Patent Application
20200305834
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-058862, filed on Mar. 26, 2019. Each of the above application(s) is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application.
The present invention relates to an ultrasound observation apparatus and an ultrasonic endoscope system.
In general, an ultrasound image used for examination, diagnosis, and the like in a medical field is a B-mode image obtained by imaging brightness values according to an amplitude of an ultrasound signal, but a blood flow image obtained by imaging the location, strength, direction, speed, and the like of a blood flow detected using the ultrasonic Doppler phenomenon is also used.
Compared with the B-mode image, the blood flow image needs processing and time for generating an image. For this reason, a partial region in the B-mode image is set as a region of interest (ROI), and a blood flow image is generated only for the ROI (for example, see JP2015-171425A).
In an ultrasound observation apparatus disclosed in JP2015-171425A, an ROI in a color flow mode for generating a blood flow image is set in advance by an operator, and setting information is stored in a memory. In a case where switching from the B-mode to the color flow mode is performed, the ROI is automatically set on the basis of the setting information stored in the memory.
As a procedure of ultrasound examination, for example, pancreas observation using an ultrasonic endoscope, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), and the like, are used. The pancreas observation and the EUS-FNA may be performed in a color flow mode, but preferable ROIs in the respective procedures are different from each other. In a case where an operator resets the ROI in accordance with the procedure, an operation burden necessary for the setting becomes large.
An object of the invention is to provide an ultrasound observation apparatus and an ultrasonic endoscope system capable of easily performing setting an ROI.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound observation apparatus comprising a B-mode image generator that generates, on the basis of an ultrasound signal acquired by an ultrasonic endoscope, a B-mode image obtained by converting an amplitude of the ultrasound signal into a brightness; a region-of-interest setting unit that sets a region of interest in the B-mode image; a blood flow image generator that generates a blood flow image of the region of interest on the basis of the ultrasound signal; and an image display part that is capable of displaying the B-mode image or a composite image of the B-mode image and the blood flow image, in which the region-of-interest setting unit recognizes a procedure performed using the ultrasonic endoscope and sets the region of interest in accordance with the recognized procedure.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic endoscope system comprising: an ultrasonic endoscope; and the ultrasound observation apparatus.
According to the invention, it is possible to provide an ultrasound observation apparatus and an ultrasonic endoscope system capable of easily setting an ROI.
An ultrasonic endoscope system 10 is used for diagnosing a state of an observation target portion inside the body of a patient that is a subject using ultrasonic waves. Here, the observation target portion is a portion that is difficult to examine from the body surface side (outside) of the patient, such as the gallbladder or pancreas. By using the ultrasonic endoscope system 10, it is possible to make an ultrasonic diagnosis of the state of the observation target portion and the presence or absence of an abnormality through a digestive tract such as an esophagus, a stomach, and a duodenum that are body cavities of a patient.
As shown in
As shown in
With the function of the ultrasonic endoscope 12, the operator may acquire an endoscope image of an inner wall of the body cavity of the patient and an ultrasound image of the observation target portion. The endoscope image is an image obtained by imaging the inner wall of the body cavity of the patient using an optical procedure. The ultrasound image is an image obtained by receiving reflected waves (echoes) of ultrasonic waves transmitted from the body cavity of the patient toward the observation target portion and imaging a reception signal thereof.
The ultrasound observation apparatus 14 is connected to the ultrasonic endoscope 12 through a universal cord 26 and an ultrasound connector 32a provided at an end part thereof, as shown in
As shown in
The ultrasound observation apparatus 14 and the endoscope processor 16 are configured by two apparatuses (computers) that are separately provided. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and both the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 and the endoscope processor 16 may be configured by a single apparatus.
As shown in
As shown in
The console 100 (input part) is an input device provided for an operator to input information necessary for ultrasonic diagnosis or for an operator to instruct the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 to start the ultrasonic diagnosis. The console 100 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a touch pad, a touch panel, and the like, and is connected to a CPU 152 of the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 as shown in
More specifically, the operator inputs examination information (for example, examination order information including a date and an order number, and patient information including a patient ID and a patient name) using the console 100 before starting the ultrasonic diagnosis. In a case where the operator instructs the start of the ultrasonic diagnosis through the console 100 after completing the input of the examination information, the CPU 152 of the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 controls respective parts of the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 so that the ultrasonic diagnosis is executed on the basis of the input examination information.
Further, the operator can set various control parameters using the console 100 in executing the ultrasonic diagnosis. Examples of the control parameters include selection of an ultrasound image generation mode. The selectable ultrasound image generation modes include a brightness (B) mode and a color flow (CF) mode, for example. The B-mode is a mode for displaying a tomographic image by converting the amplitude of an ultrasonic echo into the brightness. The CF mode is a mode in which an average blood flow velocity, a flow fluctuation, a flow signal strength, a flow power, and the like are mapped to various colors and displayed to be superimposed on a B-mode image.
Next, a configuration of the ultrasonic endoscope 12 will be described.
The ultrasonic endoscope 12 includes the insertion part 22 and the operation part 24 as shown in
Further, as shown in
Further, as shown in
Further, as shown in
As shown in
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As shown in
The suction line is provided for sucking a sucked substance in the body cavity sucked from the cleaning nozzle 90 or for sucking the water in the balloon 37 through the water supply port 47. In a case where the suction button 28b is operated, a portion to be opened of the suction line is switched, and the suction port is also switched in a corresponding form between the cleaning nozzle 90 and the water supply port 47. That is, an object sucked by the suction pump 21b may be switched through the operation of the suction button 28b.
As shown in
Next, among the components of the ultrasonic endoscope 12, the ultrasound observation part 36 and the endoscope observation part 38 will be described in detail.
Ultrasound Observation Part
The ultrasound observation part 36 is a part provided for acquiring an ultrasound image, and is disposed on the distal end side in the distal end part 40 of the insertion part 22 as shown in
The ultrasound vibrator unit 46 corresponds to an ultrasonic probe (probe), and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in the body cavity of the patient (inside the subject). More specifically, the ultrasound vibrator unit 46 transmits and receives the ultrasonic waves as a drive target vibrator among a plurality of ultrasound vibrators 48 is driven inside the body cavity of the patient. The drive target vibrator is an ultrasound vibrator 48 that is actually driven (vibrated) to emit ultrasonic waves at the time of ultrasonic diagnosis and outputs a reception signal that is an electric signal in a case where reflected waves (echo) are received.
As shown in
Each ultrasound vibrator 48 is supplied with a pulsed drive voltage as an input signal from the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 through the coaxial cable 56. In a case where the drive voltage is applied to electrodes of the ultrasound vibrator 48, the piezoelectric element expands and contracts, so that the ultrasound vibrator 48 is driven (vibrated). As a result, pulsed ultrasonic waves are output from the ultrasound vibrator 48. Here, the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves output from the ultrasound vibrator 48 has a magnitude corresponding to the strength (output strength) in a case where the ultrasound vibrator 48 outputs the ultrasonic waves. Here, the output strength is defined as the magnitude of sound pressure of the ultrasonic waves output from the ultrasound vibrator 48.
In addition, in a case each ultrasound vibrator 48 receives reflected waves (echo) of the ultrasonic waves, the ultrasound vibrator 48 is accordingly vibrated (driven), and the piezoelectric element of each ultrasound vibrator 48 generates an electric signal. The electric signal is output from each ultrasound vibrator 48 toward the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 as an ultrasonic reception signal. Here, the magnitude (voltage value) of the electric signal output from the ultrasound vibrator 48 has a size corresponding to a reception sensitivity in a case where the ultrasound vibrator 48 receives the ultrasonic waves. Here, the reception sensitivity is defined as a ratio of the amplitude of the electric signal obtained by receiving and outputting the ultrasonic waves by the ultrasound vibrator 48 to the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the ultrasound vibrator 48.
Endoscope Observation Part
The endoscope observation part 38 is a part provided for acquiring an endoscope image, and is disposed on a base end side with reference to the ultrasound observation part 36, in the distal end part 40 of the insertion part 22, as shown in
As shown in
The solid-state imaging element 86 photoelectrically converts reflected light from the observation target adjacent portion that has passed through the observation window 82 and the objective lens 84 and is imaged on the imaging surface, and outputs an imaging signal. As the solid-state imaging element 86, a charge coupled device (CCD), a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), or the like may be used. A captured image signal output by the solid-state imaging element 86 is transmitted to the endoscope processor 16 by the universal cord 26 through the wiring cable 92 that elongates from the insertion part 22 to the operation part 24.
As shown in
Next, a configuration of the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 will be described.
The ultrasound observation apparatus 14 causes the ultrasound vibrator unit 46 to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, and generates an ultrasound image by imaging a reception signal output from the drive target element in receiving the ultrasonic waves. Further, the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 displays the generated ultrasound image on the monitor 20.
As shown in
The reception circuit 142 and the transmission circuit 144 are electrically connected to the ultrasound vibrator unit 46 of the ultrasonic endoscope 12, as shown in
The reception circuit 142 is a circuit that receives an electric signal output from the drive target vibrator that has received ultrasonic waves (echo), that is, a reception signal. Further, the reception circuit 142 amplifies the reception signal received from the ultrasound vibrator 48 in accordance with a control signal transmitted from the CPU 152, and delivers the amplified signal to the A/D converter 146. As shown in
As shown in
The phase matching part 160 executes a process of adding a delay time to a reception signal (received data) that is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 146 to perform phasing addition (addition after matching phases of the received data). A sound signal in which a focus of ultrasonic echo is narrowed down is generated by the phasing addition process.
The B-mode image generator 162 and the CF mode image generator 166 generate an ultrasound image on the basis of an electric signal output from the drive target vibrator among the plurality of ultrasound vibrators 48 in a case where the ultrasound vibrator unit 46 receives ultrasonic waves (strictly speaking, an sound signal generated by performing phasing addition with respect to received data).
The B-mode image generator 162 generates a B-mode image that is a tomographic image inside a patient (inside the body cavity). The B-mode image generator 162 corrects attenuation caused by a propagation distance according to the depth of a reflection position of ultrasonic waves by sensitivity time gain control (STC) with respect to sound signals that are sequentially generated. Further, the B-mode image generator 162 performs envelope detection processing and log (logarithmic) compression processing with respect to the corrected sound signals to generate a B-mode image (image signal).
The CF mode image generator 166 generates a blood flow image indicating blood flow information in a predetermined direction. The CF mode image generator 166 obtains an autocorrelation of a plurality of sound signals in the same direction among the sound signals that are sequentially generated by the phase matching part 160, to thereby generate a blood flow image (image signal) indicating information related to a blood flow. Then, the CF mode image generator 166 generates a CF mode image (image signal) as a color image on which the information related to the blood flow is superimposed by synthesizing the blood flow image with the B-mode image.
The DSC 154 that functions as an image display part is connected to the ASIC 148, and converts an image signal generated by the B-mode image generator 162 or the CF mode image generator 166 into an image signal in accordance with a normal television signal scanning method (raster conversion), performs a variety of necessary image processing such as gradation processing on the image signal, and then outputs the image signal to the monitor 20.
The CPU 152 functions as a controller that controls each part of the ultrasound observation apparatus 14, and as illustrated in
The blood flow image generated by the CF mode image generator (blood flow image generator) 166 is generated only for an ROI in the B-mode image. The CPU 152 also functions as a region-of-interest setting unit that sets the ROI in the B-mode image, recognizes the procedure to be performed using the ultrasonic endoscope 12, and sets the ROI according to the recognized procedure. The memory (storage unit) 150 stores ROI setting information for each procedure, and the CPU 152 sets the ROI on the basis of setting information corresponding to the recognized procedure among the setting information stored in the memory 150.
The operator may adjust the position and size of the ROI set by the CPU 152 using a keyboard or the like of the console 100. In a case where the ROI set by the CPU 152 is adjusted by the operator, the setting information stored in the memory 150 is preferably updated on the basis of the adjusted ROI. Thus, thereafter, the ROI set by the CPU 152 for the same procedure reflects a preference of the operator.
Next, a method for recognizing the procedure performed by the CPU 152 will be described.
As one of the procedures performed using the ultrasonic endoscope 12, there is endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). A puncture needle protrudes from the treatment instrument outlet 44 (see
As shown in
Further, organ observation is also one of the procedures performed using the ultrasonic endoscope 12. Examples of organs observed from the stomach include the liver, pancreatic body, pancreatic tail, pancreatic head, and the gallbladder. Further, examples of the organ observed from the duodenal bulb may include the common bile duct and the gallbladder, and examples of the organ observed from the descending portion of the duodenum may include the pancreatic uncinate process and the nipple. The CPU 152 detects an organ to be observed on the basis of the B-mode image, and sets an ROI corresponding to the detected organ. The detection of the organ may be performed using a learned model, and the learned model is a model learned using a data set including a plurality of B-mode images obtained by ultrasound observation of the above organ.
As described above, the CPU 152 recognizes the procedure to be performed using the ultrasonic endoscope 12, and automatically sets the ROI in accordance with the recognized procedure, thereby reducing an operation burden of the operator.
In the above-described example, the function as the controller that controls the respective parts of the ultrasound observation apparatus 14 and the function as the region-of-interest setting unit that sets an ROI are realized by one CPU 152, but may be realized by a plurality of hardware (processors) that are different for each function. Further, the function as the region-of-interest setting unit may be realized by a plurality of hardware (processors). For example, the function of detecting an observation portion on the basis of a B-mode image and the function of setting an ROI corresponding to the detected observation portion may be realized by different hardware (processors). For example, in a case where the function of detecting the observation portion on the basis of the B-mode image is realized by hardware (processor) that is different from the CPU 152, the hardware (processor) may be configured as an external module, and may be connected to the CPU 152 through a network or the like.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-058862 | Mar 2019 | JP | national |
