# US 10,117,636 B2 · Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, ultrasonic image processing apparatus, medical image diagnostic apparatus, and medical image processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,636 B2 - Document ID: US10117636B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/692,023 - Filed: 2010-01-22 - Published: 2010-08-05 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-30 - Assignees: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Hiroyuki Ohuchi; Shinichi Hashimoto; Yasuhiko Abe; Tetsuya Kawagishi - Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohuchi; Shinichi Hashimoto; Yasuhiko Abe; Tetsuya Kawagishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117636B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/08: Clinical applications (A61B8/02, A61B8/04, A61B8/06 take precedence) - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - A61B 8/0883: {for diagnosis of the heart} - A61B 8/483: {involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data} - A61B 8/5223: {for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data (for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Position coordinate information of each point three-dimensionally forming a tissue corresponding to a diagnosis target at each time phase is obtained, a quantitative value for evaluating the movement of the tissue corresponding to the diagnosis target is calculated by using the position information, and the result is output in a predetermined form. Accordingly, since the quantitative value for evaluating the movement is calculated by using the three-dimensional position coordinate information without converting wall movement information obtained by a three-dimensional tracking process into two-dimensional information, it is possible to provide medical information with a higher degree of precision. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: processing circuitry configured to: obtain time-series volume data by ultrasonic scanning a three-dimensional region, including at least a part of a heart of a patient; receive a setting of points, including at least three points, arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data; track each of the points three-dimensionally among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of an endocardium surface or an epicardium surface; calculate an area of a localized region on the endocardium surface or the epicardium surface for each of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, based on positions of the at least three of the tracked points; and calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated area of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the area of the localized region of the part of the heart on the basis of the positions of each point, and calculates an area variation rate on the basis of the area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry further calculates a volume of the localized region of the part of the heart on the basis of the positions of each point, and calculates a volume variation rate on the basis of the volume. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time-series volume data is obtained by applying a pressure to the part of the heart or releasing the pressure applied thereto. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the area of the localized region for evaluating the part of the heart by a unit based on an anatomical criterion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the processing circuitry creates a color image, having a color allocated thereto; and a display which displays the color image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry calculates three dimensional movement direction of each point through a pattern matching process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the quantitative value at each time phase using at least one of the area of the localized region of the endocardium surface or the epicardium surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate areas of a plurality of localized regions on the endocardium surface or the epicardium surface for the each of at least two time phases. ### Claim 10 An ultrasonic image processing apparatus comprising: a memory which stores time-series volume data obtained by ultrasonic scanning a three-dimensional region, including at least a part of a heart, through an ultrasonic wave; and processing circuitry configured to: receive a setting of points, including at least three points, arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data, track each of the points three-dimensionally among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of an endocardium surface or an epicardium surface; calculate an area of a localized region on the endocardium surface or the epicardium surface for each of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, based on positions of the at least three of the tracked points; and calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated area of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ultrasonic image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the area of the localized region of the part of the heart on the basis of the position of each point, and wherein an area variation rate is calculated on the basis of the area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The ultrasonic image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry further calculates a volume of the localized region of the part of the heart on the basis of the position of each point, and wherein a volume variation rate is calculated on the basis of the volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The ultrasonic image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the time-series volume data is obtained by applying a pressure to the part of the heart or releasing the pressure applied thereto. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The ultrasonic image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the area of the localized region for evaluating the part of the heart by a unit based on an anatomical criterion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The ultrasonic image processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: the processing circuitry creates a color image, having a color allocated thereto; and a display which displays the color image. ### Claim 16 An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: processing circuitry configured to: obtain time-series volume data by ultrasonic scanning a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart of a patient; receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data; track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface; calculate volume of a localized region based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, two facing surfaces of each of the localized region being local surfaces of the endocardium surface and the epicardium surface; and calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated volume of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat. ### Claim 17 An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: processing circuitry configured to: obtain time-series volume data by ultrasonic scanning a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart; receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data; track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of a part of the heart; calculate an area of a localized region on a curved surface of the heart based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, the curved surface positioning between an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface of the heart; and calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated area of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat. ### Claim 18 An ultrasonic image processing apparatus comprising: processing circuitry configured to: a memory which stores time-series volume data for a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart; receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data; track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface; calculate volume of a localized region based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, two facing surfaces of each of the localized region being local surfaces of the endocardium surface and the epicardium surface; and calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated volume of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat. ### Claim 19 An ultrasonic image processing apparatus comprising: a memory which stores time-series volume data for a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart; processing circuitry configured to: receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data, track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of a part of the heart; calculate an area of a localized region on a curved surface of the heart based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, the curved surface positioning between an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface of the heart; and calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated area of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat.