Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe, image generation circuitry, acquisition circuitry, calculation circuitry, guide image generation circuitry, and control circuitry. The ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic waves, and receives reflected waves. The image generation circuitry generates cross-section image data based on the reflected waves. The acquisition circuitry acquires, from volume data corresponding to three-dimensional region containing a blood vessel inside the subject, cross-section position information corresponding to the cross-section image data. The calculation circuitry calculates collection position information in the volume data based on a running direction of a blood vessel contained in the volume data, the collection position information corresponding to a position from which blood flow velocity information is collected. The guide image generation circuitry generates guide image data based on the cross-section position information and the collection position information. The control circuitry causes the guide image data to be displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
 an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit ultrasonic waves into a subject, and receive reflected waves generated by reflection of the ultrasonic waves inside the subject;   an image generator configured to generate, on the basis of the reflected waves received by the ultrasonic probe, cross-section image data corresponding to a two-dimensional region inside the subject;   acquisition circuitry configured to acquire, from volume data corresponding to three-dimensional region containing a blood vessel inside the subject, cross-section position information corresponding to a cross-section position of the cross-section image data;   calculation circuitry configured to calculate collection position information in the volume data on the basis of a direction in which a blood vessel contained in the volume data runs, the collection position information being position information corresponding to a position from which blood flow velocity information is collected;   guide image generation circuitry configured to generate guide image data on the basis of the cross-section position information and the collection position information; and   control circuitry configured to cause the guide image data to be displayed.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a position from which the blood flow velocity information is collected is a collection range arranged on a collection cross-section scanned by the ultrasonic probe for collecting the blood flow velocity information,   the calculation circuitry is configured to calculate, as the collection position information, position information in the volume data that corresponds to the collection cross-section and the collection range, and   the guide image generation circuitry is configured to generate, as guide image data, image data that the operator uses to move the ultrasonic probe to a position at which the collection cross-section having the collection range arranged therein is scanned.   
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the guide image generation circuitry is configured to generate the guide image data by, on two-dimensional image data generated from the volume data, superimposing, at a position based on the cross-section position information, a marker indicating a cross-section currently scanned by the ultrasonic probe and additionally superimposing, at a position based on the collection position information, markers indicating the collection range and the collection cross-section.   
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 extraction circuitry configured to extract a blood vessel region contained in the volume data; and   input circuitry configured to receive specification of an observation area within the volume data from the operator, wherein   the calculation circuitry is configured to calculate, in the volume data, a position and an angle of a scan line extending along a running direction of a blood vessel in the observation area, the running direction having been calculated by use of the blood vessel region, and calculate the collection position information by using an optimum line determined by the calculated position and angle.   
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the calculation circuitry is configured to
 acquire, in the volume data, a three-dimensional range corresponding to a three-dimensional scan range which can be scanned by the ultrasonic probe; 
 move the optimum line while keeping the position of the observation area stationary within the three-dimensional range in order to search for the collection range and the collection cross-section; and 
 calculate the collection position information by searching for a position that is a scan cross-section that allows scanning of the moved optimum line, and that gives the smallest angle between the moved optimum line and the running direction of the blood vessel in the observation area. 
   
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the calculation circuitry is configured to arrange, in the collection cross-section, a running line passing through the observation area and extending along the running direction of the blood vessel in the observation area, and then calculate the position of the running line in the volume data, and   the guide image generation circuitry is further configured to superimpose a line indicating the running line, on the two-dimensional image data, as an angle marker for angle correction.   
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the three-dimensional scan range is acquired by having the operator move the ultrasonic probe within a possible range with the ultrasonic probe kept in contact with a body surface of a subject, and   the calculation circuitry is configured to calculate a position of the three-dimensional range from the three-dimensional scan range and the cross-section position information.   
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the calculation circuitry is configured to calculate the position of the three-dimensional ranges by using information indicating where a body surface of the subject is located in the volume data. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the calculation circuitry is configured to arrange the optimum line parallel to a running direction of a blood vessel in the observation area, the running direction having been calculated by use of the blood vessel region. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the calculation circuitry is configured to calculate a plurality of pieces of candidate position information by searching for a position corresponding to an angle equal to or smaller than a predetermined value between the optimum line moved within the three-dimensional range and the running direction of the blood vessel in the observation area, and obtaining a plurality of candidate sets each including a candidate collection range and a candidate scan cross-section; and   when having received from the operator a request to change guide image data based on the piece of candidate position information that has a certain rank among the pieces of candidate position information, the control circuitry is configured to cause guide image data to be displayed that is based on the piece of candidate position information of a rank succeeding the certain rank.   
     
     
         11 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine ranks of the pieces of candidate position information in ascending order of the angles. 
     
     
         12 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein, in a situation where one candidate set has been extracted by use of the predetermined value, the calculation circuitry, upon receiving from the operator a request to change guide image data based on candidate position information of the candidate set, is configured to search for a position of another candidate set that gives a value equal to or smaller than a value that exceeds the predetermined value. 
     
     
         13 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cause the display to display thereon information needed by the operator in moving the ultrasonic probe to a position that allows scanning of the collection cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the operator has moved the ultrasonic probe to a position that allows scanning of the collection cross-section, the control circuitry is further configured to cause information to be output that notifies the operator that the collection cross-section is being scanned. 
     
     
         15 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the operator has moved ultrasonic probe to a position at which the collection cross-section is scanned, the control circuitry is configured to cause the collection range while superimposing the collection range on ultrasonic image data of the collection cross-section to be displayed and cause collection of blood flow velocity information in the collection range to be started. 
     
     
         16 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume data is volume data photographed by a medical diagnostic imaging apparatus of a kind other than an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume data is volume data from which a region where a blood flow exists can be extracted, the volume data having been photographed by transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves.