Ultrasonic image standard section extraction and measurement method and ultrasonic diagnosis equipment
By using preset algorithms and image processing programs in ultrasound diagnostic equipment to automatically extract standard sections, the problem of cumbersome operation for physicians in existing technologies is solved, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2018-10-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing ultrasound diagnostic equipment requires physicians to perform cumbersome operations, especially when multiple items need to be tested simultaneously, which increases the physician's workload and reduces the efficiency of ultrasound diagnosis.
The system automatically extracts ultrasound images from ultrasound films that are most similar to standard sections of various types using a preset algorithm, identifies the standard section type, and uses image processing programs to measure biomass, outputting the measurement results and reducing the number of operations required by physicians.
It automatically identifies the items being measured by the physician and provides the results, reducing the number of operations required by the physician, improving the efficiency of ultrasound diagnosis, and facilitating the quick reading of measurement results.
Smart Images
Figure CN121730889A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese Patent Application No. 201811259594.2, filed on October 26, 2018, entitled "A Method for Extracting and Measuring Standard Sections of Ultrasonic Images and an Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to the field of ultrasound diagnostic technology, and in particular to a method for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images and an ultrasound diagnostic device. Background Technology
[0003] The standard ultrasound diagnostic procedure involves a physician scanning with an ultrasound probe. When the displayed ultrasound image contains the biological structure (biomass) to be measured, the physician manually freezes the ultrasound image by pressing a keyboard key (or using another external input device), acquiring a short video clip (a series of consecutive ultrasound frames). The physician then uses a trackball (or other external input device) to replay the video clip, selecting the frame that best facilitates biomass measurement (a standard cross-section, the ultrasound image specified for biomass measurement in ultrasound diagnostics). The physician then manually draws measurement lines (such as line segments, ellipses, etc.) using the trackball and keyboard (or other external input device) and confirms the measurement. The ultrasound diagnostic equipment calculates the biomass measurement value (such as length, perimeter, area, volume, etc.) based on the measurement lines. During this process, the physician needs to operate the ultrasound diagnostic equipment multiple times to obtain the biomass measurement value.
[0004] Before manually drawing measurement lines, some departments need to select from the menus on the interactive interface step by step according to the diagnostic items to obtain more relevant results. When physicians need to diagnose multiple items, they need to manually select standard sections multiple times; when there are multiple biomass to be measured on a single ultrasound image, physicians need to select menus and draw measurement lines multiple times.
[0005] It is evident that existing ultrasound diagnostic equipment requires physicians to perform cumbersome operations, reducing the efficiency of ultrasound diagnosis; especially when multiple items need to be tested simultaneously, it increases the workload of physicians. Summary of the Invention
[0006] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide a method for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images and an ultrasound diagnostic device.
[0007] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a method for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images, comprising:
[0008] Acquire an ultrasound movie, the ultrasound movie comprising a series of consecutive ultrasound images;
[0009] According to a preset algorithm, an ultrasound image frame that is most similar to various types of standard sections is automatically extracted from the ultrasound movie and its corresponding standard section type is determined.
[0010] The corresponding image processing program is activated according to the standard section type to analyze the extracted ultrasound image and output the measurement results of at least one biomass.
[0011] Optionally, the ultrasound film is obtained based on the signal from the frozen ultrasound image.
[0012] Optionally, the step of automatically extracting a frame of ultrasound image from the ultrasound movie that has the highest degree of approximation to various types of standard sections according to a preset algorithm and determining its corresponding standard section type includes: calculating the degree of approximation between each frame of ultrasound image in the ultrasound movie and various types of standard sections according to a preset algorithm, selecting the frame of ultrasound image with the highest degree of approximation according to the calculation results and determining its corresponding standard section type.
[0013] Optionally, when the maximum approximation is less than a preset first threshold, a prompt message is output and / or the ultrasound image is acquired again.
[0014] Optionally, before acquiring the ultrasound film, if an external input signal corresponding to a preset ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement method is selected, then after acquiring the ultrasound film, when the external input signal is received, the biomass is measured using a preset algorithm and an image processing program corresponding to the standard section type.
[0015] If the external input signal corresponding to the preset ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement method is selected to be cancelled, then after acquiring the ultrasound film, the biomass is measured using the preset algorithm and the image processing program corresponding to the standard section type.
[0016] Optionally, the measurement results include biomass measurements and / or measurement lines attached to the extracted ultrasound images.
[0017] Optionally, the step of starting the corresponding image processing program to parse the extracted ultrasound image according to the standard section type includes:
[0018] Based on the corresponding standard section type, confirm at least one biomass contained in the extracted ultrasound image;
[0019] The specific measurement location of biomass in the extracted ultrasound image is identified according to the corresponding image processing program, and the measurement line is drawn.
[0020] The biomass was measured using a measuring line.
[0021] The present invention also provides an ultrasound diagnostic device, comprising:
[0022] A processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform any of the above-described methods for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images;
[0023] A display device for displaying biomass measurement results.
[0024] Optionally, the ultrasound diagnostic device further includes at least one external input device, which is used to acquire external input signals corresponding to user operations to preset and cancel preset ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement methods, and to acquire user operations to generate external input signals.
[0025] Optionally, the external input signal is specifically a signal triggered by a physical button or a virtual button on a touch screen.
[0026] The beneficial effects of this invention are:
[0027] This invention automatically extracts ultrasound images from ultrasound films that most closely approximate various types of standard sections using preset algorithms and image processing programs. It identifies the standard section type, measures biomass, and outputs the measurement results. It can automatically determine what the physician is measuring and provide the results, reducing the number of times physicians need to operate the ultrasound diagnostic equipment and improving diagnostic efficiency. The invention also displays the biomass measurements and measurement lines for easy and quick reading of results by the physician. Furthermore, this invention provides optional presets, preserving the option for physicians to manually select ultrasound images and measure biomass. Attached Figure Description
[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a method for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images according to the present invention;
[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the ultrasonic image standard section extraction and measurement method of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the ultrasonic image standard section extraction and measurement method of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ultrasound diagnostic device of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0032] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.
[0033] Example 1
[0034] This embodiment provides, as follows: Figure 2 The method for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images, as shown, includes the following steps:
[0035] S0. Select or cancel the preset external input signal corresponding to the standard section extraction and measurement method of ultrasound image. If preset, execute steps S1-S5. If cancel preset, execute steps S1 and S3-S5.
[0036] To give physicians more freedom of choice, in step S0, an external input signal is set to activate the ultrasound diagnostic equipment to perform the ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement method. Specifically, a virtual button on a certain interactive interface can be preset on the touch screen of the ultrasound diagnostic equipment, or a physical button on the keyboard of the ultrasound diagnostic equipment (especially a physical button next to the trackball that is easy to click with the thumb). When the physician clicks this button, an external input signal is generated, activating the ultrasound image standard section recognition and measurement method. The preset process can be completed by other authorized operators before the physician uses the ultrasound diagnostic equipment, or the physician can be given permission to preset independently.
[0037] S1. Obtain several consecutive frames of ultrasound images based on the signals from the frozen ultrasound images.
[0038] Specifically, the physician operates the ultrasound probe to acquire ultrasound images, and then operates the keyboard of the ultrasound diagnostic device to freeze the ultrasound images. The ultrasound diagnostic device automatically saves a movie containing several frames of ultrasound images.
[0039] S2. When a preset external input signal is received, steps S3-S5 are executed to measure the biomass.
[0040] If no external input signal is received, continue to wait, and at this time the physician can use manual measurement methods to select ultrasound images and measure biomass.
[0041] S3. Calculate the approximation coefficient of each frame of ultrasound image according to the preset algorithm, select the frame of ultrasound image corresponding to the largest approximation coefficient, and determine its corresponding standard section type.
[0042] Specifically, the approximation degree of each frame of ultrasound image with various types of standard sections is calculated according to the preset algorithm, and a matrix composed of approximation coefficients is output. Each frame of ultrasound image has a corresponding matrix. The largest approximation coefficient is obtained by comparing all matrices. The frame of ultrasound image corresponding to the matrix with the largest approximation coefficient is selected and its corresponding standard section type is determined (the position of the largest approximation coefficient in the matrix corresponds to the standard section type it defines, so it can be determined which type of standard section the current frame of ultrasound image is most similar to).
[0043] S4. Determine whether the maximum approximation coefficient is less than the preset first threshold. If it is less, output a prompt message and return to step S1; otherwise, proceed to step S5.
[0044] When the maximum approximation coefficient is less than the preset first threshold, it means that the approximation degree of each frame of ultrasound image with various types of standard sections does not meet the expected standard, that is, no satisfactory ultrasound image has been obtained to meet the requirements for measuring biomass. The output prompt message can be to prompt the physician that no standard section has been obtained and to proceed to the process of obtaining ultrasound images again, or to prompt the physician whether to select the frame of ultrasound image with the largest approximation coefficient. The type of prompt message output can also be determined according to the interval in which the maximum approximation coefficient is located.
[0045] S5. Start the corresponding image processing program according to the standard section type to analyze the selected ultrasound image frame and output the measurement result of at least one biomass.
[0046] Specifically, based on the standard section type corresponding to the selected ultrasound image frame, at least one biomass contained in the selected ultrasound image frame is identified; the specific measurement location of the biomass in the selected ultrasound image frame is identified according to the corresponding image processing program, and a measurement line is drawn; the biomass is measured according to the measurement line; the measured value of the biomass and the measurement line attached to the selected ultrasound image frame are output.
[0047] Through steps S0 to S5 described above, the ultrasound diagnostic equipment can automatically complete the biomass measurement in the ultrasound image. The physician only needs to operate the ultrasound probe, freeze the ultrasound image (and click the preset button to start the ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement method), without needing to select multiple menus to confirm the diagnostic item on the interactive interface. The ultrasound diagnostic equipment can automatically extract a frame of ultrasound image from the film, identify the currently detected item, and provide the measurement result. Regardless of how many measurable biomass are included in the standard section obtained in this diagnostic item, the measurement result can be obtained in one step. The measurement result can include the measured value, the measurement line attached to the current frame of the ultrasound image, and other information calculated based on the diagnostic item. For example, the ultrasound diagnostic equipment can select the frame of ultrasound image with the closest standard section from the frozen film as the thalamic plane of the fetus, automatically measure the biparietal diameter and head circumference of the fetus, calculate the gestational age, and simultaneously output and display the above information.
[0048] In step S3, the preset algorithm can be an artificial intelligence algorithm, especially an artificial neural network. By appropriately configuring the artificial neural network, a certain number of standard section ultrasound images can be used for training for each type of standard section. After training, an input ultrasound image can determine its approximation to various types of standard sections. Alternatively, the preset algorithm can be an image feature extraction method, identifying which image features are present in an ultrasound image and determining which standard section the ultrasound image containing these features corresponds to. In this method, there is no matrix of approximation coefficients; the result directly reflects whether image features are successfully extracted and whether a standard section is successfully matched. Using other algorithms for image classification is also a viable approach, but will not be detailed here.
[0049] In step S5, for biomass measurements on different standard sections, corresponding image processing programs can be used (this correspondence can be one-to-one, many-to-one, or many-to-many, depending on the actual application) to identify the boundaries of biological structures on the ultrasound image, confirm the shape of the biological structures, calculate and determine which type of biological structure it belongs to, and which biomass can be measured accordingly. After identifying the biological structure (the specific measurement location of the biomass), measurement lines are drawn according to the boundaries of the biological structure, and the measured value of the biomass is calculated based on the measurement lines. Image recognition and labeling, measurement calculation, and image overlay are conventional techniques and will not be described in detail here.
[0050] Example 2
[0051] This embodiment provides, as follows: Figure 3 The method for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images, as shown, includes the following steps:
[0052] S0' Select or cancel the preset external input signal corresponding to the standard ultrasound image section extraction and measurement method. If preset, proceed to steps S1'-S5'. If cancel preset, execute steps S1' and S3'-S5'.
[0053] S1': Acquire a frame of ultrasound image in real time.
[0054] S2' When a preset external input signal is received, execute steps S3'-S5' to measure biomass; if the external input signal is not received, return to step S1'.
[0055] S3' Calculate the approximation degree (maximum approximation coefficient) between the ultrasound image frame and various types of standard sections according to the preset algorithm, and output a matrix composed of approximation coefficients.
[0056] S4' Determine whether the maximum approximation coefficient is greater than or equal to the preset second threshold. If so, proceed to S5'; otherwise, return to step S1'.
[0057] When the maximum approximation coefficient is greater than or equal to the preset second threshold, it indicates that the degree of approximation between the ultrasound image frame and a certain type of standard section meets the expected standard and can meet the requirements for measuring biomass.
[0058] S5' Select the ultrasound image frame, determine the standard section type corresponding to the ultrasound image frame, and start the corresponding image processing program to analyze the ultrasound image frame in order to output the measurement result of at least one biomass.
[0059] Specifically, based on the standard section type corresponding to the selected ultrasound image frame, at least one biomass contained in the ultrasound image is identified; the specific measurement location of the biomass in the selected ultrasound image frame is identified according to the corresponding image processing program, and a measurement line is drawn; the biomass is measured according to the measurement line; the measured value of the biomass and the measurement line attached to the selected ultrasound image frame are output.
[0060] Through the above steps S0' to S5', the ultrasound diagnostic equipment can automatically complete the biomass measurement in the ultrasound image. The physician only needs to operate the ultrasound probe until a standard section that meets the requirements is obtained. Apart from the probe, almost no operation of the ultrasound diagnostic equipment is required (if a button is preset, the standard section extraction and measurement method of the ultrasound image can be started at any time by clicking the button). Moreover, the dependence on the physician's technique of operating the ultrasound probe is greatly reduced. As long as the technique is changed in the appropriate position, it is easier to obtain a standard section that meets the requirements and complete the biomass measurement.
[0061] Example 3
[0062] This embodiment provides a method such as Figure 4 The ultrasound diagnostic equipment shown includes: probe 1, ultrasound host 2 (including processor), touch screen 3, keyboard 4, and trackball 5.
[0063] The probe 1 receives excitation from the ultrasound host to generate ultrasound waves and transmits the echo signal to the ultrasound host 2, displaying the ultrasound image in real time on the touch screen 3. The processor in the ultrasound host 2 executes the standard section extraction and measurement method for the ultrasound image. This method can be preset via external input devices such as the touch screen 3, keyboard 4, and trackball 5. For example, clicking a physical button on the keyboard 4 or a virtual button on the touch screen 3 can generate an external input signal to initiate the standard section extraction and measurement process. The touch screen 3 can display the biomass measurement results, including the measured value, the selected ultrasound image frame, and additional measurement lines. The touch screen 3, keyboard 4, and trackball 5 are connected via external input devices. Figure 4 The solid line in the middle is electrically connected to the ultrasound host 2, through the attached... Figure 4 The dashed lines in the diagram represent data transmission connections.
[0064] The above is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.
Claims
1. A method for extracting and measuring standard sections of ultrasound images, characterized in that, include: Acquire an ultrasound movie, the ultrasound movie comprising a series of consecutive ultrasound images; According to a preset algorithm, an ultrasound image frame that is most similar to various types of standard sections is automatically extracted from the ultrasound movie and its corresponding standard section type is determined. The corresponding image processing program is activated according to the standard section type to analyze the extracted ultrasound image and output the measurement results of at least one biomass.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ultrasound film is obtained based on the signal from the frozen ultrasound image.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of automatically extracting a frame of ultrasound image from the ultrasound movie that has the highest degree of approximation to various types of standard sections according to a preset algorithm and determining its corresponding standard section type includes: calculating the degree of approximation between each frame of ultrasound image in the ultrasound movie and various types of standard sections according to a preset algorithm, selecting the frame of ultrasound image with the highest degree of approximation according to the calculation results and determining its corresponding standard section type.
4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the maximum approximation is less than a preset first threshold, output a prompt message and / or acquire the ultrasound image again.
5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before acquiring the ultrasound film, if an external input signal corresponding to a preset ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement method is selected, then after acquiring the ultrasound film, when the external input signal is received, the biomass is measured using a preset algorithm and an image processing program corresponding to the standard section type. If the external input signal corresponding to the preset ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement method is selected to be cancelled, then after the ultrasound film is acquired, the biomass is measured using the preset algorithm and the image processing program corresponding to the standard section type.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The measurement results include biomass measurements and / or measurement lines attached to the extracted ultrasound images.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The step of starting the corresponding image processing program to parse the extracted ultrasound image according to the standard section type includes: Based on the corresponding standard section type, confirm at least one biomass contained in the extracted ultrasound image; The specific measurement location of biomass in the extracted ultrasound image is identified according to the corresponding image processing program, and the measurement line is drawn. The biomass was measured using a measuring line.
8. An ultrasound diagnostic device, characterized in that, include: A processor, the processor being configured to execute the ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 7; A display device for displaying biomass measurement results.
9. The ultrasound diagnostic device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes at least one external input device, which is used to acquire external input signals corresponding to user operations to preset and cancel preset ultrasound image standard section extraction and measurement methods, and to acquire user operations to generate external input signals.
10. The ultrasound diagnostic device as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The external input signal is specifically a signal triggered by a physical button or a virtual button on a touch screen.