JP2009119000A - Auxiliary controller for processing medical image,image processing system, and method for processing medical image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an auxiliary controller for processing medial images, allowing an operator to intuitively operate it. <P>SOLUTION: This auxiliary controller 10 is used in a state it is connected to a medical workstation 30 for processing medical images, and is includes a touch panel type display 15. An operator is allowed to perform various inputs from the auxiliary controller 10 in hand. The display 15 of the controller 10 is configured to display a part of a same image formed by magnifying the image displayed on a monitor 33 of the workstation so that the operator readily does detail work. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an auxiliary controller used by being connected to a medical workstation, for example, and in particular, an auxiliary controller for medical image processing, an image processing system, and an operator that can be operated more intuitively, and The present invention relates to a medical image processing method.
About.

Medical fluoroscopic imaging devices include an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) scanner, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device, and a PET (Positron).
Emission Tomography) device, ultrasonic diagnostic device, CT angiography device, MR angiography device and the like.

In recent years, a predetermined region of interest in a patient is three-dimensionalized using a plurality of cross-sectional images (original images) obtained from these fluoroscopic imaging apparatuses (for example, X-ray CT scanners). According to such a technique, a region of interest inside a patient, which is difficult to understand only by a tomographic image, can be visualized three-dimensionally, which is very useful for early detection of diseases and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-306480 A

  Incidentally, for example, in order to obtain a three-dimensional image of a blood vessel, it is necessary to extract a target blood vessel from voxel data using a medical workstation or the like. In this case, it is usually necessary for the operator to instruct a plurality of control points so as to trace the blood vessel. Conventionally, the control point is generally indicated using a mouse or the like, but in order to allow the operator to operate more intuitively, a proposal for a new input device is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary controller for medical image processing, an image processing system, and medical image processing that can be operated more intuitively by an operator. It is to provide a method.

The auxiliary controller of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is an auxiliary controller having a touch panel display, which is used by being connected to a medical workstation for processing medical images,
An interface for wired or wireless connection with the medical workstation;
A storage unit for holding an operation program and predetermined data;
An arithmetic processing unit that executes an operation program held in the storage unit,
The arithmetic processing unit is
A part of the medical image displayed on the monitor of the medical workstation functions as an image enlargement display unit that enlarges the image displayed on the monitor and displays the enlarged image on the display.

  According to the auxiliary controller of the present invention configured as described above, the auxiliary controller can be connected to a medical workstation and used as an auxiliary input device. Conventionally, for example, when performing predetermined image processing on a medical image, it has been necessary for an operator to input using a mouse or the like while looking at a monitor of a medical workstation. In particular, when performing fine work, the image on the monitor was sometimes enlarged, but in this way, when the image is enlarged on the monitor of the medical workstation, when performing the next work, A process such as restoring the display magnification may be required so that the entire image is displayed again. On the other hand, if the auxiliary controller of the present invention is used, it is possible to check details on the display on the auxiliary controller side while checking the whole on the monitor on the medical workstation side. In particular, the display of the auxiliary controller displays an image larger than that displayed on the monitor of the medical workstation, so that the operator can work efficiently. In addition, since input to the auxiliary controller can be performed via the touch panel, the operator can perform input more intuitively and easily using a finger or a touch pen.

  In the auxiliary controller of the present invention, the arithmetic processing unit generates a trajectory for generating an input trajectory of a straight line or a curve based on coordinate data of a position touched by an operator with a finger or a pen on the touch panel display. It may further function as a means.

  According to such a configuration, various image processing (for example, creating a new cross-sectional image using the input trajectory as a cutting reference line) can be performed based on the input trajectory created by the auxiliary controller.

Further, a 3D image of the subject's body may be displayed on the display. The body image of the subject displayed on the display may be an MPR (Multi Planer Reconstruction) image, or a CPR (curved Multi Planer) image.
Reconstruction) image.

The medical image processing method of the present invention includes:
A medical image processing method using an auxiliary controller having a touch panel display, which is used by being connected to a medical workstation for processing medical images,
A computer causing a part of a medical image displayed on the monitor of the medical workstation to be enlarged and displayed on the display than the image displayed on the monitor;
A step of creating an input locus of a straight line or a curve based on coordinate data of a position touched by an operator with a finger or a pen on the touch panel display;
A computer performing predetermined image processing on the medical image based on the input trajectory;
including.

In addition, the medical image processing method of the present invention described above,
The computer may further include a step of cutting the image of the subject's body using the input trajectory as a reference line to create a new cross-sectional image and displaying it on the display.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an auxiliary controller for medical image processing, an image processing system, and a medical image processing method that can be operated more intuitively by an operator.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an auxiliary controller for medical image processing according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary controller 10 has a flat and horizontally long board shape as a whole, and includes a touch panel display 15 and a casing 11 that surrounds the outer periphery thereof. In this example, a push button type switch 18 is provided at a corner portion of the housing 11, and the controller 10 is turned on by pressing the switch 18.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary controller 10 is used by being connected to a medical workstation 30 for processing medical images. The medical workstation 30 is a conventionally known one, and includes, for example, a computer 31 that performs various image processing and a monitor 33 that displays a medical image image-processed thereby. The image processing system 1 is configured by connecting the auxiliary controller 10 to the medical workstation 30.

  The cross-sectional image of the subject handled by the medical workstation 30 is not particularly limited, but may be an image captured by, for example, an X-ray CT scanner.

  Refer to FIG. 1 again. As the display 15 of the auxiliary controller 10, for example, an 8.4 inch liquid crystal display can be used. The touch panel 17 (see also the block diagram of FIG. 3) provided on the surface of the display 15 may be any one of a resistive film type, an optical type (infrared type), a capacitive coupling type, and the like, for example. The touch panel 17 can be input with a finger or a pen.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary controller 10 has an input / output interface 22 for wired or wireless connection with the medical workstation 30. In the case of wired connection, this input / output interface 22 may be, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. Thus, when using the USB connection, power can be supplied from the outside, and there is no need to provide a power source on the auxiliary controller 10 side.

  The auxiliary controller 10 further includes an arithmetic processing unit 23 composed of a CPU and the like, and a memory 26 connected thereto via a predetermined system bus. The touch panel 17 and the switch 18 described above are similarly connected to the arithmetic processing unit 23 and the memory 26 via a predetermined system bus. The display 15 is connected to the arithmetic processing unit 23 with a graphic memory (not shown) interposed therebetween.

  The memory 26 stores an operation program (including a startup program) for operating each part of the auxiliary controller 10. The auxiliary controller 10 can also read an external program via the interface 22 and store it in the memory 26. The memory 26 also holds input information (coordinate data and the like) from the touch panel 17 and medical image data to be displayed on the display 15.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the arithmetic processing unit 23 displays a part of the medical image displayed on the monitor 33 of the medical workstation 30 (in this example, the blood vessel 3a and the bone 3b are displayed). 33 has a function of enlarging the image displayed on the controller 33 and displaying it on the display 15 on the controller side.

  Further, it has a function of creating an input locus (reference line) of a straight line or a curve based on coordinate data of a position (details will be described later) where the operator touches the display 15 with a finger or a pen. In addition, it has a function of transmitting the reference line data created thereby to the computer 31 of the medical workstation via the interface 22 (and a USB cable or the like).

  The computer 31 of the medical workstation that has received the data of the input trajectory (reference line) from the auxiliary controller 10 via a USB cable or the like creates a new cross-sectional image obtained by cutting the body image of the subject at the reference line. The data of this new cross-sectional image is sent back to the controller 10 and displayed on the display 15.

In addition, as a cross-sectional image, MPR (Multi Planer Reconstruction) image or CPR (curved Multi Planer)
Reconstruction) image or the like.

  The arithmetic processing unit 23 also has a function of displaying electronic buttons that are touched (including operations such as dragging) by the operator on the display 15 on the controller side. These buttons include a mode selection button (see buttons 41a and 41b in FIG. 5 to be described later), a part selection button (see button 43 in FIG. 6 to be described later), and a slider used to move the image up and down. There are 45 etc.

  In addition, electronic buttons for adjusting the window width (WW) and window level (WL) of the CT value may be displayed. This button may be, for example, a semicircle when viewed from the front of the display, and the value of the window width or window level can be adjusted by tracing the vicinity of the outer periphery with a finger or a pen in the circumferential direction.

  Next, a method of using the controller of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a series of operations.

  In order to use the auxiliary controller 10, the operator first connects the auxiliary controller 10 to the computer 31 of the medical workstation with a USB cable. Thereby, the auxiliary controller 10 is supplied with power from the computer 31.

  Next, when the operator presses the power switch 18 of the auxiliary controller 10, the controller is activated and the display 15 is turned on (step S1). This activation is performed according to a boot program stored in the memory 26 in advance.

  The auxiliary controller 10 displays a predetermined initial screen (not shown) on the display 15 after activation. Also, it is determined what external device is connected to the interface 22 (step S2).

  Based on the determination result, if necessary, a predetermined program is read from an external device (a workstation in this example) (step S3). For example, GUI screen data (particularly, data for displaying an electronic button (icon) for executing a command) of the image processing software is read. An image based on these data is appropriately displayed on the display 15 in accordance with a command from the arithmetic processing unit 23 (step S3).

  In addition to these on-screen designs, it is important that the operability of the buttons is devised (the interface is devised) so that the operator can intuitively operate the auxiliary controller 10. It is. In the auxiliary controller 10 of the present embodiment, data of external software can be read into the memory 26 in the controller and displayed, so that the buttons on the screen can be changed simply by changing the contents of the software, It is possible to make the operability of the controller according to the preference of the operator.

  Returning to the description of the operation of the auxiliary controller 10 again.

  When the auxiliary controller 10 is activated, a mode selection screen as shown in FIG. 5 appears on the display 15 of the controller, for example. On this screen, selection buttons 41a and 41b selected by being touched by the operator are displayed.

  When the selection button 41b for “3D” is touched on this screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the display selects the type of image (part type) acquired from the medical workstation 30 side. A plurality of image selection buttons 43 are displayed (step S5).

  In the example of FIG. 6, a slider 45 that can move the image up and down by tracing up and down with a finger is displayed at the horizontal edge of the screen.

  When the operator presses a predetermined image selection button 43 on the screen of FIG. 6 (step S6), an image corresponding to the button is displayed on the display 15 (see step S7 and FIG. 7).

  In FIG. 7A, a cross-sectional image 4a in the lateral direction of the body of the subject obtained by imaging the subject is displayed. The auxiliary controller 10 according to the present embodiment can convert the horizontal cross-sectional image 4a as shown in FIG. 7A to the vertical image 4b as shown in FIG. 7B by the following simple operation. And can be switched.

To perform this switching, first, the operator presses a button (not shown) for setting the screen switching mode (step S8),
Next, as shown in FIG. 7A, an arbitrary part of the displayed body image 4a of the subject is touched, and the finger is moved in an arbitrary direction as it is. The position on the screen touched by the operator is detected at predetermined time intervals by the touch panel, whereby continuous coordinate data is obtained. The arithmetic processing unit 23 of the controller 10 creates a predetermined reference line L1 (in this example, a straight line extending straight sideways) based on the coordinate data (step S9).

  Next, the arithmetic processing unit 23 of the controller creates a new cross-sectional image 4b obtained by cutting the subject's body image 4a in the vertical direction using the reference line L1 as a cutting reference line (step S9). Then, it is displayed on the monitor 33 and the display 15 (step S10). This new cross-sectional image is also displayed in an enlarged manner as compared with the monitor of the medical workstation as described above.

  As described above, according to the auxiliary controller 10 of the present embodiment, on the display on which the enlarged image of the subject's body is displayed, the user can simply slide the finger or pen at any position while viewing the image. It is possible to newly display a cross-sectional image from a different direction cut by the step on the display. Such a screen switching method is very intuitive and simple for the operator.

  Next, an operation of instructing an oblique cutting reference line and displaying a new cross-sectional image along the reference line will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image in FIG. 8A is the same as that in FIG. The operator first presses a button (not shown) for setting the screen switching mode as described above. Next, an arbitrary part of the subject's body image is touched on the screen of FIG. 8A, and the finger is slid in an oblique direction. Based on the coordinate data detected by the touch panel, the arithmetic processing unit 23 of the controller creates the oblique reference line L2 as described above.

  Next, the arithmetic processing unit 23 of the controller creates a new cross-sectional image 4c obtained by cutting the subject's body image 4b in an oblique lateral direction using the reference line L2 as a cutting reference line (step S9). Then, it is displayed on the monitor and display 15 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the auxiliary controller 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to examine not only the vertical and horizontal directions but also the cross-sectional image of the body of the subject cut by the oblique reference line (L2), and the operator Since it is possible to specify the position and direction of the cutting reference line simply by sliding a finger or the like on the touch panel, it is very intuitive and simple.

  Note that the cutting reference lines (L1, L2) for creating the cross-sectional image are not limited to straight lines but may be curved lines.

  In addition to the above, according to the auxiliary controller of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily input a curve using a finger or a touch pen. For example, an image displaying blood vessels 3a and bones 3b as shown in FIG. In this case, the operation of designating the contour line L3 of the blood vessel 3a can be easily performed.

  As mentioned above, although one form of this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to said structure.

  For example, like the auxiliary controller 10 'shown in FIG. 10, it can be made foldable with two displays 15A and 15B. In this case, for example, only a medical image may be displayed on the front display 15A, and a button (icon) for image processing may be displayed on the display 15B on the hand side.

It is an outline perspective view showing an example of an auxiliary controller for medical image processing concerning the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image processing system according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an auxiliary controller 10. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a series of operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on an auxiliary controller. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on an auxiliary controller. It is a figure for demonstrating an example which switches the cross-sectional image currently displayed by operating a touch panel to another cross-sectional image. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example which switches the cross-sectional image displayed by operating a touch panel to another cross-sectional image. It is a figure which shows a mode that the outline of a blood vessel is instruct | indicated. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of the auxiliary controller of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3a Blood vessel 3b Bone 10 Auxiliary controller 11 Housing 15 Display 17 Touch panel 18 Button 22 Interface 30 Medical workstation 31 Computer 33 Monitor

Claims (7)

Auxiliary controller with a touch panel display used in connection with a medical workstation for processing medical images,
An interface for wired or wireless connection with the medical workstation;
A storage unit for holding an operation program and predetermined data;
An arithmetic processing unit that executes an operation program held in the storage unit,
The arithmetic processing unit is
An auxiliary controller that functions as an image enlargement display unit that causes a part of a medical image displayed on the monitor of the medical workstation to be enlarged from the image displayed on the monitor and displayed on the display. The arithmetic processing unit is
The auxiliary controller according to claim 1, further functioning as trajectory creation means for creating an input trajectory of a straight line or a curve based on coordinate data of a position touched by an operator with a finger or pen on the touch panel display.   The auxiliary controller according to claim 1, wherein a 3D image of a subject's body is displayed on the display. The subject's body image displayed on the display is an MPR (Multi Planer Reconstruction) image or CPR (curved Multi Planer).
The auxiliary controller according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary controller is a reconstruction image. The auxiliary controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A medical workstation to which the auxiliary controller is connected. A medical image processing method using an auxiliary controller having a touch panel display, which is used by being connected to a medical workstation for processing medical images,
A computer causing a part of a medical image displayed on the monitor of the medical workstation to be enlarged and displayed on the display than the image displayed on the monitor;
A step of creating an input locus of a straight line or a curve based on coordinate data of a position touched by an operator with a finger or a pen on the touch panel display;
A computer performing predetermined image processing on the medical image based on the input trajectory;
A method for processing medical images.   The medical image processing according to claim 6, further comprising: a step of cutting the image of the body of the subject using the input locus as a reference line to create a new cross-sectional image and displaying the new cross-sectional image on the display. Method.

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