JP2003284713A - Image processing device for medical use, image processing parameter correcting method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device for medical use capable of performing an optimum image processing corresponding to the physical characteristics of a patient. <P>SOLUTION: The control part 1 makes perform a histogram analysis of an image inputted from an image analysis part 7, and recognizes a radiographing position and a somatotype of the person to be radiographed as a physical information depending on the result of the analysis, subsequently, an image processing parameter is read from a memory part 6, and the contrast of the image processing parameter and respective parameters of the frequency emphasizing degree are corrected depending on the somatotype so as to become small when it is determined that the thickness of the body is thin, and the above parameters are corrected so as to become large when it is judged that the thickness of the body is thick, and the corrected image processing parameter is applied to the imaging process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus, an image processing parameter correction method, a program, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, CT (Computed
Medical imaging equipment such as Tomography) equipment and CR (Com
A medical image processing apparatus has been developed which acquires a radiographic medical image taken by a medical image reading apparatus such as a putted radiationography apparatus as a digital image and performs image processing.

Specifically, a radiation image conversion panel in which a stimulable phosphor layer is formed on a support is used, and the stimulable phosphor layer of this conversion panel is made to absorb the radiation transmitted through an object. Then, the radiation energy corresponding to the radiation transmittance of each part of the subject is accumulated to form a latent image, and then the phosphor layer is scanned with stimulated excitation light such as infrared rays so that the accumulated radiation energy is emitted as fluorescence. The fluorescence is photoelectrically converted to obtain a radiation image signal.

The radiation medical image thus obtained is subjected to image processing by a medical image processing apparatus and then output to a film or an output device such as a CRT for visualization, or a filing device such as a server displays a patient's image. It is stored with information and used for medical activities.

[0005]

Conventionally, in the medical image processing apparatus described above, image processing is performed by applying a predetermined image processing parameter according to the imaged region of the imaged image. However, the physical characteristics of the subject are different, for example, a subject with a large body type has a low radiation transmittance, resulting in a highly concentrated whitish output image, and a subject with a thin body type has a large radiation transmittance. The output image is dark and has a low density. Therefore, an optimum output image cannot be obtained by performing uniform image processing on images of different subject body types. For example, if the image processing parameters are set so that the image has the optimum contrast according to the standard body type subject, the contrast and sharpness of the subject image having a large body type will be insufficiently emphasized, and the image of the subject having a small body type will be insufficiently emphasized. The contrast and sharpness of will be overemphasized.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image processing apparatus capable of performing optimum image processing according to the physical characteristics of a subject.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a medical image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a medical image with a predetermined image processing parameter, a recognition unit that recognizes physical information of a subject of the medical image and the image processing parameter based on the physical information of the recognized subject. And a correcting means for correcting the image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the medical image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, there is further provided a discriminating means for discriminating whether the body shape of the subject is large or small based on the physical information of the subject. If the determination means determines that the body shape of the subject is large, the correction means performs correction to increase the contrast of the image processing parameter, and the determination means determines that the body shape of the subject is small. In this case, it is characterized in that the image processing parameter is corrected to reduce the contrast.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the medical image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, there is further provided input means for inputting the physical information of the subject, and the recognizing means recognizes the input physical information. It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the medical image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the input means inputs the physical information of the subject from an external information system that manages the information of the subject. I am trying.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for correcting an image processing parameter in a medical image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a medical image according to a predetermined image processing parameter,
The method is characterized by including the steps of recognizing the physical information of the subject of the medical image and the step of correcting the image processing parameter based on the recognized physical information of the subject.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a function for causing a computer for controlling a medical image processing apparatus that performs image processing on a medical image with predetermined image processing parameters to recognize physical information of a subject of the medical image, It is a program for realizing a function of correcting the image processing parameter based on the recognized physical information of the subject.

The invention according to claim 11 is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a medical image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a medical image according to predetermined image processing parameters. It is characterized in that a program including a program code for recognizing the physical information of the subject of the image and a program code for correcting the image processing parameter based on the recognized physical information of the subject is stored.

Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 1
According to the first aspect of the invention, the body information of the subject inputted from an external information system for managing the information of the subject is recognized, and it is determined whether the body shape of the subject is large or small based on the recognized body information. Then, when it is determined that the thickness of the body is large, the correction of increasing the contrast of the image processing parameter is performed, and when it is determined that the thickness of the body is small, the correction of reducing the contrast is performed. It is possible to easily set the image processing parameters according to the characteristics and perform the optimum image processing, and it is possible to improve the diagnosability.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the medical image processing apparatus according to the first or third aspect, the input means is
It is characterized in that an instruction of a correction amount of the image processing parameter by the correction means is inputted, and the correction means corrects the image processing parameter by the correction amount instructed by the input.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the correction amount for correcting the image processing parameter is instructed by input, the image processing parameter can be corrected by the appropriate correction amount instructed by input. The diagnosability can be further improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the medical image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, there is further provided storage means for storing the correction amount of the image processing parameter according to the physical information of the subject, the correction means comprising: It is characterized in that the correction amount of the image processing parameter according to the recognized physical information is read out from the storage means and is corrected.

According to the invention of claim 6, an appropriate correction amount of the image processing parameter corresponding to the physical information of the subject is stored in advance, and the image processing parameter of the image processing parameter corresponding to the recognized physical information is stored at the time of correction. Since the correction amount is read out and the correction is performed, the diagnosability can be further improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the medical image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, an image analysis means for image-analyzing the medical image is further provided, and the recognizing means is based on an analysis result of the image analysis means. It is characterized by recognizing the physical information of the subject.

The invention according to claim 8 is the medical image processing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the image analysis means statistically analyzes the medical image.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, since the physical information of the subject is recognized by analyzing the medical image by statistical analysis, the physical information of the subject can be automatically recognized, which is convenient. improves.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> First, the configuration will be described. Figure 1
It is a figure which shows the structure of the medical image processing apparatus 10 in this 1st Embodiment. In FIG. 1, a medical image processing apparatus 1
0 is a control unit 1, an input unit 2, a display unit 3, a communication control unit 4,
The RAM 5 includes a storage unit 6, an image analysis unit 7, and an image processing unit 8.

The control unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing).
Unit) etc., and reads the system program and various control programs stored in the storage unit 6,
The operation is expanded to AM5 and the operation of each unit is centrally controlled according to the control program. Further, the control unit 1 executes various processes according to the program expanded in the RAM 5, stores the processing result in the RAM 5, and causes the display unit 3 to display the result. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 5 is stored in a predetermined storage destination of the storage unit 6.

In the first embodiment, the control unit 1 first causes the image analysis unit 7 to perform a histogram analysis of the image, and based on the analysis result, the imaged region and the physical information of the subject. Recognize your body type. Next, the storage unit 6 stores the image processing parameters corresponding to the imaged region.
When it is determined that the body type is thin based on the recognized body type, the contrast of the image processing parameter and the frequency enhancement degree parameters are corrected to be small, and the body type is determined to be large. If so, correction is performed so as to increase the above parameters, and the corrected image processing parameters are applied to the image processing.
That is, the control unit 1 has a function as a recognition unit, a correction unit, and a determination unit.

The input unit 2 includes a keyboard provided with cursor keys, numeral input keys, various function keys, and the like, and outputs a depression signal corresponding to a key depressed by the keyboard to the control unit 1. The input unit 2 may be a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel, if necessary.
Other input devices may be provided. When the user inputs the body information or the photographing information of the subject from the input unit 2, the input unit 2 has a function as an input unit that inputs the body information of the subject.

The display unit 3 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).
play), CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), etc., and according to the instruction of the display signal input from the control unit 1,
An input instruction from the input unit 2 and an image processed by the image processing unit 8 are displayed on the display screen.

The communication control unit 4 is a LAN (Local Area Net).
work), WAN (Wide Area Network), or an interface connectable to a transmission medium connected to a network such as the Internet. The communication control unit 4 is composed of a modem, a terminal adapter, or the like, and is a medical image input device for inputting a captured medical image of a medical image capturing device, a medical image reading device, or the like connected via a network, or a medical image display. Medical image output device such as a device or film output device, HIS (hospital information system) that manages information in the hospital and the patient who is the subject, imaging information, information in the radiology department and patient information that is the subject, imaging Communication control for transmitting and receiving various information to and from various external devices such as a RIS (radiology information system) for managing information and a server for filing captured images is performed. That is, the communication control unit 4 has a function as an input unit that inputs the physical information of the subject.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 5 is a system program, a control program, an input program that can be executed on the medical image processing apparatus 10 read from the storage unit 6 in various processes controlled by the control unit 1, It forms a temporary storage area for output data and parameters.

The storage unit 6 has a recording medium (not shown) in which programs, data, etc. are stored in advance, and this recording medium is composed of a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. . This recording medium is one that is fixedly provided in the storage unit 6 or one that is detachably mounted, and a system program corresponding to the medical image processing apparatus 10, data processed by the system program, and the like are stored in this recording medium. Remember. These various processing programs are stored in the form of a readable program code, and the control unit 1 sequentially executes operations according to the program code.

The storage unit 6 also stores image processing parameters calculated in advance so as to perform optimum image processing for each imaged region. Further, the storage unit 6 has an original image data storage area for storing original image data of an image captured and input, a processed image data storage area for storing processed image data subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 8, Have.

Further, the storage unit 6 stores a standard histogram pattern for recognizing an imaged part and a body type of a subject during image analysis for each imaged part. For this standard histogram pattern, a standard body type histogram is calculated in advance for each imaging region.

In the first embodiment, the image analysis unit 7
Performs image analysis of an image input according to an instruction from the control unit 1. That is, the image analysis unit 7 has a function as an image analysis unit. Specifically, a histogram analysis, which is a statistical analysis, is performed on the input image, the feature amount is detected from the created histogram, and is output to the control unit 1 as an analysis result. For example, when a chest of a standard body is photographed, the horizontal axis represents the image signal level (corresponding to the density and the radiation transmittance) and the vertical axis represents the frequency corresponding to the signal level. A histogram is created, and two maximal portions corresponding to the lung field and one maximal portion corresponding to the amount of radiation not irradiated on the subject appear at the high signal level position.

Since such a histogram has characteristics depending on the photographed region and the body type of the subject, it is possible to estimate the body region of the photographed region and the subject from the characteristics. For example, when the imaged part is the chest, two large maximal parts appear as described above. Therefore, a standard body shape histogram pattern corresponding to each imaged part is prepared in advance, and the number and shape of the maximal parts are calculated. The imaged region can be estimated by comparing the characteristics with the standard histogram pattern and comparing them. Further, when the subject is thin and the body type is thin, a histogram as shown in FIG. 2B is obtained, and the position of the signal distribution region shifts to a relatively high signal level side as compared with the standard histogram pattern. The characteristic of the signal distribution width W is narrow. On the other hand, when the subject is thick and the body is thick, a histogram as shown in FIG. 2C is obtained, and the position of the signal distribution region shifts to a relatively low signal level side compared to the standard histogram pattern. The signal distribution width W has a wide characteristic.
In the above description of the histogram characteristic, the histogram when the chest is photographed is exemplified, but the characteristic of the histogram depending on the body shape is commonly seen in other photographing regions.

Therefore, a standard histogram pattern obtained by histogram analysis of the standard body type is calculated for each imaging region, and the standard histogram pattern and the histogram obtained by actual image analysis are collated and compared to obtain a signal. By determining whether the position of the distribution region is shifted from the standard position by a predetermined value or more, or by determining whether the signal distribution width W is larger than the standard value by a predetermined value or less, the figure of the subject of the image can be estimated.

According to an instruction from the control section 1, the image processing section 8 carries out frequency emphasis processing including multi-resolution processing for adjusting the sharpness of the image in the input image data, gradation processing for adjusting the contrast, or dynamic range. Various image processing such as a dynamic range compression processing for keeping a wide image in a density range that is easy to see without lowering the contrast of the details of the subject and a compression processing for compressing by a predetermined compression method.

Here, each image processing parameter will be described in detail. Important parameters in gradation processing are a contrast value for varying the contrast of the output image and a density correction value for varying the density of the output image. ,
The gradation of the output image can be changed by changing these values. Also, important parameters in the frequency enhancement processing are the mask size that changes the size of the mask area when generating a non-sharp image and the emphasis degree that changes the degree of frequency emphasis. By doing so, the sharpness of the output image can be changed.
Also, the important parameters in the dynamic range compression process are the mask size that changes the size of the mask region when generating an unsharp image, and the average density of the region of interest by correcting the low signal (density) region. It is a correction amount for varying the degree of correction when the value is brought close to, and by changing these values, it is possible to set a density range that is easy to see without lowering the contrast of details.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. As a premise of the operation description, a program for executing the processing described below is stored in the storage unit 6 in the form of a computer-readable program code, and the control unit 1 follows the program code. Sequentially perform the specified operation.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the image processing parameter correction processing executed by the control unit 1. Note that this correction process is executed when an image processing instruction is detected. In FIG. 3, when the image processing instruction is detected, the control unit 1 causes the image analysis unit 7 to perform image analysis of the image, and recognizes the imaged region and the body type that is the physical information of the subject from the analysis result. (Step S1).
Specifically, the control unit 1 receives the result of the histogram analysis, which is a statistical analysis, by the image analysis unit 7,
By collating with the standard histogram pattern for each imaging region stored in the storage unit 6, a standard histogram pattern having the same characteristics from the characteristics of the maximum number of signal distribution areas in the analysis result histogram, its position, shape, etc. is obtained. Detect and recognize the part to be imaged. For example, when the standard histogram pattern of the chest is a histogram as shown in FIG. 2A and the analysis result is the histogram as shown in FIG. 2B, the maximum number and the shape of the signal distribution region are Since they match, the imaged part can be identified as the chest.

The above-described recognition of the imaged region is one example, and the recognition method is not particularly limited, and the user may input the information of the imaged region from the input unit 2 for recognition.
It is also possible to perform pattern matching in which various characteristic amounts of the image are detected and collated with a standard pattern that is provided in advance. For example, instead of a histogram, a projection (accumulated density value in one direction of the image) may be created and the imaged region may be recognized from the feature amount of the projection.

Next, the control unit 1 reads out the standard histogram pattern corresponding to the recognized imaged region from the storage unit 6 and compares it with the histogram actually obtained as the analysis result to determine the body shape of the imaged object. Recognize. Specifically, the body type of the subject is recognized by comparing the signal level position where the signal distribution region is located and the size of the signal distribution width W of the standard histogram pattern and the histogram of the analysis result. For example, the standard histogram pattern is shown in FIG.
When the histogram shown in FIG. 2B is obtained as an analysis result, the position of the signal distribution region is shifted to a higher signal level side than the standard and the histogram shown in FIG. Since the width W is small, it is recognized that the body shape has a small thickness. On the other hand, when the histogram as shown in FIG. 2B is obtained as the analysis result, the position of the signal distribution region is shifted to a lower signal level than the standard and the signal distribution width W is large. It is recognized that the body shape is thick. Also,
When the position of the signal distribution area and the distribution width W of the histogram of the analysis result and the standard histogram pattern substantially match, the body type is recognized as standard.

Then, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the body type of the subject is the standard based on the recognized body type (step S3). If the body type is the standard, the recognized image is recognized based on the image analysis result. The image processing parameter corresponding to the part is read from the storage unit 6, the image processing parameter is applied to cause the image processing unit 8 to perform the image processing (step S6), and the correction process of the image processing parameter is ended.

On the other hand, if it is not standard, it is further determined whether the body thickness is large or small (step S3). When it is determined that the body shape of the subject is small, the control unit 1
Is a correction for reading out the image processing parameter corresponding to the imaged part recognized based on the image analysis result, and reducing the parameter value of the contrast value in the gradation processing of the image processing parameter and the emphasis degree in the frequency emphasis processing. Is performed (step S4). By reducing the contrast value and the degree of emphasis, the output image has an appropriate density range,
The image has sharpness.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the body shape of the subject is large, the control unit 1 reads out the image processing parameter corresponding to the imaged region recognized based on the image analysis result, and the level of the image processing parameter is read. Correction is performed to increase the parameter value of the contrast value in the tone processing and the parameter value of the enhancement degree in the frequency enhancement processing (step S5). By increasing the contrast value and the degree of enhancement, the output image becomes an image in which the proper density range and sharpness are maintained.

The correction amount of the parameter value in steps 4 and 5 may be input by the user from the input unit 2, or the network N may be input via the communication control unit 4.
An instruction of the correction amount may be input from the above information system such as HIS. That is, the input unit 2 and the communication control unit 4 have a function as an input unit that inputs an instruction of the correction amount of the image processing parameter. Alternatively, a correction amount corresponding to the thickness of the body shape, which is the body information of the subject, may be stored in the storage unit 6 in advance. That is, the storage unit 6 has a function as a storage unit that stores the correction amount of the image processing parameter according to the physical information of the subject. For example, the high signal level side and the low signal level side of the position of the signal distribution area of the standard histogram pattern are divided into several ranges, and an appropriate correction amount is associated with each range and stored in the storage unit 6, Depending on which range the position of the signal distribution area of the analysis result corresponds to, the corresponding correction amount is read and applied during correction. The above description is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this as long as the correction amount according to the physical information is stored.

Next, the control section 1 applies the corrected image processing parameters to the image processing section 8 to perform image processing (step S6), and ends the image processing parameter correction processing.

As described above, image analysis by a histogram is performed on an image that has been photographed and input to recognize the photographed region, recognize the body type that is the physical information of the subject, and read out the image processing parameters corresponding to the photographed region. Then, if it is determined that the body type has a small thickness based on the recognized body type, correction is performed to reduce each parameter of the contrast value and the frequency enhancement degree, and if it is determined that the body type has a large thickness, the contrast is corrected. Since the correction of increasing each parameter of the value and the frequency emphasis degree is performed and the corrected image processing parameter is applied to the image processing, it is possible to easily set the image processing parameter according to the physical characteristics of the subject and optimize the image processing parameter. Image processing can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly diagnostic image.

The description in the first embodiment is an example of the preferred medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the above description, the contrast value of the gradation processing and the emphasis degree of the frequency emphasis processing are described as an example of the processing parameter to be corrected, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the density correction value of the gradation processing described above,
Various parameters such as the mask size for frequency enhancement processing, the mask size for dynamic range compression processing, the amount of correction, etc., or the parameter for changing the range of the region of interest or the boundary signal between the signal area to be corrected in the dynamic range compression processing and the area not to be corrected. Other settable processing such as a parameter for changing the value, a parameter for the shift amount of the image signal level when changing the luminance or density of the output image by shifting the image signal level to the high level side or the low level side. The parameters may be corrected.

In the above description, the image processing parameters are corrected by recognizing whether the body shape of the subject is large or small by performing image analysis and collating and comparing with the histogram pattern of the standard body shape. Not limited to this,
A reference histogram pattern for each age and gender is provided in advance, and the age and gender of the subject are recognized by performing image analysis and collation comparison with the reference histogram pattern,
For example, in the case of an infant or an elderly person, the processing parameters may be corrected by determining that the body shape of the subject is small.

In addition, the detailed configuration and the detailed operation of the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described.
First, the functional configuration of the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. Since each component is the same as the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be given. The description is omitted, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the illustration thereof is omitted.

In the correction processing of the image processing parameters according to the second embodiment, the control unit 1 first obtains the physical information of the subject and the information of the imaged region by using the HIS or the like connected via the communication control unit 4. The image processing parameters input from the information system are acquired, the image processing parameters corresponding to the acquired imaged region are read from the storage unit 6, and the body type of the subject is recognized based on the body information of the subject, and the body type has a large or small thickness. Determine whether. When the thickness of the body is small, the control unit 1 corrects the contrast value in the gradation processing of the read image processing parameters and the parameter value of the emphasis degree in the frequency enhancement processing to be small, and when the thickness of the body is large, the control unit 1 The contrast value of the read image processing parameter and the parameter value of the emphasis degree are largely corrected. Then, the corrected image processing parameters are applied to cause the image processing unit 8 to perform image processing.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As a premise of the operation description, a program for realizing each processing described in the following flowcharts is stored in the storage unit 6 in the form of a computer-readable program code, and the control unit 1 uses the program code. The operation according to is sequentially executed.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the correction processing of the image processing parameters, which is executed by the control unit 1 in the second embodiment. In FIG. 4, the control unit 1 first causes the communication control unit 4 to input the physical information of the subject and the information of the imaging region from an information system that manages information of the patient, such as HIS and RIS, and imaging information. The body type of the subject and the imaged part are recognized from these information (step S101). At this time, the information input from the information system such as HIS influences the body such as sex, age, nationality, medical history, and patient state in addition to physical information indicating physical characteristics such as height, weight, and body fat of the subject. It is preferable to acquire the subject information that influences as body information. Further, it is assumed that the user can appropriately set which physical information is to be input.

For recognizing the body shape of the subject, a standard body shape and a body shape pattern for a large body shape and a thin body shape are prepared in advance. For example, a female body pattern of a standard body shape has a height of 160 to 170. (Cm) and weighs 46
~ 55kg, the body pattern of a subject with a thick body is 170 or more in height and 56kg or more in weight,
The body pattern of a female subject having a small body thickness is set to be 160 or less in height and 45 kg or less in weight, and the body type is recognized according to which body pattern the body information of the subject corresponds to. The method of recognizing the body shape is not limited to the above method as long as the body shape of the subject can be determined. Further, a detailed recognition method may be used in which, in addition to physical information such as height and weight, subject information that affects the body such as age and sex is added.

Next, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the body type of the subject is standard based on the recognized body type (step S102). When it is determined that the body type is standard, the storage unit 6 stores the image processing parameters according to the recognized imaging region.
Then, the image processing parameters are read out from the image processing section 8 and the image processing parameters are applied to cause the image processing section 8 to perform image processing (step S106), and the image processing parameter correction processing ends. When it is determined that the body type is not standard, the control unit 1 determines whether the body shape of the subject is large or small based on the recognized body type (step S103).

When it is determined that the body shape of the subject is small, the control unit 1 reads out the image processing parameter corresponding to the imaged region acquired in step S101, and the contrast value in the gradation processing of the image processing parameter. ,
Also, correction is performed to reduce each parameter value of the emphasis degree in the frequency emphasis processing (step S104). By reducing the contrast value and the emphasis degree, the output image becomes an image in which the proper density range and sharpness are maintained.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the body shape of the subject is large, the control unit 1 reads out the image processing parameter corresponding to the imaged region acquired in step S101, and performs the gradation processing of the image processing parameter. Correction is performed to increase each parameter value of the contrast value and the degree of emphasis in the frequency emphasis process (step S105).
By increasing the contrast value and the degree of enhancement, the output image becomes an image in which the proper density range and sharpness are maintained.

The correction amount of the parameter value in steps 104 and 105 may be input by the user from the input unit 2, or may be input from the information system such as HIS on the network N via the communication control unit 4. The correction amount instruction may be input. That is, the input unit 2 and the communication control unit 4 have a function as an input unit that inputs an instruction of the correction amount of the image processing parameter. Alternatively, a correction amount corresponding to the thickness of the body shape, which is the body information of the subject, may be stored in the storage unit 6 in advance. That is, the storage unit 6 has a function as a storage unit that stores the correction amount of the image processing parameter according to the physical information of the subject. For example, the high signal level side and the low signal level side of the position of the signal distribution area of the standard histogram pattern are divided into several ranges, and an appropriate correction amount is associated with each range and stored in the storage unit 6, Depending on which range the position of the signal distribution area of the analysis result corresponds to, the corresponding correction amount is read and applied during correction. The above description is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this as long as the correction amount according to the physical information is stored.

Next, the control section 1 causes the image processing section 8 to perform image processing with the corrected image processing parameters (step S106), and ends the image processing parameter correction processing.

As described above, the body information of the subject and the imaged part are acquired from an external information system such as HIS, the image processing parameters corresponding to the acquired imaged part are read out, and the body information of the object is read. When it is determined that the thickness of the body is small based on the above, correction is performed to reduce the gradation processing contrast value of the image processing parameter and the parameter value of the emphasis degree in the frequency enhancement processing, and it is determined that the body thickness is large. If so, the correction is performed to increase the above parameters and the corrected image processing parameters are applied to the image processing. Therefore, even when the body type of the subject is different, optimum image processing can be easily performed.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly diagnostic image.

The description in the second embodiment is an example of the preferred medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, although it has been described that the body information of the subject and the information of the imaged part are acquired from the external information system via the communication control unit 4, the invention is not limited to this, and the additional information added to the image may be acquired. Alternatively, the user may make an input using the input unit 2.

Further, in the above description, the contrast value of the gradation process and the emphasis degree of the frequency emphasis process are described as examples of the processing parameters to be corrected, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the density correction value and the frequency of the gradation process described above are used. Various parameters such as mask size for emphasis processing, mask size for dynamic range compression processing, correction amount, etc., or parameter for varying the range of the region of interest, or boundary signal value between the signal area to be corrected in the dynamic range compression processing and the area not to be corrected Other variable processing parameters such as a parameter for changing the image signal level, a parameter for shifting the image signal level to the high level side or the low level side and changing the brightness or density of the output image May be corrected.

In the above description, it is recognized whether the body shape of the subject is large or small by collating and comparing the acquired body information of the subject with the body pattern of the standard body,
Although the image processing parameters were corrected, the present invention is not limited to this, and a subject pattern for each age and sex is prepared in advance,
For example, it may be determined that the body shape of the subject is small in the case of an infant or an elderly person by collation and comparison, and the processing parameter may be corrected.

In addition, the detailed configuration and the detailed operation of the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0065]

The effects of the present invention are set forth in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11.
According to the described invention, the body information of the subject that is input from an external information system that manages the information of the subject is recognized,
Based on the recognized physical information, it is determined whether the body shape of the subject is large or small, and if it is determined that the body shape is large, correction is performed to increase the contrast of the image processing parameter so that the body shape is When it is determined that it is small, the correction is performed to reduce the contrast, so that it is possible to easily set the image processing parameters according to the physical characteristics of the subject and perform the optimum image processing, and it is possible to improve the diagnosability. it can.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the correction amount for correcting the image processing parameter is input and instructed,
The image processing parameter can be corrected with an appropriate correction amount instructed to be input, and the diagnosability can be further improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, an appropriate correction amount of the image processing parameter corresponding to the physical information of the object is stored in advance, and the correction of the image processing parameter corresponding to the recognized physical information is performed at the time of correction. Since the amount is read and the correction is performed, the diagnosability can be further improved.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, the physical information of the subject is recognized by performing image analysis on the medical image by statistical analysis, so that the physical information of the subject can be automatically recognized and convenience is improved. To do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a medical image processing apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing an example of a histogram of a chest image created by the image analysis unit 7 of FIG. 1, (a) is a histogram when the subject is a standard body type, and (b) is a thin subject. FIG. 3C is a histogram when the thickness of the body is small and FIG. 7C is a histogram when the body is thick and the thickness of the body is large.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing parameter correction process executed by the control unit 1 of FIG. 1 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing parameter correction process executed by the control unit 1 of FIG. 1 in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 control unit 2 Input section 3 Display 4 Communication control unit 5 RAM 6 memory 7 Image analysis section 8 Image processing section 10 Medical image processing device

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/407 H04N 1/40 101E

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A medical image processing apparatus for subjecting a medical image to image processing according to predetermined image processing parameters, and a recognizing means for recognizing physical information of a subject of the medical image, and based on the physical information of the recognized subject. A medical image processing apparatus comprising: a correction unit that corrects the image processing parameter. 2. A determination means for determining whether the body shape of the subject is large or small based on the body information of the subject, wherein the correcting means determines that the body shape of the subject is large by the determination means. When it is determined that the contrast of the image processing parameter is increased, correction is performed, and when the determination unit determines that the body shape of the subject is small, correction is performed to reduce the contrast of the image processing parameter. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input means for inputting the physical information of the subject, wherein the recognizing means recognizes the input physical information. 4. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the input means inputs the physical information of the subject from an external information system that manages the information of the subject. 5. The input means inputs an instruction of a correction amount of an image processing parameter by the correcting means, and the correcting means corrects the image processing parameter by the correction amount instructed by the input. Claim 1,
Alternatively, the medical image processing apparatus according to Item 3. 6. A storage unit for storing the correction amount of the image processing parameter according to the physical information of the subject, wherein the correction unit stores the correction amount of the image processing parameter according to the recognized physical information. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image processing apparatus reads out from a storage unit and performs correction. 7. The image analysis means for image-analyzing the medical image is further provided, and the recognition means recognizes the physical information of the subject from the analysis result of the image analysis means. Medical image processing device. 8. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image analysis means statistically analyzes the medical image. 9. A method of correcting an image processing parameter in a medical image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a medical image according to a predetermined image processing parameter, the step of recognizing body information of a subject of the medical image, and the recognized subject. And a step of correcting the image processing parameter based on the body information of. 10. A function for causing a computer for controlling a medical image processing apparatus that performs image processing on a medical image according to a predetermined image processing parameter to recognize physical information of a subject of the medical image, A program for realizing the function of correcting the image processing parameters based on physical information, and 11. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a medical image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a medical image according to a predetermined image processing parameter, the physical information of a subject of the medical image. And a program code for recognizing the image processing parameter based on the recognized physical information of the subject.