JP2011101729A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays an elastic image that accurately reflects elasticity of a living tissue in a more easy-to-view manner than conventional apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises: an elasticity data forming section that forms elasticity data by calculating physical quantities regarding elasticity at parts of a living tissue; a physical quantity averaging section that calculates, for each frame, an average of the physical quantities at a region where an elastic image of the living tissue is formed on the basis of the elastic data; a ratio calculating section that calculates a quality value Qn by calculating a ratio between a preset average value of the physical quantities and the calculated values of the physical quantity averaging section; and a display image forming section that displays an elastic image as a dynamic image comprising continuous frames, wherein the elastic image is formed on the basis of elasticity data ED1, ED3 and ED4 of the frame that satisfy a predetermined standard on the basis of the quality value Qn among elasticity data ED1, ED2, ED3 and ED4 stored in a memory. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an elastic image representing the hardness or softness of a living tissue.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that synthesizes and displays a normal B-mode image and an elastic image representing the hardness or softness of a living tissue. In this type of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the elasticity image is created as follows. First, ultrasonic waves are transmitted / received to a living tissue while repeating compression and relaxation to acquire echoes. Based on the obtained echo data, a physical quantity related to the elasticity of the living tissue is calculated, and the physical quantity is converted into hue information to create a color elasticity image. Incidentally, as a physical quantity related to the elasticity of the living tissue, for example, a displacement due to deformation of the living tissue (hereinafter simply referred to as “displacement”) is calculated.

  Explaining a little more about an example of the calculation method of the physical quantity, first, correlation windows having a predetermined number of data widths are respectively set in two echo data on the same sound ray that are temporally different, and correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows. To calculate the physical quantity. For example, in Patent Document 2, a correlation calculation between correlation windows is performed to calculate a waveform shift between both echoes, and the waveform shift is regarded as a displacement.

  By the way, for example, when the deformation of the living tissue is insufficient such as the degree of compression and relaxation, the calculated value of the correlation calculation may not appear as a difference according to the difference in elasticity of the living tissue. is there. In this case, the elasticity image does not accurately reflect the elasticity of the living tissue.

  On the other hand, when the degree of compression and relaxation is excessive, lateral displacement may occur in the living tissue. The echo data acquired in such a case includes noise due to lateral shift, and there is a possibility that the correlation coefficient in the correlation calculation becomes low. If the degree of compression and relaxation is excessive, the deformation of the living tissue is too large, and the correlation window set in the two echo data cannot be matched and the correlation coefficient may be lowered. Here, when the correlation coefficient in the correlation calculation becomes low, it becomes impossible to obtain a calculated value that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue. Therefore, the lower the correlation coefficient of the correlation calculation, the more difficult it is to obtain an elasticity image that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue.

  In addition, the echo signal intensity is insufficient in a region where there are few ultrasonic reflectors or in a deep part of a living tissue where transmitted ultrasonic waves are difficult to reach due to attenuation. Thus, the correlation coefficient of the correlation calculation for an echo with insufficient signal strength is low. In addition, when the direction of the compression and relaxation of the ultrasonic probe do not coincide with the direction of the sound ray of the ultrasonic wave, the above-described lateral shift occurs, and therefore, the phase of the correlation calculation for the echo data acquired in such a state The number of relationships is also low. Therefore, in these cases, it is not possible to obtain an elasticity image that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue.

  As described above, when there is a frame that cannot obtain an elastic image that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue, such a frame and a frame that is an elastic image that more accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue. Thus, even in the same portion, different hues are displayed and the elastic image flickers, which may make diagnosis difficult. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, it is determined whether or not to display the created elasticity image, and when it is determined that the elasticity image should not be displayed, the elasticity image is not displayed, so that the color in the elasticity image is displayed. The flicker is suppressed.

JP-A-2005-118152 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-126079

  However, if an elastic image is displayed or not displayed for each frame, the elastic image is displayed as an intermittent moving image, which may be difficult to view. As a result, there is a concern that the diagnosis may be hindered.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying an elasticity image reflecting the elasticity of a living tissue more accurately than in the past.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. The invention according to the first aspect provides a correlation window for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a living tissue. An elastic image data creation unit that creates a physical image data by calculating a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue by performing a correlation calculation between the correlation windows; and an elasticity of the biological tissue based on the elastic image data A physical quantity average unit that calculates an average of the physical quantities in a region where an image is created for each frame; a comparison unit that compares a calculated value for each frame by the physical quantity average unit with a preset average value of the physical quantities; Of the elastic image data stored in the storage unit and the elastic image data stored in the storage unit, a predetermined basis based on a comparison result by the comparison unit. An elastic image based on the elastic image data of a frame that satisfies an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising, a display image generation unit for displaying a moving picture made of continuous frames.

  According to the invention of the second aspect, in the invention of the first aspect, the physical quantity averaging unit calculates the average of the physical quantities obtained for the correlation window in which the correlation calculation of the correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the comparison unit calculates, as the comparison result, a ratio of a value calculated by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantity. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying a comparison result by the comparing unit.

  The invention of the fifth aspect sets a correlation window for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves to / from a living tissue, and performs a correlation operation between the correlation windows to thereby calculate the living tissue In the correlation calculation between the correlation windows for the elastic image data creation unit that creates the elasticity image data by calculating the physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part, and the region where the elasticity image of the living tissue is created based on the elasticity image data A correlation coefficient average unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients for each frame, a storage unit that stores the elastic image data, and the correlation coefficient average unit among the elastic image data stored in the storage unit. A display image that displays an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame that satisfies a predetermined criterion based on a calculation result as a moving image composed of continuous frames. A creation unit, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a notifying unit for notifying a calculation result by the correlation coefficient averaging unit.

  The invention according to the seventh aspect sets a correlation window for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a biological tissue, and performs a correlation calculation between the correlation windows to perform the biological tissue A correlation coefficient greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold for an elastic image data creation unit that creates elastic image data by calculating a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part and a region in which an elastic image of a living tissue is created based on the elastic image data A physical quantity average unit that calculates the average of the physical quantities obtained for the correlation window on which the correlation calculation is performed for each frame, and a ratio that calculates a ratio of a calculated value by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantities For the calculation unit and the region where the elasticity image is created, the average correlation coefficient in the correlation calculation between the correlation windows is calculated for each frame. A correlation coefficient average unit to be output; a multiplication unit that multiplies the calculated value of the ratio calculation unit and the calculated value of the correlation coefficient average unit; a storage unit that stores the elastic image data; and A display image creating unit that displays an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame that satisfies a predetermined criterion based on the multiplication result among the stored elastic image data, as a moving image composed of continuous frames. Is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the seventh aspect of the invention, the multiplication unit performs a weighting operation on the calculated value of the ratio calculating unit and the calculated value of the correlation coefficient averaging unit. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  A ninth aspect of the invention is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect of the invention, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying a multiplication result by the multiplying unit.

  The invention according to the tenth aspect sets a correlation window for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a living tissue, and performs a correlation operation between the correlation windows to perform the living tissue A correlation coefficient greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold for an elastic image data creation unit that creates elastic image data by calculating a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part and a region in which an elastic image of a living tissue is created based on the elastic image data A physical quantity average unit that calculates the average of the physical quantities obtained for the correlation window on which the correlation calculation is performed for each frame, and a ratio that calculates a ratio of a calculated value by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantities The average of the correlation coefficient in the correlation calculation between the correlation windows is calculated for each frame for the calculation unit and the region where the elasticity image is created. A correlation coefficient averaging unit to calculate, a multiplication unit that multiplies the calculation value of the ratio calculation unit and the calculation value of the correlation coefficient average unit, a storage unit that stores the elastic image data, and the ratio calculation unit Of the elastic image data stored in the storage unit, an operation unit for inputting an instruction to select one of the calculation result by the correlation coefficient average unit or the calculation result by the multiplication unit A display image creating unit that displays an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame that satisfies a predetermined criterion based on a calculation result selected in the operation unit, as a moving image composed of continuous frames. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  The invention according to the eleventh aspect is characterized in that a correlation unit is set for two echo data different in time on the same sound ray, and a storage unit for storing echo data obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a living tissue. An elastic image data creation unit that creates physical image data by calculating a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue by performing correlation calculation between the windows, and an area in which an elastic image of the biological tissue is created based on the elastic image data A physical quantity average unit that calculates the average of the physical quantities for each frame, a comparison unit that compares a value calculated by the physical quantity average unit with a preset average value of the physical quantity, and the echo stored in the storage unit Based on the elasticity image data created from the echo data of the frame satisfying a predetermined standard based on the comparison result by the comparison unit. The Ku elasticity image, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising, a display image generation unit for displaying a moving picture made of continuous frames.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, a storage unit that stores echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a living tissue, and a correlation window is set in the two echo data that are temporally different on the same sound ray, An elastic image data creation unit that creates physical image data by calculating a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue by performing correlation calculation between the correlation windows, and an elastic image of the biological tissue is created based on the elastic image data A correlation coefficient averaging unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients in the correlation calculation between the correlation windows for each frame, and among the echo data stored in the storage unit, Elastic images based on elastic image data created from echo data of frames that meet the predetermined criteria based on the calculation results A display image generating unit to be displayed as that moving image, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a.

  The invention according to the thirteenth aspect sets a correlation window for two echo data different in time on the same sound ray, and a storage unit for storing echo data obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a living tissue, An elastic image data creation unit that creates physical image data by calculating a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue by performing correlation calculation between the windows, and an area in which an elastic image of the biological tissue is created based on the elastic image data A physical quantity average unit that calculates an average of physical quantities obtained for each correlation window for which correlation calculation of a correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed, and the physical quantity average for a preset average value of the physical quantities A ratio calculation unit for calculating a ratio of calculated values by the unit, and a correlation operation between the correlation windows for the region in which the elastic image is created. A correlation coefficient averaging unit that calculates the average of the correlation coefficients for each frame, a multiplication unit that multiplies the calculated value of the ratio calculation unit and the calculated value of the correlation coefficient average unit, and stores in the storage unit A display image creation unit that displays an elastic image based on elastic image data created from echo data of a frame that satisfies a predetermined criterion based on the multiplication result among the echo data, An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

  The invention according to the fourteenth aspect sets a correlation window to a storage unit for storing echo data obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a living tissue, and two echo data different in time on the same sound ray, and the correlation window An elastic image data creating unit that creates elastic image data by calculating a physical quantity relating to elasticity of each part in the biological tissue by performing correlation calculation between the region, and an area in which an elastic image of the biological tissue is created based on the elastic image data A physical quantity averaging unit that calculates an average of physical quantities obtained for each correlation window for which correlation calculation of a correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed, and the physical quantity averaging unit for a preset average value of the physical quantities The ratio calculation unit for calculating the ratio of the calculated values by the method and the correlation calculation between the correlation windows for the region where the elastic image is created A correlation coefficient averaging unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients for each frame, a multiplication unit that multiplies a calculation value of the ratio calculation unit and a calculation value of the correlation coefficient average unit, and the ratio calculation unit. Among the echo data stored in the storage unit, the operation unit for performing an instruction input for selecting either the calculation result, the calculation result by the correlation coefficient averaging unit or the multiplication result by the multiplication unit, A display image creation unit that displays an elasticity image based on elasticity image data created from echo data of a frame that satisfies a predetermined criterion based on a calculation result selected in the operation unit as a moving image composed of continuous frames. This is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  A fifteenth aspect of the invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, wherein the elastic image data is data of the physical quantity.

  The invention according to a sixteenth aspect is the image data according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, wherein the elastic image data is created based on the physical quantity data and has hue information corresponding to the physical quantity. There is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  According to the present invention, among the elastic image data stored in the storage unit, an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame satisfying a predetermined criterion based on a comparison result by the comparison unit is a moving image formed of continuous frames. The image is displayed without interruption. Therefore, it is possible to display an elasticity image reflecting the elasticity of the living tissue more accurately than in the past.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of creation of elasticity data. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display control part in the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the evaluation part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the display of the display part in the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating calculation of the physical quantity at the time of creating elasticity image data. It is a figure which shows the graph of the function used in a ratio calculation part. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display of a display part, and explaining that a quality display is displayed so that it may flow from left to right with progress of time. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display of a display part, and explaining that a quality display is displayed so that it may flow from left to right with progress of time. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display of a display part, and explaining that a quality display is displayed so that it may flow from left to right with progress of time. It is a figure explaining reading of B mode data and elasticity data memorized by memory in memory reproduction mode. It is explanatory drawing which produces | generates image data by synthesize | combining the B mode image data and color elasticity image data which were produced based on the B mode data and elasticity data which were read from memory. It is a figure which shows an example of the display of a display part, and shows the other example of a quality display. It is a block diagram which shows the composition of the evaluation part in 2nd embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the composition of the evaluation part in 3rd embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of 6th embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display control part in the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a quality display. It is a figure which shows the display part on which the other example of the quality display was displayed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission / reception unit 3, a B-mode data creation unit 4, an elasticity data creation unit 5, a display control unit 6, a display unit 7, a control unit 8, and an operation unit 9. Prepare.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits an ultrasonic wave to a living tissue and receives an echo thereof. Based on echo data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves while repeating compression and relaxation while the ultrasonic probe 2 is in contact with the surface of the living tissue, an elastic image is created as described later.

  The transmission / reception unit 3 drives the ultrasonic probe 2 under a predetermined scanning condition to perform ultrasonic scanning for each sound ray. The transmission / reception unit 3 performs signal processing such as phasing addition processing on the echo received by the ultrasonic probe 2. The echo data signal-processed by the transmission / reception unit 3 is output to the B-mode data creation unit 4 and the elasticity data creation unit 5.

  Incidentally, the transmission / reception unit 3 separately performs a B-mode image scan for creating a B-mode image and an elastic image scan for creating an elastic image. As elastic image scanning, scanning is performed twice on the same sound ray in a region (elastic image creation region) where an elastic image is created in the subject.

  The B-mode data creation unit 4 performs B-mode processing such as logarithmic compression processing and envelope detection processing on the echo data output from the transmission / reception unit 3 to create B-mode data.

  Based on the echo data output from the transmission / reception unit 3, the elasticity data creation unit 5 creates elasticity data including physical quantity data relating to the elasticity of each part in the living tissue. More specifically, the elasticity data creation unit 5 uses, as a physical quantity relating to the elasticity of each part in the living tissue, displacement due to deformation of each part in the living tissue caused by the compression and relaxation of the ultrasonic probe 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “displacement”). Is calculated). The elasticity data creation unit 5 calculates displacement based on two echo data on the same sound ray belonging to two frames (i) and (ii) that are temporally different as shown in FIG. More specifically, the elastic data creation unit 5 sets correlation windows W1 and W2 in the echo data as will be described later (see FIG. 6), and performs a correlation operation between the correlation windows W1 and W2 to change the displacement. calculate. Displacement data for one pixel is obtained from the pair of correlation windows W1 and W2, and by generating this displacement data for one frame, elasticity data composed of displacement data for each part in the living tissue is obtained for one frame. can get.

  The elasticity data is data used to create an elasticity image, and is an example of an embodiment of elasticity image data in the present invention. Incidentally, the elastic image data in the present invention refers to data used to create an elastic image. The elasticity data creation unit 5 is an example of an embodiment of the elasticity image data creation unit in the present invention.

  The display control unit 6 is input with B-mode data from the B-mode data creation unit 4 and elasticity data from the elasticity data creation unit 5. The display control unit 6 includes an evaluation unit 61, a memory 62, and a display image creation unit 63 as shown in FIG.

First, the evaluation unit 61 will be described. The evaluation unit 61 includes a physical quantity average unit 611 and a ratio calculation unit 612 as shown in FIG. When the elasticity data is input, the physical quantity averaging unit 611 calculates the average displacement calculated for each pixel for each frame. An average value _{Xr AV} calculated value of the physical quantity average unit 611. The physical quantity average unit 611 calculates an average value Xr _AV for each frame for elastic image creation area (region of interest R, below). The physical quantity average unit 611 is an example of an embodiment of a physical quantity average unit in the present invention.

The ratio calculation unit 612 calculates the ratio Ra of the average value Xr _{AV to} the average ideal value Xi _AV of displacement, and further calculates the quality value Qn by performing an operation of (Equation 1) as described later. This quality value Qn indicates how much more accurately the elasticity image EG in the ultrasound image G described later represents the elasticity of the living tissue. The ratio calculation unit 612 is an example of an embodiment of a comparison unit and a ratio calculation unit in the present invention. The ideal value Xi _AV is an example of an embodiment of an average value of preset physical quantities in the present invention.

Here, the ideal value Xi _AV is a strength capable of obtaining an elastic image more accurately reflecting the elasticity of the living tissue, and the ultrasonic probe 2 compresses and relaxes the ultrasound when transmitting and receiving the ultrasound. Is an average value of displacements obtained in an arbitrarily set region. This ideal value Xi _AV is an experimentally obtained value obtained by conducting an experiment on a phantom composed of a part having the same hardness as a tumor or a part having the same hardness as a normal tissue. The ideal value Xi _AV may be set by the operator on the operation unit 9 or may be stored in the apparatus as a default.

  The memory 62 stores the B-mode data for each sound ray and the elasticity data for each sound ray. The memory 62 stores a quality value Qn for each frame. The quality value Qn is stored in association with the elasticity data so that it can be seen which elasticity data of which frame it is. The memory 62 is an example of an embodiment of a storage unit in the present invention.

  Here, the echo data obtained by the ultrasonic probe 2 and before being converted into B-mode image data and color elasticity image data described later are referred to as raw data. The B-mode data and elasticity data stored in the memory 62 are raw data.

  The display image creating unit 63 converts the B-mode data into B-mode image data having luminance information corresponding to the signal intensity of echo, and color elastic image data having hue information corresponding to displacement. Convert to The luminance information and hue information are composed of predetermined gradations (for example, 256 gradations). Then, the display image creation unit 63 combines the B-mode image data and the color elastic image data by addition processing to create image data of an ultrasonic image to be displayed on the display unit 7. This image data is displayed on the display unit 7 as an ultrasonic image G in which a monochrome B-mode image BG and a color elastic image EG are combined as shown in FIG. In this example, the elastic image EG is displayed in the region of interest R in a translucent manner (with the background B-mode image transparent). The region of interest R is the elastic image creation region, and is an example of an embodiment of a region in which an elastic image of a living tissue is created in the present invention.

  Further, the display image creating unit 63 creates a quality display QG displayed on the display unit 7 together with the ultrasonic image G, as shown in FIG. In this example, the quality display QG includes a graph gr in which the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the quality value Qn. The creation of the quality display QG will be described in detail later. The quality display QG is displayed on the display unit 7. The said display part 7 is an example of embodiment of the alerting | reporting part in this invention.

  Further, as will be described later, when the display image creation unit 63 displays the ultrasonic image G in the memory reproduction mode instead of the real-time mode, the quality value Qn of the elasticity data stored in the memory 62 is a predetermined value. Only the elasticity data of the frame that is equal to or greater than the threshold value is read out to generate image data, and the ultrasonic image G is displayed. Details will be described later. The display image creation unit 63 is an example of an embodiment of a display image creation unit in the present invention.

  The control unit 8 is constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), reads a control program stored in a storage unit (not shown), and executes functions in each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1. The operation unit 9 includes a keyboard and a pointing device (not shown) for the operator to input instructions and information.

  Now, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this example will be described. When imaging in real time in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 (real time mode), the transmitting / receiving unit 3 first transmits ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe 2 to the living tissue of the subject and acquires the echo data thereof. To do. At this time, the ultrasonic probe 2 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves while repeatedly pressing and relaxing the subject.

  The B-mode data creation unit 4 creates B-mode data based on the echo data. The elasticity data creation unit 5 creates elasticity data based on the echo data. The B-mode data and the elasticity data are stored in the memory 62, and converted into B-mode image data and color elasticity image data by the display image creation unit 63. Then, the B-mode image data and the color elastic image data are synthesized, and the ultrasonic image G obtained by synthesizing the B-mode image BG and the elastic image EG as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

  The display unit 7 displays a quality display QG created by the display image creation unit 63 below the ultrasonic image G.

  The creation of elasticity data in the elasticity data creation unit 5, the calculation of the quality value Qn and the creation of the quality display QG in the display image creation unit 63 will be described in detail. In creating the elasticity data, the elasticity data creation unit 5 sets a correlation window for each echo data belonging to the frames (i) and (ii). Specifically, the elasticity data creation unit 5 sets a correlation window W1 for echo data belonging to the frame (i) and sets a correlation window W2 for echo data belonging to the frame (ii) as shown in FIG. . The elasticity data creation unit 5 calculates a displacement by performing a correlation operation between the correlation windows W1 and W2.

  More specifically, in FIG. 6, the frames (i) and (ii) are made of echo data acquired on a plurality of sound rays. In FIG. 6, five sound lines L1a, L1b, L1c, L1d, and L1e are shown as a part of the plurality of sound lines in the frame (i), and the sound lines L1a to L1e in the frame (ii) are shown. As sound lines corresponding to L1e, sound lines L2a, L2b, L2c, L2d, and L2e are shown. That is, the sound ray L1a and the sound ray L2a, the sound ray L1b and the sound ray L2b, the sound ray L1c and the sound ray L2c, the sound ray L1d and the sound ray L2d, the sound ray L1e and the sound ray. L2e corresponds to the same sound ray belonging to two different frames. In FIG. 6, R (i) and R (ii) indicate regions corresponding to the region of interest R.

  For example, it is assumed that a correlation window W1c is set as the correlation window W1 in the echo data on the sound ray L1c, and a correlation window W2c is set as the correlation window W2 in the echo data on the sound ray L2c. The elasticity data creation unit 5 performs a correlation calculation between the correlation windows W1c and W2c and calculates a displacement. The elasticity data creation unit 5 sequentially sets correlation windows W1c and W2c from the upper end 100 to the lower end 101 of the regions R (i) and R (ii) on the sound rays L1c and L2c, and calculates the displacement. Further, the elasticity data creation unit 5 calculates the displacement in the same manner for the other sound rays in the regions R (i) and R (ii). Thereby, elasticity data for one frame consisting of displacement data is obtained.

Next, calculation of the quality value Qn and creation of the quality display GR will be described. In creating the quality display GR, when the elasticity data is input to the display control unit 6, first, the physical quantity average unit 611 performs displacement in the region of interest R (the regions R (i) and R (ii)). It calculates an average value _{Xr AV.} Incidentally, the displacement from the sometimes becomes negative, the average value Xr _AV is also that there shall be negative. Next, the ratio calculation unit 612 calculates Xr _AV / Xi _AV to calculate the ratio Ra. Further, the ratio calculation unit 612 substitutes the ratio Ra into the following (Equation 1) to obtain a numerical value Y.
Y = 1.0− | log ₁₀ | Ra || (Expression 1)
Here, Y is an example of the quality value Qn, and is an example of an embodiment of the comparison result by the comparison unit and the calculated value of the comparison unit in the present invention.

Incidentally, the equation (1) is intended for the ratio Ra in the range from 0 to 1, Y obtained by the equation (1), the ratio of the average value _{Xr AV} for the ideal value _{Xi AV} Is equivalent to When the function represented by (Equation 1) is represented by a graph, the graph shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. As shown in FIG. 7, 0 ≦ Y ≦ 1.

  Further, it is assumed that 0.1 ≦ | Ra | ≦ 10, and when | Ra | exceeds this range, Y is set to zero.

  The calculated value Y of the ratio calculation unit 612 is stored in the memory 62 and input to the display image creation unit 63. Here, the calculated value Y is calculated for each frame. The display image creation unit 63 plots the calculated value Y for each frame as a quality value Qn, and creates a quality display QG composed of a graph gr with the horizontal axis representing time and the vertical axis representing the quality value Qn. At this time, the display image creation unit 63 may calculate an average of the quality value Qn for a plurality of frames and plot the average value. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a stable graph gr with no variation in numerical values.

  Since 0 ≦ Y ≦ 1, 0 ≦ Qn ≦ 1. The closer the quality value Qn is to 1, the better the quality of the elastic image EG is. On the other hand, the closer the quality value Qn is to 0, the worse the quality of the elastic image EG is. Here, the quality of the elastic image EG means that the elasticity image reflects the elasticity of the living tissue more accurately, while the quality of the elasticity image is poor means that the elasticity of the living tissue is low. This means that the elastic image is not accurately reflected.

To describe in more detail the relationship between the quality of the quality value Qn and the elastic image EG, as can be seen from the graph of FIG. 7, the case where the average value Xr _AV is equal to the ideal value Xi _AV (i.e., | Ra | 1 ), Y, that is, the quality value Qn is 1. Therefore, if the quality value Qn is 1 or a value close to 1, the degree of compression and relaxation of the living tissue by the ultrasonic probe 2 is appropriate, and an elasticity image EG that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue is obtained. It has been obtained.

On the other hand, the higher the average value _{Xr AV} becomes a value away from the said ideal value _{Xi AV} (i.e., | Ra | more becomes a value far from 1), quality value Qn approaches zero. Here, the fact that the average value Xr _AV is a value that is separated from the ideal value Xi _AV means that the degree to which the ultrasonic probe 2 compresses or relaxes the living tissue is insufficient or excessive. To do. Therefore, as the quality value Qn approaches zero, the degree of compression or relaxation on the living tissue is insufficient or excessive, and as a result, an elastic image EG that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue is not obtained. Become.

  Incidentally, when the real-time ultrasonic image G is displayed, the elastic image EG may not be displayed for the frame having the low quality value Qn.

  The quality display QG created by the display image creation unit 63 is combined with the ultrasonic image G. Accordingly, the quality display QG is displayed on the display unit 7 below the ultrasonic image G.

  The quality display QG will be described in more detail. When the ultrasound image G is displayed as a moving image, the display image creation unit 63 plots the quality value Qn in the currently displayed ultrasound image G for each frame. By doing so, the graph gr is created. Therefore, the display unit 7 displays the graph gr so as to flow from left to right as time passes, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. In this case, the left end of the graph gr represents the quality value of the currently displayed frame.

  Next, a case where the ultrasonic image G created based on the B-mode data and the elasticity data stored in the memory 62 is displayed after completion of real-time imaging (memory reproduction mode) will be described. The display image creation unit 63 reads out the B mode data and elasticity data stored in the memory 62, converts them into B mode image data and color elasticity image data, and synthesizes them to create image data.

  However, the display image creation unit 63 does not read out elasticity data that does not satisfy a predetermined standard and B-mode data paired with this elasticity data. More specifically, the display image creation unit 63 reads only elasticity data of a frame whose quality value Qn is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold from the elasticity data stored in the memory 62 and is paired with this elasticity data. B mode data is read from the memory 62. Here, the threshold value is set to a value that provides an elasticity image that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue with a desired degree. For example, the threshold value may be input and set in the operation unit 9.

  Reading from the memory 62 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows elastic data ED1, ED2, ED3, ED4 and B-mode data BD1, BD2, BD3, BD4 in units of frames. Incidentally, the time phase of the elastic data ED1 and the B mode data BD1 is the oldest, and the time phase of the elastic data ED4 and the B mode data BD4 is the newest.

  For example, the quality value Qn of the elasticity data ED1 is 0.8, the quality value Qn of the elasticity data ED2 is 0.7, the quality value Qn of the elasticity data ED3 is 0.8, and the quality value Qn of the elasticity data ED4 is 0.9. Suppose there was. When the threshold value is 0.8, the display image creation unit 63 reads the elastic data ED1, ED3, ED4 and does not read the elastic image data ED2.

  Here, the B-mode data BD1 shown in FIG. 11 is converted into the B-mode image data having luminance information according to the signal intensity of the echo, and then the color elastic image data obtained based on the elastic data ED1. Data to be synthesized. That is, the B-mode data BD1 is data that is paired with the elasticity data ED1. Similarly, the B mode data BD2 is data paired with the elasticity data ED2, and the B mode data BD3 is data paired with the elasticity data ED3. The B-mode data BD4 is data paired with the elasticity data ED4.

  The display image creation unit 63 reads out the elastic data ED1, ED3, ED4 and also reads out the B mode data BD1, BD3, BD4 paired therewith. On the other hand, the display image creation unit 63 does not read the B-mode data BD2 paired with the elastic image data BD2. The display image creation unit 63 converts the B mode data BD1, BD3, BD4 into B mode image data BGD1, BGD3, BGD4. The display image creation unit 63 converts the elastic data ED1, ED3, ED4 into color elastic image data EGD1, EGD3, EGD4.

  When the B-mode image data BGD1, BGD3, BGD4 and the color elastic image data EGD1, EGD3, EGD4 are obtained in this way, the display image creation unit 63, as shown in FIG. The BGD1 and the color elastic image data EGD1 are combined to create image data GD1, the B mode image data BGD3 and the color elastic image data EGD3 are combined to generate image data GD2, and the B mode image data Image data GD3 is created by combining BGD4 and the color elastic image data EGD4. As a result, the ultrasonic image G1 based on the image data GD1, the ultrasonic image G2 based on the image data GD2, and the ultrasonic image G3 based on the image data GD3 are displayed on the display unit 7 as moving images composed of continuous frames. Is done.

  In the memory reproduction mode, the quality display QG is displayed as in the real time mode. In this case, as the quality display QG, only the quality value Qn of the displayed frame is displayed, and a quality value Qn equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold is displayed.

  When the quality display QG is displayed in the memory playback mode, the quality display QG may be displayed in the same manner as in the real time mode, but a graph gr from the beginning to the end of playback may be generated and displayed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, in addition to the graph gr, the quality display QG includes a vertical line segment b indicating which time frame the currently displayed ultrasound image G belongs to. May be included. This line segment b moves from left to right as time passes (in the direction of the arrow in the figure).

  Incidentally, the length of the line segment b is a length between the minimum value and the maximum value of the quality value Qn calculated for each frame by the ratio calculation unit 612.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of the present example, when displaying the ultrasonic image G created based on the B-mode data and the elasticity data stored in the memory 62, a predetermined criterion is satisfied, The ultrasonic image G including the elastic image EG created from the elasticity data of the frame that more accurately reflects the elasticity of the tissue is displayed on the display unit 7 without interruption as a moving image consisting of continuous frames. Therefore, it is possible to display the elasticity image EG reflecting the elasticity of the living tissue more accurately than in the past.

Moreover, the the average value the quality values quality display QG consisting graph gr representing the time variation of Qn calculated based on Xr ratio of _AV Ra is displayed with respect to the ideal value Xi _AV, the operator, the greater It is possible to easily determine whether the pressure on the living tissue by the acoustic probe 2 and the degree of relaxation thereof are insufficient or excessive. Accordingly, it is possible to evaluate whether the elasticity image accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue from a wider viewpoint than before.

  The operator may freeze the ultrasonic image G at a place where the quality value Qn is high by looking at the graph gr, and output the ultrasonic image G by printing or the like. Thereby, an ultrasonic image that more accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue can be output by printing or the like. Further, in the real-time mode, the operator can adjust the degree of compression and relaxation of the ultrasound probe 2 against the living tissue by looking at the graph gr.

Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described. In this modification, the physical quantity averaging unit 611 selects a correlation window in which a correlation calculation having a correlation coefficient C (0 ≦ C ≦ 1) equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold _CTH is performed, and calculates an average of the displacement. The average value Xr _AV ′ is obtained. The ratio calculation unit 612 calculates the ratio Ra using the average value Xr _AV ′, and calculates Y using (Equation 1) to obtain the quality value Qn. Therefore, the calculated value Y calculated in this way is stored in the memory 62. Further, the display image creation unit 63 creates the quality display QG using the calculated value Y, and reads the elasticity data using the calculated value Y in the memory reproduction mode.

The average value Xr _AV ′ is an average value obtained by removing the displacement of a portion having a low correlation coefficient, such as a portion where the echo signal intensity is insufficient or a portion where the lateral displacement of the living tissue occurs. Therefore, the quality value Qn obtained from the average value Xr _AV ′ indicates whether or not the compression and relaxation by the ultrasonic probe 2 are performed with an appropriate strength. As described above, in the memory reproduction mode, by reading the elasticity data of the frame having the quality value Qn equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold, the compression and relaxation by the ultrasonic probe 2 are performed with appropriate strength. The elasticity data created based on the echo data acquired in the state can be read out. Thereby, the ultrasonic image G including the elastic image EG that reflects the elasticity of the living tissue more accurately can be displayed.

  Further, the operator can more accurately grasp whether or not the compression by the ultrasonic probe 2 and its relaxation are performed with an appropriate strength from the quality display QG. For example, when the quality value Qn is far from 1, it can be understood that the compression and relaxation by the ultrasonic probe 2 are not performed with an appropriate strength. On the other hand, if the quality value Qn is 1 or a value close to 1, the operator can grasp that the compression by the ultrasonic probe 2 is performed with an appropriate strength.

Also, if at all if the correlation coefficient was calculated for the average value Xr _AV including a displacement obtained by the low correlation calculation, the degree of compression and its relaxation to a living body tissue by the ultrasonic probe 2 is properly be, for example, when the signal intensity of the echo is low, the average value Xr _AV is reduced, the quality value Qn moves away from 1. Therefore, this modification as in, by performing the calculation of the average value Xr _AV except the displacement of low correlation coefficient portion, the degree of compression and its relaxation to a living body tissue by the ultrasonic probe 2 is properly If so, the quality value Qn is always close to 1. From the above, it is possible to display the quality display QG more accurately reflecting whether the pressure on the living tissue and the degree of relaxation thereof are appropriate.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described based on FIG. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the structure same as 1st embodiment.

  In this example, the evaluation unit 61 does not include the physical quantity average unit 611 and the ratio calculation unit 612, but includes a correlation coefficient average unit 613 instead. This correlation coefficient average unit 613 is an example of an embodiment of a correlation coefficient average unit in the present invention.

The operation of this example will be described. In this example, the calculation method of the quality value Qn is different from that of the first embodiment. More specifically, the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 performs the correlation coefficient C in the region of interest R (region R (i), R (ii)) in each correlation calculation performed by the elasticity data creation unit 5. It calculates an average value _{C AV} for each frame. In this example, the average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient C and the quality value Qn. Accordingly, the said average value C _AV is stored in the memory 62, also in the memory play mode, the display image creation unit 63 performs the reading of the elastic data using the average value C _AV. Specifically, the display image creation unit 63, the average value C _AV reads elasticity data of the frame is above a predetermined threshold value. Here, the threshold value is set to a value that provides an elasticity image that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue with a desired degree.

  Here, since 0 ≦ C ≦ 1, also in this example, 0 ≦ Qn ≦ 1. As the correlation coefficient in the correlation calculation is closer to 1, a displacement that more accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue can be obtained. On the other hand, as the correlation coefficient is closer to zero, a displacement that more accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue can be obtained. Disappear. Therefore, also in this example, the quality of the elastic image EG becomes better as Qn approaches 1, while the quality of the elastic image EG becomes worse as Qn approaches zero.

Incidentally, the In the creation of quality display QG, the display image creation unit 63 plots the average value C _AV as the quality value Qn, to create a quality display QG comprising the graph gr. At this time, similarly to the first embodiment, the display image creation unit 63 may calculate an average of the quality value Qn for a plurality of frames and plot the average value.

According to this example, in the memory reproduction mode, for example, when the echo data is acquired, the pressure on the living tissue and its relaxation are excessive, or the signal value of the echo is insufficient. C _AV low, elastic image EG created based on the elastic data not elastic accurately reflect the living tissue does not appear, whereas in the average value C _AV is a living body tissue is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value The ultrasonic image G including the elastic image EG that reflects the elasticity more accurately can be displayed without interruption as a moving image composed of continuous frames.

Also, for so quality indication QG is displayed consisting graph gr representing the time variation of the average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient C Quality value Qn, the operator, the elastic image being displayed, such as a biological tissue Image of elastic image data created based on displacement obtained by correlation calculation with low correlation coefficient due to excessive compression and relaxation or insufficient echo signal intensity It is possible to grasp whether or not. Thereby, it is possible to evaluate whether the image accurately reflects the elastic image of the living tissue from a viewpoint different from the conventional one.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described based on FIG. In addition, about the structure same as 1st, 2nd embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this example, the evaluation unit 61 includes the physical quantity average unit 611, the ratio calculation unit 612, the correlation coefficient average unit 613, and further includes a multiplication unit 614. The multiplication unit 614 is an example of an embodiment of a multiplication unit in the present invention.

The calculation of the quality value Qn in this example will be described. Similar to the modification of the first embodiment, the physical quantity averaging unit 611 selects a correlation window in which a correlation calculation having a correlation coefficient C equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold C _TH is performed, and an average value Xr _{AV of the} displacement is selected. ', And the ratio calculation unit 612 calculates the ratio Ra using the average value Xr _AV ', and calculates Y from the (Equation 1). Further, similarly to the second embodiment, the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 calculates an average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient C.

Then, the multiplication section 614 multiplies the calculated value Y obtained by the ratio calculator 612, the average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient C obtained by the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613, the multiplication value M Is calculated. This multiplication value M is calculated for each frame. In this example, the multiplication value M is set as the quality value Qn. Accordingly, the multiplication value M is stored in the memory 62, and the display image creation unit 63 reads the elasticity data using the multiplication value M in the memory reproduction mode. Specifically, the display image creation unit 63 reads out elasticity data of a frame in which the multiplication value M is a predetermined threshold value or more. Here, the threshold value is set to a value that provides an elasticity image that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue with a desired degree.

Here, since 0 ≦ Y ≦ 1 and 0 ≦ C _AV ≦ 1, 0 ≦ M ≦ 1. Therefore, also in this example, 0 ≦ Qn ≦ 1. The multiplication value M are the average multiplication value between C _AV of the correlation coefficient C and the calculated value Y, multiplication value M, i.e. the higher the elastic image EG quality value Qn approaches 1 quality is good On the other hand, the quality of the elastic image EG deteriorates as Qn approaches zero.

Here, the multiplication unit 614, when multiplied by the average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient C and the calculated value Y, may be multiplied by weighting.

  Incidentally, in creating the quality display QG, the display image creating unit 63 plots the multiplication value M as the quality value Qn to create the quality display QG. At this time, similarly to the first and second embodiments, the display image creating unit 63 may calculate an average of a plurality of frames of the quality value Qn and plot the average value.

  Also in this example, the graph gr composing the quality display QG may be displayed so as to flow from left to right as time passes, as in the first and second embodiments. The quality display QG may include a vertical line segment b in addition to the graph gr.

Here, as in the modification of the first embodiment, the quality value Qn calculated from the average value Xr _AV ′ of the displacement obtained by the correlation calculation of the correlation coefficient C equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold C _{TH is} displayed as the quality display. When displayed as QG, the correlation coefficient is not reflected at all as an element for evaluating the quality of the elastic image. On the other hand, as in the second embodiment, when displaying the average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient C as the quality display QG, wherein the degree of compression and its relaxation to a living body tissue by the ultrasonic probe 2 is not enough However, since the correlation coefficient C is high, a good value may be displayed as the quality value Qn. Therefore, in this example, the calculated value Y obtained by using the ratio Ra calculated using the average value Xr _AV ′ is multiplied by the average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient C, thereby obtaining the living tissue. The quality value Qn can be calculated in consideration of the elements of the compression and the degree of relaxation and the element of the correlation coefficient, and the quality display QG comprising the quality value Qn can be displayed. Thereby, it can be evaluated from a broader viewpoint than before whether or not the elasticity image accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue.

  In the memory reproduction mode, since the elasticity data is read using the multiplication value M, an ultrasonic image G including an elasticity image EG created from the elasticity data of the frame more accurately reflecting the elasticity of the living tissue is obtained. It is displayed without interruption as a moving image composed of continuous frames.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this example, the ratio calculator calculates values obtained at 612 Y, calculating all the multiplication value M obtained by the average value C _AV and the multiplication section 614 of the correlation coefficient C obtained by the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 One of the calculated value Y, the average value _CAV, and the multiplication value M is selected and calculated to obtain a quality value Qn. Then, the display image creation unit 63 creates a quality display QG composed of the selected quality value Qn. Which of the calculated value Y, the average value C _AV , and the multiplication value M is selected as the quality value Qn is input by the operator through the operation unit 9. It may be possible to change the quality value Qn once selected.

According to this example, as in each of the embodiments described above, the elasticity image EG that reflects the elasticity of the living tissue can be displayed more easily than in the past, and the calculated value obtained by the ratio calculation unit 612 can be displayed. Quality display QG created using Y, the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 with the obtained average value C _AV quality display QG created using the correlation coefficients, the multiplication value M obtained by the multiplying unit 614 Since the quality display QG created using the display can be switched and displayed, it can be evaluated from a wider viewpoint than before whether or not the elasticity image accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 16 and 17. In addition, about the structure same as 1st-4th embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 of this example includes a memory 21 that stores echo data signal-processed by the transmission / reception unit 3. The memory 21 is an example of an embodiment of a storage unit in the present invention.

  The memory 21 stores echo data obtained by B-mode image scanning and echo data obtained by elastic image scanning. In this example, the echo data obtained by the B-mode image scan is the first echo data, and the echo data obtained by the elastic image scan is the second echo data.

  The display control unit 6 includes the evaluation unit 61 and the display image creation unit 63 as shown in FIG. In this example, the said evaluation part 61 has the said physical quantity average part 611 and the said ratio calculation part 612 similarly to 1st embodiment (refer FIG. 4).

  The operation of this example will be described. In the memory reproduction mode, the first echo data and the second echo data are read from the memory 21. The first echo data is input to the B-mode data creation unit 4, and the second echo data is input to the elasticity data creation unit 5. The B-mode data creation unit 4 performs B-mode processing on the first echo data to create B-mode data. The elasticity data creation unit 5 creates elasticity data based on the second echo data.

  The B-mode data and the elasticity data are input to the display control unit 6. Then, the physical quantity average unit 611 of the evaluation unit 61 calculates the average value of displacement, and the ratio calculation unit 612 calculates the ratio Ra, and then calculates the numerical value Y to obtain the quality value Qn.

  Here, in this example, the quality value Qn is not stored in the memory 21, and the quality value Qn is calculated even in the memory reproduction mode as described above.

  The display image creation unit 63 converts only the elasticity data of the frame whose quality value Qn is a predetermined threshold value or more into color elasticity image data, and the B-mode image obtained from the color elasticity image data and the B-mode data. Image data is created by combining the data, and an ultrasonic image G based on the image data is displayed. Thereby, the ultrasonic image G including the elastic image EG created from the elastic image data of the frame that satisfies the predetermined standard and more accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue is not interrupted as a moving image consisting of continuous frames. It is displayed on the display unit 7. Therefore, it is possible to display the elasticity image EG reflecting the elasticity of the living tissue more accurately than in the past.

  Incidentally, in the real-time mode, the ultrasonic image G and the quality display QG are created and displayed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Also, the quality display QG is created and displayed in the memory reproduction mode in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Next, a modification of the fifth embodiment will be described. First, the first modification will be described. In the first modification, as in the modification of the first embodiment, the physical quantity averaging unit 611 performs a correlation calculation in which the correlation coefficient C (0 ≦ C ≦ 1) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold _CTH. The quality value Qn may be obtained by calculating Y using the average value Xr _AV ′ obtained by selecting the correlation window and calculating the average of the displacement.

Next, a second modification will be described. In the second modification, the evaluation unit 61 includes the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 (see FIG. 14), as in the second embodiment. Then, the average value _{C AV} calculated by the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 and the quality value Qn.

Next, a third modification will be described. In the third modification, as in the third embodiment, the evaluation unit 61 includes the physical quantity average unit 611, the ratio calculation unit 612, and the correlation coefficient average unit 613, and further the multiplication unit. 614 (see FIG. 15). The physical quantity averaging unit 611 is obtained by selecting a correlation window in which a correlation calculation having a correlation coefficient C (0 ≦ C ≦ 1) equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold _CTH is performed, and calculating an average of the displacement. Y is calculated using the average value Xr _AV ′. Moreover, the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 calculates an average value C _AV of the correlation coefficient. Then, the multiplication value M obtained by multiplying the average value C _AV and the calculated value Y and quality value Qn.

Next, a fourth modification will be described. In this fourth modification, the similar to the fourth embodiment, the ratio calculation unit calculates values obtained at 61 Y, the average value C _AV and the multiplication of the correlation coefficient obtained by the correlation coefficient averaging unit 613 All of the multiplication values M obtained by the unit 614 can be calculated, and any one of the calculation values Y, the average value _CAV, and the multiplication value M is selected and calculated to obtain a quality value Qn.

  In the fifth embodiment described above, the quality value Qn is calculated even in the memory reproduction mode. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and the quality value Qn calculated in the real time mode is stored in the memory 21. It may be stored. In this case, when creating the image data in the memory reproduction mode, the image data is created by reading the elastic data of the frame whose quality value Qn stored in the memory 21 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by each said embodiment, of course, this invention can be variously implemented in the range which does not change the main point. For example, in the first to fourth embodiments, the quality value Qn may not be stored in the memory 62. In this case, the quality value Qn is calculated even in the memory reproduction mode.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the memory 62 stores the B-mode data and the elasticity data, which are raw data, but the memory 62 stores the display. The B-mode image data and the color elastic image data created by the image creation unit 63 may be stored. In this case, the display image creation unit 63 is an example of an embodiment of an elastic image data creation unit in the present invention. When the quality value Qn is stored in the memory 62, the quality value Qn is stored in association with the color elastic image data so that it can be understood which frame of the color elastic image data is related. In the memory reproduction mode, among the color elastic image data stored in the memory 62, the color elastic image data satisfying a predetermined standard is read out based on the quality value Qn and the image is read out as in the above embodiments. Create data.

  In addition, the elasticity data creation unit 5 may calculate strain or elastic modulus of the living tissue instead of displacement due to deformation of the living tissue as a physical quantity related to the elasticity of the living tissue.

  In addition, the ratio calculation unit 612 may calculate only the ratio Ra and not perform the calculation of (Equation 1). In this case, the ratio | Ra | is the quality value Qn. An example of the quality display QG created by plotting the ratio | Ra | as the quality value Qn and displayed on the display unit 7 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 18, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the ratio | Ra |. As shown in FIG. 18, the band-shaped portion O may be displayed in a predetermined range where the ratio | Ra | is close to 1. This band-like portion O is set in a range of a ratio | Ra | at which an elastic image EG that accurately reflects the elasticity of the living tissue is obtained. By displaying such a band-shaped portion O, if the operator performs compression and relaxation on the living tissue with the ultrasonic probe 2 so that the quality display QG enters this band-shaped portion O, An elasticity image that accurately reflects elasticity can be obtained.

  Note that the quality display QG is not limited to the one composed of the graph gr, and may be composed of a bar B as shown in FIG. The bar B has a length in the vertical direction corresponding to the quality value Qn (0 ≦ Qn ≦ 1), and expands and contracts in the vertical direction as the quality value Qn changes.

  Further, the bar B does not expand and contract in the vertical direction according to the quality value Qn, but may change in color according to the quality value Qn.

  In addition, the quality display QG may be displayed numerically on the display unit 7. Furthermore, the quality value Qn is not limited to being displayed as the quality display QG. For example, a speaker (not shown) for emitting the quality value Qn as sound may be provided. This speaker is an example of an embodiment of a notification unit in the present invention. In this case, the level of the quality value Qn is expressed by the level of the sound.

1,20 Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment 5 Elastic data creation part (elastic image data part)
7 Display part (notification part)
9 Operation unit 62 Memory 63 Display image creation unit 611 Physical quantity average unit 612 Ratio calculation unit (comparison unit)
613 Correlation coefficient averaging unit 614 Multiplication unit

Claims (16)

A correlation window is set for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a biological tissue, and a correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows to calculate a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue. An elastic image data creating unit for creating elastic image data,
A physical quantity average unit that calculates the average of the physical quantities in a region where an elastic image of a living tissue is created based on the elastic image data;
A comparison unit that compares the calculated value for each frame by the physical quantity average unit with a preset average value of the physical quantity;
A storage unit for storing the elastic image data;
A display image for displaying an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame satisfying a predetermined criterion based on a comparison result by the comparison unit among the elastic image data stored in the storage unit as a moving image composed of continuous frames. The creation department;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physical quantity averaging unit performs an average calculation of physical quantities obtained for a correlation window in which a correlation calculation of a correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparison unit calculates a ratio of a calculated value by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantity as the comparison result.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a comparison result by the comparison unit. A correlation window is set for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a biological tissue, and a correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows to calculate a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue. An elastic image data creating unit for creating elastic image data,
A correlation coefficient averaging unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients in a correlation calculation between the correlation windows for each frame for an area where an elastic image of a living tissue is created based on the elasticity image data;
A storage unit for storing the elastic image data;
Among the elastic image data stored in the storage unit, an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame satisfying a predetermined criterion based on a calculation result of the correlation coefficient average unit is displayed as a moving image composed of continuous frames. A display image creation unit
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a calculation result by the correlation coefficient averaging unit. A correlation window is set for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a biological tissue, and a correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows to calculate a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue. An elastic image data creating unit for creating elastic image data,
A physical quantity that calculates an average of physical quantities obtained for each correlation window in which a correlation calculation of a correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed for each region in which an elastic image of biological tissue is created based on the elastic image data Average part,
A ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a calculated value by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantities;
A correlation coefficient average unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients in the correlation calculation between the correlation windows for each frame for the region where the elastic image is created;
A multiplier for multiplying the calculated value of the ratio calculating unit by the calculated value of the correlation coefficient average unit;
A storage unit for storing the elastic image data;
A display image creating unit for displaying an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame satisfying a predetermined criterion based on the multiplication result among the elastic image data stored in the storage unit as a moving image composed of continuous frames; ,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the multiplication unit performs a weighting operation on a calculated value of the ratio calculating unit and a calculated value of the correlation coefficient average unit.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a multiplication result by the multiplication unit. A correlation window is set for two temporally different echo data on the same sound ray obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a biological tissue, and a correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows to calculate a physical quantity related to the elasticity of each part in the biological tissue. An elastic image data creating unit for creating elastic image data,
A physical quantity that calculates an average of physical quantities obtained for each correlation window in which a correlation calculation of a correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed for each region in which an elastic image of a living tissue is created based on the elastic image data Average part,
A ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a calculated value by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantities;
A correlation coefficient average unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients in the correlation calculation between the correlation windows for each frame for the region where the elastic image is created;
A multiplier for multiplying the calculated value of the ratio calculating unit by the calculated value of the correlation coefficient average unit;
A storage unit for storing the elastic image data;
An operation unit for inputting an instruction for selecting one of a calculation result by the ratio calculation unit, a calculation result by the correlation coefficient averaging unit, or a calculation result by the multiplication unit;
Among the elastic image data stored in the storage unit, an elastic image based on elastic image data of a frame that satisfies a predetermined criterion based on a calculation result selected in the operation unit is displayed as a moving image composed of continuous frames. A display image creation unit
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: A storage unit for storing echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a living tissue;
An elastic image in which a correlation window is set for two echo data different in time on the same sound ray, a correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows, and a physical quantity relating to the elasticity of each part in the living tissue is calculated to generate elastic image data A data creation unit;
A physical quantity average unit that calculates the average of the physical quantities in a region where an elastic image of a living tissue is created based on the elastic image data;
A comparison unit that compares the calculated value of the physical quantity average unit with a preset average value of the physical quantity;
Among the echo data stored in the storage unit, an elastic image based on elastic image data created from echo data of a frame satisfying a predetermined criterion based on a comparison result by the comparison unit is a moving image composed of continuous frames. A display image creation unit to be displayed as,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: A storage unit for storing echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a living tissue;
An elastic image in which a correlation window is set for two echo data different in time on the same sound ray, a correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows, and a physical quantity relating to the elasticity of each part in the living tissue is calculated to generate elastic image data A data creation unit;
A correlation coefficient averaging unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients in a correlation calculation between the correlation windows for each frame for an area where an elastic image of a living tissue is created based on the elasticity image data;
Among the echo data stored in the storage unit, an elastic image based on elastic image data created from echo data of a frame that satisfies a predetermined criterion based on the calculation result of the correlation coefficient average unit is obtained from a continuous frame. A display image creation unit to be displayed as a moving image,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: A storage unit for storing echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a living tissue;
An elastic image in which a correlation window is set for two echo data different in time on the same sound ray, a correlation calculation is performed between the correlation windows, and a physical quantity relating to the elasticity of each part in the living tissue is calculated to generate elastic image data A data creation unit;
A physical quantity that calculates an average of physical quantities obtained for each correlation window in which a correlation calculation of a correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed for each region in which an elastic image of biological tissue is created based on the elastic image data Average part,
A ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a calculated value by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantities;
A correlation coefficient average unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients in the correlation calculation between the correlation windows for each frame for the region where the elastic image is created;
A multiplier for multiplying the calculated value of the ratio calculating unit by the calculated value of the correlation coefficient average unit;
Display that displays an elastic image based on elastic image data created from echo data of a frame satisfying a predetermined criterion based on the multiplication result among the echo data stored in the storage unit as a moving image composed of continuous frames An image creation unit;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: A storage unit for storing echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to a living tissue;
Elastic image data for creating elastic image data by setting a correlation window for two echo data different in time on the same sound ray, performing a correlation operation between the correlation windows, and calculating a physical quantity relating to elasticity of each part in the living tissue The creation department;
A physical quantity that calculates an average of physical quantities obtained for each correlation window in which a correlation calculation of a correlation coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is performed for each region in which an elastic image of biological tissue is created based on the elastic image data Average part,
A ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a calculated value by the physical quantity average unit to a preset average value of the physical quantities;
A correlation coefficient average unit that calculates an average of correlation coefficients in the correlation calculation between the correlation windows for each frame for the region where the elastic image is created;
A multiplier for multiplying the calculated value of the ratio calculating unit by the calculated value of the correlation coefficient average unit;
An operation unit for inputting an instruction for selecting one of a calculation result by the ratio calculation unit, a calculation result by the correlation coefficient averaging unit, or a multiplication result by the multiplication unit;
Among the echo data stored in the storage unit, an elastic image based on elastic image data created from echo data of a frame satisfying a predetermined criterion based on a calculation result selected in the operation unit is composed of continuous frames. A display image creation unit to be displayed as a moving image;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity image data is data of the physical quantity.   The ultrasonic diagnosis according to claim 1, wherein the elastic image data is image data created based on the physical quantity data and having hue information corresponding to the physical quantity. apparatus.

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