JP2008104551A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic diagnostic equipment capable of easily performing photographing and diagnosing when photographing and diagnosing regions symmetrical to a human body center line, and a method for displaying the photographed image. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic equipment comprises: a storage means 1i for storing a body mark B indicating an inspection part typically and a probe mark P indicating a probe typically; and an image display means 1n for displaying the probe mark P on one body mark B at a position symmetrical to the probe mark P displayed on the other body mark B when displaying the body marks B for the inspection regions symmetrical to the body center of a patient. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of easily capturing and diagnosing an image of a symmetric part about the body center.

  In recent years, with the development of image diagnostic apparatuses, doctors are increasingly performing medical examinations and the like using images showing the affected areas of patients taken by imaging technicians. As an example of the image diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be cited. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus acquires an ultrasonic image by applying a probe to an affected part of a patient, and records the acquired image information on, for example, itself. Save to device.

As the capacity of the recording apparatus increases, the amount of image information that can be stored can be increased. However, access to the stored image information becomes increasingly difficult. Therefore, in Patent Document 1 listed below, an ultrasonic image recorded in a recording apparatus is searched based on the measurement result, an annotation (annotation) added to the ultrasonic image, or a body mark. An invention is disclosed in which a desired ultrasonic image can be read out easily and quickly.
JP-A-11-285494

  However, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an invention for the purpose of easy access to captured image information, and does not simplify the procedure when an imaging technician or the like performs imaging of an affected area. .

  When imaging a region that is determined to be imaged in advance, that is, when the imaging sequence is determined as an imaging routine, imaging is generally performed in the order in which diagnosis is performed. Judgment as to whether or not all the parts have been photographed is made by looking at the photographed image. In making this determination, when the size and shape of the captured image are different, it is easy to determine which part is captured and which part is not captured.

  On the other hand, if any part of the image is taken, such as the breast, for example, if the shooting is interrupted for some reason during the shooting routine, to what part has the shooting been completed It becomes difficult to judge. In this case, it depends on the memory of the photographer who is the photographer, but this memory is also not reliable, and duplication or omission of shooting may occur. In particular, when imaging a part that is symmetric with respect to the human body center line, such as a breast, even if a part of one breast is imaged, the imaging of the symmetric part of the other breast may be forgotten.

  In addition, the order in which images after photographing are diagnosed is often determined in a predetermined order to prevent oversight or the like. If the images are not taken in the order of diagnosis, that is, in accordance with the determined shooting routine, the images are stored in the order different from the order of diagnosis for the sake of convenience. It becomes difficult to make a diagnosis by a doctor or the like.

  Furthermore, since the order in which the captured images are reproduced is performed even in a region that is symmetric with respect to the human body center line, it is difficult to make a diagnosis in comparison with a symmetric region.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound that can be easily imaged or diagnosed, particularly when imaging or diagnosing a site symmetrical to the center line of the human body. It is to provide a diagnostic device and a method for displaying a photographed image thereof.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a storage unit that stores a body mark that schematically represents an examination site and a probe mark that schematically represents a probe, and a patient body center symmetrical Image display means for displaying a probe mark on the other body mark at a position symmetrical to the probe mark displayed on one body mark when the body mark is displayed on the examination site;

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily perform imaging or diagnosis and a method for displaying the captured image, particularly when imaging or diagnosing a part that is symmetric with respect to the human body center line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a diagnostic apparatus main body on a support base that is movable with wheels. The diagnostic apparatus main body is provided with an operation panel 1f as input means, a probe 2, and a display means 1g for displaying diagnostic information.

  The probe 2 is a device that includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that irradiate ultrasonic waves to a site to be examined by a patient and receive reflected waves from the patient as echo signals. The image information collected by the probe 2 is sent to an image signal acquisition unit 1l described later and subjected to various processes such as analysis and image processing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1c, and an input / output interface 1d are connected via a bus 1e. The input / output interface 1d is connected with input means 1f, display means 1g, communication control means 1h, storage means 1i, removable disk 1j, and drive unit control means 1k, and drive unit control means 1k. Thus, each drive unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is controlled. The input / output interface 1d is further connected with an image signal acquisition unit 1l, an image construction unit 1m, and an image display unit 1n.

  The CPU 1a reads and executes a boot program for starting the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 from the ROM 1b based on the input signal from the input unit 1f, and reads various operating systems stored in the storage unit 1i. The CPU 1a controls various devices based on input signals from the probe 2 and external devices not shown in FIG. 2 via the input means 1f and the input / output interface 1d. Further, the CPU 1a reads a program and data stored in the RAM 1c, the storage unit 1i, and the like, loads them into the RAM 1c, and performs a series of processing such as calculation or processing of data based on a command of the program read from the RAM 1c. This is a processing device to be realized.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input unit 1 f is configured by an input device such as a keyboard and a dial for inputting various operations by the imaging engineer of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1, and receives an input signal based on the operation of the imaging engineer. It is created and transmitted to the CPU 1a via the bus 1e. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is provided with a dedicated operation panel as well as a keyboard and the like, and an operation screen can be operated via an input device on the operation panel. The display means 1g is a liquid crystal display as shown in FIG. 1, for example, and is a means for receiving an output signal from the CPU 1a via the bus 1e and displaying the processing result of the CPU 1a.

  The communication control unit 1h is a unit such as a LAN card or a modem, and is a unit that enables the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to be connected to a communication network such as the Internet or a LAN. Data transmitted / received to / from the communication network via the communication control unit 1h is transmitted / received to / from the CPU 1a via the input / output interface 1d and the bus 1e as an input signal or an output signal.

  The storage means 1i is composed of a semiconductor or a magnetic disk, and stores programs and data executed by the CPU 1a. The removable disk 1j is an optical disk or a flexible disk, and signals read and written by the disk drive are transmitted to and received from the CPU 1a via the input / output interface 1d and the bus 1e.

  The image signal acquisition unit 11 transmits an excitation signal to each ultrasonic transducer of the probe 2 based on the ultrasonic transmission time, and an echo signal from each ultrasonic transducer of the probe 2 based on the echo signal reception time. Receive. The ultrasonic transmission time and echo signal reception time to the image signal acquisition unit 11 are given from the CPU 1a.

  The image construction unit 1m reconstructs the echo signal received by the image signal acquisition unit 11 as ultrasound image data of the patient. The image display means 1n displays an image such as a body mark superimposed on the image data constituted by the image construction means 1m. In addition, the captured image corresponding to the probe mark is pulled out from the storage means 1i and displayed.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image signal acquisition unit 11, the image configuration unit 1 m, and the image display unit 1 n are configured as circuits, but are stored in the storage unit 1 i as an image display program. Alternatively, it may be stored in the removable disk 1j. In this case, the image display program is read and executed by the CPU 1 a of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, whereby the image display means is mounted on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1.

  Next, the flow of imaging and diagnosis will be described with reference to the flowchart of the imaging procedure shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 to 7 showing the body marks and the like displayed on the display means 1g.

  First, it is assumed that the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is already turned on. Then, the type of body mark to be displayed on the display means 1g is selected (ST1). This body mark is stored in the storage means 1i for each diagnosis area (for example, for cardiology, for obstetrics and gynecology), and is selected by the radiographer according to the diagnosis area. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a body mark B representing a breast. In FIG. 4, the breast is represented by a circle, and is divided into eight regions with the nipple as the center point. A body mark B shown in FIG. 4 represents one of the breasts. When both the left and right breasts are displayed, two body marks B are arranged side by side.

  Next, the display mode of the image on the body mark display means 1g is selected (ST2). As described above, for example, FIG. 5 shows the body mark of one breast. When both the left and right breasts are displayed, for example, a display mode as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. In particular, for the ears, eyes, breasts, and kidneys that are symmetric with respect to the center of the body, by selecting the display mode of FIG. Recognize.

  When the type of body mark and the display mode of the body mark are selected, imaging of the affected area of the patient is started (ST3). During imaging, a two-dimensional image of the affected area constituted by the image construction means 1m is displayed from the echo signal from the probe 2 on the monitor shown in FIG. Also, a body mark indicating the current position of the probe 2 (the position of the ultrasonic scanning plane with respect to the patient) is displayed on the two-dimensional image (on the display means 1g, for example, at the lower right corner of the screen) by the image display means 1n. Is done.

  A probe mark P is also displayed on the body mark B (ST4). In FIG. 5, three probe marks P are displayed on the body mark B, one is represented by a thick line and the remaining two are represented by thin lines. In the embodiment of the present invention, a probe mark P represented by a thin line represents a portion where photographing has already been completed, and a thick probe mark P represents a portion which is currently photographing. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the next imaging portion is represented by a dotted probe mark P. However, the display may be displayed in any manner on the probe mark P, and an arbitrary display mode can be adopted. In the probe mark P, the circled portion represents the photographing start position. For example, it is shown that the current photographing shown in FIG. 5 is performed from the vicinity of the nipple toward the outer edge of the breast.

  Photographing is performed according to the probe mark P shown on the body mark B (ST5). In principle, a part to be photographed is determined for each photographing part, and when one photographing is finished, a place to be photographed next is displayed.

  Further, in the case where a region that is symmetric with respect to the above-described body center is imaged, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the x portion of the right breast is currently imaged, the next imaged portion is captured on the left breast. It is also possible to indicate the portion y of the probe mark indicated by a dotted line. The meaning of “symmetric” is determined in advance, and the position of the symmetric probe mark is displayed in accordance with the definition. In the embodiment of the present invention, the overlapping position when the center line virtually provided at the center of the left and right breasts is folded is defined as a symmetrical position. By displaying in this way, it is possible to prevent forgetting to take an image of the other symmetric part after taking an image of the left and right parts symmetrical about the body center.

  When photographing is performed up to a predetermined position, a confirmation button for confirming an image photographed by the photographing engineer before the probe 2 is separated from the photographing portion is pressed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 that has detected the depression of the confirmation button (ST6) fixes (freezes) the captured image (ST7). That is, the image is confirmed and fixed by pressing the confirm button. Then, by performing this work, the image taken immediately before is collectively stored in the storage unit 1i together with the body mark B and the probe mark P (ST8). By storing the two-dimensional image, the body mark B, and the probe mark P together, it is easy to manage and convenient for reproduction. That is, one imaging is from when the probe 2 is applied to the imaging site until the imaging image is fixed and the probe 2 is separated from the imaging site, and the image is fixed (stored in the storage unit 1i) each time imaging is performed.

  When the confirmation button is pressed and the captured image is fixed and stored, it is selected whether or not to end the shooting (ST9). When shooting again (N in ST9), the above shooting procedure is repeated. It is.

  When the diagnosis is performed, the captured image stored in the storage unit 1i is reproduced on the display unit 1g by the image display unit 1n. In this case, only the captured image can be displayed, but the body mark and probe mark stored together with the captured image can also be displayed simultaneously.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display. In FIG. 7, the display means 1g is vertically divided into two, the body mark and the probe mark are displayed in the upper part, and the actually photographed image is displayed in the lower part. Four probe marks are displayed on the body mark of FIG. 7, and when one of the probe marks is selected, a corresponding captured image is displayed. That is, the image display unit 1n recognizes the selected probe mark, and draws and displays a captured image corresponding to the selected probe mark from the storage unit 1i.

  In FIG. 7, since the probe mark has not yet been selected, the photographed image is not displayed in the lower part of the display unit 1g. In addition, the selected probe mark may be easily recognized to be selected, for example, by inverting the display.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, body marks can be displayed side by side at the time of diagnosis. When diagnosing a site that is symmetric about the body center, for example, if a doctor who makes a diagnosis finds a part that is worrisome in the right part, can the part that is worrisome in the left part that is symmetrical to that part be found? Have interest. For example, if a part of interest is displayed only on either the left or right side, that part is the affected part. It becomes possible to make a judgment.

  In FIG. 8, the probe mark represented by x in the right breast shows the part of the photographed image currently displayed in the lower stage of the display means 1g (the photographed image is not shown in FIG. 8). A dotted probe mark represented by y in the left breast indicates a portion that is symmetrical to the currently displayed portion. Then, by selecting the probe mark indicated by the dotted line, the portion can be displayed in the lower stage of the display means 1g. It is also possible to display them side by side.

  Thus, when imaging or diagnosing a part symmetrical to the human body centerline, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily perform imaging or diagnosis by displaying the left and right parts side by side on the display means is provided. Can do.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

1 is an overall view showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the ultrasound diagnosing device in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of imaging | photography in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the body mark of a breast. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display mode of the body mark and probe mark in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram showing the body mark and probe mark which show the site | part symmetrical to the body center in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example which displayed the body mark and the probe mark at the time of diagnosis in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example which displayed the left-right body mark and the probe mark when diagnosing the site | part symmetrical to the body center in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment 2 Probe B Body mark P Probe mark

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing a body mark schematically representing an examination site and a probe mark schematically representing a probe;
Image display for displaying the probe mark on the other body mark at the position symmetrical to the probe mark displayed on one body mark when the body mark is displayed on the left and right symmetric examination site at the patient's body center Means,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   2. The body mark and the probe mark are stored in a storage unit together with a captured image every time imaging of a part represented by one probe mark is completed and an image is stored in the storage unit. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment.   3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at the time of diagnosis, all probe marks indicating an examination performed on the examination site stored in the storage unit are displayed.   When a specific probe mark is selected from all the probe marks indicating the examination performed on the examination site stored in the storage means, a captured image corresponding to the probe mark is displayed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an image indicated by the probe mark at a position symmetrical to the probe mark is also displayed simultaneously.

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