JP2008188177A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor effectively and efficiently outputting an intended image in the flexibly and simply usable image processor. <P>SOLUTION: This image processor inputs a plurality of images captured by a medical imaging apparatus, designates a region of interest on each image and extracts a rectangular area where the region of interest is inscribed as a rectangular image. This processor executes a process for composing the rectangular image with a frame to all the rectangular images to create output images formed by composing the rectangular image with the frame and output them to a monitor, a film or the like. This constitution can efficiently and effectively outputs an intended image on the monitor or the film so as to improve the visibility of a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that processes an acquired image to improve visibility.

  In a medical facility, an image taken by a medical imaging device, an image created by a medical image diagnostic device, a workstation, or the like is output on a film or displayed on a monitor, and an image interpretation doctor observes or diagnoses using the image. I am doing.

  In recent years, the performance of diagnostic imaging equipment has improved, and it has become possible to shoot long distances in a short time, so the number of images handled has increased explosively and images such as 3D and MPR (Multi Planer Reconstruction) As analysis techniques become more advanced, there are more and more opportunities for observation and diagnosis using these images.

  Under these circumstances, in order to improve the visibility and readability of the interpretation doctor for observation and diagnosis, the desired image can be effectively and efficiently displayed on the monitor or output to the film. The idea to do is desired.

Patent Document 1 proposes a method of designating a region of interest of an image and scaling the region of interest according to the maximum output size of the image output medium.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-8005

  However, the image output method described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is not considered to handle a plurality of images at once. Therefore, it is not considered that one medium is divided into arbitrary areas and an image is output to each divided area.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus that can be used flexibly and easily, and that can output a desired image effectively and efficiently. To do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of images are combined in each frame of a template in which a plurality of frames are laid out to create an output image. The input means for inputting a plurality of images captured by the medical image capturing apparatus, the region of interest specifying means for specifying the region of interest for the plurality of images input by the input means, and the plurality of images from the plurality of images. Extraction means for extracting a region of interest designated by the region of interest designation means as an image region according to a trimming region inscribed in the region of interest, and a plurality of image region images extracted from the plurality of images by the extraction means And a composition processing means for composing within each frame of the template to create an output image.

  According to the image processing device of claim 1, a plurality of images photographed by the medical image photographing device are input to the image processing device, a region of interest is designated for each image, and the region of interest is inscribed Are extracted as image regions. By performing the process of combining the image area with the frame on all the image areas, an output image in which the image area and the frame are combined is created and output to a monitor, a film, or the like. Thereby, a desired image can be output to a monitor and a film efficiently and effectively, and a user's visibility can be improved.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesis processing unit is configured so that each of the plurality of image areas has a maximum size in each frame of the template. It is characterized by scaling the image area.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect, the composition processing unit scales the image area so that the image area is displayed with the maximum size in the frame, and the scaled rectangular image is displayed in the frame. Synthesized. Thereby, an image can be optimized (for example, maximized) and displayed in a frame, and a desired image can be displayed as large as possible.

  The image processing device according to claim 3 is the image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of images include a series of images that are temporally or spatially related, Each rectangular image is scaled so that the photographing magnifications of the images of each region of interest in the series of images match.

  According to the image processing apparatus of claim 3, when a series of images that are temporally or spatially related are input, the composition processing unit seems to match the imaging magnifications between the images of the region of interest. Each of the rectangular images is scaled, and the scaled rectangular images are combined into a frame. As a result, when dealing with a series of images (multiple images) that are temporally or spatially related, the size of the region of interest is different and the size of the tumor is different, making observation and interpretation difficult. Even when there is a risk of misdiagnosis, the risk of misdiagnosis can be reduced by aligning the size of the region of interest of the series of images.

  The image processing device according to claim 4 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of images include a series of temporally or spatially related images, and the synthesis is performed. The processing means synthesizes each image area in each frame so that the center of the frame of the template matches the center of the image area.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, when a series of images that are temporally or spatially related are input, the synthesis processing means matches the center of the frame with the center of the image area. In this way, each image region is synthesized in each frame. As a result, the center position of the region of interest in a series of images, such as when the subject's center position is displaced with respect to the diagnostic imaging apparatus due to the patient's poor condition and difficult movement, etc. Even if it is difficult to observe or interpret because the visibility is reduced due to the shift, it is possible to prevent the degradation of visibility by making the position and size of the region of interest in the series of images the same, and to observe and interpret Can be easier.

  The image processing device according to claim 5 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a storage unit that stores a plurality of templates, and the combination processing among the stored templates. Selecting means for selecting a template with which the image area is synthesized in the means, wherein the storage means is configured so that the template and / or the frame created by arbitrarily setting the size and arrangement of the frame is horizontal. A plurality of templates regularly arranged in the vertical direction are stored.

  According to the image processing apparatus of claim 5, a template created by arbitrarily setting the size and arrangement of the frame and / or a template in which the frame is regularly arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. A plurality of templates are stored in advance, and a template serving as a basis for creating an output image is selected and used. Thereby, even when various templates are used, an optimal template can be used.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it is an image processing apparatus which can be utilized flexibly and simply, Comprising: The image processing apparatus which can output a desired image effectively and efficiently can be provided.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The image processing apparatus 10 is connected to a medical image capturing apparatus 2 for capturing a tomographic image of a subject, an image database 3 in which images captured by the medical image capturing apparatus 2 are stored, a printer 4 and a network 1 such as a LAN. Is done. The medical image capturing apparatus 2 is configured by an apparatus capable of capturing a tomographic image of a subject such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an MR apparatus, and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus. In the present embodiment, a case where a tomographic image of the head or abdomen of a subject is captured by an X-ray CT apparatus will be described as an example.

  The image processing apparatus 10 mainly includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11 as a control device that controls the operation of each component, and a main memory that stores a control program for the device and serves as a work area when the program is executed. 12, an operating system (OS), a device disk of a peripheral device, a magnetic disk 13 storing various application software, a display memory 14 for temporarily storing display data, and data from the display memory 14 A display 15 such as a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal monitor for displaying an image, a keyboard 16 for an operator to input instructions, a mouse 17 for operating a soft switch on the display 15, and a state of the mouse 17 are detected. To display signals such as the position of the mouse pointer on the display 15 and the state of the mouse 17. A controller 18 for outputting to PU11, constructed from a common bus 19 for connecting the above components.

  As the image processing program, the magnetic disk 13 stores a program (viewer) for displaying an image created by an image diagnostic apparatus or the like on a monitor and a program (filming) for outputting the image to a film. The CPU 11 reads the program (viewer or filming) from the magnetic disk 13, loads it into the main memory 12, and executes it.

  The viewer reads an image stored in the magnetic disk 13 or the image database 3 and its accompanying information into the main memory 12 and develops the data in the main memory 12. The viewer outputs data displayed in the main memory 12, display data created based on the data expanded in the main memory 12, and the like on the display 15 and displays the data on the display 15. The expanded data can be updated, and the analyzed data can be stored in the magnetic disk 13. The image displayed on the display 15 can be transferred to another diagnostic imaging apparatus or workstation via the network 1. The transferred image is received by another diagnostic imaging apparatus or workstation, and the image is displayed on the screen or processed.

  In filming, an image stored in the magnetic disk 13 or the image database 3 and its accompanying information are read into the main memory 12, and the data is processed to create film data. The film data can be stored in the magnetic disk 13 or the main memory 12, displayed on the display 15, or output to the printer 4 connected via the network 1. The film data transferred to the printer 4 via the network 1 is printed on a medium such as film or paper.

  In the present embodiment, the magnetic disk 13 is connected as a storage device other than the main memory 12. However, as the storage device other than the magnetic disk 13, for example, a memory built in or externally attached to the image processing apparatus 10, take-out A device that writes data to or reads data from a possible external medium, a device that transmits / receives data to / from an external storage device via a network, and the like may be applied.

  In the image processing apparatus configured as described above, (1) a diagnostically useful region of interest is extracted (synonymous with trimming), and (2) the extracted image region is displayed as a viewer or filming image display region (frame). ) In order to display the desired image effectively and efficiently on the monitor (display data) or data to be output to the film (film). Data) is created. Hereinafter, the two means will be described in order. Note that the processing in the two means described below is performed after an image to be processed is selected by the keyboard 16 or the like, and an instruction to perform image processing on the selected image is input to the CPU 11. Performed by the CPU 11.

  The region of interest can generally be specified as a polygon or an ellipse. However, when viewing or interpreting, the viewer or filming frame is most rectangular and has the highest visibility. In this embodiment, the region of interest and the frame are described as rectangles because there is no useless space.

<About extracting (trimming) areas of interest useful for diagnosis>
As a method of designating a region of interest, a method of automatically designating a region of interest by a method called threshold processing, and a method of manually designating a region of interest by a user (including a method of automatically adjusting a region of interest designated) There are two). For the threshold processing, various known methods can be used.

  First, a method for automatically specifying a region of interest and performing trimming will be described.

[When processing one image]
In general, a region of interest of an image captured or created by an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus, a workstation, or the like exists near the center of the image. Therefore, pixels exceeding a predetermined threshold are scanned from the center of each side toward the opposite side, and an area is extracted with the outermost pixel exceeding the threshold as a rectangular side.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the first pixel exceeding a predetermined threshold value is searched from the upper side of the image downward in the horizontal center position. The same operation is performed for the remaining pixels from the horizontal center position to the left and right. As a result, the pixel position where the pixel exceeding the threshold value is at the top is set as the upper side of the region of interest to be extracted. Similar processing is performed on the lower side, left side, and right side of the image, thereby setting the lower side, left side, and right side of the region of interest. Thereby, as shown to Fig.3 (a), an optimal region of interest is designated.

  Thereafter, a rectangular image region (rectangular image) is extracted according to a rectangular trimming region inscribed by the region of interest designated in this way. In the present embodiment, since the rectangular region of interest is designated, the region of interest and the rectangular image coincide with each other.

  As a result, since only the part where the image is taken, that is, only the part to be observed can be displayed in a full frame, display data or film data that is easy to interpret can be created. Further, since the image is printed on the entire film, the waste of the film can be reduced.

  In FIG. 3A, an example in which an area where an image is captured is extracted in order to take as large a region of interest as possible has been described. However, by changing a threshold, only a lesion is extracted or a specific area is extracted. You can also extract organs.

[When processing multiple images (series of images) that are temporally or spatially related]
When dealing with a series of images that are temporally or spatially related, in order to improve visibility and legibility, it is desired to make the region of interest of the series of images the same size. It is also desired to improve visibility by aligning the position and size of a series of three-dimensional images that have been rotated (created at various angles). This is because if the size of a series of images is different, the size of a tumor or the like changes for each image, which may cause a misdiagnosis. Of course, a scale indicating the length of the subject will be displayed on each frame, but it is difficult to understand intuitively.

  In such a case, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a region of interest having a size for merging all pixels exceeding a predetermined threshold in each series of images handled is designated. For example, the process of designating the region of interest that is optimal for the corner image as described above is performed on all the series of images, and the largest region of interest is designated as the region of interest of the series of images. As a result, the size and position of the region of interest can be the same for all the series of images.

  Thereby, the size of all the images belonging to the same series or the size of a plurality of rotated three-dimensional images can be made uniform, so that there is an effect that interpretation is easy. Note that a method for extracting a rectangular image from a designated region of interest is the same as the case of processing a single image.

  When the region of interest is automatically specified, the region of interest is specified for one image by specifying the range of the image to which the trimming process is applied before the region of interest is specified, or a series of It is possible to set whether a region of interest is designated for an image, a region of interest is designated for all images, or the like.

  In addition, in the case of automatically specifying a region of interest, a case has been described in which a rectangular region of interest is specified. However, when a region of interest other than a rectangle, such as an ellipse, is specified, a region of interest such as an ellipse is used. By extracting a rectangular trimming region inscribed as a rectangular image, it is possible to adapt to a region of interest other than a rectangle.

  Further, when the region of interest is automatically designated, it is also possible to set a margin for the extracted region of interest as shown in FIG. In this case, the margin is set and the margin width is set in advance. Visibility can be improved by setting a margin. In addition, a pixel portion slightly below the threshold can be included in the region of interest. This eliminates the need for editing (described later) on the frame screen, so that display data or frame data can be created more flexibly and easily.

  Next, a method for manually specifying a region of interest by the user will be described.

  The method of manually designating a region of interest is basically used for correcting a region of interest automatically designated by the above method.

  The extracted region of interest is output to a viewer or filming image display region (frame) (details will be described later). However, there may be a case where the region of interest output in the frame is different from the user's wish, for example, the table of interest under the subject is included in the region of interest. In such a case, the region of interest output to the frame is manually adjusted by the following method.

  When the user selects an image for which the region of interest is desired to be manually designated from among the images output to the frame, the region of interest designation screen is displayed on the display 15 as shown in FIG. In the image display section at the center of the screen, an image before the region of interest is extracted and a frame indicating the region of interest are displayed.

  Then, by moving each line of the frame in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with the mouse 17 or the like, or by changing the size or position of the frame, using the Horizontal menu or Vertical menu displayed below the image display unit. A region of interest surrounded by a frame is designated as a new region of interest.

  Thereby, the region of interest desired by the user can be designated manually. For example, in the case of an image showing a table, it is possible to prevent the center position of the subject from rising upward with respect to the center of the region of interest. In addition, it becomes easy to select a partial region of interest such as a lesion site inside the subject.

  In addition, by designating the range to which the process of manually designating the region of interest is applied using the Scope menu displayed below the image display unit, the region of interest can be designated for one image, or a series of images On the other hand, it is possible to set whether to specify a region of interest or to specify a region of interest for all images.

<About the process of scaling the extracted rectangular image to fit the image display area (frame) of the viewer or filming and compositing with the frame>
The extracted rectangular image is converted into a frame by three means: (1) reading the set template, (2) scaling the rectangular image to fit the frame, and (3) outputting the rectangular image to the frame. A synthesized output image (display data or film data) is created. Hereinafter, the three means will be described in order.

[How to set the template to be read]
The template is one in which one or more image display areas (frames) are arranged, and a template created in advance is stored on the magnetic disk 13. In order to display an image on the display 15 or film effectively and efficiently, different templates are created depending on the type of data (display data or film data). In the case of film data, different templates are created depending on the size of the film. The template is a template created by arbitrarily setting the size and arrangement of the frame (see the upper part of the template selection screen in FIG. 6, details will be described later), and the frame is regularly arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions. Template (see the lower part of the template selection screen in FIG. 6).

  When reading the template, when the user inputs the data type, film size, etc., the template corresponding to the input data type or film size is read from the magnetic disk 13 as shown in FIG. A template selection screen is displayed on the display 15. When the user selects a desired template and presses an OK button with the mouse 17 or the like, the selected template is read out from the magnetic disk 13 as a set template and developed in the main memory 12.

  If there is no desired template on the template selection screen, a new template can be created. In the template selection screen as shown in FIG. 6, when the Add button is pressed with the mouse 17 or the like, a template creation screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display 15.

  In the template creation screen as shown in FIG. 7, the template creation area is divided into a plurality of blocks. The block size is the size of the block selected in the block size change area. In the template creation area, the size and position of the frame are determined by dragging and dropping the block with the mouse 17 or the like. You can create a square or rectangular frame, but if you want to display a tomogram, create a horizontally long frame, and if you want to display a long image, create a vertically long frame. It is preferable to create a frame. The created template is stored in the magnetic disk 13 and additionally displayed on a template selection screen displayed thereafter.

  Thereby, the user can arbitrarily set the size and arrangement of the frame. In addition to creating a new template, a new template can also be created by finely adjusting a template that has already been created. This can be done by selecting a template to be finely adjusted and pressing the Modify button on the template selection screen as shown in FIG.

[How to scale a rectangular image to fit a frame]
First, the aspect ratio of the frame that is the output destination of a predetermined image in the template set by the above method is calculated. Note that the output destination frame of the predetermined image is selected in advance manually or automatically.

  Next, the rectangular image is scaled so that the aspect ratio of the rectangular image is not changed and the entire rectangular image is displayed in the frame. The frame is a rectangle having an arbitrary aspect ratio, and the aspect ratio of the rectangular image may not match the aspect ratio of the frame. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the aspect ratio of the rectangular image does not match the aspect ratio of the frame, the ratio of the side length of the rectangular image to the side length of the frame is calculated in the vertical and horizontal directions. The rectangular image is scaled based on the larger ratio. As a result, the rectangular image can be scaled to fit the frame so that the entire rectangular image always fits within the frame.

[How to output a rectangular image to a frame]
When a rectangular image scaled by the above method is output to a frame, the center position of the rectangular image is matched with the center position of the frame.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, even when the aspect ratio of the scaled rectangular image does not match the aspect ratio of the frame, the rectangular image is displayed at the center of the frame. In FIG. 8, since the length in the vertical direction is used as a reference when scaling the rectangular image to fit the frame, there are blanks on the left and right of the frame, but the rectangular image is scaled to fit the frame. Sometimes when the length in the horizontal direction is used as a reference, blanks are formed at the top and bottom of the frame, and when the aspect ratio of the rectangular image matches the aspect ratio of the frame, no blank is generated.

  However, as shown in FIG. 9A, when a series of images includes images taken with the center position of the subject shifted from the diagnostic imaging apparatus, The center position of the rectangular image is also shifted. If the image as it is is displayed on the viewer or output to the film, the arrangement of the rectangular images becomes uneven, which may cause a stress on the user and reduce visibility. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, by matching the center of the rectangular image of each image with the center of the frame, the rectangular image can be converted even when the center position of the rectangular image of the series of images is shifted. It can be evenly arranged on the frame.

  Next, an example of an output image (display data or film data) obtained by combining the extracted rectangular image into a frame will be described.

(Example 1)
FIG. 10 shows a case where an optimum region of interest is designated for each image and output to a frame. In this case, each image can be output in the maximum size in the output frame.

(Example 2)
FIG. 11 shows a case where a region of interest in a series of images has the same size and is output to a frame. In this case, a series of images can be output with the same output size.

(Example 3)
FIG. 12 shows an example in which an optimal region of interest is designated for each image when the center position of the subject is taken with respect to the diagnostic imaging apparatus, and the center of the rectangular image and the frame It shows a case where the centers are matched and output to a viewer or filming frame. In this case, each image can be output at the maximum size in the output frame, and the size of the region of interest can be output uniformly.

(Example 4)
FIG. 13 shows that when the image is taken with the center position of the subject deviated from the diagnostic imaging apparatus, the position and size of the region of interest in the series of images are the same, and the center of the rectangular image and the center of the frame are the same. It shows the case of matching and outputting to the viewer or filming frame. In this case, the series of images can be output with the same output size, and the arrangement of the regions of interest can be output uniformly.

  The example of the output image shown in FIG. 13 can also be obtained by aligning the center position of the body axis with the center position of the image, in addition to the above method. Hereinafter, a method of aligning the center position of the body axis and the center position of the image will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 14A, a region of interest is calculated by performing threshold processing on each image, and the center position of a rectangular image including each region of interest is obtained. Then, as shown in FIG. 14B, among the calculated rectangular images, a rectangular image having the maximum value in each of the vertical and horizontal directions (maximum rectangular image) is calculated, and the center position is obtained. Finally, as shown in FIG. 14C, the center position of the rectangular image calculated in FIG. 14A and the center position of the maximum rectangular image calculated in FIG. 14B are matched. Thereby, even when the patient is inclined at the time of imaging, the center position of the body axis can be automatically arranged at the center of the frame.

  Accordingly, the extracted region of interest can be scaled according to the viewer or filming frame and output to the frame.

  Note that only the region of interest displayed in the frame of the output image as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 can be enlarged and displayed. By selecting a predetermined frame with the mouse 17 or the like, a frame screen in which the entire frame is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display 15.

  According to the present embodiment, various templates according to the purpose are created, and the region of interest (same as the rectangular image in the present embodiment) of the image to be displayed in the frame in the template is scaled (maximized). Thus, efficient and effective display data or film data can be created. Moreover, a user's visibility can be improved by using display data or film data.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, when a series of images that are temporally or spatially related are handled, display data or film data in which the size of the region of interest of the series of images is aligned is created. Thus, the risk of misdiagnosis can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even in a situation where it is difficult to move the patient because the patient is in a bad condition, the center position of the subject must be photographed with a deviation from the diagnostic imaging apparatus. By creating display data or film data in which the position and size of the region of interest in the image are the same, it is possible to prevent deterioration in visibility and facilitate observation and interpretation.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, an optimum template is used from various templates depending on the type of image and the maximized region of interest is displayed, or a region of interest common to a series of images is displayed. Display data or film in which a region of interest, which is a diagnostically useful part, is large and efficiently displayed in a limited area such as a display or film by selecting display or creating display data or film data Data can be created flexibly and easily.

  In this embodiment, after extracting the region of interest, the region of interest is output to the frame to create display data or film data. However, depending on the image to be displayed and the purpose of image diagnosis, it may be automatically It is also possible to output the entire image as a region of interest without extracting the region of interest, that is, the entire image, and then manually specify the region of interest again.

  In this embodiment, a new template is created and a template is finely adjusted before the region of interest is output to the frame. However, after the region of interest is output to the frame, the line dividing the frame is displayed. The template may be edited such as fine adjustment. This is performed by moving a line that divides the frame with the mouse 17 or the like when the template in which the region of interest is output is displayed on the display 15 or the like. Thereby, more efficient display data or film data can be created more flexibly and easily.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a rectangular image has been described as an example. However, shapes that may be shapes exhibited by medical images such as trapezoids and circles are all included as embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the method of extracting the region of interest automatically of the said image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the region of interest extracted by the method of extracting the region of interest automatically of the said image processing apparatus 10, (a) shows the case where the region of interest optimal for each image is extracted, (b) is a series. The case where the common region of interest is extracted from the image of is shown. It is a figure which shows a rectangular image at the time of setting a margin in the region of interest of the said image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the region of interest designation | designated screen which is a display screen when the region of interest of the said image processing apparatus 10 is designated manually. It is a figure which shows the template selection screen which sets the template read by the said image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the template creation screen which creates the new template of the said image processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing explaining the method of scaling and outputting the region of interest of the said image processing apparatus according to a flame | frame. It is explanatory drawing explaining the method to match the center of the region of interest of the series of images of the said image processing apparatus 10, and the center of a flame | frame. It is an example of the output image of the display data of the said image processing apparatus 10, or film data. It is an example of the output image of the display data of the said image processing apparatus 10, or film data. It is an example of the output image of the display data of the said image processing apparatus 10, or film data. It is an example of the output image of the display data of the said image processing apparatus 10, or film data. It is explanatory drawing explaining the method of producing the output image shown in FIG. 13 by aligning the center position of the body axis of the said image processing apparatus 10, and the center position of an image. It is a figure which shows the frame screen in which the whole flame | frame of the said image processing apparatus 10 is enlargedly displayed.

Explanation of symbols

  1: network, 2: medical imaging device, 3: image database, 4: printer, 10: image processing device, 11: central processing unit (CPU), 12: main memory, 13: magnetic disk, 14: display memory, 15: Display, 16: Keyboard, 17: Mouse, 18: Controller, 19: Common bus

Claims (5)

In a medical image processing apparatus for creating an output image by combining a plurality of images in each frame of a template in which a plurality of frames are laid out,
Input means for inputting a plurality of images photographed by the medical image photographing device;
A region-of-interest specifying unit that specifies a region of interest for a plurality of images input by the input unit;
Extracting means for extracting the region of interest designated by the region of interest designating means from the plurality of images as an image region according to a trimming region inscribed by the region of interest;
Synthesis processing means for creating an output image by synthesizing a plurality of image regions extracted from the plurality of images by the extraction means in each frame of the template;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composition processing unit scales each image region so that the plurality of image regions have a maximum size in each frame of the template. The plurality of images includes a series of temporally or spatially related images,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composition processing unit scales each rectangular image so that photographing magnifications between images of each region of interest in the series of images coincide with each other. The plurality of images includes a series of temporally or spatially related images,
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesis processing unit synthesizes each image area in each frame so that a center of the frame of the template matches a center of the image area. 5. Image processing device. Storage means for storing a plurality of templates;
Selecting means for selecting a template with which the image processing area is synthesized in the synthesis processing means from the stored templates;
Further comprising
The storage means stores a plurality of templates created by arbitrarily setting the size and arrangement of frames and / or templates in which frames are regularly arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images