JP2004194704A - Medical image diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To significantly improve the operability of an operation of evading the overlap of a medical image and overlay information. <P>SOLUTION: A medical image diagnostic system is constituted such that a CPU 1 generates reference images indicating positions where each of a plurality of images is arranged on a CRT 5, a plurality of the generated reference images are superimposed and displayed on the CRT 5, and the arrangement positions of the images are adjustably set with a mouse 7 so as to evade the overlap of all of the plurality of images with the display of image information attached to the respective images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an MRI apparatus, an X-ray CT diagnostic apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in a man-machine interface for displaying images in the medical image diagnostic apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional medical image diagnostic apparatus, as described in [Patent Document 1], presses a function key of an input device to specify a desired image, and then selects and registers desired image processing using the function key. Is stored in the work area of the storage device. Thereafter, in order to execute the stored image processing, the image processing is sequentially performed only by pressing a predetermined function key on the input device. It has become. This describes a technique capable of performing the same image processing on a plurality of images with a simple operation.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-044851
Also, as in [Patent Document 2], a plurality of captured images can be displayed on a screen (also referred to as a “display”), and the number of images that can be displayed on the display is limited. Therefore, a technique is described in which an observer can select an image to be displayed from a plurality of images and display the image on a display.
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-4-113393
In such a medical image diagnostic apparatus, a character string such as a patient name, an imaging method, an image scale measurement, and a graphic such as a gray scale (hereinafter referred to as “overlay information”) for displaying information attached to a medical image are displayed. The overlay information is arranged in the end area of the image display area so as not to obstruct the observer from observing the imaging target by overlapping with the medical image.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the image captured by the observer is displayed on a display, or when the image captured by the observer is output to a film, as a method for the observer to more easily observe the displayed image, the magnification of the image, There is a function that sets the amount of movement and maximizes the area of interest in the image.Therefore, when this function is executed, the medical image and overlay information may overlap. In the case of outputting to a medical device, there is a possibility that appropriate diagnostic information may not be obtained.Therefore, an operation of moving a medical image to avoid overlapping and changing a display position of overlay information is complicated, and The complexity was a problem.
[0008]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image diagnostic apparatus that checks a plurality of images at once to determine whether a medical image and overlay information overlap, and significantly improves the operability of an operation of avoiding the overlap between the medical image and overlay information. To provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is to provide a medical image diagnostic apparatus that displays a plurality of captured images on a single screen, a means for generating a reference image indicating a position where each of the plurality of images is arranged on the screen, The displayed reference image is superimposed on the plurality of images and displayed on the screen, and the arrangement position of the images can be adjusted so that all the plurality of images do not overlap with the display of image information attached to each image. This is achieved by providing means for setting
[0010]
That is, when setting the image enlargement ratio and the image movement amount, the reference image is displayed as information indicating the image area of all the images, and by using this reference image, the image including the image not displayed on the display is recognized. Since it becomes possible, it becomes possible to simultaneously perform the setting operations of the enlargement ratio and the movement amount for a plurality of images.
[0011]
In addition, as a reference image through which all images are transmitted, an added image obtained by adding the pixel values of all images and a reference image obtained by projecting the maximum value, the average value, and the minimum value of the pixel values of all images are used.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example to which the present invention can be applied.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a CPU, 2 is a main memory, 3 is a magnetic disk, 4 is a display memory, 5 is a CRT, 6 is a controller, 7 is a mouse, 9 is a communication interface, and 11 is a removable storage medium interface. Are connected to the common bus 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes an imager for outputting a display image on a film, which is connected to a communication interface.
[0013]
The magnetic disk device 3 stores a plurality of tomographic images, a program for executing the method of the present invention, and the like. The CPU 1 reads out the plurality of tomographic images and a program for executing the present invention, performs an operation such as three-dimensional image processing using the main memory 2, sends the result to the display memory 4, and displays the result on the CRT monitor 5. Let it. The mouse 7 connected to the controller 6 is used for setting an image ratio and an image moving amount.
[0014]
A communication interface 9 such as a local area network communicates with an X-ray CT apparatus or an MRI apparatus and is used to acquire image data. Reference numeral 10 denotes an imager device connected to the communication interface, which outputs a designated image on a film. Reference numeral 11 denotes a removable storage medium interface using a SCSI interface or the like, to which drive devices such as MOD, DAT, 8 mm tape, CD, CDR, and DVD are connected, and a medium adapted to various drive devices is used, and X-ray Acquires image data from CT and MRI devices and externally stores and stores processed data.
[0015]
Next, the setting of the image movement amount of the present invention, which is performed using the medical image diagnostic apparatus configured as described above, will be described.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method of setting an image ratio and an image moving amount for a plurality of display images by providing a display region of a reference image that transmits all images. According to this flowchart, a method of setting the image ratio and the image movement amount will be described. For each of steps 202 to 207 in the flowchart, the display state of the CRT will be described.
[0017]
3 to 5 show display states on the CRT. In each of the figures, superimposition of images is complicated, and therefore, is simplified and represented only by an outline. FIG. 3 shows a display state at the start in the flowchart. 18 is a diagram showing an image display area for displaying an image on a CRT. A plurality of images can be simultaneously displayed in the image display area. The observer can set the image ratio and the image movement amount for the image being displayed by operating the mouse. Reference numeral 19 denotes a scroll bar control for performing image feed. For an image that cannot be displayed on the CRT, the viewer can change the image to be displayed in the image display area by operating the scroll bar to feed the image. Reference numeral 20 denotes a button for displaying a reference image area for setting an image ratio and an image moving amount. Reference numeral 21 denotes a button for outputting a display state on a film. When the observer clicks this button with a mouse, the display state reflecting the current image ratio and the image movement amount can be output as a film. Reference numerals 22 and 23 denote overlay information for displaying supplementary information of the image.
[0018]
In the state shown in FIG. 3, since the display target of the image and the overlay information overlap, it is not suitable for film output. An observer wants to set an image ratio and an image moving amount so as to satisfy the following two conditions in order to output a film. The enlargement ratio and the amount of movement at the time of film output are set so that the object to be photographed is maximized within a range that is not hidden by the overlay information. For all images to be output as a film, unified values are used for the magnification and the amount of movement of the images.
[0019]
The operation in step 202 in the flowchart indicates an operation in which the observer presses the 22 button. By performing this operation, a reference image area for setting the enlargement ratio and the moving amount of the image is displayed.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows a display state of the device displaying the reference image area. Reference numeral 24 denotes a reference image display area. Reference numerals 25 and 26 denote overlay information displaying image accompanying information. 27 is a button for changing the reference image. By clicking this button with a mouse, the image is set as the maximum value reference image. Similarly, buttons 28 and 29 are used to change the reference image. By clicking this button with a mouse, the reference image is set as the minimum value reference image.
[0021]
Using this function, the observer performs the operation of step 203 in the flowchart. Reference numeral 203 denotes an operation for determining whether the displayed reference image is suitable for grasping the positional relationship between the entire image and the overlay information. If the reference image is not an image suitable for grasping the positional relationship between the entire image and the overlay information, the operation of the flowchart 204 is performed. The operation of step 204 indicates that the displayed reference image is selected from the maximum value projection, the average value projection, and the minimum value projection by clicking the buttons 27, 28, and 29 with a mouse. By this operation, the observer can select an image suitable for grasping the positional relationship between the entire image and the overlay information from the maximum value projection, the average value projection, and the minimum value projection.
[0022]
The operation of step 205 in the flowchart is an operation for checking whether or not the reference image overlaps with the overlay information. In the reference image display area indicated by 24, there is an area where the overlay information indicated by 25 and 26 and the reference image in the reference image are displayed in an overlapping manner.
[0023]
The operation of step 206 in the flowchart is an operation for setting an enlargement ratio and a movement amount on the reference image area. FIG. 5 shows a display state in the reference image display area at the time of operation in step 206. The observer refers to the reference image 31 on the screen 30 and operates the mouse to set the enlargement ratio and the amount of movement so that all the images do not overlap with the overlay information 32 and 33.
[0024]
After setting the enlargement ratio and the movement amount of the image, and confirming that all the images do not overlap with the overlay information, the operation proceeds to the operation of step 207 in the flowchart.
[0025]
The operation of step 207 indicates an operation of closing the reference image display area indicated by 24. The enlargement ratio and movement amount of the image set on the reference image are applied to all the display images indicated by 18. The enlargement ratio and movement amount set on the reference image are also applied to an image displayed in the image display area and an image not displayed in the image display area. By performing the film output operation in this state, the observer can output the film in the maximum display state setting in which the enlargement ratio and the movement amount of all images are equal and the overlay information and the image do not overlap. It is possible.
[0026]
According to the embodiment described above, regarding the positioning operation at the time of the film, which is difficult with the conventional medical image diagnostic apparatus, the observer can easily make all the images at the same magnification and moving amount, and can read the overlay information. It is now possible to set the maximum display possible.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention provides a medical image diagnostic apparatus that checks a plurality of images at once to determine whether or not a medical image and overlay information overlap, and significantly improves the operability of an operation of avoiding overlapping of the medical image and overlay information. This has the effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a medical image diagnostic apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the medical image diagnostic apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display state on a CRT before setting an enlargement ratio and a movement amount of the medical image diagnostic apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example of a reference image in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a reference image is displayed at the time of setting operation of an enlargement ratio and a movement amount in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... Main memory, 3 ... Magnetic disk, 4 ... Display memory, 5 ... CRT, 6 ... Controller, 7 ... Mouse, 8 ... Common bus, 9 ... Communication interface, 10 ... Imager, 11 ... Removable display Medium

Claims (1)

In a medical image diagnostic apparatus for displaying a plurality of captured images on a single screen, means for generating a reference image indicating a position where each of the plurality of images is arranged on the screen, and the generated reference image Is displayed on the screen with the plurality of images superimposed on each other, and the position of the arrangement of the images is set to be adjustable so that all the plurality of images do not overlap with the display of the image information attached to each image. Medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising:

Images