JP2007020872A - Medical image data processing apparatus, method and program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image data processing apparatus, method and program and a storage medium capable of creating time-lapse difference image data at a less labor. <P>SOLUTION: An abnormal image data processing apparatus is connected to a radiographic apparatus radiographing a subject (a patient) via a network and accumulates reduced image data formed by reducing the received image data and processed image data formed by image-processing the received image data in an accumulation section. This image data processing apparatus executes a difference processing for generating the time-lapse difference image data using either one of reduced image data a1 of the image data radiographed at a time A or reduced image data formed by reducing the processed image data a2 and either one of the reduced image data b1 of the image data radiographed at a time B or reduced image data formed by reducing the processed image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image data processing apparatus and method, a program, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to a medical image data processing apparatus and method, a program, and a storage medium for processing image data captured by a radiation imaging apparatus.

  Conventionally, an X-ray imaging apparatus digitally processes captured image data to create processed image data and reduced image data. Physicians use processed image data that is usually familiar as a chest X-ray image for normal diagnosis of the chest, and the contrast of the mediastinum and the time-difference diagnosis can be extracted without reducing the contrast. Use reduced image data.

  The temporal difference image data used in the temporal difference diagnosis is acquired as a difference between the selected set of image data by selecting a set of target image data when a doctor generates temporal difference image data. The However, it is a heavy burden for a doctor to select image data for generating time-difference image data every time when a plurality of past image data exists for the same patient. In addition, it takes a lot of time to generate temporal difference image data for all past images.

For this reason, a time-difference image data generation method for automatically generating film-like time-series processed image data that has been image-processed so as to be close to a film image that doctors are familiar with from image data received from an imaging device has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Specifically, the radiographic image data is taken into the data storage unit, and at the same time, time-difference image data is automatically generated and stored in the data storage unit for all of the previously specified sets of radiographic image data. That is, in order to generate temporal difference image data for all of a set of radiation image data designated in advance, temporal difference image data between past images is also generated. Therefore, when the designated number is n, n (n−1) / 2 pieces of temporal difference image data are generated.
JP 2002-230517 A

  However, in the time difference image data generation method, time difference image data which is meaningless for diagnosis is generated. Therefore, the doctor looks through images that are not necessary for diagnosis, and the burden of interpretation increases. In addition, the capacity of the hard disk in the apparatus is compressed, which causes a waste of processing time.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image data processing apparatus and method, a program, and a storage medium capable of creating time-difference image data with little effort.

  In order to achieve the above object, a medical image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image data processing device receives image data obtained by photographing a subject, and reduces the received image data by reducing the received image data. Reduction processing means for generating image data, image processing means for processing the received image data to generate processed image data, reduced image data reduced by the reduction processing means, and the image processing means Storage means for storing processed image data subjected to image processing, selection means for selecting a plurality of image data from reduced image data and processed image data stored in the storage means, and a plurality of images selected by the selection means A temporal difference image data generating means for generating temporal difference image data using the data;

  12. The medical image data processing method according to claim 11, wherein an image data receiving step for receiving image data obtained by photographing a subject, and a reduction processing step for generating reduced image data by reducing the received image data. An image processing step for generating processed image data by performing image processing on the received image data, reduced image data subjected to reduction processing in the reduction processing step, and processed image data subjected to image processing in the image processing step. A storage step of storing in the storage unit, a selection step of selecting a plurality of image data from the reduced image data and the processed image data stored in the storage unit, and using the plurality of image data selected in the selection step over time A temporal difference image data generation step for generating difference image data; And features.

  The medical image data processing program according to claim 21, wherein an image data receiving module that receives image data obtained by photographing a subject, and a reduction processing module that reduces the received image data to generate reduced image data An image processing module that processes the received image data to generate processed image data, reduced image data that has been reduced by the reduction processing module, and a processed image that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing module Using a storage module for storing data in the storage means, a selection module for selecting a plurality of image data from the reduced image data and processed image data stored in the storage means, and a plurality of image data selected by the selection module Temporal difference image data generation to generate temporal difference image data Characterized in that to execute the module to the computer.

  A computer-readable storage medium according to a twenty-second aspect stores the program according to the twenty-first aspect.

  According to the present invention, the temporal difference image data is generated using a plurality of image data selected from the reduced image data obtained by reducing the received image data and the processed image data subjected to the image processing. Can be generated.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a medical image data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a server 10 as a medical image data processing apparatus is connected to an imaging apparatus 11 that obtains digital image data by radiographing a subject (patient) via a network 12, and image data acquired by the imaging apparatus 11. A receiving unit 13 that receives the image data, a reduction processing unit 14 that generates the reduced image data by reducing the image data received by the receiving unit 13 at a predetermined reduction rate, and the image data received by the receiving unit 13. An image processing unit 15 that performs image processing including tone processing and sharpening processing to generate processed image data; reduced image data generated by the reduction processing unit 14; and processed image data generated by the image processing unit 15 Is stored together with image processing parameters during image processing.

  In the server 10, the receiving unit 13 transmits the received patient image data to the reduction processing unit 14 and the image processing unit 15. The reduction processing unit 14 reduces the patient image data transmitted from the reception unit 13 and transmits the image data to the data storage unit 16. The image processing unit 15 performs image processing on the patient image data transmitted from the receiving unit 13 and transmits the image data to the data storage unit 16. The data storage unit 16 stores the reduced image data transmitted from the reduction processing unit 14 and also stores the processed image data transmitted from the image processing unit 15. Thereafter, the image data of the original data received and temporarily held by the receiving unit 13 is deleted. The method of deleting the received image data may be either automatic deletion that is deleted when the storage in the data storage unit 16 is completed or manual deletion that is deleted according to an instruction from the operator.

  The server 10 further executes an input unit 31 such as a mouse or a keyboard for giving a predetermined instruction and a time difference process of FIG. 2 to be described later, and from the image data stored in the data storage unit 16 at time A. A time-difference processing unit 33 that selects captured image data and image data captured at time B and generates time-difference image data of the two image data, and an MMI / F such as a GUI or an image being selected External output device control unit 34 for controlling the display of data, temporal difference image data generated by the temporal difference processing unit 33, MMI / F such as GUI controlled by the external output device control unit 34, and selected image And an external output device 35 for displaying data. As the external output device 35, a display device such as a CRT, a plasma display, or a liquid crystal display can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the temporal difference process executed by the temporal difference processing unit 33 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, first, in step S21, reference image data (for example, image data taken at time A) as a basis for generating time-difference difference image data is set. Next, in step S22, difference target image data (for example, image data photographed at time B) that is a target for generating temporal difference image data is searched from the stored image data. In step S23, it is determined whether or not difference processing has already been performed on the difference target image data searched in step S22. If the difference processing has already been performed, the process returns to step S22 to search for other difference target image data from the past image data. If the difference processing has not been performed, in step S24, the difference processing between the difference target image data searched in step S22 and the reference image data set in step S21 is performed to generate temporal difference image data. Then, in step S25, the temporal difference image data generated in step S24 is stored in the data storage unit 16, and when all the difference processing for the difference target image data not subjected to the difference processing is completed (YES in step S26), This process ends.

  In this way, the generated temporal difference image data is stored in the data storage unit 16, and when the next temporal difference process is performed, the data stored in the data storage unit 16 is called without executing this process. Basically, the time difference process is executed every time the server 10 receives image data.

  According to the processing of FIG. 2, image data captured at time A and image data captured at time B are selected from the image data stored in the data storage unit 16, and the two image data are For example, time-difference image data can be generated by performing four kinds of difference processing as shown in FIG. These generated temporal difference image data are displayed on the external output device 35 via the external output device control unit 34.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an aspect of the temporal difference process of FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows reduced image data a1 and processed image data a2 (using image processing parameter A) of image data taken at time A and an image taken at time B in the medical image data processing apparatus of FIG. Example of performing four kinds of difference processing of difference processing α, difference processing β, difference processing γ, and difference processing δ using reduced image data b1 and processed image data b2 (using image processing parameter B) FIG. .

  The difference processing is one of reduced image data a1 of image data captured at time A and reduced image data obtained by reducing processing image data a2, reduced image data b1 captured at time B, and processing. This is a process of generating time-difference image data using any one of the reduced image data obtained by reducing the image data. The image data at time A and time B that are the targets of difference processing γ and difference processing δ can be exchanged.

  The difference processing α is performed between the reduced image data a1 of the image data photographed at the time A and the reduced image data b1 of the image data photographed at the time B to generate temporal difference image data. That is, the difference process α is a process for generating time-difference image data from a combination of the first reduced image data a1 and the second reduced image data b1 of image data having different shooting times for the same subject.

  The difference processed data β is obtained by reducing the reduced image data obtained by reducing the processed image data a2 of the image data taken at the A time and the processed image data b2 of the image data taken at the B time. A time-dependent difference image is generated between the reduced processed image data obtained in this way (step S20). That is, the difference process β includes the third reduced image data and the fourth reduced image data generated by reducing the first processed image data a2 and the second processed image data b2 of image data having different shooting times for the same subject. This is a process of generating a temporal difference image from a combination of the reduced processing image data.

  In the difference processing γ, the reduced image data b2 obtained by reducing the processed image data a2 of the image data taken at time A and the reduced image data b1 of the image data taken at time B are processed by an image processing parameter A. Is used to generate a time-difference image that is obtained from the reduced image data obtained by image processing according to the reduction ratio. That is, the difference processing γ is the same as the subject based on the third reduced image data obtained by reducing the processed image data a2 of the subject and the image processing parameter A that generated the first processed image data a2. Using the image processing parameter A used to generate the processed image data a2 of the image data captured at the A time, the second reduced image data b1 of the image data that is the subject and has a different shooting time is used. This is a process for generating a time-difference image from a combination with the first reduced image data obtained by processing.

  The difference process δ is the third reduced image data a3 obtained by reducing the processed image data a2 of the image data taken at the A time, and the third of the image data taken at the B time for the same subject. The second reduced image data b1 is processed with the second reduced image data obtained by image processing according to the reduction ratio using the image processing parameter B, and a temporal difference image is generated. In other words, the difference process γ is the third reduced image data a3 generated by reducing the processed image data a2 of the subject, and the image data taken at the B time that is the same subject as the subject and at a different shooting time. Second reduced image data b1 is obtained by performing image processing according to the reduction ratio using the image processing parameter B generated from the second processed image b2 of the image data photographed at the time B. This is a process of generating a time-difference image from a combination with image data.

According to the above-described temporal difference processing, when the processed image data and the reduced image data are saved at the same time, either the reduced image or the processed image is missing or even if all of them are complete, the temporal difference processing has failed. For example, the difference process can be executed depending on the situation. In this case, the difference processes α, β, γ, and δ are properly used in the following six ways.
(1) When all of the reduced image a1 and the processed image a2 and the reduced image b1 and the processed image b2 are present, the difference processing α, β, γ, and δ are performed.
(2) In the case of a combination of the reduced image a1 and the reduced image b1, difference processing α is performed.
(3) In the case of a combination of the processed image a2 and the processed image b2, difference processing β is performed.
(4) In the case of a combination of the reduced image a1, the processed image a2, and the reduced image b1, difference processing α, γ, and δ are performed.
(5) In the case of a combination of the processed image a2, the reduced image b1, and the processed image b2, difference processing β, γ, and δ are performed.
(6) In the case of a combination of the processed image a2 and the reduced image b1, difference processing γ and δ are performed.

  As a result, doctors can use familiar processed images for normal diagnosis, and can use reduced images that can extract tumors in detail with little whiteout when diagnosing the mediastinum or time-difference processing. At this time, it is possible to generate time-difference image data as much as necessary, so that doctors do not need to look through images that are not necessary for diagnosis, the burden of interpretation is reduced, and the pressure on the hard disk capacity is also reduced. This eliminates the need for wasteful processing time.

  The priority order of the difference processes α, β, γ, δ can be set individually. In addition, the timing at which the difference processing α, β, γ, δ is executed clearly indicates one saved patient, one examination, or one image data, one set of patients, one set of examinations, or one set of images. When selected or explicitly displayed.

  Hereinafter, a specific example of the temporal difference process will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a GUI displayed on the external output device 35 in FIG. 1, and shows a case where one stored patient, one examination, or one image data is explicitly displayed.

  In FIG. 4, when the subject (patient) 40 is selected or displayed, since this patient 40 has examinations 41, 42, 43, the image data of the oldest examination 41 is set as the reference image data in step S21. The difference processing between the image data of the examination after the examination 41 and the image data of the same part is performed.

  In this case, when the part: chest image data 44 is used as the reference image data, the difference target image data searched in step S22 is the chest image data 46 and 48, and two temporal difference image data are created in step S24. The Further, when the region: abdomen image data 45 is set as the reference image data, the difference target image data searched in step S22 is abdomen image data 47 and 49, and two temporal difference image data are created in step S24.

  Next, when the examination 42 is selected or displayed, the image data 46 and 47 possessed by the examination 42 is set as the reference image data in step S21, and the image data of the same part as the image data possessed by the examination after the examination 42 is obtained. Perform differential processing. Site: When the chest image data 46 is set as the reference image data, the difference target image data searched in step S22 is only the chest image data 48, and one temporal difference image data is created in step S24. Further, when the region: abdomen image data 47 is set as the reference image data, the difference target image data searched in step S22 is only the abdomen image data 49, and one temporal difference image data is created in step S24.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the image data displayed on the external output device 35 in FIG. 1, and shows another example in which one stored patient, one examination, or one image data is explicitly displayed. Yes.

  In FIG. 5, when only the image data 500 is selected or displayed as indicated by reference numeral 50, the image data 500 is set as the reference image data in step S21, and inspections after the inspection date of the inspection having the image data 500 are performed. Difference processing between the image data 500 and the image data of the same part is performed.

  If the image data 510 and the image data 511 of the same patient but the same part but different examinations are selected or displayed at the same time as indicated by reference numeral 51, the older one of the image data 510 and the image data 511 is selected as the reference in step S21. The time difference image data is created in step S24 with the newer image data set as the image data and the difference image data as the difference target image data.

  When the image data 520, the image data 521, the image data 522, and the image data 523 are selected or displayed at the same time as indicated by reference numeral 52 in the same patient but in the same part but different in examination, the image data 520, the image data 521, and the image data 522 are selected. The oldest image data among the image data 523 is set as the reference image data in step S21, and the difference image data is created in step S24 using the other image data as the difference target image data. Subsequently, the next oldest image data is set as the reference image data in step S21, the other image data is set as the difference target image data, and the temporal difference image data is created in step S24. Difference processing is performed on the image data.

  In the embodiment described above, data processing is performed by one processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is designed such that the processing is performed by a server, and a client / server model in which image reference and user operation by an external output device can be performed from a client on a network. Even in this case, the gist of the present invention is not impaired.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the embodiment to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It is also achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a medical image data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the time difference process performed by the time difference processing part in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an aspect of the temporal difference process of FIG. It is a figure explaining GUI displayed on the external output device in Drawing 1, and shows the case where one saved patient, one examination, or one image data is explicitly displayed. It is a figure explaining the image displayed on the external output device in FIG. 1, and has shown the other example in which the preserve | saved 1 patient, 1 test | inspection, or 1 image data was displayed explicitly.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Radiography apparatus 11 Server 12 Image receiving part 13 Reduction processing part 14 Image processing part 15 Data storage part

Claims (22)

Image data receiving means for receiving image data obtained by photographing a subject;
Reduction processing means for reducing the received image data to generate reduced image data;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the received image data to generate processed image data;
Storage means for storing reduced image data reduced by the reduction processing means, and processed image data processed by the image processing means;
Selecting means for selecting a plurality of image data from the reduced image data and processed image data stored in the storage means;
A medical image data processing apparatus comprising: temporal difference image data generation means for generating temporal difference image data using a plurality of image data selected by the selection means.   When the first reduced image data and the second reduced image data are selected by the selection unit, the time-difference image data generation unit is configured to combine a combination of the first reduced image data and the second reduced image data. The medical image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporal difference image data is generated.   When the first processed image data and the first reduced image data are selected by the selection unit, the first processed image data is reduced to generate third reduced image data, and the time-lapsed data is generated. 3. The medical image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the difference image data generation unit generates the temporal difference image data from a combination of the first reduced image data and the third reduced image data. 4. .   When the first processed image data and the second processed image data are selected by the selection unit, a reduction process is performed on the first processed image data and the second processed image data to perform a third reduction. Image data and fourth reduced image data are generated, and the temporal difference image data generation means generates the temporal difference image data from a combination of the third reduced image data and the fourth reduced image data. The medical image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:   When the first reduced image data and the first processed image data are selected by the selection means, image processing is performed on the first reduced image data using the image processing parameters of the first processed image data. And performing a reduction process on the first reduced image data and the first processed image data to generate second reduced image data, and the time-difference image data generating means includes the second reduced image data The medical image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporal difference image data is generated from a combination of image data and the first reduced image data.   When the selection means selects the first reduced image data and the first processed image data, the image processing parameters of the processed image data corresponding to the first reduced image data with respect to the first reduced image data The first reduced image data and the first processed image data are reduced to generate second reduced image data by performing image processing using the temporal difference image data generation means, 2. The medical image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporal difference image data is generated from a combination of the second reduced image data and the first reduced image data.   The medical image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing includes gradation processing or sharpening processing.   8. The time difference image data generation unit generates the time difference image data every time the image data reception unit receives the image data. 9. Medical image data processing device.   The temporal difference image data generation unit generates the temporal difference image data every time one recorded patient, one examination, or one image is explicitly selected or displayed. 8. The medical image data processing apparatus according to any one of items 7.   The time-difference image data generation means generates the time-difference image data each time a set of recorded patients, a set of examinations, or a set of images is explicitly selected or displayed. The medical image data processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. An image data receiving step for receiving image data obtained by photographing a subject;
A reduction process step of reducing the received image data to generate reduced image data;
An image processing step of processing the received image data to generate processed image data;
A storage step of storing the reduced image data reduced in the reduction processing step and the processed image data subjected to the image processing in the image processing step in a storage unit;
A selection step of selecting a plurality of image data from the reduced image data and the processed image data stored in the storage means;
A medical image data processing method comprising: a temporal difference image data generation step of generating temporal difference image data using a plurality of image data selected in the selection step.   When the first reduced image data and the second reduced image data are selected in the selection step, the combination of the first reduced image data and the second reduced image data is performed in the temporal difference image data generation step. 12. The medical image data processing method according to claim 11, wherein the temporal difference image data is generated.   When the first processed image data and the first reduced image data are selected in the selecting step, the first processed image data is reduced to generate third reduced image data, and the time-lapsed data is generated. 13. The medical image data processing method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, in the difference image data generation step, the temporal difference image data is generated from a combination of the first reduced image data and the third reduced image data. .   When the first processed image data and the second processed image data are selected in the selection step, a reduction process is performed on the processed image data and the second processed image data to obtain a third reduced image data. And the fourth reduced image data, and in the temporal difference image data generation step, the temporal difference image data is generated from a combination of the third reduced image data and the fourth reduced image data. The medical image data processing method according to claim 11.   When the first reduced image data and the first processed image data are selected in the selection step, image processing is performed on the first reduced image data using image processing parameters of the first processed image data. The second reduced image data is generated by performing reduction processing on the first reduced image data and the first processed image data, and the second reduced image data is generated in the temporal difference image data generation step. 12. The medical image data processing method according to claim 11, wherein the temporal difference image data is generated from a combination of image data and the first reduced image data.   When the first reduced image data and the first processed image data are selected in the selection step, the image processing parameters of the processed image data corresponding to the first reduced image data with respect to the first reduced image data The first reduced image data and the first processed image data are reduced to generate second reduced image data by performing image processing using the step, and the temporal difference image data generating step 12. The medical image data processing method according to claim 11, wherein the temporal difference image data is generated from a combination of the second reduced image data and the first reduced image data.   The medical image data processing method according to claim 11, wherein the image processing includes gradation processing or sharpening processing.   18. The temporal difference image data generation step generates the temporal difference image data every time the image data reception step receives the image data. 18. Medical image data processing method.   12. The time-difference image data generation step generates the time-difference image data every time one stored patient, one examination, or one image is explicitly selected or displayed. 18. The medical image data processing method according to any one of items 17.   The time-difference image data generation step generates the time-difference image data each time a stored set of patients, a set of examinations, or a set of images is explicitly selected or displayed. The medical image data processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 17. An image data receiving module for receiving image data obtained by photographing a subject;
A reduction processing module that reduces the received image data to generate reduced image data;
An image processing module that processes the received image data to generate processed image data;
A storage module that stores the reduced image data reduced by the reduction processing module and the processed image data processed by the image processing module in a storage unit;
A selection module for selecting a plurality of image data from the reduced image data and the processed image data stored in the storage means;
A medical image data processing program that causes a computer to execute a temporal difference image data generation module that generates temporal difference image data using a plurality of image data selected by the selection module.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 21.

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