Image processing apparatus and ultrasonic wave diagnosis apparatus

Abstract

An acquired volume data from a subject, which is allocated in points constituting three-dimensional space and forming a group of data representing a physical property of the subject, is recorded in a recording means, a characteristic quantity computed from values of the physical property held by the volume data at each point is extracted by a characteristic quantity extracting means, and three-dimensional image is generated by providing opacity to the characteristic quantity by three-dimensional image generating means, whichever the volume data is voxel volume data or polar-coordinate ultrasound volume data, so that the internal structure of parenchymatous organs, especially internal blood vessels and cavitary structures can be displayed three dimensionally.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an image processing device and an ultrasonic diagnostic device for imaging a three-dimensional body representing physical properties of a medical subject. Background technique [0002] In recent years, at the scene of medical activities such as diagnosis and treatment, such as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, X-ray CT equipment, X-ray diagnostic equipment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, nuclear medical diagnostic equipment (gamma ray camera) The images produced on medical imaging diagnostic equipment are displayed as three-dimensional images for diagnosis or treatment. In the field of 3D image diagnosis, for example, images are usually obtained by using a volume method, and the 3D images are displayed by performing volume rendering (hereinafter referred to as "VR"), and doctors find diseases by viewing the 3D images. [0003] For example, volume rendering involves slicing images obtained by ultrasonic diag...

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Problems solved by technology

[0011] However, for clipping or MPR image positioning, the body needs to be fine-tuned with the mouse while rotating the body, so if the three-dimensional image is displayed in real time and changes in it, such as blood flow, are checked, the technician must hold the ultrasound probe in the 3D in-body shooting is performed sequentially, and complex operations such as clipping operations are performed simultaneously for volume rendering, so this setup is not practical from the standpoint of operability

[0012] In addition, for volume rendering images, there is also a problem that the internal structure cannot be understood unless reference sections such as clipping are performed, and the task of cutting sections with a mouse, etc. is also very troublesome

[0013] In particular, non-flowing cavities such as the gallbladder or tissues with tubular structures do not produce Doppler signals, so even with color Doppler methods, non-flowing cavities cannot be visualized

Although it is conceivable to obtain a Doppler signal by injecting an ultrasound contrast agent (ultrasound contrast agent), this method itself has the problems of increased invasiveness, inconvenient examination, etc.

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