JP2004275361A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display an image allowing an operator to relatively easily compare characteristics in the shape of a subject in a medical image which is the object of diagnosis. <P>SOLUTION: A shape detecting means 20 performs the image recognition process for each medical image P based on a plurality of medical image data P respectively indicating a plurality of different medical images P of the same subject acquired by a medical image data acquisition means 10, and information on the shape K indicating the position and shape of the subject is acquired. A subject line image data preparing means 30 prepares a plurality of line image data PL on the subject respectively indicating line images PL describing the characteristics of the shape of the subject in lines corresponding to the plurality of different medical images P. A display means 50 positions the plurality of line images PL based on the information on the position T indicating a prescribed position of the subject acquired by a position information acquisition means 40, and superposes and displays the line images PL on a display screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image display device that displays an image suitable for comparison of the shape of a subject in a medical image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the medical field, by comparing a plurality of different medical images of the same subject (for example, a current image taken at the present time and a past image taken in the past) and observing a change in the shape of the subject It is performed to determine the presence or absence of a disease in the subject and to grasp the progress or recovery status of symptoms. An apparatus for displaying a plurality of different medical images of the same subject superimposed on a display screen has been proposed by the applicant of the present application so that such medical images can be easily compared (see Patent Document 1). ).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-140688 A
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if a plurality of images are displayed on the display screen in a superimposed manner, the portions that are not of interest are also displayed in an overlapping manner, so information about the subject may be mixed more than necessary, making it difficult to understand the information you want to know. . In particular, when it is desired to compare only the shape features of the subject, there is a problem that the features are difficult to recognize.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image display device that displays an image in which the shape characteristics of a subject to be diagnosed can be easily compared.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first image display device according to the present invention is based on medical image data acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of medical image data respectively carrying a plurality of different medical images representing the same subject, and the acquired plurality of medical image data. A shape detection unit that detects the shape of the subject for each medical image, and a line image that represents the shape characteristic of the subject as a line drawing for each medical image based on the detection result by the shape detection unit Subject line image data generating means for generating a plurality of subject line image data, respectively, and display means for displaying a plurality of line images for a plurality of medical images based on the generated plurality of subject line image data. It is characterized by having.
[0007]
Here, the “medical image data acquisition means” directly acquires medical image data from an imaging apparatus such as a CR system that obtains X-ray images as digital data and a CT apparatus or MRI apparatus that obtains tomographic images as digital data. Alternatively, the image display device of the present invention includes a storage device, and medical image data obtained by the imaging device is temporarily stored in the storage device and read out from the storage device. May be obtained.
[0008]
Here, as the “shape detection means”, for example, based on the acquired medical image data, a medical image represented by the data may be subjected to image recognition processing to detect the shape of the subject. Alternatively, based on the acquired medical image data, the medical image represented by the data is displayed on the display screen, and the user inputs information regarding the point or line position for specifying the shape of the subject on the medical image, It may detect the shape of the subject. The input of the information may be input of coordinate values using a keyboard or plotting using a mouse.
[0009]
The “subject shape characteristic” means a feature for each shape of a plurality of structures constituting the subject or a feature for the shape of the entire subject. A “line image” representing the feature as a line drawing. ", For example, an image in which the outline of a plurality of structures constituting the subject or a part of the outline is represented by a line, an image in which the outline shape of the outer edge of the entire subject is represented by a line, and a plurality of structures that constitute the subject An image that represents an axis connecting objects with a line can be considered.
[0010]
In the first image display device, the plurality of different medical images may represent the same subject having different photographing timings, or may represent the same subject having different postures.
[0011]
A second image display device according to the present invention includes a storage means for storing case line image data carrying line images of a large number of cases in which geometric features representing various cases are represented by line drawings, and a medical image representing a subject. Medical image data acquisition means for acquiring medical image data to be carried, and a subject line image for generating subject line image data carrying a line image representing a geometric feature of the medical image represented by the acquired medical image data as a line drawing Data generation means, extraction means for extracting case line image data representing a line image similar to the line image represented by the generated subject line image data from the storage means, and generated subject line image data and extraction means. And a display means for displaying the subject line image and the case line image in a superimposed manner based on the case line image data.
[0012]
Here, the “line image of the case” was artificially created based on the actual past case in addition to the shape characteristic of the subject in the medical image representing the actual past case as a line drawing. The shape feature of the subject may be represented by a line drawing.
[0013]
As the “extraction means”, for example, based on the generated subject line image data and the case line image data stored in the storage means, an index value indicating the degree of similarity of the line images is calculated by image processing or the like. In addition, it is possible to search for a line image of a case similar to the line image of the subject by determining the threshold value of the index value, and to display the line image of the subject on the display screen based on the generated subject line image data. The line image of the case (or its thumbnail image) is displayed on the display screen based on the case line image data stored in the storage means, and a line image similar to the line image of the subject is selected from the line images of the cases. The user may select it. It should be noted that a large number of case line image data is preferably organized and stored by subject type and disease type so that the case line image search process and the display process on the display screen are minimized.
[0014]
The second image display device may further include an additional storage unit that additionally stores the generated subject line image data in the storage unit.
[0015]
The first and second image display devices further include position information acquisition means for acquiring position information representing a predetermined position of the subject based on the medical image data, and the display means is based on the acquired position information. The line images to be displayed may be aligned and displayed in an overlapping manner.
[0016]
As the “predetermined position of the subject”, for example, the position of a characteristic structure of the subject is obtained. To obtain “position information” representing the position, for example, an image recognition process is performed on a medical image. The position of the structure may be specified and its coordinates may be obtained by searching for the shape of the characteristic structure.
[0017]
Even when there is no characteristic structure, when it can be assumed that the position of a certain structure is limited to a predetermined range on the medical image in view of the imaging environment of the medical image, On the other hand, by performing image recognition and searching the shape of the structure within a predetermined range, it is possible to specify the position of the structure and obtain the coordinates.
[0018]
The “position information” may be attached to the medical image data. In this case, as the position information, in addition to the above-mentioned information, the specific position of the specific structure of the subject in the past is used. It may be the coordinates of a measurement mark attached.
[0019]
Further, in the first and second image display devices, the subject may be a plurality of vertebral bodies arranged in a line, and the line image of the subject may be a line representation of the alignment position of the vertebral bodies. . Of course, the subject is not limited to the vertebral body described above, and the subject is a cardiothoracic (heart and thorax) of the human body, and the line image of the subject may be a line representing the outline of the cardiothoracic rib Further, the subject may be a shoulder joint or a hand joint, and the line image of the subject may be a line representing the outline of the joint.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the first image display device according to the present invention includes means for acquiring a plurality of medical image data respectively carrying a plurality of different medical images representing the same subject, and the shape of the subject for each medical image. A shape detection means for detecting a plurality of subject line image data each carrying a line image representing a shape feature of the subject as a line drawing for each medical image based on the detection result; Since the display unit displays the line images represented by the plurality of subject line image data in a superimposed manner, the shape characteristics of the subject can be obtained with respect to the plurality of medical images of the same subject to be compared. It is possible to create a line image represented by a line drawing and display these line images superimposed on each other. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the information about the subject from being mixed more than necessary, and to display an image in which the shape features of the subject can be easily compared.
[0021]
In the first image display device, if a plurality of different medical images represent the same subject having different photographing timings, it is possible to easily read changes in the shape of the subject over time, and the symptom level of the subject About the disease reflected in the shape, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the progress and recovery of the disease.
[0022]
If a plurality of different medical images represent the same subject with different postures, the displacement of the shape of the subject accompanying a change in the posture of the subject can be easily read, and the degree of the symptom is With respect to the disease reflected in the displacement of the shape of the subject accompanying the change, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the presence or absence of the disease or the degree of the symptom.
[0023]
As described above, the second image display device according to the present invention includes storage means for storing case line image data carrying line images of a large number of cases in which shape features representing various cases are represented by line drawings; Means for acquiring medical image data carrying a medical image representing the image, and means for generating subject line image data carrying a line image representing the geometric features of the medical image represented by the obtained medical image data as a line drawing Extraction means for extracting case line image data representing a line image of a case similar to the line image represented by the generated subject line image data from the storage means, generated subject line image data and a case extracted by the extraction means Based on the line image data, since it is configured to include a display means for displaying the subject line image and the case line image in a superimposed manner, the medical image of the subject to be diagnosed is Create a line image that represents the shape features of the subject as a line drawing, search for and extract case line images similar to the line image of the subject, and superimpose the line image of the subject and the case line image Can be displayed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the information about the subject from being mixed more than necessary, and to display an image that allows easy comparison of the geometric features of the subject to be diagnosed and past cases. That is, it is possible to easily identify the disease of the subject that is the diagnosis target and grasp the degree of the symptom.
[0024]
If the second image display device further includes an additional storage means for additionally storing the generated subject line image data in the storage means, the result of diagnosis can be effectively obtained by accumulating and storing case line images. The diagnostic performance can be further improved.
[0025]
The first and second image display devices further include position information acquisition means for acquiring position information representing a predetermined position of the subject based on medical image data, and the display means is based on the acquired position information. If the line images to be displayed are aligned and displayed in a superimposed manner, a line image that is superimposed based on a specific position or corrected for the position of the subject in the medical image of the subject is displayed. Therefore, the difference in the shape of the subject can be grasped more accurately.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the image display device of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an image display device according to the present invention.
[0027]
The image display apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes medical image data acquisition means 10 that acquires a plurality of medical image data P that respectively carry a plurality of different medical images representing the same subject, and a plurality of acquired medical image data P The shape detection means 20 for detecting the shape of the subject for each of the medical images P (hereinafter, for convenience, the image and the data representing the image are indicated by the same symbol), and the shape detection means 20 Subject line image data generating means 30 for generating a plurality of subject line image data PL each carrying a line image PL representing a shape characteristic of the subject as a line drawing for each of the medical images P based on the detection result; , Position information acquisition means 40 for acquiring position information T representing a predetermined position of the subject based on the medical image data P, and a line image PL to be displayed based on the acquired position information T Position and combined, based on the generated plurality of subjects ray image data PL, and a display unit 50 for combined display superimposed line image PL for a plurality of medical images P.
[0028]
The display unit 50 is further configured by a display control unit 51 that displays a plurality of subject line images PL on a display screen of an image display unit 52 described later, and an image display unit 52 that displays various images. ing.
[0029]
As described above, the medical image data acquisition unit 10 can directly acquire the medical image data P from an imaging apparatus such as a CR system, a CT apparatus, or an MRI apparatus. The obtained medical image data P is temporarily stored in a storage device (not shown), and the medical image data P is acquired in a form of reading from the storage device.
[0030]
Based on the acquired medical image data P, the shape detection unit 20 performs image recognition processing on the medical image P, recognizes the structure constituting the subject, and represents the position and contour shape of the structure. The shape information K is obtained. Since the structure differs depending on the subject, the algorithm of the image recognition process is changed according to the type of the subject. In addition, in order to recognize the type of the subject, it is possible to use supplementary information attached to the medical image data P, perform image recognition processing on the medical image, or manually input by the user. Good.
[0031]
Based on the shape information K obtained by the shape detection means 20, the subject line image data generation means 30 generates subject line image data PL that carries the line image PL representing the shape characteristics of the subject as a line drawing. Is. Since expressions suitable for line drawing diagnosis vary depending on the type of subject and the type of disease to be diagnosed, the way of expressing the line drawing is changed according to the type of subject and the type of disease. Line drawings include, for example, a simple linear representation of the overall shape of the subject, or the outline of a structure that constitutes the subject as a straight line or a line approximated by a circle or polygon. Things can be considered. When expressing the overall shape of a subject in a simple line, obtain the center of each structure for multiple structures that make up the subject, and connect the centers with straight lines to represent them in a polygonal line. It is also conceivable to express a curve passing through the center thereof, or to express a part of an axis or contour of each structure as a line segment and to express it in a broken line shape.
[0032]
The position information acquisition unit 40 performs image recognition processing on the medical image based on the medical image data P to obtain position information T representing the position of the characteristic structure of the subject, or the medical image data P The position information T indicating the position of the marker for measurement attached to a predetermined location of the subject (by past diagnosis or the like) is obtained from the accompanying information.
[0033]
Based on the acquired position information T, the display control unit 51 performs alignment so that the positions represented by the position information T overlap in all the line images PL, and a plurality of line images corresponding to the plurality of medical images P. The PL is superimposed on the display screen of the image display means 52.
[0034]
The image display means 52 is an image display device such as a CRT, a liquid crystal panel, or an organic EL panel.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, X-ray images representing the lumbar vertebrae of the human body taken at the present time and the past are used as a plurality of different medical images representing the same subject, and the lumbar vertebra is formed as the line image. A part of the outline on the ventral side of each vertebral body is represented by a line segment.
[0036]
First, the medical image data acquisition means 10 has medical image data P1 carrying an X-ray image representing the patient's lumbar spine as currently shown in FIG. 2 (1), and as shown in FIG. 2 (2). The medical image data P2 carrying an X-ray image representing the lumbar spine of the same patient taken in the past is read out and acquired from a storage device (not shown). The lumbar vertebra is composed of the first lumbar vertebra to the fifth lumbar vertebra, which are the upper five vertebral bodies from the sacrum, and the intervertebral disc between the vertebral bodies. In FIG. Show. It is assumed that the medical image data is accompanied by supplementary information describing information about a subject including at least the type of subject, and the supplementary information is obtained at the same time when the medical image data P1 and P2 are obtained. This supplementary information can be attached to the medical image data when the photographing apparatus photographs a subject.
[0037]
When the shape detection means 20 recognizes from the acquired supplementary information that the type of subject is the lumbar spine, it performs image recognition processing on the X-ray images P1, P2 based on the medical image data P1, P2, The five vertebral bodies (L1 to L5) constituting the subject are recognized in the X-ray image. Then, shape information K1 and K2 representing the shapes and positions of the vertebral bodies corresponding to the X-ray images P1 and P2 are obtained. In addition, template matching etc. can be used for recognition of a vertebral body.
[0038]
The subject line image data generation means 30 approximates a part of the ventral side of the contour of each vertebral body corresponding to each of the X-ray images P1 and P2 with line segments based on the obtained shape information K1 and K2. The subject line image data PL1, PL2 carrying the represented line images PL1, PL2 is generated. FIGS. 3 (1) and 3 (2) are diagrams showing line images PL1 and PL2, respectively. S11 to S15 are the first lumbar vertebra to the fifth lumbar vertebra in the X-ray image P1 (currently taken). The line segments when the ventral side of the contour of the lumbar vertebra is approximated by line segments are shown. S21 to S25 are the first lumbar vertebra to the fifth lumbar vertebra in the X-ray image P2 (taken in the past). These line segments are shown when one side of the ventral side of the contour of the lumbar vertebra is approximated by a line segment.
[0039]
The position information acquisition means 40 performs image recognition processing on the X-ray images P1 and P2 based on the medical image data P1 and P2, or uses the already obtained shape information K1 and K2 to characterize the subject. As a typical structure, position information T representing the position of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) located at the center among the total five vertebral bodies constituting the lumbar vertebra is obtained.
[0040]
Based on the obtained position information T, the display control unit 51 obtains a relative positional relationship such that the third lumbar vertebra in the X-ray image P1 and the third lumbar vertebra in the X-ray image P2 overlap at the same position, The line images PL1 and PL2 are aligned and superimposed according to the positional relationship, and are displayed on the display screen of the image display means 52. FIG. 4 shows line images PL1 and PL2 of the subject displayed superimposed on the display screen.
[0041]
The user (diagnostic) compares the curved state of the lumbar spine between the present and the past by seeing these line images, and grasps the progress and recovery of diseases such as spinal stenosis.
[0042]
As described above, according to the first image display device 1, a line image in which the shape feature of a subject is represented by a line drawing is created for a plurality of medical images of the same subject that is a comparison target. These line images can be superimposed and displayed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the information about the subject from being mixed more than necessary, and to display an image in which the shape features of the subject can be easily compared.
[0043]
Further, in the present embodiment, a position information acquisition unit 40 that acquires position information T representing a predetermined position of the subject based on the medical image data P is provided, and the display unit 50 is based on the acquired position information T. Since the line images to be displayed are aligned and displayed in a superimposed manner, the line image PL is obtained by superimposing a certain specific position as a reference or correcting the positional deviation of the subject in the medical image P of the subject. Can be displayed, and the difference in the shape of the subject can be grasped more accurately.
[0044]
Further, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of different medical images P represent the same subject having different photographing times, the change in the shape of the subject over time can be easily read, and the degree of the symptom is About the disease reflected in the shape, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the progress and recovery of the disease.
[0045]
If a plurality of different medical images represent the same subject with different postures, the displacement of the shape of the subject accompanying a change in the posture of the subject can be easily read, and the degree of symptom is the posture of the subject. With respect to the disease reflected in the displacement of the shape of the subject accompanying the change, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the presence or absence of the disease or the degree of the symptom. For example, if multiple different medical images are images representing the lumbar vertebrae of the human body with different postures such as forward bending, backward bending, and normal position, it can be determined which intervertebral disc has hardened from the curved state of the lumbar vertebrae due to changes in posture. Can be diagnosed.
[0046]
Next, a second embodiment of the image display device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the image display apparatus according to the present invention.
[0047]
The image display apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 5 includes a storage unit 15 that stores case line image data DL carrying line images DL of a large number of cases in which shape features indicating various cases are represented by line drawings, and a medical device that represents a subject. Medical image data acquisition means 10 for acquiring medical image data P carrying the image P, shape detection means 20 for detecting the shape of the subject based on the acquired medical image data P, and the detection of the subject based on the detection result The subject line image data generating means 30 for generating the subject line image data PL carrying the line image PL representing the shape features as line drawings, and the line image similar to the line image PL represented by the generated subject line image data PL Extraction means 35 for extracting case line image data DL representing DL from the storage means, and position information acquisition for acquiring position information T representing a predetermined position of the subject based on the medical image data P The line image to be displayed is aligned based on the means 40 and the acquired position information T, and based on the generated subject line image data PL and the case line image data DL extracted by the extracting means, A display means 50 for displaying the line image PL and the case line image DL in an overlapping manner, and an additional storage means 16 for additionally storing the generated subject line image data PL in the storage means 15 are provided.
[0048]
As described above, the storage unit 15 stores the case line image data DL carrying the line images DL of a large number of cases. The case unit 15 stores the case line image data DL together with the case line image data DL. Assume that information about cases is stored. Specifically, the storage means 15 is read from a computer-readable portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or MO (magneto-optical disk) or transmitted from a server connected via a network. It is composed of a magnetic recording device such as a hard disk for temporarily storing the acquired case line image data DL.
[0049]
The extraction unit 35 performs matching with the line image PL of the subject on the case line images DL represented by the large number of case line image data DL stored in the storage unit 15 to calculate the similarity, A case having a high degree is defined as a line image DL of a case similar to the line image PL of the subject. Then, the case line image data DL representing the line image DL of the case is extracted from the storage unit 15. If the subject type can be recognized in advance from the incidental information of the medical image data P or the result of the image recognition, the matching target is limited to the case image for the subject type. Further, the type of subject or the type of illness may be designated by input from the user, and matching may be limited to the designated type of subject or illness. In this extraction process, the line images DL of the cases represented by the line image data DL of a large number of cases stored in the storage unit 15 or thumbnail images thereof are displayed on the display screen, and the line image PL of the subject is displayed from them. A similar item may be selected by the user.
[0050]
The additional storage unit 16 additionally stores the line image data PL generated by the subject line image data generation unit 30 in the storage unit 15 as data representing a case line image. At this time, it is desirable to classify and save according to the type of subject and the type of disease.
[0051]
Next, the operation of the image display device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, an X-ray image representing the lumbar vertebra of the human body is used as the medical image representing the subject, and the abdomen of each vertebral body constituting the lumbar vertebra is used as the line image. A part of the side contour is represented by a line segment. Further, the means and items represented by the same symbols as those in the first embodiment are the same unless otherwise specified.
[0052]
First, the medical image data acquisition unit 10 reads out and acquires medical image data P1 carrying an X-ray image P1 representing a patient's lumbar spine as shown in FIG.
[0053]
When the shape detection means 20 recognizes from the acquired incidental information that the type of subject is the lumbar spine, it performs image recognition processing on the X-ray image P1 based on the medical image data P1, and this X-ray image P1. 5 recognize the five vertebral bodies (L1 to L5) constituting the subject. Then, shape information K1 representing the shape and position of the vertebral bodies corresponding to the X-ray image P1 is obtained.
[0054]
The subject line image data generating means 30 is a line that approximates a part of the ventral side of the contour of each vertebral body with a line segment as shown in FIG. 3 (1) based on the obtained shape information K1. The subject line image data PL1 carrying the image PL1 is generated.
[0055]
The extraction unit 35 stores a large number of case image data stored in the storage unit 15 as case line image data DL1 representing a line image DL1 of a case similar to the line image PL1 of the subject represented by the generated subject line image data PL1. Extract from DL. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case line image DL1.
[0056]
The position information acquisition unit 40 obtains position information T representing the position of a line segment indicating one side of the abdominal ring of the contour of the third lumbar vertebra in the line image PL1 of the subject as position information representing a predetermined position of the subject.
[0057]
Based on the obtained position information T, the display control means 51 performs a relative operation such that the line segment representing the third lumbar vertebra in the line image PL1 of the subject overlaps the line segment representing the third lumbar vertebra in the line image DL1 of the case. A positional relationship is obtained, and in accordance with the positional relationship, these line images PL1 and DL1 are aligned and superimposed and displayed on the display screen of the image display means 52. FIG. 7 shows a line image PL1 of a subject and a line image DL2 of a case displayed superimposed on the display screen 52a. The display screen 52a displays the case line image DL1, and also stores information R about the case such as the type of disease and the degree of the symptom corresponding to the extracted case line image data DL1 from the storage unit 15. The information of these cases is read and displayed on the display screen 52a at the same time.
[0058]
The user (diagnostic) compares the curved state of the lumbar vertebrae to be diagnosed with the lumbar vertebrae of the past case similar to the lumbar vertebrae by observing the line images of these subjects and the case images similar thereto. Identify disease and grasp the degree of symptoms based on disease information.
[0059]
Then, the additional storage unit 16 additionally stores the generated subject line image data PL1 together with the diagnosis result (the type of the specified disease and the degree of the symptom) in the storage unit 15, and accumulates cases for effective use. .
[0060]
As described above, according to the second image display device 1, a line image in which the shape characteristic of the subject is represented by a line drawing is created with respect to the medical image of the subject to be diagnosed. It is possible to search and extract a line image of a case similar to, and display the subject line image and the case line image in a superimposed manner. As a result, it is possible to prevent the information about the subject from being mixed more than necessary, and to display an image that allows easy comparison of the geometric features of the subject to be diagnosed and past cases. That is, it is possible to easily identify the disease of the subject that is the diagnosis target and grasp the degree of the symptom.
[0061]
Further, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the information processing device further includes position information acquisition means 40 for acquiring position information T representing a predetermined position of the subject, and the display means 50 is included in the acquired position information T. Since the line images to be displayed are aligned and displayed based on each other, the difference in the shape of the subject can be grasped more accurately.
[0062]
Further, in the present embodiment, since the subject line image data PL1 generated is additionally stored in the storage unit 15, the storage unit 15 is further provided with an additional storage unit 16, so that the subject line image PL1 is stored and stored as a case line image. The result of diagnosis can be used effectively, and the diagnostic performance can be further improved.
[0063]
In the first and second embodiments, the shape detection unit 20 performs image recognition processing on the medical image P to obtain shape information K representing the position and shape of the subject. Based on the acquired medical image data P, the medical image P represented by the data is displayed on the display screen, and the user inputs information on the point or line position for specifying the shape of the subject on the medical image, The shape of the subject may be detected.
[0064]
In the first and second embodiments, the line image to be displayed is aligned based on the position information T acquired by the position information acquisition unit 40, but the position information acquisition unit 40 is not provided. Even when a line image is displayed without alignment, it is of course possible to display an image in which the shape features of the subject can be easily compared.
[0065]
When a line image is obtained by performing subject shape detection on a plurality of images of the same subject, the shape of the subject is not detected at the same timing for all of the plurality of images. The results detected and stored in the above may be used.
[0066]
For example, various types of information (hereinafter referred to as a shape detection result) such as subject shape information, subject line image data, and position information serving as a reference for the subject position obtained by the image display device are associated with the image data. When performing a series of processing (hereinafter referred to as shape detection processing) for generating a line image in a medical image to be detected in advance, the image of the detection target is selected from the already stored shape detection results. A shape detection result related to the same subject image is retrieved and acquired, and a line image based on the shape detection result obtained from the detection target image and a line image based on the shape detection result obtained by the search are obtained. You may make it display on a detection object image. In this way, it is possible to observe changes over time of the same subject without acquiring a plurality of images that are different in time series and performing shape detection processing again. Specific information acquired by searching includes information for specifying the line image such as the position, length, and inclination of each line represented by the line image, for example, each vertex when the shape of the subject is approximated to a broken line. And coordinates representing the end points of each line segment of the line image can be considered. It should be noted that when searching for and acquiring a stored shape detection result, it is not always necessary to acquire image data representing the image of the subject itself.
[0067]
Further, when a plurality of line images of the same subject are displayed in an overlapping manner, any one of the plurality of images of the subject from which the plurality of line images are generated is overlapped with the line images. You may make it display together. In this way, it becomes easy to grasp which part of the subject the line image corresponds to. Note that the image of the subject to be superimposed is preferably the current detection target image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image display device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an X-ray image representing the lumbar spine of the same patient taken at present and in the past
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a line image in which a part of the ventral side of the contour of each vertebral body is approximated by a line segment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a line image of a subject displayed superimposed on the display screen.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image display device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a line image of a case
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a subject line image and a case line image displayed on the display screen;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image display device
10. Medical image data acquisition means
15 Storage means
16 Additional storage means
20 Shape detection means
30 Subject line image data generation means
35 Extraction means
40 Location information acquisition means
50 Display means
51 Display control means
52 Image display means

Claims (7)

Medical image data acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of medical image data respectively carrying a plurality of different medical images representing the same subject;
Shape detecting means for detecting the shape of the subject for each of the medical images based on the plurality of acquired medical image data;
Subject line image data for generating a plurality of subject line image data each carrying a line image representing the shape feature of the subject as a line drawing for each of the medical images based on a detection result by the shape detection means Generating means;
An image display apparatus comprising: a display unit configured to superimpose and display line images for the plurality of medical images based on the plurality of generated subject line image data. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of different medical images represent the same subject having different photographing times. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of different medical images represent the same subject having a different posture. A storage means for storing case line image data carrying a line image of a large number of cases in which shape features representing various cases are represented by line drawings,
Medical image data acquisition means for acquiring medical image data carrying a medical image representing a subject;
Subject line image data generating means for generating subject line image data carrying a line image representing the shape feature of the medical image represented by the acquired medical image data as a line drawing;
Extraction means for extracting case line image data representing a line image similar to the line image represented by the generated subject line image data from the storage means;
Display means for displaying the subject line image and the case line image in a superimposed manner based on the generated subject line image data and the case line image data extracted by the extraction means; A characteristic image display device. The image display apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an additional storage unit that additionally stores the generated subject line image data in the storage unit. Further comprising position information acquisition means for acquiring position information representing a predetermined position of the subject based on the medical image data;
6. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit aligns and displays the line images to be displayed based on the acquired position information. The subject is a plurality of vertebral bodies arranged in a line,
The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the line image is an arrangement position of the vertebral bodies represented by a line.

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