ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS

• US 20160220232A1
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.), Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: TAKADA, Yuko, OSUMI, Ryota
• Granted Patent: US 11,166,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52042 determining elastic properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target diagnostic techniques involving the measurement of strain A61B8/485
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52071 Multicolour displays; using colour coding; Optimising colour or information content in displays, e.g. parametric imaging

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes detection circuitry and processing circuitry. The detection circuitry detects a release state of an ultrasonic probe in an active state. The processing circuitry, when the detection circuitry detects the release state of the ultrasonic probe during activation of a control mode of generating a first image based on an output from the ultrasonic probe, displaying a second image different from the first image, and displaying the first image with a predetermined opacity on the second image, perform one of control to display the second image without generating the first image, control to display the second image without displaying the first image while generating the first image, and control to generate the first image, display the second image, and display, on the second image, the first image with an opacity lower than the predetermined opacity.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

detection circuitry configured to detect a release state of an ultrasonic probe in an active state; and

processing circuitry configured to, when the detection circuitry detects the release state of the ultrasonic probe during activation of a control mode of generating a first image based on an output from the ultrasonic probe, displaying a second image different from the first image, and displaying the first image with a predetermined opacity on the second image, perform one of

control to display the second image without generating the first image,

control to display the second image without displaying the first image while generating the first image, and

control to generate the first image, display the second image, and display, on the second image, the first image with an opacity lower than the predetermined opacity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image comprises an image obtained by spatially distributing colors corresponding to physical amounts calculated by processing outputs from the ultrasonic probe, and

the second image comprises an image obtained by spatially distributing luminance values calculated by processing outputs from the ultrasonic probe.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the physical amount includes one of a velocity, a displacement, a distortion, and a distortion rate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry detects a release state of the ultrasonic probe in an active state by processing outputs from the ultrasonic probe which correspond to a plurality of frames including a latest frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detection circuitry calculates statistical values respectively corresponding to the plurality of frames by processing outputs from the ultrasonic probe, and detects a release state of the ultrasonic probe in an active state by threshold determination using a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the calculated statistical values.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detection circuitry calculates statistical values respectively corresponding to the plurality of frames by processing outputs from the ultrasonic probe, and detects a release state of the ultrasonic probe by comparing all combinations of the calculated statistical values.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry detects a release state of the ultrasonic probe in an active state based on a position of the ultrasonic probe.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry detects a release state of the ultrasonic probe in an active state based on a posture of the ultrasonic probe.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry detects a release state of the ultrasonic probe in an active state based on whether the ultrasonic probe is accommodated in a holder.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry detects a release state of the ultrasonic probe in an active state based on a position and a posture of the ultrasonic probe.