Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

In an ultrasonic diagnostic device and a method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic device according to the present invention, a blood vessel extraction unit extracts a short-axis image of a blood vessel from an ultrasound image, a highlighting unit highlights the short-axis image of the blood vessel in the ultrasound image displayed on a monitor, and a motion amount detection unit detects the amount of motion of the ultrasound image between adjacent frames on the basis of the ultrasound image. A device control unit causes the highlighting unit to start highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel, and then causes the highlighting unit to stop highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel when the motion amount becomes a first threshold value or more. Thus, even when the entire ultrasound image is moved, the short axis image of the blood vessel included in the ultrasound image can be highlighted without making a user feel uncomfortable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of extracting and highlighting a short-axis image of a blood vessel included in an ultrasonic image, and a control method for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] For example, when inserting a puncture needle or the like into a blood vessel of a subject, in order to determine the puncture position, the thickness of the puncture needle, etc., while observing an ultrasonic image using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, confirmation of the diameter, depth, and type (artery or vein) of the blood vessel is performed. However, reading an ultrasonic image requires skill, and it is not easy for an unskilled person to read an ultrasonic image. Therefore, as described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been proposed that extract a short-axis image of a blood vessel from an ultrasonic image or detect the movement of a blood vessel or the like. In addition, there is also a technique of providing a position sensor in an ultrasonic probe to detect the movement of the ultrasonic probe.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, consider a case where, in an ultrasonic image including a short-axis image of a blood vessel, the short-axis image of the blood vessel is extracted and this short-axis image of the blood vessel is highlighted.

[0005] Ultrasonic images are generated at a constant speed (frame rate), for example, 30 frames per second. On the other hand, the process of extracting a short-axis image of a blood vessel from an ultrasonic image requires some time. Therefore, when extracting a short-axis image of a blood vessel from an ultrasonic image and highlighting this short-axis image of the blood vessel, the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is performed with a slight time delay with respect to the ultrasonic image of the actual frame time that is being generated at a constant speed.

[0006] However, when the entire ultrasonic image moves, such as when the user moves the ultrasonic probe, if the extraction and highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel are performed with a delay with respect to the display of the ultrasonic image, the position where the highlighting is performed will deviate greatly from the position of the short-axis image of the blood vessel included in the ultrasonic image of the actual frame time currently being displayed on the monitor, and there is a problem that the user viewing the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor will feel discomfort.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can highlight a short-axis image of a blood vessel included in an ultrasonic image without the user feeling discomfort even when the entire ultrasonic image moves.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe, a monitor, an image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image including a short-axis image of a blood vessel based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam to a subject using the ultrasonic probe, a display control unit that causes the ultrasonic image to be displayed on the monitor, a blood vessel extraction unit that extracts a short-axis image of a blood vessel from the ultrasonic image, a highlighting unit that highlights the short-axis image of a blood vessel in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor, a movement amount detection unit that detects the movement amount of the ultrasonic image between adjacent frames based on the ultrasonic image, Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a device control unit that stops the highlighting of the short-axis image of a blood vessel by a highlighting unit after starting the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit when the amount of movement becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold value.

[0009] Here, when the amount of movement is less than the first threshold value, the blood vessel extraction unit detects the short-axis image of the blood vessel to be observed from among the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from the ultrasonic image. Preferably, the amount of movement detection unit detects the amount of movement by tracking the short-axis image of the blood vessel to be observed over a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images.

[0010] Also, when short-axis images of a plurality of blood vessels are extracted from the ultrasonic image, preferably, the amount of movement detection unit detects the average value of the amounts of movement of the short-axis images of the plurality of blood vessels as the amount of movement of the ultrasonic image.

[0011] Also, preferably, after the device control unit stops the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value, the device control unit resumes the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit.

[0012] Also, preferably, after the device control unit stops the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or greater than a third threshold value that is higher than the first threshold value, the device control unit stops the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit.

[0013] Also, preferably, after the device control unit starts the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or less than a fourth threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value, the device control unit causes the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit and the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit to be executed for each of a plurality of predetermined frames of ultrasonic images.

[0014] In addition, the blood vessel extraction unit includes a blood vessel identification unit that determines whether the blood vessels included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames are the same blood vessel based on the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of the adjacent frames, and it is preferable to highlight the short-axis images of the blood vessels determined to be the same as each other.

[0015] In addition, the movement amount detection unit preferably detects, as the movement amount of the ultrasonic image, the difference in the center coordinates or centroid coordinates of the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, the difference in the coordinates of the feature points included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, or the optical flow of the ultrasonic images between adjacent frames.

[0016] In addition, it is provided with a blood vessel information acquisition unit that acquires blood vessel information regarding the blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image. In addition to highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the highlighting unit preferably displays the blood vessel information on the monitor.

[0017] In addition, it is preferable to be provided with a notification unit that notifies the user of notification information regarding the speed of movement of the ultrasonic probe based on the movement amount.

[0018] In addition, the present invention generates an ultrasonic image including a short-axis image of a blood vessel based on a received signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam to a subject using an ultrasonic probe, displays the ultrasonic image on a monitor, extracts the short-axis image of the blood vessel from the ultrasonic image, highlights the short-axis image of the blood vessel in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor, detects the movement amount of the ultrasonic images between adjacent frames based on the ultrasonic image, After starting the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the movement amount becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold value, a control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that stops the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is provided.

[0019] Here, when the amount of movement is less than the first threshold value, a short-axis image of a blood vessel to be observed is detected from among the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from the ultrasonic image, It is preferable to detect the amount of movement by tracking the short-axis image of the blood vessel to be observed over a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images.

[0020] Also, when short-axis images of a plurality of blood vessels are extracted from the ultrasonic image, it is preferable to detect the average value of the amounts of movement of the short-axis images of the plurality of blood vessels as the amount of movement of the ultrasonic image.

[0021] Also, after stopping the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value, it is preferable to resume the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel.

[0022] Also, after stopping the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or higher than a third threshold value that is higher than the first threshold value, it is preferable to stop the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel.

[0023] Also, after starting the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or less than a fourth threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value, it is preferable to execute the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel and the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel for each of a plurality of predetermined frames of ultrasonic images.

[0024] Also, based on the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, it is determined whether the blood vessels included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames are the same blood vessel, and it is preferable to highlight the short-axis images of the blood vessels determined to be the same.

[0025] Also, it is preferable to detect the difference in the center coordinates or centroid coordinates of the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, the difference in the coordinates of the feature points included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, or the optical flow of the ultrasonic images between adjacent frames as the amount of movement of the ultrasonic image.

[0026] Also, vascular information regarding blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image is acquired, and in addition to the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, it is preferable to display the vascular information on the monitor.

[0027] Also, it is preferable to notify the user of information regarding the speed of movement of the ultrasonic probe based on the amount of movement.

Advantages of the Invention

[0028] In the present invention, after starting the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit is stopped. Thereby, according to the present invention, even when the amount of movement of the ultrasonic image becomes large, the highlighted display does not deviate significantly from the position of the short-axis image of the blood vessel included in the ultrasonic image of the actual frame time, so that the user does not feel discomfort.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Hereinafter, based on the preferred embodiments shown in the attached drawings, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the control method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment showing the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a stationary ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and includes an ultrasonic probe 1 and an apparatus main body 3 connected to the ultrasonic probe 1.

[0032] The ultrasonic probe 1 scans an examination site of a subject with an ultrasonic beam and outputs a beam signal corresponding to an ultrasonic image of the examination site. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic probe 1 includes a vibrator array 11 and a transmission / reception circuit 14. The vibrator array 11 and the transmission / reception circuit 14 are connected bidirectionally. Further, the apparatus control unit 36 of the apparatus main body 3 described later is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 14.

[0033] The vibrator array 11 has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in one dimension or two dimensions. These transducers transmit ultrasonic waves according to drive signals supplied from the transmission / reception circuit 14, and receive reflected waves from the subject and output analog reception signals. Each transducer is configured using an element in which electrodes are formed at both ends of a piezoelectric body made of, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic typified by PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate), a polymer piezoelectric element typified by PVDF (Poly Vinylidene Di Fluoride), and a piezoelectric single crystal typified by PMN-PT (Lead Magnesium Niobate-Lead Titanate solid solution).

[0034] Under the control of the device control unit 36, the transmission / reception circuit 14 causes the transducer array 11 to transmit ultrasonic waves, and generates a sound beam signal by performing reception focusing processing on the reception signal output from the transducer array 11 that has received the ultrasonic echo. As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission / reception circuit 14 includes a pulsar 51 connected to the transducer array 11, an amplification unit 52, an AD (Analog Digital) conversion unit 53, and a beamformer 54 that are sequentially connected in series from the transducer array 11.

[0035] The pulsar 51 includes, for example, a plurality of pulse generators, and supplies drive signals to the plurality of transducers of the transducer array 11 with adjusted delay amounts so that the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of transducers of the transducer array 11 form an ultrasonic beam based on the transmission delay pattern selected by the device control unit 36. In this way, when a pulsed or continuous-wave voltage is applied to the electrodes of the transducers of the transducer array 11, the piezoelectric body expands and contracts, generating pulsed or continuous-wave ultrasonic waves from each transducer, and an ultrasonic beam is formed from the combined wave of these ultrasonic waves.

[0036] The transmitted ultrasonic beam is reflected, for example, by an object such as a part of the subject and propagates toward the transducer array 11 of the ultrasonic probe 1. Each transducer constituting the transducer array 11 expands and contracts by receiving the ultrasonic echo propagating toward the transducer array 11, generates a reception signal that is an electrical signal, and outputs these reception signals to the amplification unit 52.

[0037] The amplification unit 52 amplifies the signals input from the respective transducers constituting the transducer array 11 and transmits the amplified signals to the AD conversion unit 53. The AD conversion unit 53 converts the analog signals transmitted from the amplification unit 52 into digital reception data and outputs these reception data to the beamformer 54.

[0038] The beam former 54 performs so-called reception focusing processing by giving respective delays to each reception data converted by the AD conversion unit 53 and adding them according to the speed of sound or the distribution of the speed of sound set based on the reception delay pattern selected by the device control unit 36. By this reception focusing processing, each reception data converted by the AD conversion unit 53 is integrally added, and a sound line signal in which the focus of the ultrasonic echo is narrowed is generated.

[0039] Next, the device main body 3 generates an ultrasonic image of the inspection location of the subject based on the sound line signal generated by the ultrasonic probe 1, and displays the ultrasonic image of the inspection location of the subject. As shown in FIG. 1, the device main body 3 includes an image generation unit 31, an image memory 32, a blood vessel processing unit 35, a display control unit 33, a monitor (display unit) 34, an input device 37, and a device control unit 36.

[0040] The image generation unit 31 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 14, and the display control unit 33 and the monitor 34 are sequentially connected in series to the image generation unit 31. Further, the image memory 32 and the blood vessel processing unit 35 are respectively connected to the image generation unit 31, and the display control unit 33 is connected to the image memory 32 and the blood vessel processing unit 35. The device control unit 36 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 14, the image generation unit 31, the display control unit 33, the image memory 32, and the blood vessel processing unit 35, and the input device 37 is connected to the device control unit 36.

[0041] The image generation unit 31 generates an ultrasonic image (ultrasonic image signal) including a short-axis image of the blood vessels at the inspection location of the subject from the reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic beams to the inspection location of the subject using the ultrasonic probe 1 (more precisely, the transducer array 11) under the control of the device control unit 36. Further speaking, the image generation unit 31 generates the ultrasonic image from the sound line signal generated from the reception signal by the transmission / reception circuit 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the image generation unit 31 has a configuration in which a signal processing unit 16, a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 18, and an image processing unit 17 are sequentially connected in series.

[0042] The signal processing unit 16 generates image information data corresponding to an ultrasonic image based on the acoustic line signal generated by the transmission / reception circuit 14. More specifically, the signal processing unit 16 performs signal processing on the acoustic line signal generated by the beamformer 54 of the transmission / reception circuit 14, for example, corrects the attenuation caused by the propagation distance according to the depth of the position where the ultrasonic wave is reflected, and then performs envelope detection processing to generate image information data representing tomographic image information regarding the tissue in the subject body.

[0043] The DSC 18 raster-converts the image information data generated by the signal processing unit 16 into an image signal conforming to the scanning method of a normal television signal.

[0044] The image processing unit 17 performs various image processes such as brightness correction, gradation correction, sharpness correction, image size correction, refresh rate correction, scanning frequency correction, and color correction on the image signal input from the DSC 18 according to the display format of the monitor 34, thereby generating an ultrasonic image (ultrasonic image signal), and outputs the ultrasonic image subjected to the image processing to the image memory 32, the blood vessel processing unit 35, and the display control unit 33.

[0045] The image memory 32 is a memory that holds a series of ultrasonic images (ultrasonic image signals) of multiple frames generated by the image generation unit 31 for each inspection under the control of the device control unit 36. As the image memory 32, a recording medium such as a flash memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), FD (Flexible Disc), MO disk (Magneto - Optical disc), MT (Magnetic Tape), RAM (Random Access Memory), CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), SD card (Secure Digital card), USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory), or an external server, etc. can be used.

[0046] The blood vessel processing unit 35 performs various processes for highlighting blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image of the inspection site of the subject under the control of the device control unit 36. As shown in FIG. 4, the blood vessel processing unit 35 includes a blood vessel extraction unit 41, a movement amount detection unit 42, a blood vessel information acquisition unit 43, a highlighting unit 44, and a notification unit 45.

[0047] The blood vessel extraction unit 41 is connected to the image generation unit 31, and the movement amount detection unit 42, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43, and the highlighting unit 44 are respectively connected to the blood vessel extraction unit 41. The highlighting unit 44 is connected to the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43, and the display control unit 33 is connected to the highlighting unit 44. The notification unit 45 is connected to the movement amount detection unit 42.

[0048] The blood vessel extraction unit 41 extracts the short - axis image of the blood vessel from the ultrasonic image by analyzing the ultrasonic image generated by the image generation unit 31 under the control of the device control unit 36. Here, the short-axis image of a blood vessel is an image of a cross-sectional plane obtained by slicing the blood vessel in a cross-sectional direction orthogonal to the running direction of the blood vessel. Therefore, the short-axis image of a blood vessel represents the region (blood vessel region) of the cross-sectional plane in the cross-sectional direction of the blood vessel.

[0049] The blood vessel extraction unit 41 of the present embodiment has a blood vessel determination model that determines (predicts) the short-axis image of a blood vessel from an ultrasonic image, and uses this blood vessel determination model to specify the short-axis image of the blood vessel included in the ultrasonic image.

[0050] The blood vessel determination model is a learned model that has learned the relationship between a learning ultrasonic image including the short-axis image of the blood vessel of an arbitrary subject as teacher data, the learning ultrasonic image, and the short-axis image of the blood vessel included in this learning ultrasonic image, for a plurality of teacher data. Based on the learning result, the blood vessel determination model takes the ultrasonic image to be determined as input and outputs the determination result (prediction result) of the short-axis image of the blood vessel included in this ultrasonic image.

[0051] Note that the blood vessel determination model may output a determination result indicating that this region is the short-axis image of a blood vessel, or may output a determination result indicating what percentage is the probability that this region is the short-axis image of a blood vessel. The blood vessel extraction unit 41 extracts the short-axis image of the blood vessel from the ultrasonic image based on the determination result by the blood vessel determination model.

[0052] The method for extracting the short-axis image of a blood vessel is not limited to the method of determining the short-axis image of a blood vessel using a blood vessel determination model. For example, various methods for extracting the short-axis image of a blood vessel from an ultrasonic image, such as a method using template matching, can be used. When the blood vessel extraction unit 41 extracts the short-axis image of a blood vessel using template matching, it stores in advance typical pattern data of the short-axis image of the blood vessel as a template, and calculates the similarity to the pattern data while searching the inside of the ultrasonic image U with the template. Then, the blood vessel extraction unit 41 extracts it assuming that the short-axis image of the blood vessel exists at the location where this similarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value and is the maximum.

[0053] The blood vessel extraction unit 41 of the present embodiment has a blood vessel identification unit 46 that identifies blood vessels included in ultrasonic images over a plurality of frames. Based on the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, the blood vessel identification unit 46 determines whether the blood vessels included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames are the same blood vessel. The blood vessel extraction unit 41 highlights the short-axis images of the blood vessels determined to be the same by the blood vessel identification unit 46 over the ultrasonic images of a plurality of frames.

[0054] The blood vessel identification unit 46 can identify blood vessels based on at least one of, for example, the blood vessel diameter, a blood vessel label indicating the type of blood vessel (artery or vein), the relative positional relationship of a plurality of blood vessels, and tissue information regarding the tissue around the blood vessel.

[0055] For example, a blood vessel with a diameter of 2 mm and a blood vessel with a diameter of 5 mm are clearly different blood vessels. Therefore, by calculating the blood vessel diameter, blood vessels can be identified based on whether the blood vessel diameter is within a defined range from the blood vessel diameter of the blood vessel to be observed. In addition, since arteries and veins do not switch, by attaching a blood vessel label to the blood vessels, blood vessels can be identified based on whether the blood vessel labels are the same. When the short-axis images of a plurality of blood vessels are included in the ultrasonic image, the blood vessels can be identified based on the relative positional relationship of the short-axis images of these plurality of blood vessels. Based on tissue information regarding the tissue around the blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image, such as tissue such as nerves, muscles, and bones, the blood vessels can be identified.

[0056] Although it is not essential to identify blood vessels, when the amount of movement of the ultrasonic image becomes large, the blood vessel to be observed may be replaced by another blood vessel in the ultrasonic image of the next frame. Therefore, it is desirable to identify blood vessels.

[0057] Under the control of the device control unit 36, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 analyzes the ultrasonic image generated by the image generation unit 31 based on the short-axis image of the blood vessels extracted by the blood vessel extraction unit 41, thereby acquiring blood vessel information regarding the blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image. Here, the blood vessel information is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, information such as the diameter of the blood vessel, the depth of the blood vessel, and the type of the blood vessel.

[0058] For example, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 can measure the width of the short-axis image of the blood vessel in the depth direction of the ultrasonic image as the diameter of the short-axis image of the blood vessel. In addition, for example, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 can measure the shortest distance in the depth direction from the epidermis of the subject, that is, the shallowest position (the upper end of the ultrasonic image) of the ultrasonic image to the short-axis image of the blood vessel as the depth of the short-axis image of the blood vessel.

[0059] The blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 can identify whether it is an artery or a vein from the blood flow direction obtained by using the Doppler method. In addition, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 can identify whether it is an artery or a vein based on the roundness of the short-axis image of the blood vessel. Since the internal pressure of an artery is high and the internal pressure of a vein is lower than that of an artery, it can be identified that a blood vessel with a roundness equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is an artery, and a blood vessel with a roundness less than the predetermined threshold is a vein. Furthermore, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 can identify whether it is an artery or a vein based on the tissue information regarding the tissue around the blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image. For example, since an artery and a vein run in a predetermined direction around this tissue.

[0060] Under the control of the device control unit 36, the highlighting unit 44 highlights the short-axis image of the blood vessels extracted by the blood vessel extraction unit 41 in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 34 under the control of the display control unit 33. In other words, the highlighting unit 44 creates a graphic for highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel, and superimposes and displays this graphic on the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 34.

[0061] The method of highlighting the short-axis image of a blood vessel is not particularly limited. For example, the region including the short-axis image of the blood vessel may be surrounded by an enclosure line of an arbitrary shape such as a circle or a square, or the region within the short-axis image of the blood vessel may be hatched. Further, the enclosure line and the hatching may be colored in an arbitrary color or may be of an arbitrary line type. Alternatively, the short-axis image of the blood vessel may be highlighted by making the region within the short-axis image of the blood vessel a color or brightness different from other regions in the ultrasonic image.

[0062] In addition to highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the highlighting unit 44 can cause the monitor 34 to display, as an annotation, the blood vessel information regarding the blood vessel acquired by the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43.

[0063] The method of displaying the blood vessel information is not particularly limited, but the blood vessel information can be superimposed and displayed as character information on the ultrasonic image corresponding to the short-axis image of the blood vessel. Further, as the blood vessel information, the color and the line type such as the above-described enclosure line and hatching may be changed between the short-axis image of the artery and the short-axis image of the vein so that it is possible to identify whether it is an artery or a vein. Also, the color used for coloring may be changed between the short-axis image of the artery and the short-axis image of the vein, for example, by coloring the short-axis image of the artery red and the short-axis image of the vein blue, or alternatively, the brightness may be changed between the short-axis image of the artery and the short-axis image of the vein.

[0064] The movement amount detection unit 42 detects the movement amount of the ultrasonic image between adjacent frames based on the ultrasonic image generated by the image generation unit 31.

[0065] The method of detecting the movement amount is not particularly limited, but the movement amount detection unit 42 can detect the movement amount, for example, by tracking the short-axis image of one blood vessel to be observed over a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images. In this case, when the amount of movement is less than a predetermined threshold value, for example, less than a first threshold value described later, the blood vessel extraction unit 41 detects a short-axis image of one blood vessel to be the observation target from among the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from the ultrasonic image. The blood vessel extraction unit 41 can detect, for example, a blood vessel that is closest to the center in the direction orthogonal to the depth direction of the ultrasonic image and is at the shallowest position in the depth direction of the ultrasonic image in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 34 as the blood vessel to be the observation target (representative blood vessel).

[0066] Further, when short-axis images of a plurality of blood vessels are extracted from the ultrasonic image, the movement amount detection unit 42 may detect the average value of the movement amounts of the short-axis images of the plurality of blood vessels as the movement amount of the ultrasonic image.

[0067] Furthermore, the movement amount detection unit 42 may detect the difference (amount of movement) between the center coordinates or the centroid coordinates of the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames as the movement amount of the ultrasonic image, or may detect the difference between the coordinates of the feature points included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames as the movement amount of the ultrasonic image. Here, the feature points are one or more points specified from a structure that extracts an arbitrary structure having a feature in the ultrasonic image. Alternatively, the movement amount detection unit 42 may detect the optical flow of the ultrasonic images between adjacent frames as the movement amount of the ultrasonic image.

[0068] The notification unit 45 notifies the user of notification information regarding the speed of movement of the ultrasonic probe 1 based on the movement amount of the ultrasonic image detected by the movement amount detection unit 42 under the control of the device control unit 36. The method of notifying the user of the notification information is not particularly limited. For example, a message of the notification information may be displayed on the monitor 34, or a voice that reads out the message may be output from a speaker (not shown), or both may be performed simultaneously.

[0069] The display control unit 33 causes various information to be displayed on the monitor 34 under the control of the device control unit 36. The display control unit 33 performs predetermined processing on, for example, the ultrasonic image generated by the image generation unit 31 or the ultrasonic image held in the image memory 32, and causes the processed ultrasonic image to be displayed on the monitor 34.

[0070] The monitor 34 displays various information under the control of the display control unit 33. The monitor 34 displays, for example, ultrasonic images, blood vessel information, and information regarding the speed of movement of the ultrasonic probe 1. Examples of the monitor 34 include an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display.

[0071] The input device 37 receives various instructions input from the user (examiner) of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The input device 37 is not particularly limited and includes various buttons and a touch panel on which the user performs a touch operation to input various instructions.

[0072] The device control unit 36 controls each part of the ultrasonic probe 1 and the device main body 3 based on a program stored in advance and the user's instructions input from the input device 37.

[0073] The terminal-side processor 39 is constituted by the image generation unit 31, the blood vessel processing unit 35, the display control unit 33, and the device control unit 36.

[0074] Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus when an ultrasonic image is captured will be described.

[0075] First, in a state where the ultrasonic probe 1 is in contact with the examination site of the subject, under the control of the device control unit 36, the transmission of ultrasonic waves is started by the transmission / reception circuit 14, and a sound beam signal is generated (step S1).

[0076] That is, ultrasonic beams are transmitted from a plurality of oscillators of the oscillator array 11 to the inspection location of the subject according to the drive signal from the pulsar 51. The ultrasonic echo from the inspection location based on the ultrasonic beam transmitted from the pulsar 51 is received by each oscillator of the oscillator array 11, and a reception signal, which is an analog signal, is output from each oscillator of the oscillator array 11 that has received the ultrasonic echo. The reception signals output from each oscillator of the oscillator array 11 are amplified by the amplification unit 52 and then AD-converted by the AD conversion unit 53 to obtain reception data. For this reception data, reception focusing processing is performed by the beamformer 54 to generate a beam signal.

[0077] Subsequently, under the control of the apparatus control unit 36, the image generation unit 31 generates an ultrasonic image (ultrasonic image signal) of the inspection location of the subject based on the beam signal generated by the beamformer 54 of the transmission / reception circuit 14 (step S2).

[0078] That is, the beam signal generated by the beamformer 54 is subjected to various signal processes by the signal processing unit 16, and image information data representing tomographic image information regarding the tissue in the subject is generated. The image information data generated by the signal processing unit 16 is raster-converted by the DSC 18, and further subjected to various image processes by the image processing unit 17 to generate an ultrasonic image (ultrasonic image signal). The ultrasonic image generated by the image processing unit 17 is held in the image memory 32.

[0079] Subsequently, under the control of the apparatus control unit 36, the display control unit 33 performs predetermined processing on the ultrasonic image generated by the image processing unit 17 or the ultrasonic image held in the image memory 32, and displays it on the monitor 34 (step S3).

[0080] Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus when highlighting the short-axis image of blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image will be described.

[0081] First, under the control of the apparatus control unit 36, the blood vessel extraction unit 41 analyzes the ultrasonic image using the blood vessel determination model, and thereby extracts a short-axis image of the blood vessel from the ultrasonic image (step S11).

[0082] As shown in FIG. 7, the blood vessel extraction unit 41 extracts a short-axis image of the blood vessel included in the ultrasonic image U. Here, in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 34 in FIG. 7, short-axis images B1, B2, and B3 of three blood vessels are shown.

[0083] Subsequently, under the control of the apparatus control unit 36, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 analyzes the ultrasonic image based on the short-axis image of the blood vessel extracted by the blood vessel extraction unit 41, and thereby acquires blood vessel information regarding the blood vessel included in the ultrasonic image (step S12).

[0084] As shown in FIG. 7, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 measures, for example, the width of the short-axis image B2 of the blood vessel in the depth direction of the ultrasonic image U as the diameter A2 of the short-axis image B2 of the blood vessel. In addition, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 measures the shortest distance in the depth direction from the shallowest position of the ultrasonic image U to the short-axis image B2 of the blood vessel as the depth D2 of the short-axis image B2 of the blood vessel. Furthermore, the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 identifies whether it is an artery or a vein based on at least one of the blood flow direction, the roundness of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, and the tissue information regarding the tissue around the blood vessel.

[0085] Subsequently, under the control of the apparatus control unit 36, the highlighting unit 44 highlights the short-axis image of the blood vessel extracted by the blood vessel extraction unit 41 in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 34 (step S13). In this case, in addition to highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the highlighting unit 44 may cause the blood vessel information acquired by the blood vessel information acquisition unit 43 to be displayed on the monitor 34 corresponding to the short-axis image of the blood vessel to be observed.

[0086] In this embodiment, when highlighting the short-axis image of a blood vessel, first, based on the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames by the blood vessel identification unit 46, it is determined whether the blood vessels included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames are the same blood vessel. Then, the short-axis images of the blood vessels determined to be the same by the blood vessel identification unit 46 are highlighted by the blood vessel extraction unit 41. In this way, by identifying the blood vessels, it is possible to always highlight the short-axis images of the blood vessels that are the same observation target over the ultrasonic images of a plurality of frames.

[0087] As a more preferred aspect, when highlighting, it is possible to use different highlighting methods for the highlighted display of the blood vessels identified in the ultrasonic images between frames and the highlighted display of the blood vessels not identified. For example, the identified blood vessels may be represented by solid lines and the non-identified blood vessels may be represented by dotted lines. Or, the identified blood vessels may be represented by semi-transparent fillings and the non-identified blood vessels may be represented by simple solid lines. Also, only the identified blood vessels may be highlighted.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the highlighting unit 44 highlights the short-axis image B2 of the blood vessel to be observed among the short-axis images B1, B2, and B3 of the blood vessels. In FIG. 7, the inside of the short-axis image B2 of the blood vessel is hatched for highlighting. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the highlighting unit 44 superimposes and displays a blood vessel information panel P including blood vessel information corresponding to the short-axis image B2 of the blood vessel on the ultrasonic image U. In FIG. 7, as the blood vessel information, the diameter: A2mm, the depth: D2mm, and the fact that the type of the blood vessel is a vein are displayed in the blood vessel information panel P.

[0089] As described above, by highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 34, for example, when the user inserts a puncture needle into the blood vessel, the user can be assisted.

[0090] Also, under the control of the apparatus control unit 36, the movement amount detection unit 42 detects the movement amount of the ultrasonic image between adjacent frames based on the ultrasonic image (step S14). The movement amount detection unit 42 of the present embodiment detects the difference in the center coordinates of the short-axis images of blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, in other words, the movement amount of the short-axis images of blood vessels, as the movement amount of the ultrasonic images between adjacent frames.

[0091] Subsequently, under the control of the apparatus control unit 36, controls such as extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit 41 and highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit 44 are performed (step S15).

[0092] Here, after the apparatus control unit 36 starts the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit 44, when the movement amount becomes large and becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the apparatus control unit 36 stops the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit 44. In this case, in addition to stopping the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the apparatus control unit 36 may also stop the display of the blood vessel information regarding the blood vessel. Thereby, even when the movement amount of the ultrasonic image becomes large, the highlighting is not displayed significantly deviated from the position of the short-axis image of the blood vessel included in the ultrasonic image of the actual frame time, so that the user does not feel discomfort.

[0093] Also, after the apparatus control unit 36 starts the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit 44, when the movement amount becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold value, in addition to stopping the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the apparatus control unit 36 may cause the notification unit 45 to notify notification information. For example, on the upper right of the display screen of the monitor 34, notification information such as "The movement of the probe is fast. Please make it slower" and "Since the movement of the probe is fast, the blood vessel highlighting has been turned off" is superimposed and displayed on the ultrasonic image.

[0094] Here, if the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is simply stopped, the user cannot intuitively tell whether the function of highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel is on, off, or on but temporarily stopped. In contrast, as described above, by linking the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel with the notification of the notification information, the user can intuitively grasp the state of the function of highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel.

[0095] Subsequently, after the movement amount becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold and the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit 44 is stopped, when the movement amount becomes small and becomes equal to or less than a second threshold lower than the first threshold, the highlighting unit 44 resumes highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel. In this case, in addition to resuming the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the device control unit 36 may also resume displaying the blood vessel information regarding the blood vessel. Further, the device control unit 36 stops the notification of the notification information by the notification unit 45.

[0096] By setting different values for the first threshold for stopping the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel and the second threshold for resuming the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, like a hysteresis curve, it is possible to prevent the start and stop of the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel from frequently switching in the vicinity of the threshold value and perform a smooth switch. Also, even when the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is stopped, since the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is always performed, the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel can be smoothly resumed.

[0097] On the other hand, after the movement amount becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold and the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit 44 is stopped, when the movement amount becomes even larger and becomes equal to or greater than a third threshold higher than the first threshold, the device control unit 36 stops the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit 41. In this case, in addition to stopping the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the device control unit 36 may cause the notification unit 45 to notify notification information. For example, notification information such as "Since the movement of the probe is faster, blood vessel extraction / enhancement is turned off" is displayed on the monitor 34.

[0098] Further, after the movement amount becomes equal to or greater than the third threshold value and the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit 41 is stopped, when the movement amount becomes small and returns below the third threshold value, the device control unit 36 resumes the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit 41. Also, the device control unit 36 stops the notification unit 45 from notifying notification information.

[0099] Furthermore, after the device control unit 36 starts the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighted display unit 44, when the movement amount becomes small and becomes equal to or less than a fourth threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value, and further lower than the second threshold value, the device control unit 36 causes the blood vessel extraction unit 41 to extract the short-axis image of the blood vessel and the highlighted display unit 44 to perform the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel for each of a plurality of predetermined frames of ultrasonic images. Thereby, the power consumption of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus required for the extraction and highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel can be reduced.

[0100] In this case, the device control unit 36 may cause the notification unit 45 to notify notification information. For example, notification information such as "Since the movement of the probe is slow, blood vessel extraction / enhancement is being performed slowly" is displayed on the monitor 34.

[0101] On the other hand, after the movement amount becomes equal to or less than the fourth threshold value and the blood vessel extraction unit 41 extracts the short-axis image of the blood vessel and the highlighted display unit 44 performs the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel for each of a plurality of predetermined frames of ultrasonic images, when the movement amount becomes large and becomes greater than the fourth threshold value, the device control unit 36 returns the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit 41 and the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighted display unit 44 to the frame rate before the movement amount became equal to or less than the fourth threshold value. Also, the device control unit 36 stops the notification unit 45 from notifying notification information.

[0102] Here, the values of the first to fourth thresholds are not particularly limited. For example, the first threshold can be set such that the amount of movement is a distance corresponding to the diameter of the blood vessel, in other words, a distance that is 1 times the diameter of the blood vessel. Also, the second threshold can be set to a distance that is 0.5 to 0.8 times the diameter of the blood vessel, the third threshold can be set to a distance that is 2 times the diameter of the blood vessel, and the fourth threshold can be set to a distance that is 0.25 times the diameter of the blood vessel.

[0103] Note that the present invention is not limited to the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, and it is also possible to highlight other tissues such as nerves, muscles, and bones. However, tissues such as nerves and muscles are more difficult to extract (identify) than blood vessels, and it is even more difficult to detect the amount of movement based on tissues such as nerves and muscles. In contrast, since the blood vessel has a characteristic shape of being substantially circular, extraction from the ultrasonic image and detection of the amount of movement are easier than for tissues such as nerves and muscles.

[0104] Therefore, the device control unit 36 may extract other tissues from the ultrasonic image, detect the amount of movement thereof, and perform a highlighted display of the other tissues according to the amount of movement. However, it is more desirable to control the start and stop of extraction and highlighted display of other tissues based on the amount of movement of the short-axis image of the blood vessel. In this case, similar to the case of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, for example, when the amount of movement of the short-axis image of the blood vessel becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold, the highlighted display of the other tissues is stopped, and when it becomes equal to or less than the second threshold, the highlighted display of the other tissues is resumed. The same applies to the highlighted display of other tissues when the amount of movement of the short-axis image of the blood vessel becomes equal to or greater than the third threshold and when it becomes equal to or less than the fourth threshold. Thereby, the highlighted display of other tissues can be performed in the same manner as the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel.

[0105] Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only to stationary ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, but also to portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses in which the apparatus main body 3 is realized by a laptop-type terminal device, and to handheld ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses in which the apparatus main body 3 is realized by a handheld-type terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet PC (Personal Computer). Also, the ultrasonic probe 1 and the apparatus main body 3 may be connected either wired or wirelessly. Furthermore, all or only the signal processing unit 16 of the image generation unit 31 may be provided on the ultrasonic probe 1 side, or these may be provided on the apparatus main body 3 side.

[0106] In the apparatus of the present invention, the hardware configuration of the processing unit (Processing Unit) that executes various processes such as the transmission / reception circuit 14, the image generation unit 31, the display control unit 33, the blood vessel processing unit 35, and the apparatus control unit 36 may be dedicated hardware, or may be various processors or computers that execute programs.

[0107] The various processors include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is a general-purpose processor that executes software (program) and functions as various processing units, a programmable logic device (Programmable Logic Device: PLD), which is a processor whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacture, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a dedicated electric circuit, which is a processor having a circuit configuration specifically designed for performing specific processing, such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0108] One processing unit may be constituted by one of these various processors, or may be constituted by a combination of two or more processors of the same type or different types, for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs, or a combination of an FPGA and a CPU, etc. Further, a plurality of processing units may be constituted by one of the various processors, or two or more of the plurality of processing units may be collectively constituted using one processor.

[0109] For example, as represented by computers such as servers and clients, there is a form in which one processor is constituted by a combination of one or more CPUs and software, and this processor functions as a plurality of processing units. Also, as represented by a System on Chip (SoC), etc., there is a form in which a processor that realizes the functions of the entire system including a plurality of processing units with one IC (Integrated Circuit) chip is used.

[0110] Furthermore, the hardware configuration of these various processors is, more specifically, an electrical circuit (Circuitry) formed by combining circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0111] Also, the method of the present invention can be implemented, for example, by a program for causing a computer to execute each of its steps. It is also possible to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which this program is recorded.

[0112] As described above, the present invention has been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0113] 1 Ultrasonic probe, 3 Apparatus main body, 11 Transducer array, 14 Transmission / reception circuit, 16 Signal processing unit, 17 Image processing unit, 18 DSC, 31 Image generation unit, 32 Image memory, 33 Display control unit, 34 Monitor, 35 Blood vessel processing unit, 36 Apparatus control unit, 37 Input device, 39 Processor, 41 Blood vessel extraction unit, 42 Movement amount detection unit, 43 Blood vessel information acquisition unit, 44 Emphasis display unit, 45 Notification unit, 46 Blood vessel identification unit, 51 Pulser, 52 Amplification unit, 53 AD conversion unit, 54 Beamformer, A2 Diameter, B1, B2, B3 Short-axis images of blood vessels, D2 Depth, P Blood vessel information panel, U Ultrasonic image.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe, a monitor, an image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image including a short-axis image of a blood vessel based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam to and from a subject using the ultrasonic probe, a display control unit that causes the ultrasonic image to be displayed on the monitor, a blood vessel extraction unit that extracts the short-axis image of the blood vessel from the ultrasonic image, a highlighting unit that highlights the short-axis image of the blood vessel in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor, a movement amount detection unit that detects a movement amount of the ultrasonic image between adjacent frames based on the ultrasonic image, and a device control unit that stops the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit when the movement amount becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold after starting the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

2. When the movement amount is less than the first threshold, the blood vessel extraction unit detects a short-axis image of a blood vessel to be observed from among the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from the ultrasonic image, The movement amount detection unit detects the movement amount by tracking the short-axis image of the blood vessel to be observed over ultrasonic images of a plurality of frames. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

3. When a plurality of short-axis images of blood vessels are extracted from the ultrasonic image, the movement amount detection unit detects an average value of the movement amounts of the plurality of short-axis images of blood vessels as the movement amount of the ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. After stopping the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit, when the movement amount becomes equal to or less than a second threshold lower than the first threshold, the device control unit resumes the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. After stopping the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the highlighting unit, when the movement amount becomes equal to or greater than a third threshold higher than the first threshold, the device control unit stops the extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel by the blood vessel extraction unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. After the device control unit causes the highlighting unit to start highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or less than a fourth threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value, the device control unit causes the blood vessel extraction unit to extract the short-axis image of the blood vessel and the highlighting unit to highlight the short-axis image of the blood vessel for each of a plurality of defined frames of ultrasonic images. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The blood vessel extraction unit includes a blood vessel identification unit that determines whether the blood vessels included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames are the same blood vessel based on the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, and highlights the short-axis images of the blood vessels determined to be the same as each other. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The amount of movement detection unit detects, as the amount of movement of the ultrasonic image, the difference in the central coordinates or the centroid coordinates of the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, the difference in the coordinates of the feature points included in each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, or the optical flow of the ultrasonic images between the adjacent frames. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Comprising a blood vessel information acquisition unit that acquires blood vessel information regarding the blood vessels included in the ultrasonic image, In addition to highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel, the highlighting unit causes the blood vessel information to be displayed on the monitor. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Comprising a notification unit that notifies the user of notification information regarding the speed of movement of the ultrasonic probe based on the amount of movement. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Generating an ultrasonic image including a short-axis image of a blood vessel based on a received signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam to a subject using an ultrasonic probe, Displaying the ultrasonic image on a monitor, Extracting the short-axis image of the blood vessel from the ultrasonic image, Highlighting the short-axis image of the blood vessel in the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor, Detecting the amount of movement of the ultrasonic images between adjacent frames based on the ultrasonic image, A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein after starting the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold value, the highlighting of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is stopped.

12. When the amount of movement is less than the first threshold value, a short-axis image of a blood vessel to be observed is detected from among the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from the ultrasonic image, The method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the amount of movement is detected by tracking the short-axis image of the blood vessel to be observed over a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images.

13. The method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when short-axis images of a plurality of blood vessels are extracted from the ultrasonic image, an average value of the amounts of movement of the short-axis images of the plurality of blood vessels is detected as the amount of movement of the ultrasonic image.

14. The method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein after stopping the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is restarted.

15. The method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein after stopping the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or higher than a third threshold value higher than the first threshold value, extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel is stopped.

16. The method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein after starting the highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel, when the amount of movement becomes equal to or less than a fourth threshold value lower than the first threshold value, extraction of the short-axis image of the blood vessel and highlighted display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel are performed for each of a plurality of predetermined frames of ultrasonic images.

17. The method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein based on the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, it is determined whether the blood vessels included in each of the ultrasonic images of the adjacent frames are the same blood vessel, and the short-axis images of the blood vessels determined to be the same are highlighted.

18. The method for controlling an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein a difference in central coordinates or centroid coordinates of the short-axis images of the blood vessels extracted from each of the ultrasonic images of adjacent frames, a difference in coordinates of feature points included in each of the ultrasonic images of the adjacent frames, or an optical flow of the ultrasonic images between the adjacent frames is detected as the amount of movement of the ultrasonic images.

19. Vessel information regarding the vessels included in the ultrasonic image is acquired, The control method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the blood vessel information is displayed on the monitor in addition to the emphasized display of the short-axis image of the blood vessel.

20. The control method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein notification information regarding the speed of movement of the ultrasonic probe is notified to the user based on the amount of movement.

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