JPH08263571A - Method and device for image retrieval - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily retrieve image data even when the kinds of ID data becomes large in number. CONSTITUTION: An ID number as a retrieval key word is inputted from an input means 8 and a retrieval means 3 retrieves ID data having the ID number among image data stored on a magnetic disk 2. The retrieved ID data are made hierarchical by a hierarchy means 4 in the order of patient names, photography dates, and modalities according to the ID numbers. A list display means 5 displays ID data on a desired layer on a CRT 7 among the hierarchical ID data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention searches ID data such as a subject name and a shooting date added to desired image data from a plurality of image data, and displays the search result as a list. The present invention relates to an image search method and device displayed on a device, and an image data search method and device using the image search method and device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of image data are stored in a filing system having a storage medium such as an optical disk, and when necessary, the filing system is accessed to reproduce desired image data as a visible image. Is being done. Plural kinds of ID data such as a subject name, a shooting date, a shooting mode (modality), etc. are added to such image data.

When a desired image is read from the filing system and displayed on the display terminal side, the ID data added to the image data desired by the operator is stored in the filing system. The search results are displayed in a list on the display terminal of the user by arranging the search results in keywords or by sorting (sorting) in a desired order. That is, by inputting a search keyword such as a subject name or a shooting date from the display terminal side, only the ID data added to the image data corresponding to the input patient name or shooting date is searched, and a list is displayed. It was supposed to be displayed as.

Then, the ID data of the desired image data is selected from the list thus displayed, all the image data corresponding to the selected ID data is read out from the filing system, and the storage means of its own display terminal is selected. The image data stored in the storage means is sequentially displayed on a display means such as a CRT as a visible image.

For example, when a search is performed using a certain subject name as a search keyword, the ID data of the image data to which the ID data relating to this subject name is attached is displayed as a list as shown in FIG. Image data of a certain shooting date is selected from the attached ID data, and the ID of this subject name and this shooting date is selected.
All the image data to which the data has been added is read out, and this image data is sequentially displayed as a visible image on the display means for observation and interpretation of the image.

[0006]

However, when the number of types of ID data is small, there is no problem even if an image is selected from the list as shown in FIG. The number of modalities is CR image, C
When the number of T images, MRI images or DSA images increases, for example, a CR image, CT image, M
When an RI image is taken, even if one wants to observe only the CR image among the images of a certain subject on a shooting date, if a certain shooting date is selected from the list shown in FIG. Not only CR images but also other CT images and MRI
The image data of the image will also be read out. In this way, since an image that is not actually required for observation is also read out, it takes time to search for an image.

In such a case, all the ID data added to the image data may be displayed on the display means and desired ID data may be selected from the displayed ID data. As shown in FIG. 6, when the number of types of ID data increases, IDs are displayed in a list with horizontal rules.
In the case of displaying data, the ID data necessary for searching the image data cannot be stored in one line.

It is also conceivable to arrange the ID data vertically when displaying a horizontal list, but if the number of image data is large or the number of types of ID data is large, the ID
The list of data may extend over several pages, which is extremely inconvenient for practical use.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image retrieving method and apparatus capable of easily retrieving desired ID data even when there are many types of ID data. Is.

[0010]

An image search method and apparatus according to the present invention is an image search method and apparatus for searching ID data as described above and displaying it on a display means as a list. Of all the ID data of the image data to which the desired ID data of the particular type of ID data is added are searched, and the searched ID data are sorted in order from the desired ID data. It is characterized in that it is hierarchized in order and, out of the hierarchized ID data, ID data of a desired hierarchy is displayed as a list on the display means.

Here, the ID data means data used for searching image data and representing attributes of individual image data. For example, an ID number of a person who observes the image data and a patient who obtained the image data. It refers to data representing a subject name such as name, shooting date, modality (type of image), or gender.

Hierarchical means that the ID data are arranged in order for each type, for example, the desired I
When the D data is the ID number of the observer, it means that the subject name is placed in the lower layer of the ID number, the shooting date is placed in the lower layer, and the modality is placed in the lower layer in order in association with the ID data of each layer.

Further, the desired ID data refers to ID data which is a search keyword to be input to perform a search.

Further, the image data searching method and apparatus according to the present invention retrieves the image data for each desired hierarchy based on the ID data displayed on the display means by the above-described image searching method and apparatus according to the present invention. It is characterized by being read out.

[0015]

The image retrieval method and apparatus according to the present invention retrieves all the ID data of the image data to which the desired ID data input as the retrieval keyword is added, and retrieves this retrieved ID data. Hierarchical in the order of desired ID data types, starting from the data,
The desired hierarchy of the hierarchical ID data is displayed as a list on the display means. That is, when there are a plurality of ID data, instead of simply arranging the ID data, the ID data is hierarchized in order from the desired ID data, and the hierarchies are associated with each other to obtain the desired order in the hierarchized order. It is designed to be displayed in. In this way, the ID data is hierarchized and displayed for each desired hierarchy, so that after the desired ID data that is the search keyword is searched, the shooting date lower than the desired ID data is obtained. , ID data such as modalities are associated with ID data, that is, I
ID data can be branched and displayed from D data to a subject name, a shooting date, and the like. Therefore,
Only the image data corresponding to this ID data can be read when the hierarchy of the necessary ID data is displayed, and it is not necessary to read unnecessary image data, making it easy to search for image data in a short time. Can be done.

Further, by hierarchizing the ID data, even when there are a plurality of ID data, the ID data is arranged in one horizontal line in the image and vertically arranged in each line. Since all the ID data can be arranged in order, the ID data on the display means is very easy to see.

Further, the image data search method and apparatus according to the present invention searches the image data by selecting ID data for each layer in the list of search results displayed by the image search method and apparatus according to the present invention. It was done like this. Therefore, the image data can be searched based on the desired ID data in the desired hierarchy, and thus the required image data can be easily searched.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the details of the image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image retrieval apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic disk 2 storing a plurality of image data, a patient name of the desired image data captured from the magnetic disk 2, and an imaging year. Retrieval means 3 for retrieving ID data including a plurality of types of ID data such as date, ID using the retrieved ID data as a retrieval keyword
Hierarchization means 4 for hierarchically forming data in the order of desired ID data, and list display means 5 for displaying ID data of a desired hierarchy among the hierarchical ID data as a list on a CRT described later. Consisting of C
PU6, CRT7 as a display means for displaying icons when inputting various information by hierarchical search results and mouse, and keyboard for inputting various information such as search keyword to CPU6, It comprises an input means 8 such as a mouse. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the search results are arranged hierarchically in order of the patient name, the date of imaging, and the modality that is the imaging mode, in order from the input observer ID number. Also, the input means 8
Includes a mouse, and by displaying an icon on the CRT 7 and clicking the icon, information for operating the image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention can be input.

On the other hand, the plurality of image data S stored on the magnetic disk 2 has an area S _A for storing ID data for identifying the patient who obtained the image data 7, as shown in FIG. are doing. In this embodiment, the area S _A
The information regarding the observer's ID number, the patient's name, the date of imaging, and the modality that is the type of imaging is stored in.

Next, the operation of the image retrieval apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the operator inputs his own ID number from the input means 8 to the search means 3 of the CPU 6 as a search keyword for searching the image data to be observed by himself.

The search means 3 to which the ID number is input searches the magnetic disk 2 for all the ID data including this ID number of the image data S to which the input ID number is added. In this search, the area S _A shown in FIG. 2 of the image data S is read for all image data S, and all the ID data including this ID number of the image data to which its own ID number is added are stored in the plurality of image data S. Extract from inside.

When all the ID data including the own ID number are searched in this way, the ID data are then obtained in the hierarchizing means 4 in the order of the kind desired from the own ID number. Layered. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the ID data is hierarchically arranged in the order of the patient name, the date of imaging, and the modality in order from the self ID number. As shown in FIG. 3, this layering means ID
It means that the ID data is branched in order from the number, such as the patient name corresponding to this ID number, the imaging date corresponding to the patient name, and the modality corresponding to the imaging date. is there.

When the ID data is hierarchized in this way, the hierarchized search results are input to the list display means 5. The list display means 5 displays the hierarchical search results on the CRT 7 for the desired hierarchy of the hierarchical ID data.
To be displayed. In the present embodiment, first, of the hierarchical ID data as shown in FIG. 3, the ID number and the patient name are displayed as the first stage. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, ID data corresponding to the patient name is C in order from the ID number.
It is displayed on RT7 as the first list, ie the primary list. Note that the primary list displayed on the CRT 7 shown in FIG. 4 also displays ID data corresponding to the date of imaging. This is the latest imaging year of the image data to which the ID data related to this patient name is attached. The date is simply displayed for convenience.

The CRT 7 displaying the search result has a list page feed icon 11A for displaying the next page or the previous page of the list when the search result extends over a plurality of pages.
And the sort icon 11B to sort patient names in the search results in alphabetical order or alphabetical order.
A sort icon 11C (not used in this embodiment) for sorting the search results in the order of the D number, and a sort icon 11D by the shooting date for sorting the search results in the order of the shooting date, and the current display. Select all icon 11E to select all the images in the display, display start icon 11F to reserve the currently selected image, and cancel icon 11 to cancel the current selection and close the list.
G and the detailed information display icon 11H for displaying the secondary list, which is the next stage of the primary list
Is displayed.

When the patient name is clicked with the mouse at the stage where the primary list is displayed in this way, image data having ID data corresponding to the patient name is read from the magnetic disk 2, and this image data is displayed on the CRT 7 Are sequentially displayed as a visible image and are used for observation and interpretation.

On the other hand, when displaying a secondary list having more detailed information than the primary list, C
The detailed information display icon 11H displayed on the line of the desired patient name in the primary list displayed on the RT7 is clicked with the mouse.

When the detailed information display icon is clicked in this way, the secondary list is displayed on the CRT as shown in FIG.
It is displayed on 7. In the secondary list shown in FIG. 5, ID data relating to the imaging date corresponding to the desired patient name and the modality corresponding to the imaging date are displayed. The ID data corresponding to the modality of the secondary list displayed on the CRT 7 shown in FIG. 5 also includes the abbreviated name of the imaged site and the number of images. On the other hand, in the secondary list, a close icon 12A for closing the list is displayed. Further, when the cancel icon 11G of the secondary list is clicked, the secondary list is closed and the primary list is displayed again on the CRT 7.

When the operator clicks on the modality to be observed by the operator at the stage where the secondary list is displayed in this way, the image data having the ID data corresponding to this modality is read from the magnetic disk 2, and this image data is read. Are sequentially displayed as visible images on the CRT 7 and are used for observation and interpretation.

As described above, the image retrieval apparatus according to this embodiment can read out the image data corresponding to the displayed ID data from both the primary list and the secondary list.

As described above, in the image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention, the ID data corresponding to the patient name, the photographing date and the modality corresponding to the ID data of the ID number used as the retrieval keyword is hierarchized as shown in FIG. The search results are displayed on the CRT for each desired hierarchy by dividing it into two stages, the primary list and the secondary list, so that the corresponding ID data can be handled when the hierarchy of the required ID data is displayed. Only the image data to be read can be read out, and it is not necessary to read out unnecessary image data. Therefore, it is possible to easily search for an image in a short time.

Further, by displaying the desired hierarchy by hierarchizing the ID data, even when there are a plurality of ID data, the ID data are arranged in one horizontal line in the image, and each line is vertically arranged. All I compared to the side by side
Since the D data can be arranged in order, the search results will not be redundant, and the search results on the display means can be made very easy to see.

In the above-described embodiment, the search results are hierarchized into two stages, the primary list and the secondary list, and each list is selectively displayed. However, the search results are displayed in a plurality of stages. If it is divided into, it may be divided into any number of layers.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the retrieval result is hierarchized in the order of the ID number, the patient name, the photographing date and the modality, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any order is possible. You may make it hierarchical by.

Further, although the ID number is used as a search keyword in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and any ID data such as a patient name or a photographing date is used as a search keyword. It may be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image search device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an area of image data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing hierarchical ID data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a CRT screen on which a primary list is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen of a CRT displaying a secondary list.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a CRT screen on which a list is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image Retrieval Device 2 Magnetic Disk 3 Retrieval Means 4 Hierarchical Means 5 List Display Means 6 CPU 7 CRT 8 Input Means 11 Primary List 12 Secondary List S Image Data S _A Area where ID data is stored

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location 9194-5L G06F 15/403 380E 15/42 J

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A list is searched by searching for ID data including the ID data of image data to which desired ID data is added, from among a plurality of image data to which a plurality of types of ID data related to an image are respectively added. An image search method for displaying on a display means, wherein a specific type of ID among the plurality of types of ID data
All the ID data of the image data to which the desired ID data in the data is added are searched, and the searched I
D data is hierarchized in order of a desired type in order from the desired ID data, and among the hierarchical ID data, the ID data of the desired hierarchy is displayed as a list on the display means. Characteristic image retrieval method. 2. The image data search method according to claim 1, wherein the image data is read for each of the desired layers based on the ID data displayed on the display means. 3. The ID data including the ID data of the image data to which the desired ID data is added is searched from a plurality of image data to which a plurality of types of ID data related to the image are respectively added, and is searched as a list. In an image search method including a display unit for displaying, an ID of a specific type among the plurality of types of ID data
Retrieval means for retrieving all the ID data of the image data to which the desired ID data in the data is retrieved, and hierarchizing the retrieved ID data in order of the desired kind in order from the desired ID data. An image search apparatus comprising: a hierarchizing unit; and a list display unit for displaying ID data of a desired layer among the hierarchical ID data as a list on the display unit. 4. A selective reading means for selecting and reading the image data for each of the desired layers based on the ID data displayed on the display means by the image search device according to claim 3. Image data retrieval device.