JP2004194878A - Medical image processor and medical image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an medical image processor improving a diagnosis efficiency by preventing the mistake of an image for another image and facilitating the operation of an operator when at least one image out of a plurality of medical images is reversely displayed or output. <P>SOLUTION: This medical image processor processes image data obtained by reading medical images recorded by imaging for a diagnosis purpose. This processor is provided with recording means 43 and 44 recording a plurality types of control information used for controlling an image form when the plurality of medical images are aligned to constitute a layout, a control information management means 41c reading the control information corresponding to the preset image form from a recording means, and an image constitution means 41d, when a specific control information is read out, reversing at least one image out of the plurality of medical images and constituting the layout. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing method for processing or displaying image data obtained by imaging for diagnostic purposes such as radiography to display or output a medical diagnostic image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, imaging methods using radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.) have been used in various fields, and especially in the medical field, it is the most important for diagnosis. It has become one of the means. Since the first X-ray photography was realized, the X-ray photography method has been improved many times, and at present, a method combining a fluorescent screen and an X-ray film has become mainstream. On the other hand, in recent years, various digitized apparatuses such as X-ray CT, ultrasound, and MRI have been put into practical use, and the construction of diagnostic information processing systems and the like in hospitals is being promoted. Much research has been done to digitize X-ray images, but a radiographic method using a stimulable phosphor has been established and is attracting attention as a replacement for conventional X-ray photography.
[0003]
A stimulable phosphor (storable phosphor) is a part of its radiation energy that is stored when irradiated with radiation. After that, when it is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, it emits light according to the stored energy. It has been known for a long time. A radiographic method using this is a method in which a radiographic image of a subject such as a human body is photographed and recorded on a sheet coated with a stimulable phosphor, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as laser light. Since emitted light is generated, image data is obtained by photoelectrically reading this light. After appropriately processing this image data, it can be output to a display such as a CRT or printed on a film by a laser printer or the like to display a radiation image as a visible image.
[0004]
Such a radiographic method has performance comparable to that of a conventional X-ray photography method in terms of imaging sensitivity and image quality. For example, compared with the conventional X-ray photography method, the exposure area is extremely wide, and the response of the photostimulated light to the exposure amount is almost proportional over the entire exposure area. For this reason, no matter what radiation dose the subject is photographed, it is possible to capture the emission region where the image exists and normalize it into a digital signal without excess or deficiency. Further, by combining the signal obtained in this way with an appropriate image processing method, it is possible to provide a steady and high-quality image even under various shooting conditions. Furthermore, since the digitized image information is obtained directly, not only can a large amount of data be stored for a long period of time without causing image deterioration, but also development into a medical diagnosis information system is possible. Become.
[0005]
The radiography method as described above is also applied to breast radiography in breast cancer screening and the like. The visible image obtained by radiography is displayed on a display screen or printed on a film and used for medical diagnosis. Here, when it is desired to make a comparative diagnosis of left and right as in mammography (breast), it is a common practice to directly compare and observe both breasts simultaneously with the chest wall sides of the left and right breasts. In addition, for one breast, when comparing the images taken in the past with the images taken this time, one of the images is reversed left and right, and the breast wall side of the breast at the two time points is directly compared. It is common to observe. For this purpose, one of the images needs to be turned over (reversed horizontally), but this operation has been performed manually.
[0006]
As a related technique, in Patent Document 1 below, when displaying medical images of two subjects to be compared on the display surface, the medical images are aligned so that the corresponding positions of the subjects are aligned on the display surface. An image display method for displaying the image is disclosed.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-65613 A (second page, FIG. 2)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional medical image processing apparatus, since the operation of inverting the image is manually performed, it is necessary to manually perform the operation of returning the inverted image again after the comparison diagnosis is completed. At that time, if the operator forgets the operation to restore, there is a possibility that the left and right images are mistaken and the diagnosis is wrong. In addition, the operator needs to perform the operation with constant awareness so that the left and right images are not mistaken, and there is a problem that the diagnosis efficiency is lowered.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent image confusion when displaying or outputting at least one of a plurality of medical images in reverse. A further object is to provide a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing method capable of facilitating the operation of the operator and improving the diagnostic efficiency.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a medical image processing apparatus according to the present invention is a medical image processing apparatus that processes image data obtained by reading a medical image recorded by imaging for diagnostic purposes, and includes a plurality of medical images Recording means for recording a plurality of types of control information used for controlling an image format when arranging a layout by arranging images, and used for setting one type of image format from among a plurality of types of image formats An input unit; a control information management unit that reads control information corresponding to a preset image format from the recording unit; and at least one of a plurality of medical images when the first control information is read And when the second control information is read out, none of the plurality of medical images is reversed, and the image constituting unit that forms the layout by arranging the plurality of medical images. Comprising the door.
[0011]
The medical image processing method according to the present invention is a medical image processing apparatus for processing image data obtained by reading a medical image recorded by imaging for diagnostic purposes, and arranging a plurality of medical images side by side. A step (a) of reading out control information corresponding to a preset image format from a recording means for recording a plurality of types of control information used for controlling an image format at the time of configuration; and first control information Is read out, at least one of the plurality of medical images is inverted, and when the second control information is read out, none of the plurality of medical images is inverted, (B) which arranges the medical images of and arranges the layout.
[0012]
According to the present invention, when at least one of a plurality of medical images is inverted and displayed or output, a desired image format is set in advance so that at least one of the plurality of medical images is obtained. Since the layout is inverted, it is not necessary to manually operate the medical image inversion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image from being mistaken and to facilitate the operation of the operator and improve the diagnostic efficiency.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a medical image photographing system including a medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the medical image photographing system 10 is a medical image photographing apparatus 10 that records a radiation image on a recording sheet (stimulable phosphor sheet) 1 by irradiating a subject with radiation. And a medical image reading device 20 that photoelectrically reads information such as a radiation image recorded on the recording sheet 1 to generate image data, and performs various processes by inputting image data from the medical image reading device 20 The medical image processing apparatus 30 displays or outputs a medical diagnostic image. Furthermore, an external device 50 such as a hospital database server, an ID card reader, or a terminal device is connected to the network N1 as necessary.
[0014]
The medical image photographing apparatus 10 includes a photographing position raising / lowering mechanism 11 that raises and lowers the photographing position of the subject by moving the position of the recording sheet 1 up and down, a photographing stand 12 that determines the position of the subject's legs, A radiation generator 13 for irradiating the examiner, an imaging controller 14 for controlling the radiation generator 13 and the like according to given imaging conditions, and an input unit 15 used for inputting various commands and imaging conditions Is included. The shooting control unit 14 is connected to the network N1, and can set shooting conditions via the network N1.
[0015]
A recording sheet 1 used for radiography is coated with a stimulable phosphor material, and information on an object is recorded by irradiation with radiation. The subject is radiographed under predetermined imaging conditions, and the radiographic image is recorded on the recording sheet 1. After imaging, the recording sheet 1 is set at a predetermined position of the medical image reading device 20.
[0016]
In the medical image reading apparatus 20, the light beam emitted from the laser light source 21 scans the surface of the recording sheet 1 through the optical scanning unit 22. By this scanning, a light beam is irradiated onto the recording sheet 1, and an amount of stimulated emission light corresponding to the radiation image information accumulated and recorded is generated from the portion irradiated with the light beam. The stimulated emission light is photoelectrically detected by a photomultiplier (photomultiplier tube) 23, output as an analog signal, amplified by an amplifier 24, and digitized by an A / D converter 25. The image data generated in this way is input to the medical image processing apparatus 30 via the network N1 together with the image supplementary information.
[0017]
The medical image processing apparatus 30 prints the medical diagnostic image on a film or the like, an input unit 31 used for inputting various commands and settings for image formats, a display unit 32 for displaying medical diagnostic images, and the like. The printer 33 and the processing unit 40 are included. The processing unit 40 processes the input image data and controls the image format to be displayed.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the medical image processing apparatus shown in FIG. The processing unit 40 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 41, a memory 42 for temporarily storing input image data and image supplementary information, a hard disk 43 as a recording medium, a hard disk control unit 44, and an interface 45. And a network interface 46. These are connected to each other via a bus line BL.
[0019]
The CPU 41 is connected to an input unit 31 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 32 such as a CRT display, and a printer 33 via an interface 45, and the medical image photographing apparatus 10 via a network interface 46 and a network N1. And a medical image reading device 20. The hard disk 43 stores software (program) for causing the CPU 41 to perform an operation. In addition to the built-in hard disk 43, an external hard disk, flexible disk, MO, MT, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or the like can be used as the recording medium.
[0020]
Next, functional blocks 41a to 41d configured by the CPU 41 and software (program) will be described. The image processing unit 41 a performs image processing such as normalization, gradation processing, and logical reading processing on the image data input from the medical image reading device 20. The image data subjected to the image processing is output from the output unit 41b to the display unit 32 or the printer 33 via the interface 45, and a medical diagnostic image is displayed on a display or printed on a film or the like. Further, the image data and the image supplementary information are stored in the hard disk 43.
[0021]
When an instruction to display in a specific image format is input from the input unit 31, the image format control information management unit 41c responds to the image format from the hard disk 43 in which a plurality of types of image format control information is recorded. The image format control information to be read is read out. Here, as the image format, for example, a format in which images of the current and past left and right breasts are displayed together on the chest wall side (hereinafter referred to as “left and right comparison display mode”), or one breast imaged this time is displayed. The image of the breast and the image of the same breast taken in the past are displayed as they are without matching the chest wall side (hereinafter referred to as “normal display mode”), and the image of one breast taken this time A format (hereinafter, referred to as “past image comparison display mode”) for displaying the same breast image taken in the past together with the chest wall side is prepared. In addition, the image format control information management unit 41c may automatically set a display window pattern such as displaying images side by side in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, or automatically setting a desired image to be inspected. Is possible.
[0022]
The operator can use the input unit 31 to set one type of display mode from among a plurality of types of display modes. If it is possible to determine for each operator which display mode is set, the display mode can be automatically set according to the preference of each operator. Further, when a plurality of medical image processing apparatuses 30 are connected to the network N1, the display mode set in one medical image processing apparatus 30 is recorded for each operator, and the other medical image processing apparatuses 30 If the same display mode is automatically set for each operator, the operation of the operator becomes very easy.
[0023]
When the operator sets the past image comparison display mode, the image format control information management unit 41c displays image format control information for displaying both images together by reversing one image to display both images. Read from. The image configuration unit 41d automatically inverts one of the current image and the past image based on the read image format control information, and configures the layout of two images that match the chest wall side. To do. Furthermore, the image configuration unit 41d automatically aligns the corresponding positions of the two images on the display screen by moving one image in the vertical direction on the display screen. A marker is displayed on the reversely displayed image to clarify that it is a reverse image.
[0024]
The screen thus obtained is displayed on the display unit 32 via the interface 45 or printed on a film by the printer 33. Thereafter, when the past image comparison display mode is switched to the normal display mode or the like, the automatic inversion of the image is canceled. In the present embodiment, each of the image processing unit 41a, the output unit 41b, the image format control information management unit 41c, and the image configuration unit 41d is configured by a CPU and software, but is configured by a digital circuit or an analog circuit. Also good.
[0025]
3 to 5 are diagrams showing images displayed using the medical image processing apparatus of the present embodiment. The same reference numerals are assigned to the same images.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image representing the left and right breasts displayed in the left / right comparison display mode. 3A shows images 101 and 102 taken this time, and FIG. 3B shows images 103 and 104 taken in the past. In FIG. 3A, the right breast image 101 and the left breast image 102 taken this time are displayed together with their chest wall sides 121 and 122 together. Similarly in FIG. 3B, the right breast image 103 and the left breast image 104 taken in the past are displayed together with their chest wall sides 123 and 124. As shown in FIG. 3A, a character (so-called lead character) 130 representing an imaging region or the like is represented at one corner of each image.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing images representing the same and previous breasts displayed in the normal display mode. 4A shows the images 101 and 103 of the right breast, and FIG. 4B shows the images 102 and 104 of the left breast. In the normal display mode, images of the same side breast in this time and in the past are displayed in parallel.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing images representing the same and previous breasts displayed in the past image comparison display mode. 5A shows images 101 and 113 of the right breast, and FIG. 5B shows images 112 and 104 of the left breast. The features of the present invention are used in these images.
[0028]
That is, when the right breast image is displayed, the image located on the right side in FIG. 5A is automatically inverted. As a result, the right breast image 101 photographed this time and the image 113 obtained by inverting the right breast image 103 photographed in the past to the left and right are displayed together with the chest wall sides 121 and 123 together. Furthermore, a marker 131 indicating that the image 113 is reversed left and right is displayed on the image 113.
[0029]
On the other hand, when displaying the image of the left breast, the image located on the left side in FIG. 5B is automatically inverted. As a result, an image 112 in which the left breast image 102 photographed this time is reversed left and right and a left breast image 104 photographed in the past are displayed together with the chest wall sides 122 and 124 together. Furthermore, a marker 132 indicating that the image 112 is reversed left and right is displayed on the image 112.
[0030]
In this way, the reversal operation of the contrasted image is automatically performed without the operator's awareness, and the marker is displayed on the reversed image, so that the operator's operation is facilitated and reliable and quick. Diagnosis can be performed.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the medical image processing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the medical image photographing system including the medical image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
[0032]
In step S <b> 1, the medical image capturing apparatus 10 captures a radiation image by irradiating the subject with radiation, and records the radiation image on the recording sheet 1. In step S2, the medical image reading device 20 reads the radiation image recorded on the recording sheet 1 and generates image data.
[0033]
In step S3, the medical image processing apparatus 30 inputs image data from the medical image reading apparatus 20, and performs image processing in the image processing unit 41a. In step S <b> 4, the image data that has been subjected to image processing is recorded on the hard disk 43.
[0034]
In step S <b> 5, the operator uses the input unit 31 to input an instruction to display an image in a desired image format (here, the past image comparison display mode). In step S6, the image format control information management unit 41c compares the two images together by reversing one of the two target images (for example, the current and previous breast images on the same side). Image format control information to be displayed is read from the hard disk 43. In step S7, the image construction unit 41d automatically inverts one image based on the read image format information, and constructs a layout of both image data in which the chest wall side is matched. In step S <b> 8, the constructed image is displayed on the display unit 32 via the interface 45 or printed on the printer 33.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when at least one of a plurality of medical images is inverted and displayed or output, a desired image format is set in advance so that a plurality of medical images can be displayed. Since the layout is formed by inverting at least one of them, it is not necessary to manually operate the inversion of the medical image. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image from being mistaken and to facilitate the operation of the operator and improve the diagnostic efficiency.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a medical image photographing system including a medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the medical image processing apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image representing left and right breasts displayed in a left-right comparison display mode.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing images representing breasts on the same side in the current and past displayed in the normal display mode.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing images representing the same and previous breasts displayed in the past image comparison display mode.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a medical image photographing system including a medical image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Recording sheet (stimulable phosphor sheet)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Medical imaging device 11 Imaging position raising / lowering mechanism 12 Imaging stand 13 Radiation generation part 14 Imaging control part 15 Input part 20 Medical image reader 21 Laser light source 22 Optical scanning part 23 Photomultiplier (photomultiplier tube)
24 Amplifier 25 A / D Converter 30 Medical Image Processing Device 31 Input Unit 32 Display Unit 33 Printer 40 Processing Unit 41 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
41a Image processing unit 41b Output unit 41c Image format control information management unit 41d Image configuration unit 42 Memory 43 Hard disk 44 Hard disk control unit 45 Interface 46 Network interface 50 External devices 101-104, 112, 113 Medical images 121-124 Chest wall side 130 Lead Character 131, 132 Marker

Claims (6)

A medical image processing apparatus for processing image data obtained by reading a medical image recorded by imaging for diagnostic purposes,
A recording means for recording a plurality of types of control information used for controlling an image format when a layout is configured by arranging a plurality of medical images;
Input means used to set one type of image format from among a plurality of types of image formats;
Control information management means for reading control information corresponding to a preset image format from the recording means;
When the first control information is read, at least one of the plurality of medical images is inverted, and when the second control information is read, all of the plurality of medical images are inverted. A medical image processing apparatus comprising: an image composing unit configured to arrange a plurality of medical images side by side. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a medical image having a layout constituted by the image construction means. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image construction unit adds a predetermined display to the inverted medical image. A medical image processing apparatus for processing image data obtained by reading a medical image recorded by imaging for diagnostic purposes,
A step of reading control information corresponding to a preset image format from a recording means for recording a plurality of types of control information used for controlling an image format when a layout is formed by arranging a plurality of medical images (a )When,
When the first control information is read, at least one of the plurality of medical images is inverted, and when the second control information is read, all of the plurality of medical images are inverted. (B) configuring the layout by arranging the plurality of medical images,
A medical image processing method comprising: 5. The medical image processing method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying a medical image having a layout formed in step (b). 6. The medical image processing method according to claim 4, wherein step (b) includes adding a predetermined display to the inverted medical image.

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