WO2009131028A1 - 超音波診断装置 - Google Patents
超音波診断装置 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2009131028A1 WO2009131028A1 PCT/JP2009/057470 JP2009057470W WO2009131028A1 WO 2009131028 A1 WO2009131028 A1 WO 2009131028A1 JP 2009057470 W JP2009057470 W JP 2009057470W WO 2009131028 A1 WO2009131028 A1 WO 2009131028A1
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- elastic
- ultrasonic
- coupler
- elastic coupler
- diagnostic apparatus
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/08—Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
- A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
- A61B5/6843—Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/06—Measuring blood flow
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/13—Tomography
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
- A61B8/4444—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device related to the probe
- A61B8/4455—Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/48—Diagnostic techniques
- A61B8/488—Diagnostic techniques involving Doppler signals
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, in particular, at the time of examination such as a tomographic image (B mode image) or elasticity information of a biological tissue of a subject, blood flow diagnosis by Doppler measurement or color flow mode (CFM), etc.
- the present invention relates to a technique capable of detecting an absolute pressure applied to an object by an ultrasonic probe.
- an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic probe (hereinafter simply referred to as a probe) into a living body, which is a subject, and is a reflected echo signal of an ultrasonic wave reflected from the living body. Is received by a probe, and based on the received reflected echo signal (RF signal), an image suitable for examination of a tissue or function in a living body is generated and diagnosed.
- a probe an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic probe
- RF signal received reflected echo signal
- the inspection using the B mode image presses the living tissue by pressing the probe against the subject with a relatively strong force.
- blood flow tests such as Doppler measurement and CFM, if the probe is pressed too hard and the living tissue is compressed, the blood vessel cross-section is collapsed and correct blood flow information cannot be obtained. It is desirable to carry out the inspection under a tight compression condition.
- the absolute pressure applied to the living tissue may be hindered from promptly making an appropriate diagnosis if the examination proceeds in an inappropriate compression state when switching between examination methods or examination methods. It is desirable to measure and display in real time.
- Patent Document 1 discloses a pair of RF signal frame data having different acquisition times in order to measure an actual pressure applied to a living tissue of a subject, that is, an absolute pressure applied to the living tissue (hereinafter simply referred to as an absolute pressure). Based on the above, it has been proposed to obtain the strain of the elastic coupler using a known displacement / strain calculation, and to convert the obtained strain into an absolute pressure using the elastic modulus of a preset elastic coupler.
- the absolute pressure applied to the subject can be measured, and the elasticity information of the hardness or softness of the living tissue can be acquired.
- the boundary between the body surface of the subject is appropriate In some cases, the thickness of the elastic coupler cannot be detected properly. In addition, if there is contact unevenness, the deformation of the contact part around the non-contact part will increase, so if you measure the deformation or distortion of the boundary part and convert it to absolute pressure, you can not measure the appropriate absolute pressure distribution Sometimes.
- the problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable detection of absolute pressure with high accuracy.
- another object is to improve the usability by simplifying the operation of detecting the absolute pressure using an appropriate elastic coupler according to the inspection method or the like.
- a first aspect of the present invention is an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave in contact with a subject, a transmission unit that drives the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe that is received by the ultrasonic probe.
- an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a reception unit that receives and processes an RF signal that is a reflected echo signal; and an image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on the RF signal output from the reception unit.
- a pressure calculation unit that obtains a pressure applied to the subject based on deformation of an elastic coupler mounted on an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the ultrasonic probe, and the elastic coupler has at least two layers;
- the pressure calculation unit detects a position of a boundary surface between the two layers, and changes a position of the boundary surface based on a detection position of the boundary surface and an initial position of the boundary surface obtained in advance.
- the absolute pressure is obtained based on the position change and the elastic characteristics of the elastic coupler.
- the elastic coupler is formed with at least two layers having different ultrasonic reflection characteristics due to an elastic material having flexibility, and a boundary surface of the layers having different ultrasonic reflection characteristics is attached to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface.
- the pressure calculation unit is based on the RF signal output from the reception unit, The position of the boundary surface in the thickness direction of the elastic coupler is detected, the position change of the boundary surface is obtained based on the detection position of the boundary surface and the initial position of the boundary surface obtained in advance, and the position change and the The absolute pressure applied to the subject is obtained based on the set elastic characteristic of the elastic coupler.
- the position of the boundary surface formed inside the elastic coupler is detected, and the absolute pressure is obtained based on the change in position, so the boundary between the elastic coupler and the body surface of the subject is detected.
- the absolute pressure can be detected with high accuracy because the inner boundary surface can be stably detected regardless of the contact between the elastic coupler and the body surface of the subject.
- the initial position of the boundary surface in the initial state where the compression force is not applied to the elastic coupler is the RF output from the detection reception unit in the same manner as the position detection of the boundary surface in the pressurized state where the compression force is applied. Detection can be based on the signal.
- the characteristic configuration of the second aspect of the present invention is the same as that of the first aspect in the elastic coupler, but the configuration of the pressure calculation unit is different. That is, the pressure calculation unit detects the displacement of the position of the boundary surface in the thickness direction of the elastic coupler based on a pair of the RF signal frame data having different acquisition times output from the reception unit, and the displacement The strain in the thickness direction of the boundary surface is obtained based on the above, and the absolute pressure applied to the subject is obtained based on the strain in the thickness direction and a predetermined elastic property of the elastic coupler.
- the internal boundary surface can be stably detected, so that the distortion of the boundary surface can be detected with high accuracy, and the distortion and elastic characteristics can be detected. Based on the relationship, the absolute pressure can be accurately detected.
- the pressure calculation unit accumulates strain in the thickness direction of the boundary surface over time from the initial state where the elastic coupler is not pressurized, and sets the strain integrated value in advance.
- the absolute pressure applied to the subject can be obtained based on the elastic characteristics of the elastic coupler. According to this, since the strain in the thickness direction of the boundary surface is integrated, the strain on the boundary surface can be detected with higher accuracy, and the absolute pressure can be detected with higher accuracy based on the relationship between the integrated strain value and the elastic characteristic. It can be detected.
- the elastic coupler is formed with a thin intermediate layer sandwiched between the boundary surfaces of the two layers, and the ultrasonic reflection characteristics of the intermediate layer are different from those of the other two layers.
- the intermediate layer includes a plurality of linear ultrasonic reflectors extending in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam of the ultrasonic probe and spaced apart from each other. can do.
- the pressure calculation unit detects the position of the intermediate layer in the thickness direction, and sets the detection position of the intermediate layer and the initial position of the intermediate layer determined in advance. On the basis of this, it is possible to obtain a position change of the intermediate layer, and to obtain an absolute pressure applied to the subject based on the position change and a preset elastic characteristic of the elastic coupler.
- the pressure calculation unit is configured so that the intermediate of the elastic coupler is based on a pair of the RF signal frame data having different acquisition times output from the reception unit. A displacement in a thickness direction of the layer is detected, a strain in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer is obtained based on the displacement, and the subject based on the strain in the thickness direction and a predetermined elastic characteristic of the elastic coupler It can be set as the structure which calculates
- the elastic coupler is formed to have a two-layer structure, the layer on the contact surface side in contact with the body surface of the subject is thin, and the ultrasonic reflection characteristics are strongly formed. can do.
- the elastic coupler can be configured to have a large ultrasonic attenuation characteristic by mixing an ultrasonic scatterer in the elastic material.
- the elastic coupler of the first or second aspect In order to simplify the operation of detecting the absolute pressure using an appropriate elastic coupler according to the inspection method, etc., and to solve the problem of improving usability, the elastic coupler of the first or second aspect,
- the position in the thickness direction of the boundary surface of the two layers is made different according to the type of the elastic coupler, and an identification code that can identify the type of the elastic coupler is formed by the RF signal.
- the pressure calculation unit detects the identification code based on the RF signal or the RF signal frame data, identifies the type of the elastic coupler, and is set according to the type of the elastic coupler. It can be set as the structure which calculates
- the ultrasonic probe In the mounted state the type of elastic coupler can be automatically identified by the pressure calculation unit. Therefore, if an elastic characteristic corresponding to the type of the elastic coupler is stored in the pressure calculation unit in advance, the absolute pressure can be calculated in accordance with the elastic characteristic of the type of the elastic coupler.
- the identification code may be formed by changing the position in the thickness direction of the boundary surface of the two layers.
- the pressure calculation unit may be configured to identify the type of the elastic coupler based on the RF signal or the RF signal frame data based on the depth distribution pattern of the RF signal in the coupler echo area.
- the identification code may be formed by encoding and dispersing ultrasonic scatterers in at least one of the scanning direction and the thickness direction in the region portions at both ends of the elastic coupler in the scanning direction.
- the pressure calculation unit can be configured to identify the type of the elastic coupler based on the RF signal or the RF signal frame data based on the RF signal pattern in the region at both ends of the elastic coupler.
- the elastic properties set in the coupler database are the elastic modulus, the relationship curve between the deformation in the thickness direction and the elastic modulus, the relationship curve between the strain in the thickness direction and the elastic modulus, the integrated value of the deformation or strain in the thickness direction and the elastic modulus. It may be at least one of a modulus of elasticity correction coefficient for a relationship curve, deformation or strain in the thickness direction.
- absolute pressure can be detected with high accuracy.
- the operation is simple and the usability is improved.
- FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the block block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the pressure calculating part of embodiment.
- FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic image of the elastic coupler of FIG.
- FIG. 1 shows a functional block configuration diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs an examination based on elasticity information.
- the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment obtains an elastic image representing the hardness or softness of a living tissue while obtaining a tomographic image of a diagnostic region of a subject using ultrasonic waves. is there.
- an ultrasonic probe hereinafter simply referred to as a probe
- the probe 1 is formed by arranging a large number of transducers which are ultrasonic wave generation sources and receive reflected echoes in a strip shape.
- Each transducer generally has a function of converting an input pulse wave or continuous wave ultrasonic signal into an ultrasonic wave and emitting it, and a reflected echo emitted from the inside of the subject 100 into an electric echo signal. It has the function of converting and outputting.
- the transmission circuit 2 and the reception circuit 3 are cooperatively controlled by the ultrasonic transmission / reception control circuit 4.
- the ultrasonic transmission / reception control circuit 4 controls the timing of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves so that an ultrasonic wave transmission beam suitable for the intended ultrasonic inspection is driven from the probe 1 to the subject 100.
- the reception circuit 3 is controlled to receive a desired ultrasonic reception beam from the probe 1.
- the ultrasonic transmission / reception control circuit 4 of the present embodiment scans the ultrasonic transmission beam along the tomographic plane so as to form an ultrasonic transmission beam and an ultrasonic reception beam suitable for measurement of a B-mode tomographic image.
- the transmission circuit 2 and the reception circuit 3 are controlled.
- the receiving circuit 3 amplifies the reflected echo signal received by the probe 1 with a predetermined gain.
- the number of reflected echo signals corresponding to the number of amplified transducers is input to the adder circuit 5.
- the adder circuit 5 adds the phases of the plurality of reflected echo signals amplified by the receiving circuit 3 together and generates RF signal frame data corresponding to the tomographic plane.
- the signal processing unit 6 receives the RF signal frame data output from the adder circuit 5 and performs various signal processing such as gain correction, log correction, detection, contour enhancement, and filter processing to generate image data.
- the black and white scan converter 7 acquires image data output from the signal processing unit 6 at a sound wave cycle, and controls tomographic scanning means and a system for reading out the ultrasonic image at a television system cycle.
- an A / D converter that converts image data from the signal processing unit 6 into a digital signal
- a plurality of frame memories that store the image data digitized by the A / D converter in time series
- a controller for controlling these operations.
- the time-series image data of, for example, the B mode image generated by the monochrome scan converter 7 is output to the image display 9 via the switching adder 8.
- the image display 9 is a D / A converter that converts the image data output from the black and white scan converter 7 into an analog signal, and a color television monitor that displays the analog video signal output from the D / A converter as an image. It consists of.
- the RF signal frame data generated by the adder circuit 5 is input to the RF signal frame data selection unit 10.
- the RF signal frame data selection unit 10 sequentially stores the RF signal frame data sequentially output from the adder circuit 5 in the frame memory. Then, according to a command from a control unit (not shown), for example, one RF signal frame data is selected from the latest RF signal frame data and temporally past RF signal frame data, and a displacement / distortion calculation unit In FIG. 11, a pair of RF signal frame data having different acquisition times is output.
- the RF signal may be a signal in the form of a code demodulated I or Q signal.
- the displacement / distortion calculation unit 11 performs one-dimensional or two-dimensional correlation processing on the pair of RF signal frame data output from the RF signal frame data selection unit 10, and scans the ultrasonic beam of the RF signal frame data and Displacement (or displacement vector) is calculated for a plurality of measurement points i and j set in the depth direction.
- the calculated displacement data of the plurality of measurement points is generated as displacement frame data.
- a well-known block matching method or gradient method can be used as the displacement calculation method as described in Patent Document 1.
- the block matching method sets a target block consisting of multiple pixels centered on the pixel of the target measurement point, and moves the block whose image information of the target block is approximate to the pre-displacement frame This is a method of searching and assuming that the position of the closest block is displaced to the current position.
- the displacement / strain calculator 11 uses the displacement frame data to calculate the strain at each measurement point by spatially differentiating the displacement at each measurement point, as is well known. Strain frame data is generated from the strain at each measurement point obtained by the calculation and output to the elastic modulus calculation unit 12.
- the elastic modulus calculation unit 12 is based on the absolute pressure (stress) acting on each measurement point i, j given from the pressure calculation unit 30 described later based on the strain at each measurement point of the input strain frame data. Then, the elastic modulus (for example, Young's modulus) at each measurement point is calculated by a known method.
- Elastic modulus frame data is generated from the elastic modulus of each measurement point obtained by the calculation, and is output to the elastic data processing unit 13.
- the elastic data processing unit 13 performs, for example, smoothing processing within the frame, contrast optimization processing, or smoothing processing in the time axis direction between frames on the elastic frame data of the strain or elastic modulus generated by the elastic modulus calculation unit 12. Various image processing is performed and output to the color scan converter 14.
- the color scan converter 14 generates elastic image data by adding hue information such as red, green, and blue to pixels corresponding to each measurement point based on the elastic frame data output from the elastic data processing unit 13. For example, in the strain frame data output from the elasticity data processing unit 13, for a pixel with a large distortion measured, the pixel is converted into a red code in the elasticity image data, and conversely for a pixel with a small distortion measured. Converts the pixel into a blue code in the elastic image data. Similarly, in the case of elastic modulus frame data, hue information is assigned to each pixel to generate elastic image data. Note that, instead of the color scan converter 14, a black and white scan converter may be used to provide a luminance hierarchy corresponding to the magnitude of distortion or the like.
- the elastic image data generated by the color scan converter 14 is output to the switching addition unit 8.
- the switching addition unit 8 inputs black and white tomographic image data output from the black and white scan converter 7 and color elastic image data output from the color scan converter 14, and adds or adds both images according to an input command. Switch to output to the image display 9. Specifically, only the black and white tomographic image data, only the color elastic image data, or both the images can be arranged and displayed on the image display 9. In addition, the output image can be switched in response to an input command, for example, by adding and synthesizing both image data, that is, generating a translucent superimposed image and displaying it on the image display 9. .
- FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the elastic coupler 20.
- the elastic coupler 20 is formed in a plate shape from a gel-like substance that is a flexible elastic material, and a collar portion 21 is formed around one surface.
- the material of the gel-like substance that forms the elastic coupler 20 has a low ultrasonic attenuation, a sound velocity and an acoustic impedance, such as an acoustic coupling material and an acoustic lens material. And those excellent in acoustic coupling characteristics with a living body are preferable.
- the elastic coupler 20 of the present embodiment is formed to have two layers 20A and 20B having different ultrasonic reflection characteristics as shown in the figure, and the boundary surface 22 of these layers 20A and B is the probe 1.
- the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface is provided between the mounting surface mounted on the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface and the contact surface in contact with the body surface of the subject 100.
- the elastic coupler 20 when the elastic coupler 20 is attached to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the probe 1, even if the elastic coupler 20 is in contact with an uneven portion such as the contact surface with the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface and the body surface of the subject 100, the elastic coupler 20 The material which does not produce is preferable. That is, when a gap is generated between the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface and the body surface, the ultrasonic wave irradiated from the probe 1 is reflected at the boundary of the air in the gap and becomes noise of the ultrasonic image.
- gelatin for example, gelatin, agar, oil gel, aqueous gel (hydrogel) composed of an aqueous polymer such as acrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol and water, polyurethane, oil gel obtained by crosslinking a composition containing rubber and an oil component, and plasticizer for raw rubber
- a rubber obtained by molding and crosslinking a composition containing a low molecular weight rubber can be used.
- the elastic coupler 20 formed in this way is used by being mounted on the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 24 of the probe 1 using the mounting tool 23. That is, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the mounting tool 23 has a groove 25 formed in accordance with the flange portion 21 of the elastic coupler 20, and is formed in a frame shape with resin or the like. A locking claw 26 that engages with the outer peripheral portion of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 24 is formed inside the frame of the mounting tool 23. Further, a pair of gripping pieces 27 are formed on the opposing long sides of the frame, and an opening 28 into which the elastic coupler 20 is inserted is formed on the top surface. As shown in FIG.
- the elastic coupler 20 is inserted into the opening 28 from the bottom side of the mounting tool 23 formed in this way, and the flange portion 21 of the elastic coupler 20 is pushed into the groove 25 of the frame body.
- the probe 1 is mounted on the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 24 and used. At this time, so that there is no gap between the contact surface between the lower surface of the elastic coupler 20 and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 24, it is applied to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 24 of the probe 1 with jelly or the like interposed therebetween, and the locking claw 26 is Hook it on the outer periphery of the sound wave transmitting / receiving surface 24 and fix it firmly.
- the grasping portion 1A of the probe 1 to which the elastic coupler 20 is mounted is grasped, the exposed surface of the elastic coupler 20 is pressed against the body surface of the subject 100, and an ultrasonic examination is performed.
- the subject pressing mechanism 18 holds the grip 1A of the probe 1 so that the subject pressing mechanism 18 applies a pressing force to the body surface of the subject 100. it can.
- the pressure calculation unit 30 includes the blocks shown in FIG. That is, a coupler ID identification unit 31, an initialization processing unit 32, a coupler distortion calculation unit 33, a pressure conversion unit 34, a compression state image construction unit 35, and a coupler database 36 are configured.
- the elastic coupler 20 applied to the present embodiment has the same shape as that shown in FIG. 2 (A), but for each type of the elastic coupler 20 depending on the application so that the type of the elastic coupler 20 can be automatically identified.
- the same type of elastic coupler 20 with an identification code (ID) is used by making the depth of the boundary surface 22 or the reflection characteristics of the layers 20A and B different.
- the coupler ID identification unit 31 captures the RF signal frame data from the RF signal frame data selection unit 10, detects the presence or absence of the boundary surface 22, and detects that the elastic coupler 20 is attached to the probe. Furthermore, the depth distribution of the RF signal or the like in the coupler echo area is determined to detect the depth of the boundary surface 22, and the ID code of the elastic coupler 20 is automatically identified with reference to the coupler database 36. The identified ID code is output to the pressure converter 34. In the coupler database 36, an ID code is set corresponding to the depth pattern of the boundary surface 22 and the position pattern in the depth direction by an input means (not shown), and further elastic characteristics are set corresponding to the ID code. Has been.
- the initialization processing unit 32 detects that the elastic coupler 20 is in a non-pressurized initial state based on the intensity change of the RF signal of the RF signal frame data, and the elastic coupler 20 is based on the RF signal in the initial state. The initial thickness of the elastic coupler 20 is obtained.
- the coupler distortion calculation unit 33 detects the position in the thickness direction of the boundary surface 22 of the elastic coupler 20 based on the RF signal frame data, and detects the change in the thickness direction position of the boundary surface 22, The displacement and distortion are obtained. The obtained displacement or distortion is output to the pressure conversion unit 33 together with the ID code.
- the pressure converter 34 reads the elastic characteristic corresponding to the input ID code from the coupler database 36, and converts the displacement or strain input from the coupler distortion calculator 33 into an absolute pressure based on the read elastic characteristic. It has become.
- the compression state image construction unit 35 constructs a compression state image in order to display the absolute pressure output from the pressure conversion unit 34 on the image display 9.
- the inspection mode is, for example, an inspection using a B-mode tomographic image.
- the elastic coupler 20 is attached to the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 24 of the probe 1 by manual operation as shown in FIG. Detection of whether or not the elastic coupler 20 is attached can be automatically recognized based on whether or not the presence / absence of the boundary surface 22 can be detected by capturing the RF signal frame data in the coupler ID identification unit 31 and the intensity distribution of the RF signal. In addition, the operator may input that the elastic coupler 20 has been attached to the coupler ID identification unit 31 via an input unit (not shown).
- the coupler ID identifying unit 31 takes in the RF signal frame data from the RF signal frame data selecting unit 10, detects the presence of the boundary surface 22, and then determines the depth distribution of the RF signal or the like in the coupler echo region to determine the boundary surface 22 And the ID code of the elastic coupler 20 is automatically identified with reference to the coupler database 36. The identified ID code is output to the pressure converter 34.
- FIG. 6 shows an example of a B-mode image 101 obtained by attaching the elastic coupler 20. As shown in the figure, echo images of the two layers 20A and 20B and the boundary surface 22 of the elastic coupler 20 appear in the upper part of the image. Therefore, by detecting the position where the RF signal in the coupler echo region changes rapidly, the position can be detected on the boundary surface 22 and the ID code can be automatically identified.
- the pressure calculation unit 30 is activated when the coupler ID identification unit 31 detects the ID code of the elastic coupler 20.
- the initial position D (0) in the depth direction of the boundary surface 22 of the elastic coupler 20 can be measured in advance, but the liquid component of the gel-like substance that is the material of the elastic coupler 20 may evaporate, etc. It is conceivable that the initial position D (0) of 22 becomes small. Therefore, in order to accurately detect the absolute pressure, it is desirable to automatically measure the initial position D (0) of the boundary surface in the initial state every time the ultrasonic inspection is performed.
- the initialization processing unit 32 searches for an operator.
- the initial state in which the toucher 1 is held and held in the air can be automatically recognized.
- This initial state without pressure can be detected by a multiple echo signal included in the RF signal. That is, multiple echoes are generated due to a sudden change in acoustic impedance at the boundary between the exposed surface of the acoustic lens and air or the boundary between the exposed surface of the elastic coupler 20 and air.
- an acoustic lens (thickness of about 1 mm) is placed in the depth region close to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface. ) Is received, which includes periodic multiple echoes originating from.
- the elastic coupler 20 for example, about 5 to 10 mm thick
- the multiple echoes derived from the acoustic lens disappear and the multiple echoes of a relatively long period derived from the elastic coupler 20 are received. Therefore, it is possible to automatically recognize that the elastic coupler 20 is maintained in the non-pressurized initial state by detecting the presence / absence and period of multiple echoes.
- the operator can hold the probe 1 and hold it in the air, and input the interface from the input means (not shown) to the coupler thickness calculator 32 manually. Automatic measurement of 22 initial positions D (0) can be commanded.
- the initialization processing unit 32 automatically measures the initial position D (0) of the boundary surface when the initial state of the elastic coupler 20 is recognized or when a command is input.
- the initialization processing unit 32 takes in the luminance data or signal intensity of the B-mode image output from the signal processing unit 6 instead of the RF signal output from the RF frame signal selection unit 10, and performs similar processing.
- the initial position D (0) of the boundary surface of the elastic coupler 20 can be detected.
- the time ti (0) when the intensity of the RF signal changes greatly is obtained, and the initial position D (0) of the boundary surface is detected.
- ti (0) is the round-trip time of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the boundary surface of the elastic coupler 20
- multiplying ti (0) by the speed of sound C and dividing by 2 results in the boundary surface being a one-dimensional distribution in the scanning direction.
- the initial position Di (0) can be obtained.
- Di (0) can be obtained by obtaining a period of multiple echoes (period above the threshold) T in which the intensity of the RF signal greatly changes and multiplying 1/2 of T by the sound speed C.
- the initial position Di (0) of the boundary surface 22 of the elastic coupler 20 can be obtained as a two-dimensional distribution taking into account the distribution in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction.
- S7 Coupler deformation (distortion) measurement
- the process in S7 is a process in the coupler distortion calculation unit 33.
- the coupler distortion calculation unit 33 can detect that the elastic coupler 20 is in a pressurized state by the disappearance of the multiple echo caused by the elastic coupler 20 described above.
- Coupler deformation (distortion) measurement method 1 The coupler distortion calculator 33 detects the depth position of the boundary surface 22 of the elastic coupler 20 based on the RF signal at an arbitrary time t in the pressurized state of the elastic coupler 20, and scans the elastic coupler 20 in the pressurized state.
- the boundary position distribution Di (t) in the direction is obtained.
- the intensity of the RF signal Qi (t) changes greatly.
- the boundary surface position distribution Di (t) in the scanning direction orthogonal to the ultrasonic beam is obtained.
- the boundary position change distribution ⁇ Di (t) is obtained by the following equation (1)
- the total strain distribution Si (t) in the scanning direction of the boundary surface 22 of the elastic coupler 20 is obtained by the following equation (2).
- Coupler deformation (distortion) measurement method 2 the coupler strain calculation unit 33 can measure the strain of the elastic coupler 20 and obtain the absolute pressure Pi (t) based on the measured strain. That is, the coupler distortion calculation unit 33 includes the RF signal frame data Qij (0) in the coupler echo area in the initial state output from the RF signal frame data selection unit 10, and the RF signal frame data at an arbitrary time t in the pressurized state.
- i is a coordinate in the scanning direction of the elastic coupler 20
- j is a coordinate in the thickness direction (depth direction) of the elastic coupler 20.
- the coupler distortion calculation unit 33 takes in the RF signal Qij (t) of the coupler echo region that changes in real time in the pressurized state, and based on Qij (0) in the initial state and Qij (t) at an arbitrary time t Then, the displacement frame data is generated by obtaining the displacement of each measurement point i, j by a known displacement calculation method. Then, the displacement frame data is spatially differentiated to obtain distortion frame data composed of the total distortion amounts Sij (t) at the respective measurement points i and j.
- the average value Si * () of the total distortion amount Sij (t) over the entire range of the depth j of the coupler echo area. t) is obtained, and the average value Si * (t) is evaluated as the total distortion amount Sij (t) at the coordinate position i in the ultrasonic scan direction.
- the absolute pressure Pi (t) is obtained by the pressure conversion unit 38 using the evaluated total strain amount Sij (t).
- the processing for obtaining the absolute pressure Pi (t) can be executed simultaneously with the calculation of the strain of the living tissue in the elasticity calculation unit 12 of FIG.
- Coupler deformation (distortion) measurement method 3 In the coupler compression evaluation method 3, a pair of RF signal frame data having different acquisition times is acquired from the RF signal frame data selection unit 10 continuously from the initial state for each measurement time point in the pressurized state. And every time a pair of RF signal frame data is acquired, the strain change ⁇ Sij (tk),..., ⁇ Sij (t) of each measurement point i, j is calculated for the entire region up to the boundary surface 22 of the elastic coupler 20. Ask. Then, for example, distortion changes ⁇ Si, j (t) at time (t ⁇ 1) and time (t) that are adjacent in time are obtained.
- the distortion change ⁇ Si, j (tk),..., ⁇ Sij (t) is sequentially accumulated for a pair of time-sequential RF signal frame data, and the distortion change integrated value ⁇ Sij (t) at the current time is sequentially accumulated.
- ⁇ Sij (t) at the measurement points i and j is averaged in the direction of the coordinate j in the coupler echo area, and a distortion change integrated value ⁇ Si * (t) at the measurement point i is obtained.
- the pressure conversion unit 34 reads the elastic characteristic (for example, Young's modulus E) corresponding to the ID of the elastic coupler 20 identified by the coupler ID identification unit 31 from the coupler database 36, and obtained by the coupler distortion calculation unit 33 by the method 1.
- the strain Si (t) is converted into the absolute pressure distribution Pi (t) applied to the living tissue of the subject 100 by the following equation (3).
- Pi (t) Si (t) ⁇ E (3)
- the current absolute pressure distribution Pi (t) obtained by the conversion is output to the elastic modulus calculator 12 in FIG.
- the elastic modulus calculation unit 12 performs the measurement of each measurement point i, j based on the strain ⁇ ij (t) obtained for each measurement point i, j of the living tissue by a known calculation process.
- the elastic modulus (for example, Young's modulus) Eij (t) is obtained by the following equation (4) and output to the elastic data processing unit 13.
- the total distortion amount Sij (t) obtained based on the average value Si * (t) of the method 2 by the coupler distortion calculation unit 33 or the distortion change integrated value ⁇ Si * (t) obtained by the method 3 is expressed by the following equation: Convert to absolute pressure distribution Pi (t) by (5) and (6).
- the pressure converter 34 may be formed integrally with the coupler distortion calculator 33.
- the compression state image constructing unit 35 images the absolute pressure Pi (t) obtained in the absolute pressure conversion process of S8 and displays the image on the image display 9, so that the operator can perform the same while performing the ultrasonic examination. In this screen, it is possible to immediately determine whether or not the compression state is appropriate according to the inspection item.
- the compression state image constructing unit 38 constructs at least one image such as a numerical display, a graph display of change over time, a bar chart display, and the like by using the color scan converter 14 to generate a color image, for example, the absolute pressure Pi (t)
- the data is converted into data and displayed side by side or superposed on a part of the ultrasonic image displayed on the image display 9.
- FIG. 7 shows an example in which the compression state image is displayed on the elastic image side by side.
- an elastic image 110 is displayed at the center of the screen, and an elastic modulus E (kPa) and an absolute pressure ⁇ (kPa) are displayed numerically in the display window 111 near a rectangular region of interest (ROI).
- a bar chart 112 is displayed in which the absolute pressure ⁇ at the current time is an average value of the absolute pressure Pi.
- a graph 113 of the absolute pressure distribution Pi in the scanning direction is displayed at the top of the screen, and a graph 114 of the average value of the absolute pressure Pi over time is displayed at the bottom.
- a color bar 115 with an elastic modulus E is displayed at the right end of the screen.
- the operator can make a diagnosis by observing the image of FIG. 7 to evaluate the elasticity of the ROI living tissue under an appropriate absolute pressure.
- FIG. 8 shows another example in which the compression state image is displayed on the elastic image so as to overlap or be displayed side by side.
- an elastic image 110 is displayed at the center of the screen, and elastic modulus E (kPa) and absolute pressure ⁇ (kPa) are displayed as bar charts 116 and 117 near a rectangular region of interest (ROI).
- a bar chart 118 representing the average value of the thickness change ⁇ Di (t) of the elastic coupler from the initial state is displayed.
- the boundary between the elastic coupler and the subject is displayed by a plurality of points 119 at the top of the screen.
- the absolute pressure which is the calculation result of the pressure calculation unit 30
- the reference pressure range is compared, and the reference pressure range is exceeded, for example, the display color of the boundary line indicating the ROI is displayed. By changing or blinking, it is possible to easily identify whether or not the compression state is appropriate.
- the absolute pressure applied to the living tissue of the subject 100 by the probe 1 can be accurately measured in real time in the normal elasticity image measurement processing.
- the ID code of the elastic coupler can be read during the elastic image measurement process, even if various different elastic couplers are arbitrarily replaced, the elastic coupler is automatically identified and the elastic characteristics of the elastic coupler are detected. Therefore, the absolute pressure can be measured with high accuracy, and the labor of the operator can be saved and the usability can be improved.
- an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates and displays an elastic image has been described as an example.
- the present invention is not limited to this, and diagnosis based on a tomographic image (B-mode image) of a living tissue of a subject is performed.
- the present invention can be applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing tests such as blood flow diagnosis by Doppler measurement or color flow mode (CFM). Thereby, the evaluation of the compression state suitable for various inspections can be realized with high accuracy.
- FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the elastic coupler 20 according to the second embodiment.
- the same attachment tool as that shown in FIG. 3 can be used.
- the second embodiment is different from the elastic coupler 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 (A) in that the ultrasonic reflection characteristics are thin on the boundary surface between the two layers 20A and 20B. This is because the intermediate layer 20C is formed therebetween.
- the ultrasonic reflection characteristics of the intermediate layer 20C are different from those of the other two layers 20A and 20B.
- the reflection intensity of the intermediate layer 20C may be higher or lower than the other two layers 20A and 20B.
- An example of the B mode image 101 in this case is shown in FIG.
- an echo image of the intermediate layer 20C appears at the boundary between the two layers 20A and B of the elastic coupler 20 at the top of the image.
- the coupler ID identifying unit 31 can identify the ID code of the elastic coupler based on the distribution in the thickness direction of the RF signal, as in the first embodiment.
- the coupler strain calculation unit 33 adjusts the position of the intermediate layer 20C in the thickness direction, the strain in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer 20C, or the elastic coupler according to the passage of time from the initial state in which no pressure is applied.
- the integrated value of the strain obtained by integrating the strain in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer 20C can be obtained to obtain the absolute pressure applied to the subject.
- FIG. 10A shows a perspective view of the elastic coupler 20 according to the third embodiment.
- the same attachment tool as that shown in FIG. 3 can be used.
- the difference of the third embodiment from the elastic coupler 20 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9A is that, instead of the intermediate layer 20C, the probe 1 is extended in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam.
- a plurality of linear ultrasonic reflectors 20D are provided at intervals.
- the ID code of the elastic coupler can be identified based on the position in the depth direction of the ultrasonic reflector 20D. Based on the change in position, the absolute pressure can be detected.
- the layer on the contact surface side that is in contact with the body surface of the subject 100 (20A in the example of FIG. 2 (A)) is thin, and Ultrasonic reflection characteristics can be strongly formed.
- the ID encoding may be performed by dispersing and mixing the ultrasonic scatterer throughout the elastic coupler 20 and changing the dispersion concentration of the scatterer.
- the ultrasonic scatterer a material such as graphite powder or polyethylene powder having an acoustic impedance different from that of the elastic coupler 20 can be used.
- At least one of the end portions in the scanning direction of the elastic coupler 20 that is out of the region of interest (ROI) is formed with a code region in which the scatterer is encoded and dispersed in the scanning direction, and the type of the elastic coupler 20 A corresponding ID code can also be assigned.
- an ultrasonic scatterer can be mixed in the entire elastic coupler 20 to increase the attenuation of the ultrasonic waves.
- the detection principle of the absolute pressure of the present invention is based on the fact that the thickness of the elastic coupler 20 changes in relation to the applied compression force (pressure), and the correlation depends on the elastic characteristics of the elastic coupler 20. . Therefore, in order to obtain the absolute pressure, it is necessary to measure the elastic characteristics for each type of the elastic coupler 20 in advance and set it in the coupler database in association with the ID code of the elastic coupler 20.
- the elastic characteristic set in the coupler database is that the deformation (strain) in the thickness direction of the boundary surface or intermediate layer is linear with respect to the absolute pressure, or the elastic modulus (for example, Young's modulus) of the elastic coupler 20 is constant.
- the elastic modulus E may be set corresponding to the ID code.
- the relationship curve between deformation (strain) in the thickness direction and absolute pressure when the change in position in the thickness direction of the boundary surface or intermediate layer is non-linear with respect to absolute pressure, when the elastic modulus E is non-linear with respect to absolute pressure, the relationship curve between deformation (strain) in the thickness direction and absolute pressure.
- a relationship curve between deformation (strain) in the thickness direction and elastic modulus E is set.
- it can be a relationship curve between the integrated value of deformation or strain in the thickness direction and the elastic modulus, or an elastic modulus correction coefficient for deformation (strain) in the thickness direction.
- the absolute pressure applied to the living tissue of the subject 100 by the probe 1 can be accurately measured in real time in the normal elasticity image measurement processing.
- the ID code of the elastic coupler can be read during the elastic image measurement process, even if various different elastic couplers are arbitrarily replaced, the elastic coupler is automatically identified and the elastic characteristics of the elastic coupler are detected. Therefore, the absolute pressure can be measured with high accuracy, and it is possible to improve the usability without the need for the operator.
- an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates and displays an elastic image has been described as an example.
- the present invention is not limited to this, and diagnosis based on a tomographic image (B-mode image) of a living tissue of a subject is performed.
- the present invention can be applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing tests such as blood flow diagnosis by Doppler measurement or color flow mode (CFM). Thereby, the evaluation of the compression state suitable for various inspections can be realized with high accuracy.
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Abstract
Description
また、上記の課題に加えて、検査法等に応じて適切な弾性カプラを用いて絶対圧力を検出する操作を簡単化して、使い勝手を向上することにある。
前記超音波探触子の超音波送受信面に装着された弾性カプラの変形に基づいて前記被検体に加えられた圧力を求める圧力演算部を備え、前記弾性カプラは、少なくとも2つの層を有して形成され、 前記圧力演算部は、前記2つの層間の境界面の位置を検出し、該境界面の検出位置と予め求められた境界面の初期位置とに基づいて前記境界面の位置変化を求め、該位置変化と前記弾性カプラの弾性特性に基づいて絶対圧力を求める。
図1に、本発明を弾性情報による検査を行う超音波診断装置に適用した一実施形態の機能ブロック構成図を示す。
図2に、弾性カプラ20の一実施例を示す。弾性カプラ20は、図2(A)に示す斜視図のように、柔軟性を有する弾性材料であるゲル状物質により板状に形成され、一方の面の周囲に鍔部21が形成されている。弾性カプラ20を形成するゲル状物質の素材は、特許文献1に記載されているように、音響結合材料や音響レンズ素材などのように、超音波減衰が小さく、かつ、音速及び音響インピーダンスが生体に近く、生体との音響結合特性に優れたものが好ましい。また、同時に、保形性、柔軟性、適度な弾性、形状復元性に優れた素材を用いることが好ましい。特に、本実施例の弾性カプラ20は、図示のように、超音波反射特性が異なる2つの層20A、Bを有して形成され、それらの層20A、Bの境界面22が探触子1の超音波送受信面に装着される装着面と被検体100の体表に当接される接触面との間に位置させて設けられている。
超音波診断装置を手動により起動する。検査モードは、例えば、Bモード断層画像による検査とする。
手操作で図2(B)のように探触子1の超音波送受信面24に弾性カプラ20を装着する。弾性カプラ20が装着されたか否かの検出は、カプラID識別部31においてRF信号フレームデータを取り込み、RF信号の強度分布等により境界面22の有無を検出できたか否かにより自動で認識できる。また、図示していない入力手段を介して、操作者によりカプラID識別部31に弾性カプラ20を装着したことを入力するようにしてもよい。
カプラID識別部31は、RF信号フレームデータをRF信号フレームデータ選択部10から取り込み、境界面22の存在を検出した後、カプラエコー領域内のRF信号等の深度分布を判別して境界面22の深さ位置を検出し、カプラデータベース36を参照して、弾性カプラ20のID符号を自動で識別する。識別したID符号は、圧力変換部34に出力する。図6に、弾性カプラ20を装着して得られるBモード像101の一例を示す。図のように、画像の上部に弾性カプラ20の2層20A,Bと境界面22のエコー画像が現れる。したがって、カプラエコー領域内のRF信号が急激に変化する位置を検出することにより、境界面22に位置を検出して、ID符号を自動で識別できる。
圧力演算部30は、カプラID識別部31において弾性カプラ20のID符号を検知して起動される。
弾性カプラ20の境界面22の深さ方向の初期位置D(0)は予め計測できるが、弾性カプラ20の素材であるゲル状物質の液体成分が蒸発等することがあり、経時変化により境界面22の初期位置D(0)が小さくなることが考えられる。そこで、精度よく絶対圧力を検出するためには、超音波検査の都度、初期状態の境界面の初期位置D(0)を自動計測することが望ましい。
初期化処理部32は、弾性カプラ20の初期状態を認識したとき、又は指令が入力されたとき、境界面の初期位置D(0)の自動計測を実行する。
S7における処理は、カプラ歪み演算部33における処理である。まず、カプラ歪み演算部33は、前述した弾性カプラ20に起因する多重エコーが消失していることにより、弾性カプラ20が加圧状態にあることを検出することができる。
カプラ歪み演算部33は、弾性カプラ20の加圧状態における任意の時刻tのRF信号に基づいて弾性カプラ20の境界面22の深さ位置を検出して、弾性カプラ20の加圧状態におけるスキャン方向の境界面位置分布Di(t)を求める。つまり、操作者が弾性カプラ20を介して被検体100に探触子1を押し付けて圧迫を加え、その加圧状態で超音波を送信してから、RF信号Qi(t)の強度が大きく変化するまでの時間ti(t)の1/2と音速Cに基づいて、超音波ビームに直交するスキャン方向の境界面位置分布Di(t)を求める。
Si(t)=ΔDi(t)/Di(0) (2)
カプラ変形(歪み)計測の方式2
上記方式1に代えて、カプラ歪み演算部33は、弾性カプラ20の歪みを計測し、これに基づいて絶対圧力Pi(t)を求めることができる。すなわち、カプラ歪み演算部33は、RF信号フレームデータ選択部10から出力される初期状態におけるカプラエコー領域のRF信号フレームデータQij(0)と、加圧状態における任意の時刻tにおいてRF信号フレームデータ選択部10から出力されるRF信号フレームデータQij(t)とに基づいて、各計測時点における弾性カプラ内部の計測点の変位を求めて全歪み量Sij(t)を求めることができる。ここで、前述したように、iは弾性カプラ20のスキャン方向の座標、jは弾性カプラ20の厚み方向(深度方向)の座標である。
カプラ圧迫評価の方式3は、初期状態から加圧状態における各計測時点について継続して、RF信号フレームデータ選択部10から取得時間が異なる一対のRF信号フレームデータを取得する。そして、一対のRF信号フレームデータを取得するたびに、弾性カプラ20の境界面22までの全領域について、各計測点i,jの歪み変化ΔSij(t-k)、・・・、ΔSij(t)を求める。そして、時間的に隣り合う、例えば時刻(t-1)と時刻(t)の歪み変化ΔSi、j(t)を求める。さらに、時間的に連続する一対のRF信号フレームデータについて、その歪み変化ΔSi、j(t-k)、・・・、ΔSij(t)を順次積算して、現時刻の歪み変化積算値ΣΔSij(t)を求める。次いで、計測点i、jのΣΔSij(t)について、カプラエコー領域の座標jの方向について平均し、計測点iについての歪み変化積算値ΣΔSi*(t)を求める。
圧力変換部34は、カプラID識別部31で識別された弾性カプラ20のIDに対応する弾性特性(例えば、ヤング率E)をカプラデータベース36から読み出し、カプラ歪み演算部33で方式1により求めた歪みSi(t)を、次式(3)により、被検体100の生体組織に加えられている絶対圧力分布Pi(t)に換算する。
換算により得られた現在の絶対圧力分布Pi(t)は、図1の弾性率演算部12に出力される。これにより、弾性率演算部12は、前述したように、周知の演算処理により、生体組織の各計測点i,jについて得られた歪みεij(t)に基づいて、各計測点i,jの弾性率(例えば、ヤング率)Eij(t)を、次式(4)により求めて、弾性データ処理部13に出力する。
また、カプラ歪み演算部33で方式2の平均値Si*(t)に基づいて求めた全歪み量Sij(t)、又は方式3により求めた歪み変化積算値ΣΔSi*(t)を、次式(5)、(6)により、絶対圧力分布Pi(t)に換算する。なお、圧力変換部34はカプラ歪み演算部33と一体に形成してもよい。
Pi(t)=ΣΔSi*(t)×E (6)
[S9:圧力分布の表示処理]
圧迫状態画像構築部35は、S8の絶対圧力の換算処理で求めた絶対圧力Pi(t)を、画像化して画像表示器9に表示させることにより、操作者は超音波検査を実行しながら同一の画面で検査項目に応じた適切な圧迫状態か否かを即座に判断できる。
図9(A)に、弾性カプラ20の実施例2の斜視図を示す。装着具は、図3と同一のものを用いることができる。図9(A)に示すように、本実施例2が図2(A)の実施例1の弾性カプラ20と異なる点は、超音波反射特性が同一の2層20A,Bの境界面に薄い中間層20Cを挟んで形成したことにある。中間層20Cの超音波反射特性は、他の2層20A,Bと異ならせている。この場合、中間層20Cの反射強度が、他の2層20A,Bに比べて高くても、低くてもよい。この場合のBモード像101の一例を図9(B)に示す。図示のように、画像の上部に弾性カプラ20の2層20A,Bの境界に中間層20Cのエコー画像が現れる。
Claims (13)
- 被検体に当接させて超音波を送受する超音波探触子と、該超音波探触子を駆動する送信部と、前記超音波探触子により受信された反射エコー信号であるRF信号を受信処理する受信部と、該受信部から出力されるRF信号に基づいて超音波像を生成する画像生成部とを備えてなる超音波診断装置において、
前記超音波探触子の超音波送受信面に装着された弾性カプラの変形に基づいて前記被検体に加えられた圧力を求める圧力演算部を備え、
前記弾性カプラは、少なくとも2つの層を有して形成され、
前記圧力演算部は、前記2つの層間の境界面の位置を検出し、該境界面の検出位置と予め求められた境界面の初期位置とに基づいて前記境界面の位置変化を求め、該位置変化と前記弾性カプラの弾性特性に基づいて絶対圧力を求めることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項1に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記弾性カプラは、超音波反射特性が異なる少なくとも2つの層を有して形成され、前記超音波反射特性が異なる層の境界面が前記超音波送受信面に装着される装着面と前記被検体の体表に当接される接触面との間に位置させて設けられてなり、
前記圧力演算部は、前記受信部から出力される取得時刻が異なる一対の前記RF信号のフレームデータに基づいて、前記弾性カプラの厚み方向の前記境界面の位置の変位を検出し、該変位に基づいて前記境界面の厚み方向の歪みを求め、該厚み方向の歪みと予め設定された前記弾性カプラの弾性特性に基づいて前記被検体に加えられる絶対圧力を求めることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項2に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記圧力演算部は、前記弾性カプラが無加圧の初期状態から時間経過に合わせて前記境界面の歪みを積算し、該歪みの積算値と予め設定された前記弾性カプラの弾性特性に基づいて前記被検体に加えられる絶対圧力を求めることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項1に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記弾性カプラは、前記境界面に中間層を挟んで形成され、該中間層の超音波反射特性は他の層と異ならせて形成されてなり、
前記圧力演算部は、前記中間層の厚み方向の位置を検出し、該中間層の検出位置と予め求められた中間層の初期位置とに基づいて前記中間層の位置変化を求め、該位置変化と予め設定された前記弾性カプラの弾性特性に基づいて前記被検体に加えられる絶対圧力を求めることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項2に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記弾性カプラは、前記境界面に中間層を挟んで形成され、該中間層の超音波反射特性は他の層と異ならせて形成されてなり、
前記圧力演算部は、前記受信部から出力される取得時刻が異なる一対の前記RF信号フレームデータに基づいて、前記弾性カプラの前記中間層の厚み方向の位置の変位を検出し、該変位に基づいて前記中間層の厚み方向の歪みを求め、該厚み方向の歪みと予め設定された前記弾性カプラの弾性特性に基づいて前記被検体に加えられる絶対圧力を求めることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項3に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記弾性カプラは、前記境界面に中間層を挟んで形成され、該中間層の超音波反射特性は他の層と異ならせて形成されてなり、
前記圧力演算部は、前記弾性カプラが無加圧の初期状態から時間経過に合わせて前記中間層の厚み方向の歪みを積算し、該歪みの積算値と予め設定された前記弾性カプラの弾性特性に基づいて前記被検体に加えられる絶対圧力を求めることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項4乃至6のいずれか一項に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記中間層は、前記超音波探触子の超音波ビームのスキャン方向に直交する方向に延在させて、かつ間隔をあけて設けられた線状の複数の超音波反射体からなることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項1又は2のいずれかに記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記被検体の体表に当接される接触面側の層は、前記超音波送受信面に当接される接触面側の層より薄い、又は前記超音波反射特性が強く形成されてなることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項1に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記弾性カプラは、前記弾性材料の中に超音波散乱体が混入され、超音波減衰特性を大きく形成してなることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項1又は2のいずれかに記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記弾性カプラは、前記境界面の厚み方向の位置を当該弾性カプラの種類に応じて異ならせて、前記RF信号により当該弾性カプラの種類を識別可能な識別符合が形成され、 前記圧力演算部は、前記RF信号又は前記RF信号フレームデータに基づいて前記識別符合を検出して前記弾性カプラの種類を識別し、前記弾性カプラの種類に対応して設定されている前記弾性特性に基づいて前記絶対圧力を求めることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項10に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記識別符号は、前記境界面の厚み方向の位置を異ならせて形成され、
前記圧力演算部は、前記RF信号又は前記RF信号フレームデータに基づいてカプラエコー領域内のRF信号の深度分布パターンにより、弾性カプラの種類を識別することを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項10に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記識別符号は、前記弾性カプラのスキャン方向の両端の領域部に、スキャン方向と厚み方向の少なくとも一方に超音波散乱体を符号化して分散させて形成され、
前記圧力演算部は、前記RF信号又は前記RF信号フレームデータに基づいて前記弾性カプラの両端の領域部のRF信号のパターンにより、弾性カプラの種類を識別することを特徴とする超音波診断装置。 - 請求項1に記載の超音波診断装置において、
前記弾性カプラの弾性特性は、弾性率、厚み方向の変形と弾性率の関係曲線、厚み方向の歪みと弾性率の関係曲線、厚み方向の変形又は歪みの積算値と弾性率の関係曲線、厚み方向の変形又は歪みに対する弾性率補正係数の少なくとも一つであることを特徴とする超音波診断装置。
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