JPH01127952A - Ultrasonic video device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exactly and easily set a scanning range of a body to be inspected by photographing and displaying an optical image of the body to be inspected and setting a scanning start point and the scanning range based on an optical display image. CONSTITUTION:A body to be inspected S is taken out of a water tank B in a state that it is fixed onto a supporting base T and installed, and external appearance image is photographed by a TV camera 7, and a video signal is inputted to an image processing part 4, stored in a memory by performing a necessary image processing, and also, displayed 5 as an optical image. In this state, by utilizing the displayed optical image, information for designating a start point SP of a scan and a scanning range is inputted from an input terminal equipment 6. Simultaneously, a control signal from the terminal equipment 6 is transferred to a scanner 2, as well, and the scanning range corresponding to a display range of the optical image surrounded by a cursor line is set. Subsequently, the body to be inspected S is moved to a prescribed scanning position in the water tank B together with the supporting base T, and by operating the scanner 2 and executing a scan of the range which is set on the optical image already by an ultrasonic probe 1, an ultrasonic image can be obtained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging device that accurately scans an ultrasonic beam to a target part of a subject and visualizes internal defects. .

[Conventional technology] Conventionally, when scanning an object with an ultrasonic beam in non-destructive testing, etc., the ultrasonic beam cannot be seen directly with the naked eye, so the position and direction of the tip of the ultrasonic probe must be determined. The operator estimates the current position of the ultrasound beam by visual measurement, and determines the approximate scanning start point based on the positional relationship with the subject.
It is necessary to set the scanning range.

Although ultrasound imaging devices equipped with a means for observing an external image of a subject using a microscope optical system, a television camera, etc. are known, no examples have been found that are associated with a scanning function.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with conventional methods, it is difficult to accurately set a scanning range on a subject, especially when the subject is small and the ultrasound probe is a convergent type, and its focal length is limited. If the distance is short, the subject is hidden by the tip of the ultrasound probe, making it difficult to even estimate the current position of the ultrasound beam. In such a situation, it is difficult to selectively scan only a predetermined range of the target object, which may cause problems such as accidentally scanning adjacent objects or scanning an unnecessary area. This will significantly reduce efficiency.

[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to accurately and accurately scan the scanning range of the subject by photographing and displaying an optical image of the subject and setting the scanning start point and scanning range based on the optically displayed image. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic imaging device that can be easily set up.

[Summary of the invention] The gist of the present invention is to achieve the above objects.

A scanning ultrasound imaging device that emits an ultrasound beam toward a subject while scanning in two-dimensional directions, and generates an ultrasound image from the receiver No. 4. an imaging means for capturing an optical image of a subject set in a corresponding aerial position in a relationship; a display means for displaying the ultrasonic image and the optical image output from the imaging means;
The ultrasound imaging apparatus is characterized in that the display means includes a setting means for setting a scanning range of the ultrasound beam.

[Embodiments of the invention] The present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

In FIG. 1, the subject S is in a water tank B filled with deaerated water W.
It is placed on a support stand T inside. An ultrasonic probe 1 is installed above the degassed water W, and a scanner 2 detects
It is supported so that it can move in two directions. Also,
A pulser receiver 3 is connected to the probe 1, the pulser receiver 3 and the scanner 2 are connected to an image processing section 4, and the output of the image processing section 4 is connected to a display 5 such as a CRT monitor. Further, the output of the input terminal 6 is connected to the scanner 2 and the image processing section 4, and the image processing section 4 is connected to the aquarium B.
The output of a television camera 7 that images a predetermined position outside is connected. Note that 8 is an illumination light source for illuminating the imaging section of the television camera 7.

A subject S is scanned in a water tank B by an ultrasonic beam U emitted from an ultrasonic probe 1 .

Here, scanning is performed in a rectangular shape by defining a starting point SP and a range, that is, width in the X and Y directions, as shown in FIG. The current position of the probe 1 can be known from the outside by a position signal generated by the scanner 2. Generation of high-voltage electric pulses that drive the probe 1 and amplification of the received signal No. 4 from the subject S.
Processing is performed by the pulsar receiver 3, and the processed reception signal 4 is sent to the image processing unit 4 together with the position signal of the probe 2, where an ultrasound image is synthesized and displayed on the display 5 for observation. Can be done.

In order to take an optical image of the subject S, a television camera 7 and an illumination light source 8 are installed on the side of the water tank B. When the subject S is in the water tank B, it is difficult to obtain a good quality optical image due to reflection of the illumination light on the water surface and distortion of the image due to optical refraction phenomena in the water. 1 obstructs the field of view of the television camera 7, and to avoid this it is not a good idea to separately prepare a complicated optical system.

Therefore, as shown by the dotted line in the first fiU, the subject S is taken out from the water tank B while being fixed on the support T, and an optical image, that is, an external image is taken with the television camera 7, and this video signal is converted into an image. The image is input to the processing unit 4 and subjected to necessary image processing, then stored in the memory and displayed on the display 5 as an optical image.

Here, using the displayed optical image, information for specifying the scanning start point SP and scanning range is inputted from the input terminal device 6, which is comprised of, for example, a joystick or a key switch. Specifically, two sets of cursor lines, Xi, X2 and Yl, Y2, are displayed on the display 5 according to a control signal from the input terminal 6 as shown in FIG. The input terminal device 6 is operated so as to surround the external appearance image 0 corresponding to the entire area or the designated region with a cursor line. At the same time, the control signal from the input terminal device 6 is also transmitted to the scanner 2, and a scanning range corresponding to the display range of the optical image surrounded by the cursor line is set. At this time, the television camera 7 and the aquarium B are set in advance so that the positional coordinate system on the display surface of the optical image always corresponds to the positional coordinate system on the scanning plane in the aquarium B.
Of course, it is necessary to correctly set the mutual positional relationship between the subject S or support T or probe 1 outside and the subject S or support T in the water.

Next, the subject S and the support T are moved to a predetermined scanning position in the water tank B, and the scanner 2 is activated to scan the range previously set on the optical image with the ultrasound probe 1. and obtain ultrasound images as described above.

The optical image and the ultrasound image of the subject S may be displayed simultaneously in parallel on the display 5, may be displayed while being switched alternately, or may be displayed in a superimposed manner. In particular, During defect inspection, the inspection can be facilitated by displaying only the ultrasonic image on the display 5 or by lowering the brightness of the optical image. Also,
If necessary, the brightness of the ultrasound image can be lowered and the brightness of the optical image can be increased.

In this embodiment, two sets of cursor lines are used, but markers such as points or arrows indicating the start and end points of scanning may also be used. A pen, touch panel, etc. can also be used.

In the above embodiment, the range to be scanned by the ultrasound beam is set based on the optical external image 0 of the subject S, but in addition to this, the scanning range is set based on the internal structure image of the subject S. You can also set

In this case, the TV camera 7 shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with an ionizing radiation imaging device, such as an X-ray TV camera, and an Optical images can be obtained. Furthermore, by replacing the television camera 7 with an infrared television camera, the scanning range of the ultrasound beam can be set based on the temperature distribution optical image of the subject S.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the ultrasound imaging apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with a means for setting the starting point and scanning range of ultrasound beam scanning on the optical image display means, and conventionally an operator would not be able to visually or The scanning range of the ultrasonic beam, which was previously set based on guesswork, can be set accurately and quickly. In addition, if an X-ray television camera or an infrared television camera is used as an optical image capturing means,
A specific area related to the internal structure and temperature distribution of the subject can be scanned accurately using ultrasound, making it possible to perform multidimensional image analysis.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the ultrasound imaging apparatus according to the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a block diagram thereof, FIG. 2 being an explanatory diagram of scanning, and FIG. 3 being an explanatory diagram of range setting. Symbol l is an ultrasound probe, 2 is a scanner, 3 is a pulser receiver, 4 is an image processing unit, 5 is a display, 6 is an input terminal,
7 is a television camera, and 8 is an illumination light source. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A scanning ultrasound imaging device that emits an ultrasound beam toward a subject while scanning it in two-dimensional directions, and generates an ultrasound image from the received signals, which an imaging means for capturing an optical image of a subject set in an aerial position corresponding to a position of the subject in a medium in a predetermined relationship; and a display means for displaying the ultrasonic image and the optical image output from the imaging means. , and setting means for setting the scanning range of the ultrasound beam in the display means. 2. The ultrasound imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging means is a television camera. 3. The ultrasound imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging means utilizes ionizing radiation. 4. The ultrasound imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging means utilizes infrared rays. 5. The ultrasound imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the ultrasound image and the optical image simultaneously or alternatively. 6. The ultrasound imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the ultrasound image and the optical image with different brightnesses.