point Pb and the auxiliary point Pc corresponding to the annulus is translated in the depth direction (direction away from the left ventricle) by a predetermined distance, and the line segment after the parallel movement moves in the aorta. It may be a demarcation boundary. The line segment passing through the central position of the left atrium may be used as the boundary dividing the inside of the atrium, and the line segment passing through the central position of the aorta may be used as the boundary separating the aorta.

In this way, a trace line is formed consisting of the contour of the left ventricle, the contour of the left atrium, the contour of the aorta, the boundary dividing the atrium, and the boundary separating the aorta.

When the trace line is formed, the tracking processing unit 70 sets a plurality of tracking point TPs on the trace line. For example, about 100 tracking point TPs are set at equal intervals on the trace line.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a specific example 4 of the trace line forming process. In the specific example 4 of FIG. 5, the contour extraction unit 50 detects a feature portion in the heart in the B-mode image 22, and based on the position of the detected feature portion, the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the atrium, and the contour of the aorta are obtained. Extract.

The contour extraction unit 50 has, for example, the positions of three annulus portions (positions of auxiliary points Pa, Pb, and Pc in FIG. 2) and the position of one apex of the heart (positions of auxiliary points Pd in FIG. 2) as characteristic parts in the heart. Position) is detected. The contour extraction unit 50 uses a known method such as a search process (see FIG. 5 of Reference 3) described in Reference 3 (Pamphlet of International Publication No. 2013/115194) to determine the position of the annulus portion and the apex of the heart. Detect the position of.

Further, the contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta based on the detected positions of the three annulus portions and the position of one apex. The contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta by a known method such as the dynamic contour model described in Reference 2 (Pamphlet 2011/083789).

Further, the boundary setting unit 60 sets a boundary that divides the inside of the aorta and a boundary that divides the inside of the aorta. The boundary setting unit 60 sets a boundary that divides the aorta and a boundary that divides the aorta at a location geometrically determined according to the position of a characteristic site in the heart. For example, the specific example described with reference to FIG. 4 is applied to the setting of these boundaries.

In this way, a trace line is formed consisting of the contour of the left ventricle, the contour of the left atrium, the contour of the aorta, the boundary dividing the atrium, and the boundary separating the aorta.

When the trace line is formed, the tracking processing unit 70 sets a plurality of tracking point TPs on the trace line. For example, about 100 tracking point TPs are set at equal intervals on the trace line.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a specific example 5 of the trace line forming process. In the specific example 5 of FIG. 6, first, a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pf are set in the B mode image 22 of the heart by an examiner (a user such as a doctor or an examination technician). Similar to the specific example 1 of FIG. 2, in the specific example 5 of FIG. 6, auxiliary points Pa, Pb, and Pc are set at the positions of the three annulus portions, and the auxiliary points Pd are set at the positions of one apex. Then, the auxiliary point Pe is set in the left atrium, and the auxiliary point Pf is set in the aorta.

When a plurality of auxiliary points Pa to Pf are set, the contour extraction unit 50 extracts the contours of the left ventricle, the left atrium, and the aorta, and the boundary setting unit 60 sets the boundary that divides the atrium and the boundary that divides the aorta. To.

Thus, in the same manner as in the specific example 1 of FIG. 2, in the specific example 5 of FIG. 6, the contour of the left ventricle, the contour of the left atrium, the contour of the aorta, the boundary separating the inside of the atrium, and the boundary separating the aorta are formed. A trace line is formed.

When the trace line is formed, the tracking processing unit 70 sets a plurality of tracking point TPs on the trace line. However, in the specific example 5 of FIG. 6, a plurality of tracking point TPs are set for a part of the contour of the left ventricle, a part of the contour of the left atrium, and a part of the contour of the aorta. That is, no tracking point TP is set at the boundary that divides the aorta and the boundary that divides the aorta. In addition, in the specific example 3 of FIG. 4 and the specific example 4 of FIG. 5, a modified example in which the tracking point TP is not set at the boundary dividing the aorta and the boundary dividing the aorta may be applied.

According to the specific example described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, the plurality of tracking point TPs set in the B mode image 22 of the heart move the heart wall (inner wall) over a plurality of frames (plural time phases). It is used for the tracking process to track the heart.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a preferable procedure of the trace line forming process. First, an inspector (a user such as a doctor or an inspector) selects a B-mode image in which a trace line is formed (S1). For example, the inspector selects a B-mode image of a desired frame from a plurality of frames of B-mode images stored in a memory or the like for image data included in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG.

Next, the cross-section type of the B-mode image is specified (S2). For example, in the diagnosis of the heart, typical cross-section types such as apex two-chamber cross-section (A2C), apex three-chamber cross-section (A3C), and apex four-chamber cross-section (A4C) are known and are selected in S1. The inspector specifies which of these cross-section types the B-mode image corresponds to. In addition to the cross-section type, the time phase (end of expansion or end of contraction) of the B-mode image selected in S1 and the inverted state (left-right inversion or up-down inversion) may be specified.

Next, an auxiliary point is set (S3). For example, in the case of the B-mode image 22 of the apex three-chamber cross section (A3C) shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, auxiliary points Pa are located at the positions of the three annulus portions, for example, as in Specific Example 1 shown in FIG. , Pb, Pc are set, an auxiliary point Pd is set at the position of one apex, an auxiliary point Pe is set in the left atrium, and an auxiliary point Pf is set in the aorta. Note that some settings of the plurality of auxiliary points may be omitted as in Specific Examples 2 to 4 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. In the case of the apex two-chamber cross section (A2C) and the apex four-chamber cross section (A4C), for example, the positions of the two left and right annulus, the position of one apex, and the auxiliary points in the left atrium are provided. Set.

When the auxiliary point is set, the contour extraction process is executed by the contour extraction unit 50 (S4), the boundary setting process is executed by the boundary setting unit 60 (S5), and the tracking point is set by the tracking processing unit 70. (S6). When the cross-section type of the B-mode image is the apex three-chamber cross-section (A3C), contour extraction, boundary setting, and tracking point setting are realized by, for example, the specific examples described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

It is desirable that the contour extraction unit 50 performs contour extraction by using an extraction algorithm according to the cross-section type of the B mode image. For example, in the case of an apex three-chamber cross section (A3C), the contours of the left ventricle, left atrium, and aorta are extracted using an extraction algorithm corresponding to A3C. For apex two-chamber cross section (A2C), the contours of the left ventricle and left atrium are extracted using the extraction algorithm corresponding to A2C, and for apex four-chamber cross section (A4C), an extraction algorithm corresponding to A4C is used. It is used to extract the contours of the left ventricle and left atrium.

Further, a specific example described below may be used for the boundary setting process by the boundary setting unit 60.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the boundary setting process. FIG. 8 shows a specific example in which the boundary setting unit 60 sets a boundary that divides the left atrium by using the contour of the left atrium extracted by the contour extraction unit 50. FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the process of setting a boundary in the left atrium included in the B-mode image.

When the auxiliary points Pa and Pb are set at the positions of the annulus portions, the center position C of the initial contour is determined with reference to the auxiliary points Pa and Pb, and the initial contour is set in the left atrium (S1). For example, the center position C of the initial contour is determined using the positions of the auxiliary points Pa and Pb (positions of the two annulus portions) and the vector indicating the direction of the left atrium. Then, an initial contour composed of a plurality of contour model point OPs is set in the left atrium.

Next, the contour of the left atrium is extracted by the enlargement processing for the initial contour (S2). For example, the contour extraction unit 50 detects the edge of the left atrium (the boundary between the heart chamber and the myocardium) in the B mode image, and moves a plurality of contour model point OPs constituting the initial contour until the detected edge is reached. To do. The contour composed of the plurality of contour model point OPs after movement thus obtained becomes the contour of the left atrium.

When the contour of the left atrium is extracted, the boundary line BL corresponding to the boundary dividing the left atrium is set by the boundary setting unit 60 (S3). For example, a boundary line BL parallel to the line segment connecting the auxiliary points Pa and Pb is set through the auxiliary point Pe (see FIG. 2) set in the left atrium.

Next, a plurality of contour model point OPs protruding on the opposite side of the annulus portion (auxiliary points Pa, Pb) from the boundary line BL are shifted onto the boundary line BL (S4). For example, as in the specific example shown in S4, when the annulus portions (auxiliary points Pa, Pb) are on the negative direction side of the Y axis with respect to the boundary line BL, the positive direction side of the Y axis with respect to the boundary line BL. A plurality of contour model point OPs (lower side of the figure) are moved on the boundary line BL. For example, for all contour model point OPs constituting the contour of the left atrium, it is determined for each contour model point OP whether or not it is on the positive direction side of the Y axis with respect to the boundary line BL, and it is determined that it is on the positive direction side. Each contour model point OP is moved in the Y-axis direction until it reaches the boundary line BL.

Further, a plurality of contour model point OPs that have deviated to the outside (myocardial side) of the contour of the left atrium due to the shift on the boundary line BL are shifted into the left atrium (S5). In S5, an enlarged view of the vicinity of the intersection CP of the contour of the left atrium and the boundary line BL (the intersection on the left side (negative direction side of the X axis) in S4) is shown.

For example, as in the specific example shown in S5, each contour model point OP protruding to the left of the intersection CP of the contour of the left atrium and the boundary line BL is shifted to the position of the intersection CP. For example, each contour model point OP protruding to the left of the intersection CP may be shifted to the position of the X coordinate (XL) of the contour model point OP closest to the intersection CP. Regarding the intersection on the right side (positive direction side of the X axis) in S4, each contour model point OP protruding to the right side from the intersection is shifted to the position of the intersection. Further, when a plurality of contour model point OPs overlap at the same position due to the shift, only one of the plurality of contour model point OPs may be left.

In this way, a plurality of contour model point OPs arranged along the boundary separating the contour of the left atrium and the inside of the left atrium are formed (S6).

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are merely examples in all respects, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention includes various modified forms without departing from its essence.

10 probe, 12 transmission / reception unit, 20 image formation unit, 40 velocity vector calculation unit, 50 contour extraction unit, 60 boundary setting unit, 70 tracking processing unit, 80 display processing unit, 82 display unit, 90 operation device, 100 control unit.

Claims (4)

Contour extraction means for extracting the contour of the ventricle and the contour of the atrium in the ultrasonic image of the heart obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and
Boundary setting means for setting a boundary that divides the atrium in the ultrasonic image, and
Have,
A trace line including the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the atria, and the boundary separating the inside of the atria as a component is obtained.
The boundary setting means
By moving a line connecting auxiliary points set by the user at the positions of the two annulus portions in the heart by a predetermined distance in the depth direction of the atrium, a boundary separating the atrium is set.
An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by the fact that. Contour extraction means for extracting the contour of the ventricle and the contour of the atrium in the ultrasonic image of the heart obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and
Boundary setting means for setting a boundary that divides the atrium in the ultrasonic image, and
Have,
A trace line including the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the atria, and the boundary separating the inside of the atria as a component is obtained.
The contour extraction means detects a feature site in the heart in the ultrasonic image, extracts the contour of the ventricle and the contour of the atria based on the position of the detected feature site, and then extracts the contour.
The boundary setting means
A boundary that divides the inside of the atrium is set at a position geometrically determined according to the position of the characteristic site in the heart detected by the contour extraction means .
The boundary setting means
By moving the line connecting the positions of the two annulus portions in the heart detected by the contour extraction means as a characteristic site by a predetermined distance in the depth direction of the atrium, a boundary separating the atrium is set. To do,
An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by the fact that. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The contour extraction means extracts the contour of the aorta connected to the heart in the ultrasonic image.
The boundary setting means sets a boundary that divides the inside of the aorta in the ultrasonic image.
A trace line composed of the contour of the ventricle, the contour of the aorta, the contour of the aorta, the boundary dividing the aorta, and the boundary dividing the inside of the aorta is obtained.
An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by the fact that. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a tracking processing unit that sets a plurality of tracking points for vector flow mapping on the trace line and executes tracking processing for each of the tracking points.

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