JP2001087267A - Ultrasonic limb cross-sectional image photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a person having no special qualification to daily and inexpensively measure the limbs without selecting a place. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe of a simple ultrasonic sebum thickness gauge is revolved around the limbs to synthesize an image photographed from different plural angles.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for observing muscles and / or fat status of a limb such as a thigh and an arm. In particular, it relates to a device for easy observation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For athletes, the manner in which muscles of the limbs such as arms and thighs are attached and the amount of fat greatly affect athletic ability. It is. Also, when you are older, your muscle mass decreases, and you will need to use a cane or you will be bedridden. To prevent this, it is useful to measure the muscle mass of the legs, such as the thighs and calves, and to exercise appropriately.

Conventionally, there has been no device developed specifically for the purpose of measuring the muscle mass of the limb, and the muscle mass of the limb is measured by using a CT scanning device, MRI or the like used in medical institutions. There is no way but to do it.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION CT scanning apparatus, MRI
In the case of measuring muscle mass using a device, etc., measurement by a person who is qualified to operate a CT scanning device or MRI in a medical facility is indispensable. It is impossible to measure muscle mass.
In particular, in the case of a CT scanning apparatus, since X-rays are used, there is a limit due to a radiation irradiation allowable amount to a human body, and it is impossible to frequently measure muscle mass.

For example, when a muscle mass is to be measured in the course of training an athlete, there is naturally a need to measure the muscle mass on the field where the training is to be performed. It is difficult to meet such demands because it is impossible to use. Further, it is difficult to satisfy the requirement that the user wants to measure every time of training.

In addition, even if there is a demand to measure the muscle mass of the elderly at a clinic or a nursing home in a town, to perform counseling and to carry out appropriate muscle strengthening training, it is expensive and the installation place is limited. CT with complicated operation
It is difficult to satisfy such demands because it is impossible to easily install a scanning device or MRI in a city clinic or a nursing home.

[0007] As described above, with the recent increase in the sports population and the increase in the number of elderly people, there is an increasing demand for the development of a device capable of measuring the muscle mass of the limbs on a daily basis at low cost and in any place. Tend to.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an ultrasonic wave which can be measured daily and inexpensively by a person without special qualification anywhere without choosing a place. It is an object of the present invention to provide a body and limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized in that the muscle mass of the limb is measured using a simple ultrasonic sebaceometer. This ultrasonic sebum thickness gauge is a device that presses an ultrasonic probe against the skin, receives reflected waves of ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic probe, and acquires an image that allows the state of sebum to be visually checked. .

[0010] The ultrasonic probe of such an ultrasonic sebometer is rotated around the body limb, and images taken from a plurality of different angles are combined to project the cross section of the body limb and visually check the muscle mass. It is characterized by being able to.

[0011] This makes it possible to obtain an image of the cross section of the limb as if using a CT scanning device or MRI, regardless of the location, using an inexpensive and simple ultrasonic sebum thickness meter.

That is, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus, which is characterized by an ultrasonic probe having means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and A rotation mechanism for orbiting around the measurement limb, a cross-section image photographing means for photographing a partial cross-section image at a predetermined depth from the surface of the measurement limb based on transmission / reception signals of the ultrasonic probe, and the rotation mechanism Means for taking each said partial cross-sectional image each time the object is rotated around the measured limb by a predetermined angle, and combining the partial cross-sectional image of the measured limb taken at each predetermined angle to obtain Image processing means for generating a cross-sectional image of the measurement limb.

The predetermined angle is 30 ° or 45 °, and the image processing means includes a means for combining 12 or 8 partial cross-sectional images to generate one cross-sectional image. Is desirable.

The cross-sectional image photographing means includes means for variably setting a position of a display range with respect to a photographing range, and the image processing means includes a display range for each of the predetermined angles set by the variable setting means. It is desirable to include a unit for synthesizing a partial cross-sectional image based on the position data of.
Thereby, it is possible to cope with a difference in thickness between the imaging directions of the body limb, or a difference in the distance between the ultrasonic probe and the measured limb according to the imaging direction.

It is desirable that the ultrasonic probe be mounted movably in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotation mechanism. Thereby, a cross-sectional image from the upper part to the lower part of the measured limb can be quickly taken.

It is preferable that a means for holding the measured limb is provided near the center of rotation of the rotation mechanism. This allows
The distance between the ultrasonic probe and the limb to be measured at each imaging angle can be kept constant. In addition, the accuracy of image synthesis can be improved by fixing the limb to be measured.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of an ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic body limb cross-sectional image capturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the holding plate.

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus, and the feature of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 2 having a piezoelectric element 1 as a means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a rotating cylinder 3 as a rotating mechanism for rotating the ultrasonic probe 2 around a limb to be measured, and Ultrasonic sebum thickness meter 4 as a cross-sectional image photographing means for photographing a partial cross-sectional image at a predetermined depth from the surface of the limb to be measured based on transmission / reception signals of ultrasonic probe 2
And a control unit 5 as a means for photographing the partial cross-sectional image each time the rotating cylinder 3 rotates around the measured limb by a predetermined angle. An image synthesizing device 6 as image processing means for generating a cross-sectional image of a measured limb by synthesizing a partial cross-sectional image is provided. The rotating cylinder 3 is filled with water in order to increase the conductivity of the ultrasonic waves.

The rotary cylinder 3 is driven by a stepping motor 7 via a belt 8 and rotates. The stepping motor 7 rotates the rotary cylinder 3 by a predetermined angle under the control of the control unit 5. A disk 9 is provided at the bottom of the rotary cylinder 3. The rotary cylinder 3 rotates around the disk 9 while maintaining watertightness by an O-ring. The limb to be measured during imaging is placed on the non-rotating disk 9. In the embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined angle is 45 °, and the image synthesizing device 6 synthesizes eight partial cross-sectional images to generate one cross-sectional image.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic probe 2 is movably attached to the rotating cylinder 3 by a lifting rail 11 in the direction of the rotation axis. Also, as shown in FIG.
A holding plate 12 as a means for holding the body to be measured is provided near the center of rotation. The holding plate 12 is a donut-shaped disc having a hole in the center so that a limb can pass.

As a structure for freely moving the ultrasonic probe 2 up and down, a structure as shown in FIG. 4 may be used.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the rotating cylinder 3 is formed by stacking a plurality of blocks 3-1 to 3-4.
1-3 through 4 are connected by bolts 14 using bolt holes 13. In FIG. 4, the ultrasonic probe 2 is attached to the uppermost block 3-1. However, if necessary, the position of the ultrasonic probe 2 can be changed by changing the insertion position of the block 3-1.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic body limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of a limb. FIG.
The figures inside represent the skeleton, muscle, and fat, respectively. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the cross section of the limb is divided into eight at an angle of 45 °. In the embodiment of the present invention, imaging is performed by moving the ultrasonic probe 2 around the limb by 45 °. This imaging is performed by placing the limb to be measured in the rotating cylinder 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, rotating the rotating cylinder 3 by 45 °, and using the ultrasonic probe 2 attached to the rotating cylinder 3.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the photographed image at each angle. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which captured images at each angle captured as illustrated in FIG. 7 are combined. The captured images at the respective angles shown in FIG. 7 have portions overlapping each other as can be seen from FIG. As a synthesizing method, a superimposed portion in an image captured at an adjacent angle is overlapped by using an overlapping portion to generate a composite image illustrated in FIG. 8 from the captured image at each angle illustrated in FIG. be able to.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an image synthesizing flow. As shown in FIG. 7, eight partial cross-sectional images were taken (S1), and as shown in FIG.
The partial cross-sectional images of the sheets are arranged for each angle (S2). Here, an overlapping portion is searched between adjacent partial cross-sectional images (S3). If the overlapping part can be searched (S4), the overlapping part is matched (S5). If the luminance of the overlapping portion is different from the non-overlapping portion, this is adjusted. Through the above procedure, the entire cross-sectional image can be synthesized from the partial cross-sectional image. If no overlapping portion can be searched between the adjacent partial cross-sectional images (S4), an error may have occurred during the photographing process, so that re-imaging is instructed (S6). Since such a synthesis method is commercially available as software for automatically synthesizing by a computer, the image synthesizing apparatus 6 shown in FIG. 1 can be realized by using the software.

Although the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 5 shows the cross section of the limb as a circle, the actual cross section of the limb is not completely circular. Therefore, FIG. 10 schematically shows the cross section of the body limb as an ellipse, and a procedure for photographing the cross section of such an elliptical body limb will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, the photographing from three directions of 0 °, 45 ° and 90 ° will be described, but other angles (135 °, 180 °, 225 °,
70 °, 315 °) can be similarly described. The area surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 11 indicates the display range of the image, and the range in which the ultrasonic probe 2 can actually photograph the limb is wider than the display range. In the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the display range is constant, when the cross section of the limb is almost elliptical, the position of the display range is changed according to the photographing angle as shown in FIG.

That is, at the photographing position of 0 °, the uppermost position of the display range is located at pcm from the inner wall of the rotary cylinder 3. At the shooting position of 45 °, the uppermost position of the display range is qcm from the inner wall. At the shooting position of 90 °, the uppermost position of the display range is rcm from the inner wall. Images taken from these three directions are shown in FIG. In order to make the description easy to understand, FIG. 13 shows an example of a case where the images synthesized from these three directions are synthesized by the image synthesizing device 6 ignoring the shift of the display range. FIG.
In No. 3, since the images were synthesized on the assumption that the uppermost position of the display range was pcm from the inner wall of the rotating cylinder 3, it was found that the images were misaligned and were not synthesized normally.

In order to avoid such a situation, the image synthesizing device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention acquires data relating to the positional relationship between the display ranges of the captured images at each angle,
Synthesis is performed based on this data. As a result, FIG.
1 can be normally synthesized.

In order to automatically execute the procedure of photographing while changing the display range for each angle as described above, the display depth from the epidermis of the limb must be determined in advance by the ultrasonic sebum thickness meter 4.
It can be realized by setting to. The ultrasonic sebum thickness meter 4 identifies the epidermis image of the limb by image recognition technology, and variably sets the display range so that the display depth from the epidermis of the limb becomes the set depth at each angle. The position data of the display range at this time is stored in the image synthesizing device 6.
Notify.

Also, as shown in FIG. 14, the case where the measured limb is deviated from the center of the rotary cylinder 3 can be dealt with by changing the display range. The apparatus according to the present invention is designed so that the cross section of the thigh can be photographed. When a cross section of a limb such as an arm thinner than the thigh is to be photographed, such a deviation is caused. May occur.

That is, in the example of FIG. 14, the measured limb is biased closer to the 180 ° shooting position than to the 0 ° shooting position. In such a case, at the imaging position of 0 °, the uppermost part of the display range is located at a position of scm with respect to the inner wall of the rotating cylinder 3. Also, at the 180 ° shooting position, t
The top of the display range is at the position of cm. The image synthesizing device 6 synthesizes images based on these distance data, so that normal image synthesis can be performed.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The measurement of the body and limbs can be carried out routinely and inexpensively, and without special qualifications, anywhere.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image capturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a holding plate.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which rotating cylinders are stacked by a plurality of blocks.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of a limb.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the periphery of a limb is divided into eight at a 45 ° angle.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing captured images at various angles.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which captured images at each angle are synthesized.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an image synthesis flow.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of a limb as an ellipse.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for photographing a cross section of an elliptical body limb.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing captured images from three directions.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of combining images ignoring a shift in a display range.

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining an imaging procedure when the body limb is deviated from the center position of the rotating cylinder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Piezoelectric element 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Rotating cylinder 3-1 to 3-4 Block 3-a Inner cylinder 3-b Outer cylinder 4 Ultrasonic sebum thickness meter 5 Control unit 6 Image synthesizing device 7 Stepping motor 8 Belt 9 Disk 10 Pedestal DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Elevating rail 12 Holding plate 13 Bolt hole 14 Bolt 15 O-ring d1, d2 Shooting depth

Claims (5)

[Claims] An ultrasonic probe having means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a rotating mechanism for rotating the ultrasonic probe around a limb to be measured; and an object to be measured based on signals transmitted and received by the ultrasonic probe. A cross-sectional image photographing means for photographing a partial cross-sectional image at a predetermined depth from the surface of the limb; and a means for photographing the partial cross-sectional image each time the rotating mechanism orbits around the measured limb by a predetermined angle. And an image processing means for combining a partial cross-sectional image of the measured limb taken at each predetermined angle to generate a cross-sectional image of the measured limb. Limb cross-sectional imaging device. 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is 30 ° or 45 °, and the image processing unit includes a unit configured to combine 12 or 8 partial cross-sectional images to generate one cross-sectional image. 2. The ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image capturing apparatus according to 1. 3. The cross-sectional image photographing means includes means for variably setting a position of a display range with respect to a photographing range, and the image processing means includes a means for setting the position of the display range for each of the predetermined angles set by the variably setting means. 3. The ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for synthesizing a partial cross-sectional image based on position data of a display range. 4. The ultrasonic body and limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic probe is movably attached in a direction of a rotation axis of said rotation mechanism. 5. The ultrasonic limb cross-sectional image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for holding the limb to be measured near the center of rotation of the rotation mechanism.