JP2022011665A - Device, control program and system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device which can obtain a time intensity curve in which a deviation of scan cross-section and a fluctuation of irregularity due to impact of an acoustic shade are suppressed.SOLUTION: A processor of a device generates a first time intensity curve T1 showing a time change of a signal intensity in an interest region in a contrast image. Then, the processor generates a first envelope E1 and a second envelope E2, and specifies the signal intensities SI1-SI3 in the interest region in the contrast image satisfying the predefined condition as an appropriate image. Then, the processor specifies the positions of the signal intensities SI1-SI3 at a ratio with respect to a distance between the first envelop E1 and the second envelope E2, and generates a second time intensity curve T2 that passes through the position of the above ratio and the position specified from the position of the above ratio.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus, a control program and a system thereof for creating a time intensity curve of a contrast medium injected into a subject.

The contrast image is an image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasonic wave reflected by the contrast medium. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a time intensity curve may be created in a region of interest (ROI: Region Of Interest) set in a contrast image (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This time intensity curve shows the time change of the signal intensity in the region of interest, and is also called TIC (Time Integrity Curve).

Tumor differential diagnosis can be made by the characteristics of the time intensity curve. For example, the user sets a region of interest for each of the target and the reference portion in the contrast image for the differential diagnosis. In one example, the target is the mass and the reference is the normal liver parenchyma around the mass. Analyzing the ratio of signal intensities in each of the two regions of interest can aid in the differential diagnosis of tumors. In addition, there are many parameters that can be evaluated by the time intensity curve other than the ratio of each signal intensity in the above-mentioned two regions of interest. For example, the maximum gradient and the minimum gradient of the time intensity curve, the integral value of the curve (Area under the curve), and the like are also parameters that can be evaluated by the time intensity curve.

Some of the parameters that can be evaluated with the time intensity curve require measurements for 20 to 30 seconds or longer, and it may be difficult for the subject to hold his / her breath for a long time. In such cases, the user instructs the subject to "small breath". The user then evaluates the outline of the time intensity curve, allowing the scanned cross section of the ultrasound to deviate slightly due to breathing.

International Publication No. 2018/87198

The displacement of the ultrasound scan section due to respiration can cause a portion of the mass signal in the region of interest to replace the signal in the parenchyma of the liver, resulting in altered signal strength within the region of interest. Also, for example, when the target periodically enters under the influence of poor contact between the ultrasonic probe and the body surface or the acoustic shadow generated by a barrier such as the lung, the signal in the region of interest periodically. A change in strength will occur. These appear as variations in unevenness on the time intensity curve, causing deviations from the ideal time intensity curve that should be originally obtained. The larger the dissociation, the larger the error in the evaluation parameters of the time intensity curve.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor, wherein the processor changes the signal intensity over time for a region of interest in a multi-frame contrast image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasound reflected by the contrast agent injected into the subject. The first time intensity curve shown is created, and the first envelope on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve and the second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve are created. .. Then, the processor identifies the signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image which is the contrast image of at least one frame selected from the plurality of frames and satisfies the condition defined as an appropriate image, and said. The position of the signal strength on the first time intensity curve at the time corresponding to the selected frame is specified as a percentage of the distance between the first envelope and the second envelope. Further, the processor is a second time-varying curve showing the time variation of the signal strength, the time corresponding to the selected frame, passing through the position of the ratio in the time corresponding to the selected frame, and still corresponding to the selected frame. For other times than the above, a second time intensity curve is created between the first envelope and the second envelope, passing through a position specified from the position of the ratio.

In another aspect, the system has an ultrasonic diagnostic device and a server connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic device via a network. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus exhibits an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject into which a contrast medium is injected and receives an echo of the ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic signal intensity of the ultrasonic waves reflected by the contrast medium. It includes a first processor that creates a contrast image based on the echo signal of the ultrasonic wave and outputs the data of the contrast image to the server via the network. The server also includes a second processor. The second processor creates a first time intensity curve showing the time change of the signal intensity for the region of interest in the contrast image of a plurality of frames, and the first on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve. And the second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve are created. Then, the signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image of at least one frame selected from the plurality of frames and satisfying the conditions defined as an appropriate image is specified, and the signal strength is selected. The position of the signal strength on the first time intensity curve at the time corresponding to the frame is specified as a percentage of the distance between the first envelope and the second envelope. Further, the second processor is a second time change curve showing the time change of the signal strength, passing through the position of the ratio in the time corresponding to the selected frame, and to the selected frame. For other times than the corresponding time, a second time intensity curve is created between the first envelope and the second envelope, passing through a position specified from the position of the ratio.

According to the apparatus and system in the above embodiment, the envelope passes between the first envelope on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve and the second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve. By creating the second time intensity curve using the position of the ratio, a more accurate time intensity curve can be obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the time intensity curve creation process by an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the contrast image which set the region of interest, and is the figure which shows the contrast image which the mass is brighter than the liver parenchyma. It is a figure which shows the 1st time intensity curve. It is a figure which shows the contrast image which the liver parenchyma is brighter than a mass. It is a figure explaining the deviation of a scan surface. It is a contrast image after the scan surface is deviated, and is the figure which shows the contrast image which the mass is brighter than the liver parenchyma. It is a figure which shows the contrast image which generated the acoustic shadow. It is a contrast image after the scan surface is deviated, and is the figure which shows the contrast image which the liver parenchyma is brighter than a mass. It is a figure which shows the 1st envelope and the 2nd envelope with respect to the 1st time intensity curve. It is a figure which shows the signal strength of 3 selected frames in the 1st time intensity curve. It is a figure explaining that the position of the signal strength on the 1st time intensity curve at the time corresponding to a selected frame is specified by the ratio to the distance between the 1st envelope and the 2nd envelope. .. It is a figure which shows the 2nd time intensity curve. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the system by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process by 2nd Embodiment, and is the flowchart which shows an example of the process before the time intensity curve is created.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First Embodiment)
First, the first embodiment will be described. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission beam former 3, and a transmitter 4. The ultrasonic probe 2 performs an ultrasonic scan on a subject and receives an ultrasonic echo. More specifically, the ultrasonic probe 2 has a plurality of vibrating elements 2a that radiate pulsed ultrasonic waves to a subject (not shown). The plurality of vibrating elements 2a are driven by the transmission beam former 3 and the transmitter 4 to radiate pulsed ultrasonic waves.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 further includes a receiver 5 and a receiving beam former 6. The pulsed ultrasonic waves radiated from the vibrating element 2a are reflected in the subject to generate an echo returning to the vibrating element 2a. The echo is converted into an electric signal by the vibrating element 2a to become an echo signal, which is input to the receiver 5. The echo signal is input to the receiving beamformer 6 after being amplified by the required gain in the receiver 5, and the receiving beamforming is performed in the receiving beamformer 6. The receiving beamformer 6 outputs ultrasonic data after receiving beamforming.

The receiving beam former 6 may be a hardware beam former or a software beam former. When the receive beam former 6 is a software beam former, the receive beam former 6 performs a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a logical operation. Can include one or more processors, including any one or more of the other types of processors capable of. The processor constituting the reception beam former 6 may be configured by a processor different from the processor 7 described later, or may be configured by the processor 7.

The ultrasonic probe 2 may include an electrical circuit for performing all or part of transmit beamforming and / or receive beamforming. For example, all or part of the transmitting beam former 3, the transmitter 4, the receiver 5, and the receiving beam former 6 may be provided in the ultrasonic probe 2.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 also includes a transmitter beam former 3, a transmitter 4, a receiver 5, and a processor 7 for controlling the receiver beam former 6. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a display 8, a memory 9, and a user interface 10.

The processor 7 is in electronic communication with the ultrasonic probe 2. The processor 7 can control the ultrasonic probe 2 to acquire ultrasonic data. The processor 7 controls which of the vibrating elements 2a is active and the shape of the ultrasonic beam transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 2. The processor 7 is also in electronic communication with the display 8, and the processor 7 can process the ultrasonic data into an ultrasonic image for display on the display 8. The term "electronic communication" can be defined to include both wired and wireless communication. The processor 7 can include a central processing unit (CPU) according to one embodiment. According to other embodiments, the processor 7 can perform processing functions such as a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or another type of processor. Can include electronic components. According to other embodiments, the processor 7 can include a plurality of electronic components capable of performing processing functions. For example, the processor 7 can include two or more electronic components selected from a list of electronic components including a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array, and a graphics processing unit.

Processor 7 can also include a composite demodulator (not shown) that demodulates RF data. In another embodiment, demodulation can be performed early in the processing chain.

The processor 7 is configured to perform one or more processing operations on the data according to a plurality of selectable ultrasonic modalities. When the echo signal is received, the data can be processed in real time during the scanning session. For this disclosure, the term "real time" is defined to include procedures that are performed without any intentional delay.

Also, the data can be temporarily stored in a buffer (not shown) during ultrasonic scanning and processed in live or offline operations rather than in real time. In this disclosure, the term "data" can be used herein to refer to one or more datasets obtained using an ultrasonic diagnostic device.

Ultrasound data is stored in other or different mode-related modules depending on the processor 7 (eg, B mode, color doppler, M mode, color M mode, spectral doppler, contrast mode, elastography, TVI, distortion, strain rate, etc.). It can be processed to create ultrasonic image data. For example, one or more modules can produce ultrasound images such as B mode, color doppler, M mode, color M mode, spectral doppler, contrast mode, elastography, TVI, distortion, strain rate, and combinations thereof. Can be generated. In this specification, a contrast image displayed in the contrast mode will be described later.

Image beams and / or image frames are stored and can record timing information indicating when the data was acquired in memory. The module may include, for example, a scan transform module that performs scan transform operations to transform an image frame from coordinate beam space to display space coordinates. A video processor module may be provided that reads an image frame from the memory and displays the image frame in real time while the subject is being treated. The image processor module can store the image frame in the image memory, and the ultrasonic image is read from the image memory and displayed on the display 8.

The ultrasonic data before the scanning conversion operation is referred to as raw data. Further, the data after the scanning conversion operation is referred to as image data.

When the processor 7 includes a plurality of processors, the plurality of processors may be in charge of the above-mentioned processing task in charge of the processor 7. For example, a first processor can be used to demodulate and decimate the RF signal, and a second processor can be used to further process the data before displaying the image.

Further, for example, when the receiving beam former 6 is a software beam former, the processing function may be executed by a single processor or may be executed by a plurality of processors.

The display 8 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminence) display, or the like.

Memory 9 is any known data storage medium, including non-transient storage media and transient storage media. The non-transient storage medium is, for example, a non-volatile storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The non-transient storage medium may include a portable storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versaille Disk). The program executed by the processor 7 is stored in a non-transient storage medium.

The transient storage medium is a volatile storage medium such as RAM (Random Access Memory).

The user interface 10 can accept the input of the operator. For example, the user interface 10 accepts instructions and information input from the user. The user interface 10 includes a keyboard (keyboard), a hard key (hard key), a trackball (trackball), a rotary control (rotary control), soft keys, and the like. The user interface 10 may include a touch screen for displaying soft keys and the like.

Next, the operation of the superwave diagnostic apparatus 1 of this example will be described. First, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 acquires a contrast image of a subject into which a contrast medium has been injected. Specifically, the processor 7 controls the ultrasonic probe 2 to start transmitting ultrasonic waves to the subject into which the contrast medium is injected. The ultrasonic probe 2 receives an echo containing ultrasonic waves reflected by the contrast medium. The processor 7 performs a known process on the echo signal to create a contrast image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasonic waves reflected by the contrast agent. The contrast image is, for example, an image of the liver of the subject. The processor 7 stores the contrast image data in the memory 9. In addition to the contrast image data, the B mode image data may be acquired and stored in the memory 9.

The contrast image data stored in the memory 9 is data of a plurality of frames and has a required time length. The length of this time is the length of time that it is difficult for the subject to hold his / her breath, and in one example, it is 60 seconds or more, and is 2 to 5 minutes. However, the length of time is only an example, and is not limited to the examples. The contrast-enhanced image data is acquired while the subject is breathing.

Next, the creation of the time intensity curve for the contrast image obtained in this way will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In one example, the contrast image on which the time intensity curve is created is not a real-time image. First, in step S1, the processor 7 reads out the contrast image data stored in the memory 9 and displays it on the display 8. The processor 7 may display the contrast image CI when the user interface 10 receives the input of the user for displaying the contrast image CI. In one example, the contrast image CI displayed on the display 8 is a still image, which is an image of one frame selected from a plurality of frames stored and read out in the memory 9. In one example, a contrast image CI suitable for setting the region of interest R, which will be described later, is selected and displayed by the user. The processor 7 may display a B mode image (not shown) on the display 8 in addition to the contrast image CI.

Next, in step S2, as shown in FIG. 3, the region of interest R is set in the contrast image CI displayed on the display 8. The user interface 10 accepts the input of the user who sets the region of interest R in the contrast image CI displayed on the display 8. When the user interface 10 receives the input, the processor 7 sets the region of interest R in the contrast image CI.

The region of interest R is placed at the target in the contrast image CI. In one example, the target is tumor M. As used herein, the region of interest R is the same size as the circular mass M. Further, in the present specification, the mass M is assumed to be a tumor.

Next, in step S3, the processor 7 creates the first time intensity curve (TIC) T1 shown in FIG. 4 for the region of interest R. The first time intensity curve T1 is the average time change of the signal intensity (luminance) in the region of interest R. In FIG. 4, the first axis (here, the horizontal axis) shows the time, and the second axis (here, the vertical axis) shows the signal strength (the same applies to the figures other than FIG. 4 described later). The first time intensity curve TI1 has irregularities. The factors that form this unevenness will be described below.

The contrast medium injected into the subject flows into the surrounding liver parenchyma P after flowing into the tumor. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the signal strength inside the region of interest R becomes larger than the signal strength of the hepatic parenchyma P around it. After that, as shown in FIG. 5, the signal strength inside the region of interest R becomes smaller than the signal strength of the liver parenchyma P.

As described above, the contrast image is acquired while the subject is breathing. Therefore, the scanning surface of the ultrasonic wave shifts with breathing. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a first scan surface SP1 before being displaced by respiration and a second scan surface SP2 after being displaced. The region of interest R is set while the contrast image CI of the first scan surface SP1 is displayed and the entire tumor M is stained with the contrast medium. Therefore, FIG. 3 shows the contrast image CI of the first scan surface SP1. FIG. 6 is a plan view orthogonal to the first and second scan planes SP1 and SP2. Here, the tumor M is a sphere, and the first scan surface SP1 passes through the center of the sphere M.

When the ultrasonic scan surface moves from the first scan surface SP1 to the second scan surface SP2, the width D2 of the tumor M on the second scan surface SP2 becomes the width D1 of the tumor M on the first scan surface SP1. Is smaller than. FIG. 7 shows a contrast-enhanced image CI of the second scan surface SP2, showing a state in which the tumor M has a higher brightness (higher signal intensity) than the surrounding liver parenchyma P. The mass M in the contrast image CI of the second scan surface SP2 is smaller than that of the first scan surface SP1. On the other hand, the region of interest R1 set when the contrast image CI on the first scan surface SP1 is displayed maintains the same size even if the scan surface moves. Therefore, in the contrast image CI of the second scan surface SP2, the tumor M becomes smaller than the region of interest R. This means that the region of interest R includes the liver parenchyma P, so that the average intensity of the region of interest R is smaller than that of the first scan surface SP1. When the average intensity of the region of interest R decreases with the deviation of the scan surface, a recess is formed in the first time intensity curve T1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the acoustic shadow S is included in the region of interest R in the contrast image CI, the average intensity of the region of interest R becomes small. Acoustic shadows can be generated, for example, by poor contact between the ultrasonic probe 2 and the body surface, or by barriers such as the lungs. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the tumor M is brighter than the liver parenchyma P.

On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a contrast image CI of the first scan surface SP1 in which the liver parenchyma P is brighter than the tumor M. The tumor M and the region of interest R are of the same size, and the region of interest R does not contain the liver parenchyma P. When the scan surface deviates from this state, the state shown in FIG. 9 is obtained. FIG. 9 shows a contrast image CI of the second scan surface SP2. In the contrast-enhanced image CI of the second scan surface SP2, the tumor M becomes smaller and the region of interest R includes the liver parenchyma P which is brighter than the tumor M, so that the average intensity of the region of interest R is the first. It is larger than that on the scan surface SP1. As described above, when the average intensity of the region of interest R increases with the deviation of the scan surface, a convex portion is formed on the first time intensity curve T1.

When the first time intensity curve T1 is created in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4. In this step S4, the processor 7 selects the data of the contrast image of at least one frame from the data of the contrast image of the plurality of frames read from the memory 9 in step S1. The contrast image data of the frame selected here is the data of the contrast image satisfying the conditions defined as an appropriate image.

The conditions defined as an appropriate image are that, in one example, the cross section does not move, the size of the region of interest R and the mass M are the same, and the region of interest R does not include the acoustic shadow S in the contrast image CI. be. Whether or not the size of the region of interest R and the mass M are the same, and whether or not the region of interest R contains acoustic shadows are determined, for example, by the contrast-enhanced image CI or the B of the frame corresponding to the contrast-enhanced image CI. It may be judged by the user in the mode image. The region of interest R may also be displayed in the B-mode image to aid in the determination.

In one example, the processor 7 performs the above-mentioned frame selection when the user interface 10 receives the input of the user who selects the frame. For example, the user interface 10 inputs an input for selecting an appropriate contrast image CI frame determined by the user to satisfy the conditions defined as an appropriate image from the plurality of frames of the contrast image CI displayed on the display 8. accept.

Next, in step S5, the processor 7 creates a first envelope E1 and a second envelope E2 with respect to the first time intensity curve T1, as shown in FIG. The first envelope E1 is an envelope that is closer to the maximum value among the maximum and minimum values in the first time intensity curve T1, in other words, the envelope on the maximum value side of the first time intensity curve T1. The second envelope E2 is an envelope that is closer to the minimum value among the maximum and minimum values in the first time intensity curve T1, in other words, the envelope on the minimum value side of the first time intensity curve T1.

In step S6, the processor 7 identifies the signal strength SI of the region of interest R in the contrast image CI of the frame selected in step S4. This signal strength SI is the average of the signal strength (luminance) in the region of interest R. As the signal strength SI, FIG. 11 shows the signal strengths SI1, SI2, and SI3 of the three points Pt1, Pt2, and Pt3 on the first time strength curve T1. Points Pt1 to Pt3 correspond to the frames selected in step S4.

In step S6, the processor 7 further sets the position of the signal strength on the first time strength curve T1 in the time corresponding to the frame selected in step S4 in the vertical axis direction with the first envelope E1 and the second. It is specified by the ratio α with respect to the distance D between the envelopes E2. For example, the processor 7 ratios the positions of the signal strengths SI1 to SI3 at the times t1, t2, and t3 shown in FIG. 11 to the distance D between the first envelope E1 and the second envelope E2 α1 and α2. , Α3. A little more detail will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows the point Pt3 (time t3, signal intensity SI3) on the first time intensity curve T1. Here, the specification of the ratio α3 will be described as an example. At time t3, the distance D in the vertical axis direction between the first envelope E1 and the second envelope E2 is the point Pmax on the first envelope E1 and the point Pmin on the second envelope E2. The interval. The processor 7 specifies the ratio α3 from the point Pmin with respect to the distance D as the position of the signal strength SI3 at the time t3.

The specification of the ratio α3 will be described in more detail. The relationship between the signal strength SI3, the signal strength SImax at the point Pmax, and the signal strength SIMin at the point Pmin can be expressed by using α3 as shown in the following (Equation 1).
SI3 = SImax × α3 + SIMin (1-α3) ・ ・ ・ (Equation 1)
However, 0 ≦ α3 ≦ 1.

The processor 7 calculates α3 from (Equation 1) using the values of the signal strengths SI3, SImax, and SIMin. The processor 7 calculates the ratios α1 and α2 in the same manner.

Next, in step S7, the processor 7 creates a second time intensity curve T2 shown by a broken line in FIG. 13 based on the ratios α1 to α3. The second time intensity curve T2 passes between the first envelope E1 and the second envelope E2. More specifically, the second time intensity curve T2 passes through the positions of proportions α1 to α3 (signal intensities SI1 to SI3) at times t1 to t3 corresponding to the selected frame. Moreover, the second time intensity curve T2 passes through a position specified from the position of the ratio α1 to α3 between the first envelope E1 and the second envelope E2 for a time other than the times t1 to t3. .. Specifically, the processor 7 performs interpolation and extrapolation using the ratios α1 to α3 between the first envelope E1 and the second envelope E2 for a time other than the times t1 to t3. The position where the second time intensity curve T2 passes is specified.

Next, in step S8, the processor 7 displays the first time intensity curve T1 and the second time intensity curve T2 on the display 8. The processor 7 may calculate a known evaluation parameter for evaluating the outline of the second time intensity curve T2. The second time intensity curve T2 calculates the ratio α with respect to the distance D between the first envelope E1 and the second envelope E2 from the signal intensity in the contrast image CI satisfying the condition defined as an appropriate image. However, since it is created using this ratio α, it is a more accurate time intensity curve. Therefore, if the second time intensity curve T2 is used, evaluation parameters with less error can be obtained. This makes it possible to make a more accurate differential diagnosis of the tumor.

The processor 7 may store in the memory 9 a data group consisting of contrast image CI data of the frame corresponding to the intersection of the second time intensity curve T1 and the first time intensity curve T1. The processor 7 may read this data group from the memory 9 and create a third time intensity curve (not shown) of the region of interest of the contrast image CI based on the data group.

Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described. First, a first modification will be described. In the first modification, in step S6, the processor 7 may calculate only one ratio α in the time corresponding to one frame selected in step S4. In the first modification, only one frame may be selected in step S4.

The processor 7 creates a second time intensity curve T2 in step S7 so as to pass through this one calculated ratio α. Moreover, the processor 7 specifies a position having the same ratio as the ratio α between the first envelope E1 and the second envelope E2 for a time other than the time corresponding to the calculated one ratio α. A second time intensity curve T2 is created to pass through the position.

Next, a second modification will be described. In step S4, the processor 7 may use image recognition to select a frame of contrast-enhanced image that meets the conditions defined as an appropriate image, instead of using the input in the user interface 10. For example, the processor 7 selects a frame in which the size of the region of interest R and the mass M are the same and the region of interest R does not include an acoustic shadow, which is a condition defined as an appropriate image in the B mode image, by image recognition. do. Machine learning techniques may be used for image recognition. The selection of the frame of the B mode image means that the frame of the contrast image corresponding to the frame of the selected B mode image is selected, and the frame of the contrast image satisfying the condition defined as an appropriate image is selected. Means that.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described. The system 100 shown in FIG. 14 includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 and a server 101. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 and the server 101 are connected via the network 102.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and detailed description of each component will be omitted. However, in the second embodiment, the processor 7 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 will be described as the first processor 7. Although only the first processor 7 is shown in FIG. 14 as a component of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 in the second embodiment includes other components shown in FIG. Have.

The server 101 may be, for example, a workstation, or may be installed in a management center that manages a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic devices including the ultrasonic diagnostic device 1. The server 101 has known server components, including a second processor 103, a second display 104, a second memory 105, and a second user interface 106.

Next, the operation of this example in the system 100 will be described. In the system 100, the first time intensity curve T1 and the second time intensity curve T2 are created in the server 101.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process before the first time intensity curve T1 and the second time intensity curve T2 are created. First, in step S101, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 acquires the contrast image CI. That is, the ultrasonic probe 2 transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject, and the first processor 7 creates a contrast image CI based on the echo signal. Also in this example, a B-mode image may be created.

In step S102, the first processor 7 transmits the contrast image CI data to the server 101. The contrast image CI data is transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to the server 101 via the network 102. The contrast image CI data input from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to the server 101 is stored in the second memory 105. For example, the contrast image CI data transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to the server 101 is image data. The B mode image data may be transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to the server 101 and stored in the second memory 105.

After the contrast image CI data is transmitted to the server 101, the first time intensity curve T1 and the second time intensity curve T2 are created. The first time intensity curve T1 and the second time intensity curve T2 are processed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, as in the first embodiment. However, the subject of the processing is different from that of the first embodiment, and the processing performed by the processor 7 in the first embodiment is performed by the second processor 103. That is, first, in step S1, the second processor 103 reads out the contrast image data from the second memory 105 and displays it on the second display 104, and then the processing in steps S2 and subsequent steps is performed. In this step S2 and subsequent steps, the second processor 103 performs the processing performed by the processor 7 in the first embodiment. Further, the second user interface 106 accepts the input received by the user interface 10 in the first embodiment. In step S8, the first time intensity curve T1 and the second time intensity curve T2 are displayed on the second display 104.

When the contrast image CI data transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 to the server 101 is raw data, the second processor 103 creates image data of the contrast image CI from the raw data, and in steps S1 to S8. Processing is performed.

Also in the second embodiment, the second processor 103 obtains a data group including data of the contrast image CI of the frame corresponding to the intersection of the second time intensity curve T1 and the first time intensity curve T1. It may be stored in the memory 105 of. Further, the second processor 103 may read a data group from the second memory 105 to create a third time intensity curve, as in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the same processing as in the first and second modifications of the first embodiment may be performed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, various modifications may be made or replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to include all embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the flowchart of FIG. 2 described in the first and second embodiments is an example, and the order of each step is not limited to that shown in FIG.

In the first and second embodiments, an example of correcting the first time intensity curve T1 created for the region of interest R set as the target in the contrast image CI to create the second time intensity curve T2 will be described. is doing. Although not particularly shown, in the contrast-enhanced image, a region of interest may be set in the liver parenchyma in addition to the target, and a time intensity curve may be created.

Moreover, the above-mentioned embodiment
The processor,
For the region of interest in the multi-frame contrast image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasonic waves reflected by the contrast agent injected into the subject, a first time intensity curve showing the time change of the signal intensity was created.
A first envelope on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve and a second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve are created.
The signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image of at least one frame selected from the plurality of frames and satisfying the conditions defined as an appropriate image is specified.
The position of the signal intensity on the first time intensity curve at the time corresponding to the selected frame is specified as a percentage of the distance between the first envelope and the second envelope.
A second time-varying curve showing the time variation of the signal strength, which passes through the position of the ratio in the time corresponding to the selected frame and other times other than the time corresponding to the selected frame. It may be a control method of the apparatus including creating a second time intensity curve passing through a position specified from the position of the ratio between the first envelope and the second envelope.

Further, the above embodiment
It is a control method of a system having an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a server connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus via a network.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is
An ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject injected with a contrast medium and receives an echo of the ultrasonic waves.
With a first processor that creates a contrast image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasonic wave reflected by the contrast agent based on the echo signal of the ultrasonic wave and outputs the data of the contrast image to the server via the network. , Equipped with
The server comprises a second processor and is equipped with a second processor.
The method is a control method of the second processor.
A first time intensity curve showing the time change of the signal intensity was created for the region of interest in the contrast image of a plurality of frames.
A first envelope on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve and a second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve are created.
The signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image of at least one frame selected from the plurality of frames and satisfying the conditions defined as an appropriate image is specified.
The position of the signal intensity on the first time intensity curve at the time corresponding to the selected frame is specified as a percentage of the distance between the first envelope and the second envelope.
A second time-varying curve showing the time variation of the signal strength, which passes through the position of the ratio in the time corresponding to the selected frame and other times other than the time corresponding to the selected frame. It may be a control method of the system including creating a second time intensity curve passing through a position specified from the position of the ratio between the first envelope and the second envelope.

1 Ultrasonic diagnostic device 2 Ultrasonic probe 7 Processor, 1st processor 8 Display 9 Memory 10 User interface 100 System 101 Server 102 Network 103 Second processor 104 Second display 105 Second memory 106 Second user interface

Claims (11)

A device including a processor, wherein the processor is
For the region of interest in the multi-frame contrast image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasonic waves reflected by the contrast agent injected into the subject, a first time intensity curve showing the time change of the signal intensity was created.
A first envelope on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve and a second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve are created.
The signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image of at least one frame selected from the plurality of frames and satisfying the conditions defined as an appropriate image is specified.
The position of the signal intensity on the first time intensity curve at the time corresponding to the selected frame is specified as a percentage of the distance between the first envelope and the second envelope.
A second time-varying curve showing the time variation of the signal strength, which passes through the position of the ratio in the time corresponding to the selected frame and other times other than the time corresponding to the selected frame. A device configured to create a second time intensity curve passing through a position specified from the position of the ratio between the first envelope and the second envelope. The processor identifies a position of the same proportion as the proportion between the first envelope and the second envelope for a time other than the time corresponding to the selected frame, and the position. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second time intensity curve passing through the above-mentioned second time intensity curve is created. The processor
The signal intensity of the region of interest in each of the contrast images of the plurality of frames selected from the plurality of frames is specified.
The ratio is specified for the time corresponding to each of the selected frames.
For times other than the time corresponding to the selected plurality of frames, the position specified by interpolation and extrapolation using the ratio is passed between the first envelope and the second envelope. The device of claim 1, wherein the second time intensity curve is created. It is a user interface that accepts user input, and includes a user interface that accepts input for selecting a frame of a contrast image that the user has determined to satisfy the above conditions from the plurality of frames.
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processor identifies the signal strength of the region of interest in a contrast image of a frame selected in the user interface. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processor selects a frame of a contrast image satisfying the above conditions by image recognition and specifies the signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image of the frame. .. The processor stores a data group of a contrast image of a frame corresponding to an intersection of the second time intensity curve and the first time intensity curve in a memory, reads the data group from the memory, and reads the data group. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which creates a third time intensity curve of a region of interest in a contrast image based on. The device is an ultrasonic diagnostic device, further comprising an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject injected with a contrast medium and receives echoes of the ultrasonic waves.
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the processor creates the contrast image based on the echo of the ultrasonic wave. The device is connected via a network to an ultrasonic diagnostic device provided with an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject injected with a contrast medium and receives the echo of the ultrasonic waves.
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the contrast image is an image created based on the echo of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic probe. The device according to claim 8, wherein the data of the contrast image is created by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the echo of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic probe and input to the apparatus via the network. .. A control program for a device including a processor, wherein the processor
For the region of interest in the multi-frame contrast image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasonic waves reflected by the contrast agent injected into the subject, a first time intensity curve showing the time change of the signal intensity was created.
A first envelope on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve and a second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve are created.
The signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image of at least one frame selected from the plurality of frames and satisfying the conditions defined as an appropriate image is specified.
The position of the signal intensity on the first time intensity curve at the time corresponding to the selected frame is specified as a percentage of the distance between the first envelope and the second envelope.
A second time-varying curve showing the time variation of the signal strength, which passes through the position of the ratio in the time corresponding to the selected frame and other times other than the time corresponding to the selected frame. Control of a device configured to perform the creation of a second time intensity curve between the first envelope and the second envelope that passes through a position specified from the position of the proportion. program. A system having an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a server connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus via a network.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is
An ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject injected with a contrast medium and receives an echo of the ultrasonic waves.
With a first processor that creates a contrast image showing the signal intensity of the ultrasonic wave reflected by the contrast agent based on the echo signal of the ultrasonic wave and outputs the data of the contrast image to the server via the network. , Equipped with
The server comprises a second processor, the second processor.
A first time intensity curve showing the time change of the signal intensity was created for the region of interest in the contrast image of a plurality of frames.
A first envelope on the maximum value side in the first time intensity curve and a second envelope on the minimum value side in the first time intensity curve are created.
The signal intensity of the region of interest in the contrast image of at least one frame selected from the plurality of frames and satisfying the conditions defined as an appropriate image is specified.
The position of the signal intensity on the first time intensity curve at the time corresponding to the selected frame is specified as a percentage of the distance between the first envelope and the second envelope.
A second time-varying curve showing the time variation of the signal strength, which passes through the position of the ratio in the time corresponding to the selected frame and other times other than the time corresponding to the selected frame. A system configured to create a second time intensity curve between the first envelope and the second envelope that passes through a position specified from the position of the proportion.

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