JP2000185038A - Ultrasonic image diagnosing device and its measuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably improve the operability of measurement by changeably registering data for defining the output format such as a report/worksheet or the like, displaying the output format simultaneously with an ultrasonic image, and executing measurement using the output format. SOLUTION: By processing of a CPU 7, data on kind, measurement items/ measurement technique and the like is stored as data for defining the format of a report/worksheet input by the operation of an input device 9 in a memory 8. Subsequently, a transmit circuit 2 is driven under the control for a scan condition and the like by a control circuit 5, and an ultrasonic beam from an ultrasonic probe 1 is transmitted and received to and from a diagnosed region in a subject to obtain an ultrasonic image. At this time, the input device 9 is operated with reference to a measurement screen, an item on the report/ worksheet is specified to execute algorithm related to the measurement preset with a correspondence to the respective items, and the obtained measurement value is displayed in a previously defined display position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus for performing measurement using an ultrasonic image and a measurement method thereof, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for enabling measurement to be started on a report / worksheet screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus uses an ultrasonic image obtained by scanning an ultrasonic beam with a diagnostic region in a subject to determine the area of a region of interest or the like in the diagnostic region. In addition to general measurements such as length and angle, measurements using a method formulated in advance and the like are provided, and these measured values are provided as data necessary for diagnosis.

The procedure of measurement using such an ultrasonic image will be described. In the case of general measurement, 1) a region of interest is drawn, 2) a measurement method such as area and length is designated by a switch, 4) Marker for measurement is displayed on the screen. 4) The marker is moved by a pointing device. 5) Measurement is executed (SE).
T button operation), 6) Name input of measurement value (for example, t
umor area). On the other hand, in the case of the formulated method, the order of 1) draws a region of interest, 2) designates the formulated method with a switch, and 3) executes measurement (the name of the measured value has already been determined). . In any case, the result can be output in the form of a report / worksheet for diagnosis after measurement.

[0004] Here, a worksheet is an operation (inspection).
This is a work table in which the contents are indicated and the measurement values are entered, and is mainly used by engineers. The report is an official test record, which is used by a doctor to confirm the test result, and is usually stored in a medical chart.

[0005]

However, in the case of the above-described general measurement, the name of the measurement value must be input each time, and in the case of a formalized method, the procedure is determined. The procedure must be changed depending on the image to be drawn, and there is a problem that each operation is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such a conventional problem, and reduces the trouble of inputting a measured value even in a general measurement, and relates to a measurement even in a formalized method. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of easily changing a procedure and a measuring method thereof.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present inventor actively utilizes a report / worksheet created after measurement as a user interface for improving operability. Has a means for defining a format of a report / worksheet measurement item, a means for selecting a report / worksheet type, and a means for selecting a measurement item in a report / worksheet and executing measurement. The idea of the device configuration was obtained.

The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention has been completed based on such an idea.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic image is obtained by scanning the inside of a subject with an ultrasonic beam, a measured value of a diagnostic site is obtained based on the ultrasonic image, and the result is output. In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for outputting according to a format, a data registration unit configured to register a plurality of types of the output format, and configured to be able to set the measurement items as data defining the output format, First designating means for designating at least one of the output formats registered in the display device; display means for displaying the output format designated by the first designating means on the same screen simultaneously with the ultrasonic image; A second designation unit for designating a measurement item from the data displayed by the display unit in accordance with the output format; and a measurement item designated by the second designation unit. Characterized by comprising an execution means for executing the measurement by the measuring technique associated with the measurement item when the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the data registering means is configured to be able to register a plurality of the measurement items, and associate at least a name of a setting item and a measurement method with the measurement item. And to register.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a measurement value obtained by the measurement executed by the execution means is displayed at a predetermined display position in the output format. It is characterized by further comprising means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the means for displaying the measured value is capable of discriminating whether or not the measured value is within a preset reference value range. It is characterized by having means for displaying.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first specifying means includes means for automatically selecting and specifying the type of the output format in accordance with the diagnosis site. It is characterized by having.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the data registering means corresponds to data corresponding to a calculation item as the data relating to the output format to the type, measurement item, and measurement method. Calculation means for instructing calculation according to the calculation item, calculation execution means for executing the calculation instructed by the instruction means, and updating the measurement or the measured value. Recalculation means for recalculating the calculation item each time the calculation is instructed or when the calculation is instructed, and means for displaying the calculation item at a preset display position in the output format. It is characterized by.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the calculation item display means determines whether a calculation value obtained by calculating the calculation item falls within a range of a preset reference value. It is characterized by further comprising means for displaying whether or not the data is identifiable.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 3, further comprising means for selecting and editing the measured value displayed on the output format by the measured value display means. .

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a measuring method for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, wherein an ultrasonic image is obtained by scanning the inside of a subject with an ultrasonic beam, and a diagnostic site is measured based on the ultrasonic image. In a method of obtaining a value and outputting the result in accordance with an output format, a plurality of types of the output formats can be registered, and the measurement items can be set as data defining the output format. Specify at least one of the output formats
The specified output format is displayed on the same screen at the same time as the ultrasonic image, and a measurement item is designated from the data displayed according to the output format. When the measurement item is designated, the measurement item is associated with the measurement item. The measurement is performed by the measurement method.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the ninth aspect of the invention, a measurement value obtained by executing the measurement is displayed at a predetermined display position in the output format.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 transmits an ultrasonic beam toward a diagnostic site in a subject by driving the ultrasonic probe 1 and the probe 1, A transmitting / receiving circuit 2 for receiving an echo signal from a diagnostic part of the ultrasonic beam via the probe 1 and an ultrasonic image (B-mode tomographic image, Doppler image, etc.) based on the echo signal via the transmitting / receiving circuit 2 An image memory circuit 3 for creating and holding, a display circuit 4 such as a CRT or an LCD (liquid crystal display) for displaying an ultrasonic image via the image memory circuit 3, and an operation of these circuits 2 to 4 are controlled. The control circuit 5 includes a control circuit 5 and a measurement system 6 that performs measurement necessary for diagnosis using the ultrasonic image.

The measurement system 6 includes a report,
A memory 7 serving as a means for registering and saving at least data on a type, a measurement item, and a measurement method (Method) as data on an output format such as a worksheet;
CPU 8 which executes a measurement based on the data registered and stored in the memory 7 and executes an algorithm for displaying the data and the measurement result on the display circuit 4
A pointing device (trackball, mouse, etc.) and a keyboard, etc., which serve as means for designating data on the type of report / worksheet and its measurement items on the screen of the display circuit 4 via the control circuit 5 to the CPU 8. And an input device 9.

Here, the overall operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, focusing on processing related to measurement execution and display of the CPU 8. FIG.

First, in a stage before measurement, the CPU 8 executes a process based on an algorithm for defining a report / worksheet format shown in FIG. That is, CP
U8 first calls report / worksheet definition data from the data held in the memory 7 in step S1, and displays the data on the screen of the display circuit 4. FIG. 3 shows a display example of this definition screen. In this example, the items to be defined and registered are “1. Report / Worksheet No.”
There are columns such as "2. Report / worksheet name", "3. Measurement item", and "4. Title (TITLE) definition".

Among them, the contents of the "measurement item" are as follows.
There are a name, an arrangement coordinate, a measurement method (METHOD), an item number, and the like. By operating the input device 9, those registration contents can be stored in the memory 7. Measurement items include, for example, distance measurement, area measurement, heart rate measurement,
Blood pressure measurement, blood flow velocity measurement, ICA (Internal CarotidAr
tery) / CCA (Common Carotid Artery) Rati
o (blood flow velocity ratio between ICA and CCA), and the memory 7 is configured to be able to register a plurality of types of measurement items such as these.

Next, on such a report / worksheet definition screen, the operator operates the input device 9 to input and register data in necessary fields, whereby the CPU
In step S2, data corresponding to the type of report / worksheet is set in step S2, and data corresponding to the measurement item / measurement method is set in step S3. It is determined in step S3 that the determination result is “YES”.
Is repeated.

By the processing of the CPU 8, the type and measurement items / data as data defining the format of the report / worksheet input by the operation of the input device 9 by the operator.
Data such as a measurement method is defined and registered as executable in the measurement system 6 and stored in the memory 7.

In the measurement stage, the type of report / worksheet is specified according to the measurement required for the diagnostic site, or automatically specified according to the diagnostic site, so that the report specified as shown in FIG. / The worksheet screen (window) is displayed on the same measurement screen on the display circuit 4 simultaneously with the ultrasonic image by real-time or memory reproduction.

The ultrasonic image in the measurement screen is used to drive the transmission / reception circuit 2 under the control of scanning conditions and the like by the control circuit 5 so that the ultrasonic beam from the ultrasonic probe 1 is transmitted to the diagnostic site in the subject. The signal is transmitted and received between the two, and is obtained by predetermined signal / image processing in the transmission / reception circuit 2 and the image memory circuit 3 for the reception signal of the ultrasonic echo. Further, on the report / worksheet screen in the measurement screen, necessary items of each column (see FIG. 3) such as the worksheet name, title, and measurement items defined in the above-described series of processing are displayed at predetermined positions. I have.

In such a display state of the measurement screen,
When the operator operates the input device 9 to specify an item on the report / worksheet screen, the CPU 8 executes a measurement-related algorithm set in advance in the measurement system 6 in association with each item. Then, the measurement process according to the item specified on the screen is started. As a result, the obtained measured value is displayed at a predefined display position on the report / worksheet screen by the processing of the CPU 8.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the measurement items are registered in advance as data defining the format of the report / worksheet, the name of the measurement value and the like are used for each measurement even in a general measurement. This eliminates the need to enter data, improving usability and making it easy to set and change data that defines formats for reports and worksheets. As a result, the operability is further improved compared to the conventional case.

In the above embodiment, the memory 7 and the input device 9 constitute the main parts of the data registration means and the first and second designation means, and the CPU 8 constitutes the main parts of the image display means and the execution means. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this configuration.

As other embodiments, various modifications can be made to the measured values on the report / worksheet screen described above. For example, a reference value (upper limit value, lower limit value) is set in advance for each measurement item, or if necessary, the same reference value is set for each of age, gender, and multi-stage, and the measured value is set to this reference value. If the value deviates from the measured value, character modification such as highlighting, an attribute, an abnormal mark (see FIG. 4), or the like may be displayed on the measured value. In this case, since the operator can easily recognize the screen simply by looking at the screen, it is expected that the diagnostic efficiency based on the measured values is also improved.

It is also possible to display the values of the calculation items on the report / worksheet screen. in this case,
Calculation items are defined in the report / worksheet. For example, an arithmetic expression is defined in the above-mentioned "Method" column (measurement items and other calculation items can be referred to), and each time a measurement value is newly updated. Alternatively, when an operation is instructed, the calculation item may be recalculated and the value may be displayed. In addition, by setting the above-described reference value, it is possible to display an attribute, an abnormal mark, and the like.

Further, it is also possible to edit the data of the measured value by key input or the like as required. in this case,
The display area of the measurement value on the report / worksheet screen may be designated by specifying a pointing device or a cursor, and the data may be edited by key input there.
In this case, it is desirable to prohibit key input for the above-mentioned calculation items.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show display examples of the measurement screen when such a data editing function is provided. FIG. 5 shows a case where the short axis length of a blood vessel is measured, and FIG. 6 shows left and right ICA / EC.
A case where measurement is performed using an image obtained by A-scan will be described.

In particular, in the example of the measurement screen shown in FIG. 6, the blood flow velocities of the internal carotid artery, the external carotid artery, the common carotid artery, and the vertebral artery in the respective systolic and diastolic phases are also shown.
It is configured to be able to measure the diastolic blood pressure and the flow rate ratio of ICA / CCA in the left and right arteries. For these, blood flow velocity measurement, blood pressure measurement, ICA / CCA Rat
Each measurement item for io is set.

For example, when the measurement item of the portion corresponding to the systole of the internal carotid artery is selected by the input device 9, a program for calculating the blood flow velocity set in the measurement item is started. The blood flow velocity is calculated by performing necessary operations such as the measurement position from the input device 9 in accordance with the program for obtaining the blood flow velocity in the systolic period of the internal carotid artery. Will be displayed. The report can be completed by performing this operation for each measurement item.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, data defining an output format such as a report / worksheet is registered so as to be easily changeable, and this output format is displayed simultaneously with the ultrasonic image. , The measurement is performed using the output format, so that even in the case of general measurement, the trouble of inputting the name of the measurement value for each measurement can be reduced, and even in the case of a formalized method, the measurement procedure is changed. Can be easily performed, and as a result, the operability of measurement is greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart showing processing relating to a report / worksheet definition.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a report / worksheet definition screen.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a measurement screen.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example when measuring a short axis length of a blood vessel and the like.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a display example at the time of measurement when images of left and right ICA / ECA scans are used.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic probe 2 Transmission / reception circuit 3 Image memory circuit 4 Display circuit 5 Control circuit 6 Measurement system 7 Memory (means for storing measurement items / measurement methods on a report / worksheet) 8 CPU (Execution and measurement of measurement) 9) Input device (means to specify reports / worksheets and items)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic image diagnosis for obtaining an ultrasonic image by scanning the inside of a subject with an ultrasonic beam, obtaining a measurement value of a diagnostic site based on the ultrasonic image, and outputting the result in accordance with an output format. In the apparatus, a plurality of types of the output formats can be registered, and a data registration unit configured to be able to set the measurement items as data defining the output format; and an output format registered in the data registration unit. First designation means for designating at least one, display means for displaying the output format designated by the first designation means on the same screen simultaneously with the ultrasonic image, display by the display means in accordance with the output format Second designation means for designating a measurement item from the set data, and when the measurement item is designated by the second designation means, the measurement item is associated with the measurement item. Ultrasound imaging apparatus characterized by comprising an execution means for executing the measurement by obtained measurement technique. 2. The data registration unit according to claim 1, wherein the data registration unit is configured to be able to register a plurality of the measurement items, and to register at least a setting item name and a measurement method in association with the measurement items. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that: 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a measurement value obtained by the measurement executed by said execution means at a preset display position in said output format. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that: 4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the means for displaying the measured value includes means for identifiably displaying whether or not the measured value is within a preset reference value range. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized in that: 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first
The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus is characterized in that the designation means comprises means for automatically selecting and specifying the type of the output format according to the diagnosis site. 6. The data registration unit according to claim 1, wherein the data registration unit associates data corresponding to a calculation item as data relating to the output format with the data corresponding to the type, the measurement item, and the measurement method. Calculation means for instructing calculation according to the calculation item,
Calculation execution means for executing the calculation instructed by the instruction means, recalculation means for recalculating the calculation item each time the measurement or the measured value is updated or when the calculation is instructed; and Means for displaying an item at a predetermined display position in the output format. 7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said calculation item display means is capable of discriminating whether a calculation value obtained by calculation of said calculation item is within a range of a preset reference value. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, further comprising means for displaying. 8. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for selecting and editing a measured value displayed on an output format by said measured value display means. 9. A method for obtaining an ultrasonic image by scanning the inside of a subject with an ultrasonic beam, obtaining a measurement value of a diagnostic site based on the ultrasonic image, and outputting the result in accordance with an output format, A plurality of output formats can be registered, the measurement items can be set as data defining the output format, and at least one of the output formats configured in this manner is specified. The output format is displayed on the same screen at the same time as the ultrasonic image, and a measurement item is specified from data displayed according to the output format, and a measurement method associated with the measurement item when the measurement item is specified A measurement method for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, comprising: 10. The measurement according to claim 9, wherein the measurement value obtained by executing the measurement is displayed at a predetermined display position in the output format. Method.