Patent Publication Number: US-2012041313-A1

Title: Ultrasonic imaging device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a medical ultrasonic imaging device, and, more particularly, to an ultrasonic imaging device that chronologically measures intracardiac absolute pressure as desired by the examiner. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In many advanced countries, heart disease is one of the three leading causes of death. In making an early diagnosis of or monitoring heart disease, temporal pressure information with respect to the left atrium or the left ventricle is used as an index that is directly helpful for diagnostic purposes. The term pressure information as used above refers to differential pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure and will hereinafter be referred to as absolute pressure. 
     When measuring intracardiac absolute pressure, a method is employed whereby a cardiac catheter is inserted into the body. Information that may be obtained with a catheter is mainly absolute pressures with respect the aorta, the left ventricle and the left atrium, and fluctuations in absolute pressure caused by pulsation, that is, an absolute pressure waveform. This method is an invasive method where a cardiac catheter is inserted into the body and intracardiac pressure is measured directly. 
     In addition, as a non-invasive technique relating to measuring intracardiac pressure, there has been devised a method where blood velocity inside the heart is measured, and intracardiac pressure difference is calculated from the measured blood velocity using physical equations. The term pressure difference as used above refers to the pressure difference between two given points. More particularly, with respect to methods for calculating pressure difference from blood velocity, the following methods, which differ in how velocity is detected, have been reported. The method of Patent Document 1 measures a unidirectional component of a fluid having three-dimensional motion using the ultrasonic Doppler effect, and infers the three-dimensional behavior of the fluid using numerical calculations. In addition, the method of Non-Patent Document 1 measures a unidirectional component of a fluid having three-dimensional motion using the ultrasonic Doppler effect, and calculates a two-dimensional flow velocity vector by imposing an assumption of two-dimensional behavior. The methods of Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1 measure only a unidirectional velocity component of a fluid, and estimates other directional components. Thus, the pressure difference calculated based on the estimated flow velocity vector is effective for flow-fields with little three-dimensional influence. In addition, in Patent Document 2, high-precision two-dimensional blood velocity vectors are detected by tracking, over time, reflected signals from a contrast agent called Echo PIV. 
     As methods of measuring an absolute pressure waveform, there are methods that convert a radial main artery pressure waveform into a central aortic pressure waveform using a transfer function. In Non-Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 3, a central aortic pressure waveform estimated from a radial main artery pressure waveform is compared with an actual central aortic pressure waveform, and favorable correspondence is demonstrated therebetween. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2004-121735 A 
         Patent Document 2: WO 2007/136554 A1 
       
    
     Non-Patent Documents 
     
         
         Non-Patent Document 1: Tanaka, M. et al., Journal of Cardiology, 52, 86-101 (2008) 
         Non-Patent Document 2: Pauca, A. L., et al., Hypertension 38:932-937 (2006) 
         Non-Patent Document 3: Millasseau S. C., et al., Hypertension 41:1016-1020 (2003) 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, when a cardiac catheter is used, while it is possible to chronologically measure intracardiac absolute pressure, because it is an invasive measurement, the strain on the patient is considerable. In addition, with respect to methods that calculate intracardiac pressure difference from blood velocity using physical equations, since quantities that may be calculated through physical equations are relative pressure differences between two given points, absolute pressure cannot be measured. While pressure waveform measuring methods that use a transfer function are capable of chronologically measuring absolute pressure, they are restricted to aortic pressure. Application of transfer function methods to intracardiac pressure results in significant errors, and offers no precision with respect to diagnosability. 
     An object of the present invention is to measure non-invasively, or with minimal invasion, absolute pressure inside the heart at a desired location with respect to heartbeat time phase. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     With the present invention, artery pressure is non-invasively and chronologically detected by means of a pressure sensor, and artery pressure is converted into absolute reference pressure inside the heart or at a reference point in proximity thereto at a given time phase by means of a transfer function. In addition, blood velocity is detected based on an ultrasonic imaging signal, and a spatial pressure difference between the reference point and a pressure calculation location, which is set inside the heart, is calculated based on blood velocity using the laws of physics. Further, using reference pressure and spatial pressure difference, intracardiac absolute pressure is calculated. In so doing, by changing the pressure difference calculation method depending on the heartbeat time phase, a continuous display of absolute pressure with respect to any given heartbeat time phase, that is, detection of an intracardiac absolute pressure waveform that is more precise than it has conventionally been, is made possible. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     With the present invention, relative to the conventional examples where intracardiac pressure difference is measured based on fluid behavior, by calculating the absolute pressure of a reference part with good precision, it is possible to provide absolute pressure that is effective for diagnostic purposes. In addition, by virtue of the chronological measurements by the pressure sensor, it is possible to detect chronological pressure fluctuations of the heartbeat. Further, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic imaging device that chronologically measures intracardiac absolute pressure non-invasively or with minimal invasion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a block diagram showing the device configuration of an ultrasonic imaging device of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram showing the device configuration of an ultrasonic imaging device of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the operations of a signal processing part. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing the details of step S 12 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the details of step S 13 . 
         FIG. 5  shows charts illustrating heartbeat time phases with respect to intracardiac absolute pressure and aortic pressure. 
         FIG. 6  shows diagrams illustrating the opening/closing of heart valves with respect to heartbeat time phase. 
         FIG. 7(   a ) is a diagram illustrating Bernoulli&#39;s principle when the valve is closed, and ( b ) is a diagram illustrating Bernoulli&#39;s principle when the valve is open. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a state where a tracer has entered the heart. 
         FIG. 9(   a ) is an illustrative diagram where a tracer image is divided in a grid-like fashion, ( b ) is a diagram illustrating the tracking of changes in the tracer image over time, and ( c ) is a diagram illustrating velocity vectors as derived via the tracer. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the calculation of pressure difference as derived from velocity vectors. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating the derivation of pressure difference from in-flow propagation velocity. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating the changing of pressure difference calculation methods incorporating heartbeat time phases. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating ROI settings for valve flow velocity detection. 
         FIG. 14(   a ) is a diagram showing a display screen for heartbeat time phase fluctuations in intracardiac absolute pressure and aortic pressure, ( b ) is a diagram showing a contour line display screen for intracardiac pressure and aortic pressure, and ( c ) is a diagram showing a display screen for a pressure-volume relationship diagram. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described below based on the drawings. 
       FIG. 1A  is a block diagram showing a device configuration example of an ultrasonic imaging device according to the present invention. An ultrasonic imaging device of the present invention comprises a device main body  1 , an ultrasonic probe  2 , and a pressure sensor  3 . 
     The device main body  1  controls the ultrasonic probe  2 , while at the same using a blood pressure signal from the pressure sensor  3  to generate an ultrasound image. In accordance with a signal generated at an ultrasonic signal generator  12 , the ultrasonic probe  2  comes into contact with a living organism (an examinee)  41 , and irradiates an irradiation region  42  with an ultrasonic wave, while also receiving a reflected-wave echo signal of the irradiation region  42 . The pressure sensor  3  measures the blood pressure of an artery  44  at a given site  43  of the living organism. 
     Next, detailed elements of the device main body  1  will be described. The device main body  1  comprises an input part  10 , a control part  11 , the ultrasonic signal generator  12 , an ultrasonic wave reception circuit  13 , a pressure sensor reception circuit  14 , a signal processing part  15 , memory  16 , and a display part  17 . 
     The input part  10  is a keyboard or a pointing device with which the examiner operating the ultrasonic imaging device sets operation conditions for the ultrasonic imaging device with respect to the control part  11 , or an electrocardiography signal input part in cases where electrocardiography is employed. The control part  11  is a part that, based on the operation conditions for the ultrasonic imaging device set by the input part  10 , controls the ultrasonic signal generator  12 , the ultrasonic wave reception circuit  13 , the pressure sensor reception circuit  14 , the signal processing part  15 , the memory  16 , and the display part  17 . By way of example, it is a CPU of a computer system. The ultrasonic wave reception circuit  13  performs signal processing, such as amplification, rectification, etc., on a reflected echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe  2 . The pressure sensor reception circuit  14  converts a signal obtained from the pressure sensor  3  into pressure information and hands it over to the signal processing part  15 . The signal processing part  15  has a function of generating an ultrasound image based on the reflected echo signal from the ultrasonic probe  2  and on the blood pressure signal from the pressure sensor  3 . The memory  16  stores various information, namely the reflected echo signal, and the ultrasound image and blood pressure signal obtained at the signal processing part  15 . The memory  16  also stores information that is held at an absolute pressure computation part  154  and at a blood velocity computation part  1522 . The display part  17  outputs information that is stored on the memory  16 . 
     Next, detailed elements of the signal processing part  15  will be described. The signal processing part  15  comprises a shape image formation part  151 , a spatial pressure difference calculation part  152 , a reference pressure computation part  153 , and an absolute pressure computation part  154 . Based on the reflected echo signal outputted from the ultrasonic wave reception circuit  13 , the shape image formation part  151  forms, by way of example, a B-mode image, that is, an organ shape of the examinee. 
     The spatial pressure difference calculation part  152  comprises a heartbeat time phase detection part  1521 , the blood velocity computation part  1522 , and a blood pressure difference computation part  1523 . The blood velocity computation part  1522  calculates blood velocity based on the reflected echo outputted from the ultrasonic wave reception circuit  13 . With respect to a reference point obtained at a reference point setting part  1531  and to a given spatial point from the organ shape formed at the shape image formation part  151 , the blood pressure difference computation part  1523  calculates the pressure difference relative to the reference point. Further, the heartbeat time phase detection part  1521  detects the heartbeat time phase based on the reflected echo outputted from the ultrasonic wave reception circuit  13 . Heartbeat time phase detection may be carried out through, by way of example, recognition of the flow velocity direction passing through the valve by the blood velocity computation part  1522 , or through recognition of the valve&#39;s opening/closing based on a flow velocity direction shape image, or through recognition of the heartbeat time phase based on an electrocardiography signal imported via the input part  10 , and so forth. 
     The reference pressure computation part  153  comprises the reference point setting part  1531 , a transfer function input part  1532 , and a reference point pressure conversion part  1533 . The reference point setting part  1531  sets a reference point based on the organ shape obtained at the shape image formation part  151 . The transfer function input part  1532  reads out from the memory  16  a transfer function corresponding to the reference point that has been set at the reference point setting part  1531 . The reference point pressure conversion part  1533  calculates the absolute pressure at the reference point based on the artery pressure information handed over from the pressure sensor reception circuit  14  and on the transfer function. 
     Based on the reference point absolute pressure obtained at the reference pressure computation part  153  and on the spatial pressure difference relative to the reference point at a given location as obtained at the spatial pressure difference calculation part  152 , the absolute pressure computation part  154  calculates the absolute pressure of the given location. 
     A process flow of the present embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , as a specific example, it is assumed that the irradiation region  42  in  FIG. 1A  is a site including the heart and the ascending aorta, that the given site  43  is the forearm, and that the artery  44  is the radial artery. First, the shape image formation part  151  converts an ultrasonic signal into, by way of example, a shape image for a living organism shape such as the heart and the aorta (S 11 ), and sends the shape image to the reference pressure computation part  153  and the absolute pressure computation part  154 . Next, the reference pressure computation part  153  converts the pressure obtained at the pressure sensor  3  to reference pressure P 0  of reference point X 0  (S 12 ). Next, the spatial pressure difference calculation part  152  calculates the pressure difference between reference point X 0  and location X 1  (S 13 ). Finally, the absolute pressure computation part  154  calculates intracardiac absolute pressure based on reference pressure P 0  and the spatial pressure difference (S 14 ). Thus, through the processes at the reference pressure computation part  153 , the spatial pressure difference calculation part  152  and the absolute pressure computation part  154 , it becomes possible to obtain intracardiac absolute pressure based on radial artery pressure and an intracardiac blood velocity field. It is noted that step  12  and step  13  may be reversed in order or executed simultaneously. 
     Next, a detailed process of the reference pressure computation part in step  12  will be described using  FIG. 3 . An image of the heart and the aorta is obtained from the shape image formation part  151  (S 121 ). Next, at the reference point setting part  1531 , based on the above-mentioned obtained image, the user sets reference point X 0  at, by way of example, a center part of the ascending aorta, which is representative of the ascending aorta. Although X 0  indicates the interior of the aorta in this case, it may also be a representative point within the left ventricle. Whether the reference point is to be set in the left ventricle or the aorta is decided by the user. It is noted that the setting of X 0  may also be performed by automatically detecting a reference organ shape calculated at the shape image formation part  151  (S 122 ). The transfer function input part  1532  reads out from the memory  16  a transfer function corresponding to the reference point that has been set at the reference point setting part  1531 . The reference point pressure conversion part  1533  calculates the absolute pressure with respect to the reference point based on the artery pressure information handed over from the pressure sensor reception circuit  14  and on the transfer function. 
     The transfer function input part  1532  reads out, from the memory  16  storing transfer functions, a transfer function corresponding to the reference point that has been set as mentioned above and to the site to be measured with the pressure sensor (S 123 ). The transfer function is a function representing the relationship between phase and gain for a radial artery pressure waveform and an aorta pressure waveform with respect to a frequency space in which the radial artery pressure waveform and aorta pressure waveform, which are fluctuations in radial artery pressure and aorta pressure over time, are each Fourier transformed. The transfer function is phase and gain information per frequency, and phase and gain information is stored on memory. In addition, specific examples of transfer functions are also described in Non-Patent Document 3. Next, the pressure of the radial artery measured by the pressure sensor  3  is inputted (S 124 ), and the reference point pressure conversion part  1533  converts the above-mentioned inputted pressure information to ascending aorta pressure P 0 , which has been set as the reference point, based on the above-mentioned obtained transfer function (S 125 ). Here, by having the pressure sensor employ tonometry, radial artery pressure with good precision is calculated. The transfer function is a function representing the relationship between phase and gain for the radial artery and aorta. 
     Alternatively, reference pressure P 0 , e.g., ascending aorta pressure, etc., that has been set as the reference point may also be inputted via external input. A configuration diagram for one such case is shown in  FIG. 1B . A reference pressure input part  155  inputs reference pressure P 0 , e.g., ascending aorta pressure, etc., and communicates information on reference pressure P 0  to the spatial pressure difference calculation part  152  and the absolute pressure computation part  154 . 
     Next, a detailed process of the spatial pressure difference calculation part in step  13  will be described using  FIG. 4 . First, reference point X 0  that has been set as discussed above is inputted (S 131 ). The image of the heart and aorta from the shape image formation part  151  is inputted (S 132 ). Next, based on the obtained image discussed above, the user sets arbitrary location X 1  (S 133 ). In the present case, X 1  is set as an arbitrary point inside the heart. It is noted that the setting of X 1  may be performed automatically through image processing by defining, for example, a center part inside the heart, etc., as being a representative site. In addition, X 1  may be a plurality of points, and the space may have two or more dimensions. Further, the heartbeat time phase detection part  1521  detects the heartbeat time phase based on an ultrasonic signal obtained from the ultrasonic wave reception circuit  13  (S 134 ), and the pressure difference calculation method is determined (S 135 ). The method for calculating the pressure difference inside the heart is determined in accordance with the state of valve opening or valve closure inside the heart. If the valve is closed, the regurgitant flow velocity at the location of the valve is detected, and Bernoulli&#39;s principle is selected as the pressure difference calculation method (S 136 ). In addition, if the valve is open, the flow velocity at the location of the valve is detected, and the Navier-Stokes equation is selected (S 137 ). In step  138 , pressure difference ΔP between reference point X 0  and location X 1  that have been set in step  131  and S 133  is calculated using the method selected in step  136  or step  137 . 
     Details of the method of determining the pressure difference calculation method as carried out in step  135  will now be described using  FIG. 5 . The graph in  FIG. 5(   a ) shows examples of pressure fluctuations over time with respect to one heartbeat.  511  represents pressure fluctuation in the aorta,  512  pressure fluctuation in the left ventricle, and  513  pressure fluctuation in the left atrium. In addition, schematics of changes that the heart undergoes over the course of one heartbeat are shown in  FIG. 6. 61  represents the aorta,  62  the left atrium,  63  the left ventricle,  64  the aortic valve, and  65  the mitral valve. 
     The period from T 1 , which is the point at which the mitral valve closes, up to T 2 , which is the point at which the aortic valve opens, is called the isovolumetric contraction phase  525 . The heart during this period of time is such that, as shown in  FIG. 6(   a ), the aortic valve  64  and the mitral valve  65  are closed. At this point, at the aortic valve  64  and the mitral valve  65 , an aortic valve regurgitant flow  641 , which is leakage from a gap in the closed aortic valve, and a mitral valve regurgitant flow  651 , which is leakage from a gap in the closed mitral valve, are taking place. The period from T 2  up to T 3 , which is the point at which the aortic valve closes, is called the ejection phase  526 . The heart during this period is such that, as shown in  FIG. 6(   b ), the aortic valve  64  is open and the mitral valve  65  is closed. At this point, at the aortic valve  64  and mitral valve  65 , an aortic valve forward flow  642  and the mitral valve regurgitant flow  651  are taking place. The period from T 3  up to T 4 , which is the point at which the mitral valve opens, is called the isovolumetric relaxation phase  527 , and as shown in  FIG. 6(   c ), the aortic valve  64  and the mitral valve  65  are closed. At this point, at the aortic valve  64  and the mitral valve  65 , the aortic valve regurgitant flow  641  and the mitral valve regurgitant flow  651  are taking place. Further, the period from T 4  up to T 1  of the subsequent heartbeat is called the filling phase  528 , and as shown in  FIG. 6(   d ), the aortic valve  64  is closed and the mitral valve  65  is open. At this point, at the aortic valve  64  and the mitral valve  65 , the aortic valve regurgitant flow  641  and a mitral valve forward flow  652  are taking place. 
     For valve regurgitant flows, pressure difference may be calculated based on Bernoulli&#39;s principle. However, with respect to valve forward flows, Bernoulli&#39;s principle does not hold, and the pressure difference computation method needs to be changed. Although details will be discussed later, the computation method changing time is one or more of the times at which the state of the valve that lies in the path between reference point X 0  and location X 1  changes from closed to open or from open to close, namely, T 1 , T 2 , T 3  and T 4 . The combination of reference point X 0  and location X 1 , which serve as changing locations, is such that reference point X 0  is within the aorta  61  or within the left ventricle  63 , and location X 1  within one of the left ventricle  63 , the left atrium  62  and the aorta  61 . 
     With regard to detecting a changing time, detection may be carried out as the time at which at least one of the following occurs: with respect to a B-mode image detected by the shape image formation part  151 , the time at which the valve opens or closes, as well as the time at which the left ventricular volume or area becomes smallest or greatest, or the time at which a period during which the greatest or smallest state is sustained begins or ends, as well as, with respect to an M-mode image, the time at which the valve opens or closes, as well as the time at which a sign reversal occurs with respect to the blood velocity detected by the blood velocity computation part  1522 . Here, the term B-mode image refers to an image representing an organ shape as imaged via ultrasound, and the term M-mode image refers to an image that temporally represents organ movement by tracking organ movement along a given ultrasound scanning line over time, and representing the position of the organ along the scanning line with the vertical axis and time with the horizontal axis. 
     Next, details of the pressure difference calculation methods will be discussed. First, the pressure difference calculation method for when a valve regurgitant flow is detected while a valve is closed will be discussed. When a valve regurgitant flow is detected, pressure difference may be calculated using Bernoulli&#39;s principle. For a valve regurgitant flow, it may be a detection method that utilizes the Doppler effect, or a method that tracks blood cells or a pre-administered tracer, e.g., contrast agent, etc., within the regurgitant blood through image recognition. As a simplified method of Bernoulli&#39;s principle that utilizes regurgitant velocity, there is the simplified Bernoulli equation. Assuming the regurgitant velocity is V, pressure difference ΔP in and out of the valve may be expressed through the equation below. 
         ΔP=A×V   2   (1)
 
     where A is a constant equal to or greater than 3.5 but equal to or less than 4.5 and whose unit is [sec 2 ·mmHg]. 
     As this equation contains an assumption of a steady state, the unsteady Bernoulli equation indicated below, which takes unsteady influences into account, may be used as well. B is a term that unsteady influences impart on pressure difference, and using velocity change ΔV during Δt and valve thickness L, B may be written as ΔV×L/Δt. 
         ΔP=A×V   2 +2 ×A×B   (2)
 
     Next, the calculation method for when the valve is open will be discussed. When the valve is open, the simplified Bernoulli principle, where the valve forward flow velocity is substituted into Equation (1), does not hold. The reason for this will be using  FIG. 7 . When Bernoulli&#39;s principle is applied to a valve regurgitant flow, this may be represented with a simplified model such as that in  FIG. 7(   a ). Here,  81   a  denotes an aorta part,  82   a  an aortic valve regurgitant outflow part, and  83   a  the left ventricle. Assuming (P a1 , V a1 , A a1 ), (P a2 , V a2 , A a2 ), and (P a3 , V a3 , A a3 ) are sets of pressure P, velocity V and sectional area A of the site at the respective locations, the following equation holds true under Bernoulli&#39;s principle, where ρ is a constant representing blood density. 
         P   a1   /ρ+V   a1   2   =P   a2   /ρ+V   a2   2   =P   a3   /ρ+V   a3   2   (3)
 
     By utilizing the law of conservation of mass, which states that flow rate Qa, which is the product of velocity and sectional area, is constant regardless of location, the following equation holds true. 
         Qa=V   a1   ×A   a1   =V   a2   ×A   a2   =V   a3   ×A   a3   (4)
 
     Here, in order to find the pressure difference between the aorta and the left ventricle, i.e., P a1 −P a3 , from a valve regurgitant flow, an assumption that exit area A a2  of the aortic valve regurgitant outflow part  82   a  is sufficiently small in comparison to aorta sectional area A a1  or left ventricle sectional area A a3  becomes necessary. 
     By imposing this assumption, the velocities at the aorta part and left ventricle may be disregarded by virtue of the above-mentioned condition of constant flow rate. 
         V   a1   =V   a3 =0  (5)
 
     Further, jet flows whose velocity is equal to or less than 30% of the speed of sound are characteristic in that the pressure at the flow path exit is equal to external pressure. Thus, by regarding regurgitant flow  84   a  in  FIG. 7(   a ) as a jet flow in the direction of the left ventricle, aortic valve regurgitant outflow part P a2  and P a3  may be considered equal. 
         P   a2   =P   a3   (6)
 
     Thus, Bernoulli&#39;s principle may be written as follows, and this is how pressure difference is calculated from a regurgitant flow using Bernoulli&#39;s principle. 
         P   a1   =P   a3 =ρ×( V   a2   2 )/2  (7)
 
     It is noted that Equation (7) is an equation that assumes a steady state. If unsteady influences are to be taken into account, pressure difference may be calculated as in the following equation by using the discrete unsteady Bernoulli equation. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
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     However, when the valve is open, the above-mentioned assumption that exit area A a2  of the aortic valve regurgitant outflow part  82   a  is sufficiently small in comparison to aorta sectional area A a1  or left ventricle sectional area A a3  does not apply, and a model such as that in  FIG. 7(   b ) is anticipated. Here,  81   b  denotes an aorta part,  82   b  an aortic valve regurgitant outflow part, and  83   b  the left ventricle. Assuming (P b1 , V b1 , A b1 ), (P b2 , V b2 , A b2 ), and (P b3 , V b3 , A b3 ) are sets of pressure P, velocity V and sectional area A of the site at the respective locations, then Bernoulli&#39;s principle and the law of conservation of flow rate Qb may be written as follows. 
         P   b1   /π+V   b1   2   =P   b2   /ρ+V   b2   2   =P   b3   /ρ+V   b3   2   (9)
 
         Qb=Vb   1   ×A   b1   =V   b2   ×A   b2   =V   b3   ×A   b3   (10)
 
     In particular, since pressure P b2  at the valve is unknown, pressure difference P b1 −P b3  cannot be calculated using valve forward flow velocity V b2  based on the law of conservation presented above. 
     As such, by using fluid motion equations that hold true even when the valve is open, the pressure difference while the valve is open may be calculated. For the motion equation, the Navier-Stokes equation 
       ∇ P =−ρ×(∂ V   i   /∂t+V   j   ×∂V   i   /∂x   i )+μ×∂ 2   V   i   /∂x   i   ∂x   j   (11),
 
     which represents the law of conservation of momentum in a fluid, may be used, where V i  is the i-direction component of blood velocity vector V at arbitrary location X within a cardiac chamber, ∇P the pressure gradient at location X mentioned above, ρ a constant representing blood density and that is equal to or greater than 1000 kg/m 3  but equal to or less than 1100 kg/m 3 , and μ a constant representing blood viscosity and that is equal to or greater than 3500 Kg/m/s but equal to or less than 5500 Kg/m/s. 
     Alternatively, the following Euler equation, which is a simplified version of the Navier-Stokes equation, may be used. 
       ∇ P =−ρ×(∂ V   i   /∂t+V   j   ×∂V   i   /∂x   i )  (12)
 
     In order to calculate pressure gradient ∇P through the equations discussed above, a velocity space distribution of the fluid is required. For the method of obtaining spatial velocity, a method that obtains a three-dimensional velocity distribution is preferable. This may be attained by using a probe that is capable of three-dimensional imaging. A flow field may be obtained three-dimensionally by three-dimensionally obtaining an image of blood cells or of a pre-administered tracer, e.g., a contrast agent, etc., in blood, and tracking this over time. Three-dimensionality in the context of this method refers to the derivation of velocity information for two or more points in each of three independent directions with respect to a point along a straight line or curve between two points for which pressure difference is to be calculated. In other words, if reference point X 0  and location X 1  are set in a given plane, it may be an imaging region on a slice obtained by giving this plane some thickness. When a contrast agent is administered to a living organism, the invasiveness with respect to the living organism is no longer non-invasive, and becomes minimally invasive. 
     In addition, with respect to details of a velocity obtaining method that uses a tracer, simplified two-dimensional illustrative diagrams are shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 8  shows a tracer  71  being imaged within the heart including the left atrium  63 . As enlarged views of an imaging region (region of interest: ROI)  72  for which velocity is to be calculated, a view imaged at given time t is shown in  FIG. 9(   a ), and a view imaged at time t+∇t that follows by short period ∇t in  FIG. 9(   b ). It is also possible to track the behavior of individual tracers in order to obtain spatial velocity information. However, for the present case, a method in which velocity is calculated by separating the ROI of an imaging region at a given time in a grid-like fashion and tracking the tracer image pattern within each grid will be described with respect to grid  721 . By searching the image in  FIG. 9(   b ) for the image pattern of grid  721  in  FIG. 9(   a ) and finding corresponding grid  722 , it is possible to calculate the movement amount for grid  721 . Assuming this movement amount is R, the velocity of grid  721  may be calculated as R/∇t. By similarly calculating velocity for all grids, spatial velocity vectors such as those in  FIG. 9(   c ) are calculated. Further, besides the above-discussed pattern matching of gridded particle images, spatial velocity vectors may also be calculated by performing pattern matching for individual particles. 
     In addition, as another method for finding a velocity space distribution, there is a method that utilizes the Doppler effect. Further, it may also be a method that utilizes the Doppler effect and calculates, using the stream function, a velocity vector based on a velocity field. The only velocity information that is calculable through the Doppler effect is the projected component of the ultrasonic projection direction of a velocity vector indicated with a vector. Thus, when the Doppler effect is utilized, angular correction is necessary, and the ultrasonic projection direction component of the velocity vector becomes a source of error. In addition, since the stream function introduces an assumption of a two-dimensional flow field, its use is restricted. For this reason, it may be said that a method that tracks a tracer and calculates a flow field three-dimensionally is optimal. 
     Thus, pressure difference may be calculated not only when the valve is closed but also when the valve is open, and pressure difference may be calculated between a plurality of points at any given heartbeat time phase. A pressure difference contour diagram is shown in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  shows a spatial distribution of pressure calculated from spatial velocity vectors such as those in  FIG. 9(   c ). 
     Next, the process at the blood pressure difference computation part  1523  will be discussed. If the pressure gradient at location X inside a cardiac chamber is to be calculated, the blood pressure difference computation part specifies arbitrary path L that links reference point X 0  and location X 1 , and calculates pressure gradients with respect to discrete path locations L 1 , L 2 , L 3  . . . , L N  along path L, where N is an arbitrary integer. If there is no valve along path L, or if the valve is open, the sum of the products of the pressure gradients at locations L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , . . . , L N  for which pressure gradients have been calculated and the distances among the discrete path locations is taken to be the pressure difference between reference point X 0  and location X 1 . In addition, if a valve exists at L M  along path L and is closed, pressure difference is calculated based on Bernoulli&#39;s principle, and the sum of the products of the calculated pressure gradients at locations L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , . . . , L N  and the distances among the discrete path locations is taken to be the pressure difference between reference point X 0  and location X 1 . Here, spatial pressure difference may also be calculated by substituting 0, or a constant equal to or greater than −1 mmHg/cm but equal to or less than 1 mmHg/cm, for the pressure gradient of a region with a small flow rate. In addition, when the valve is open, given the advantages of reduced complexity, pressure difference may also be calculated utilizing Bernoulli&#39;s principle. By means of the blood pressure difference computation part above, the pressure difference at an arbitrary location between cardiac chambers or between blood vessels may be calculated. 
     Further, pressure difference may be calculated based on in-flow blood velocity propagation velocity. In-flow blood velocity propagation velocity W may be calculated through Doppler M-mode which represents the change in blood velocity over time. As shown in  FIG. 11 , blood flowing into the aorta from the left ventricle was measured in Doppler M-mode. T m  denotes the time at which the highest flow velocity was observed, X m  the location coordinate, and P f1  this point. The inner side of a contour line  725  indicating a region that is K % of the highest flow velocity will be referred to as a high-speed region. In the present example, K was defined as  70 . However, K may be any value between 40 and 95. T e  denotes the time at the other end of the contour line  725  and X e  this location. P f3  denotes this point. The gradient of the vector between P f1  and P f3  is in-flow blood velocity propagation velocity W. Assuming that V f1 , V f2  and V f3  denote the respective flow velocities at locations P f1 , P f2  and P f3  respectively indicated by coordinate locations (T m , X m ), (T e , X m ) and (T e , X e ), pressure ΔP between the left ventricle and the aorta may be calculated as follows. 
       Δ P =−ρ×( W ×( V   f2   −V   f1 )+ V   f2 ×( V   f3   −V   f2 ))  (13)
 
       FIG. 12  is a figure in which method selection is sorted by time and location while incorporating the switching timing. 
     In addition, the regurgitant flow detection in step  134  may be performed by monitoring blood flow near the valve. By setting one of a mitral valve ROI  654  and an aortic valve ROI  644  near the valves as shown in  FIG. 13 , a valve regurgitant flow may be detected through a detection method that utilizes the Doppler effect, or through a method that tracks blood cells, or a pre-administered tracer, e.g., a contrast agent, etc., in the regurgitant blood flow by image recognition. 
     Next, details of step  14  in  FIG. 2  will be discussed. By subtracting, from the aortic pressure time phase (which will be referred to as pressure waveform) calculated in step  12 , a pressure difference waveform that is the fluctuation over time in the pressure difference obtained in step  13 , the pressure waveform with respect to location X 1  is derived (S 14 ). The pressure difference waveform between the aorta and the left ventricle may be represented as in curve  532  in  FIG. 5(   b ), and the pressure difference waveform between the left ventricle and the left atrium as in curve  531 . In addition, the pressure difference waveform between the aorta and the left atrium may also be calculated by adding up the pressure difference between the aorta and the left ventricle and the pressure difference between the left ventricle and the left atrium. The pressure waveform of the radial artery as converted into the aorta pressure waveform  511  with a transfer function is exchanged. Since phase information is also included in the transfer function, if, at the time of computation, there is any misalignment between the time phase of the calculated aortic pressure and the time phase of the pressure difference, there is a possibility that the time phase may become misaligned. By correcting this, absolute pressure calculation with good precision becomes possible. Time phase correction may be carried out by performing waveform pattern matching. By way of example, it is possible to compute the cross-correlation between the aortic pressure waveform  511  and the pressure difference waveform between the aorta and the left atrium, and detect the misalignment between time phases indicating the greatest value. By correcting time phase misalignment, it becomes possible to compute the absolute pressure at location X with good precision. 
     Details of the display part  17  are discussed below. The display part  17  displays the absolute pressure calculated by the absolute pressure computation part  154  with respect to one or more spatial locations, or at a given time, or at one or more of some consecutive times. The above-mentioned absolute pressure may also represent, of an absolute pressure spatial distribution calculated at the absolute pressure computation part  154 , the average value, the greatest value, or the smallest value with respect to a plurality of spatial locations desired by the examiner. Display examples are shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14(   a ) shows fluctuations in absolute pressure over time.  FIG. 14(   b ) shows a spatial distribution of pressure in a given time phase. Time phase changes of  FIG. 14(   b ) may be displayed as a moving image as well. In addition, based on the image formed at the shape image formation part  151 , it may be superimposed on an organ image. 
     In addition, the absolute pressure computation part  154  of the present invention further comprises an index analysis part. Based on the absolute pressure calculated by the absolute pressure computation part, the index analysis part may calculate dP/dt, which is a physical quantity representing a temporal differential value, and/or time constant τ from when a relaxed state of the left ventricle is approximated with an exponential function, and display one or both of dP/dt and τ with respect to an entire heartbeat or a portion of its duration at display parts  514 ,  515  as shown in  FIG. 14(   a ). In addition, the progress status of such processes as the various steps shown in  FIG. 2  may also be displayed in box  516  in  FIG. 14(   a ). 
     Further, based on the shape image formed by the shape image formation part  151 , the index analysis part may detect the volume of the left ventricle at a plurality of times, and display, on the display part  17 , a pressure-volume relationship diagram, which is a diagram that plots, with respect to a space with two or more dimensions and that has an axis representing heart volume and an axis representing absolute pressure, left ventricular volumes at a plurality of times and absolute pressures at a plurality of times calculated by the absolute pressure computation part  154 . As shown in  FIG. 14(   c ), in addition to the pressure-volume relationship curve  541 , the pressure-volume relationship diagram may also display E max , which is the gradient of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship, and an end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship curve  543 , which represents the relationship between end-diastolic pressure and volume. 
     The left ventricular volume may be calculated by the Pombo method or the Teichholz method, which assume the left ventricle to be a spheroid and perform calculations based on the inner diameter of the left ventricle as obtained from a two dimensional image. Alternatively, it may be measured directly by three-dimensionally imaging the shape of the heart. 
     End-diastolic pressure P LV   ED  may be calculated as follows. 
         P   LV   ED   =P   Ao   −ΔP   Op   (14)
 
     Here, P Ao  is the aortic pressure from end-diastole up to when the aortic valve opens. Since aortic pressure varies little from end-diastole up to when the aortic valve opens, P Ao  may assume any given value, or an average value, of aortic pressure from end-diastole up to when the aortic valve opens. In addition, ΔP Op  is the pressure difference between the left ventricle and the left atrium while the aortic valve is open, and may be calculated from the mitral valve regurgitant flow while the aortic valve is open by using the law of conservation of momentum and Bernoulli&#39;s principle as expressed by, for example, Equations (1), (2), (8), etc. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  device main body 
           2  ultrasonic probe 
           3  pressure sensor