Patent Description:
In recent years, in the medical field, various medical imaging apparatuses have been widely used for imaging and acquiring information on living tissues of the human body for the purpose of early diagnosis of various diseases or surgery. Representative examples of these medical imaging apparatuses may include an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus irradiates an ultrasonic signal generated from a transducer of a probe to an object, and receives information on an echo signal reflected from the object to acquire an image of a portion in the object. Specifically, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used for medical purposes, such as observation of the inside of the object, detection of foreign substances, injury measurement, and the like. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has advantages in that stability is high, an image can be displayed in real time, and there is safety due to no radiation exposure compared to a diagnostic apparatus using X-rays, and thus is widely used along with other imaging diagnostic apparatuses.

Meanwhile, in order to measure an elasticity value of the object, an elasticity value is acquired at determined measurement positions by acquiring a plurality of elastic images of the object, and respectively determining the measurement positions in the plurality of elastic images according to a user's judgment. In this case, in order to acquire an elasticity value having high reliability, a user should select an appropriate elastic image from among a plurality of acquired elastic images, and select an appropriate measurement position from which the elasticity value is acquired from the selected elastic image, but selecting the elastic image and the measurement position of the elasticity value is not easy. Further, there was a problem in that a process of acquiring the elasticity value while changing the measurement position from which the elasticity value is acquired has to be repeated several times to acquire an elasticity value having high reliability, and thus a lot of time is taken to acquire the elasticity value. <CIT> provides a method of displaying an elastography image and an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus performing the method. The method includes transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object, receiving a response signal to the transmitted ultrasound signal, determining ultrasound image data based on the received response signal, determining displacement image data based on the determined ultrasound image data, generating elastography images based on the determined displacement image data, dividing the elastography images into sections based on a criterion, and determining a representative elastography image of each of the sections based on one or more elastography images in each of the sections and quality information of the one or more elastography images, the quality information being based on a strain of a first elastography image among the one or more elastography images. The method further includes displaying the representative elastography image. <CIT> relates to an imaging method and apparatus for performing shear wave elastic ultrasound imaging of an observation field in a medium.

Embodiments are directed to providing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of providing an elastic image for acquiring a highly reliable elasticity value for an object and information on a measurement position and an operating method thereof. Regarding the operating method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus the invention is defined by claim <NUM>.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment can easily and quickly acquire an elasticity value having high reliability for an object by providing an elastic image for acquiring an elasticity value having high reliability and information on a measurement position to a user.

The present invention may be easily understood by a combination of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which reference numerals refer to structural elements.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment includes: a display; a memory configured to store one or more instructions; and a processor configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor acquires a plurality of pieces of elastic data about an object, and then generates a plurality of elastic images based on the plurality of pieces of elastic data, acquires quality information for each of the plurality of elastic images based on the plurality of pieces of elastic data respectively corresponding to the plurality of elastic images, determines at least one recommended elastic image from which the elasticity value is acquired from among the plurality of elastic images based on the quality information, and controls the display to display the at least one determined recommended elastic image.

The processor according to one embodiment acquires reliability information for elasticity values respectively included in the plurality of elastic images, and acquires quality information for each of the plurality of elastic images based on the reliability information.

The processor according to one embodiment determines the quality information of the elastic image based on a proportion of a region where the reliability information is greater than or equal to a preset value from among the entire region of interest from which the elastic data is acquired.

The processor according to one embodiment may determine a recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired based on reliability information for the elasticity values included in the at least one determined recommended elastic image, and may control the display to display the recommended position on the recommended elastic image.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment may further include a user input unit configured to receive a user input selecting any one from among the at least one determined recommended elastic image, wherein the processor may determine at least one recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired based on reliability information for the elasticity values included in the selected recommended elastic image, and may control the display to display the at least one recommended position on the recommended elastic image.

The processor according to one embodiment may control the display to display the priority of the at least one recommended position when the at least one recommended position is a plurality of recommended positions.

The priority of the recommended positions according to one embodiment may be determined based on the quality information corresponding to the elastic image including the recommended position and the reliability information corresponding to the recommended position.

The processor according to one embodiment may acquire the elasticity value corresponding to the at least one recommended position, and may control the display to display the acquired elasticity value.

The processor according to one embodiment may control the display to display the quality information corresponding to the at least one recommended elastic image.

The processor according to one embodiment may determine a representative elasticity value corresponding to the at least one recommended elastic image, and may control the display to display the representative elasticity value.

An operating method of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment includes operations of: acquiring a plurality of pieces of elastic data about an object; generating a plurality of elastic images based on the plurality of pieces of elastic data; acquiring quality information for each of the plurality of elastic images based on the plurality of pieces of elastic data respectively corresponding to the plurality of elastic images; determining at least one recommended elastic image from which an elasticity value is acquired from among the plurality of elastic images based on the quality information; and displaying the at least one determined recommended elastic image.

The present specification clarifies the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims, and describes the principle of the present invention and discloses embodiments so that those skilled in the art may implement the present invention. The disclosed embodiments may be implemented in various forms.

The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the present specification. The present specification does not describe all elements of the embodiments, and general contents or contents overlapping between the embodiments in the technical field including the present invention will be omitted. The term 'module' or 'unit' used in the specification may be implemented as one or a combination of two or more of software, hardware, and firmware, and a plurality of 'modules' or 'units' may be implemented as one element, or one 'module' or 'unit' may include a plurality of elements according to the embodiments.

Hereinafter, a working principle and embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present specification, an image includes a medical image acquired by an ultrasonic imaging apparatus.

In the present specification, an 'object' is an object to be captured, and may include a person, an animal, or a part thereof. For example, the object may include a part of a body (such as a tissue, an organ, or the like), a phantom, or the like.

Throughout the specification, an "ultrasonic image" refers to an image for an object processed based on an ultrasonic signal transmitted to the object and reflected from the object.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may include a probe <NUM>, an ultrasonic wave transceiver <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, an image processing unit <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, and an input unit <NUM>.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may be implemented not only in a portable type but also a cart type. Examples of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be a smart phone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet PC, and the like, which include a probe and an application, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The probe <NUM> may include a plurality of transducers. The plurality of transducers may transmit an ultrasonic signal to an object <NUM> according to a transmission signal applied from a transmission unit <NUM>. The plurality of transducers may receive the ultrasonic signal reflected from the object <NUM> to form a reception signal. Further, the probe <NUM> may be integrally implemented with the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> or may be implemented in a separate type connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> in a wired or wireless manner. In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may include one probe <NUM> or a plurality of probes <NUM> according to an implemented form.

The controller <NUM> controls the transmission unit <NUM> to form a transmission signal to be applied to each of the plurality of transducers in consideration of positions and a focal point of the plurality of transducers included in the probe <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> controls a reception unit <NUM> to generate ultrasonic data by converting the reception signal received from the probe <NUM> from an analog signal to a digital signal, and summing the reception signal converted to the digital signal in consideration of the positions and the focal point of the plurality of transducers.

The image processing unit <NUM> generates the ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data generated by the ultrasonic wave reception unit <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> may display the generated ultrasonic image and various types of information processed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may include one or a plurality of display units <NUM> according to the implemented form. Further, the display unit <NUM> may be implemented as a touch screen in combination with a touch panel.

The controller <NUM> may control the overall operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> and a signal flow between inner components of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may include a memory which stores a program or data for performing a function of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>, and a processor which processes the program or data. Further, the controller <NUM> may receive a control signal from the input unit <NUM> or an external device to control the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> includes the communication unit <NUM>, and may be connected to an external device (for example, a server, a medical device, a portable device (a smartphone, a tablet PC, a wearable device, or the like)) through the communication unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> may include one or more components which enable communication with the external device, and may include, for example, at least one from among a near field communication module, a wired communication module, and a wireless communication module.

The communication unit <NUM> may transmit and receive the control signal and the data with the external device.

The storage unit <NUM> may store various types of data or various programs for driving and controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>, ultrasonic data which is input and output, an acquired ultrasonic image, and the like.

The input unit <NUM> may receive a user's input for controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>. For example, the user's input may include an input which operates a button, a key pad, a mouse, a trackball, a jog switch, a knob, or the like, an input which touches a touch pad or a touch screen, a voice input, a motion input, a biometric information input (for example, iris recognition, fingerprint recognition, or the like), and the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

An example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> are views illustrating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses according to one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 100a and 100b may each include a main display unit <NUM> and a sub-display unit <NUM>. One of the main display unit <NUM> and the sub-display unit <NUM> may be implemented as a touch screen. The main display unit <NUM> and the sub-display unit <NUM> may display ultrasonic images or various types of information processed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100a or 100b. Further, the main display unit <NUM> and the sub-display unit <NUM> are implemented as touch screens, and provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to receive data for controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100a or 100b from a user. For example, the main display unit <NUM> may display an ultrasonic image, and the sub-display unit <NUM> may display a control panel for controlling a display of the ultrasonic image in the form of a GUI. The sub-display unit <NUM> may receive data for controlling the display of an image through the control panel displayed in the form of a GUI. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100a or 100b may control the display of the ultrasonic image displayed on the main display unit <NUM> using the received control data.

Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100b may further include a control panel <NUM> in addition to the main display unit <NUM> and the sub-display unit <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> may include a button, a trackball, a jog switch, a knob, and the like, and may receive data for controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100b from a user. For example, the control panel <NUM> may include a time gain compensation (TGC) button <NUM>, a freeze button <NUM>, and the like. The TGC button <NUM> is a button for setting a TGC value for each depth of the ultrasonic image. Further, when an input of the freeze button <NUM> is sensed while scanning an ultrasonic image, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100b may maintain a state in which a frame image of a corresponding time point is displayed.

Meanwhile, the button, the trackball, the jog switch, the knob, and the like included in the control panel <NUM> may be provided on the main display unit <NUM> or the sub-display unit <NUM> as a GUI.

Referring to <FIG>, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100c may be implemented in a portable type. Examples of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100c may be a smart phone, a laptop computer, a PDA, a tablet PC, and the like, which include a probe and an application, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100c includes a probe <NUM> and a main body <NUM>, and the probe <NUM> may be connected to one side of the main body <NUM> in a wired manner or wireless manner. The main body <NUM> may include a touch screen <NUM>. The touch screen <NUM> may display an ultrasonic image, various types of information processed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a GUI.

<FIG> is a flow chart illustrating an operating method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may acquire ultrasonic data about an object by irradiating an ultrasonic signal to the object and receiving an echo signal for the irradiated ultrasonic signal.

For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may acquire B-mode data about the object, and may generate and display a B-mode ultrasonic image based on the B-mode data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may extract a B-mode component from the ultrasonic data and generate a B-mode image in which signal intensity is expressed as luminance based on the extracted B-mode component.

A region of interest for acquiring elastic data may be set in the B-mode image according to one embodiment, and in this case, a position, a size, and a shape of the region of interest may be variously set. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may receive a user input for setting the region of interest for acquiring the elastic data, and set the region of interest based on the user input.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may acquire the elastic data about the region of interest of the object. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may transmit an ultrasonic signal for pushing a partial region (region of interest) of the object to the object, and may cause the displacement of an inner tissue of the object. Since a shear wave is induced in the tissue in the object by the ultrasonic signal, tissue displacement may occur. In one embodiment, the ultrasonic signal for inducing the shear wave may be an acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI). Since the shear wave is induced in the tissue in the object by the ARFI, shear wave displacement may occur.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may acquire the elastic data of the object by detecting the shear wave displacement due to the induced shear wave.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may generate an elastic image based on the acquired elastic data. In this case, the elastic image may be an image displayed in different colors according to a plurality of elasticity values corresponding to a plurality of points included in the region of interest. For example, a point which is hard and has a low elasticity value, such as a tumor, may be shown in red, and a point corresponding to a relatively soft tissue and having a high elasticity value may be shown in blue.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may acquire the elastic data several times to acquire a plurality of elastic images. For example, a first region of interest may be set to acquire first elastic data corresponding to the first region of interest, and a second first region of interest different from the first region of interest may be set to acquire second elastic data. In this case, the first region of interest and the second region of interest may be different from each other in terms of at least one among a position, a size, and a shape. Like the above, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may acquire a plurality of pieces of elastic data corresponding to a plurality of regions of interest while setting the regions of interest differently, and may generate the plurality of elastic images based on the plurality of pieces of elastic data (S310).

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment acquires quality information for the plurality of elastic images (S320).

In this case, the quality information of the elastic images may be information which indicates a reliability index (the reliability of the elastic images) of the elastic images. For example, the elastic image includes less noise information as the quality information of the elastic image is higher, and it may be determined as an appropriate elastic image for measuring an elasticity value. On the other hand, the elastic image includes more noise information as the quality information of the elastic image is lower, and it may be determined as an inappropriate elastic image for measuring the elasticity value.

For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may calculate quality information of the elastic images based on reliability information for the elasticity values included in the elastic images. In this case, the elasticity value may refer to a value which indicates a degree of elasticity of the tissue of the object, and the reliability information for the elasticity value may be a value which indicates the reliability of the elasticity value calculated by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The reliability information may include a reliable measurement index or a measurement reliability index, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> determines the quality information of the elastic images based on a proportion of a region where the reliability information is greater than or equal to a threshold value from among the entire region of interest from which the elastic data is acquired. For example, the quality information of the elastic images may be defined as in the following Equation <NUM>.

In Equation <NUM>, quality index indicates the quality information of the elastic images, A indicates an area of the entire region of interest from which the elastic data is acquired, and B indicates an area of a region where the reliability information is greater than or equal to a threshold value from among the region of interest. In this case, the threshold value may be a value set by a user input or may be a preset value. Further, weight indicates a weight, and the weight may be determined by various parameters. For example, the weight may be determined in proportion to the magnitude of the shear wave induced in the object. Alternatively, the weight may be determined to be large as the magnitude of a measurement signal for observing the shear wave is large and a value of a standard deviation is small. Alternatively, the weight may be determined to be small as a standard deviation of the elasticity values included in the region of interest is large. Alternatively, the weight may be determined to be large based on an average value of the elasticity values included in the region of interest or average reliability information. Alternatively, when the elastic data is acquired, the weight may be determined according to a contact state of the probe. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display the quality information acquired from the plurality of elastic images. For example, the plurality of elastic images may be displayed, and the quality information may be displayed as a numerical value on each of the plurality of elastic images. In this case, the numerical value may be a value calculated according to Equation <NUM>, but is not limited thereto. Further, the quality information may be displayed in various ways such as a color, a graph, or the like. For example, the color displayed on the elastic image may be different according to a value which indicates the quality information.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment determines at least one recommended elastic image based on the quality information for the plurality of elastic images (S330).

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> determines at least one elastic image having quality information greater than or equal to a threshold value from among the plurality of elastic images as the recommended elastic image. In this case, the threshold value for the quality information is a value set by a user input.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment displays the at least one recommended elastic image on a display (S340).

In this case, when the recommended elastic image is a plurality of recommended elastic images, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may display the recommended elastic images in the display in the order of an increasing value representing quality information. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may also display the quality information of the recommended elastic image.

<FIG> and <FIG> are reference views for describing a method of determining and displaying a recommended elastic image from among a plurality of elastic images by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may generate a plurality of elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and <NUM>. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may acquire a plurality of pieces of elastic data and generate the plurality of elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and <NUM> based on the plurality of pieces of elastic data. Since the above is described in detail in <FIG>, the same description will be omitted.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine quality information for each of the plurality of elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and <NUM>. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may calculate reliability information for elasticity values included in a first elastic image <NUM>. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may calculate the quality information of the first elastic image <NUM> (for example, a quality index is <NUM>) based on a proportion of a region where the reliability information is greater than or equal to a threshold value (for example, <NUM>) from among the entire region of interest <NUM> from which elastic data is acquired.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may calculate the quality information for the remaining elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and <NUM> in the same manner. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine elastic images for which the quality information values are greater than or equal to a threshold value (for example, <NUM>) from among the plurality of elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and <NUM> as recommended elastic images.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, a third elastic image <NUM>, a fourth elastic image <NUM>, and a fifth elastic image <NUM> may be determined as recommended elastic images.

Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display the recommended elastic images on a display. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display the third elastic image <NUM>, the fourth elastic image <NUM>, and the fifth elastic image <NUM> on a first region <NUM> of the display. Further, the plurality of elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and <NUM> may be displayed on a second region <NUM> of the display in a list form. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display the third elastic image <NUM>, the fourth elastic image <NUM>, and the fifth elastic image <NUM> determined as the recommended elastic images in the order of an increasing quality information value. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display in the order of the fourth elastic image <NUM>, the third elastic image <NUM>, and the fifth elastic image <NUM>. In this case, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may also display the quality information corresponding to the recommended elastic images.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may provide a user interface for adding or removing a recommended elastic image. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display an adding item <NUM> and a removing item <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and may display an elastic image having the largest quality information value from among the plurality of elastic images not determined as the recommended elastic images in the first region <NUM> when the adding item <NUM> is selected. For example, when the adding item <NUM> is selected in a state in which the third to fifth elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are displayed, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display a second elastic image <NUM> having the largest quality information value after the fifth elastic image from among the plurality of elastic images in the first region <NUM>.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may not display an elastic image having the smallest quality information value from among the recommended elastic images displayed in the first region <NUM> when the removing item <NUM> is selected. For example, when the removing item <NUM> is selected in the state in which the third to fifth elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are displayed, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may control the display so that the fifth elastic image <NUM> is not displayed in the first region <NUM>.

Alternatively, although not shown in the drawings, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine the number of recommended elastic images by setting a threshold value for the reliability information or a threshold value for the quality information of the elastic images based on a user input which sets the threshold value for the reliability information or the threshold value for the quality information of the elastic images. Alternatively, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine the number of recommended elastic images based on the user input which sets the number of recommended elastic images. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a flow chart illustrating a method of acquiring an elasticity value from a recommended elastic image by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may determine a recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired from the recommended elastic image (S610).

For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine a plurality of regions of interest for calculating the elasticity value and the reliability information for the elasticity value in the recommended elastic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may calculate the elasticity value for each of the regions of interest based on the acquired elastic data, and may calculate the reliability information for the calculated elasticity value.

When the reliability information is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine the region of interest as the recommended position.

When the recommended position is determined, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display the recommended position on the recommended elastic image and display the elasticity value corresponding to the recommended position (S620). The above will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a reference view for describing a method of determining the recommended position, from which the elasticity value is acquired, by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may divide a region of interest from which the elastic data is acquired into a plurality of sub-regions of interest <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In this case, the number, sizes, shapes, and the like of the plurality of sub-regions of interest <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be variously determined.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may calculate elasticity values respectively corresponding to the plurality of sub-regions of interest <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and reliability information for the elasticity values based on the acquired elastic data. In this case, the elasticity value refers to a value which indicates a degree of elasticity of a tissue corresponding to the sub-region of interest, and the reliability information may refer to a value which indicates the reliability of the calculated elasticity value. The reliability information may be a value which indicates a degree to which a shear wave satisfies a wave equation when the shear wave induced by the ultrasonic data to acquire the elastic data satisfies the wave equation. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reliability information may be calculated in various ways.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine the recommended positions based on the reliability information for the elasticity values corresponding to the plurality of sub-regions of interest <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine the sub-regions having reliability information greater than or equal to a threshold value as a recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired, and as shown in <FIG>, a third sub-region of interest <NUM>, a sixth sub-region of interest <NUM>, and a seventh sub-region of interest <NUM> having the reliability information greater than or equal to <NUM> may be determined as the recommended positions.

Alternatively, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine, a preset number of sub-regions of interest in the order of increasing reliability information from among the plurality of sub-regions of interest as the recommended positions.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example in which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment displays the recommended position for acquiring the elasticity value.

As shown in <FIG>, when the recommended elastic images are displayed, and then an input selecting any one of the recommended elastic images is received, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display the recommended position on the selected elastic image.

For example, among first to third recommended elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, when an input selecting the first recommended elastic image <NUM> is received, recommended positions <NUM> and <NUM> for acquiring the elasticity values may be displayed on the first recommended elastic image <NUM> while enlarging and displaying the first recommended elastic image <NUM>. Since the method of determining the recommended position in the elastic image is described in <FIG>, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may guide a user to the measurement position where an elasticity value having high reliability may be acquired by displaying the recommended position.

When an input selecting any one of the displayed recommended positions <NUM> and <NUM> is received, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display an elasticity value corresponding to the selected recommended position. For example, as shown in <FIG>, when an input selecting the second recommended position <NUM> is received, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display a second elasticity value (for example, <NUM> kPa) corresponding to the second recommended position <NUM>. Further, although not shown in the drawings, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may also display reliability information for the second elasticity value.

In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display an item <NUM> for selecting the elastic image again, and when the item <NUM> is selected, as shown in <FIG>, the recommended elastic image may be displayed again.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example in which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment displays the recommended position and the elasticity value.

As shown in <FIG>, when the recommended elastic images are displayed, and then an input selecting any one of the recommended elastic images is received, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display the recommended position and the elasticity value corresponding to the recommended position on the selected elastic image.

For example, when an input selecting the first recommended elastic image <NUM> from among the first to third recommended elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is received, a sub-region of interest having the largest reliability information may be displayed as a recommended position <NUM> in the first recommended elastic image <NUM> while enlarging and displaying the first recommended elastic image <NUM>. Further, an elasticity value <NUM> corresponding to the recommended position may also be displayed.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example in which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment displays the elasticity value.

Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display recommended elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> on a display. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display the elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> determined as recommended elastic images from among the plurality of elastic images in a first region <NUM> of the display. Since the method of determining the recommended elastic images from among the plurality of elastic images and displaying the determined elastic images is described in detail in <FIG> and <FIG>, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may acquire representative elasticity values respectively corresponding to the recommended elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine the representative elasticity values based on the elasticity values included in the recommended elastic images and the reliability information for the elasticity values. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine an average value of the elasticity values having the reliability information greater than or equal to a threshold value from among the elasticity values included in the recommended elastic image as a representative elasticity value corresponding to the recommended elastic image. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the representative elasticity values may be acquired in various ways.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display the representative elasticity values corresponding to the recommended elastic images. For example, a first representative elasticity value (for example, <NUM> kPa) corresponding to a first recommended elastic image <NUM>, a second representative elasticity value (for example, <NUM> kPa) corresponding to a second recommended elastic image <NUM>, and a third representative elasticity value (for example, <NUM> kPa) corresponding to a third recommended elastic image <NUM> may be displayed.

Since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> simultaneously provides the recommended elastic images and the representative elasticity values, a user may easily understand the representative elasticity values for the recommended elastic images at once without selecting a specific elastic image and selecting an elasticity value measurement position.

Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may display recommended elastic images on a display. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> determined as recommended elastic images from among the plurality of elastic images in a first region <NUM> of the display. Since the method of determining the recommended elastic images from among the plurality of elastic images and displaying the determined elastic images is described in detail in <FIG> and <FIG>, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine at least one recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired from each of the recommended elastic images. Since the method of determining the at least one recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired is described in detail in <FIG>, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display the determined recommended position on the recommended elastic image. For example, a first recommended position <NUM> and a second recommended position <NUM> may be displayed on a first recommended elastic image <NUM>, a third recommended position <NUM> and a fourth recommended position <NUM> may be displayed on a second recommended elastic image <NUM>, and a fifth recommended position <NUM> may be displayed on a third recommended elastic image <NUM>.

In this case, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine the priority of the plurality of recommended positions based on the quality information of the elastic images including the recommended positions and the reliability information corresponding to the recommended positions. Further, as shown in <FIG>, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display the priority of the recommended positions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, a number corresponding to the priority may be displayed in the recommended position, and the priority is higher as the number is smaller. The quality information of the first recommended elastic image <NUM> including the first recommended position <NUM> at which the number '<NUM>' is displayed may be the best, and the reliability information for the elasticity value corresponding to the first recommended position <NUM> may be the largest.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may provide a user interface for adding or removing a recommended position. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display an adding item <NUM> and a removing item <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and may display a sub-region of interest having the largest reliability information from among a plurality of sub-regions of interest not determined as the recommended position when the adding item <NUM> is selected.

For example, when the adding item <NUM> is selected in a state in which first to fifth recommended positions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are displayed, the sub-region of interest having the largest reliability information from among the plurality of sub-regions of interest not determined as the recommended position may be determined and displayed as a sixth recommended position. In this case, when the sixth recommended position is included in the previously displayed first to third recommended elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the sixth recommended position may be displayed on the corresponding recommended elastic image, and when the sixth recommended position is included in the fourth elastic image not previously displayed as the recommended elastic image, the fourth elastic image may be displayed in the first region <NUM>, and the sixth recommended position may be displayed on the fourth elastic image.

Further, when the removing item <NUM> is selected, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may not display a recommended position having the lowest priority from among the displayed recommended positions. For example, when the removing item <NUM> is selected in the state in which the first to fifth recommended positions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are displayed, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may control the display so that so that the fifth recommended position <NUM> having the lowest priority is not displayed. In addition, the display may be controlled so that the third recommended elastic image <NUM> including only the fifth recommended position <NUM> is not displayed.

Alternatively, although not shown in the drawings, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may adjust the number of recommended positions based on a user input which sets the threshold value for the reliability information for determining the recommended positions. Alternatively, the number of recommended positions may be determined based on a user input which sets the number of recommended positions. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

When an input selecting any one of the displayed recommended positions is received, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may acquire and display the elasticity value corresponding to the selected recommended position. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may also display the reliability information for the elasticity value corresponding to the recommended position.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine representative measurement positions respectively corresponding to the recommended elastic images <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may determine a sub-region of interest having the highest reliability information from among the sub-regions of interest included in the recommended elastic image as the representative measurement position.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display the representative measurement positions on each of the recommended elastic images, and display an elasticity value corresponding to the representative measurement position. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> may display an elasticity value (for example, <NUM> kPa) acquired at a first representative measurement position <NUM> in addition to the first representative measurement position <NUM> on a first recommended elastic image <NUM>, may display an elasticity value (for example, <NUM> kPa) acquired at a second representative measurement position <NUM> in addition to the second representative measurement position <NUM> on a second recommended elastic image <NUM>, and may display an elasticity value (for example, <NUM> kPa) acquired at a third representative measurement position <NUM> in addition to the third representative measurement position <NUM> on a third recommended elastic image <NUM>.

Since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> simultaneously provides the recommended elastic images, the representative measurement position for each of the recommended elastic images, and the elasticity value corresponding to the representative measurement position, the user may easily understand the representative elasticity values for the recommended elastic images at once without selecting a specific elastic image and selecting an elasticity value measurement position.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a display <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> in <FIG> may correspond to at least one of the ultrasonic wave transceiver <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the image processing unit <NUM> in <FIG> or a combination thereof, and the display <NUM> may correspond to the display unit <NUM> in <FIG>. Further, according to the embodiment, some of the components of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be included in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The processor <NUM> according to one embodiment may generally control the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>. The processor <NUM> according to one embodiment may execute one or more programs stored in the memory <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> according to one embodiment may store various types of data, various programs, or various applications for driving and controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>. A program stored in the memory <NUM> may include one or more instructions. The program (one or more instructions) or application stored in the memory <NUM> may be executed by the processor <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> according to one embodiment may transmit an ultrasonic signal to an object, may acquire ultrasonic data based on an echo signal received from the object, and may generate a B-mode ultrasonic image of the object based on the ultrasonic data. Further, when a region of interest for acquiring elastic data is set based on the B-mode ultrasonic image, the processor <NUM> may acquire the elastic data about the region of interest. Since the processor <NUM> transmits the ultrasonic signal to the object, and a shear wave may be induced in a tissue in the object by the ultrasonic signal, displacement of the tissue may occur. The processor <NUM> may acquire the elastic data of the object by detecting shear wave displacement due to the induced shear wave, and may generate the elastic image based on the acquired elastic data.

The processor <NUM> according to one embodiment may acquire the elastic data several times to acquire a plurality of elastic images.

The processor <NUM> may acquire quality information for the plurality of elastic images. In this case, the quality information of the elastic images may be information which indicates a reliability index (the reliability of the elastic images) of the elastic images. For example, the elastic image includes less noise information as the quality information of the elastic image is higher, and may be determined as an appropriate elastic image for measuring an elasticity value. On the other hand, the elastic image includes more noise information as the quality information of the elastic image is lower, and may be determined as an inappropriate elastic image for measuring the elasticity value. For example, the processor <NUM> may calculate the quality information of the elastic images based on reliability information on elasticity values included in the elastic images.

The processor <NUM> determines at least one recommended elastic image based on the quality information for the plurality of elastic images. The processor <NUM> determines at least one elastic image having quality information greater than or equal to a threshold value from among the plurality of elastic images as the recommended elastic image. In this case, the threshold value for the quality information is a value set by a user input.

The processor <NUM> may control the display <NUM> to display the at least one recommended elastic image.

The display <NUM> according to one embodiment may display an operation state of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus <NUM>, an ultrasonic image, a user interface, and the like. The display <NUM> may include one or more display panels according to the embodiment, and the display <NUM> may be implemented in the form of a touch screen.

The display <NUM> according to one embodiment may display at least one recommended elastic image from among the plurality of acquired elastic images. Further, when the recommended elastic image is a plurality of recommended elastic images, the display <NUM> may display the recommended elastic images on the display in the order of an increasing value representing quality information, and may also display the quality information of the recommended elastic images. Since the above is described in detail in <FIG>, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the processor <NUM> according to one embodiment may determine a recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired from the recommended elastic image. For example, the processor <NUM> may divide a region of interest from which the elastic data is acquired into a plurality of sub-regions of interest, and may calculate elasticity values corresponding to the plurality of sub-regions of interest and reliability information. The processor <NUM> may determine the recommended position from which the elasticity value is acquired based on the elasticity values corresponding to the plurality of sub-regions of interest and the reliability information.

Further, when the recommended position is determined, the display <NUM> according to one embodiment may display the recommended position on the recommended elastic image. In addition, the display <NUM> according to one embodiment may display the elasticity value corresponding to the recommended position. Since the above is described in detail in <FIG>, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the block diagrams of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> are block diagrams for one embodiment. Each component in the block diagrams may be integrated, added, or omitted according to the specifications of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> which are actually implemented. That is, two or more components may be combined into one component, or one component may be divided into two or more components as necessary. Further, a function performed in each block is provided to describe the embodiments, and the specific operation or apparatus does not limit the scope of the present invention.

The operating method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions which may be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like alone or in a combination thereof. The program instructions recorded in the medium may be specially designed and configured for the present invention, or may be known to those skilled in the art of computer software and usable. Examples of a computer-readable recording medium include magnetic media such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape, optical media such as a CD-read-only memory (ROM) and a digital versatile disc (DVD), and magneto-optical media such as a floptical disk, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute the program instructions such as a ROM, a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, and the like. Examples of the program instructions include not only machine language code such as code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code which may be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the disclosed embodiments and the operating method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be included in a computer program product and provided. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyers as a commodity.

The computer program product may include a software (S/W) program and a computer-readable storage medium in which the S/W program is stored. For example, the computer program product may include a product (for example, downloadable apps) in a form of the S/W program electronically distributed through a manufacturer of electronic devices or electronic markets (for example, Google Play Store, App Store). For electronic distribution, at least a portion of the S/W program may be stored in the storage medium or may be temporarily generated. In this case, the storage medium may be a storage medium of a server of a manufacturer, a server of an electronic market, or a relay server which temporarily stores the SW program.

The computer program product, in a system composed of a server and a client device, may include a storage medium of the server or a storage medium of the client device. Alternatively, when there is a third device (for example, a smart phone) communicatively connected to the server or the client device, the computer program product may include a storage medium of the third device. Alternatively, the computer program product may include the S/W program itself transmitted from the server to the client device or the third device, or transmitted from the third device to the client device.

In this case, one of the server, the client device, and the third device may execute the computer program product to perform the methods according to the disclosed embodiments. Alternatively, two or more of the server, the client device, and the third device may execute the computer program product to distribute and execute the methods according to the disclosed embodiments.

For example, a server (for example, a cloud server, an artificial intelligence server, or the like) may execute the computer program product stored in the server to control the client device communicatively connected with the server to perform the methods according to the disclosed embodiments.

Claim 1:
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a display (<NUM>);
a memory (<NUM>) configured to store one or more instructions; and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the memory,
wherein the processor (<NUM>) is configured to:
acquire a plurality of pieces of elastic data about an object and then generate a plurality of elastic images based on the plurality of pieces of elastic data,
acquire reliability information for elasticity values respectively included in the plurality of elastic images,
determine quality information for each of the plurality of elastic images based on a proportion of a region where the reliability information is greater than or equal to a threshold value set by a user input from among the entire region of interest from which the elastic data is acquired,
determine at least one recommended elastic image from which an elasticity value is acquired from among the plurality of elastic images based on the quality information, and
control the display (<NUM>) to display the at least one determined recommended elastic image.