Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, control method for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and control program for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device capable of reducing a work load on a user in executing blood vessel measurement while improving measurement accuracy and reliability of the blood vessel measurement.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic diagnostic device for generating a tomographic image of a subject by transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave includes: a blood vessel detection part 12a for detecting a region of a blood vessel captured in the tomographic image; a blood vessel diameter calculation part 12b for calculating a diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; an attention frame specification part 12c for specifying an attention frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum out of a plurality of frames on the basis of the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the tomographic images of the plurality of frames obtained during a predetermined period; a measuring part 12d for executing measurement on a blood flow or characteristics of the blood vessel of the subject for the blood vessel of the attention frame; and a display processing part 5 for displaying the tomographic image of the attention frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits ultrasonic waves toward a subject, receives the reflected waves, and performs predetermined signal processing on the received signals to visualize the shape, properties, or dynamics inside the subject as a tomographic image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Conventionally, in the medical field, using a tomographic image of a blood vessel taken by such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the properties of the blood vessel and the blood flow volume flowing through the blood vessel are measured, and from the measurement results, the health state of the subject is diagnosed. For example, ischemic diseases such as cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction are known to appear as signs of arteriosclerosis and stenosis. To determine the progression and stenosis of such arteriosclerosis, using a tomographic image of a blood vessel taken by such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the thickness of the intima-media complex (Intima-Media Thickness: IMT) in the carotid artery and the measurement of the blood flow volume (Flow Volume: FV) in the carotid artery are performed. In addition, the measurement results of IMT and FV for arteries other than the carotid artery are also actively used for diagnosing the health state of the subject.

[0004] If accurate measurement of the thickness of the intima-media complex and the blood flow volume can be realized, it is considered that signs such as the progression and stenosis of arteriosclerosis can be accurately evaluated. However, the diameter of blood vessels such as the carotid artery changes in response to the pulsation of internal organs and the heart. Therefore, in the medical field, in order to align the evaluation criteria, IMT measurement and FV measurement are generally defined to be performed using a tomographic image taken when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum or a tomographic image taken when the diameter of the blood vessel is minimum. For example, IMT measurement is recommended to be performed at the end of diastole. Since the blood vessel diameter is close to the minimum at the end of diastole, in the field, it is often performed using a tomographic image taken when the blood vessel diameter is minimum.

[0005] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a tomographic image of a blood vessel (here, the carotid artery) taken by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In this tomographic image, the blood vessel extends along the horizontal direction, and the diameter of the blood vessel is calculated, for example, as the width between the upper blood vessel wall and the lower blood vessel wall across the blood vessel lumen (the width of D1 in FIG. 17).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] By the way, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the prior art, when measuring the thickness (IMT) of the intima-media complex and the blood flow volume (FV) in a blood vessel such as the carotid artery (hereinafter collectively referred to as "blood vessel measurement"), the user uses an ultrasonic probe to scan the blood vessel for a certain period of time (for example, several minutes), and then, by cine operation (an operation of visually checking each tomographic image), searches for a frame in which the blood vessel diameter is maximum or minimum from a group of time-series frames (for example, frame data for the past several minutes) taken as a moving image, and after designating the corresponding frame as a result of the search, it is necessary to perform operations such as specifying the position of the blood vessel to be measured.

[0008] Such work is very complicated for the user and is also one of the reasons for taking time for blood vessel measurement. In addition, since such a measurement method relies on the user's intuition, there is room for improvement in terms of measurement accuracy and reliability.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can reduce the work load of a user and improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of blood vessel measurement when performing blood vessel measurement.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The main present disclosure for solving the above problems is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a blood vessel detection unit that detects a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image, a blood vessel diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image, a target frame specifying unit that specifies a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period, a measurement unit that performs measurement related to the blood flow or properties of the blood vessel of the subject, targeting the blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame, a display processing unit that displays the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising the same.

[0011] In another aspect, a control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a process of detecting a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image, a process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image, a process of specifying a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period, A process of performing measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessels reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame; A process of displaying the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing; It is a control method having these.

[0012] In another aspect, A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, A process of detecting a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image; A process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; Based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the tomographic images of a plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period, a process of specifying a target frame corresponding to the frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames; A process of performing measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessels reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame; A process of displaying the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing; It is a control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having these.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the work load of the user when performing blood vessel measurement, and to improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of blood vessel measurement.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0016] [Configuration of Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A") according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the present embodiment, a mode in which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A executes B-mode operation and PW Doppler mode operation in a time-sharing manner to generate a tomographic image and a Doppler spectrum image will be described (see FIG. 3). However, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A of the present disclosure can also be applied to those equipped with a color Doppler mode or a power Doppler mode instead of the PW Doppler mode.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A.

[0018] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is used for visualizing the shape, properties, or dynamics inside the subject as an ultrasonic image and performing image diagnosis. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 100 and an ultrasonic probe 200.

[0019] The ultrasonic probe 200 functions as an acoustic sensor that transmits an ultrasonic beam (here, about 1 to 30 MHz) into a subject (for example, a human body) and receives an ultrasonic echo reflected in the subject from the transmitted ultrasonic beam and converts it into an electrical signal.

[0020] The user operates the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A by bringing the transmission / reception surface of the ultrasonic beam of the ultrasonic probe 200 into contact with the subject, and performs ultrasonic diagnosis. Here, it is assumed that the ultrasonic probe 200 transmits an ultrasonic beam from the outer surface of the subject into the subject and receives the ultrasonic echo. However, the ultrasonic probe 200 may be inserted and used inside the digestive tract, blood vessels, or body cavities. Further, any of a convex probe, a linear probe, a sector probe, a three-dimensional probe, etc. can be applied to the ultrasonic probe 200.

[0021] The ultrasonic probe 200 includes, for example, a plurality of vibrators (for example, piezoelectric elements) arranged in a matrix, and a channel switching unit (for example, a multiplexer) for individually or in block units (hereinafter referred to as "channels") switching the on / off of the driving states of the plurality of vibrators.

[0022] Each vibrator of the ultrasonic probe 200 converts the voltage pulse generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 100 (transmission unit 1) into an ultrasonic beam and transmits it into the subject, receives the ultrasonic echo reflected in the subject, converts it into an electrical signal (hereinafter referred to as "received signal"), and outputs it to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 100 (reception unit 2).

[0023] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 100 includes a transmission unit 1, a reception unit 2, a tomographic image generation unit 3, a Doppler processing unit 4, a display processing unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation input unit 7, and a control device 10.

[0024] The transmission unit 1 is a transmitter that sends a voltage pulse as a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 200. The transmission unit 1 includes, for example, a high-frequency pulse oscillator, a pulse setting unit, etc. The transmission unit 1 adjusts the voltage pulse generated by the high-frequency pulse oscillator to the voltage amplitude, pulse width, and transmission timing set by the pulse setting unit, and sends it for each channel of the ultrasonic probe 200.

[0025] The transmitting unit 1 has a pulse setting unit for each of the plurality of channels of the ultrasonic probe 200, and can set the voltage amplitude, pulse width, and transmission timing of the voltage pulse for each of the plurality of channels. For example, the transmitting unit 1 changes the target depth by setting an appropriate delay time for the plurality of channels, or generates different pulse waveforms (for example, transmits a single-wave pulse in B-mode and a four-wave pulse in PW Doppler mode).

[0026] The receiving unit 2 is a receiver that receives and processes the received signal related to the ultrasonic echo generated by the ultrasonic probe 200. The receiving unit 2 includes a preamplifier, an AD conversion unit, a receiving beamformer, and a processing system switching unit.

[0027] The receiving unit 2 amplifies the received signal related to the weak ultrasonic echo for each channel by the preamplifier, and converts the received signal into a digital signal by the AD conversion unit. Then, the receiving unit 2 combines the received signals of the plurality of channels into one by performing coherent addition of the received signals of each channel by the receiving beamformer to obtain acoustic line data. Also, the receiving unit 2 switches and controls the destination to which the received signal generated by the receiving beamformer is transmitted by the processing system switching unit, and outputs it to either the tomographic image generation unit 3 or the Doppler processing unit 4 according to the operation mode to be executed.

[0028] The tomographic image generation unit 3 acquires the received signal from the receiving unit 2 during B-mode operation, and generates a tomographic image (also referred to as a B-mode image) of the inside of the subject.

[0029] The tomographic image generation unit 3, for example, accumulates the signal intensity (Intensity) of the ultrasonic echoes detected later in a line memory in a time - continuous manner when the ultrasonic probe 200 transmits a pulsed ultrasonic beam in the depth direction. Then, as the ultrasonic beam from the ultrasonic probe 200 scans the subject's body, the tomographic image generation unit 3 sequentially accumulates the signal intensity of the ultrasonic echoes at each scanning position in the line memory to generate two - dimensional data in frame units. And the tomographic image generation unit 3 generates a tomographic image by converting the signal intensity of the ultrasonic echoes detected at each position inside the subject into a luminance value.

[0030] The tomographic image generation unit 3 is configured to include, for example, an envelope detection circuit, a dynamic filter, and a logarithmic compression circuit. The envelope detection circuit performs envelope detection on the received signal to detect the signal intensity. The logarithmic compression circuit performs logarithmic compression on the signal intensity of the received signal detected by the envelope detection circuit. The dynamic filter is a band - pass filter whose frequency characteristics change according to the depth, and removes the noise components included in the received signal.

[0031] The Doppler processing unit 4 acquires the received signal from the receiving unit 2 during PW Doppler mode operation, color Doppler mode operation, or power Doppler mode operation, and detects the Doppler shift frequency with respect to the transmission frequency of the ultrasonic echo from the blood flow. Incidentally, the Doppler processing unit 4 selectively extracts the ultrasonic echoes from the sample gate position or ROI (Region of Interest) set by the user's operation input or the automatic blood vessel detection function, and thereby detects the ultrasonic echoes from the blood flow in the subject's body and the Doppler shift frequency from the transmission frequency.

[0032] For example, in the PW Doppler mode operation, when the ultrasonic probe 200 transmits pulsed ultrasonic beams at regular intervals according to the pulse repetition frequency, the Doppler processing unit 4 samples the received signal related to the ultrasonic echo in synchronization with the pulse repetition frequency. Then, the Doppler processing unit 4 detects the Doppler shift frequency based on, for example, the phase difference between the ultrasonic echo related to the n-th ultrasonic beam and the ultrasonic echo related to the (n + 1)-th ultrasonic beam from the same sample gate position.

[0033] The Doppler processing unit 4 includes, for example, a quadrature demodulation unit, a low-pass filter, a range gate, and an FFT analysis unit. The quadrature demodulation unit mixes the received signal with a reference signal in phase with the transmitted ultrasonic beam and a reference signal having a phase difference of π / 2 from the transmitted ultrasonic beam to generate a quadrature demodulation signal. The low-pass filter removes the high-frequency components of the quadrature demodulation signal to generate a received signal related to the Doppler shift frequency. The range gate acquires only the ultrasonic echo from the sample gate position. The FFT analysis unit calculates the Doppler shift frequency of the ultrasonic echo based on the temporal change of the received signal output from the range gate.

[0034] The display processing unit 5 generates a display image to be displayed on the display unit 6 under the control of the control device 10.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display image (hereinafter referred to as a "display screen during scan operation execution") generated by the display processing unit 5 when the scan operation is executed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A (here, when the B-mode operation and the PW Doppler mode operation are executed in parallel).

[0036] In FIG. 3, Tall represents the entire area of the display image, T1 represents a tomographic image, T2 represents a Doppler spectrum image, and T3 represents a group of icons for the user to input a start command for measurement related to blood vessels. In the tomographic image T1, T1X represents the blood flow area, T1Y represents the tissue area, T1a represents the steering angle of the ultrasonic beam during PW Doppler mode operation, and T1b represents the sample gate position of the ultrasonic beam during PW Doppler mode operation. In the icon group T3, T3a represents an icon for inputting a start command for FV measurement, and T3b represents an icon for inputting a start command for IMT measurement.

[0037] During the execution of the scan operation in, for example, B-mode operation or Doppler mode operation (here, PW Doppler mode operation), the display processing unit 5 acquires the tomographic image output from the tomographic image generation unit 3 and the Doppler shift frequency output from the Doppler processing unit 4, and based on these, generates a display image as shown in FIG. 3. When the tomographic image generated by the tomographic image generation unit 3 is sequentially updated, the display processing unit 5 sequentially updates the tomographic image T1 to be displayed in the display image accordingly. Also, when the Doppler shift frequency of the ultrasonic echo calculated by the Doppler processing unit 4 is sequentially updated, the display processing unit 5 sequentially updates the Doppler spectrum image T2 to be displayed in the display image accordingly.

[0038] The Doppler spectrum image T2 is an image representing the distribution of blood flow velocity over time, with time on the horizontal axis and blood flow velocity on the vertical axis. In the Doppler spectrum image, for example, the blood flow velocity at each time point is represented in the form of a single line, and the power for each blood flow velocity (i.e., for each frequency) is represented by the magnitude of the pixel brightness (in FIG. 3, the illustration of the brightness change is omitted). The blood flow velocity for drawing the Doppler spectrum image T2 is converted from the Doppler shift frequency using, for example, the following formula (1) considering the angle correction value corresponding to the intersection angle between the beam direction of the ultrasonic beam and the blood flow direction. V = c / 2cosθ × Fd / F0 …(1) (However, V: blood flow velocity, F0: transmission frequency of ultrasonic beam, Fd: Doppler shift frequency, c: speed of sound in vivo, θ: angle correction value)

[0039] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display image (hereinafter referred to as "measurement execution display screen") generated by the display processing unit 5 when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A stops the scanning operation and executes measurement.

[0040] In FIG. 4, Tall is the entire area of the display image, T4 is the tomographic image referred to during measurement (here, the tomographic image obtained at the timing when the blood vessel diameter is maximum) (T4X is the blood flow area, T4Y is the tissue area), T5 is the image showing the measurement result, and T6 represents an icon for the user to input a confirmation command for the measurement result. Incidentally, in FIG. 4, as the measurement result T5, the diameter, cross-sectional area, and blood flow volume of the blood vessel in the tomographic image referred to during measurement are shown.

[0041] When the user operates on icons T3a and T3b for inputting a start command for measurement related to a blood vessel, for example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A stops the scanning operation and shifts to the measurement execution mode. The measurement execution mode is a mode in which arithmetic processing is performed by the blood vessel measurement support unit 12 of the control device 10 described later. Automatically, a tomographic image suitable for the measurement target is specified from the frame group obtained by the previous scanning operation, and measurement related to the blood flow or blood vessel properties of the subject using the tomographic image (for example, FV measurement or IMT measurement, etc.) is executed (described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10).

[0042] At this time, the display processing unit 5 performs a screen transition from the display image during the scanning operation execution (FIG. 3) (that is, the first screen mode for automatically updating the continuously generated tomographic images) to the display image during the measurement execution (FIG. 4) (that is, the second screen mode for displaying a still image of the tomographic image of the attention frame specified by the attention frame specifying unit 12c described later), and provides the tomographic image T4 (still image) of the measurement target and the measurement result T5 to the user.

[0043] The tomography image generation unit 3, the Doppler processing unit 4, and the display processing unit 5 are realized by a digital arithmetic circuit composed of, for example, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like. However, these configurations can be variously modified. For example, part or all of them may be realized by a hardware circuit, or may be realized by arithmetic processing according to a program.

[0044] The display unit 6 is a display that displays the display image generated by the display processing unit 5, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display.

[0045] The operation input unit 7 is a user interface for the user to perform input operations, and is composed of, for example, push button switches, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. The operation input unit 7 converts the operation performed by the user into an operation signal and inputs it to the control device 10.

[0046] The control device 10 exchanges signals with the ultrasonic probe 200, the transmission unit 1, the reception unit 2, the tomography image generation unit 3, the Doppler processing unit 4, the display processing unit 5, the display unit 6, and the operation input unit 7, and performs overall control over them. The control device 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. And each function of the control device 10 is realized by the CPU referring to the control program and various data stored in the ROM and the RAM.

[0047] The control device 10 has a cine memory 13 that temporarily stores the tomography images (frame data) for the last few minutes out of the tomography images continuously generated by the tomography image generation unit 3 so that they can be played back as a video. The cine memory 13 typically stores the tomography images for a certain period of time as time-series data, and is configured to sequentially erase the tomography images that exceed its own storage capacity from the past.

[0048] The control device 10 includes a transmission / reception control unit 11 and a blood vessel measurement support unit 12.

[0049] The transmission / reception control unit 11 controls a channel switching unit (not shown) of the ultrasonic probe 200 to selectively determine a channel to be driven among a plurality of channels. Then, the transmission / reception control unit 11 controls the transmission unit 1 and the reception unit 2 respectively to perform transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves for the channel to be driven.

[0050] During B-mode operation (i.e., when generating a tomographic image), the transmission / reception control unit 11 drives the channels to be driven among the plurality of channels in order along the scanning direction, thereby causing the ultrasonic probe 200 to perform ultrasonic scanning inside the subject.

[0051] During PW Doppler mode operation, color Doppler mode operation, or power Doppler mode operation (i.e., when measuring blood flow velocity), the transmission / reception control unit 11 selectively drives a plurality of vibrators provided in the ultrasonic probe 200 so that an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 200 at a predetermined angle to the sample gate position or ROI inside the subject. Also, at this time, the transmission / reception control unit 11 controls the transmission unit 1 so that a pulsed ultrasonic beam (burst wave) is repeatedly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 200 at a predetermined pulse repetition frequency, and controls the reception unit 2 to receive the ultrasonic echo of the ultrasonic beam.

[0052] In addition, the transmission / reception control unit 11 determines the transmission / reception conditions of the ultrasonic beam based on the type of the ultrasonic probe 200 (e.g., complex type, sector type, or linear type, etc.) set by the user via the operation input unit 7, the depth of the imaging target inside the subject, and the imaging mode (e.g., B-mode, PW Doppler mode, color Doppler mode, or power Doppler mode), etc.

[0053] The blood vessel measurement support unit 12 automatically identifies a tomographic image suitable for measurement from among a group of frames obtained during a predetermined period by a scanning operation, and performs a measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of blood vessels of the subject (for example, FV measurement or IMT measurement, etc.) using the tomographic image.

[0054] [Detailed Configuration of Blood Vessel Measurement Support Unit 12] Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10, the detailed configuration of the blood vessel measurement support unit 12 will be described.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the blood vessel measurement support unit 12.

[0056] The blood vessel measurement support unit 12 includes a blood vessel detection unit 12a, a blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b, a target frame identification unit 12c, and a measurement unit 12d.

[0057] [Blood Vessel Detection Unit 12a] The blood vessel detection unit 12a acquires the tomographic image R1 generated by the tomographic image generation unit 3, and detects blood vessels reflected in the tomographic image R1 based on the image information of the tomographic image R1. The blood vessel detection unit 12a detects blood vessels reflected in the tomographic image R1 by known template matching, for example, using data of a blood vessel pattern (hereinafter, also referred to as a "blood vessel template image") stored in a memory (not shown) in advance.

[0058] Then, the blood vessel detection unit 12a outputs, for example, a region where blood vessels are most clearly reflected in the tomographic image R1 to the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b as the position of the blood vessel whose diameter is to be measured.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the process executed by the blood vessel detection unit 12a. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically explaining an example of the process executed by the blood vessel detection unit 12a.

[0060] First, in step S1, the blood vessel detection unit 12a reads out a template image Rw of a blood vessel stored in the ROM or the like of the control device 10. Then, the blood vessel detection unit 12a sequentially sets an image region to be compared (hereinafter referred to as "comparison target region") having the same size as the template image Rw (for example, 100 pixels × 100 pixels) in the tomographic image R1 so as to perform a raster scan within the tomographic image R1, and calculates the degree of match (i.e., similarity) with the template image Rw for each of the comparison target regions. Then, the blood vessel detection unit 12a calculates the degree of match with the template image Rw for each coordinate in the tomographic image R1.

[0061] Note that, as the template image Rw of the blood vessel referred to by the blood vessel detection unit 12a, for example, an image in which the blood vessel region extends horizontally in the central region of the image and tissue regions exist above and below the blood vessel region across the blood vessel region (i.e., a blood vessel long axis image) is used.

[0062] Next, in step S2, the blood vessel detection unit 12a determines whether or not the reduction process in the subsequent step S3 has been executed in two stages. And when the reduction process in step S3 has been executed in two stages (step S2: YES), the process proceeds to step S4, and when the reduction process in step S3 has not been executed in two stages (step S2: NO), the process proceeds to step S3.

[0063] Next, in step S3, the blood vessel detection unit 12a reduces the tomographic image R1 by a predetermined magnification (for example, 0.9 times) to generate a reduced image. Then, the blood vessel detection unit 12a returns to step S1, and similarly performs template matching on the reduced image using the template image Rw of the blood vessel, and calculates the degree of match for each coordinate of the reduced image. Note that, at this time, without changing the size of the template image Rw of the blood vessel, the template image Rw of the blood vessel applied to the original tomographic image R1 is used.

[0064] Note that the search process using this reduced image is a process considering the case where the size of the blood vessel shown in the tomographic image R1 is different from the template image Rw.

[0065] Next, in step S4, the blood vessel detection unit 12a identifies the coordinate with the maximum degree of matching among the coordinates of the tomographic image R1, the coordinates of the reduced image, and the coordinates of the re-reduced image (the tomographic image R1 reduced in two steps).

[0066] Through such processing, the blood vessel detection unit 12a searches for the region in the tomographic image R1 where the blood vessels are most clearly shown, and outputs the region (i.e., the central coordinate) as the position of the blood vessels to be referred to in subsequent processing. Specifically, the position of the blood vessels detected in this way is also used as the position of the blood vessels whose diameter is to be measured in the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b and as the reference position when measurement is performed in the measurement unit 12d.

[0067] Note that the position of the blood vessels detected by the blood vessel detection unit 12a may be used as the sample gate position during the execution of the Doppler mode. In other words, in order to set the sample gate position during the execution of the Doppler mode, the position of the blood vessels detected by the blood vessel detection unit 12a may be used in the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b, the target frame identification unit 12c, the measurement unit 12d, etc.

[0068] Also, the blood vessel detection unit 12a may detect the positions of the blood vessels in all of the tomographic images R1 continuously generated by the tomographic image generation unit 3, or may detect the positions of the blood vessels only in the tomographic image R1 obtained at an appropriate timing from among the tomographic images R1 continuously generated by the tomographic image generation unit 3. In that case, for example, regarding the blood vessel positions of the tomographic images R1 in which the detection of the blood vessel positions has not been performed among the tomographic images R1 continuously generated by the tomographic image generation unit 3, they may be inferred based on the blood vessel positions detected in the tomographic images R1 in which the detection of the blood vessel positions has been performed. Thereby, every time the tomographic image R1 is updated, it is possible to avoid a situation where the blood vessel positions set by the blood vessel detection unit 12a are displaced and appropriate blood vessel diameter comparison cannot be performed in the processing of the target frame identification unit 12c described later.

[0069] Furthermore, the method by which the blood vessel detection unit 12a detects blood vessels is arbitrary, and instead of template matching, a discriminator (for example, CNN (Convolutional Neural Network)) that has been learned by machine learning may be used.

[0070] <Blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b> The blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b acquires the detection position information of the blood vessels from the blood vessel detection unit 12a, and calculates the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "blood vessel Rd1") existing at the position detected by the blood vessel detection unit 12a by image analysis of the tomographic image R1.

[0071] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically explaining an example of the process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 in the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b.

[0072] The blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b, for example, in the image region of the detection position of the blood vessel Rd1, regards a path where the edge is strong and the edge is smoothly continuous as the boundary between the blood vessel and the extravascular tissue, and performs path search. Specifically, the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b replaces the boundary detection problem with a path search problem of finding a path with the minimum cost, and sets the direction where the edge is small and the direction where the path is not smooth as the direction where the cost increases, and searches for a path with the minimum cost from the left end side (Rda in FIG. 8) of the image region of the detection position of the blood vessel Rd1. As a result, the boundary position between the upper side wall portion of the blood vessel Rd1 and the extravascular tissue, and the boundary position between the lower side wall portion of the blood vessel Rd1 and the extravascular tissue are detected. Then, the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b calculates the width between the boundary position of the upper side wall portion of the blood vessel Rd1 and the boundary position of the lower side wall portion of the blood vessel Rd1 (for example, the maximum value of the blood vessel widths calculated at each position in the horizontal direction) as the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 (represented by D1 in FIG. 8).

[0073] The diameter of blood vessel Rd1 is simply defined as the width between the boundary position of the upper side wall portion of blood vessel Rd1 and the boundary position of the lower side wall portion of blood vessel Rd1 in the depth direction. However, for more accurately calculating the diameter of blood vessel Rd1, the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 may be defined as the width between the boundary position of the upper side wall portion of blood vessel Rd1 and the boundary position of the lower side wall portion of blood vessel Rd1 in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of blood vessel Rd1. In this case, for example, the extending direction of blood vessel Rd1 may be calculated based on the average value of the extending directions of the boundaries of the upper side wall portion of blood vessel Rd1 and the boundaries of the lower side wall portion of blood vessel Rd1 identified by the processing of the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b.

[0074] At this time, the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b may calculate the actual dimension of the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 from the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 calculated as the pixel interval in the tomographic image R1 based on the image size of the tomographic image R1.

[0075] In addition, the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b calculates the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 in each of the tomographic images R1 continuously generated by the tomographic image generation unit 3, for example, and enables comparison of the diameters of blood vessel Rd1 reflected in each tomographic image R1.

[0076] <Attention frame identification unit 12c> The attention frame identification unit 12c acquires the calculation result of the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 from the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b, and based on the diameters of blood vessel Rd1 calculated in each of the plurality of frames of tomographic images R1 obtained within a predetermined period, identifies the attention frame (hereinafter simply referred to as the "attention frame") corresponding to the frame obtained when the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 is the maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames. That is, the attention frame identification unit 12c identifies the tomographic image R1 of the measurement target in the measurement unit 12d from among the plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period.

[0077] Vascular measurement (for example, IMT measurement, FV measurement) is generally required to be performed based on tomographic images of blood vessels when the diameter of the blood vessels undergoes periodic changes within one heartbeat, as described above, when the diameter of the blood vessels is maximum and / or minimum. For example, in IMT measurement, a tomographic image of the blood vessel when the blood vessel diameter is minimum is used, and in FV measurement, a tomographic image of the blood vessel when the blood vessel diameter is maximum is used. In view of such requirements, the target frame specifying unit 12c automatically extracts a target frame including the tomographic image R1 captured when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum or minimum from among a plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period.

[0078] The target frame specifying unit 12c functions, for example, when a measurement start command (for example, an input operation to the icon T3a for the FV measurement start command in FIG. 3 or the icon T3b for the IMT measurement start command) is input by the user, and a plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period in the past direction from the time when the measurement start command is input among the time-series frame group continuously generated by the tomographic image generation unit 3 (that is, the frame group stored in the cine memory 13) is used as the population to be searched for, and it is preferable to specify the target frame. The predetermined period at this time may be set as time or as the number of frames.

[0079] Generally, in diagnosis using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the user presses the ultrasonic probe against the subject to capture a tomographic image while observing in real time. When a blood vessel region considered necessary for diagnosis appears and the state of the blood vessel is suitable for vascular measurement, an image saving operation or a freeze operation is performed to hold the tomographic image at that timing on the screen and observe it in detail. In this regard, by setting the population to be searched for in the target frame specifying unit 12c to be within a predetermined period starting from the timing when the measurement start command is input by the user, the target frame specifying unit 12c can specify the target frame in which the tomographic image in the state desired by the user is obtained.

[0080] At this time, the target frame specifying unit 12c specifies the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 accompanying the heartbeat based on the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 calculated in each of the tomographic images R1 of the time-series frame group stored in the cine memory 13, and among the plurality of frames obtained within the period during which the periodic change equivalent to one heartbeat occurs, it is preferable to specify the target frame including the tomographic image R1 captured when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum or minimum. Thereby, it is possible to avoid misselection of the target frame caused by noise (for example, the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 calculated from the tomographic image R1 in an unstable imaging state).

[0081] As a method for the target frame specifying unit 12c to specify the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1, for example, autocorrelation calculation or frequency analysis can be used. For example, when the target frame specifying unit 12c detects that the same periodic change has occurred about three times continuously from the temporal change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1, this periodic change may be specified as the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 accompanying the heartbeat (for the state of the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1, refer to FIG. 12, for example).

[0082] Also, for example, after specifying the target frame, the target frame specifying unit 12c issues a display command to the display processing unit 5 so that the user can recognize the tomographic image R1 that is the target of blood vessel measurement, and preferably causes the display screen to be displayed on the display unit 6 to transition from the scan operation execution time display screen (refer to FIG. 3) that displays the continuously generated tomographic images as a moving image to the measurement execution time display screen (refer to FIG. 4) that displays the still image of the target frame. That is, it is preferable that the display processing unit 5 displays the target frame, which is the tomographic image R1 that is the target of blood vessel measurement, when the target frame is specified by the target frame specifying unit 12c.

[0083] Through such display processing, the user can determine whether the tomographic image R1 identified by the target frame identification unit 12c is suitable as the tomographic image for vascular measurement at a stage prior to the measurement by the measurement unit 12d (or at a stage prior to the completion of the measurement by the measurement unit 12d). Note that when the user determines that the tomographic image R1 identified by the target frame identification unit 12c is inappropriate as the tomographic image for vascular measurement, the user can interrupt the measurement by the measurement unit 12d or reset the tomographic image for vascular measurement (for example, using the candidate frame selection function of Modification 4). Thereby, the user can perform vascular measurement using an appropriate tomographic image without unnecessary effort.

[0084] <Measurement unit 12d> The measurement unit 12d performs measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessel Rd1 reflected in the tomographic image R1 of the target frame (that is, the frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum and / or minimum) identified by the target frame identification unit 12c.

[0085] Examples of the measurement performed by the measurement unit 12d include, as described above, FV measurement in the blood vessel Rd1 or IMT measurement in the blood vessel Rd1. The measurement unit 12d may perform the measurement of the type commanded by an input operation of the user (for example, an input operation to the icon T3a for FV measurement start command or the icon T3b for IMT measurement start command in FIG. 3).

[0086] For example, when the icon T3a for FV measurement start command is selected and operated by the user, the measurement unit 12d uses the tomographic image R1 when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum to measure the blood flow volume (Flow Volume: FV) in the blood vessel by the following formula (2). FV [mL / min] = average blood flow velocity [cm / sec] × blood vessel cross-sectional area [cm 2 × 60 [sec] … Formula (2)

[0087] In Equation (2), the cross-sectional area of the blood vessel is calculated using, for example, the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 calculated by the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b assuming that the cross-section of the blood vessel is substantially circular. Also, as the average blood flow velocity, for example, the average value of the blood flow velocities of the blood vessel Rd1 calculated using Equation (1) from the Doppler shift frequency detected by the Doppler processing unit 4 is used. However, the average blood flow velocity referred to at this time does not necessarily have to be the average blood flow velocity related to the position of the blood vessel Rd1 detected by the blood vessel detection unit 12a, as long as it is the average blood flow velocity of the blood flowing through the same blood vessel as the blood vessel Rd1 detected by the blood vessel detection unit 12a. In other words, as the average blood flow velocity applied to Equation (2), the one observed at an appropriate timing near the blood vessel Rd1 detected by the blood vessel detection unit 12a may be used.

[0088] Further, for example, when an icon T3b for starting the IMT measurement is selected and operated by the user, the measurement unit 12d measures the thickness (Intima-Media Thickness: IMT) of the intima-media complex using the tomographic image R1 when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is the smallest.

[0089] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the IMT measurement process by the measurement unit 12d. FIG. 9 shows an example of an enlarged image of the blood vessel Rd1 shown in the tomographic image R1.

[0090] The wall portion of the blood vessel T1X (here, the arterial wall) generally has a three-layer structure including an intima T1X_a1, a media T1X_a2, and an adventitia T1X_a3. The IMT is the combined thickness of the intima T1X_a1 and the media T1X_a2 therein (that is, the length from the boundary between the blood vessel lumen and the intima T1X_a1 to the boundary between the media T1X_a2 and the adventitia T1X_a3) (width D2 in FIG. 9).

[0091] Therefore, the measurement unit 12d detects the boundaries between the intima T1X_a1 and the media T1X_a2, and between the media T1X_a2 and the adventitia T1X_a3 from the blood vessel Rd1 shown in the tomographic image R1 by image analysis, and measures the IMT by measuring the distance between these two boundaries (width D2 in FIG. 9). Note that the image analysis method for such boundary detection is arbitrary, but the measurement unit 12d detects these boundary positions using, for example, a known edge detection method.

[0092] Through the above-described processing, the measurement unit 12d automatically performs measurement related to the blood vessel Rd1 detected by the blood vessel detection unit 12a without requiring an input operation by the user.

[0093] <Operation of the control device 10> FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 10. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 represents the processing that the control device 10 sequentially executes according to a computer program (i.e., the functions of the above-described blood vessel detection unit 12a, blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b, target frame specifying unit 12c, and measurement unit 12d).

[0094] In step S11, first, the control device 10 determines whether or not a measurement start command has been input from the user. If a measurement start command from the user (for example, an input operation to the icon T3a for the FV measurement start command or the icon T3b for the IMT measurement start command in FIG. 3) has been input, the process proceeds to step S12. If no measurement start command has been input from the user, the process of the flowchart in FIG. 10 ends without performing any particular processing.

[0095] In step S12, the control device 10 stops the transmission and reception operation of ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic probe 200 and freezes the tomographic image generation operation.

[0096] In step S13, the control device 10 acquires tomographic images for N frames in the past direction from the time point when the measurement start command was input from among the time-series frame group stored in the cine memory 13 as the population to be searched for specifying the target frame.

[0097] In step S14, the control device 10 (the blood vessel detection unit 12a and the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b) detects the position of the blood vessel Rd1 in each frame acquired in step S13 and calculates the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1.

[0098] In step S15, the control device 10 (the target frame specifying unit 12c) specifies a target frame corresponding to the frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum and / or minimum, using the data of the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 detected in each of the N frames. At this time, the control device 10 (the target frame specifying unit 12c) specifies, for example, the periodic change of the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 by autocorrelation calculation from the temporal change of the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1, and specifies the target frame from among a plurality of frames obtained during one cardiac cycle of the periodic change.

[0099] In step S16, the control device 10 (the target frame specifying unit 12c) issues a display command to the display processing unit 5 to cause a screen transition of the display screen to be displayed on the display unit 6 from the scan operation execution time display screen (see FIG. 3) to the measurement execution time display screen (see FIG. 4).

[0100] In step S17, the control device 10 (the measurement unit 12d) performs a measurement related to the blood vessel (for example, IMT measurement or FV measurement) using the target frame specified in step S15.

[0101] In step S18, the control device 10 (the measurement unit 12d) issues a display command to the display processing unit 5 to display the measurement result calculated in step S17 on the measurement execution time display screen (see FIG. 4).

[0102] Through the series of processes as described above, the control device 10 automatically specifies a target frame suitable for the measurement object from among the frame group during a predetermined period obtained by the scan operation, and performs a measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of the blood vessels of the subject (for example, FV measurement or IMT measurement, etc.) using the target frame.

[0103] [Effect] As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the present embodiment includes a blood vessel detection unit 12a that detects a region of a blood vessel shown in a tomographic image, a blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b that calculates the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image, a target frame specifying unit 12c that specifies a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames of the tomographic image, based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period, a measurement unit 12d that performs measurement related to the blood flow or properties of blood vessels of a subject, targeting the blood vessel shown in the tomographic image of the target frame, and a display processing unit 5 that displays the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing.

[0104] Therefore, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically specify a tomographic image related to a target frame obtained at a timing when the diameter of a blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum, from among a plurality of frames of tomographic images obtained within a predetermined period (for example, within one heartbeat period), and perform blood vessel measurement.

[0105] Thereby, for the user, it is possible to omit the complicated operation of searching for a tomographic image suitable for blood vessel measurement from among the frame group stored in the cine memory. In addition, thereby, since it is possible to appropriately select a tomographic image related to a target frame obtained at a timing when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of blood vessel measurement.

[0106] (Modification 1) ​In general, in a diagnosis using an ultrasound diagnostic device, a user needs to perform operations (e.g., a freeze operation or an image saving operation) on the ultrasound diagnostic device while pressing an ultrasound probe against a subject and capturing a tomographic image. Therefore, in some cases, when a user performs an operation, the ultrasound probe may be displaced in reaction to the operation, and the imaging position of the ultrasound probe may be displaced from a position suitable for blood vessel measurement. In addition, there is a risk that the timing when the user performs an operation may be delayed from the timing when the blood vessels shown in the tomographic image are in a state suitable for blood vessel measurement.

[0107] From this viewpoint, in the ultrasound diagnostic device A according to this modification, the frame of interest identifying unit 12c automatically identifies the tomographic image R1 to be used for blood vessel measurement at an appropriate timing when the blood vessels shown in the tomographic image become in a state suitable for blood vessel measurement (i.e., when the imaging state of the blood vessel Rd1 becomes stable). That is, the frame of interest identifying unit 12c according to this modification identifies the frame of interest when it is detected that the imaging state of the blood vessel Rd1 has become stable by image analysis of the tomographic image R1, instead of in response to a measurement start command from the user.

[0108] Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 10 of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification. The flowchart in Fig. 11 differs from the flowchart in Fig. 10 in that the processes of steps S21 to S23 for determining the stability of the imaging state of the blood vessel Rd1 are executed before the target frame identification process.

[0109] Specifically, in the ultrasound diagnostic device A according to this modification, the attention frame identifying unit 12c is configured to monitor the tomographic image R1 updated in real time by the tomographic image generating unit 3, and determine the clarity of the image of the blood vessel Rd1 detected by the blood vessel detecting unit 12a from the tomographic image R1. Then, for example, when the clarity of the image of the blood vessel Rd1 remains equal to or higher than a threshold for a predetermined period of time, the attention frame identifying unit 12c outputs a determination result indicating that the imaging state of the blood vessel Rd1 has stabilized (steps S21 to S23).

[0110] Still, the sharpness of the image of blood vessel Rd1 can be defined by, for example, the sharpness of the contour of the blood vessel wall in the image of blood vessel Rd1, and the target frame specifying unit 12c can calculate, for example, the edge detection value (e.g., the second derivative value) of the contour of the blood vessel wall of blood vessel Rd by filter processing, and use the value obtained thereby as the sharpness of the image of blood vessel Rd1.

[0111] However, the process for determining the stability of the imaging state of blood vessel Rd1 in the target frame specifying unit 12c may be other methods. For example, the target frame specifying unit 12c may determine whether the imaging state of blood vessel Rd1 is stable based on the fact that a periodic change in the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 associated with the heartbeat can be detected from the temporal change in the diameter of blood vessel Rd1.

[0112] The target frame specifying unit 12c according to this modification example specifies the target frame in which the diameter of blood vessel Rd1 is maximum and / or minimum, using, as the population to be searched, a plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period in the past direction from the time point when it is detected that the imaging state of blood vessel Rd1 is stable among the time-series frame group stored in the cine memory 13.

[0113] Still, since the processes of steps S24 to S30 in the flowchart of FIG. 11 are respectively processes corresponding to the processes of steps S12 to S18 in the flowchart of FIG. 10, the description thereof is omitted here.

[0114] Thus, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification example, the target frame specifying unit 12c specifies the target frame when it is detected that the imaging state of blood vessel Rd1 is stable. As a result, it is possible to accurately specify the tomographic image R1 used for blood vessel measurement without requiring the operation of the user.

[0115] (Modification Example 2) Generally, the diameter of a blood vessel changes periodically within one heartbeat. However, when the imaging state of the tomographic image is unstable, it may be difficult for the user to accurately capture such periodic changes just by viewing the tomographic image (i.e., moving image) that is updated in real time. Also, in such a state, since the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 output from the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b will also include noise data, the attention frame identification unit 12c may misselect the tomographic image obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum and / or minimum.

[0116] From such a perspective, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A (display processing unit 5) according to this modification example is configured to display on the display unit 6 the temporal change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 calculated in each frame group of the time series of the continuously generated tomographic images R1.

[0117] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an image T7 (hereinafter referred to as "blood vessel diameter transition image T7") showing the temporal change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 displayed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification example. In FIG. 12, the mode in which the blood vessel diameter transition image T7 is displayed in the display image generated during the scan operation is shown.

[0118] Specifically, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification example, the blood vessel detection unit 12a monitors the tomographic image R1 that is updated in real time by the tomographic image generation unit 3, detects the blood vessel Rd1 from within the tomographic image R1, and the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b calculates the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1. Then, the blood vessel diameter calculation unit 12b transfers the data of the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 to the display processing unit 5, and the display processing unit 5 generates a display image related to the temporal change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1.

[0119] In the blood vessel diameter transition image T7 of FIG. 12, with the time axis taken as the horizontal axis, the temporal change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is expressed by a graphic display in which the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 detected in the tomographic image R1 obtained at each timing is represented by the height of a bar graph.

[0120] In the blood vessel diameter transition image T7 of FIG. 12, when a periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 begins to be observed so that the user can easily recognize that the imaging state of the tomographic image has stabilized, the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 in that time period is made different from the display color of the bar graph (for example, blue display) of the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 in the time period when no periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is observed (for example, red display).

[0121] In the blood vessel diameter transition image T7 of FIG. 12, an image T7a (represented by a ▲ mark in FIG. 12) indicating the starting point of the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 (that is, the timing when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 becomes maximum or minimum) is added so that the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 can be easily recognized. In FIG. 12, information indicating the number of times ( "1 / 3", "2 / 3", and "3 / 3") since the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 began to be observed is also added to the image T7a.

[0122] As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification example, by providing the blood vessel diameter transition image T7 to the user, it is possible to assist the user in judging the stability of the imaging state of the tomographic image by himself / herself and to assist the user in recognizing the behavior of the periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1.

[0123] (Modification Example 3) Generally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a function of displaying a cine bar as a user interface within a display screen so that a user can view a desired frame from a time-series frame group stored in a cine memory by executing a scan operation.

[0124] In such a function, it is convenient for the user if the tomographic images obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum and / or minimum can be easily selected. As described above, when the imaging state of the tomographic image is unstable, there is a possibility that the determination of the tomographic image obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum and / or minimum may be incorrect even in the target frame specifying section 12c. However, if such a selection function is added, the user can easily determine whether the target frame specified by the target frame specifying section 12c is appropriate as the tomographic image for which blood vessel measurement is to be performed.

[0125] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the cine bar display of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modified example. In FIG. 13, a mode in which the cine bar T8 is displayed in the display image generated during the execution of the scan operation is shown.

[0126] Here, when the user temporarily freezes the scan operation or the like, the tomographic image to be displayed can be selected from the time-series frame group stored in the cine memory 13 by operating the cine bar T8. In FIG. 13, the tomographic image selected as the display target by operating the cine bar T8 is displayed in the region T1 in the display image Tall.

[0127] The cine bar T8 is composed of, for example, a bar main body T8a and an operation knob T8b. The bar main body T8a extends in the left-right direction, and each frame of the frame group stored in the cine memory 13 is associated with the time series along the left-right direction. The operation knob T8b is an operation element that can be moved in the left-right direction on the bar main body T8a. In the cine bar T8, when the operation knob T8b is moved, one frame corresponding to the position of the operation knob T8b is selected from the frame group stored in the cine memory 13, and the tomographic image corresponding to the selected frame is displayed in the region T1 in the display image Tall.

[0128] Here, in the Cinebar T8 according to this modification example, a marker display indicating positions corresponding to the attention frames specified by the attention frame specifying unit 12c (here, the position T8c of the tomographic image obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum and the position T8d of the tomographic image obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is minimum) is added.

[0129] Thus, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification example, the user can easily confirm the sharpness etc. of the tomographic image of the attention frame specified by the attention frame specifying unit 12c by operating the Cinebar T8.

[0130] (Modification Example 4) Generally, since the diameter of a blood vessel changes periodically within one heartbeat, depending on the search target period in the Cine Memory 13 captured by the attention frame specifying unit 12c, there may be a case where there are a plurality of frames (hereinafter referred to as "candidate frames of the attention frame") corresponding to the maximum or minimum diameter of the blood vessel Rd1. In such a case, it is convenient if the user can select the attention frame from a plurality of candidate frames in consideration of the sharpness etc. of the tomographic images of each of the plurality of candidate frames, rather than mechanically specifying the attention frame only based on the value of the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1.

[0131] From such a viewpoint, when there are two or more candidate frames of the attention frame corresponding to the maximum or minimum diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 among a plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A (attention frame specifying unit 12c) according to this modification example causes the display processing unit 5 to display each of the two or more candidate frames, and enables the user to select one of the two or more candidate frames as the attention frame by operation.

[0132] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a candidate frame display (hereinafter referred to as "attention frame selection image T9") displayed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification example. Note that FIG. 14 shows a mode in which the attention frame selection image T9 is displayed in the display image generated during the execution of the scanning operation.

[0133] The highlighted frame selection image T9 in FIG. 14 shows an example of a display mode when there are two candidate frames corresponding to the maximum diameter of the blood vessel Rd among a plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period. In the highlighted frame selection image T9 of FIG. 14, two candidate frames T9a and T9b are displayed, and the user can select either the candidate frame T9a or the candidate frame T9b as the highlighted frame by a selection operation using the operation input unit 7.

[0134] Thus, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification example, the user himself / herself can select the tomographic image to be used for blood vessel measurement, and it is possible to meet the demands of a wider variety of users.

[0135] Note that the highlighted frame manual selection function according to this modification example may be activated, for example, when the user inputs an operation for interrupting the measurement of the measurement unit 12d or resetting the tomographic image of the target of blood vessel measurement (for example, using the candidate frame selection function of Modification Example 4). Also, it may be possible to set which of the highlighted frame manual selection function according to this modification example and the highlighted frame automatic selection function in the frame specifying unit 12c to use.

[0136] (Modification Example 5) Generally, whether to use the tomographic image of the blood vessel used for blood vessel measurement as the tomographic image obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum or the tomographic image obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is minimum among the periodic changes within one heartbeat is left to the diagnostic method using the measurement results of each user.

[0137] From such a viewpoint, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A (control device 10) according to this modification example has a setting unit (not shown) that enables the user to set whether the highlighted frame to be specified in the highlighted frame specifying unit 12c is the maximum blood vessel frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is maximum, the minimum blood vessel frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel Rd1 is minimum, or both the maximum blood vessel frame and the minimum blood vessel frame, from among a plurality of frames.

[0138] Further, in such a setting unit, it is preferable that the target for specifying the attention frame to be set for the attention frame specifying unit 12c can be set for each type of blood vessel measurement using tomographic images or for each type of tomographic image imaging target.

[0139] In addition, the setting unit causes the display processing unit 5 to display a user interface image for setting these matters.

[0140] FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrams showing an example of a user interface image displayed by the setting unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification.

[0141] FIG. 15 shows a mode in which icon groups T10 and T20 are displayed so that it is possible to set whether the attention frame of the target specified by the attention frame specifying unit 12c is the maximum blood vessel frame, the minimum blood vessel frame, or both the maximum blood vessel frame and the minimum blood vessel frame for each type of blood vessel measurement (here, FV measurement and IMT measurement).

[0142] FIG. 16 shows a mode in which icon groups T30 and T40 are displayed so that it is possible to set whether the attention frame of the target specified by the attention frame specifying unit 12c is the maximum blood vessel frame, the minimum blood vessel frame, or both the maximum blood vessel frame and the minimum blood vessel frame for each type of tomographic image imaging target (here, measurement of cardiovascular vessels and measurement of hepatic vessels).

[0143] As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to this modification, it is possible for the user to set the tomographic image of the blood vessel used for blood vessel measurement to a desired target, and it is possible to meet the demands of more diverse users.

[0144] (Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be applied to various modified forms.

[0145] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the vascular long-axis image was shown as the image of the blood vessel to be detected from the tomographic image R1 by the blood vessel detection unit 12a. However, as the image of the blood vessel to be detected from the tomographic image R1 by the blood vessel detection unit 12a, the blood vessel short-axis image, which is the cross-sectional image in the short-axis direction of the blood vessel, may be used together with the vascular long-axis image or instead of the vascular long-axis image.

[0146] In this case, for example, the blood vessel detection unit 12a may detect the blood vessel Rd1 from the tomographic image R1 using the template image Rw of the blood vessel short-axis image together with or instead of the vascular long-axis image. Also, regarding the method for calculating the diameter of the blood vessel when the blood vessel Rd1 shown in the tomographic image R1 is a short-axis image, or the method for calculating the diameter of the blood vessel when it is unknown whether the blood vessel Rd1 shown in the tomographic image R1 is a long-axis image or a short-axis image, for example, known methods such as those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-253379 can be used.

[0147] Also, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the attention frame specifying unit 12c, when a measurement start command is input by the user or when it is determined that the imaging state of the tomographic image is stable, the attention frame is specified and the tomographic image of the attention frame is displayed on the display unit 6. However, the attention frame specifying unit 12c may also specify the attention frame and display the tomographic image of the attention frame on the display unit 6 at other timings, for example, when a freeze operation is input by the user or when the B-mode operation is paused and the PW Doppler mode operation is switched to Active. However, in this case, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the measurement unit 12d performs measurement when a measurement start command is input by the user.

[0148] Also, the mode in which the display processing unit 5 displays the attention frame, which is the tomographic image R1 of the object of blood vessel measurement, can be variously modified.

[0149] For example, when starting blood vessel measurement such as FV measurement, the display processing unit 5 may enlarge and display the tomographic image R1. If the drawing size of the blood vessels in the tomographic image R1 is small, it is difficult to determine and correct whether the candidate points for the blood vessel measurement position are appropriate. However, by enlarging and displaying the tomographic image R1, these become easier. In other words, if the tomographic image R1 is always enlarged and displayed in cases other than blood vessel measurement, the state around the enlarged range may become unclear depending on the case, and the visibility of the tomographic image R1 may be reduced. Therefore, it is preferable to enlarge and display the tomographic image R1 only when starting blood vessel measurement. On the other hand, it may be possible to set whether to enlarge at the time of frame selection or when starting blood vessel measurement.

[0150] Also, the display processing unit 5 may zoom in and display the tomographic image R1 from the entire display screen at the timing of selecting the attention frame where the blood vessel diameter is maximum or minimum.

[0151] As described above, specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

Industrial Applicability

[0152] According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the work load of the user when performing blood vessel measurement and improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of blood vessel measurement.

Explanation of Signs

[0153] A Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 200 Ultrasonic probe 1 Transmission unit 2 Reception unit 3 Tomographic image generation unit 4 Doppler processing unit 5 Display processing unit 6 Display unit 7 Operation input unit 10 Control device 11 Transmission / reception control unit 12 Vascular measurement support unit 12a Vessel detection unit 12b Vessel diameter calculation unit 12c Region of interest frame identification unit 12d Measurement unit 13 Cine memory

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a blood vessel detection unit that detects a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image, a blood vessel diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image, a target frame specifying unit that specifies a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames, based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period, a measurement unit that performs a measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of the blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame, a display processing unit that displays the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing, comprising The display processing unit displays a cine bar that enables selection of a display frame to be displayed from among a group of time-series frames of the tomographic images continuously generated by a user operation, and adds a marker display indicating a position corresponding to the target frame to the cine bar. Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

2. The target frame specifying unit specifies the target frame from among the plurality of frames obtained within the predetermined period in the past direction from the time point when the measurement start command was input, upon receipt of the measurement start command input by the user for performing the measurement. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The target frame specifying unit specifies the target frame from among the plurality of frames obtained within the predetermined period in the past direction from the time point when it is detected that the imaging state of the blood vessel has stabilized, upon detection that the imaging state of the blood vessel has stabilized. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When the attention frame specifying unit specifies the attention frame, the display processing unit is caused to display the tomographic image of the attention frame. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. When the attention frame specifying unit specifies the attention frame, the display processing unit is caused to transition from a first screen mode in which a moving image of the tomographic images continuously generated is displayed to a second screen mode in which a still image of the tomographic image of the attention frame is displayed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The attention frame specifying unit specifies a periodic change in the diameter of the blood vessel accompanying a heartbeat based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of a time-series frame group of the tomographic images continuously generated, and specifies the attention frame from among the plurality of frames obtained during one heartbeat cycle. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The display processing unit displays a temporal change in the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each frame of a time-series frame group of the tomographic images continuously generated. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, A blood vessel detection unit that detects a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image; A blood vessel diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; An attention frame specifying unit that specifies an attention frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic images obtained within a predetermined period; A measurement unit that performs measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessels reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame; A display processing unit that displays the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing; comprising; When there are two or more candidate frames of the target frame in which the diameter of the blood vessel corresponds to a maximum or a minimum among the plurality of frames obtained within the predetermined period, the target frame specifying unit causes the display processing unit to display each of the two or more candidate frames, and enables a user to select one of the two or more candidate frames as the target frame by an operation of the user. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

9. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, comprising: A blood vessel detection unit that detects a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image; A blood vessel diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; A target frame specifying unit that specifies a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of tomographic images obtained within a predetermined period; A measurement unit that performs measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessels reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame; A display processing unit that displays the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing; A setting unit that enables a user to set whether the target frame specified by the target frame specifying unit is the blood vessel maximum time frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum among the plurality of frames, or the blood vessel minimum time frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is minimum, or both the blood vessel maximum time frame and the blood vessel minimum time frame; An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising.

10. The setting unit enables the specification target of the frame of interest to be set for the frame of interest specifying unit for each type of measurement using the tomographic image or for each type of imaging target of the tomographic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 9.

11. The measurement by the measurement unit is FV (Flow Volume) measurement in the blood vessel of the subject or IMT (Intima-Media Thickness) measurement in the blood vessel of the subject. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. It has an ultrasonic probe that transmits the ultrasonic wave toward the subject and receives the reflected wave echo of the ultrasonic wave from within the subject. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, comprising: a first process of detecting a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image; a second process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; a third process of specifying a frame of interest corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period; a fourth process of performing a measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of the blood vessel of the subject on the blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image of the frame of interest; a fifth process of displaying the tomographic image of the frame of interest at a predetermined timing; and having In the fifth process, a cine bar is displayed that enables selection of a display frame to be displayed from among a group of time-series frames of the tomographic images continuously generated by a user's operation, and a marker display indicating a position corresponding to the frame of interest is added to the cine bar. Control method.

14. A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a first process of detecting a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image; a second process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; a third process of identifying a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames, based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period; a fourth process of performing measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of the blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame; a fifth process of displaying the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing; having, in the fifth process, when there are two or more candidate frames of the target frame corresponding to the maximum or minimum of the diameter of the blood vessel among the plurality of frames obtained within the predetermined period, each of the two or more candidate frames is displayed, and one of the two or more candidate frames can be selected as the target frame by a user's operation; Control method.

15. A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a first process of detecting a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image; a second process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; a third process of identifying a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames, based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period; a fourth process of performing measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of the blood vessels of the subject, targeting the blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame; A fifth process of displaying the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing, Regarding whether the target frame specified in the third process is the frame of maximum blood vessel diameter obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum among the plurality of frames, or the frame of minimum blood vessel diameter obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is minimum, or both the frame of maximum blood vessel diameter and the frame of minimum blood vessel diameter, a sixth process that enables setting by the user, A control method having the above.

16. A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, A first process of detecting a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image, A second process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image, A third process of specifying a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the tomographic images of the plurality of frames obtained within a predetermined period, A fourth process of performing measurement related to the blood flow or the properties of the blood vessel of the subject on the blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image of the target frame, A fifth process of displaying the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing, Having the above, In the fifth process, a cine bar is displayed that enables selection of a display frame to be displayed from among a group of time-series frames of the tomographic images continuously generated by a user operation, and a marker display indicating a position corresponding to the target frame is added to the cine bar. A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

17. A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, A first process of detecting a region of a blood vessel reflected in the tomographic image, A second process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; A third process of identifying a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames, based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period; A fourth process of performing measurement related to the blood flow or properties of the blood vessel of the subject, targeting the blood vessel shown in the tomographic image of the target frame; A fifth process of displaying the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing; It has, In the fifth process, when there are two or more candidate frames of the target frame corresponding to the maximum or minimum diameter of the blood vessel among the plurality of frames obtained within the predetermined period, each of the two or more candidate frames is displayed, and one of the two or more candidate frames can be selected as the target frame by the operation of the user. A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

18. A control program for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, A first process of detecting a region of a blood vessel shown in the tomographic image; A second process of calculating the diameter of the blood vessel by image analysis of the tomographic image; A third process of identifying a target frame corresponding to a frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is maximum and / or minimum among the plurality of frames, based on the diameter of the blood vessel calculated in each of the plurality of frames of the tomographic image obtained within a predetermined period; A fourth process of performing measurement related to the blood flow or properties of the blood vessel of the subject, targeting the blood vessel shown in the tomographic image of the target frame; A fifth process of displaying the tomographic image of the target frame at a predetermined timing; Regarding the target attention frame specified in the third process, whether to use the maximum blood vessel frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is the largest among the plurality of frames, the minimum blood vessel frame obtained when the diameter of the blood vessel is the smallest, or both the maximum blood vessel frame and the minimum blood vessel frame, a sixth process that enables user settings; An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus control program having the same.

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