Ultrasonographic device and method for improving ultrasonographic device image quality
View Patent ↗It is possible to improve an image quality of an ultrasonographic device and improve visibility of a tissue structure and a lesion. According to a noise amount estimated for each of at least two resolution levels and reliability of the noise amount estimation, a corrected noise amount is calculated. An intensity conversion is performed on a decomposition coefficient obtained by a multi-resolution decomposition process using the corrected noise amount. Moreover, by performing intensity conversion of the respective decomposition coefficients according to a plurality of decomposition coefficients, it is possible to generate a high-quality image. Furthermore, by switching processing parameters in accordance with the imaging condition, the image type, and the imaging object, it is possible to simultaneously realize the processing time and the image quality appropriate for the purpose.
1. A method implemented by an image quality improving hardware processor, the method for improving an image from an ultrasonographic device and comprising:
figuring out, with the image quality improving hardware processor, a resolution coefficient of a generated image in each position from ultrasounds detected via an ultrasound probe of an ultrasonogaraphic device, by multi-level resolving to a plurality of resolutions, to obtain resolution coefficients for the plurality of resolutions, respectively;
estimating via calculation, with the image quality improving hardware processor, a noise amount for each resolution of the plurality of resolutions, on a basis of the resolution coefficients obtained from the figuring;
correcting, with the image quality improving hardware processor, the estimated noise amount for one or more resolution on a basis of a reliability of the estimated noise amount for the one or more resolution, where the reliability is calculated from one or more estimated noise amounts or resolution coefficients or a predetermined value;
converting, with the image quality improving hardware processor, the intensity of each of the resolution coefficients figured out, the converting using information on the corrected noise amount obtained from the correcting; and
reconstructing, with the image quality improving hardware processor, an image by undergoing reconstruction processing to each of the resolution coefficients having undergone the intensity conversion from the converting.
2. The image quality improving method according to claim 1 , wherein the converting carries out coefficient intensity conversion of each of the resolution coefficients by using values by which multiple resolution coefficients positioned in vicinities of the resolution coefficients have been subjected to weighted summing.
3. The image quality improving method according to claim 1 , wherein the converting carries out coefficient intensity conversion of each of the resolution coefficients on a basis of the estimated noise amount and two or more resolution coefficients including resolution coefficients of a higher resolution level than the resolution level of the resolution coefficients.
4. The image quality improving method according to claim 1 , wherein the converting carries out coefficient intensity conversion of each of the resolution coefficients by using resolution coefficients in a same position, at a same resolution level and in a same edge direction as picked-up images obtained at a different time from a time of acquisition of picked-up images to which the coefficient intensity conversion is applied.
5. The image quality improving method according to claim 1 , wherein the converting carries out coefficient intensity conversion of each of the resolution coefficients by using values by which multiple resolution coefficients positioned in vicinities of the resolution coefficients have been subjected to weighted summing.
6. The image quality improving method according to claim 1 , wherein the converting carries out coefficient intensity conversion of each of the resolution coefficients on a basis of the estimated noise amount and two or more resolution coefficients including resolution coefficients at a higher resolution level than a resolution level of the resolution coefficients.
7. The image quality improving method according to claim 1 , wherein the converting carries out intensity conversion of each of the resolution coefficients by using resolution coefficients in a same position, at a same resolution level and in a same edge direction as picked-up images obtained at a different time from a time of acquisition of picked-up images to which the coefficient intensity conversion is applied.
8. An ultrasonographic device comprising:
an ultrasound probe structured to irradiate ultrasounds toward a subject and receive reflected waves from the subject; and
a hardware processor configured to effect operations including:
figuring out a resolution coefficient of a generated image in each position from ultrasounds detected via the ultrasound probe, by multi-level resolving to a plurality of resolutions, to obtain resolution coefficients for the plurality of resolutions, respectively;
estimating, via calculation, a noise amount for each resolution of the plurality of resolutions, on a basis of the resolution coefficients obtained from the figuring;
correcting the estimated noise amount for one or more resolution on a basis of a reliability of the estimated noise amount for the one or more resolution, where the reliability is calculated from one or more estimated noise amounts or resolution coefficients or a predetermined value;
converting the intensity of each of the resolution coefficients figured out, the converting using information on the corrected noise amount obtained from the correcting; and
reconstructing an image by undergoing reconstruction processing to each of the resolution coefficients having undergone the intensity conversion from the converting.