JP2004000748A - Fundus camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fundus camera capable of shortening the forwarding of an eyeground image. <P>SOLUTION: This fundus camera comprises an imaging means (area CCD 30a) for imaging and photographing the eyegrounds, an image data forwarding means (operation control circuit 41) for forwarding the eyeground image taken in the imaging means (area CCD (charge coupled device) 30a), and a display means (monitor TV 31) for displaying the eyeground image forwarded by the image data forwarding means (operation control circuit 41). The fundus camera also has a recording medium or ROM for recording a border line to determine the range of the eyeground image data to be forwarded by the image data forwarding means (operation control circuit 41). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a fundus camera for photographing the fundus.

For example, in an ophthalmic apparatus such as a fundus camera, a slit lamp, and a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, an ophthalmic image is electronically photographed using a solid-state imaging device such as an area CCD, and the image data from the area CCD is subjected to a still video by an arithmetic control circuit. It is conceivable that the image data is transferred to a recording device such as a storage device, a floppy (registered trademark) disk device, or an optical disk device, and the transferred image data is recorded on a recording medium such as a still video disk, a floppy disk, or an optical disk. I have.

The fundus camera of this ophthalmologic apparatus captures an ophthalmologic image such as a fundus blood vessel image by fluorescence imaging, a fundus image by color imaging, and the like, and the corneal endothelial cell imaging apparatus captures an anterior eye image, a corneal endothelial cell image, and the like of a subject's eye. Each ophthalmic image can be recorded electronically.

By the way, with the digitization of such ophthalmic images, when recording the images on a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk, a fundus vascular image by fluorescence imaging, a fundus image by color imaging, an anterior ocular segment image, a corneal endothelial cell image, It is conceivable to simultaneously record ophthalmologic images having different photographing patterns such as a fundus cross-sectional image.

In this case, it is desirable that the range of the boundary line of the fundus image data can be easily determined.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fundus camera that can easily determine the range of the boundary line of fundus image data.

In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 includes an imaging unit that forms a fundus image to photograph a fundus, and an image data transfer unit that transfers the fundus image captured by the imaging unit to an image processing circuit. And a fundus camera including a recording medium or a memory for recording boundary line data for determining a range of fundus image data in the image data.

According to the fundus camera having this configuration, the range of the boundary line of the fundus image data can be easily determined.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows an optical system of a fundus camera (photographing device). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an illumination optical system of a fundus camera, 2 denotes an observation / photographing optical system of the fundus camera, and 3 denotes an eye to be inspected.
[Illumination optical system]
The illumination optical system 1 has an observation illumination optical system and a photographing illumination optical system.

The photographing illumination optical system includes a xenon lamp 6, a condenser lens 7, a small-diameter light-shielding plate 8, a ring-shaped aperture 9, a small-diameter light-shielding plate 10, a relay lens 11, a reflection mirror 12, a relay lens 13, a black spot plate 14, a relay lens 15, Optical components such as a perforated mirror 16 and an objective lens 17 are provided in this order. The photographing illumination light from the xenon lamp 6 is projected onto the fundus oculi Ef of the eye 3 through optical components from the condenser lens 7 to the objective lens 17. Moreover, between the xenon lamp 6 and the condenser lens 7, an exciter filter E1 for visible fluorescence and an E2 for infrared fluorescence are provided so as to be insertable and removable.

The observation illumination optical system has optical components from a halogen lamp 4 as a light source for observation, a condenser lens 5, a condenser lens 7 to an objective lens 17. Then, the observation illumination light from the halogen lamp 4 is projected onto the fundus oculi Ef via optical components from the condenser lens 7 to the objective lens 17.

The small-diameter light-shielding plate 8 is conjugate to the cornea 25, the ring slit 9 is conjugate to the pupil 28, the small-diameter light-shielding plate 10 is conjugate to the rear surface 26a of the crystalline lens 26, and the black spot plate 14 is reflected by the surface of the objective lens 17. This is a light shielding material for preventing light from passing through the hole 16a of the perforated mirror 16.
[Observation / shooting optical system]
The observation / photographing optical system 2 includes an objective lens 17 facing the eye 3 to be inspected, a focusing lens 19, an imaging lens 20, a mirror 21, a field lens 22 conjugate with the fundus oculi Ef, a reflection mirror 23, a relay lens 24, and the like. In addition, a barrier filter B1 for visible fluorescence and a barrier filter B2 for infrared fluorescence are arranged between the perforated mirror 16 and the focusing lens 19 so as to be insertable and removable.

Then, the fundus image of the eye to be inspected 3 by the reflected light from the fundus oculi Ef is converted into optical components from the objective lens 17 to the imaging lens 20, a mirror 21, a field lens 22 conjugate to the fundus oculi Ef, a reflection mirror 23, and a relay lens. 24, an image is formed on the area CCD 30a (image input means, imaging means) of the television camera 30 via the mask 36. As shown in FIG. 5A, the mask 36 has a circular hole 36a positioned at the center and a notch mark 36b positioned at the periphery of the circular hole 36a.

An image signal from the area CCD 30a is normally supplied to a monitor television 31 (image display means) as an image output means via an arithmetic control circuit 41 of a camera control circuit 40, a contact a of a changeover switch 41a, and a D / A converter 41b, which will be described later. ), And the fundus image is projected on the monitor television 31 in real time (see FIG. 2). It should be noted that a monitor television of a type incorporating a circuit corresponding to the changeover switch 41a and the D / A converter 41b can be used instead of the monitor television 31.
[Fixation target optical system]
The fixation target optical system A has a half mirror 32 removably inserted between the imaging lens 20 and the mirror 21, a small hole 33a as a fixation target, and is arranged conjugate with the fundus oculi Ef. A fixation target mask 33 and a fixation target light source 34 such as a light emitting diode disposed facing the small hole 33a. The mask 33 and the fixation target light source 34 are mounted on a fixation target drive device 35 such as an XY table (not shown) that is electrically driven and controlled by a pulse motor or the like. The position of the device is detected by the left and right eye detection means 35 'to determine whether the device is the left eye or the right eye, and the nipple 71 and the macula 72 are substantially equidistant from the screen center O as shown in FIG. Is moved to the position of.
[Camera control circuit 40]
The camera control circuit 40 has an arithmetic control circuit 41 as image data transfer means as shown in FIG. The arithmetic control circuit 41 includes an ON signal from a photographing switch 42, a photographing condition information signal from a photographing condition input device 43 such as a keyboard, and a photographing position input device such as a mouse, a keyboard or a light pen (photographing range designating means). A photographing position signal and the like from 44 are input. Note that the photographing switch 42 is used to output a control signal by being turned on by a one-step pressing (half-pressing) operation and to output a photographing start signal by a two-step pressing (fully pressing) operation.

The arithmetic and control circuit 41 includes a frame memory 45, an image processing circuit 46 as image processing means, a focusing lens driving motor 47 ', and an eye to be observed and photographed from right and left positions of a camera body having the above optical system. The left and right eye detecting means 35 'for detecting the left and right of the image and the light emission control circuit 49 are connected.

Further, the arithmetic control circuit 41 includes mirror driving means 51 such as a solenoid for inserting and removing the half mirror 32 with respect to the photographing optical path, a mode setting switch 52 in the observation / photographing mode, a memory 53 such as a RAM, and a memory such as a ROM. 54, an information recording / reproducing device 55 (image input means) such as an optical disk device or a floppy disk device, and the like, and the area CCD 30a and the monitor television 31 are connected.

In addition, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 records the fundus image (medical electronic image) photographed by the area CCD 30a as the image pickup means on a recording medium such as an optical disk or a floppy disk via the information recording / reproducing device 55, and The electronic image is displayed on a screen 31A (display screen) of the monitor television 31 (electronic image display device).

Next, a data transfer function of the arithmetic control circuit 41 in photographing, recording, reproduction, and the like will be described.
(1) New shooting / recording and playback [observation]
When a power supply (not shown) of the apparatus is turned on, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 turns on the halogen lamp 4. In this state, alignment work and focusing work are performed on the fundus Ef of the subject's eye. When this work is completed, the illumination light from the halogen lamp 4 is projected onto the fundus Ef of the subject's eye 3 via the illumination optical system 1 and reflected. I do.

The left and right eye detecting means 35 ′ outputs a signal for identifying whether the currently observed fundus is left or right, and the arithmetic and control circuit 41 sends the left and right identification data to the memory 53 from the identification signal. It is memorized.

On the other hand, the reflected light from the fundus oculi Ef of the subject's eye 3 is reflected by the optical components from the objective lens 17 to the imaging lens 20 of the observation / photographing optical system 2, the mirror 21, the mask 36 and the field lens 22 conjugated to the fundus oculi Ef. , A reflection mirror 23, a relay lens 24, and the like, and guided to an area CCD 30a (imaging means) of the television camera 30.

(5) Thereby, an image (fundus image) 37 of the fundus oculi Ef is formed on the area CCD 30a as shown in FIG. The fundus image 37 has a circular portion 37a corresponding to the circular hole 36a of the mask 36 shown in FIG. 5A and a portion 37b corresponding to the notch mark 36b. In addition, a margin 38 is formed by the mask 36 around the fundus image 37 of the area CCD 30a.

When a signal for left / right eye discrimination is input from the left / right eye detection means 35 ', the arithmetic control circuit 41 scans the entire area CCD 30a when constructing the first frame of image data. Then, the image data including the fundus image 37 and the margin 38 is read for one frame, and the image data is stored in the frame memory 45.

At this time, the arithmetic control circuit 41 calculates the address data of each pixel of the area CCD 30a and the light amount data, or the address data of the boundary line 39 between the fundus image 37 and the margin 38 from the data of the frame memory 45 from the light amount difference. Then, the address data of the boundary line 39 is stored in the memory 53 in correspondence with the identification data of the left and right eyes. By determining the boundary line 39 in this manner, it is determined that the range in which the ophthalmic image to be transferred, that is, the fundus image data exists, is inside the boundary line 39.

The operation for obtaining the boundary line 39 is performed only once at the time of capturing the first image at the time of observation, and the data of the boundary line 39 is used for the transfer of the image from then on. The data of the boundary line 39 may be recorded in advance on a recording medium such as an optical disk, a floppy disk, and a still video disk by the information recording / reproducing device 55, and the data may be used.

Then, the arithmetic control circuit 41 transfers only the fundus image data inside the margin 36 from the frame memory 45 to the image processing circuit 46, and causes the monitor television 31 to display the fundus image 37 via the image processing circuit 46.

After that, the arithmetic control circuit 41 reads the image data of the area CCD 30a and transfers it to the frame memory 45, and constructs an image for one frame in the frame memory 45. Then, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 transfers only the fundus image data in the frame memory 45, that is, only the fundus image data (ophthalmologic image data) within the boundary line 39 to the image processing circuit 46, and converts the fundus image 37 as shown in FIG. The image is displayed on the monitor television 31 via the image processing circuit 46.

If the address data of the boundary line 39 of the image photographed by the mask 36 is known, this data is stored in advance in a ROM or the like, so that the image reading of the first frame can be performed by the fundus image. Only 37 is required. In this case, since the notch of the mask 36 differs between the left and right eyes, the data of the boundary line 39 corresponding to the left and right eyes is stored in advance in the ROM in association with the identification signal from the left and right eye detection means 35 '.

During such observation, the changeover switch 41a is set to the contact a side. Then, the digital signal from the area CCD 30a is input to the D / A converter 41b via the operation control circuit 41 and the changeover switch 41a, is converted into an analog signal, and is then input to the monitor television 31. Thus, the fundus image is displayed on the monitor television 31 in real time.
[Visible color shooting]
After such observation, while the changeover switch 41a is switched to the contact b side, various filters (not shown) are provided in each optical system, and then the xenon lamp 6 is controlled to emit light. The fundus Ef is guided by the illumination optical system 1 and the reflected light from the fundus Ef is guided to the area CCD 30a via the observation / photographing optical system 2 to perform fundus photography.

The digital image signal of the area CCD 30a is input to the monitor television 31 via the control circuit 41 and the changeover switch 41a, and the digital fundus image is displayed on the monitor television 31. At the time of this fundus photographing as well, the image is transferred only to the fundus image within the boundary line 39 in the same manner as described above.

At the time of photographing the fundus, the photographing data 110 is photographed in the portion covered by the mask, that is, in the margin 38, and this photographing data 110 is also transferred by the same image processing as the ophthalmologic image within the boundary line 39. You may make it.
[Fluorescence shooting]
Further, at the time of visible fluorescence imaging of the fundus oculi Ef, while fluorescein for visible fluorescence is intravenously injected into a patient, the changeover switch 41a is switched to the contact b side after the above observation, and the exciter filter E1 for visible fluorescence is connected to the xenon lamp 6 and the condenser. The barrier filter B1 is inserted into the optical path between the apertured mirror 16 and the focusing lens 19 while being inserted into the optical path between the lens 7 and the lens.

Next, when the xenon lamp 6 is controlled to emit light, visible excitation light having a wavelength that excites fluorescein in the photographing light from the xenon lamp 6 is guided to the fundus oculi Ef via the illumination optical system 1 and the exciter filter E1, and Lights Ef.

The visible excitation light is absorbed by fluorescein in the blood vessel of the fundus oculi Ef and excites fluorescein. As a result, fluorescein emits visible fluorescent light, and this visible fluorescent light is guided to the area CCD 30a via the observation / photographing optical system 2. As a result, a fundus blood vessel image based on visible fluorescence is formed on the area CCD 30a as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, and visible fluorescence imaging of the fundus blood vessel is performed.

(3) In FIG. 3, (a) is a fundus blood vessel image relatively early from the start of fluorescent imaging, and (b) and (c) show states where the time has elapsed since the start of fluorescent imaging. Moreover, the inside indicated by the line 71 ′ in FIG. 3A is the portion of the nipple 71, which is darker than the periphery of the line 71 ′ in image. In FIG. 3B, the fluorescent agent from the capillaries reaches the nipple 71 and emits fluorescence, and the nipple 71 is relatively brighter than its surroundings. Further, in FIG. 3C, the amount of the fluorescent agent that reaches the nipple 71 is larger than that of the fundus vascular image 100, and the amount of fluorescence of the nipple 71 is the fluorescence of the portion of the fundus vascular image 100 inside the nipple 71. More than the amount.

In FIG. 3, (a1) shows the amount of fluorescence near the nipple along the line AA in (a), and (b1) shows the amount of fluorescence near the nipple along the line BB in (b). (C1) shows the amount of fluorescence in the vicinity of the nipple along the line CC of (c), (b2) shows the amount of fluorescence of the neovascular part 100a in (b), and (c2) shows ( It is explanatory drawing which shows the fluorescence amount from the water bubble part 102 around the laser coagulation part 101 in c). In the figure, 100a indicates a bleeding part from a new blood vessel in the fundus. In addition, reference numerals V1 to V11 attached to the nipple 71, the fundus blood vessel image 38, the water bubble portion 102, the bleeding portion 100a from the new blood vessel, and the like in (a) to (c) denote (a1) to (c1) and (b2). , (C2), etc., corresponding to V1 to V11.

In addition, at the time of visible fluorescence imaging of a fundus blood vessel, a digital image signal of the area CCD 30a is input to the monitor television 31 via the control circuit 41 and the changeover switch 41a, and a visible fluorescent image 37 'is displayed on the monitor television 31 in FIG. ). In FIG. 2B, reference numeral 100 denotes a fundus blood vessel image of a visible fluorescent image.

も Also in this fundus blood vessel photographing, the transfer of the image from the area CCD 30a becomes only the fundus blood vessel image 100 within the boundary line 39 as described above. In addition, since the address of the boundary line 39 is known, only the inside of the boundary line 39 is scanned during the transfer of the image data, and the address data and the address data of the pixel of the area CCD 30a whose light amount is equal to or higher than the predetermined level L1 are scanned. The light amount is transferred to the arithmetic and control circuit 41. Then, the arithmetic control circuit 41 causes the frame memory 45 to construct a fundus blood vessel image 100 based on visible fluorescence based on the transferred data, and causes the monitor television 31 to display the fundus blood vessel image 100.

Here, at the time of this transfer, the value of the address data of the pixel having the light quantity of the predetermined level L1 or more among the pixels of the area CCD 30a is set to “1” and transferred to the arithmetic and control circuit 41, and is transferred to the operation control circuit 41 to be lower than the predetermined level L1. The value of the portion may be set to “0”, and the fluorescence image of the fundus may be image-processed simply as a signal of “0” or “1”. In FIG. 3, the slice level is set to the level L1 including the fluorescence from the nipple 71, but may be set to the level L2 not including the fluorescence from the nipple 71.

Similarly, during infrared fluorescence imaging of the fundus oculi Ef, ICG (indocyanine green) for infrared fluorescence is intravenously injected into the patient, and after the above-described observation, the changeover switch 41a is switched to the contact b side, and the infrared fluorescence ICG (indocyanine green) is switched. The exciter filter E2 is inserted into the optical path between the xenon lamp 6 and the condenser lens 7, and the barrier filter B2 is inserted into the optical path between the perforated mirror 16 and the focusing lens 19.

Next, when the xenon lamp 6 is controlled to emit light, infrared excitation light having a wavelength that excites ICG in the imaging light from the xenon lamp 6 is guided to the fundus oculi Ef via the illumination optical system 1 and the exciter filter E1, Illuminate the fundus Ef.

The infrared excitation light is absorbed by the ICG in the blood vessel of the fundus oculi Ef to excite the ICG. As a result, infrared fluorescent light is emitted from the ICG, and the infrared fluorescent light is guided to the area CCD 30a via the observation / photographing optical system 2. As a result, a fundus blood vessel image is formed on the area CCD 30a by infrared fluorescence, and infrared fluorescence imaging of the fundus blood vessel is performed.

At this time, the digital image signal of the area CCD 30a is input to the monitor television 31 via the control circuit 41 and the changeover switch 41a, and an infrared fluorescent image is displayed on the monitor television 31.

も Also in this fundus blood vessel photographing, the transfer of the image from the area CCD 30a becomes only the fundus blood vessel image of the infrared fluorescent image within the boundary line 39 as described above. In addition, since the address of the boundary line 39 is known, only the inside of the boundary line 39 is scanned at the time of transferring the image data, and the pixels of the area CCD 30a whose address is equal to or higher than the predetermined level L1 (slice level) among the pixels of the area CCD 30a are scanned. Is transferred to the arithmetic and control circuit 41. Then, the arithmetic control circuit 41 causes the frame memory 45 to construct a fundus blood vessel image by infrared fluorescence based on the transferred data, and causes the monitor television 31 to display the fundus blood vessel image.

At the time of the infrared fluorescence photographing by the ICG, when transferring the fundus blood vessel image, the address data value of the pixel of the area CCD 30a whose light amount is equal to or higher than the predetermined level L1 is set to “1”, and the calculation is performed. The value may be transferred to the control circuit 41 and the value of the portion lower than the predetermined level L1 may be set to “0”, and the fluorescence image of the fundus may be simply processed as a signal of “0” or “1”.

眼 The width and shape of the fluorescence image of ophthalmologic image data at the time of such fluorescence imaging, that is, the fluorescence image including a bleeding part and a water bubble part from a fundus blood vessel part and a new blood vessel image, are different. That is, the fundus blood vessel image is elongated and continuous, the fundus bleeding part image is spread as a block of a fixed width or a fixed diameter, and the water bubble around the laser coagulation part of the fundus retina is a ring of a substantially constant diameter. You are. Therefore, by performing image processing as signals of “0” and “1” in this manner, a diseased part such as a bleeding part from a new blood vessel or a part where laser coagulation of the retina of the fundus is performed is automatically performed by the arithmetic control circuit 41. Recording and reproduction can be performed by detecting and judging it.

Actually, the fluorescence from the fundus blood vessel has a fluorescence luminance (light quantity) level which varies depending on the thickness of the blood vessel, and thus the state after a certain elapsed time is as shown in FIG. 3 (b-1). . In FIG. 3 (b-1), P1 indicates the fluorescent luminance from a relatively thick fundus blood vessel, P2 indicates the fluorescent luminance from a medium-sized fundus blood vessel, and P3 indicates the fluorescent luminance from a capillary blood vessel. Show. In this way, since the fluorescent brightness is actually different from P1 to P3 depending on the thickness of the fundus blood vessel, the set slice level is set to L1, L2, L3 (L3> L2> L1), and the fundus blood vessel of the brightness P1 to P3 is slice level. Depending on which of the upper and lower sides of L1 to L3, only the image of the thick fundus blood vessel, or only the image of the medium fundus blood vessel, or the image of the capillary blood vessel is selectively extracted and displayed, Diagnosis of a diseased part of a fundus blood vessel can be facilitated. The extraction and determination of such an image are performed by the arithmetic control circuit 41.

In particular, even in the latter stage of the fluorescence imaging, a portion where the fluorescence luminance is higher than the other portions is considered to be a bleeding portion, and can be used for determining the presence or absence of fundus bleeding.
[Recording / Reproducing] As for the visible color fundus image data photographed in this way, only data relating to the fundus image 37 within the boundary line 39 is transmitted via the information recording / reproducing device 55 to an optical disk, a floppy disk, a still video disk, or the like. On the recording medium corresponding to the identification data.

On the other hand, in the data of the fundus blood vessel image obtained by the fluorescence imaging, only the address data and the light amount data of the pixels of the area CCD 30a having the light amount equal to or higher than the predetermined level are transferred to the information recording / reproducing device 55 and recorded on the recording medium. Is done.

Therefore, even when the ophthalmic image is reproduced from the recording medium using the information recording / reproducing device 55 as the image input means, only the data related to the fundus image or the fundus blood vessel image is read from the recording medium.
(2) Reproduction of fundus images from recording media containing ophthalmologic images of multiple types of photographing patterns Fundamental blood vessel images by fluorescence imaging, fundus images by color imaging, anterior ocular segment images, corneal endothelial cell images, cross-sectional images of the fundus, etc. When reproducing a target ophthalmic image, such as a color fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image by fluorescence, from a recording medium on which ophthalmic images having different photographing patterns are simultaneously recorded, first, the arithmetic control circuit 41 uses the fundus image or fundus blood vessel image. Is selected and extracted from the ophthalmological image of another photographing pattern.

Here, paying attention to the fact that an ophthalmologic image such as a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image is photographed using the circular hole 36a of the mask 36 as shown in FIG. 5, extraction of a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image is performed. It is sufficient to judge whether or not there are only two parts, that is, a circular fundus image part with luminance and a margin part without luminance around it.

In the anterior segment image of the subject's eye, as shown in FIG. 6, the brightness of the portion of the eye 120 changes as indicated by B1 in (b), and the brightness of the portion 121 around the eye changes to some extent as indicated by C1. Because of this, there are many bright parts throughout the screen. In addition, since the image data of the corneal endothelial cell image does not have the circular boundary as described above, and a linear boundary is formed by a mask, by determining this boundary, the fundus image or the anterior ocular segment image and the corneal image are determined. Endothelial cell images can be distinguished. Further, since a cross-sectional image near the fundus oculi by a slit lamp has no luminance as a whole and only a few linear luminance parts, other ophthalmologic images also depend on the overall luminance in this case. Can be distinguished.

Such a change in the light amount level of the ophthalmological image having a different photographing pattern becomes a light amount change pattern substantially similar to each pattern. Therefore, this light amount change pattern is stored in a memory or a recording medium in advance as a light amount level change reference value of the image. It is recorded and used when selecting and extracting an ophthalmologic image.

Therefore, the arithmetic control circuit 41 compares the read ophthalmic image data with the light amount change pattern, that is, the light amount level change reference value, to determine which pattern is similar, that is, in the case of a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image, A fundus image such as a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image and an anterior ocular segment image are determined based on whether there is such a boundary line 39, and a fundus image such as a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image is converted to another ophthalmic image. Extract from

底 The fundus image extracted in this manner includes old image data including a margin and an ophthalmological image. In addition, the old image data and the shooting condition information corresponding to each of the image data may be recorded in a large number on a recording medium such as an optical disk, a floppy disk, and a still video disk. As the imaging condition information, for example, the patient ID number, name, age, gender, left and right eyes, imaging light amount, type of filter at the time of imaging, and the like can be considered.

In many old image data recorded on such a recording medium, the mask shapes and sizes of many left ophthalmic images or the mask shapes and sizes of many right ophthalmic images are the same. Can be considered. This is because it is considered that the image is taken using the same fundus camera.

Therefore, when reproducing the old image data recorded on such a recording medium, the boundary between the margin portion formed by the mask used for the image data and the fundus image is first set for the left and right eyes. Only one sheet is determined by the arithmetic and control circuit 41.

In this case, first, the operation of the information recording / reproducing device 55 as an image input means is controlled by the arithmetic and control circuit 41, the old image data recorded on the recording medium is read by the information recording / reproducing device 55, and 45 Input.

At this time, the arithmetic control circuit 41 calculates the address data of the boundary line 39 between the fundus image 37 and the margin 38 from the data of the frame memory 45 from the data of the frame memory 45 in the same manner as described above from the light amount difference, and also forms the notch mark 36b of the mask 36. The left and right eyes are discriminated from the portion corresponding to the above, and the address data of the boundary line 39 is stored in the memory 53 together with the left and right eye identification data.

求 め る By determining the boundary line 39 in this way, it is determined that the range where the ophthalmic image to be transferred, that is, the fundus image data exists, is inside the boundary line 39. The operation of obtaining the boundary line 39 is performed only once for the left and right eyes when the first old image data is first taken into the frame memory 45 as described above.

Then, the arithmetic control circuit 41 transfers only the fundus image data inside the margin 36 from the frame memory 45 to the image processing circuit 46, and causes the monitor television 31 to display the fundus image 37 via the image processing circuit 46.

When transferring the image data of the left and right eyes, based on the address data of the boundary line 39 obtained as described above, only the data within the boundary line 39 is transferred to the monitor television 31.
<Reproduction and transfer of fluorescence imaging data from a recording medium that records ophthalmic images of a plurality of imaging patterns>
Further, the above-mentioned old image data includes photographing data of a fundus blood vessel image by visible fluorescence or infrared fluorescence. Whether or not this is fluorescence imaging data can be determined from the type of filter in the imaging condition information.

Accordingly, the operation of the information recording / reproducing device 55 as an image input means is controlled by the arithmetic control circuit 41, and the old image data recorded on the recording medium is read by the information recording / reproducing device 55 and input to the frame memory 45. At this time, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 is caused to determine whether or not the fluorescence imaging is performed based on the type of filter in the imaging condition information.

On the other hand, there are cases where such shooting condition information is not recorded. Therefore, as described above, when the ophthalmic image such as the fundus blood vessel image by the fluorescence imaging and the fundus image by the color imaging is selectively extracted from the ophthalmologic image of another imaging pattern by the arithmetic control circuit 41, the ophthalmologic image within the boundary line 39 is extracted. The blood vessel image of the fundus by the fluorescence imaging is distinguished from the fundus image of the color based on whether or not the difference in luminance is large in the entire image.

変 化 The change in the light amount level of the ophthalmic image is different between the color fundus image and the fluorescence fundus blood vessel image. That is, in the fundus blood vessel image obtained by the fluorescence imaging, as shown in FIG. 3, the blood vessel image portion has a high luminance and the portion other than the blood vessel has almost low luminance, and a large change in the luminance is detected finely. Such a large change in luminance is not detected finely.

When such a light amount change pattern, that is, a large change in luminance, is small, the fact that the image is a fundus blood vessel image due to fluorescence is recorded in a memory or a recording medium in advance as a light amount level change reference value of the image, and the fluorescence imaging is performed. It is used when extracting and selecting a fundus blood vessel image by.

Therefore, the arithmetic control circuit 41 compares the read ophthalmic image data with the light amount change pattern, that is, the light amount level change reference value, to determine which pattern is similar, that is, in the case of a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image, A fundus image such as a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image and an anterior ocular segment image are determined based on whether there is such a boundary line 39, and a fundus image such as a fundus image or a fundus blood vessel image is converted to another ophthalmic image. After that, when the luminance change of the extracted ophthalmologic image data is large and fine, it is selectively extracted as a fundus blood vessel image due to fluorescence.

In this way, even when the arithmetic control circuit 41 determines that fluorescent imaging is to be performed, the arithmetic control circuit 41 calculates the address of the boundary 39 between the fundus image 37 and the margin 38 from the data in the frame memory 45 in the same manner as described above. The data is obtained from the light quantity difference by calculation, and the calculation control circuit 441 determines whether the left or right eye is different from the portion corresponding to the notch mark 36b of the mask 36, and determines the address data of the boundary line 39 together with the left and right eye identification data. It is stored in the memory 53. Note that the operation of obtaining the boundary line 39 is only performed once for the left and right eyes when the first old image data is loaded into the frame memory 45 as described above.

On the other hand, the arithmetic control circuit 41 obtains address data and the amount of light in which the light amount of the data within the boundary line 39 thus obtained is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. That is, the address data and the light amount of a portion where there is fluorescence emitted from a fundus blood vessel, or a portion where there is leakage from a fundus blood vessel and emits fluorescence are obtained.

In addition, the data of the boundary line 39 or the address data and the light amount of the blood vessel image of the fundus due to the fluorescence thus obtained are recorded on a new recording medium by the information recording / reproducing device 55 and used for data retrieval. Become.
<Second embodiment>
In the embodiment described above, an example is shown in which all data of the fundus image within the boundary line 39 is transferred and recorded and reproduced. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a part of a fundus image (a lesion part or the like) may be designated, and only this part may be transferred to record / reproduce. Here, as a method of designating a part of the fundus image, the fundus image is divided into four parts, and selection menus such as upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right are displayed on the monitor television 31, and one of these is displayed on the keyboard. May be selected by a transfer range designating means such as a cursor key or a mouse, or a method of designating an arbitrary range with a mouse may be adopted.

As shown in FIG. 7, a system including the control circuit 40 having the above configuration is referred to as a host computer system 60, and a plurality of terminal devices 63 are connected to the host computer system 60 via an input / output circuit 61 and a cable 62. Alternatively, a plurality of terminal devices 65 are connected to the host computer system 60 via the telephone line 64, and the fundus images stored in the host computer system 60 recorded as described above are read from each terminal device 63 or 65. A search operation can be performed, and a fundus image can be recorded in the host computer system 60 from the terminal device 63 or 65. In this case, as described above, by transferring only a portion of the fundus image or only a portion of the fundus image, the time for searching and recording can be sufficiently reduced.

In the case of use in this manner, for example, the host computer system 60 is installed in a computer room or the like of a general hospital, the terminal device 63 is installed in each examination room of the general hospital or the room of the doctor in charge, etc. It is conceivable that the device 65 is installed and used in a local hospital or the like.
<Third embodiment>
8 to 11 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, only specific parts such as the nipple and the macula are extracted (cut out) from each image data, and the images of these many specific parts are simultaneously displayed on the monitor television 31 as shown in FIG. A target image is searched for from a large number of images displayed on the television 31, and can be displayed or transferred.

In this case, a mode selection menu such as “1. search 2. display 3. transfer” is displayed on the monitor television 31.
a. When the “search” mode is selected with a mouse or a keyboard, the arithmetic control circuit 41 reads the first one of the fundus images recorded on the recording medium with the information recording / reproducing device 55. To be displayed on the monitor TV 31.
(Specify the cut-out range by the grid line)
At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, a grid line 80 for cutting is superimposed on the fundus image 37 and displayed. In this “search” mode, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 displays a “grid moving image cutout” mode selection menu.

In addition, a mode selection menu in the “search” mode is displayed on the monitor television 31, and the “move grid line” mode in the “search” mode is selected with a keyboard or a mouse. It is provided so as to be movable with respect to the fundus image 37 by a mouse or a cursor key of a keyboard, which is one of the devices 44. Then, in this mode, the grid line 80 is moved so that the nipple 71, which is a cutout portion, enters one square formed by the grid line 80.

In this state, the cut-out range designation mode is designated by the mode selection menu, and the cursor mark 81 is projected on the screen of the monitor television 31 as shown in FIG. The cursor mark 81 is moved to one of the portions surrounded by the grid line 80, for example, the nipple 71, by a key or the like.

Next, when an image clipping of the mode selection menu is selected by a mouse or a cursor key of a keyboard or the like, a cell with a cursor mark 81 is clipped by the arithmetic control circuit 41, and the clipped image data of the nipple is calculated. The control circuit 41 temporarily stores the information on a hard disk or the like of the information recording / reproducing device 55.

画像 Such an image can be cut out for images having the same shooting position and shooting angle of view. Alternatively, a vertical and horizontal matrix, that is, a grid line area may be provided with vertical and horizontal addresses, and a transfer range may be designated by vertical and horizontal addresses.

Therefore, when the fundus image is photographed and recorded, the data of the photographing position and the photographing angle of view are previously recorded on the recording medium together with the fundus image data as the photographing condition information, so that only one designation of the above-described cutout portion is the same thereafter. The nipple can be cut out from the fundus image having the same shooting angle of view as the shooting position.

The image data of the cut nipple is temporarily stored in the hard disk sequentially by the arithmetic and control circuit 41. This storage can be performed for a specified range or all data.

When the “display” mode of the mode selection menu is selected, the arithmetic control circuit 41 transfers the image data of the nipple temporarily stored in the hard disk to the frame memory 45 every predetermined number, and transfers the image data for one frame. Are transmitted to the monitor television 31, and a large number of images a1, a2, a3... Of the nipple as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are simultaneously displayed on the monitor television 31.

Further, when the “transfer” mode of the mode selection menu is selected, the arithmetic control circuit 41 displays a plurality of transfer destinations on the monitor TV 31, and when one of the transfer destinations is selected, the plurality of transfer destinations are temporarily stored on the hard disk. The image data of the nipple is transferred to the selected transfer destination.
(Specify the cut-out range using the mouse or keyboard cursor keys)
In the "search" mode, the image cut-out range can be specified by using only a mouse or a cursor key of a keyboard without using the grid lines 81.

At this time, in the “search” mode, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 displays a “range specified image cutout” mode selection menu.

Further, a mode selection menu in the “search” mode is displayed on the monitor television 31, and the “range designation” mode in the “search” mode is selected with a keyboard or a mouse. Thereby, first, the arithmetic control circuit 31 causes the cursor mark 81 and the frame 82 to be displayed on the screen of the monitor television 31 as shown in FIG. The size of the frame 82 can be freely changed at an arbitrary position by operating a mouse or a keyboard, for example.

In this state, the frame 82 of the screen of the monitor television 31 is moved by a mouse or a cursor key of a keyboard, which is one of the photographing position input devices 44, and the portion of the nipple 71 is designated by the frame 82.

After this designation, the operation control circuit 41 cuts out the nipple 71 in the fundus image data (ophthalmologic image data) within the above-mentioned boundary line 39 by selecting image cutout from the mode selection menu.

The image data of the cut nipple is temporarily stored in the hard disk or the like of the information recording / reproducing device 55 by the arithmetic control circuit 41.

画像 Such an image can be cut out for images having the same shooting position and shooting angle of view.

Therefore, also in this case, when the fundus image is photographed and recorded, the data of the photographing position and the photographing angle of view are recorded in advance in the recording medium together with the fundus image data as the photographing condition information, so that only one designation of the above-described cutout portion can be performed. Then, the nipple can be cut out from the fundus image of the same shooting position and the same shooting angle of view.

The image data of the cut nipple is temporarily stored in the hard disk sequentially by the arithmetic and control circuit 41. This storage can be performed for a specified range or all data.

When "display" is selected from the mode selection menu, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 transfers the image data of the nipple temporarily stored in the hard disk to the frame memory 45 for each predetermined number to construct an image for one frame. This image is transferred to the monitor television 31, and a number of images a1, a2, a3... Of the nipple as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are simultaneously displayed.

Further, when the “transfer” mode of the mode selection menu is selected, the arithmetic control circuit 41 displays a plurality of transfer destinations on the monitor TV 31, and when one of the transfer destinations is selected, the plurality of transfer destinations are temporarily stored on the hard disk. The image data of the nipple is transferred to the selected transfer destination.

8 (a) and 8 (b) show different sizes of the display frame 90 displayed by clipping, and the size of the display frame is switched by the photographing position input device (photographing range designating means) 44. Using a mouse, a keyboard or a light pen. At this time, the magnification change is displayed on the mode selection menu, and the magnification is switched by selecting the desired magnification with a photographing position input device (photographing range designating means) 44 such as a mouse, a keyboard or a light pen. When switching the display frame, the display magnification can be changed without changing the display content in the display frame, or the display range in the display frame can be changed with the same display magnification. In addition, this cutting can be performed on the macula 72, and can be performed on other portions.
b. As described above, in the case of cutting out a specific part such as a nipple or a macula portion in a case where an image having a different shooting position or a shooting angle of view includes an image having a different shooting position or a shooting angle of view, as described above, , A range is designated by a keyboard or the like, and based on this range designation, all the images are cut out as described above, and all the cut out images a1, a2, a3... Are displayed on the multiple monitor television 31 as shown in FIG. You may.

When the cutout is a nipple, if the light amount level of the cutout portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined level according to the photographing magnification, the arithmetic control circuit 41 may determine that the cutout is not a nipple, and may not cut out. Similarly, when the cutout is a macula, if the light amount level of the cutout portion is equal to or higher than a predetermined level according to the photographing magnification, the arithmetic control circuit 41 may determine that the cutout is not a macula, and may not cut out.
c. Cut-out display of the nipple by the light amount difference Since the nipple 71 in the fundus image has a larger reflected light amount than the other portions, the nipple can be cut out by this light amount difference.

That is, when the “search” mode in the mode selection menu is selected, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 controls the operation of the information recording / reproducing device 55 to read the fundus image of the recording medium into the frame memory 45, and is constructed in the frame memory 45. The light amount of the fundus image is sequentially detected for each address.

Then, the arithmetic control circuit 41 calculates the change in the light amount level from the detected light amount, and finds the portions a1 and a2 where the change in the light amount on the low level side shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is small. Then, positions b1 and b2 having a constant width from left to right are obtained according to the photographing magnification.

Next, the arithmetic control circuit 41 determines the size of the image clipping frame from the positions b1 and b2 obtained in this way, cuts out the image including the nipple 71 and its surroundings, and Temporarily on a hard disk or the like.

The image data of the cut nipple is temporarily stored in the hard disk sequentially by the arithmetic and control circuit 41. This storage can be performed for a specified range or all data.

When "display" is selected from the mode selection menu, the arithmetic and control circuit 41 transfers the image data of the nipple temporarily stored in the hard disk to the frame memory 45 for each predetermined number to construct an image for one frame. Then, this image is transferred to the monitor television 31, and a number of images of the nipple as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are simultaneously displayed on the monitor television 31.

In the case of image processing, it is also possible to transfer only pixel data of a predetermined light amount by checking the light amount of each pixel.

Further, when the “transfer” mode of the mode selection menu is selected, the arithmetic control circuit 41 displays a plurality of transfer destinations on the monitor TV 31, and when one of the transfer destinations is selected, the plurality of transfer destinations are temporarily stored on the hard disk. The image data of the nipple is transferred to the selected transfer destination.

At this time, the ID number of each image is simultaneously displayed on each image, and as a result of the search, a detailed image (an image having all pixel data) is specified by specifying the ID number with a transfer range specifying unit such as a mouse or a keyboard. Is transferred and displayed on the monitor television 31, and diagnosis and the like can be performed.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an optical system of a fundus camera used in the medical electronic image processing system according to the present invention. (a), (b) is an enlarged explanatory view of the monitor television shown in FIG. (a) ~ (c) is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a temporal change of the fundus blood vessels at the time of fluorescence imaging, (a1) ~ (c1) is an explanatory diagram of the fluorescence brightness from the fundus blood vessels, (b-1) Illustration when increasing the slice level with respect to the fluorescence luminance from the actual fundus blood vessel, (b2) is an illustration of the fluorescence luminance from the new blood vessel, (c2) occurs around the laser coagulation part after laser coagulation of the retina FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the luminance of fluorescence from a water bubble portion. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a control circuit of the fundus camera illustrated in FIG. 1. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the mask shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing an image forming state of a fundus image on the area CCD shown in FIG. (a), (b) is an explanatory view showing a relationship between an anterior segment image of an eye to be examined and luminance. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of use using the medical electronic image processing system shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. It is an explanatory view showing a third embodiment of a medical electronic image projected on a monitor television from the ophthalmic processing system of the present invention. (a), (b) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the image cutout of FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image clipping of FIG. 8. (a), (b) is explanatory drawing which shows another example of the image extraction of FIG.

Explanation of reference numerals

30a Area CCD (image input means, image pickup means)
41: arithmetic control circuit (image data transfer means)
31 ・ ・ ・ Monitor television (image output means, image display means)

Claims (1)

Imaging means for imaging a fundus image by forming a fundus image;
Image data transfer means for transferring a fundus image taken by the imaging means to an image processing circuit,
A fundus camera comprising a recording medium or a memory for recording boundary line data for determining a range of fundus image data in the image data.

Images