JP2006204400A - Medical image filming apparatus and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image filming apparatus which automatically determines a matrix type layout comprised of rows and lines to arrange a series image comprised of a series of two or more images of a region of interest of a patient and an arrangement direction of the above series image to save the trouble of the layout setting and the image arrangement and facilitates the diagnostic reading, and its method. <P>SOLUTION: An object patient for the image filming is specified from a patient list of a database having the images including the series image of the patient, their incidental information and the layouts including the layouts for the individual regions (steps S1 and S2). The series image of the specified patient is selected from the database (a step S3) and the layout corresponding to the photographed region of the selected series image is acquired from the database (a step S4). The direction to arrange the series image on the acquired layout is determined (a step S5) and the series image is arranged on the acquired layout on the basis of the determined direction (a step S6) to execute the filming of the medical image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image filming apparatus for filming a plurality of images taken by a medical image diagnostic apparatus and a method thereof, and more particularly, a series of a plurality of parts of a region of interest taken continuously in time or position. The present invention relates to a medical image filming apparatus and method for easily comparing and examining images.

  In many medical facilities, a number of tomographic images of a region of interest of a subject are taken as series data with a medical image diagnostic device such as an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) device or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device (referred to below). These images are referred to as series images), and the series images are exposed and recorded on a piece of film and diagnosed by observation by an interpreting doctor.

In this case, a method of arranging the series images in parallel is used in order to easily compare and examine a plurality of images of the region of interest taken continuously in time or position.
For example, when imaging is performed at different positions at the same position as in a contrast examination, a captured image not using a contrast agent and a captured image using a contrast agent are arranged side by side on a film, Arrange shot images with different phases side by side on the film.
On the other hand, when imaging not related to the time phase is performed like an examination without contrast, series images are arranged on the film in the scanning order.

As described above, in order to make interpretation easy for an interpreting physician, it is necessary to arrange series images with different imaging conditions in parallel on a film.
In response to this requirement, multiple images are exposed and recorded on a single film so that multiple images of the region of interest captured in time or position can be easily compared. Patent Document 1 discloses a medical image diagnostic apparatus that facilitates editing work when performing the above.

The medical image diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus connected by a communication line and a laser image recording apparatus, and is stored in an image memory. A target image for exposure recording on a film is selected from a series of images of a region of interest photographed by the medical image diagnostic apparatus using an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, and the selected target image is displayed on a CRT display. The arranged layout image is displayed in a superimposed manner. In the course of this processing, a storage command, an erasure command, and an exposure command for the image of interest are input from the input device.
The transmitted image is stored in the recording memory of the laser image recording device based on the storage command, the corresponding image is erased from the recording memory based on the erase command, and the content of the recording memory is changed based on the exposure recording command. Exposure recording is performed on the film by a laser recording apparatus.
The image of interest also includes an image selected so that a plurality of images of the region of interest captured continuously in time or position can be easily compared.
JP 7-265271 A

The filming of medical images disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems because there are many operator operations.
In other words, an instruction to select an image to be filmed, an instruction to set a matrix format (hereinafter referred to as a layout) composed of rows and columns in which an image to be exposed and recorded on the film, an instruction to store the image of interest to be exposed and recorded, An instruction to delete the image of interest when the image of interest is inappropriate, an instruction to select a new image of interest that replaces the image erased by the instruction to delete, an instruction to store the image of interest, and whether all the images of interest are appropriate When the image arranged in the layout is determined to be appropriate, a large number of instructions, such as a print instruction for exposure recording on the film, are dependent on the operator, and the instruction requires a lot of time and instructions. There are also concerns about mistakes.

  An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is an image arrangement layout for arranging a series image for recording an image photographed by an X-ray CT apparatus or an MRI apparatus on a recording medium such as a film, and the series. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image filming apparatus and a method thereof that automatically determine the image layout direction from the incidental information of the series image, save the setting of the layout and the image layout, and facilitate interpretation.

The medical image filming apparatus and method of the present invention for solving the above problems are achieved by the following.
(1) A medical image filming apparatus that arranges a plurality of series images obtained by continuously capturing temporally or positionally a region of interest of a patient with a medical image diagnostic apparatus in a matrix-like layout composed of rows and columns. A database having an image including a series image of the patient and a layout including ancillary information thereof and a layout for each region; means for selecting a series image for filming of a designated patient from the database; and the selected series Means for acquiring a layout corresponding to an image from the database; means for determining a direction in which the series image is arranged in the acquired layout; and arranging the series image in the acquired layout based on the determined arrangement direction. Means for filming a medical image.

  By configuring in this way, by specifying the target patient of the image to be filmed using the database, the layout based on the image layout, the layout direction of the series image filmed in this layout, and the layout direction Since the images are automatically arranged, the operator's various settings and instructions according to the prior art are greatly reduced, thereby greatly reducing the trouble of image arrangement.

  When the number of series images of the designated patient is one, the series images are arranged in the row direction or the column direction of the layout in the scanning order of the series images.

  The acquired layout is a layout acquired from the layout for each region, and when the number of series of the selected series image is two or more, the image of the series image having a smaller slice thickness and image interval is thinned out, and Match the shooting position of the series image with the largest slice thickness and image interval.

In this way, the shooting positions of a plurality of series images are aligned, and the arrangement direction of the images is determined based on the following from the number of rows and columns of the acquired layout and the series number of series images, and the images are arranged.
1) The arrangement direction of the selected series image in the layout having the same number of rows and columns as the acquired layout is determined by the priority of the row direction or the column direction set in the database in advance.
When blank lines or blank columns occur in the layout, a recording medium such as a film can be used effectively if the analysis images of the series images are arranged in these blank lines or blank columns.
2) When the number of rows and columns of the acquired layout is a multiple of the number of series of the series image, the images are arranged in a row or column direction close to the number of series.
3) When the number of rows in the acquired layout is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of rows, images are arranged in the row direction.
4) When the number of columns in the acquired layout is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of columns, images are arranged in the column direction.

If the acquired layout does not correspond to any of the above, select from the layout candidates previously set in the database, and based on the arrangement direction of the above 1), 2), 3), 4) Arrange the selected series image.
When blank rows or blank columns occur in the layout selected from the layout candidates, the analysis image of the series image may be arranged in these blank rows or blank columns.
Further, when the number of series of the selected series image is two series and the two series images cannot be arranged in the selected layout, the series images are arranged in the direction from the upper left to the lower right of the layout.

  By arranging each series image in this way, for example, an image with a contrast agent in contrast examination and an image without a contrast agent, an image of a difference in timing of heartbeats in electrocardiographic synchronization imaging in a cardiac examination, before treatment and after treatment Thus, it is possible to automatically arrange images at the same position in parallel, which saves the trouble of image arrangement and facilitates image comparison, thereby contributing to improvement of the interpretation efficiency of the interpretation doctor.

When a scanogram image is juxtaposed with a series image selected from the database, the scanogram image is arranged at the beginning or end of the series image, or arranged in a line or a line of the series image.
Further, a slice line of an image adjacent to the scanogram image is drawn on the scanogram.
As described above, by arranging the scanogram image in the series image and further drawing the slice line of the image adjacent to the scanogram image on the scanogram, the photographing position becomes clear at a glance and interpretation becomes easy.

According to the medical image filming method of the present invention, a plurality of series images obtained by continuously capturing temporally or positionally a region of interest of a patient with a medical image diagnostic apparatus are arranged in a matrix-like layout composed of rows and columns. A medical image filming method, comprising: selecting an image including a series image of the patient and a series image to be filmed of a designated patient from a database having a layout including the accompanying information and the layout according to the region; and A step of acquiring a layout corresponding to the selected series image from the database; a step of determining an arrangement direction of the series image in the acquired layout; and the series image in the acquired layout based on the determined arrangement direction. And a step of arranging.
Through such a process, the medical image is filmed, so that the trouble of setting the image layout and setting the image layout can be saved and the interpretation can be facilitated.

According to the present invention, a layout in which a series image is arranged is automatically selected from a database having an image and its accompanying information and an image arrangement layout, and an image is placed in the layout based on the arrangement direction of the series image and the arrangement direction. Since it is automatically arranged, there are few operator settings and instructions according to the prior art, and the labor of image arrangement can be greatly reduced.
Further, by arranging the scanogram image in the series image and drawing the slice line of the image adjacent to the scanogram image on the scanogram, the photographing position becomes clear at a glance and the interpretation is easy.
By arranging each series image in this way, for example, an image with a contrast agent in contrast examination and an image without a contrast agent, an image of a difference in timing of heartbeats in electrocardiographic synchronization imaging in a cardiac examination, before treatment and after treatment Thus, it is possible to automatically arrange images at the same position in parallel, thereby saving the labor of image arrangement and facilitating image comparison, which contributes to the improvement of the interpretation efficiency of the interpretation doctor.

  A preferred embodiment of a medical image filming apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, taking filming of an image taken with an X-ray CT apparatus as an example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a medical image filming apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on an image diagnostic apparatus (X-ray CT apparatus in this embodiment) or a medical image workstation 1 and connected to a printer 3 via a network 2. It is.
As shown in FIG. 2, the medical image filming device 4 of the present invention includes an image including a series image stored in the hard disk 5 or the memory 6 of the image diagnostic device or the medical image workstation 1, and its accompanying information An operator-selectable layout including a layout for each imaging region for filming a series image is read, filming data is generated from the series image and incidental information, and the series image is arranged in the layout, and the hard disk Store in 5 or memory 6.

The filming data generated in this way is converted into an image and displayed on the display device 7 together with the supplementary information, or transmitted to the printer 3 and printed for reading by a doctor.
A laser image recording apparatus (also called a laser imager) is generally used for the printer, and a method of exposing and recording an image filmed by this apparatus on a film is used.

  The image and supplementary information are stored in the database for each patient and stored in the hard disk 5 or the memory 6. At the time of image filming of the patient to be interpreted, the patient list in the database is read out, and the patient is extracted from this list. The patient image is automatically filmed by selecting.

  The image includes a large number of continuous tomographic images obtained by imaging a region of interest of the subject, a scanogram image obtained for determining an imaging position, and the accompanying information includes an imaging date and time, an imaging site, and an X-ray output. , Slice thickness, image interval (distance between images), imaging size, number of images, number of series (number of series consisting of a series of multiple tomographic images at the imaging site), presence of contrast medium, position of scanogram image, electrocardiogram There is information such as the presence or absence of synchronous inspection.

In addition, the image arrangement layout set for each imaging region (for example, when the image recording medium is a film, the frame format to be arranged on this film is shown in FIG. 3) and a matrix format consisting of rows and columns as shown in FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as a layout for each part), and when the image layout layout for each imaging part is other than the image layout direction rule described later, There are layout candidates to be presented.
Further, the priority of the arrangement direction of the image (priority of the row direction or the column direction) when the number of rows and the number of columns of the layout are equal is also stored in the database.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the medical image filming apparatus of the present invention.
The medical image filming device 4 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 8 that controls the operation of each component, a main memory 9 that stores a control program for the filming device, image data for display, and additional information A display memory 10 for temporarily storing data; a mouse 11 for operating a soft switch (described later) on the screen of the display device 7 and its controller 12; a keyboard 13 having keys and switches for setting various parameters; And a common bus 14 for connecting the respective components.

The filming device 4 configured as described above is connected to the hard disk 5 as an external storage device, and the image data and incidental information data, the layout, and the like for filming stored in the hard disk 5 are described above. The image is read out to the main memory 9 and subjected to filming processing. The processed image and the accompanying information data are stored in the display memory 10 and also in the hard disk 5 as necessary.
Then, the image data and supplementary information corresponding to the image data and supplementary information data from the display memory 10 are displayed on the display device 7 such as a CRT display, or transmitted to the printer 3 and printed.
Note that a program for performing filming of the medical image is stored in the hard disk 5, read out to the main memory 9 by the CPU 8 when the filming device 4 is activated, and subjected to filming processing by the program.

The present invention uses the medical image filming apparatus described above and the filming software described later to display images in parallel on an image recording medium so that the images can be compared in terms of time or position, thereby assisting the interpretation doctor to interpret the images. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following example is taken as a representative example.
(1) Image filming with or without contrast agent 1) Comparison of positional difference with or without contrast agent 2) Comparison of positional or temporal difference with or without contrast agent
(2) Matching scanogram images to series images and comparing positional differences between the series images
(3) Comparison of positional differences between series images with different slice thickness and image interval
(4) Comparison of temporal and positional differences of ECG synchronized images

《Filming medical image》
Hereinafter, filming of a medical image according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts for the above examples (1) to (4).

[1] Main flowchart FIG. 5 shows a main flowchart.
The medical image filming according to the present invention selects a series image to be filmed from patient information (step S1, step S2, step S3), and a matrix format (hereinafter, referred to as a matrix format) that places the selected step series image on a recording medium. Layout or image arrangement layout, which will be used separately depending on the content) and determine the direction in which the series images are arranged in the layout (steps S4, S5), based on the determined layout and arrangement direction The step of arranging the selected series image (step S6), further recording the image arranged in the layout on a recording medium or displaying it on a display device (step S7), which is provided to a doctor's diagnosis is there.
Hereinafter, it demonstrates in detail in order of said each step.

[Step S1] Patient list display Start the image filming device 4, read out the filming program from the hard disk 5 to the main memory 9, read out the patient list with the input device (mouse 11, keyboard 13) in Fig. 4 and display it Display on device 7.
As shown in FIG. 6, the display device 7 displays a patient list and a filming soft switch.

[Step S2] Designation of image filming target patient The mouse 11 designates a target patient whose image is to be filmed from the patient list, and selects the patient by clicking the filming soft switch.
Further, when it is necessary to indicate the photographing position relationship of the image by also arranging the scanogram image, the operator inputs the information from the keyboard 13 and stores it in the main memory 9.
Furthermore, when the number of rows and columns in the layout determined in step S4, which will be described later, is the same, the priority for determining the image layout in the row direction or the column direction is also determined.
The necessity of juxtaposition of the scanogram image and the priority may be stored in advance in the database, and read and used when necessary.

[Step S3] Selection of Filming Image The imaging protocol is read into the main memory 9 from the imaging conditions of the selected patient database, and the image to be filmed from the imaging protocol is an examination such as an electrocardiogram synchronization examination or a contrast examination. A condition is determined, and an image to be filmed is selected from the incidental information of the inspection condition. Note that the examination condition of one patient is often one, but there may be an image of a plurality of examination conditions. In this case, the examination condition is displayed on the display device 7 and the mouse 11 or the keyboard 13 is used. The inspection condition is specified, and an image to be filmed is selected.

[Step S4] Determination of Image Layout Layout For each imaging site, the imaging region of the selected image to be filmed is acquired from the patient database, and the layout of the image layout corresponding to this imaging region is stored in the hard disk 5. Select from the image layout file.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image layout is a matrix format consisting of rows and columns. For example, a series data section is set at a position in the row direction, and a continuous direction of tomographic images is set at a position in the column direction. The position and time are set, and the image is arranged in the layout.
Here, the row direction may be one linear direction in which an image is displayed, and the column direction may be one direction that is linear in an image display and orthogonal to the row direction.

[Step S5] Determination of Image Layout Direction The image layout is determined by comparing the number of rows and columns of the image layout corresponding to the selected imaging region with the number of series of images of the imaging region.
This image layout layout determination method, and when a layout different from the above determination method is selected, when it is necessary to juxtapose with a scanogram image, or when there is one series of images to be filmed, will be described in detail in the sub-flowchart described later. Explained.

[Step S6] Image Filming Based on the determined layout and image arrangement direction, images that are temporally or positionally different are arranged, and supplementary information such as a series number and the presence or absence of a contrast medium is added to the image. Filming.

[Step S7] Recording and Display of Filming Image, etc. The filmed image and accompanying information are stored in the hard disk 5, and the image and the like are stored in the display memory of FIG. Or print on a recording medium with the printer shown in FIG.
In the case where the recording medium is a film, a laser imager that exposes and records the film on the printer is used, and the filming image and the like are transmitted from the medical image filming apparatus of the present invention to the laser imager and exposed to the film. Record.

[2] Sub-flowchart FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart from the determination of the image layout in step S4 to the filming of the image in step S6. Using the patient and filming image selected in steps S2 and S3, Follow the steps below to film a medical image.

[Step S4-1] Acquisition of imaging region The imaging region of the series image to be filmed selected in step S3 is acquired from the database.

[Step S4-2] Acquisition of the part layout The layout corresponding to the part is acquired from the database file in which the layout for each part is stored.

[Step S4-3] Judging the number of series Judges whether the number of series in the series image selected in step S3 is single or more than one. If it is single, go to step S4-4. Proceed to S4-5.

[Step S4-4] When the Number of Series is Single In this case, series images are arranged in the row direction or the column direction in the scanning order.
FIG. 8 shows an example of arrangement in the row direction.
Although omitted in the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the scanogram image needs to be juxtaposed, the scanogram image is arranged at the beginning or end of the series image.

[Step S4-5] Comparison of slice thickness and image interval of multiple series images If the image slice thickness and the distance between images (image interval) are different for each series, the images arranged in the row or column direction The location may be different.
Therefore, in order to match the shooting position in each shooting series, the slice thickness and the image interval are compared, and if they are different, the process proceeds to step S4-6, and if they are the same, the process proceeds to step S4-7.

[Step S4-6] When the slice thickness and image interval are different If the slice thickness and image interval are different, the images are thinned to match the slice thickness and image interval to the maximum series image, and the positional relationship of the images is the same. To.
An example is shown in FIG. In this example, Series 1 was taken with 10 images with a slice thickness of 10 mm and an image interval of 10 mm, Series 2 was taken with 20 images with a slice thickness of 5 mm and an image interval of 5 mm, Series 1 10 series 2 images are thinned out according to the slice thickness and image interval.
As a result, the images at the same positions in the series 1 and the series 2 can be arranged adjacent to each other, and the images can be easily compared.

[Step S4-7] Determining the Image Layout Direction for the Acquired Layout Compare the number of rows and columns of the acquired layout in step S4-2 with the number of image series selected in step S3. Determine the orientation of the image.

[Step S4-8] Whether the number of rows and columns in the layout are the same If the number of rows and columns in the layout are the same, go to step S4-9, otherwise go to step S4-10

[Step S4-9] When the number of rows and columns in the layout are the same In step S2, the arrangement direction is determined with the priority set by the operator.
If there is a blank row or column in this layout, this includes the intention to be able to place analysis images such as 3D images and multi-plannar reconstruction (MPR), Recording media can be used effectively.
FIG. 10 is an example of a layout of 4 rows × 4 columns, in which series data sections are set at positions in the row direction, and positions and times in the continuous direction of tomographic images are set at positions in the column direction.
In this example, since the number of series is 3, one empty column is formed, and the analysis image is arranged in this column.

[Step S4-10] If the number of rows and columns is a multiple of the number of series or if the number of rows and columns of the layout is a multiple of the number of series, go to step S4-11, otherwise go to step S4-12

[Step S4-11] When the number of rows and the number of columns is a multiple of the number of series The image arrangement direction is set closer to the number of series. An example is shown in FIG.
In this example, the number of matrices in the layout is 4 rows x 2 columns, the number of series is 2, and both the number of rows and the number of columns are multiples of the number of series, but the number of columns is the same as the number of series, so the image in the column direction Be placed.

[Step S4-12] Compare whether the number of rows is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of rows or whether the number of rows is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of rows. If not a multiple, the process proceeds to step S4-14.

[Step S4-13] The number of lines is a multiple of the number of series, or the number of series is a multiple of the number of lines. An example is shown in FIG.
Since the number of layout matrices is 3 rows × 4 columns and the number of series is 3, the number of series is one times the number of rows, so the image arrangement direction is the row direction.

[Step S4-14] Compare whether the number of columns is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of columns, or whether the number of columns is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of columns. If not a multiple, the process proceeds to step S4-16.

[Step S4-15] The number of columns is a multiple of the number of series, or the number of series is a multiple of the number of columns. An example is shown in FIG.
Since the number of layout matrices is 4 rows × 3 columns and the number of series is 3, the number of series is one times the number of columns, so the image arrangement direction is the column direction.

[Step S4-16] Presentation of Layout Candidate The acquired part layout may not correspond to the rules of Steps S4-8 to S4-15. That is, if the number of rows and the number of columns in the layout for each part are not equal and both the number of rows and the number of columns and the number of rows and columns are not a multiple of the series number, Candidates are read from the database and displayed on the display device 7.
For example, as shown in Fig. 13 (a), if the number of series is 3 and the acquired layout is 5 rows x 4 columns, the number of rows and the number of columns are not equal, and both the number of rows and the number of columns are series. Since it is not a multiple of the number, a layout candidate as shown in FIG. 13B is read from the hard disk 5 and displayed on the display device 7.

[Step S4-17] Selection of Layout An appropriate layout is selected from the layout candidates displayed on the display device 7 in step S4-16.
FIG. 13 (b) displayed on the display device 7 shows the number of layout matrices on the left side and the selected layout diagram on the right side.
As layout candidates, 1 group has 5 rows x 3 columns and 5 rows x 6 columns in which the number of columns is a multiple of the number of series, and 2 groups has 6 rows x 4 columns in which the number of rows is a multiple of the number of series. And 3 rows x 4 columns, 3 groups are displayed with 5 rows x 4 columns (layout set for each part) in which neither the number of rows nor the number of columns is a multiple of the number of series. The operator selects the layout from these. For example, if you select the 5 rows x 3 columns of 1 group with the mouse 11 and click the soft switch OK, the layout of 5 rows x 3 columns as shown in the figure A screen is displayed.
In this case, statistics of the layout to be selected by the operator are collected at any time, and the layouts are displayed in order from the most frequently selected ones, or the layout to be displayed first is determined in advance, and this layout is displayed, thereby making the layout visibility As a result, the operability can be improved.

[Step S4-18] Determination of Image Arrangement Direction The direction in which an image is arranged in the layout selected in step S4-17 follows the rules in steps S4-8 to S4-15.
When the layout of 5 rows × 3 columns is selected in FIG. 13B, the image arrangement direction is the column direction.
If the operator selects a layout other than the rules in steps S4-8 to S4-15, the direction close to the number of series (if the number of series is close to the number of rows, the direction of the line, if the number of series is close to the number of columns, Arrange images in the column direction.
For example, if the layout of 5 rows x 4 columns of group 3 in Fig. 13 (b) is selected, the number of series (3 series) is close to the number of columns (4 columns), so the image layout direction is the column direction. .
An example of this is shown in FIG. In this example, one empty column is formed. However, as described in step S4-9, an analysis image such as a three-dimensional image or an MPR image may be arranged here.
Note that if the number of series is 2 and all images can be placed in the layout selected by the operator and none of the above steps 4-8 to S4-15 apply, the image placement direction is from the upper left to the lower right of the layout. The direction is facing away.

[Step S4-19] Necessity of Scanogram Image Arrangement When placing an image in the layout determined through each of the above steps, the scanogram image juxtaposition information or the database information input in step S1 is stored in the main memory 9. Reading and determining whether or not the scanogram image juxtaposition is necessary from the information.
When the scanogram image needs to be juxtaposed, it is juxtaposed with the series image in step S4-20 or step S4-21 below.

[Step S4-20] Place at the beginning or end of each series Scanogram images are placed at the beginning or end of each series.

[Step S4-21] Arrangement in one row or row The scanogram image is arranged in one row or one row.

Thus, the slice line of the image adjacent to the scanogram image is drawn on the scanogram.
Thereby, the shooting position of the image becomes clear at a glance.

  Series images are arranged based on the layout and arrangement direction determined as described above.

《Example of filming image》
In addition to the image arrangement examples described above, main image arrangement examples filmed according to the present invention will be described.
In addition, regarding the juxtaposition of scanogram images in the following image examples, only when this juxtaposition is set, the image layout is a requirement.

[Image Arrangement Example 1] Fig. 15
Since the imaging region is the head, the series number is 2 series without contrast, and the acquired layout is 5 rows × 3 columns, it does not correspond to any of the above steps 4-8 to S4-15.
Accordingly, since the number of series is two, the image arrangement direction is a scanning direction from the upper left to the lower right based on step S4-18.

[Image Arrangement Example 2] Fig. 16
The imaging region is the head, the number of series is 2 series of 1 series without contrast and the 1 series with contrast, and the layout acquired in steps S4-1 and S4-2 is 5 rows x 4 columns.
In this case, since the number of columns is a multiple of the number of series, the arrangement direction is the column direction (step S4-15). If there is an image to be arranged on the next page or later (when there are two or more recording media), the image is arranged by the same method as described above.
In FIG. 16, series images 1 to 5 without contrast in the leftmost column, series images 1 to 5 with contrast in the second column from the left, and series images 6 to 6 without contrast in the second column from the right 9. In the rightmost column, there are arrangement examples of the series images 6 to 9 with contrast.

[Image Arrangement Example 3] Fig. 17
As shown in Fig. 17 (a), the number of series is 3 series, 1 series without contrast and 2 series with contrast, and the acquired layout is 5 rows x 4 columns.
The number of rows and columns in the layout are not equal, and the number of series is not a multiple of the number of rows or columns. That is, it does not correspond to any of the above steps 4-8 to S4-15.
Accordingly, the layout selection screen is displayed on the display device 7 as shown in FIG. This selection screen is arranged in the order of 5 rows x 4 columns, 5 rows x 3 columns, 6 rows x 4 columns, 3 rows x 4 columns, 5 rows x 6 columns in the order of the frequency of layouts selected in the past. In this example, 5 rows × 4 columns are selected from the inside (steps S4-16 to S4-18).
In this way, by displaying the selected layout on the display device 7, the layout can be visually recognized.
As shown in FIG. 17C, the image layout becomes more specific by displaying thumbnails on the selected layout.
In Fig. 17 (c), the leftmost column is the series 1 image without contrast, the second column from the left is the series 2 with contrast, and the second column from the right is the series 3 image with contrast. ing. Although the right end is an empty column, an analysis image such as a three-dimensional image or a cross-sectional conversion image may be arranged in this column.

[Image Arrangement Example 4] FIGS. 18 and 19
The scanogram image juxtaposition information or the database information input in step S1 is read into the main memory 9, and examples of image arrangement when scanogram image juxtaposition is necessary from the information are shown in FIGS.
FIG. 18 shows an example in which the number of series is 3, and scanogram images are arranged in a 4 × 3 layout.
In this example, a scanogram image is placed at the beginning of each series, and the slice lines of that series are displayed.
In this arrangement example, the slice lines displayed on the scanogram image are only images that arrange the images of each series in the layout.
This is because the operator deletes the image, the image is automatically thinned out in step S4-6 (detailed in image placement example 5 described later), the image is skipped at regular intervals, etc. This is because when there is an image that is not arranged on the recording medium by the method, the slice line of the image is not displayed on the scanogram image.
FIG. 19 shows an example in which the number of series is 3, and scanogram images are arranged in a layout of 5 rows × 4 columns.
In this example, scanogram images are arranged in a line at the left end, and slice lines of three series images arranged on the right side of the scanogram image are displayed on the scanogram image.

  As in the above example, a series image and a scanogram image are juxtaposed, and a slice line is displayed on the scanogram image, so that the shooting position of each image in the series becomes clear at a glance.

[Image Arrangement Example 5] Fig. 9
When the slice thickness and the image interval are different, as described in step S4-6, the images are thinned out in order to match the slice thickness and the image interval to the maximum series image, so that the positional relationship of the images is the same.
In the example shown in FIG. 9, series 2 images are thinned out in a layout of 2 series, 5 rows × 4 columns, and arranged according to the slice thickness of series 1 and the interval between images. As a result, the images at the same positions in the series 1 and the series 2 can be arranged adjacent to each other, and the images can be easily compared.

[Image Arrangement Example 6] FIG.
FIG. 20 is an example in which images having different heartbeat timings are arranged as series images for each heartbeat period in a cardiac examination.
The heartbeat timing includes a cardiac phase / absolute value method shown in FIG. 21 (a) and a cardiac phase / relative value method shown in FIG. 21 (b).
The cardiac time phase / absolute value method is represented by the absolute value of time from the R point, which is one of the characteristic points of the electrocardiogram waveform. For example, as shown in FIG. (-200 ms) and shooting at a timing 600 ms before the R point (-600 ms).
On the other hand, the cardiac phase / relative value method, as shown in FIG. 21 (b), represents the imaging timing as a relative value of the cardiac cycle, for example, 40% of the cardiac cycle from the R point, Shoot at 80% timing.
Figure 20 (a) shows an example of the arrangement of series images taken with the cardiac phase and absolute value method. The number of series is 2 series of series 1 (-600ms) and series 2 (-200ms), and the layout is 5 rows x 4 This is the case for columns.
In this case, since the number of series is a multiple of the number of columns, the arrangement direction of the images is the column direction, series 1 images 1-5 on the left end, and series 2 images 1-5 on the second column from the left end. The second image from the right end is series 1 images 6 to 10, and the right end is series 2 images 6 to 10.
Figure 20 (b) shows an example of the arrangement of series images taken with the cardiac phase / relative value method. The number of series is 2 series of series 1 (R-R40%) and series 2 (R-R80%), and the layout is This is the case of 5 rows x 4 columns.
In this case as well, since the number of series is a multiple of the number of columns, the arrangement direction of the images is the column direction, images 1 to 5 of series 1 at the left end, images 1 to 5 of series 2 at the second column from the left end, Series 1 images 6 to 10 are arranged second from the right end, and series 2 images 6 to 10 are arranged to the right end.
In this way, by arranging images taken at different timings adjacent to each other, it becomes easy to compare images due to differences in heartbeat timing.

The figure which shows the example which mounts the medical image filming apparatus by this invention in an image diagnostic apparatus or a medical image workstation, and was connected to the printer via the network. The figure which shows the connection relation between the medical image filming apparatus by this invention, the image diagnostic apparatus or the hard disk or memory of a medical image workstation, and a display apparatus. The figure which shows an example of the image arrangement layout by the matrix format which consists of a row and a column. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the medical image filming apparatus of this invention. The main flowchart figure of the software which performs the filming process of the medical image by this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of a patient list. FIG. 6 is a sub-flowchart diagram of software for executing a medical image filming process according to the present invention. An example of image arrangement when the number of series of a series image is single. An image arrangement example in which images are thinned and the shooting positions are matched. An example of image arrangement when the number of rows and columns in the layout are the same. An image layout example when the number of rows and columns in the layout is a multiple of the number of series. (a) is an example of image arrangement when the number of rows is a multiple of the number of series, and (b) is an example of image arrangement when the number of columns is a multiple of the number of series. An example of selecting a layout when the number of rows and the number of columns in the layout for each part are not equal and both the number of rows and the number of columns are not a multiple of the number of series. Select the layout in which the number of rows and the number of columns in the layout for each part are not equal, and both the number of rows and the number of columns and the number of rows and columns are not a multiple of the number of series. Placed example. The imaging site is the head, the number of series is 2 series without contrast, and the acquired layout is an example of image arrangement in 5 rows x 3 columns. An example where the imaged part is a head, the number of series is 2 series, 1 series without contrast and 1 series with contrast, and images are arranged in a layout of 5 rows x 4 columns. The imaged part is the abdomen, the number of series is 3 series of 1 series without contrast and 2 series with contrast, and an example of image arrangement in the acquired 5 rows x 4 columns layout. An example in which a scanogram image is placed at the beginning of each series and the slice lines of that series are displayed. An example in which scanogram images are arranged in a row, and slice lines of each series image in the direction of display are displayed. An example in which images with different heartbeat timings in a cardiac examination are arranged as series images. Explanatory drawing of the cardiac phase / absolute value method and the cardiac phase / relative value method which show the timing of a heartbeat.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Image diagnostic device or image workstation, 2 Network, 3 Printer, 4 Medical image filming device, 5 Hard disk, 6 Memory, 7 Display device, 8 Central processing unit (CPU), 9 Main memory, 10 Display memory, 11 Mouse , 12 controllers, 13 keyboards, 14 common buses

Claims (17)

A medical image filming apparatus that arranges a plurality of series images obtained by continuously or temporally capturing a region of interest of a patient with a medical image diagnostic apparatus in a matrix-like layout composed of rows and columns, A database including an image including a series image of a patient and its accompanying information and a layout including a layout according to the region, a means for selecting a series image for filming of a designated patient from the database, and corresponding to the selected series image Means for acquiring a layout to be performed from the database, means for determining a direction in which the series image is arranged in the acquired layout, and means for arranging the series image in the acquired layout based on the determined arrangement direction; A medical image filming apparatus comprising: 2. The medical image according to claim 1, further comprising means for arranging an image in which the number of series of the designated patient series image is one in a row direction or a column direction of the layout in the scanning order of the series image. Filming equipment. The medical image filming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquired layout is a layout for each region. 4. The one having the largest slice thickness and image interval by thinning out images of series images having a smaller slice thickness and image interval among the series images having two or more series images of the selected series image. A medical image filming apparatus comprising means for adjusting a position where a series image is taken. 5. The arrangement direction of the selected series image in a layout having the same number of rows and columns as the acquired layout is determined by the priority of the row direction or the column direction set in the database in advance. A medical image filming device comprising means. 6. The medical image filming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for arranging an analysis image of the series image in a blank row or a blank column of the layout. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for setting a direction of arrangement of the selected series image in a row or column direction close to the number of series when the number of rows and columns of the acquired layout is a multiple of the number of series. Medical image filming device. 5. The medical image according to claim 4, further comprising means for setting the direction of arrangement of the selected series image in which the number of rows of the acquired layout is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of rows. Filming device. 5. The medical image according to claim 4, further comprising means for setting the direction of arrangement of the selected series images in which the number of columns of the acquired layout is a multiple of the number of series or the number of series is a multiple of the number of columns. Filming device. In claim 4, when the acquired layout does not correspond to any of the claims 5, 7, 8, and 9, select a layout other than the layout for each part set in advance in the database, A medical image filming apparatus comprising means for arranging the selected series image based on the arrangement direction of the fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth aspects. 11. The medical image filming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for arranging an analysis image of the series image in a blank row or a blank column of the layout. 11. The arrangement direction according to claim 10, wherein the number of series of the selected series image is two series and the arrangement direction when the images of the two series cannot be arranged in the selected layout is a direction from the upper left to the lower right of the layout. A medical image filming device comprising means. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: means for selecting a scanogram image corresponding to the selected series image from the database; and means for juxtaposing the selected scanogram image and the series image. Medical image filming device. 14. The medical image filming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for arranging the scanogram image at the beginning or end of the series image. 14. The medical image filming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for arranging the scanogram images in one row or one row of the series images. 16. The medical image filming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for drawing a slice line of an image adjacent to the scanogram image on the scanogram. 17. The system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of series images obtained by continuously imaging a region of interest of a patient in time or position with a medical image diagnostic apparatus are arranged in a matrix-like layout composed of rows and columns. The medical image filming method of the medical image filming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified patient is filmed from a database having an image including the series image of the patient and ancillary information thereof and a layout including a layout for each region. A step of selecting a series image, a step of acquiring a layout corresponding to the selected series image from the database, a step of determining an arrangement direction of the series image in the acquired layout, and based on the determined arrangement direction And arranging the series images in the acquired layout. Medical image filming method comprising.

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