JP2006026419A - Three-dimensional image display device in network environment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional image processing system allowing a plurality of remote users to simultaneously produce and observe a three-dimensional image. <P>SOLUTION: This three-dimensional image processing system includes a means to store image data in a three-dimensional voxel, a means to produce a three-dimensional image by acting an spacial area of an object, opacity, and color parameters, a means to produce three-dimensional data, an image processor to produce a three dimensional image from the three-dimensional data, a means to designate image data, a means to designate a spacial area and opacity of an object, a projection process parameter setting means to produce a three-dimensional image from three-dimensional data, a plurality of operating computers equipped with three-dimensional image display means, and a means to connect the three-dimensional image processor and a plurality of the computers via a network. An image storing means with a PACKS image server function is added to the three-dimensional image processor to correlate the image data storing function and the three-dimensional image producing function to realize high speed image data gaining and network load reduction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image display device that displays a spatial distribution of physical properties of a subject as a three-dimensional image.

  Since accurate cross-sectional image data representing the physical properties of the human body can be obtained by an X-ray CT apparatus, it is possible to reconstruct a three-dimensional image using a plurality of cross-sectional image data taken at different cross-sectional positions. Has been done. In particular, since a helical scan X-ray CT apparatus and a multi-beam X-ray CT apparatus have recently been put into practical use, it has become possible to reconstruct a more precise three-dimensional image.

  In order to create a precise three-dimensional image, it is desirable to make the interval between the cross-sectional image and the cross-sectional image as narrow as possible in the cross-sectional image used to create the three-dimensional image. In a multi-beam X-ray CT apparatus that has recently been put into practical use, a cross-sectional image (slice thickness) that is much thinner than conventional X-ray CT is obtained by dividing the X-ray detector in the body axis direction of the subject perpendicular to the cross section. A narrow interval between slice images (slice interval) is realized.

  Using image data with a narrow interval between cross-sectional images and cross-sectional images collected with this multi-beam X-ray CT apparatus, three-dimensional much more precise than when using image data collected with a conventional X-ray CT apparatus Images can be created. For this reason, the range of clinical application of three-dimensional images created using X-ray CT image data has been remarkably increased and has begun to be used for various purposes.

  In this multi-beam X-ray CT apparatus, it has become possible to collect image data having a narrow interval between cross-sectional images in a shorter time than when collected by a conventional X-ray CT apparatus. Since the required length in the body axis direction has not been changed, the number of image data, and hence the amount of image data, has increased significantly.

  In a conventional X-ray CT apparatus, since the number of image data collected in one examination is about several tens, it is common to shoot the images on a film with a multi-format camera, and arrange them for observation and interpretation. Met. However, in the case of a multi-beam X-ray CT system, hundreds of cross-sectional images can be reconstructed in one examination, so this is photographed on a film with a multi-format camera, and arranged and observed / interpreted. It is difficult to do. From this aspect as well, there is an increasing demand for creating a three-dimensional image and observing and interpreting it.

  As described above, the multi-beam X-ray CT apparatus is an epoch-making X-ray CT apparatus capable of collecting image data having a narrow interval between cross-sectional images in a shorter time than a conventional X-ray CT apparatus. However, since the number of obtained reconstructed images has greatly increased, the load on the network for transferring this data has greatly increased, and a high-speed network has become necessary. In addition, an image storage and transfer system (PACS) for storing this data also requires a high-capacity and high-speed system as the amount of data increases. Related 3D image display devices have also received a large amount of data in a short time, and a high-performance device capable of image processing a large amount of data in a short time has come to be required.

  The three-dimensional display method for medical images is based on the surface display method (surface rendering method) that displays the shape of the boundary surface after extracting the boundary surface of the object that constitutes the subject, and the physical property of the subject. There is a volume rendering method that handles it as a three-dimensional array of voxels.

The surface rendering method is used for each of a plurality of X-ray CT images.
(1) Extracting a region including the object by threshold processing that specifies an upper limit and a lower limit of the CT value of the object;
(2) An area of a display object is extracted by deleting an area that is not a display object from the area;
(3) Extract the contour of the region.
(4) A solid is constructed using contours obtained from each of a plurality of X-ray CT images.
(5) Finally, a display object is displayed as a three-dimensional image by performing a shadowing process and a projection process on the solid.

  The volume rendering method treats a subject as a three-dimensional array of voxels with opacity and color information corresponding to physical properties, and performs a projection process called shadow casting and ray casting on the subject to perform the projection process. Display physical properties as 3D images. By giving each voxel a color and opacity corresponding to the CT value, it is possible to display regions having different CT values with different colors and densities.

In the volume rendering method,
(1) constructing a three-dimensional array of voxels using a plurality of X-ray CT image data;
(2) setting the color and opacity in the range of CT values specific to the object of interest;
(3) The object of interest is displayed as a three-dimensional image by performing projection processing called shadowing processing and ray casting.
By setting different colors and opacity for different CT value ranges, regions with different CT values can be displayed in different colors and densities.

  In the surface rendering method, it is necessary to extract a region for each of a plurality of X-ray CT images, but in the volume rendering method, a region extracting operation is not necessary. In the human body, the CT value often changes continuously in the boundary region between two anatomical structures, so that the effect of omitting the region extraction work is great. Compared with the surface rendering method, natural and smooth shading can be obtained even at edges where the boundary changes rapidly.

  In the volume rendering method, an anatomical component of a subject is classified based on a CT value for a three-dimensional array of voxels constructed using X-ray CT image data. Therefore, spatial regions with different CT values can be treated as different objects, but spatial regions with the same CT value can be treated as a single object even if the objects are physically separated. become. This is inconvenient when it is desired to handle a spatial region having the same CT value as two or more objects.

  As described above, in the volume rendering method, spatial regions having different CT values can be handled as different objects. However, a spatial region having the same CT value can be treated as a single object even if the object is physically separated. It will be handled as an object. Therefore, in the case of an application that separates and treats a spatial region having the same physical properties as two or more objects, such as a surgical simulation, image processing or operation for dividing the spatial region is necessary. become.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional 3D image display apparatus and its network environment. The X-ray CT apparatus 101 collects X-ray CT data of a plurality of cross sections of a subject and reconstructs them to create image data of a plurality of cross sections. The PACS server 102 is a server of an image storage and transfer system that stores image data collected and reconstructed by a plurality of modalities including the X-ray CT apparatus 101 and transfers it to a user as necessary. The three-dimensional image display workstations 121, 122, 123,... Acquire image data collected and stored by the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 via the network 111, and use this image data to obtain a three-dimensional image. Is a 3D image display workstation that creates The network 111 is a large-capacity and high-speed network that transfers a large amount of image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 to the three-dimensional image display apparatus. A user who creates a three-dimensional image uses the three-dimensional image display workstations 121, 122, 123 to acquire image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 via the network 111, and uses this data. To create a three-dimensional image.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the workstation. The central processing unit 301, the memory 302, the display processing circuit 303, the display unit 304, the computer bus 305, the data storage unit 306, and the network interface 307 constituting the workstation have functions similar to those of a normal personal computer. In many cases, the performance of the component is much higher. The high-speed arithmetic device 309, the large-capacity memory 310, and the high-speed computer bus 311 are often used in workstations to process a large amount of data at high speed. A workstation has higher image processing performance than a normal personal computer, but is generally expensive.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions of a conventional three-dimensional image display apparatus. The three-dimensional image display workstation 121 acquires image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 via the network 111. The data storage device 201 is a magnetic disk device that stores acquired data. The image data selected on the data designation panel 228 by the operation of the operation unit 211 is instructed by the data designation signal 229, read from the data storage device 201, and sent to the preprocessing unit 202. The pre-processing unit 202 corrects the gantry tilt angle and the inter-slice distance, and then accumulates them in the three-dimensional voxel 203 as voxel data.

  The object setting unit 221 is a setting unit that sets an object for creating a three-dimensional image from both a spatial region and a CT value range, and 221-1, 221-2, and 221 for setting a plurality of objects. A plurality of setting units are provided. The object space area setting unit 221-1, ... sets the space area of the object. The object parameter setting unit 223-1,... Sets opacity and color for the CT value of the object. The object parameter 224-1, ... stores these set values.

  Image processing is performed on the voxel data of the three-dimensional voxel 203 using the object parameter 225 set by the object setting unit 221, and the processed result is accumulated in the three-dimensional voxel 204. In the three-dimensional voxel 204, density, gradient, and color values are stored at spatial positions corresponding to the voxel data of the three-dimensional voxel 203.

  The ray casting calculation unit 205 performs ray casting using the projection parameters 227 set by the projection processing parameter setting unit 226 for voxel data data stored in the three-dimensional voxel 204 having density, gradient, and color values. Processing is performed to create volume-rendered image data.

  The volume-rendered image data created by performing the ray casting process in the ray casting calculation unit 205 is subjected to post-processing such as affine transformation in the post-processing unit 206, and then the CRT display device or the liquid crystal display device of the image display unit 207. Is displayed.

  The operation device 211 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and performs data designation, object parameter setting, projection processing parameter setting, and the like.

  In FIG. 3, since it is necessary to transfer a large amount of data from the X-ray CT 101 or the PACS server 102 to the three-dimensional image display workstation 121, the traffic on the network 111 is high. Since the transfer time needs to be short for the user to use it without stress, a high-speed and large-capacity network is generally used as the network 111. Also, the “data storage device 201”, “pre-processing 202”, “three-dimensional voxel 203”, “three-dimensional voxel 204”, “ray casting calculation 205”, and “post-processing 206” in the three-dimensional image display workstation 121. This part is a part that performs image processing using a large amount of data. In order for the user to use it without stress, a quick response is required, and high-speed image processing is required. For this reason, a high-speed workstation is often used for the three-dimensional image display apparatus.

  3D image display devices are widely used because it is easier to grasp the 3D structure of a subject using 3D images than 2D images. In order to obtain a useful three-dimensional image, skill is required for operation. In addition, since a large amount of data is used to create a 3D image, a high-speed network is required to transfer a large amount of data in a short time, and large-capacity and high-speed data processing that can process a large amount of data in a short time Equipment is needed. Therefore, in general, only a result of a doctor who creates a 3D image and prints it on a film or the result of a diagnosis or treatment plan is often sent to the requesting department. At present, there are few examples where three-dimensional images are created and used for medical treatment.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention sets up a 3D image processing server in the vicinity of the network of an X-ray CT apparatus or a PACS server, and uses this 3D image processing server to convert a 3D image from X-ray CT image data. Specify the parameters required to create a 3D image on the 3D image processing server on each of a plurality of personal computers connected to the network, and specify the 3D image created on the 3D image processing server. A 3D image display device in a network environment for display has been devised. A 3D image processing server installed at the center processes a large amount of X-ray CT image data to create a 3D image, and each of a plurality of personal computers connected to the network has a 3D image processing server. Specify the parameters required to create the image and display the 3D image created by the 3D image processing server.

  A user who performs three-dimensional image processing of X-ray CT image data specifies X-ray CT data used to create a three-dimensional image from the personal computer, and parameters such as the spatial region and CT value range of the object. And the projection processing parameters for displaying the 3D image, the 3D image processing server creates the 3D image and transfers the result to the personal computer. The personal computer displays the result image. To do.

  One user specifies X-ray CT data used to create a three-dimensional image from a single personal computer, specifies parameters such as the spatial region and CT value range of the object, and displays a three-dimensional image The projection processing parameters are specified for the three-dimensional image processing server, the three-dimensional image processing server creates a three-dimensional image, transfers the result to a plurality of personal computers, and each personal computer displays the result image, thereby Users can share one 3D image processing. For example, since the referral doctor in the requesting department can observe the 3D image being created by the radiology specialist at the same time, the 3D image created by the radiology specialist is sent to the referral doctor in the requesting department as a film. Compared with, the communication between the radiology specialist and the referral doctor can be improved, and the understanding of the referring doctor can be improved.

  Conventionally, a user who performs 3D image processing of X-ray CT image data uses a workstation for 3D image processing connected to an X-ray CT apparatus or a PACS server to create a 3D image. The X-ray CT data to be used is transferred from the X-ray CT system or PACS server to the 3D image processing workstation, where the parameters such as the space area of the object and the CT value range are specified and the 3D image is displayed. A projection processing parameter is specified to create a three-dimensional image, and a result image is displayed. For this reason, it is necessary to install an expensive 3D image processing workstation at each location of the user who performs 3D image processing. In addition, a large amount of X-ray CT data used to create a 3D image is transferred from an X-ray CT apparatus or PACS server to a 3D image processing workstation. It is necessary to lay a high-speed and large-capacity network up to the location, and increase network traffic.

  Here, the “object” is an anatomical region of interest or the like, and is a set of pixels having CT values in a specified CT value range existing in a specified space region. The “object parameter” is a parameter that defines the object, and designates a spatial region where the pixels constituting the object are present and a range of CT values possessed by the pixels constituting the object. Then, the opacity and color corresponding to the CT value set for the pixels constituting the object are designated. Three-dimensional data is created by applying an object parameter to the pixel value of the three-dimensional voxel. The “projection process parameter” is a parameter of the projection process used when a 3D image is created by performing a projection process on 3D data.

  According to the present invention, there are provided means for acquiring image data used for creating a three-dimensional image based on an instruction from an operation computer device, means for preprocessing the image data and storing the image data in a three-dimensional voxel, A means for creating a single 3D data by applying spatial parameters, opacity, and color parameters of multiple objects that make up a specimen to pixel values of 3D voxels, and a projection process to 3D data 3D image processing apparatus comprising means for creating a 3D image by applying parameters, means for designating image data used for 3D image creation, and spatial regions of a plurality of objects constituting the subject Means for setting object parameters for specifying opacity and color, means for setting projection processing parameters for creating a three-dimensional image from three-dimensional data, and three-dimensional image processing device A plurality of operation computer devices comprising means for instructing the image processing device and means for displaying a three-dimensional image created by the three-dimensional image processing device, and the three-dimensional image processing system and the plurality of operation computer devices via a network And a means for connecting the three-dimensional image processing apparatus with an image storage means having the function of an image server of a medical image archiving communication system (PACS). 3D image display in a network environment that realizes high-speed image data acquisition and network load reduction for creating 3D images by closely associating image data storage functions with 3D image creation functions Equipment was provided.

Hereinafter, a 3D image display apparatus in a network environment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a 3D image display apparatus and its network environment in the network environment of the present invention.
The X-ray CT apparatus 101 collects X-ray CT data of a plurality of cross sections of a subject and reconstructs image data. The PACS server 102 is a server of an image storage and transfer system that stores image data collected and reconstructed by a plurality of modalities including the X-ray CT apparatus 101 and transfers it to a user as necessary. The three-dimensional image processing server 103 has a server function for acquiring and storing image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 and the PACS server 102, and a three-dimensional image processing function for creating a three-dimensional image using this data. Has a function of performing three-dimensional image processing of image data designated by instructions from the computers 131, 132, 133,... And transferring the created three-dimensional images to the personal computers 131, 132, 133,. is doing.

  The personal computers 131, 132, 133,... Specify image data to be processed by the 3D image processing server 103 and 3D image processing parameters, and display the created and transferred 3D images. It has a function. The network 111 is a large-capacity / high-speed network that transfers a large amount of image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 to the three-dimensional image processing server 103. The network 112 receives instructions from the personal computers 131, 132, 133,... To the 3D image processing server 103, and 3D data transferred from the 3D image processing server 103 to the personal computers 131, 132, 133,. A network used for image transfer.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the 3D image processing server. The central processing unit 301, the memory 302, the display processing circuit 303, the display unit 304, the computer bus 305, the data storage unit 306, and the network interface 307 have functions similar to those of a normal personal computer. The ones that are markedly higher are used. The high-speed arithmetic device 309, the large-capacity memory 310, and the high-speed computer bus 311 are used for processing a large amount of data at high speed. The network interface 312 is instructed from the personal computers 131, 132, 133,... To the 3D image processing server 103 via the network 112, and from the 3D image processing server 103 to the personal computers 131, 132, 133,. This is a network interface used for transferring a 3D image to a network.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing functions of the 3D image processing server. The three-dimensional image processing server 103 acquires image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 via the network 111. The three-dimensional image processing server 103 is connected to personal computers 131, 132, 133,.

  The data storage device 201 stores data acquired via the network 111 using a magnetic disk device or the like. Data selected by the personal computers 131, 132, 133,... Is read from the data storage device 201 by the data designation signal 229 and sent to the preprocessing unit 202. The pre-processing unit 202 corrects the gantry tilt angle and the inter-slice distance, and then accumulates them in the three-dimensional voxel data 203 as voxel data. Image processing blocks 208-1,... Schematically show that image processing is performed in parallel in the three-dimensional image processing server. Although there are three image processing blocks in FIG. 6, this is not limited to three.

  Image processing is performed on the voxel data of the three-dimensional voxel data 203 using the object parameter 225 set by the personal computers 131, 132, 133,..., And the processing result is accumulated in the three-dimensional voxel 204. The In the three-dimensional voxel 204, density, gradient, and color values are stored at spatial positions corresponding to the voxel data of the three-dimensional voxel 203.

  Ray casting calculation unit using projection parameters 227 set by personal computers 131, 132, 133,... For voxel data data stored in three-dimensional voxel 204 having density, gradient, and color values. In 205, ray casting processing is performed to create volume-rendered image data.

  The volume-rendered image data created by performing the ray-casting process in the ray-casting calculation unit 205 is subjected to post-processing such as affine transformation in the post-processing unit 206, and then the personal computers 131, 132, 133, Transferred to ...

  Since the three-dimensional image processing server 103 has a powerful high-speed computing device, a large-capacity memory, and a high-speed computer bus, a plurality of three-dimensional image processing can be executed in parallel in almost real time.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the personal computers 131, 132, 133,. A central processing unit 301, a memory 302, a display processing circuit 303, a display unit 304, a computer bus 305, a data storage unit 306, and a network interface 307 are configured. The network interface 307 is instructed from the personal computers 131, 132, 133,... To the 3D image processing server 103 via the network 112, and from the 3D image processing server 103 to the personal computers 131, 132, 133,. This is a network interface used for transferring a 3D image to a network.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing functions of the personal computer. Personal computers 131, 132, 133,... Are connected to the 3D image processing server 103 via the network 112.

  The data designation unit 228 designates data for creating a 3D image by the 3D image processing server 103 by operating the operation unit 211. Information regarding the selected data is transferred to the 3D image processing server 103 via the network 112 as a data designation control signal 229.

  The object setting unit 221 is a setting unit that sets an object for creating a three-dimensional image from both a spatial region and a CT value range, and 221-1, 221-2, and 221 for setting a plurality of objects. A plurality of setting units are provided. The object space area setting unit 221-1, ... sets the space area of the object. The object parameter setting unit 223-1,... Sets opacity and color for the CT value of the object. The object parameter 224-1, ... stores these set values. The set parameters are transferred to the 3D image processing server 103 via the network 112 as the object parameters 227.

  The projection processing parameter setting unit 226 sets projection processing parameters for performing ray casting processing. The set projection processing parameter 227 is transferred to the 3D image processing server 103 via the network 112.

  The volume-rendered image data created by performing the ray casting process in the ray casting calculation unit 205 of the three-dimensional image processing server 103 is subjected to post-processing such as affine transformation in the post-processing unit 206 and then via the network 112. Transfer to personal computers 131, 132, 133,. The image data 231 is displayed on the CRT display device or the liquid crystal display device of the image display unit 233 after performing the data restoration processing 232.

  The operation device 211 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and performs data designation, object parameter setting, projection processing parameter setting, and the like.

  Conventionally, 3D image processing is performed by a single 3D image processing workstation. In the present invention, 3D image processing is performed by sharing with a central 3D image processing server via a personal computer. To do. Conventionally, when a plurality of users perform 3D image processing, one 3D image processing workstation is used for each user. However, in the present invention, one personal computer and a central computer are used for each user. It is shared and executed by a single 3D image processing server.

  In addition, three-dimensional image processing shared by a plurality of users can be shared and executed by one personal computer and one central three-dimensional image processing server for each user. Thus, conventionally, when a plurality of users perform 3D image processing, one 3D image processing workstation is used for each user. However, in the present invention, one personal computer is used for each user. And the central three-dimensional image processing server to share and execute, the following advantages were obtained.

  The range where high-speed networks are laid in hospitals can be reduced. That is, when one 3D image processing workstation is installed for a plurality of users for each user, a high-speed network is provided between the X-ray CT apparatus or the PACS server and the plurality of 3D image processing workstations. However, in the case of the present invention using one central three-dimensional image processing server and one personal computer for each user, the high-speed network is an X-ray CT apparatus or a PACS server and a tertiary. It suffices to install only between the original image processing servers, and the network between the three-dimensional image processing server and the plurality of personal computers may be low-speed.

  High-speed network traffic can be reduced. That is, when a plurality of users use the same image data, and in the conventional case of using one 3D image processing workstation for each user for a plurality of users, each 3D Although it is necessary to transfer the image data to the image processing workstation, in the case of the present invention, it is only necessary to transfer the image data to the three-dimensional image processing server. Accordingly, network traffic can be greatly reduced.

  You can use a slow network. In addition, it can be used not only as a dedicated image network but also as a network such as another hospital information system. A high-speed network needs to be laid between the X-ray CT apparatus or the PACS server and the plurality of 3D image processing servers, but the network between the 3D image processing server and the plurality of personal computers may be low-speed. .

  Multiple users can share one 3D image processing. For one user to specify X-ray CT data used to create a three-dimensional image from a personal computer, to specify parameters such as the spatial region and CT value range of the object, and to display a three-dimensional image The projection processing parameters are specified, the 3D image processing server transfers the result of creating the 3D image to a plurality of personal computers, and each personal computer displays the result image. 3D image processing can be shared. For example, it is possible for a referral doctor in the requesting department to simultaneously observe a three-dimensional image being created by a radiology specialist.

  Equipment costs and installation area can be reduced. One three-dimensional image processing server and a plurality of personal computers can reduce the equipment cost compared to a plurality of three-dimensional image processing workstations. Also, the personal computer can occupy a smaller area than the workstation.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the three-dimensional image display device and its network environment in the network environment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the PACS server 102 and the 3D image processing server 103 in FIG. 4 are integrated into a PACS server + 3D image processing server 104. The X-ray CT apparatus 101 collects X-ray CT data of a plurality of cross sections of a subject and reconstructs image data. The PACS + three-dimensional image processing server 104 stores the image data collected by a plurality of modalities including the X-ray CT apparatus 101, and transmits the image storage / transfer system server to the user as necessary. It has a 3D image processing function to create a 3D image using data, and performs 3D image processing of image data specified by instructions from personal computers 131, 132, 133,. It has a function of transferring a three-dimensional image to personal computers 131, 132, 133,.
The personal computers 131, 132, 133,... Specify the image data to be processed by the PACS + three-dimensional image processing server 104 and the parameters of the three-dimensional image processing, and display the created / transferred three-dimensional image. It has a function to do. The network 111 is a large-capacity / high-speed network that transfers a large amount of image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 to the three-dimensional image processing server 103. The network 112 receives instructions from the personal computers 131, 132, 133,... To the 3D image processing server 103, and 3D data transferred from the 3D image processing server 103 to the personal computers 131, 132, 133,. A network used for image transfer.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the PACS + three-dimensional image processing server. The central processing unit 301, the memory 302, the display processing circuit 303, the display unit 304, the computer bus 305, the data storage unit 306, and the network interface 307 have functions similar to those of a normal personal computer. The ones that are markedly higher are used. The high-speed arithmetic device 309, the large-capacity memory 310, and the high-speed computer bus 311 are used for processing a large amount of data at high speed. The network interface 312 is instructed from the personal computers 131, 132, 133,... To the 3D image processing server 103 via the network 112, and from the 3D image processing server 103 to the personal computers 131, 132, 133,. This is a network interface used for transferring a 3D image to a network. The configuration in FIG. 10 is almost the same as the configuration in FIG. 5, but a large-capacity external storage device 313 is connected because the PACS server function is built-in.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing functions of the PACS + three-dimensional image processing server. The PACS + three-dimensional image processing server 104 acquires image data from the X-ray CT apparatus 101 or the PACS server 102 via the network 111. The PACS + three-dimensional image processing server 104 is connected to personal computers 131, 132, 133,.

  The PACS server 209 includes a magnetic disk device and a large-capacity external storage device, and is connected to a modality such as the X-ray CT apparatus 101 via the network 111, and the modality such as the X-ray CT apparatus 101 collects. Store the data. The database is a database that manages image data stored in the PACS server.

  The PACS server 209 and the data storage device 201 are connected by a high-speed computer bus. The data selected by the personal computers 131, 132, 133,... Is transferred from the PACS server 209 to the data storage device 201, read from the data storage device 201 by the data designation signal 229, and sent to the preprocessing unit 202. The subsequent processing flow is the same as in FIG.

  Since the PACS server 209 and the data storage device 201 can be connected by a high-speed computer bus, image data used for creating a three-dimensional image can be acquired in a short time.

  In the above embodiment, the X-ray CT apparatus and the X-ray CT image data obtained from the X-ray CT apparatus have been described as examples. However, medical image apparatuses such as MR apparatus, nuclear medicine apparatus, and ultrasonic apparatus and image data obtained from them are described. The case is exactly the same. Further, the same function is performed when these medical image apparatuses and image data obtained from them are used at the same time.

  Conventionally, 3D image processing is performed by one 3D image processing workstation for each user. Therefore, image data to be used for 3D image processing is transferred from the X-ray CT system or PACS server to each work via the network. It needs to be transferred to the station and requires a considerable amount of time for the transfer. In the present invention, the three-dimensional image processing is executed by the central three-dimensional image processing server, and only the result of the image processing is transferred to the operation personal computer via the network. Therefore, the network transfer time for transferring the image data is effectively reduced. It can be zero. This is particularly advantageous when a plurality of users use the same image data.

Acquisition of image data for creating a 3D image, creation of 3D voxels, creation of 3D data, creation of 3D images are all executed by a 3D image processing device, and the operation computer device is used for control. In addition to signal creation and transmission, the 3D image processing device can be used only as a network to connect the 3D image processing device and a plurality of operation computer devices by only receiving and displaying the 3D image created by the 3D image processing device.・ Even if a low-speed network is used, the operation and display of the three-dimensional image in the operation computer device can be performed virtually interactively.

Acquisition of image data for creating a 3D image, creation of 3D voxels, creation of 3D data, creation of 3D images are all executed by a 3D image processing device, and the operation computer device is used for control. In addition to signal generation and transmission, only the reception and display of the 3D image created by the 3D image processing device is executed. The operation and display of 3D images on a computer device can be performed virtually interactively.

Acquisition of image data for creating a 3D image, creation of 3D voxels, creation of 3D data, creation of 3D images are all executed by the 3D image processing device, and control signal creation and transmission In other cases, only the reception and display of the 3D image created by the 3D image processing apparatus is executed by the operation computer apparatus, so that the operation is performed by one operation computer apparatus, and the plurality of operation computer apparatuses are operated. A three-dimensional image display apparatus in a network environment that enables simultaneous display of a three-dimensional image.

The 3D image processing device compresses the image data when transmitting the created 3D image, and the operation computer device performs the image data restoration when receiving the 3D image. Even if a medium- or low-speed network is used as a network for connecting the device to a plurality of operation computer devices, the operation of the three-dimensional image and the display response in the operation computer device can be performed virtually interactively. .

A block diagram showing a conventional three-dimensional image display device and its network environment Configuration block diagram of workstation Functional block diagram of a conventional three-dimensional image display device 1 is a block diagram of a three-dimensional image display system in a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. Configuration block diagram of a 3D image processing server of an embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram of the 3D image processing server of the embodiment of the present invention Configuration block diagram of a personal computer Functional block diagram of a personal computer for operation of an embodiment of the present invention Block diagram of a three-dimensional image display system in a network environment according to another embodiment Configuration block diagram of 3D image processing server of another embodiment Functional block diagram of a 3D image processing server according to another embodiment

Explanation of symbols

101 X-ray CT apparatus 102 PACS server 103 3D image processing server 104 PACS + 3D image processing server 111 High speed network 112 Medium / low speed network 121 Workstation 122 Workstation 123 Workstation 131 Personal computer 132 Personal computer 133 Personal computer 201 Data storage Device 202 Pre-processing 203 Three-dimensional voxel (voxel data)
204 3D voxels (concentration, gradient, color)
205 ray casting calculation 206 post-processing 207 image display unit 208-1 image processing block 208-2 image processing block 208-3 image processing block 209 PACS server 210 database 211 operation unit 221 object setting unit 221-1 object setting unit 221-2 Object setting unit 221-3 Object setting unit 222-1 Object space region setting unit 222-2 Object space region setting unit 223-1 Object parameter setting unit 223-2 Object parameter setting unit 224 1 Object Parameter Table 224-2 Object Parameter Table 225 Object Parameter 225-1 Object Parameter 225-2 Object Parameter 225-2 Object Parameter 226 Projection Process Parameter Setting Unit 227 Projection Process Parameter 227-1 Projection Process Parameter 2 7-2 Projection Processing Parameter 227-3 Projection Processing Parameter 228 Data Designation Unit 229 Data Designation Signal 229-1 Data Designation Signal 229-1 Data Designation Signal 229-3 Data Designation Signal 231 Three-dimensional Image Data 231-1 Three-dimensional Image Data 231-2 3D image data 231-3 3D image data 232 Image data restoration processing unit 233 Image display unit 301 Central processing unit 302 Memory 303 Display processing circuit 304 Display unit 305 Computer bus 306 Data storage unit 307 Network interface 308 Operation 309 High-speed computing device 310 Large-capacity memory 311 High-speed computer bus 312 Network interface 313 Large-capacity external storage device

Claims (5)

Based on an instruction from the computer device for operation, a means for acquiring image data used for creating a three-dimensional image, a means for preprocessing the image data and storing it in a three-dimensional voxel, and a subject are configured. Means to create a single 3D data by applying the object parameters that specify the spatial area, opacity and color of multiple objects to the pixel values of the 3D voxel, and a projection processing parameter to the 3D data A three-dimensional image processing apparatus comprising means for creating a three-dimensional image
Means for specifying image data to be used to create a three-dimensional image, means for setting object parameters for specifying spatial regions, opacity and color of a plurality of objects constituting the object, and three-dimensional from three-dimensional data A plurality of operating computers comprising means for setting projection processing parameters for creating an image, means for instructing these to a 3D image processing apparatus, and means for displaying a 3D image created by the 3D image processing apparatus A device, and means for connecting the three-dimensional image processing system and a plurality of operation computer devices via a network,
By adding an image storage means having the function of a medical image storage communication system (PACS) image server to the three-dimensional image processing apparatus and integrating it, the image data storage function in the hospital and the three-dimensional image A three-dimensional image display apparatus in a network environment that realizes high-speed image data acquisition and reduction of network load for creating a three-dimensional image in close association with the function of creation. 2. The operation and display of a three-dimensional image in the operation computer device even if a medium / low speed network is used as a network for connecting the three-dimensional image processing device and a plurality of operation computer devices. 3D image display device in a network environment that can be performed automatically. The tertiary in a network environment according to claim 1, wherein even if a medium / low speed computer device is used as the operation computer device, the operation and display of the three-dimensional image in the operation computer device can be performed virtually interactively. Original image display device. The control signal according to claim 1, wherein acquisition of image data for creating a three-dimensional image, creation of a three-dimensional voxel, creation of three-dimensional data, creation of a three-dimensional image are all executed by a three-dimensional image processing apparatus. In addition to the creation and transmission, only the reception and display of the 3D image created by the 3D image processing device is executed by the operation computer device, so that the operation is performed on one operation computer device. A three-dimensional image display device in a network environment that enables simultaneous display of a three-dimensional image by an operation computer device. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image processing apparatus compresses the image data when transmitting the created three-dimensional image, and the operation computer apparatus executes restoration of the image data when receiving the three-dimensional image. Even if a medium or low speed network is used as a network for connecting a 3D image processing apparatus and a plurality of operation computer apparatuses, the operation and display response of the 3D image in the operation computer apparatus is performed interactively. A three-dimensional image display device in a network environment.

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