US-12622681-B2 - Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, control method of ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and processor for ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

US12622681B2US 12622681 B2US12622681 B2US 12622681B2US-12622681-B2

Abstract

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus ( 1 ) includes a time phase search period specifying unit ( 16 ) that specifies a time phase search period in each heartbeat period on the basis of Doppler data; and a frame specifying unit ( 12 ) that specifies at least one of B-mode data of a frame with a maximum diameter of a blood vessel or B-mode data of a frame with a minimum diameter of the blood vessel in each heartbeat period by analyzing the B-mode data of a plurality of frames in the time phase search period specified by the time phase search period specifying unit ( 16 ).

Inventors

Yukiya Miyachi
Tomoki Inoue
Keiji Tsubota

Assignees

FUJIFILM CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20211012
Priority Date: 20190417

Claims (16)

1 . An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which B-mode data and Doppler data of a region including a blood vessel of a subject are continuously acquired for a predetermined period, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasound probe; a transmission and reception circuit configured to transmit an ultrasound beam to an inside of the subject via the ultrasound probe, and receive an ultrasound echo from the inside of the subject to generate reception data; and a processor configured to generate the B-mode data on the basis of the reception data generated by the transmission and reception circuit, specify at least one of a first period and a second period within each heartbeat period as a time phase search period, where each heartbeat period is composed of the first period, the second period, and a third period, the first period includes a time point at which the Doppler data has a minimum value, the second period includes a time point at which the Doppler data has a maximum value, the third period runs from an end of the second period to an end of each heartbeat period, and the first period, the second period, and the third period within any heartbeat period are different from each other, calculate a diameter of the blood vessel included in the B-mode data of each of a plurality of frames only in the specified time phase search period within each heartbeat period, and specify at least one of the B-mode data of a frame with a maximum diameter of the blood vessel or the B-mode data of a frame with a minimum diameter of the blood vessel within each heartbeat period based on the diameters of the blood vessel calculated from the B-mode data of the plurality of frames in the specified time phase search period.
2 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first period starts from the time point at which the Doppler data has the minimum value and ends with the time point at which the Doppler data has the maximum value in each heartbeat period.
3 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second period starts from a first time point at which the Doppler data has the maximum value and ends with a second time point which is after the first time point, where a time span between the first time point and the second time point is set to be shorter than each heartbeat period.
4 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first period and the second period has a time width of 10% or more and 20% or less of each heartbeat period.
5 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate at least one of the maximum diameter or the minimum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of at least one of the B-mode data of the frame with the maximum diameter of the blood vessel or the B-mode data of the frame with the minimum diameter of the blood vessel.
6 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a cross-sectional area of the blood vessel using at least one of the maximum diameter or the minimum diameter of the blood vessel, acquire the Doppler data in each heartbeat period, calculate a blood flow velocity on the basis of the Doppler data acquired, and measure a blood flow rate on the basis of the cross-sectional area and the blood flow velocity.
7 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first period starts from the time point at which the Doppler data has the minimum value and ends with the time point at which the Doppler data has the maximum value in each heartbeat period.
8 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second period starts from a first time point at which the Doppler data has the maximum value and ends with a second time point which is after the first time point, where a time span between the first time point and the second time point is set to be shorter than each heartbeat period.
9 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each of the first period and the second period has a time width of 10% or more and 20% or less of each heartbeat period.
10 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to specify the B-mode data of the frame with the minimum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the plurality of frames in the first period, calculate the minimum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the frame with the minimum diameter of the blood vessel, and calculate the cross-sectional area of the blood vessel using the minimum diameter of the blood vessel.
11 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to specify the B-mode data of the frame with the maximum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the plurality of frames in the second period, calculate the maximum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the frame with the maximum diameter of the blood vessel specified, and calculate the cross-sectional area of the blood vessel using the maximum diameter of the blood vessel calculated.
12 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein each of the first period and the second period has a time width of 10% or more and 20% or less of each heartbeat period.
13 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to specify the B-mode data of the frame with the minimum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the plurality of frames in the first period, and specifies the B-mode data of the frame with the maximum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the plurality of frames in the second period, calculate the minimum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the frame with the minimum diameter of the blood vessel, calculate the maximum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode data of the frame with the maximum diameter of the blood vessel, and calculate the cross-sectional area of the blood vessel using an average diameter of the blood vessel in each heartbeat period calculated from the minimum diameter of the blood vessel and the maximum diameter of the blood vessel calculated.
14 . The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate an elastic index of the blood vessel on the basis of a difference between the maximum diameter of the blood vessel and the minimum diameter of the blood vessel.
15 . A control method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which B-mode data and Doppler data of a region including a blood vessel of a subject are continuously acquired for a predetermined period, the control method comprising: transmitting an ultrasound beam to an inside of the subject via an ultrasound probe and receiving an ultrasound echo from the inside of the subject to generate reception data; generating the B-mode data on the basis of the reception data; specifying at least one of a first period and a second period as a time phase search period within each heartbeat period, where each heartbeat period is composed of the first period, the second period, and a third period, the first period includes a time point at which the Doppler data has a minimum value, the second period includes a time point at which the Doppler data has a maximum value, the third period runs from an end of the second period to an end of each heartbeat period, and the first period, the second period, and the third period within any heartbeat period are different from each other; calculating a diameter of the blood vessel included in the B-mode data of each of a plurality of frames only in the specified time phase search period within each heartbeat period; and specifying at least one of the B-mode data of a frame with a maximum diameter of the blood vessel or the B-mode data of a frame with a minimum diameter of the blood vessel within each heartbeat period based on the diameters of the blood vessel calculated from the B-mode data of the plurality of frames in the specified time phase search period.
16 . An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which B-mode data and Doppler data of a region including a blood vessel of a subject are continuously acquired for a predetermined period, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasound probe; a transmission and reception circuit configured to transmit an ultrasound beam to an inside of the subject via the ultrasound probe, and receive an ultrasound echo from the inside of the subject to generate reception data; and a processor configured to generate the B-mode data on the basis of the reception data generated by the transmission and reception circuit, specify at least one of a first period and a second period within each heartbeat period as a time phase search period, where a first period starts from a first time point at which the Doppler data has a minimum value and ends with a second time point at which the Doppler data has a maximum value within each heartbeat period, a second period starts from the second time point and ends with a third time point within each heartbeat period, the third period runs from an end of the second period to an end of each heart beat period, and the first period and the second period within any heartbeat period are different from each other, calculate a diameter of the blood vessel included in the B-mode data of each of a plurality of frames only in the specified time phase search period within each heartbeat period, and specify at least one of the B-mode data of a frame with a maximum diameter of the blood vessel or the B-mode data of a frame with a minimum diameter of the blood vessel within each heartbeat period based on the diameters of the blood vessel calculated from the B-mode data of the plurality of frames in the specified time phase search period.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2020/016285 filed on Apr. 13, 2020, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-078241 filed on Apr. 17, 2019. The above application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that acquires B-mode data and Doppler data, a control method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and a processor for the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art In the related art, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus has been known as an apparatus for obtaining an image of the inside of a subject. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus generally comprises an ultrasound probe comprising a transducer array in which a plurality of elements are arranged. In a state where the ultrasound probe is in contact with a body surface of the subject, an ultrasound beam is transmitted toward the inside of the subject from the transducer array and an ultrasound echo from the subject is received by the transducer array so that element data is acquired. Further, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus electrically processes the obtained element data to generate an ultrasound image of the corresponding site of the subject. For example, JP2017-524455A discloses an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that detects a blood vessel region in a Brightness mode (B-mode) image in which a blood vessel of a subject is shown, on the basis of Doppler data. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of JP2017-524455A segments the blood vessel in the B-mode image on the basis of the detected blood vessel region, and calculates a diameter of the segmented blood vessel on the basis of the B-mode image. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter of a blood vessel may be measured in order to calculate an elastic index or the like indicating the elasticity of the blood vessel. In a case where the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter of the blood vessel are measured using the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the related art as disclosed in JP2017-524455A, it is necessary to obtain the minimum value and the maximum value by comparing the diameters of blood vessels calculated from each B-mode image of a plurality of sequentially acquired frames, and therefore, there is a problem that the burden on the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is heavy and it takes a lot of time to calculate the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter of the blood vessel. Further, in a case where the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter of the blood vessel are to be measured on the basis of only the B-mode image, in a case where a brightness value fluctuates due to the influence of noise or the like, there is a possibility that the erroneous minimum value and maximum value are measured. The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, a control method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and a processor for the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, which can easily and accurately specify at least one of B-mode data with the maximum diameter of the blood vessel or B-mode data with the minimum diameter of the blood vessel. In order to achieve the object, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which B-mode data and Doppler data of a region including a blood vessel of a subject are continuously acquired for a predetermined period, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises a time phase search period specifying unit that specifies a time phase search period in each heartbeat period on the basis of the Doppler data; and a frame specifying unit that specifies at least one of the B-mode data of a frame with a maximum diameter of the blood vessel or the B-mode data of a frame with a minimum diameter of the blood vessel in each heartbeat period by analyzing the B-mode data of a plurality of frames in the time phase search period specified by the time phase search period specifying unit. It is preferable that the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus further comprises a blood vessel diameter calculation unit that calculates at least one of a maximum diameter or a minimum diameter of the blood vessel on the basis of at least one of the B-mode data of the frame with the maximum diameter of the blood vessel or the B-mode data of the frame with the minimum diameter of the blood vessel specified by the frame specifying unit. It is preferable that the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus further comprises a cross-sectional area calculation unit that calculates a cross-sectional area of the blood vessel using at least one of the