Acoustic image generation apparatus and progress display method in generating an image using the apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10568605-B2
Application number	US-201414319405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 28, 2011
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

In an acoustic image generation apparatus with a probe having an ultrasonic transducer, providing a scanning length setting part that sets a target scanning length in a scanning process of the probe, a coordinate obtaining part that sequentially obtains a coordinate of the probe in real space, a scanned length calculation part that calculates a scanned length based on the coordinate obtained by the coordinate obtaining part, a progress level display generation part that generates a progress level display that indicates progress of the scanning process based on the target scanning length and the scanned length, and a display part that displays the progress level display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An acoustic image generation apparatus, comprising:
a probe including:
an acoustic detection element that detects an acoustic wave propagating in a subject, and
a sensor;

an ultrasonic unit configured to:
generate, based on an acoustic signal of the acoustic wave detected by the acoustic detection element, an acoustic image of the acoustic signal;
set a target scanning length in a scanning process of the probe;
sequentially obtain a coordinate of the probe in real space by the sensor;
calculate a scanned length based on the coordinates obtained by the sensor; and
generate a progress level display that indicates progress of the scanning process based on the target scanning length and the scanned length; and

a display including a screen that displays the progress level display,
wherein the progress level display is a progress meter having a bar graph shape and including an indicator that indicates the progress level,
wherein the progress meter includes a scanning assist display that assists the scanning of the probe such that the scanning process is completed properly,
wherein the scanning assist display includes an ideal speed display that guides the scanning of the probe such that the scanning speed of the probe may be kept at a predetermined value,
wherein the ideal speed display is a constant speed index, the constant speed index moves above the progress meter at a constant speed in a forward direction of the indicator, and
wherein, in a case in which the distance between a position of the constant speed index and a position of the indicator becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, movement of the constant speed index is resumed at a position above the indicator.

2. The acoustic image generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scanning assist display includes a scanning limit display that indicates a position above the progress meter that corresponds to an upper limit of a movement amount of the probe, such that the scanning speed of the probe is within a predetermined range.

3. The acoustic image generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic unit is further configured to calculate a coordinate of a pixel included in an imaging area defined by the probe and located remote from the center axis of the probe in the real space based on the coordinate of the probe in the real space, and calculates the scanned length based on the coordinate of the pixel in the real space.

4. The acoustic image generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic unit is further configured to terminate the generation of the acoustic image when a variation in the scanned length becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

5. The acoustic image generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor.

6. The acoustic image generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an acceleration sensor.

7. The acoustic image generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the probe includes a light projector that projects measuring light onto the subject, and the acoustic detection element detects a photoacoustic wave generated in the subject due to the projection of the measuring light; and
the ultrasonic unit is further configured to generate a photoacoustic image based on a photoacoustic signal of the photoacoustic wave.

8. The acoustic image generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the acoustic detection element detects a reflected acoustic wave of an acoustic wave transmitted to the subject; and
the ultrasonic unit is further configured to generate a reflected acoustic wave image based on a reflected acoustic wave signal of the reflected acoustic wave.

9. A progress display method, in a scanning process in which a probe including an acoustic detection element and a sensor is scanned in generating an acoustic image, the method comprising the steps of:
sequentially obtaining a coordinate of the probe in real space by the sensor;
calculating a scanned length based on the sequentially obtained coordinates;
generating a progress level display that indicates progress of the scanning process based on a predetermined target scanning length and the scanned length; and
displaying the progress level display on a display,
wherein the progress level display is a progress meter having a bar graph shape and including an indicator that indicates the progress level,
wherein the progress meter includes a scanning assist display that assists the scanning of the probe such that the scanning process is completed properly,
wherein the scanning assist display includes an ideal speed display that guides the scanning of the probe such that the scanning speed of the probe is kept at a predetermined value,
wherein the ideal speed display is a constant speed index, the constant speed index moves above the progress meter at a constant speed in a forward direction of the indicator, and
wherein, in a case in which the distance between a position of the constant speed index and a position of the indicator becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, movement of the constant speed index is resumed at a position above the indicator.

10. The progress display method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the scanning assist display includes a scanning limit display that guides the scanning of the probe such that the scanning speed of the probe falls within a predetermined range.

11. The progress display method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the scanned length is calculated by calculating a coordinate of a pixel included in an imaging area defined by the probe and located remove from the center axis of the probe in the real space based on the coordinates of the probe in the real space, and based on the coordinate of the pixel in the real space.

Assignees

• Fujifilm Corp

Inventors

• Irisawa Kaku
• Abe Takeya

Classifications

• A61B5/0095

  by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements · CPC title

• A61B8/4245 Primary

  involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient · CPC title

• A61B8/4254

  using sensors mounted on the probe · CPC title

• A61B8/54

  Control of the diagnostic device · CPC title