JPH06343636A - Ultrasonic image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic image display device which can sense the echo max. intensity in the direction of view line from optimum view point position and specify the echo max. intensity sensing range to any desired. CONSTITUTION:When the echo max. intensity is to be sensed from the echo data, the view point is set on an ultrasonic beam, and in parallel therewith the view line is set. The echo data in three-dimensional region within a vital organism is taken in by an ultrasonic diagnostic device 24 and is accommodated in a three-dimensional data memory 28. Accordingly the echo max. intensity of each echo data piece on the beam read out of the data memory 28 is sensed by a max. echo sensing part 34 and sent to a CPU 32 where an echo max. intensity image is formed. The formed echo max, intensity image is once accommodated in a frame buffer memory 36 through a bus 30 to then be read and displayed by a CRT 38.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying a tomographic image in a living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the living body is known.
In recent years, an ultrasonic three-dimensional image display device that can display a spatially recognizable image using echo data of a three-dimensional region in a living body has been proposed and put into practical use. For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-286824 previously proposed by the applicant.
In the publication, the three-dimensional region is cut by three cutting planes orthogonal to each other, and the respective cutting planes are displayed side by side as being associated with each other as a tomographic image.

By the way, the applicant of the present invention filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2-198.
No. 309 proposes an ultrasonic echo integration display device. This apparatus sets a virtual viewpoint outside the three-dimensional area and displays an integrated image of the three-dimensional area viewed from the viewpoint. Specifically explaining the concept,
A screen is provided on the opposite side of the viewpoint between the three-dimensional regions, and echo data is integrated along each line of sight from the viewpoint toward the three-dimensional region and the integrated value is drawn on the screen, The integrated image is formed.

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

Further, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 4-49796.
An ultrasonic image display device is proposed in Japanese Patent Publication. In this device, a viewpoint outside the three-dimensional region described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-198309 is set on an ultrasonic beam, and an integration designated range is designated, and an echo is echoed within the designated range. The data is integrated with a line of sight parallel to the ultrasonic beam, a desired organ or tissue is extracted, and the integrated image of the three-dimensional region is displayed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the echo data d1 to the echo data dn within the integration range are included.
Are sequentially integrated along the line of sight 42 set parallel to the beam direction, and are displayed as brightness values at the corresponding points D on the projection surface (corresponding to the integrated image) 44. Then, normally, hard tissue (for example, bone) having a large echo value is displayed with a high brightness value (displayed in white in the image).

[0006]

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

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

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to detect an echo maximum intensity value along the line-of-sight direction from the best viewpoint position and freely specify the echo maximum intensity value detection range. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic image display device capable of performing the above.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from the three-dimensional region in the living body to capture echo data to form an ultrasonic image. In the ultrasonic image display apparatus for displaying the line of sight, the line-of-sight direction processing route calculation means for calculating the processing route along each line of sight that is directed toward the three-dimensional region from the viewpoint set outside the three-dimensional region, and the line-of-sight The maximum echo intensity value detecting means for detecting the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data in each processing route calculated by the direction processing route calculating means, and the maximum echo intensity value detected by the maximum echo intensity value detecting means are projected. Echo maximum intensity imaging means for imaging.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is an ultrasonic image display apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a three-dimensional region in a living body to capture echo data to form and display an ultrasonic image. Echo maximum intensity value detection range specifying means for specifying the echo maximum intensity value detection range along the beam,
Echo maximum intensity value detection means for detecting an echo maximum intensity value from the echo data along the ultrasonic beam within the echo maximum intensity value detection range, and echo maximum intensity value detected by the echo maximum intensity value detection means Echo maximum intensity image forming means for imaging based on the above.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, in the ultrasonic image display device according to claim 2, position specifying means for specifying the positions of two tomographic images intersecting the echo maximum intensity image, and the specified position. And a tomographic image forming unit that forms two tomographic images at different positions, and the two tomographic images are displayed along with the echo maximum intensity image.

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

[0013]

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

According to the first and second aspects, since the echo maximum value can be extracted by the echo maximum intensity value detecting means, the difference between the brightness values of the hard tissue and the soft tissue can be obtained without being affected by the shadow. Clarify and sharpen the image. In particular, when inspecting hard tissue, the image is displayed in white and the determination is easy.

According to the configuration of claim 3, since two tomographic images orthogonal to the echo maximum intensity image are displayed,
This facilitates spatial understanding of the observed hard tissue. In this case, if a cursor indicating the echo maximum intensity value detection range is displayed on the two tomographic images, it is easier to understand the image mutual relationship.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

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

The three-dimensional data memory 28 has a bus 30.
Connected to the bus 30 of the central control unit 3
2, maximum echo detector 34, frame buffer memory 3
6 is connected.

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

The central control unit 32 uses the detection result of the maximum echo detector 34 to form the maximum echo intensity image and controls the entire apparatus.

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

Therefore, each echo data on the ultrasonic beam read from the three-dimensional data memory 28 is sent to the central control unit 32 after the echo maximum intensity value is detected by the maximum echo detector 34, and the echo is echoed here. A maximum intensity image is formed. Then, the formed echo maximum intensity image is once stored in the frame buffer memory 36 via the bus 30, then read out and displayed on the CRT 38.

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

FIG. 2 shows the concept of the in-vivo three-dimensional region 10, in which the Z direction is the beam direction. That is, the ultrasonic probe is arranged above in FIG.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this embodiment, the stereoscopic conceptual image 103 of the in-vivo three-dimensional area is schematically displayed in the lower left part of the screen. In this conceptual image 103, wire-shaped cursors 60 and 62 indicating the echo maximum intensity value detection range are displayed, and further, the wire-shaped cursor 64 indicating the position of the tomographic image viewed from the front and the position of the tomographic image viewed from the side. A wire-shaped cursor 66 indicating is displayed.

Not limited to the conceptual image 103, the echo maximum intensity image 100 (beam maximum value display 10 shown in FIG.
0) and the tomographic images 101 and 102, the respective cursors are displayed so that the echo maximum intensity value detection range or the position of the cut surface can be easily grasped.

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

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

First, the measurement signal from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is stored in the above-mentioned three-dimensional data memory 28 (step 2).
01). Next, the cursors 60 and 62 are set at arbitrary positions (step 202), and the stereoscopic conceptual image 103 of the three-dimensional area which is a wire frame is formed (step 20).
3). While observing the stereoscopic conceptual image 103, in order to obtain the desired echo maximum intensity image 100, the dial A is changed (step 204), and the cursor 60 is moved to set the desired position (step 205). Similarly, the dial B is changed (step 206), and the cursor 62
Is moved to set the desired position (step 207).
Next, the dial C is changed to move the cursor 64 (step 208), and the FRONT tomographic image 1 viewed from the front is obtained.
01 is formed (step 209). In addition, dial D
To move the cursor 66 (step 21
0), the side SIDE tomographic image 102 viewed from the side is formed (step 211).

The data processed in this way (shown in FIG. 4) is sent to the maximum echo detector 34 in order to detect the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data in each beam direction. At this time, the switch E is turned on (step 220), and the maximum echo detector 34 detects the maximum echo intensity value (step 221).
Then, a beam maximum value image 100 is formed from the echo maximum intensity values in each beam direction, and this image is also displayed on the CRT 38 (step 222). If the displayed beam maximum value image 100 is the desired image, the observation is terminated at this point (step 223). On the other hand, in the case of further observing the image, without terminating in step 223, the process proceeds to the process after step 201 corresponding to in the figure,
The corresponding operation is performed by moving the corresponding cursor with each dial.

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

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

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

The embodiment of the ultrasonic image display device for detecting the echo maximum intensity value from the echo data along the ultrasonic beam has been described above. However, from the viewpoint set outside the three-dimensional region, the ultrasonic image display device is directed to the three-dimensional region. Another embodiment of the ultrasonic image display device for detecting the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data of the processing path along each line of sight that appears will be described below.

FIG. 6 shows an ultrasonic image display apparatus according to the present invention when a viewpoint is provided outside the three-dimensional area. An echo information area 7 conceptually shown in FIG.
0 is the same as the three-dimensional area where data is collected in the subject, and the echo information area 70 is formed by a plurality of voxels 70a. The voxel 70a corresponds to the echo information at each position in this three-dimensional area. The detection method of the maximum echo intensity value in this case is to detect and project the maximum echo intensity value from the echo data in the line-of-sight direction on the echo information area 70 from the predetermined viewpoint P to the screen 72 from the echo data in the line-of-sight direction. It is something to do. For example, the information of the voxel 70a is searched for along the line-of-sight path 80 connecting the viewpoint P and the projection point S on the screen 72, the maximum echo intensity value is detected, and the projection is performed according to the maximum echo intensity value. The brightness value at the point S is changed.

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

As described above, according to the ultrasonic image display apparatus of this embodiment, it is possible to make the image clear by clarifying the difference between the brightness values of the hard tissue and the soft tissue without being affected by the shadow. In particular, when inspecting hard tissue, the image is displayed in white so that the determination can be easily performed.

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

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Observation of hard tissue becomes easy without being affected by shadows. Further, since the echo maximum intensity values on the processing path are aggregated in the line-of-sight direction at each projection point in the image, it is possible to two-dimensionally observe the information of the three-dimensional area.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

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

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

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of echo maximum intensity value detection in the maximum echo detector 34.

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

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

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

[Explanation of symbols]

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

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic image display device for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an in-vivo three-dimensional region to capture echo data to form and display an ultrasonic image, wherein the ultrasonic image display device is set outside the three-dimensional region. Echo maximum intensity from the line-of-sight direction processing route calculation means for calculating the processing route along each line of sight emerging from the viewpoint toward the three-dimensional region, and the echo data in each processing route calculated by the line-of-sight direction processing route calculation means An echo maximum intensity value detecting means for detecting a value; and an echo maximum intensity image forming means for projecting and imaging the echo maximum intensity value detected by the echo maximum intensity value detecting means. Image display device. 2. In an ultrasonic image display device for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an in-vivo three-dimensional region to capture echo data to form and display an ultrasonic image, an echo maximum intensity value along an ultrasonic beam. Echo maximum intensity value detection range designating means for designating a detection range, and echo maximum intensity value detecting means for detecting an echo maximum intensity value from the echo data along the ultrasonic beam within the echo maximum intensity value detection range, An echo maximum intensity image forming means for forming an image on the basis of the echo maximum intensity value detected by the echo maximum intensity value detecting means; 3. The ultrasonic image display device according to claim 2, wherein position specifying means for specifying positions of two tomographic images intersecting the echo maximum intensity image, and two tomographic images at the specified positions are provided. An ultrasonic image display device comprising: a tomographic image forming unit to be formed, wherein the two tomographic images are displayed along with the echo maximum intensity image. 4. The ultrasonic image display device according to claim 3, further comprising means for displaying a cursor that indicates the echo maximum intensity value detection range on the two tomographic images. apparatus.