JP2018000261A - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus, ultrasonic imaging method, and coupling state evaluation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus having a function of generating and displaying information for evaluating a binding state of a tissue boundary is provided. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward an inspection object, and an ultrasonic wave from the inspection object is received to obtain a reception signal. Then, the blood flow information in each of the inner region 201 located on the inner side of the boundary and the outer region 202 located on the outer side is calculated from the reception signal with the boundary 210 in the inspection target set in advance, and calculated. A difference in information is obtained, and an image is generated that displays the magnitude of the difference as information indicating a connection state of tissues inside and outside the boundary. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, an ultrasonic imaging method, and a combined state evaluation apparatus.

  Medical image imaging devices represented by ultrasonic imaging devices, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, and X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) devices are used to express in vivo information in numerical values or images. It is widely used as a device that presents in form. Among them, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus has a higher time resolution than other apparatuses, and has the ability to image a heart under pulsation without bleeding.

  Ultrasonic imaging devices are widely used especially for tumor diagnosis. For example, it is used for presence diagnosis for detecting the presence or absence of a tumor of 5 mm size or larger, and for tumor property diagnosis based on information on tumor shape, blood vessel distribution and elasticity. It is also used in the treatment stage of tumors when preparing treatment plans and during intraoperative monitoring.

  In recent years, a minimally invasive treatment method with particularly low patient burden has been developed, and accordingly, a technique for identifying a more accurate treatment range, confirming a position during treatment, and a treatment completion region is required. Therefore, expectations for ultrasound images used for preparation of preoperative treatment plans and intraoperative monitoring have been increasing in recent years.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for determining a tissue boundary position based on an ultrasound image. The technique of Patent Document 1 determines a tissue boundary based on a fuzzy inference algorithm based on luminance information (B-mode image) of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasonic image.

JP 2000-126181 A

  The boundary between the tumor tissue and the surrounding tissue has extremely important information when diagnosing benign or malignant tumors and when creating a treatment plan. Specifically, there are two types of important information related to the tumor boundary, the first is information on the position of the boundary, and the second is information on the state of tissue connection at the boundary. The first boundary position can be determined by statistically analyzing the luminance information of the B image as in Patent Document 1.

  On the other hand, it is difficult to determine the tissue connection state at the second boundary only from the luminance information of the ultrasonic image. However, whether or not the tumor is bound to the surrounding tissue at the boundary of the tumor often corresponds to whether the tumor has infiltrated the surrounding tissue or not, and is extremely important for determination of treatment methods and benign / malignant diagnosis It is. Therefore, it is desired to obtain information on the tissue bonding state at the boundary by ultrasonic imaging, visualize the tissue bonding state, and provide it to the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound imaging apparatus having a function of generating and displaying information for evaluating a binding state of a tissue boundary that contributes to benign / malignant diagnosis of a tumor and improvement in accuracy of a treatment plan. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present invention, ultrasonic waves are transmitted toward an inspection object, and ultrasonic waves from the inspection object are received to obtain a received signal. Then, information about the blood flow in each of the first region located in one region of the boundary and the second region located in the other region of the boundary across the boundary within the inspection target set in advance from the received signal The difference between the calculated information is calculated, and the difference is calculated, and an image is generated to display the difference as information indicating the coupling state between the tissue in the first region and the tissue in the second region.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus having a function of generating and displaying information for evaluating a binding state of a tissue boundary that contributes to a benign / malignant diagnosis of a tumor and an improvement in accuracy of a treatment plan. it can.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. (A) is a tumor boundary, (b) is a set region of interest, inner region and outer region, (c) is a blood flow image, and (d) is a combined state image. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present embodiment. (A) Screen example for acceptance of imaging mode displayed on display device by control unit of embodiment, (b) Screen example for acceptance of type of blood flow information. (A)-(f) Explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of this embodiment. The graph which shows the example of TIC which the blood flow information calculation part of this embodiment produces | generates. Explanatory drawing which shows another setting method of the region of interest of this embodiment, an inner region, and an outer region.

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus (ultrasonic transmission / reception apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Since various tissues are mixed in the tumor and its surroundings, whether or not the tumor is combined with the surrounding tissues is evaluated only by the intensity of the ultrasonic signal from the examination object, that is, the luminance information in the B-mode image. It is difficult. In the present embodiment, when the tumor is bound to the surrounding tissue, that is, invaded, the blood vessels in the tumor extend to the surrounding tissue and enter the inside of the surrounding tissue. Information on whether or not the blood vessels extend to the surrounding tissue is obtained by comparing the blood flow information in the tumor and the blood flow information of the surrounding tissue (difference level).

  Specifically, if the blood vessels in the tumor extend to the surrounding tissue, i.e., the tissue is bound at the boundary, the same blood vessel passes from the inner region to the outer region of the tumor boundary, or Since two or more blood vessels branching from the same blood vessel inside the tumor are considered to pass through the inner region and the outer region, respectively, the similarity of the blood flow state between the inner region and the outer region of the boundary is high ( The difference is small). On the other hand, when the tumor is not bound to the surrounding tissue, separate blood vessels with completely different origins pass through the inner region and the outer region of the boundary, so the similarity in the blood flow state is connected Low compared to the case (large difference). Therefore, in this embodiment, the information on the blood flow state between the inner region and the outer region of the boundary is measured by ultrasound, and the difference between the information on the blood flow state is calculated to evaluate the tissue connection state at the boundary.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present embodiment. 2A to 2D are explanatory views showing tumor boundaries, blood vessels, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment is coupled to a transmission / reception control unit 11 that transmits ultrasonic waves toward the inspection object 100, receives ultrasonic waves from the inspection object, and obtains a reception signal. A state evaluation unit (a combined state information generation unit, a combined state evaluation device) 12. The combined state evaluation unit 12 sandwiches a predetermined boundary 210 within the inspection target (see FIG. 2A), and the inner region 201 located on the inner side of one of the boundaries 210 and the outer side that is the other of the boundaries 210. The information regarding the blood flow in each of the outer regions 202 located in the region is calculated from the received signal. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, blood flow information in the inner region 201 and predetermined blood flow information (for example, blood flow velocity) in the outer region 202 are calculated. An example of an image with only blood flow information is shown in FIG. Then, the combined state evaluation unit 12 calculates a difference in information regarding the blood flow calculated for the inner region 201 and the outer region 202, and generates an image that displays the magnitude of the difference as information indicating the combined state of tissues inside and outside the boundary. To do. For example, as shown in FIG. 2D, a color or pattern corresponding to the magnitude of the obtained difference value is displayed in an area between the inner area 201 and the outer area 202. At this time, the bonding state evaluation unit 12 may divide the difference value into a plurality of levels and display the information as information indicating the degree of bonding between the tissues inside and outside the boundary.

  As a result, the operator who sees the display can grasp the magnitude of the difference in blood flow information between the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 across the boundary 210. Therefore, the operator determines that there is a high possibility that blood vessels having the same or the same starting point extend from the inner side to the outer side of the boundary 210 in an area where the difference in blood flow information is small, and tissues inside and outside the boundary are connected. can do.

  In addition, when the difference value is smaller than a predetermined value, the combined state evaluation unit 12 has a predetermined color or a predetermined color indicating that the tissue inside the boundary 210 and the tissue outside the boundary are combined in the region of interest 220. A pattern may be displayed. Thereby, the operator can grasp a region where the difference in blood flow information is smaller than a predetermined value by a predetermined color or pattern, and the region of the predetermined color or pattern is formed by the tissue inside and outside the boundary. It is possible to grasp that there is a high possibility that they are combined.

  As described above, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present embodiment displays the magnitude of the difference in blood flow information inside and outside the boundary 210, so that the region where the blood flow information difference is small is the region where the blood flow information difference is large. Rather than that, it is possible to assist the operator in grasping that the tissue is connected, that is, the possibility of infiltration is high.

  The difference in blood flow information includes a difference in information values in the inner region 201 and the outer region 202, a ratio of values, a gradient obtained by dividing the value difference by a distance between the inner region 201 and the outer region 202, an inner side Any value may be used as long as the difference in information can be grasped, such as the similarity between the distribution of blood flow information values in the region 201 and the distribution of blood flow information values in the outer region 202.

  Specifically, the combined state evaluation unit 12 includes, for example, a region setting unit 121, a blood flow information calculation unit 122, and a combined state image generation unit 123.

  The region setting unit 121 sets the region of interest 220 on the boundary 210, and sets the inner region 201 inside the boundary 210 and the outer region 202 outside the boundary so as to face each other with a predetermined distance across the region of interest 220. Set each. As an example of the setting method, first, the region setting unit 121 sets an inner line 211 parallel to the boundary 210 at a position inside the boundary 210 that is a predetermined distance L1 away from the boundary 210, and outside the boundary 210. Outer lines 212 parallel to the boundary 210 are set at positions separated from the boundary 210 by a predetermined distance L2. Then, the region setting unit 121 sets the inner region 201 on the inner line 211 and the outer region 202 on the outer line 212 so as to face each other with the region of interest interposed therebetween.

  It is desirable that the line connecting the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 is set to form a predetermined angle θ with the boundary 210. For example, the angle θ is 90 ° or a predetermined angle.

  When the boundary 210 is a closed line, the inner side of the closed line is the side where the inner line 211 is arranged. In this case, the inner line 211 and the outer line 212 are closed lines. The boundary 210 is not limited to a closed line, and may be a straight line or a non-closed curve. In this case, which side of the boundary 210 the inner direction may be determined in advance, or the direction received from the operator may be the inner side. The case where the closed line is effective here is a tissue forming a mass such as a tumor, and the case where the non-closed curve is effective includes adhesion such as intestinal adhesion.

  The blood flow information calculation unit 122 calculates information related to blood flow in the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 from the received signal received by the transmission / reception control unit 11, and further calculates the difference. The combined state image generation unit 123 is an image that displays the difference in information regarding the blood flow between the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 calculated by the blood flow information calculating unit 122 as information indicating the combined state of the tissue in the region of interest 220. For example, an image as shown in FIG. 2D is generated and displayed on the connected display device 15.

  In addition to the blood flow velocity, the blood flow information calculated by the blood flow information calculation unit 122 of the combined state evaluation unit 12 includes the blood vessel distribution and the contrast medium when the contrast medium is administered to the examination target. Inflow start time to the inner region 201 and the outer region 202, outflow start time, arrival time to a predetermined contrast agent concentration, arrival time to the contrast agent equilibrium concentration, duration of the contrast agent over a predetermined concentration, and contrast enhancement Information of at least one of the total flow rate of the agent or information calculated using at least one may be used.

  The combined state evaluation unit 12 further includes a boundary input receiving unit 124 that displays the inspection target image generated from the received signal on the display device 15 and receives an input of the position of the boundary 210 from the operator on the displayed image. It is good also as a structure. The combined state evaluation unit 12 may further include a boundary extraction unit 125 that extracts a boundary 210 in an image by processing an image to be inspected generated from a received signal.

  By performing display in which the blood flow information at the tissue boundary is evaluated by the combined state evaluation unit 12 of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, in particular, the blood flow information calculation unit 122, the operator can objectively determine the combined state of the tumor boundary. And can be evaluated accurately. Clinically, improvement in accuracy of tumor benign / malignant diagnosis and treatment plan can be expected.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of this embodiment will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present embodiment generates numerical data (or image data) to be input to the combined state evaluation unit 12 in addition to the transmission / reception control unit 11 and the combined state evaluation unit 12. A B-mode image generation unit 18 and a blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 that perform the control and a control unit 17 that controls them are incorporated. The transmission / reception control unit 11 includes a transmission beamformer 21 and a reception beamformer 22. The ultrasound imaging apparatus is connected to a probe 10, an input device 16 that receives an operation for inputting a boundary and imaging conditions from an operator, and a display device 15 that displays various images.

  The functions of the coupling state evaluation unit 12, the transmission / reception control unit 11, the control unit 17, the B-mode image generation unit 18, and the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 may be realized by software, and part or all of the functions may be implemented by hardware. It may be realized by. When realized by software, the coupling state evaluation unit 12, the transmission / reception control unit 11, the control unit 17, the B-mode image generation unit 18, and the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 are combined with a processor (for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit)). The memory is configured by storing a program in advance. When the CPU reads and executes the program, functions of a coupling state evaluation unit 12, a transmission / reception control unit 11, a control unit 17, a B-mode image generation unit 18, and a blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 described later are realized. Further, when realized by hardware, a custom IC such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a programmable IC such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is used, and a coupling state evaluation unit 12 described later The circuit design may be performed so as to realize the operations of the control unit 11, the control unit 17, the B-mode image generation unit 18, and the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19.

  Hereinafter, the operation of each unit will be specifically described. Here, a case where the coupling state evaluation unit 12, the transmission / reception control unit 11, the control unit 17, the B-mode image generation unit 18, and the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 are executed by software will be described as an example. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation of each unit. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the imaging mode reception and the blood flow information type selection reception that the control unit 17 displays on the display device 15. It is an example of the screen for reception. The control unit 17, the coupling state evaluation unit 12, and the transmission / reception control unit 11 operate as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 when the CPU containing the program stored in advance in the built-in memory is read and executed.

  First, the control unit 17 causes the display device 15 to display a screen for accepting the imaging mode and accepting the selection of the type of blood flow information as shown in FIGS. The selection of the imaging mode and the selection of the type of blood flow information are received from the operator. Specifically, the imaging mode reception screen shown in FIG. 5A selects a selection unit 510 that selects whether or not to capture a B-mode image and whether or not to perform the evaluation of the boundary connection state. A selection unit 520 is included. In selection unit 510 and selection unit 520, control unit 17 accepts an operator's selection as to whether or not to capture a B-mode image and whether or not to perform a combined state evaluation.

  The selection unit 520 further includes a selection unit 521 for selecting whether to input the tumor boundary manually or to automatically detect the boundary by image processing when selecting to perform the evaluation of the bound state of the boundary. The imaging of blood flow information (imaging blood flow image) includes a selection unit 522 for selecting whether to perform Doppler blood flow imaging or contrast blood flow imaging using a contrast agent. The control unit 17 operates the selection units 521 and 522 to select an imaging mode, that is, select whether the boundary is manual input or automatic detection, and select whether the blood flow imaging method is Doppler imaging or contrast imaging. (Step 301).

  The screen for accepting selection of the type of blood flow information used for evaluation of the combined state in FIG. 5B is a blood flow velocity, blood vessel distribution (density), contrast agent inflow start time, and contrast agent outflow start. A selection unit 530 for selecting one of the time, the arrival time of the contrast agent to the predetermined concentration, the arrival time of the contrast agent to the equilibrium concentration, the duration of the contrast agent over the predetermined concentration, and the total flow rate of the contrast agent ~ 537. The blood flow velocity selection unit 530 can select any of the Doppler blood flow imaging and the contrast blood flow imaging selected by the selection unit 522. The blood vessel distribution (density) selection unit 531 can be selected only when Doppler blood flow imaging is selected. Other blood flow information type selection units 532 to 537 can be selected only when contrast blood flow imaging is selected. The control unit 17 receives a selection of the type of blood flow information used for the evaluation of the combined state from the operator (step 301).

  The control unit 17 may display the screens of FIGS. 5A and 5B on the same screen, or may display the screen of FIG. 5A and select an imaging mode from the operator. After accepting, the screen of FIG. 5B may be displayed.

  If the selection unit 510 selects B-mode image capturing in step 301 (step 302), the control unit 17 proceeds to step 303 and controls the transmission / reception control unit 11 to perform B-mode image capturing. Then, the B-mode image is generated by the B-mode image generator 18 from the obtained received signal, and the B-mode image is displayed on the display device 15 (step 303). Specifically, the transmission beamformer 21 generates a transmission signal (electric signal) under the control of the control unit 17 and passes it to each transducer of the probe 10. Thereby, the probe 10 irradiates the ultrasonic beam in the direction of the predetermined transmission scanning line of the inspection object 100. The ultrasonic echo from the inspection object 100 reaches each transducer of the probe 10 again and is converted into a reception signal (electric signal). The reception beamformer 22 delays (phases) each reception signal so that the reception signal of each transducer is focused on a plurality of reception focal points on one or more predetermined reception scanning lines under the control of the control unit 17. Then add. Thereby, the reception beamformer 22 generates a reception signal after phasing addition for a plurality of reception focal points on the reception scanning line. Under the control of the control unit 17, the transmission beamformer 21 sequentially transmits an ultrasonic beam for a plurality of transmission scanning lines in a predetermined imaging range, and the reception beamformer 21 has a plurality of reception scanning lines in a predetermined imaging range. Are sequentially generated after phasing addition. The B-mode image generation unit 18 generates a B-mode image by converting the intensity of the received signals after phasing and converting them to luminance for each reception focus of the reception scanning line, and displays the B-mode image on the display device 15 (step 303). ). The B-mode image generation unit 18 may display the generated B-mode image on the display device 15 via the combined state evaluation unit 12.

  When the selection unit 520 in step 301 selects execution of the boundary connection state (step 304), the control unit 17 proceeds to step 305, and the blood flow is determined by the imaging method selected by the selection unit 522. Instructs the transmission / reception control unit 11 to capture an image, causes the blood flow image to be captured, causes the blood flow image signal processing unit 19 to generate a blood flow image from the obtained reception signal, and displays the blood flow image It is displayed on the device 15 (step 305). Here, the selection unit 522 specifically selects contrast blood flow imaging, and the selection unit 530 to 537 specifically sets the blood flow information as an example in which the blood flow velocity (selection unit 530) is selected. explain.

  The blood flow imaging method using the contrast agent in step 305 will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. Since this imaging method is a widely known method, it will be briefly described. First, the control unit 17 causes the display device 15 to display an instruction prompting the operator to inject, for example, a liquid containing microbubbles having a predetermined diameter into the blood vessel of the inspection target 100 as a contrast agent (step 401). . Then, the control unit 17 instructs the transmission beamformer 21 of the transmission / reception control unit 11 to generate a transmission signal having a predetermined waveform. As a result, an ultrasonic beam is transmitted to each predetermined transmission scanning line within the imaging range, and each time the reception beamformer 22 generates a reception signal after phasing addition for the predetermined reception scanning line. Next, the control unit 17 instructs the transmission beamformer 21 to generate a transmission signal whose phase is shifted by 180 ° (the phase is inverted) with respect to the previous transmission signal. As a result, an ultrasonic beam whose phase is inverted from the previous transmission is transmitted to a predetermined transmission scanning line in the imaging range, and each time, a phasing addition is performed on the predetermined reception scanning line to the reception beam former 22. A post-reception signal is generated. Under the control of the control unit 17, the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 adds the reception signals after phasing addition of the same reception focus of the same reception scanning line respectively obtained in the previous transmission and the current transmission / reception. As a result, the signal of the frequency (fundamental wave) of the transmission signal is canceled, and the second harmonic reception signal generated by the contrast agent (microbubble) is extracted for each reception scanning line. This is repeated every time ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received. Further, the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 sequentially generates a blood flow image by arranging the second harmonic reception signals extracted for each reception focus of the reception scanning line by converting the intensity into luminance, Display on the display device 15 in time series (step 402). The blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 may display the generated blood flow image on the display device 15 via the combined state evaluation unit 12.

  Then, the control unit 17 waits for an instruction to start capturing a blood flow image from the operator (step 403). Specifically, the operator visually confirms that the contrast agent has started to flow into a predetermined region while viewing the blood flow image, and the control unit 17 receives the blood flow image via the input device 16. When instructed to start capturing, the control unit 17 stores a blood flow image of a predetermined number of frames (number) m (for example, m = 150) in a memory (not shown) in the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19. Is stored (stored) (step 404).

  Further, the control unit 17 receives the selection of the display image and displays the display image on the display device 15 (step 405). Specifically, the control unit 17 causes the operator to select one of the blood flow images of a predetermined number of frames m via the input device 16, and selects the selected blood flow image, for example, as illustrated in FIG. Or displayed on the display device 15 as shown in FIG. 6A (step 405). Note that B-mode imaging in step 303 may be performed alternately with blood flow image capturing in step 402. In this case, when the blood flow image selected in step 405 is displayed on the display device 15, the B-mode image can be displayed in a superimposed manner. By superimposing and displaying the blood flow image and the B-mode image, it is possible to display an image that makes it easier to recognize an image of a tissue other than a blood vessel, and it is easy to grasp the body motion, so that the body motion correction Processing can also be performed.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 306 in FIG. 3, and when the manual input of the boundary is selected by the selection unit 521 in step 301, the boundary input reception unit 124 receives the boundary input from the operator on the image (step 307). ). For example, when the blood flow image displayed in step 405 or the superimposed image of the blood flow image and the B-mode image is displayed as shown in FIG. 6A, the boundary input reception unit 124 inputs from the operator. First, setting of the evaluation frame 601 is accepted via the device 16 (FIG. 6B), and setting of a plurality of points (user set points) 602 on the boundary of the object (tumor) 600 is set in the evaluation frame 601. Accepted from the operator (FIG. 6C). As the setting of the evaluation frame 601, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the setting of the start point and the end point is accepted from the operator, and a figure including the target object 600 with the start point and the end point as vertices may be set. Then, the boundary input reception unit 124 generates the boundary 210 by generating a closed line connecting the plurality of received points 602.

  On the other hand, in step 306, when the automatic detection of the boundary is selected by the selection unit 521, the boundary extraction unit 125 performs image processing on the displayed blood flow image or a superimposed image of the blood flow image and the B-mode image. Thus, the boundary 210 is automatically detected (step 308). The automatic detection method of the boundary 210 by image processing may use a widely known boundary recognition technique such as a technique called segmentation or a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, and description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 309, where the region setting unit 121 sets a region of interest 220 having a predetermined size on the boundary 210 as an automatic set point at equal intervals (see FIG. 6D). In step 310, the area setting unit 121 sets an inner line 211 parallel to the boundary 210 at a position separated by a predetermined distance L1 inside the boundary 210 (see FIG. 6E). Further, an outer line 212 parallel to the boundary 210 is set at a position outside the boundary 210 by a predetermined distance L2. Then, for each region of interest 220, an inner region 201 is set on the inner line 211 and an outer region 202 is set on the outer line so as to face each other with the region of interest 220 in between. The size of the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 is a predetermined size. Here, a line connecting the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 forms a predetermined angle (for example, 90 °) with the boundary 210.

  Next, the blood flow information calculation unit 122 generates a time change curve (TIC (time intensity curve)) for each pixel in the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 (step 311). Specifically, the blood flow information calculation unit 122 uses the blood flow imaging signal processing unit 19 to calculate the luminance (the intensity of the second harmonic reception signal) for the pixels (reception focal points) in the inner region 201 and the outer region 202. All the m frames stored in the internal memory are read out, and a luminance time change curve (TIC) is generated for each pixel as shown in FIG. 7 (step 311).

  Next, the blood flow information calculation unit 122 calculates predetermined blood flow information based on the generated TIC (step 312). Since the contrast agent concentration and the luminance are in a correspondence relationship, the blood flow information calculation unit 122 calculates the blood flow velocity ((6) TIC increase rate) and the pixel position from the generated TIC as shown in FIG. Contrast agent inflow start time (1), outflow start time (disappearance start time) (3), arrival time of contrast agent at predetermined concentration ((5) threshold luminance arrival time), equilibrium concentration ((8) equilibrium luminance ( The time to reach the blood flow)) ((2) the equilibrium luminance arrival time), the duration (4) above the predetermined concentration, and the total flow rate of the contrast agent ((9) integral value ∫TICdt) are calculated. Further, without using TIC, the luminance distribution of the B-mode image or blood flow image may be digitized as a feature amount and used as blood flow information ((10) luminance distribution). Therefore, the blood flow information calculation unit 122 calculates the blood flow information received in step 301 from the TIC. For example, when the blood flow information is a blood flow velocity, the blood flow velocity is calculated by calculating the rate of increase in TIC. If the selected blood flow information is calculated for all the pixels of one inner region 201, at least one of the sum, average, maximum value, minimum value, or distribution of the blood flow information of all pixels A predetermined value is calculated, and the value is used as the blood flow information value of the inner region 201 (step 312). The values of blood flow information are calculated in the same manner for all inner regions 201 and outer regions 202.

  Next, the blood flow information calculation unit 122 calculates the difference between the blood flow information value of the inner region 201 calculated in step 312 and the blood flow information value of the outer region 202 for each region of interest 220 (step). 313). As the difference, in addition to the difference in the blood flow information value, the ratio of the values, the gradient obtained by dividing the value difference by the distance (L1 + L2) between the inner region 201 and the outer region 202, the value of the blood flow information in the inner region 201 And the distribution of the blood flow information value in the outer region 202 may be similar.

  The combined state image generation unit 123 determines to which of a plurality of predetermined value ranges the difference in blood flow information between the inner region 201 and the outer region 202 of the region of interest 220 obtained in step 313 belongs. Then, a color or pattern corresponding to the value range is assigned (step 314). Then, the combined state image generation unit 123 displays the assigned color or pattern in the region of interest 220 or the display region 230 having a predetermined size centered on the region of interest 220 as shown in FIG. A combined state image is generated. In the example of FIG. 6 (f), a display area 230 having a predetermined size centered on the region of interest 220 is set as shown in FIG. 2 (b). The combined state image is generated by displaying the assigned color or pattern in the area between the outer line 212 and the outer line 212. The combined state image generation unit 123 displays the generated combined state image on the display device 15 (step 315).

  As described above, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment quantitatively measures the difference in blood flow information between the inner region and the outer region across the boundary, and displays it as an image relating to the coupling state at the boundary. Further, not only the position of the boundary but also the difference in blood flow information corresponding to the state of tissue infiltration or adhesion is visualized and displayed. Therefore, it is possible to provide information that is used as a determination material for determination of treatment methods and benign / malignant diagnosis by an operator or a doctor.

The inner region 201 and the outer region 201 are set so as to sandwich the region of interest 220 set on the boundary 210. The inner line 211 and the outer line 212 are set as described above, and the inner region 201 and The setting method is not limited to the method of setting the outer region 201, and any setting method may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, first, at regular intervals to set the pixel 240 on the boundary 210, calculates a middle point _{P 0} of the pixels _P 1, _{P 2} adjacent in the pixel 240, a middle point _{P 0} Let it be the central pixel of the region of interest 220. Then, the vector P ₀ P ₂ is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise to calculate the vector P ₀ Q ₁ multiplied by r. The pixel of Q _1, the center pixel of the inner region 201, to set the inner region 201 of a predetermined size. Further, the vector P ₀ P ₂ is rotated 90 ° clockwise (−90 ° counterclockwise), and the vector P ₀ Q ₂ multiplied by r is calculated. The pixel of Q _2, the center pixel of the outer region 202, for setting the outer region 202 of a predetermined size. This method has an advantage that the region of interest 220, the inner region 201, and the outer region 202 can be set with a simple calculation without setting the inner line 211 and the outer line 212.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment. In addition, each of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, and the like are realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them with an integrated circuit such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Also good. Each of the above-described configurations, functions, and the like may be realized by software by interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function by the processor. Information such as a program for realizing each function can be stored in a memory, a hard disk, a recording device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) card, an SD card, or a DVD.

  Further, the control lines and information lines indicate what is considered necessary for the explanation, and not all the control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Probe, 11 ... Transmission / reception control part, 12 ... Connection state evaluation part, 15 ... Display apparatus, 16 ... Input device, 17 ... Control part, 18 ... B-mode image generation part, 19 ... Blood flow imaging signal processing part 21 ... transmission beamformer, 22 ... reception beamformer, 121 ... area setting unit, 122 ... blood flow information calculation unit, 123 ... combined state image generation unit, 124 ... boundary input reception unit, 125 ... boundary extraction unit, 201 ... Inner region, 202 ... outer region, 210 ... boundary, 211 ... inner line, 212 ... outer line, 220 ... region of interest, 230 ... display region

Claims (13)

A transmission / reception control unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward the inspection object, receiving the ultrasonic wave from the inspection object, and obtaining a reception signal;
The information on blood flow in each of the first region located in one region of the boundary and the second region located in the other region of the boundary across the boundary in the inspection target set in advance is received. Calculated from the signal, obtains a difference between the calculated information, and generates a combined state information for generating an image that displays the magnitude of the difference as information indicating a combined state between the tissue in the first region and the tissue in the second region And an ultrasonic imaging apparatus.   2. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling state information generation unit sets a region of interest on the boundary, and faces the region of interest with a predetermined distance therebetween. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, wherein an inner region located inside the boundary is set as a region, and an outer region located outside the boundary is set as the second region.   The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the difference is smaller than a predetermined value, the coupling state information generation unit includes a tissue inside and outside the boundary in the region of interest. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus characterized by generating an image showing that they are combined.   The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information related to the blood flow includes blood flow velocity, blood flow volume, blood vessel distribution, and the inner region of the contrast agent when the contrast agent is administered to the examination target. And an inflow start time to the outer region, an outflow start time, an arrival time to a predetermined contrast agent concentration, an arrival time to an equilibrium concentration of the contrast agent, a duration exceeding the predetermined concentration of the contrast agent, and a total of the contrast agent An ultrasonic imaging apparatus characterized by being at least one piece of information of flow rate or information calculated using at least one piece.   3. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coupling state information generation unit sets an inner line parallel to the boundary at a position away from the boundary inside the boundary by a predetermined distance. An outer line parallel to the boundary is set at a position that is a predetermined distance away from the outer boundary, and the inner region is set on the inner line, the outer region is set on the outer line, and the region of interest is set. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus is set so as to face each other.   6. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a line connecting the inner area and the outer area forms a predetermined angle with the boundary.   6. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the boundary, the inner line, and the outer line is a closed line.   2. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling state information generation unit receives an input of the boundary position from an operator on the inspection target image generated from the reception signal. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus having a section.   2. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling state information generation unit processes the image to be inspected generated from the reception signal to extract the boundary in the image by calculation. 3. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus having an extraction unit.   2. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling state information generation unit divides the difference value into a plurality of stages, and the stages are divided into a tissue of the first region and a tissue of the second region. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus that generates an image to be displayed as information indicating a degree of coupling with the image pickup apparatus.   3. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the difference between the information includes a difference, a ratio, and a difference between values of the information in the inner region and the outer region. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus characterized by being one of a gradient divided by a region distance, a distribution of information values related to blood flow in the inner region, and a distribution of information values related to blood flow in the outer region . Transmitting ultrasonic waves toward the inspection object, receiving ultrasonic waves from the inspection object, and obtaining a reception signal;
Information on the blood flow in each of the inner region located inside the boundary and the outer region located outside the boundary across the boundary within the inspection target set in advance is calculated from the received signal, and the calculated information Determining the difference;
And displaying the magnitude of the difference as information indicating a bonding state of tissues inside and outside the boundary. A blood flow information calculation unit that receives a reception signal obtained by receiving an echo of an ultrasonic wave transmitted toward a test object, and calculates information about the blood flow;
Finding the difference between the information regarding the blood flow in each of the inner region located inside the boundary and the outer region located outside the boundary across the boundary in the inspection object set in advance, the magnitude of the difference, A combined state evaluation apparatus comprising: an image generation unit configured to generate an image to be displayed as information indicating a combined state of tissues inside and outside the boundary.

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