Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080267482 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Three slices, i.e., Basal, Mid, and Apical slices, which correspond to clinically useful ASE segmentation are designated, and the positions of the three slices are tracked through at least one cardiac cycle by performing three-dimensional speckle tracking in the remaining time phases. Three C-mode projection images concerning the tracked positions are reconstructed. In addition, arbitrary myocardial wall motion parameters at the tracked positions are computed and displayed upon being superimposed on C-mode images or projected/displayed on a polar map. As a C-mode projection image method, one of the following techniques can be used detecting and projecting only movement components perpendicular to slices determined in an initial time phase, detecting and projecting average movement components of the respective walls, and tracking and projecting each myocardial position. The obtained C-mode images are simultaneously displayed together with markers indicating the positions of long-axis images and C-mode images. | 10-30-2008 |
20080304730 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - A contour detector detects the contour of a specific tissue based on ultrasonic image data having been acquired in a predetermined time phase. A contour tracking part obtains the position of each of points composing the contour of a specific tissue in ultrasonic image data having been acquired in each time phase, by pattern matching for each time phase. A computing part obtains motion information indicating the motion state of a specific tissue in each time phase, based on the position of each of points composing the contour in each time phase. A display controller controls a display to display an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image data having been acquired in each time phase, for each time phase. Furthermore, the display controller controls the display to display the motion information in each time phase, on each occasion of each time phase. | 12-11-2008 |
20080317316 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - Obtains the position of each of points composing the contour of a specific tissue shown in ultrasonic image data having been acquired at each time phase by pattern matching for each time phase. Obtains motion information of each of parts composing the specific tissue based on the position of each of the points composing the contour. For each time phase, obtain the differential value of the motion information of each of the parts by differentiating the motion information of each of the parts by time, and normalizes the differential value of the motion information. Assigns a color corresponding to the magnitude of the normalized differential value of the motion information to each of the parts displays an ultrasonic image at each time phase and furthermore display each of the parts of the specific tissue shown in the ultrasonic image of each time phase in the assign color. | 12-25-2008 |
20090043200 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Using three-dimensional mapping images at different time phases obtained by mapping motion information, a peak value of motion information in a local region is retrieved in each of the time phases. On the basis of the result, a locus line or the like indicative of fluctuations with time in the local peak region is generated and displayed so as to be, for example, superimposed on a mapping image. By observing the locus line on the mapping image displayed, the observer can directly grasp the state of the space-time propagation of mechanical excitement of the heart. | 02-12-2009 |
20090060306 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR PROCESSING AN ULTRASONIC IMAGE - A contour specifying part receives volume data representing a subject acquired by transmission of ultrasonic waves to the subject, and specifies a 3-dimensional contour of a myocardium based on the volume data. A forming part sets a reference point on the contour of the myocardium, and forms an image generation plane including a plane substantially orthogonal to the contour of the myocardium at the reference point. An image generator generates image data on the image generation plane based on the volume data. A display controller controls a display to display an image based on the image data. | 03-05-2009 |
20090069680 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Plural strain gauges which are folded lines defined by gauge end points and gauge middle points are set up every time phase using motion vector information of a tissue and a strain gauge image in which the strain gauges are overlapped at a corresponding position of an ultrasonic image at each time phase is generated and displayed. A rotation angle from a reference time phase is calculated, rotational difference information between the gauge end points is generated and displayed in a predetermined form for the respective gauge end points (and the gauge middle points if necessary). Accordingly, for example, by setting the gauge end points in an inner membrane and an outer membrane of a cardiac muscle and setting the gauge middle points in an intermediate membrane, quantitative information is generated such as the rotational difference between the inner and outer membranes in local regions of the cardiac muscle or in the global cardiac muscle or the rotational difference of the inner membrane and the outer membrane relative to the intermediate membrane. | 03-12-2009 |
20090112088 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, IMAGE DATA GENERATING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC METHOD AND IMAGE DATA GENERATING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a displacement measuring unit, a motor information measuring unit, a comparison parameter calculation unit and a parameter image data generating unit. The displacement measuring unit two-dimensionally measures displacements of a myocardial tissue in pieces of ultrasonic image data adjacent in time direction. The motor information measuring unit measures strains and strain rates of the myocardial tissue based on the displacements as motor information. The comparison parameter calculation unit calculates comparison parameters based on the strain rates, or the strains and strain rates. The parameter image data generating unit generates parameter image data using the comparison parameters. | 04-30-2009 |
20090204000 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image creating unit configured to create an image of an affected area and an image of a puncture needle inserted into a subject by means of an ultrasonic scanning operation, and a monitor configured to display the image of the affected area and the image of the puncture needle created by the image creating unit, wherein the image creating unit displays a tissue expected to be extracted from the affected area as an image on the monitor before the puncture needle is inserted into the affected area. | 08-13-2009 |
20090270732 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - In time phases except a first time phase, a contour tracking part tracks the position of a region of interest based on image data acquired in each of the time phases. A re-tracking part receives correction of the position of the region of interest in a second time phase, and obtains the position of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase based on the image data acquired in and after the second time phase. From position information of the region of interest in and before the second time phase and position information of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase, a position calculator obtains position information of the region of interest in all the time phases. A computing part obtains motion information of a tissue within the region of interest based on the position information of the region of interest. | 10-29-2009 |
20090306508 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed herein comprises an ultrasonic probe which generates an ultrasonic beam, a volume data set collecting unit which collects a plurality of volume data sets corresponding to a plurality of three-dimensional scan ranges via the ultrasonic probe, the plurality of three-dimensional scan ranges partly overlapping one another, a region of interest setting unit which sets, in accordance with a user instruction, a region of interest on a first tomogram generated from particular one of the plurality of volume data sets, a tomogram generating unit which generates the first tomogram from the particular volume data set and also generates a second tomogram associated with a section including the region of interest from another volume data set corresponding to the three-dimensional scan range including the region of interest, and a display unit which displays the first tomogram and the second tomogram. | 12-10-2009 |
20090318803 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A plurality of strain gauges defined by gauge endpoints are set in each time phase using motion vector information of tissue, and a three-dimensional strain gauge image in which each strain gauge is disposed at a three-dimensional position corresponding to, for example, an ultrasonic image in each time phase is generated and displayed. Moreover, an MPR image is set on volume data and is displayed in a predetermined form in a state where gauge coordinates are projected thereon. | 12-24-2009 |
20100041992 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - When displaying a plurality of images in different conformations in relation to information of a tissue motion typified by a heart wall motion, support information which is used to rapidly and easily visually confirm a relative positional correspondence relationship between an MPR image, a polar mapping image, and a three-dimensional image is generated and displayed. A marker indicative of a desired local position is set and displayed as required. Further, a position corresponding to the set or changed marker may not be present on the MPR image. In such a case, the MPR image always including a position corresponding to the set or changed marker is generated and displayed by automatically adjusting a position of an MPR cross section. | 02-18-2010 |
20100041994 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM IS RECORDED - The average velocity of a tissue is calculated for each frame in accordance with compression/release, and a reference waveform is generated by using the calculated velocity. A time phase in which the average velocity becomes 0 is specified by the reference waveform. In strain computation, time integration is performed for strain computation in a compression period or a release period with reference to the specified stationary time phase. This can properly and automatically visualize how the contraction of the tissue is accumulated from the start of compression or the contraction of the tissue becomes maximum in a compression end time phase in a compression period and how the tissue expands from the start of release or the expansion of the tissue becomes maximum in a release end time phase in a release time phase. | 02-18-2010 |
20100056919 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A normal vector on a regression plane in a reference time phase in a three-dimensional space is defined with regard to a moving tissue typified by a myocardial wall. Orthogonal projection vectors on the regression plane at each vertex (Pij(t)) in each time phase are calculated by using the normal vector on the regression plane, and the angle defined by the orthogonal projection vectors is calculated, thereby acquiring a local rotational angle at each vertex (Pij(t)) in each time phase relative to the reference time phase. | 03-04-2010 |
20100195887 | MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROCESSING MEDICAL IMAGES - Based on medical image data acquired in each time phase included in a one-cycle interval, first tracking part tracks the position of a first region of interest set in a first time phase in each time phase and tracks the position of a second region of interest set in a second time phase in each time phase. Based on position information of the first region of interest and the second region of interest in each time phase, position correction part obtains position information of a region of interest in each time phase so that it passes through the position of the first region of interest in the first time phase and the position of the second region of interest in the second time phase. Motion-information calculator obtains motion information of a tissue based on the obtained position information. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198071 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - Position coordinate information of each point three-dimensionally forming a tissue corresponding to a diagnosis target at each time phase is obtained, a quantitative value for evaluating the movement of the tissue corresponding to the diagnosis target is calculated by using the position information, and the result is output in a predetermined form. Accordingly, since the quantitative value for evaluating the movement is calculated by using the three-dimensional position coordinate information without converting wall movement information obtained by a three-dimensional tracking process into two-dimensional information, it is possible to provide medical information with a higher degree of precision. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198072 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In the case where a tracking process of a moving tissue performing a contraction movement and an expansion movement and represented by a cardiac wall is performed for one heartbeat from the ED | 08-05-2010 |
20100310145 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe, a scanning unit, an image data generating unit, a slice specifying unit, an image generating unit and a display unit. The scanning unit repeats three-dimensional scanning on a three-dimensional region in an object with an ultrasonic wave via the ultrasonic probe. The image data generating unit repeatedly generates three-dimensional image data based on an output from the scanning unit. The slice specifying unit specifies at least one slice from the three-dimensional image data concurrently with the three-dimensional scanning. The image generating unit generates at least one slice image associated with the specified slice from the three-dimensional image data. The display unit displays the generated slice image. | 12-09-2010 |
20110077516 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment which executes ultrasound scanning over a two-dimensional or three-dimensional region in a subject, includes a cross-section detecting unit which detects an MPR position corresponding to at least one predetermined reference cross-section of the heart by use of at least one volume data obtained by executing ultrasound scanning over the three-dimensional region containing at least a portion of the heart of the subject, an image generating unit which generates an MPR image corresponding to the MPR position, a display unit which displays the MPR image, and an image acquisition unit which executes ultrasound scanning over the two-dimensional region in the subject under the reference of the MPR position to obtain at least one two-dimensional image regarding the two-dimensional region. | 03-31-2011 |
20110087094 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises a data acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of volume data over a predetermined period by executing ultrasonic scanning on a three-dimensional region including at least part of a heart of an object over the predetermined period, a detection condition setting unit configured to set detection conditions which are conditions used to detect a plurality of slices from the at least one volume data and include a detection accuracy associated with at least one slice and an angle defined between slices, a slice detection unit configured to detect the plurality of slices from the at least one volume data in accordance with the set detection conditions, an image generating unit configured to generate MPR images respectively corresponding to the plurality of detected slices, and a display unit configured to display the MPR images. | 04-14-2011 |
20110190633 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, setting unit, associating unit, and registering unit. The storage unit stores 2D or 3D first time series image data and second time series image data over a predetermined period. The setting unit sets a first ROI on the first image data and a second ROI on the second image data for each of a plurality of phases in the predetermined period in accordance with a user instruction or by image processing. The associating unit associates the set first ROI with the set second ROI for each of the plurality of phases. The registering unit registers the first image data and the second image data for each of the plurality of phases based on a relative positional relationship between the first ROI and the second ROI which are associated with each other. | 08-04-2011 |
20110190634 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - In general, according to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate medical images from a multislice which covers an area including the heart of an object. Each slice is almost perpendicular to the long axis of the heart. Each medical image is a short-axis image of the heart. A series of medical images captured at different times correspond to each slice. The embodiment generates a polar map associated with myocardial motion indices from a plurality of medical images. A polar map is segmented into segments. The embodiment calculates the average value of motion indices for each segment. The utility of an average value depends on the range covered by each segment. This embodiment matches the boundary of a segment with the position of a vein. This prevents a deterioration in the utility of average values due to the influences of veins. | 08-04-2011 |
20110319761 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a data acquisition unit configured to scan a region which includes at least part of a heart of an object and acquire ultrasonic data associated with the region, a curve acquisition unit configured to acquire temporal change curves of a wall motion parameter associated with a plurality of regions of the heart by using the ultrasonic data associated with the region to be scanned and a value acquisition unit configured to acquire an index value associated with cardiac wall motion by calculating a difference value of the wall motion parameter of two arbitrary regions, of the plurality of regions of the heart, at each phase in an analysis period by using temporal change curves associated with the two arbitrary regions, calculating a total sum of the difference values in the analysis period, and normalizing the total sum with a predetermined value. | 12-29-2011 |
20120165674 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a motion information generating unit and a control unit. The motion information generating unit generates first motion information on cardiac wall motion of at least one of a left ventricle and a left atrium and second motion information on cardiac wall motion of at least one of a right ventricle and a right atrium, on the basis of a first volume data group and a second volume data group; generates first correction information and second correction information by correcting the first motion information and the second motion information such that the first motion information and the second motion information are substantially synchronized with each other, and generates a motion information image in which the first correction information and the second correction information are arranged along the time axis. The control unit controls to display the motion image information. | 06-28-2012 |
20130137987 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes a detector, a determination unit, a retention controller, and a display controller. The detector is configured to detect a peak flow velocity of blood flow velocities acquired from Doppler waveforms collected in a time-serial manner or a peak value of average flow velocities of the blood flow velocities as a representative flow velocity for each predefined period. The determination unit is configured to determine a maximum value in a predefined polarity of a plurality of representative flow velocities. The retention controller is configured to control a memory unit to retain maximum waveform information that is Doppler waveform information of Doppler waveforms collected for a period in which the maximum value was detected. The display controller is configured to control a display unit to display the maximum waveform information with Doppler waveform information having been collected by a present time point. | 05-30-2013 |
20130274601 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes an input unit and a selecting unit. The input unit receives a group of ultrasound images corresponding to at least one heart beat from among a group of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of heart beats of a subject, as first partial data. While using a heart rate of the subject during the acquisition period of the first partial data as a reference heart rate, the selecting unit selects a group of ultrasound images having a heart rate within a predetermined range from the reference heart rate as second partial data, out of a group of ultrasound images of the subject acquired in a time frame different from that of the first partial data. | 10-17-2013 |
20140100461 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a data acquisition unit configured to execute ultrasonic scanning for a tissue region throughout a predetermined period and acquire a plurality of image data respectively corresponding to phases in the predetermined period; a positional information acquisition unit configured to acquire positional information of a region of interest in the tissue region at least one phase in the period by executing tracking processing using at least part of the plurality of image data; a shape information calculation unit configured to calculate shape information corresponding to the region of interest at least one phase in the period by using positional information of the region of interest at the at least one phase; and an output unit configured to output the shape information at the at least one phase. | 04-10-2014 |