Medical image diagnostic apparatus

Claim 2

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring first three-dimensional image data in a first-imaging mode and further acquiring second three-dimensional image data in a second imaging mode in such a manner that the positional coordinates of said second three-dimensional image data correspond to those of said first three-dimensional image data; tomographic image generation means for generating an ultrasonic tomographic image from said first three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; three-dimensional image generation means for generating a three-dimensional image from said second three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; position changing means for changing a position of the ultrasonic tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means; synthesizing means for synthesizing the ultrasonic tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means with the three-dimensional image generated by said three-dimensional image generation means in such a manner that the position of the ultrasonic tomographic image is caused to match with the three-dimensional image; and display means for displaying the synthesized image from said synthesizing means.

Claim 3

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second three-dimensional image data is ultrasonic image data.

Claim 4

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said first imaging mode is a B-mode of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means is a B-mode image.

Claim 5

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second imaging mode is a Doppler mode of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the three-dimensional image generated by said three-dimensional image generation means is a Doppler-mode image.

Claim 6

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means is a tissue image representing the parenchyma of internal organs of a subject.

Claim 7

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional image generated by said three-dimensional image generation means is a structure image representing a bloodstream in a subject.

Claim 8

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring first three-dimensional image data in a first imaging mode and further acquiring second three-dimensional image data in a second imaging mode in such a manner that the positional coordinates of said second three-dimensional image data correspond to those of said first three-dimensional image data; tomographic image generation means for generating an ultrasonic tomographic image from said first three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; three-dimensional image generation means for generating a three-dimensional image from said second three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; position changing means for changing a position of the ultrasonic tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means; region setting means for setting a specific region in the three-dimensional image generated by said three-dimensional image generation means on the basis of the ultrasonic tomographic image generated by said tomographic generation means; and calculation means for calculating living organism information on a subject on the basis of data on the specific region set by said region setting means of the three-dimensional image data acquired in said second imaging mode.

Claim 9

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring first three-dimensional image data in a first imaging mode and further acquiring second three-dimensional image data in a second imaging mode in such a manner that the positional coordinates of said second three-dimensional image data correspond to those of said first three-dimensional image data; tomographic image generation means for generating an ultrasonic tomographic image from said first three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; three-dimensional image generation means for generating a three-dimensional image from said second three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; position changing means for changing a position of the ultrasonic tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means; region setting means for setting a specific region in the three-dimensional image generated by said three-dimensional image generation means on the basis of the ultrasonic tomographic image generated by said tomographic generation means; and calculation means for calculating living organism information on a subject on the basis of data on the specific region set by said region setting means of the three-dimensional image data acquired in said second imaging mode.

Claim 10

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of said first and second three-dimensional image data is ultrasonic image data.

Claim 11

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said first imaging mode is a B-mode of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means is a B-mode image.

Claim 12

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said second imaging mode is a Doppler mode of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the three-dimensional image generated by said three-dimensional image generation means is a Doppler-mode image.

Claim 13

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the tomographic image generated by said tomographic image generation means is a tissue image representing the parenchyma of internal organs of a subject.

Claim 14

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the three-dimensional image generated by said three-dimensional image generation means is a structure image representing a bloodstream in a subject.

Claim 15

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring first three-dimensional image data in a first imaging mode and further acquiring second three-dimensional image data in a second imaging mode in such a manner that the positional coordinates of said second three-dimensional image data correspond to those of said first three-dimensional image data; generation means for generating ultrasonic image data on a three-dimensional region from said first three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; three-dimensional image generation means for generating a three-dimensional image from said second three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; position changing means for changing a position of the three-dimensional image generated by said generation means; synthesizing means for synthesizing the first three-dimensional image with the second three-dimensional image in such a manner that the position of the first three-dimensional image is caused to match with that of the second three-dimensional image; and display means for displaying the composite image from said synthesizing means.

Claim 16

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring first three-dimensional image data in a first imaging mode and further acquiring second three-dimensional image data in a second imaging mode in such a manner that the positional coordinates of said second three-dimensional image data correspond to those of said first three-dimensional image data; generation means for generating ultrasonic image data on a three-dimensional region from said first three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; three-dimensional image generation means for generating a three-dimensional image from said second three-dimensional image data acquired by said acquisition means; position changing means for changing a position of the three-dimensional image generated by said generation means; synthesizing means for synthesizing the first three-dimensional image with the second three-dimensional image in such a manner that the position of the first three-dimensional image is caused to match with that of the second three-dimensional image; and display means for displaying the composite image from said synthesizing means.

Claim 17

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of said first and second three-dimensional image data is ultrasonic image data.

Claim 18

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said first imaging mode is a B-mode of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and said first generation means generates a B-mode three-dimensional image.

Claim 19

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said second imaging mode is a Doppler mode of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and said second generation means generates a Doppler-mode three-dimensional image.

Claim 20

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first three-dimensional image generated by said first generation means is a tissue image representing the parenchyma of internal organs of a subject.

Claim 21

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the second three-dimensional image generated by said second generation means is a structure image representing a bloodstream in a subject.

Claim 22

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a first memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a first imaging mode; a second memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a second imaging mode, which is different from the first imaging mode; extracting means for extracting data on a partial region from the three-dimensional image data stored in the first memory; image processing means for producing a display image by synthesizing extracted image data acquired in the first imaging mode, with the three-dimensional image data acquired in the second imaging mode, such that the extracted image data and the three-dimensional image data are matched in position; means for displaying the display image; and means for changing a position where data are extracted by the extracting means.

Claim 23

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a first memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a first imaging mode; a second memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a second imaging mode, which is different from the first imaging mode; extracting means for extracting data on a partial region from the three-dimensional image data stored in the first memory; image processing means for producing a display image by synthesizing extracted image data acquired in the first imaging mode, with the three-dimensional image data acquired in the second imaging mode, such that the extracted image data and the three-dimensional image data are matched in position; means for displaying the display image; and means for changing a position where data are extracted by the extracting means.

Claim 24

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a first memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a first imaging mode; second memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a second imaging mode which is different from the first imaging mode; data processing means for extracting data on a cross section from the three-dimensional image data stored in the first memory; region setting means for setting a region for quantification on the basis of image data on said cross section obtained by the data processing means; display means for displaying the image data on the cross section together with lines indicating the region for quantification; and calculation means for calculating information on a living body on the basis of data which is extracted from the three-dimensional image data acquired in the second imaging mode and which corresponds to the region for quantification.

Claim 25

A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a first memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a first imaging mode; second memory for storing three-dimensional image data acquired in a second imaging mode which is different from the first imaging mode; data processing means for extracting data on a cross section from the three-dimensional image data stored in the first memory; region setting means for setting a region for quantification on the basis of image data on said cross section obtained by the data processing means; display means for displaying the image data on the cross section together with lines indicating the region for quantification; and calculation means for calculating information on a living body on the basis of data which is extracted from the three-dimensional image data acquired in the second imaging mode and which corresponds to the region for quantification.

Claim 26

A medical image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring ultrasonic data in a first imaging mode, so as to obtain ultrasonic image data regarding a cross section; acquiring ultrasonic data in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, so as to obtain ultrasonic image data regarding a three-dimensional region; synthesizing the ultrasonic image data acquired in the first imaging mode and pertaining to the cross section with the ultrasonic image data acquired in the second imaging mode and pertaining to the three-dimensional region, such that data synthesis is executed in a position-matched state, thereby obtaining a display image; displaying the display image; and changing a position of the cross section.

Claim 27

A medical image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring ultrasonic data in a first imaging mode, so as to obtain ultrasonic image data regarding a cross section; acquiring ultrasonic data in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, so as to obtain ultrasonic image data regarding a three-dimensional region; synthesizing the ultrasonic image data acquired in the first imaging mode and pertaining to the cross section with the ultrasonic image data acquired in the second imaging mode and pertaining to the three-dimensional region, such that data synthesis is executed in a position-matched state, thereby obtaining a display image; displaying the display image; and changing a position of the cross section.

Claim 28

A medical image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring three-dimensional image data in a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode, which are different from each other; producing an ultrasonic image of a partial three-dimensional region from the three-dimensional image data acquired in the first imaging mode; changing a position of the three-dimensional region produced in the producing step such that a first three-dimensional image obtained in the first imaging mode is changed related to a second three-dimensional image obtained in the second imaging mode; synthesizing the first three-dimensional image and the second three-dimensional image together in a position-matched state; and displaying an image obtained in the synthesizing step.

Claim 29

A medical image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring three-dimensional image data in a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode, which are different from each other; producing an ultrasonic image of a partial three-dimensional region from the three-dimensional image data acquired in the first imaging mode; changing a position of the three-dimensional region produced in the producing step such that a first three-dimensional image obtained in the first imaging mode is changed related to a second three-dimensional image obtained in the second imaging mode; synthesizing the first three-dimensional image and the second three-dimensional image together in a position-matched state; and displaying an image obtained in the synthesizing step.

Claim 30

A medical image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring ultrasonic data in a first imaging mode so as to obtain ultrasonic image data on a cross section; acquiring ultrasonic data in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, so as to obtain ultrasonic image data regarding a three-dimensional region; determining a region for quantification on the basis of the image data on the cross section; displaying the image data on the cross section together with lines indicating the region for quantification; and calculating information on a living body on the basis of data which is extracted from the three-dimensional image data acquired in the second imaging mode and which corresponds to the region for quantification.

Claim 31

A medical image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring ultrasonic data in a first imaging mode so as to obtain ultrasonic image data on a cross section; acquiring ultrasonic data in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, so as to obtain ultrasonic image data regarding a three-dimensional region; determining a region for quantification on the basis of the image data on the cross section; displaying the image data on the cross section together with lines indicating the region for quantification; and calculating information on a living body on the basis of data which is extracted from the three-dimensional image data acquired in the second imaging mode and which corresponds to the region for quantification.