US-12622675-B2 - Ultrasound method and apparatus for processing ultrasound image

US12622675B2US 12622675 B2US12622675 B2US 12622675B2US-12622675-B2

Abstract

An ultrasound apparatus includes: a display unit configured to display on an ultrasound image a measuring device image including a plurality of measuring points which indicate points on the ultrasound image that are to be measured, and an adjusting portion for adjusting the plurality of measuring points; an input unit configured to receive a touch input for changing a position of the adjusting portion; and a controller configured to adjust a position of at least one of the plurality of measuring points based on the changed position of the adjusting portion, and to obtain a measurement value based on positions of the plurality of measuring points including the at least one measuring point, the position of which is adjusted, wherein the plurality of measuring points are disposed apart from the adjusting portion.

Inventors

Seung-Ju Lee
Yoon-woo JUN

Assignees

SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230613
Priority Date: 20141205

Claims (14)

1 . An ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a display configured to display, on an ultrasound image, a first adjusting portion and a second adjusting portion; a user inputter, comprising a touch panel, configured to receive the user input for measuring a distance on the ultrasound image; and a controller, comprising an image processor, configured to: receive, through the user inputter, a touch input for determining a position of the first adjusting portion, determine a position of a first measuring point which indicates a point on the ultrasound image that is to be measured, based on the determined position of the first adjusting portion, control the display to display the first measuring point at the determined position on the ultrasound image, receive, through the user inputter, a touch input for determining a position of the second adjusting portion, determine a position of a second measuring point which indicates a point on the ultrasound image that is to be measured, based on the determined position of the second adjusting portion, control the display to display the second measuring point at the determined position on the ultrasound image, receive, through the user inputter, a drag input for changing the position of the second adjusting portion, in response to the drag input being received, change the position of the second adjusting portion, adjust a position of the second measuring point based on the changed position of the second adjusting portion, and obtain a measurement value based on the position of the first measuring point and the adjusted position of the second measuring point, wherein the position of the first adjusting portion is configured to move with respect to a second reference point, and the position of the second adjusting portion is configured to move with respect to a first reference point, wherein the first adjusting portion is disposed apart from the first measuring point by a predetermined distance, and wherein the position of the first measuring point is kept unchanged while the position of the second measuring point is adjusted based on the drag input for changing the position of the second adjusting portion.
2 . The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second adjusting portion is disposed apart from the second measuring point by the predetermined distance.
3 . The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the position of the first adjusting portion moves toward or away from, and/or rotates about, the second reference point, and wherein the position of the second adjusting portion moves toward or away from, and/or rotates about, the first reference point.
4 . The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the position of the first measuring point is spaced apart from the first adjusting portion by a first predetermined distance, the first predetermined distance being maintained while the position of the first adjusting portion changes, and wherein the position of the second measuring point is spaced apart from the second adjusting portion by a second predetermined distance, the second predetermined distance being maintained while the position of the second adjusting portion changes.
5 . The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display is further configured to display, on the ultrasound image, a measuring device image representing a physical shape of a measuring device, wherein the measuring device image comprises the first and second adjusting portions and the first and second measuring points.
6 . The ultrasound apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the user inputter is further configured to receive a touch input of ending the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion, and the display is further configured to display on the ultrasound image a button image for storing the obtained measurement value in correspondence with the ultrasound image when the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion is ended.
7 . The ultrasound apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the user inputter is further configured to receive a touch input of ending the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion, and the display is further configured to delete the measuring device image and display on the ultrasound image a button image for re-adjusting the positions of the first measuring point and the second measuring point when the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion is ended.
8 . A method of processing an ultrasound image, the method comprising: displaying, on an ultrasound image, a first adjusting portion and a second adjusting portion; receiving a touch input for determining a position of the first adjusting portion; determining a position of a first measuring point which indicates a point on the ultrasound image that is to be measured, based on the determined position of the first adjusting portion; displaying the first measuring point at the determined position on the ultrasound image; receiving a touch input for determining a position of the second adjusting portion; determining a position of a second measuring point which indicates a point on the ultrasound image that is to be measured, based on the determined position of the second adjusting portion; displaying the second measuring point at the determined position on the ultrasound image; receiving a drag input for changing the position of the second adjusting portion; in response to the drag input being received, changing the position of the second adjusting portion; adjusting a position of the second measuring point based on the changed position of the second adjusting portion; and obtaining a measurement value based on the position of the first measuring point and the adjusted position of the second measuring point, wherein the position of the first adjusting portion is configured to move with respect to a second reference point, and the position of the second adjusting portion is configured to move with respect to a first reference point, wherein the first adjusting portion is disposed apart from the first measuring point by a predetermined distance, and wherein the position of the first measuring point is kept unchanged while the position of the second measuring point is adjusted based on the drag input for changing the position of the second adjusting portion.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second adjusting portion is disposed apart from the second measuring point by the predetermined distance.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the position of the first adjusting portion moves toward or away from, and/or rotates about, the second reference point, and wherein the position of the second adjusting portion moves toward or away from, and/or rotates about, the first reference point.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the position of the first measuring point is spaced apart from the first adjusting portion by a first predetermined distance, the first predetermined distance being maintained while the position of the first adjusting portion changes, and wherein the position of the second measuring point is spaced apart from the second adjusting portion by a second predetermined distance, the second predetermined distance being maintained while the position of the second adjusting portion changes.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the displaying comprises displaying, on the ultrasound image, a measuring device image representing a physical shape of a measuring device, wherein the measuring device image comprises the first and second adjusting portions and the first and second measuring points.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: receiving a touch input of ending the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion; and displaying on the ultrasound image a button image for storing the obtained measurement value in correspondence with the ultrasound image when the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion is ended.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: receiving a touch input of ending the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion; and deleting the measuring device image and display on the ultrasound image a button image for re-adjusting the positions of the first measuring point and the second measuring point when the user input of touching and dragging the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion is ended.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application is the continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/314,577 filed on May 7, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/739,734, filed on Jun. 15, 2015, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0174277, filed on Dec. 5, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. BACKGROUND 1. Field One or more exemplary embodiments relate to an ultrasound image processing method that obtains measurement information with respect to an object in an ultrasound image, based on an input of a user, and an ultrasound apparatus for executing the method. 2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses transmit ultrasound signals generated by transducers of a probe to an object and receive echo signals reflected from the object, thereby obtaining at least one image of an internal part of the object. In particular, ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses are used for medical purposes including observation of the interior of an object, detection of foreign substances, and diagnosis of damage to the object. Such ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses provide high stability, display images in real time, and are safe due to the lack of radioactive exposure, compared to X-ray apparatuses. Therefore, ultrasound imaging apparatuses are widely used together with other image diagnosis apparatuses. Meanwhile, sometimes a user has to measure a size, angle, area, or volume of an internal organ of a patient from an ultrasound image. Also, there is an occasion when a user needs to extract a characteristic of a graph or a figure indicated in an ultrasound image. In addition, a user may passively obtain a measurement value with respect to a measurement item that is to be measured, by using a measuring device, such as a caliper displayed in an ultrasound image. In order to increase the accuracy of a diagnosis, there is a need to provide a method and apparatus for increasing an accuracy of a measurement value by precisely and easily configuring a measurement item that a user aims to measure. In detail, a user interface for precisely configuring a measuring point in an ultrasound image by a simple input and for rapidly obtaining measurement information is required for a user to obtain measurement value. SUMMARY One or more exemplary embodiments include an ultrasound image processing method that measures an object indicated in an ultrasound image by using a measuring device which is determined according to an input of a user, and an ultrasound apparatus for executing the method. Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. According to one or more exemplary embodiments, an ultrasound apparatus includes a display unit configured to display on an ultrasound image a measuring device image including a plurality of measuring points which indicate points on the ultrasound image that are to be measured, and an adjusting portion for adjusting the plurality of measuring points; a user input unit configured to receive a touch input for changing a position of the adjusting portion; and a controller configured to adjust a position of at least one of the plurality of measuring points based on the changed position of the adjusting portion, and to obtain a measurement value based on positions of the plurality of measuring points including the at least one measuring point, the position of which is adjusted, wherein the plurality of measuring points are disposed apart from the adjusting portion. The controller may adjust the position of the at least one of the plurality of measuring points by changing at least one of a position and a shape of the measuring device image, when the touch input for changing the position of the adjusting portion is received. The controller may adjust the position of the at least one of the plurality of measuring points by adjusting a size of the measuring device image, when the touch input for changing the position of the adjusting portion is received. The controller may adjust the position of the at least one of the plurality of measuring points by rotating the measuring device image, when the touch input for changing the position of the adjusting portion is received. The measuring device image may have a shape that two partial images cross each other based on a reference point. The controller may adjust the position of the at least one of the plurality of measuring points by rotating the two partial images based on the reference point, when the touch input for changing the position of the adjusting portion is received. The display unit may display the obtained measurement value on the measuring device image. The display unit may display the measuring device image in a half-transparent way so that an area