JP2009225917A - Image processing device and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device and an image processing method allowing an operator to easily recognize the positional relation of a region with high luminance in the periphery and low luminance in a subject in three-dimensional image data. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing device comprises an image data generating means for generating a first tomographic image, a second tomographic image, a cavity image, and a cavity cross-sectional image based on the three-dimensional image data collected by a medical image diagnosis apparatus; a display part; an operating part; a selection control part for selecting one of at least two combinations of a plurality of composing images including the first tomographic image, second tomographic image, cavity image and cavity cross-sectional image on receiving the input from the operating part; and a display control part for displaying an image in which the composing images of the combination selected by the selection control part are arranged or superimposed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for performing image processing on three-dimensional image data collected by a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus, or an MRI apparatus.

  In recent years, three-dimensional image data is collected using a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus, or an MRI apparatus, image processing is performed on the three-dimensional image data, and an obtained image is obtained. The lesion is diagnosed by referring to it.

  Examples of image processing for three-dimensional image data include MPR (Multi Planer Reconstruction) and volume rendering (Volume Rendering).

  Hereinafter, MPR and volume rendering will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of MPR, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of volume rendering, FIG. 4 is an example of a volume image, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of negative / positive inversion processing and volume rendering, and FIG. 6 is a cavity image. It is a figure which shows the example of.

  MPR is a process for obtaining a cross-sectional image of a plane (cut plane) for cutting three-dimensional image data. A cross-sectional image obtained by MPR is referred to as a “first tomographic image”. MPR includes a process of displaying three orthogonal cross sections shown in FIG. 1 and a process of displaying a plurality of parallel cross sections shown in FIG.

  Volume rendering determines a predetermined line-of-sight direction (projection direction of projected light) for three-dimensional image data, performs ray tracing processing from a predetermined viewpoint, and integrates voxel values (luminance values, etc.) on the line of sight Or a weighted cumulative addition value is output to an image pixel on the projection plane, and an organ or the like is three-dimensionally extracted to create a volume rendering image. The volume rendering image is referred to as “volume image”. Image processing by volume rendering is shown in FIG. An example of a volume image is shown in FIG.

  A technique for creating a first tomographic image or a volume image by performing image processing on three-dimensional image data has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Negative / positive inversion processing and volume rendering may be performed on the three-dimensional image data. An image of a blood vessel generated by image processing in which negative / positive inversion processing is performed on three-dimensional image data and volume rendering is performed is referred to as a “cavity image”. The image processing is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the vessel is shown as a lumen. An example of the cavity image is shown in FIG.

  As an example of the negative / positive inversion process, there is a method of subtracting the original data value from the maximum value 255 when the range of the data value of each sample point of the three-dimensional image data is 0 to 255. For example, when the original data value is 100, the data value subjected to the negative / positive inversion process is 255-100 = 155. It does not matter whether negative-positive inversion processing or volume rendering is performed first on the three-dimensional image data.

  As described above, the cavity image is generated by performing negative / positive inversion processing and volume rendering on the three-dimensional image data. As an application of the cavity image, there is a display of the vascular system. That is, in the volume image, the organ is displayed with high luminance and the vessel has low luminance, so the organ is displayed, and the vessel is hidden behind the surrounding organs and cannot be seen. In the cavity image, the organ becomes low-intensity and the vessel becomes high-intensity, so that the volume image of the vessel that is buried in the organ is not clearly displayed, and the three-dimensional running and shape of the vessel Can be effectively observed. Thus, the cavity image is very useful when displaying the vascular system without a contrast agent.

JP 2007-135843 A

  Similar to the volume image, the conventional first tomographic image has high brightness in the organ and low brightness in the vessel, and is used for observing the organ. However, since the blood vessel has low luminance, it is difficult to grasp the shape and identify the position, and it is not suitable for observing the blood vessel, which causes a decrease in diagnostic efficiency and diagnostic ability.

  In addition, there is a conventional technique that displays a first tomographic image and a cavity image side by side. However, the vascularity is displayed with high luminance in the cavity image, but the vascularity is displayed with low luminance in the first tomographic image. Therefore, the positional relationship of the vascularity displayed in the cavity image is represented by the first tomographic image. It is difficult to grasp, and it is also a factor that lowers diagnosis efficiency and diagnosis ability.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, and an image processing apparatus and an image processing capable of easily grasping a positional relationship between parts having high luminance around a target and low luminance in a target in three-dimensional image data It aims to provide a method.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 generates a first tomographic image by creating a cross-sectional image based on three-dimensional image data collected by a medical image diagnostic apparatus, and the three-dimensional image A negative to positive inversion process is performed based on the data, a second tomographic image is generated by creating a cross-sectional image, a volume image projected on a plane is generated based on the three-dimensional image data, and the three-dimensional image data Image data generating means for generating a cavity image by performing negative-positive inversion processing based on the image and projecting the image on a plane, and generating a cavity cross-sectional image that is a cross-sectional image in the cross-section based on the cavity image, a display unit, In response to an input from the operation unit and the operation unit, the first tomogram, the second tomogram, the volume image, the cavity image, and the cavity cross-sectional image A selection control unit that selects one of the two or more combinations of numbers, and a display that displays on the display unit an image in which constituent images of the combination selected by the selection control unit are arranged or superimposed And an image processing apparatus including a control unit.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a first tomographic image is generated by creating a cross-sectional image based on three-dimensional image data collected by a medical image diagnostic apparatus, and a negative / positive inversion process is performed based on the three-dimensional image data. And generating a second tomogram by creating a cross-sectional image, generating a volume image projected on a plane based on the three-dimensional image data, and performing a negative / positive inversion process based on the three-dimensional image data. And a step of generating a cavity image by projecting on a plane, and a combination of two or more combinations of a plurality of component images of the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the volume image, and the cavity image The selection control unit selects one of the combinations from the above, and a step of displaying on the display unit an image in which the constituent images of the combination selected by the selection control unit are arranged or superimposed. Tsu and up, an image processing method characterized by having a.

  According to the first and seventh aspects of the invention, the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the volume image, the cavity image, and the cavity cross-sectional image are generated based on the three-dimensional image data by the image data generating unit. In response to the selection of the combination of the selection control unit, the display control unit arranges or superimposes the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the volume image, the cavity image, and the cavity cross-sectional image that are constituent images of the selected combination. Is displayed on the display.

  By displaying an image in which each component image of the second tomographic image, cavity image, or cavity cross-sectional image in which the low-luminance target is displayed at high luminance is displayed, the positional relationship of the low-luminance target such as a vessel is displayed. It becomes possible to easily grasp, and it is also possible to easily grasp the positional relationship of objects with low luminance among the constituent images. Furthermore, it is possible to easily grasp the positional relationship of the object in the first tomographic image by displaying an image in which each of these component images and the first tomographic image in which the object is displayed with low luminance are displayed. .

(Constitution)
A configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The image processing apparatus according to this embodiment is an apparatus that performs image processing on three-dimensional image data collected by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is a medical image diagnostic apparatus. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the image processing apparatus, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the tomographic image generation means, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image composition unit. In general, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the image processing apparatus is integrated with the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and can display images in real time and non-real time, but is not limited thereto. For example, an offline workstation may be used.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits ultrasonic waves while scanning three-dimensionally, receives ultrasonic waves reflected by the biological tissue, and generates image data of a tomographic image of the biological tissue based on the received signal. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmission unit 11, a probe 12, a reception unit 13, a B-mode processing unit 14, a three-dimensional data memory 15, an image data generation unit 20, a display control unit 30, and a display unit 40.

  The transmission unit 11 performs settings for performing 3D scanning and generates a transmission pulse. The probe 12 performs 3D scanning. Examples of the probe 12 include, but are not limited to, a mechanical 4D probe and a two-dimensional array probe. The reception unit 13 performs reception processing in accordance with 3D scanning, and obtains reception echoes for each scanning line. The B mode processing unit 14 obtains B mode data for each scanning line.

  Three-dimensional data memory 15 stores B-mode data (RAW data) of one volume or more. B mode data (RAW data) corresponds to 3D image data. Note that volume data (voxel data) may be generated by performing interpolation processing or the like on the B-mode data, and the volume data may be stored in the three-dimensional data memory 15 as three-dimensional image data.

  The image processing apparatus reads data for each volume from the three-dimensional data memory 15 and performs the following processing. In real time display, reading is performed continuously for each volume. When the real-time display is stopped and the data of a predetermined number of volumes are displayed, the data of the volume designated by the input means (not shown) on the panel is read from the stored data of the plurality of volumes.

  The image processing apparatus includes an image data generation unit 20, a display control unit 30, a display unit 40, and an operation unit 50. The image data generation unit 20 generates a plurality of types of configuration images based on the three-dimensional image data. The selection control unit receives an input from the operation unit 50 and selects one combination from two or more combinations obtained by combining a plurality of types of component images. The selection control unit includes a second tomographic image switching controller 33 shown in FIG. 8 to be described later, a first tomographic image switching control unit 342b and a simultaneous display image switching controller 343d shown in FIG. 9, respectively. In response to the selection of the selection control unit, the display control unit 30 causes the display unit 40 to display an image in which the constituent images of the selected combination are arranged or superimposed.

(Image data generation means)
Next, details of the image data generation means 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second tomographic image.

  The image data generating unit 20 generates a first tomographic image, a second tomographic image, a volume image, a cavity image, and a cavity cross-sectional image. The first tomographic image is generated by creating a cross-sectional image based on the three-dimensional image data. Each first tomographic image which is an image of three orthogonal cross sections is shown in FIG. The second tomographic image is generated by a negative / positive inversion process based on the three-dimensional image data and a process of creating a cross-sectional image. It does not matter whether negative-positive reversal processing or cross-sectional image creation processing is performed first.

  The volume image is generated by volume rendering of 3D image data. A volume image is shown in FIG. The cavity image is generated by performing negative / positive inversion processing and volume rendering on the three-dimensional image data. A cavity image is shown in FIG. It does not matter whether negative / positive inversion processing or volume rendering is performed first. The cavity cross-sectional image is generated by a process of creating a cross-sectional image in the cross section based on the cavity image.

  The image data generation unit 20 includes a tomographic image generation unit 21, a volume image generation unit 22, and a cavity image generation unit 23. The tomogram generator 21 includes a first tomogram generator 24 and a second tomogram generator 25.

  The first tomogram generator 24 generates first tomogram data from the three-dimensional image data. The first tomographic image is a cross-sectional image on one or a plurality of cross sections designated by an input unit (not shown) on the panel.

  Next, the second tomographic image generation unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG. The second tomogram generation unit 25 generates a second tomogram or the like by performing various image processes on the data of the first tomogram. The second tomographic image generation unit 25 includes a tomographic image processing unit 251, a negative / positive inversion processing unit 252, a threshold processing unit 253, a processing selector 255, and a cavity cross-sectional image generation unit 256. The process selector 255 selects either the negative / positive inversion processing unit 252 or the threshold processing unit 253 in response to an instruction from the main control unit 55.

  The tomographic image processing unit 251 stores the data of the first tomographic image and the data of the second tomographic image generated by various image processes. The negative / positive inversion processing unit 252 receives the selection of the processing selector 255 and generates the data of the second tomographic image by performing the negative / positive inversion processing on the data of the first tomographic image. FIG. 10 shows a second tomographic image generated by performing negative-positive inversion processing on the first tomographic image that is an image of three orthogonal cross sections. In FIG. 10, a rectangular area including a vascular vessel is shown as a target area to be subjected to negative / positive inversion processing, but an area including only a vascular vessel may be used.

  Further, the negative / positive inversion processing unit 252 receives the input of the processing selector 255 and performs a negative / positive inversion process on the first tomographic image data with a luminance value equal to or lower than the threshold set by the threshold processing unit 253. Generate tomographic data. As the threshold value, for example, a value equal to or lower than the luminance value of the vessel is used. Thereby, it is possible to display the blood vessel with high luminance and display the organ with high luminance, and it is possible to easily distinguish the blood vessel and the organ displayed with high luminance.

  Further, the negative / positive inversion processing unit 252 receives the input of the processing selector 255 for the first tomographic image data, sets the luminance value equal to or higher than the threshold set by the threshold processing unit 253 to 0 (black), and the luminance equal to or lower than the threshold. Data of the second tomographic image is generated by performing negative / positive inversion processing on the value. For example, the threshold value is a value equal to or lower than the luminance value of the vessel. Thereby, it is possible to display the blood vessel with high luminance and easily distinguish the blood vessel. The cavity sectional image generation unit 256 will be described later.

  Next, the volume image generation unit 22 will be described. The volume image generation unit 22 generates data corresponding to a three-dimensional stereoscopic image from the three-dimensional image data, and generates volume image data projected on a plane by volume rendering. FIG. 3 shows image processing when generating a volume image from three-dimensional image data. The generated volume image is shown in FIG.

  Next, the cavity image generation unit 23 will be described. The cavity image generation unit 23 performs negative / positive inversion processing on the three-dimensional image data, and further generates data of a cavity image projected on a plane by volume rendering. FIG. 5 shows image processing when a cavity image is generated from three-dimensional image data. The generated cavity image is shown in FIG.

  Next, the cavity cross-sectional image generation unit 256 will be described. The cavity cross-sectional image generation unit 256 generates a cavity cross-sectional image that is a cross-sectional image in the cross section based on the data of the cavity image generated by the cavity image generation unit 23.

  The details of the image data generation unit 20 have been described above. The image data generation means 20 generates a first tomographic image, a second tomographic image, a volume image, a cavity image, and a cavity cross-sectional image based on the three-dimensional image data, and negative / positive inversion processing for these images. An image subjected to threshold processing is generated.

(Display control unit)
Next, details of the display control unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image in which the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are superimposed, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image in which the first tomographic image and the cavity cross-sectional image are superimposed. In FIGS. 11 and 12, a rectangular region including a vascular vessel is shown as a target region to be superimposed, but a region only including a vascular vessel may be used. The display control unit 30 includes a superimposition processing unit 31, a second tomogram switch 32, a second tomogram switch controller 33, and an image composition unit 34.

  The superimposition processing unit 31 superimposes the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image obtained by performing negative / positive inversion processing on a luminance value equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value of the first tomographic image after coordinate matching (matching the cross section). To do. An image in which the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are superimposed is shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows an image in which the second tomographic image has a different color from the first tomographic image. Thereby, it is possible to easily grasp the positional relationship of a target such as a vessel displayed with low luminance in the first tomographic image.

  The superimposition processing unit 31 superimposes the first tomographic image and the cavity cross-sectional image after coordinate alignment. An image in which the first tomographic image and the cavity cross-sectional image are superimposed is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 shows an image in which the cavity cross-sectional image has a color different from that of the first tomographic image. Thereby, it is possible to easily grasp the positional relationship of a target such as a vessel displayed with low luminance in the first tomographic image.

  Note that the superimposition processing unit 31 is not limited to the one that creates an image in which the component images of the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, and the cavity cross-sectional image are superimposed. An image in which two or more of the constituent images of the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the volume image, the cavity image, and the cavity cross-sectional image are appropriately superimposed may be created.

  Below, the process of the superimposition process part 31 is demonstrated with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the data structure of each pixel, the output of the superimposition processing unit, and the color bar selected for each tomographic image.

  Data structure of each pixel of the first tomogram data that is the output of the first tomogram generator 24, the second tomogram data that is the output of the tomogram processor 251 and the cavity tomogram data that is the output of the cavity slice image generator 256 Is shown in FIG. Here, without loss of generality, for example, the data length is 16 bits, the upper 2 bits are the image identification code, and the other is the image data. The image identification code of the first tomographic image data is 01, the image identification code of the second tomographic image data is 10, and the image identification code of the cavity tomographic image data is 11.

  As an example, a case where the first tomogram data and the second tomogram data are superimposed will be described. A pixel whose second tomogram data value is not 0 (black) adopts the second tomogram data value as the output of the superimposition processing unit 31. The image identification code is also 10. A pixel whose second tomogram data value is 0 (black) adopts the first tomogram data value as the output of the superimposition processing unit 31. The image identification code is 01. In this way, the first tomographic image data and the second tomographic image data are superimposed.

  As described above, since the image identification code differs depending on the type of image data, the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are displayed in different colors using the code. As will be described later, the display unit 40 performs RGB conversion on the image data according to the color bar information and displays the image data. Here, the color bar of the first tomogram is 1, the color bar of the second tomogram is 2, and the color bar of the cavity tomogram is 3.

  When the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are displayed, the color bar 1 of the first tomographic image is selected for the pixel whose image identification code is 01, and the corresponding image data is the information of the color bar 1. In accordance with the RGB conversion. Further, for the pixel whose image identification code is 10, the color bar 2 of the second tomographic image is selected, and the corresponding image data is RGB-converted according to the information of the color bar 2. In this way, the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are displayed in different colors. The color bar includes gray scale (black and white). Also, different colors include those having different gamma curves and brightness between gray scales. The processing of the superimposition processing unit 31 has been described above.

  In response to the input of the second tomogram switching SW 52 of the operation unit 50, the main control unit 55 outputs a control signal to the second tomogram switching controller 33. The second tomogram switching controller 33 receives the control signal from the main controller 55 and switches the image data output from the second tomogram switch 32. The second tomographic image switching controller 33 switches the image data each time the second tomographic image switching SW 52 is pressed. The second tomographic image switch 32 receives the selection of the second tomographic image switch controller 33, and the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the cavity cross-sectional image, and the image superimposed by the superimposition processing unit 31 are displayed in the image composition unit 34. Output to. Further, the volume image data generated by the volume image generation unit 22 and the cavity image data generated by the cavity image generation unit 23 are output to the image synthesis unit 34. The second tomographic image switching controller 33 corresponds to the selection control unit.

  Next, the image composition unit 34 will be described with reference to FIG. 9, FIG. 13, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image in which the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are arranged, and FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for switching and displaying the combination. In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, a rectangular area including a vascular vessel is shown as a target area to be subjected to negative / positive inversion processing, but an area including only a vascular vessel may be used.

  The image synthesizing unit 34 creates an image in which the combined component images are arranged. The image composition unit 34 includes a first image composition unit 341, a second image composition unit 342, a third image composition unit 343, a fourth image composition unit 344, a fifth switch 345, and an image switch controller 346.

  The first image composition unit 341 includes a first switch 341a. When the SW group (not shown) of the operation unit 50 is pressed, the first switch 341a is controlled, and the combination of the first tomographic image data, volume image data, cavity image data, first tomographic image, and volume image. One of data, a combination of the first tomographic image and the cavity image is selected.

  In the second image composition unit 342, the following processing is performed. The second image synthesis unit 342 includes a second synthesizer 342a, a first tomogram switching controller 342b, and a second switch 342c. The second synthesizer 342a creates data of a combination of the first tomogram and the second tomogram. FIG. 13 shows an image in which the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are arranged. The first tomographic image switching controller 342b corresponds to the selection control unit.

  In response to the input of the first tomographic image switching SW 51 of the operation unit 50, the main control unit 55 outputs a control signal to the first tomographic image switching controller 342b. Any one of the first tomographic image data, the second tomographic data, and the combination data of the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image input to the second switch 342c is sent to the first tomographic image switching controller. 342b selects. Each time the first tomogram switch SW51 is pressed, the first tomogram switch controller 342b switches the selection.

  When the first tomographic image switching controller 342b selects the combination data of the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image, the display control unit 30 displays an image in which the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are arranged on the display unit 40. Display. Thereby, it is possible to easily grasp the positional relationship of a low-luminance target such as a blood vessel.

  In the third image composition unit 343, the following processing is performed. The third image synthesis unit 343 includes a third first synthesizer 343a, a third second synthesizer 343b, a third switch 343c, and a simultaneous display image switching controller 343d. The third one synthesizer 343a creates data of a combination of the first tomographic image and the volume image. The third two synthesizer 343b creates data of a combination of the second tomographic image and the cavity image.

  In response to the input of the simultaneous display image switching SW 53 of the operation unit 50, the main control unit 55 outputs a control signal to the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d. In response to the control signal from the main control unit 55, the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d selects one of the combination data input to the third switching device 343c. Each time the simultaneous display image switching SW 53 is pressed, the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d performs the combination of the first tomographic image and the volume image (the third one synthesizer 343a), or the second tomographic image and the cavity image. Any one of the combination data (third two-synthesizer 343b) is selected. The simultaneous display image switching controller 343d corresponds to the selection control unit.

  The display control unit 30 causes the display unit 40 to display an image in which the first tomographic image and the volume image are arranged, or causes the display unit 40 to display an image in which the second tomographic image and the cavity image are arranged. Thereby, it is possible to shift easily and easily every time the simultaneous display image switching SW 53 is pressed from the organ-main observation to the vessel-main observation or vice versa. FIG. 14 shows what is displayed by switching between an image in which the first tomographic image and the volume image are arranged and an image in which the second tomographic image and the cavity image are arranged.

  In the fourth image composition unit 344, the following processing is performed. The fourth image composition unit 344 includes a fourth switch 344a. In response to the control signal from the main control unit 55, the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d selects one of the volume image data and the cavity image data.

  The simultaneous display image switching controller 343d synchronizes the data output from the third switch 343c and the data output from the fourth switch 344a.

  For example, the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d selects, as data to be output from the third switch 343c, data having a combination of the first tomographic image and the volume image, and as data to be output from the fourth switch 344a. Select volume image data. Further, for example, the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d selects, as data to be output from the third switch 343c, data of a combination in which the second tomographic image and the cavity image are arranged, and outputs from the fourth switch 34a. Cavity image data is selected as data.

  In response to the input of the image switching SW 54 of the operation unit 50, the main control unit 55 outputs a control signal to the image switching controller 346. The image switching controller 346 selects one of the first switch 341a of the first image composition unit 341 to the fourth switch 344a of the fourth image composition unit 344, and the fifth switch 345 includes the first switch 341a. One output of the image composition unit 341 to the fourth image composition unit 344 is selected.

  Thus, the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d synchronizes the data output from the third switch 343c and the data output from the fourth switch 344a, so that the images can be unified. This saves the trouble of switching every time and improves the diagnosis efficiency.

  As described above, the image composition unit 34 generates an image obtained by combining the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image, an image obtained by combining the second tomographic image and the cavity image, and an image obtained by combining the first cross-sectional image and the volume image. It is not limited to what you create. The image compositing unit 34 selects one combination from two or more combinations obtained by combining a plurality of constituent images of the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the volume image, the cavity image, and the cavity sectional image. You may make it produce the image which arranged or superposed | combined the component image of the selected combination.

(Display section, operation section)
The display unit 40 converts the image data from any one of the first image synthesis unit 341 to the fourth image synthesis unit 344 into display data such as RGB according to the color bar information, and displays it.

  The operation unit 50 includes the first tomographic image switching SW 51, the second tomographic image switching SW 52, the simultaneous display image switching SW 53, the image switching SW 54, and other SW groups (not shown). The main control unit 55 outputs a control signal to the tomographic image generation unit 21 and the display control unit 30 in response to the input of each switch of the first tomographic image switching SW51 to SW group.

  Although the description has been omitted in the above embodiment, the types and the number of cross sections of the first cross sectional images shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be increased or decreased. The increase / decrease of the type or the like can be performed by a SW (not shown). For example, when the upper left image is extracted from the image of FIG. 1 and the first tomographic image is one, the image synthesized by the third image synthesis unit 343 is one first tomographic image and one volume. It becomes an image in which images are arranged.

  Further, the output of the second synthesizer may be connected to the third switch. Accordingly, by selecting the simultaneous display image switching SW 53, for example, an image in which the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are arranged and an image in which the second tomographic image and the cavity image are arranged can be switched and displayed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since there is one simultaneous display image switching SW 53, there is a case where the combination data is switched and the combined component image is displayed by two or more switch operations. It is complicated. Therefore, image switching SWs may be prepared for the number of combinations to be displayed. FIG. 15 shows an operation unit 50 provided with a first simultaneous display image switching setting SW531, a second simultaneous display image switching setting SW532, and a third simultaneous display image switching setting SW533. As a result, it is possible to easily and easily switch the data of the combined constituent images by a single switch operation of the first simultaneous display image switching setting SW 531 to the third simultaneous display image switching setting SW 533.

  As described above, when switches are prepared for the number of combinations to be displayed, for example, when the first simultaneous display image switching setting SW 531 is pressed and turned from off to on, the second simultaneous display that has been on until then is turned on. The display image switching setting SW532 or the third simultaneous display image switching setting SW535 is turned off. In response to the switch operation, the main control unit 55 outputs a control signal to the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d, and the simultaneous display image switching controller 343d receives data output from the third switch 343c and the fourth switch 344a. select.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an image with a high luminance value of a vessel is displayed has been described using a vessel as an example. However, the embodiment is not limited to a vessel. For example, the present invention can be applied if the surroundings are high luminance and the target is low luminance.

  In the negative / positive inversion process of the embodiment, the luminance value of the three-dimensional image data is inverted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the color bar may be inverted.

It is explanatory drawing of MPR which produces | generates the 1st tomogram of an orthogonal 3 cross section based on three-dimensional image data. It is explanatory drawing of MPR which produces | generates the 1st tomogram of several cross sections parallel to 1 cross section based on three-dimensional image data. It is explanatory drawing of volume rendering. It is a figure which shows the example of a volume image. It is explanatory drawing of a negative / positive inversion process and volume rendering. It is a figure which shows the example of a cavity image. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an ultrasonic diagnosing device and an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a tomogram production | generation means. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an image synthetic | combination part. It is a figure which shows the example of a 2nd tomogram. It is a figure which shows the example of the image which superimposed the 1st tomogram and the 2nd tomogram. It is a figure which shows the example of the image which superimposed the 1st tomogram and the cavity cross-sectional image. It is a figure which shows the example of the image which arranged the 1st tomogram and the 2nd tomogram. It is explanatory drawing which switches and displays the combination of the 2nd tomogram and cavity image shown to (a), and the combination of the 1st tomogram and volume image shown to (b). It is a figure which shows the other example of an operation part. It is a figure explaining the data structure of each pixel, the output of a superimposition process part, and the color bar selected with respect to each tomogram.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Transmitter 12 Probe 13 Receiver 14 B-mode processor 15 Three-dimensional data memory 20 Image data generation means 21 Tomographic image generator 22 Volume image generator 23 Cavity image generator 24 First tomogram generator 25 Second tomogram Generation unit 30 Display control unit 31 Superimposition processing unit 32 Second tomogram switch 33 Second tomogram switch controller 34 Image composition unit
341 First image composition unit 342 Second image composition unit 343 Third image composition unit 344 Fourth image composition unit 345 Fifth switch 40 Display unit 50 Operation unit 51 First tomographic image switching SW 52 Second tomographic image switching SW
53 Simultaneous display image switching SW 531 First simultaneous display image switching SW
532 Second simultaneous display image switching SW 533 Third simultaneous display image switching SW
54 Image switching SW 55 Main control unit

Claims (7)

A first tomographic image is generated by creating a cross-sectional image based on the three-dimensional image data collected by the medical image diagnostic apparatus, a negative / positive inversion process is performed based on the three-dimensional image data, and a cross-sectional image is generated. To generate a second tomographic image, generate a volume image projected onto a plane based on the three-dimensional image data, perform negative / positive inversion processing based on the three-dimensional image data, and project onto the plane Image data generating means for generating a cavity image and generating a cavity cross-sectional image that is a cross-sectional image in a cross-section based on the cavity image;
A display unit;
An operation unit;
Upon receiving an input from the operation unit, from among two or more combinations in which a plurality of constituent images of the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the volume image, the cavity image, and the cavity cross-sectional image are combined. A selection control unit for selecting one of the combinations;
A display control unit that causes the display unit to display an image in which the constituent images of the combination selected by the selection control unit are arranged or superimposed;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Further, the image data generating means generates the second tomographic image by performing a negative / positive inversion process on a luminance value equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold for the first tomographic image,
The display control unit receives a selection of a combination of the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image by the selection control unit, and displays an image on which the first tomographic image and the second tomographic image are superimposed on the display unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is displayed.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit displays the second tomographic image in a color different from that of the first tomographic image. The display control unit causes the display unit to display an image in which the first tomographic image and the cavity cross-sectional image are superimposed upon selection of a combination of the first tomographic image and the cavity cross-sectional image by the selection control unit. ,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the cavity cross-sectional image in a color different from that of the first tomographic image. The display control unit receives a selection of the combination of the second tomographic image and the cavity image by the selection control unit, and causes the display unit to display an image in which the second tomographic image and the cavity image are arranged,
Further, the display control unit receives an input from the operation unit, and switches between an image in which the second tomographic image and the cavity image are arranged, and an image in which the first tomographic image and the volume image are arranged, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is displayed on a display unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit is configured to switch and display the image in response to a single input from the operation unit. A first tomographic image is generated by creating a cross-sectional image based on the three-dimensional image data collected by the medical image diagnostic apparatus, a negative / positive inversion process is performed based on the three-dimensional image data, and a cross-sectional image is generated. To generate a second tomographic image, generate a volume image projected onto a plane based on the three-dimensional image data, perform negative / positive inversion processing based on the three-dimensional image data, and project onto the plane Generating a cavity image and generating a cavity cross-sectional image that is a cross-sectional image in a cross-section based on the cavity image;
The selection control unit selects one combination from two or more combinations obtained by combining a plurality of constituent images of the first tomographic image, the second tomographic image, the volume image, the cavity image, and the cavity cross-sectional image. And steps to
Displaying on the display unit an image in which the composition images of the combination selected by the selection control unit are arranged or superimposed;
An image processing method comprising: