Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method for distinguishing a low signal/noise area in an ultrasound image
According to an embodiment, an analyzer analyzes the state of a tissue at a position in a subject from which an ultrasound wave that is transmitted by an ultrasound probe into the subject is reflected, the analysis being on the basis of a received signal of the ultrasound wave. A signal acquiring unit acquires noises signal information corresponding to an area that is analyzed by the analyzer. A noise area extracting unit determines, regarding each area analyzed by the analyzer, whether the received signal that is used for the analysis performed by the analyzer is a noise signal, the determination being on the basis of the noise signal information acquired by the signal acquiring unit. A display controller configured controls a display unit such that the display unit displays an area regarding which the area extracting unit determines that the received signal is a noise signal.
1. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
processing circuitry configured to
determine a low signal/noise (S/N) area in a predetermined area included in a scan area by comparing a pixel intensity of an image generated based on a first echo signal, which was acquired by transmitting and receiving a first ultrasound wave in the scan area, with a pixel intensity of a noise image generated based on a noise signal;
generate a color image showing a stiffness or elasticity within the predetermined area, based on an analysis result of a second echo signal that was acquired by transmitting and receiving a second ultrasound wave in the scan area;
generate a superposed image by superposing the color image on the predetermined area in the image generated based on the first echo signal; and
cause a display to display the superposed image, and further display a position of the determined low S/N area in the superposed image so as to be distinguishable from a region other than the determined low S/N area.
2. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to acquire, as the noise signal, a received signal from the scan area while all transmission from an ultrasound probe is stopped, at a timing different from the transmitting/receiving of the first ultrasound wave and the second ultrasound wave.
3. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to acquire, from a memory storing previously-acquired noise signal information in association with conditions on transmitting/receiving of various ultrasound waves by an ultrasound probe, the noise signal, which corresponds to particular conditions on transmitting/receiving of the first ultrasound wave.
4. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the memory is further configured to store a previously-acquired plurality of noise signals for conditions of transmitting/receiving of an ultrasound wave; and
the processing circuitry is further configured to select the noise signal corresponding to conditions on transmitting/receiving of the first ultrasound wave among the previously-acquired plurality of noise signals.
5. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the color image is an elastography image showing the stiffness or elasticity in the predetermined area.
6. A method, comprising:
determining a low signal noise (S/N) area in a predetermined area included in a scan area by comparing a pixel intensity of an image generated based on a first echo signal, which was acquired by transmitting and receiving a first ultrasound wave in the scan area, with a pixel intensity of a noise image generated based on a noise signal;
generating a color image showing a stiffness or elasticity within the predetermined area, based on an analysis result of a second echo signal that was acquired by transmitting and receiving a second ultrasound wave in the scan area;
generating a superposed image by superposing the color image on the predetermined area in the image generated based on the first echo signal; and
causing a display to display the superposed image, and further display a position of the determined low S/N area in the superposed image so as to be distinguishable from a region other than the determined low S/N area.
7. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
processing circuitry configured to
determine a low signal/noise (S/N) area in a predetermined area included in a scan area by comparing a pixel intensity of an image generated based on a first echo signal, which was acquired by transmitting and receiving a first ultrasound wave in the scan area, with a pixel intensity of a noise image generated based on a noise signal;
generate a color image showing attenuation within the predetermined area, based on an analysis result of a second echo signal that was acquired by transmitting and receiving a second ultrasound wave in the scan area;
generate a superposed image by superposing the color image on the predetermined area in the image generated based on the first echo signal; and
cause a display to display the superposed image, and further display a position of the determined low S/N area in the superposed image so as to be distinguishable from a region other than the determined low S/N area.
8. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
processing circuitry configured to
determine a low signal/noise (S/N) area in a predetermined area included in a scan area based on a pixel intensity of an image generated based on a first echo signal;
generate a color image showing a stiffness or elasticity within the predetermined area, based on an analysis result of a second echo signal that was acquired by transmitting and receiving a second ultrasound wave in the scan area;
generate a display image including the color image and the image generated based on the first echo signal, the color image being located in the predetermined area in the image generated based on the first echo signal; and
cause a display to display the display image, and further display a position of the determined low S/N area in the display image so as to be distinguishable from a region other than the determined low S/N area.