JP2010094185A - Image display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress overlooking of an image of a characteristic region within a subject and to observe a group of internal images of a subject in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: An image display apparatus 1 comprises a data input/output section 2 for acquiring a group of images photographed in time series, a display section 3 for displaying the group of images acquired by the image input/output section 2, and a control section 6. The control section 6 controls the display section 3 to extract a group of representative images from the group of images and to display the group of representative images in a list. In addition, the control section 6 selects, from the group of images, one or more latent images represented by the representative images in the listed group of representative images, and controls the display section 3 to display the selected one or more latent images in a list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device that displays a group of images captured by an in-vivo imaging device introduced into an organ of a subject.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the endoscope field, a capsule-type housing has been used as an in-vivo imaging device that is introduced into a subject in order to take an image inside an organ of the subject such as a patient (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an in-vivo image). A capsule endoscope, which is a swallowable endoscope having an imaging function and a wireless communication function, has appeared in the body. The capsule endoscope is swallowed from the mouth of the subject after activation, and then moves inside the organ by a peristaltic motion or the like, and is finally discharged to the outside of the subject. Such a capsule endoscope captures in-vivo images of the subject sequentially in time series from the time it is introduced into the subject until it is discharged to the outside of the subject. Are sequentially transmitted to the receiving device.

  The external receiving device sequentially receives in-vivo images wirelessly transmitted by the capsule endoscope inside the subject. Note that a portable recording medium is inserted in the receiving apparatus in advance, and the in-vivo image group received from the capsule endoscope is recorded in the recording medium. This recording medium is removed from the receiving apparatus and inserted into the image display apparatus after recording the in-vivo image group captured by the capsule endoscope. The image display apparatus takes in the data of the in-vivo image group in the inserted recording medium, and sequentially displays the acquired in-vivo image group on the display. A user such as a doctor or a nurse can sequentially observe the in-vivo image groups displayed on the image display device, thereby examining the inside of the organ of the subject.

  Note that, as an image display device that displays the in-vivo image group of the subject, for example, the image group captured by the capsule endoscope is sequentially displayed as a pseudo moving image in the order of imaging, and is selected from these image groups. There is an image display device that displays a reduced image of the displayed image (see Patent Document 1). There is also an image display device that extracts an in-vivo image group from an image group captured by a capsule endoscope and displays an in-vivo image group other than substantially the same data from the extracted in-vivo image group. (See Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-55522 A JP 2005-124965 A

  By the way, the capsule endoscope described above generally sequentially captures in-vivo images at intervals of 8 hours or more, for example, at intervals of 0.5 seconds, after being ingested by the subject and discharged to the outside of the subject. . For this reason, the number of in-vivo images captured by such a capsule endoscope is enormous, reaching 60,000.

  However, in the conventional image display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, when the inside of the organ of the subject is observed through observation of the in-vivo image group of the subject, an enormous number of image data groups 1 are reproduced by moving image reproduction or the like. Since it is necessary to display each frame sequentially, there is a problem that it takes a long time to observe the inside of the organ of the subject. Further, in the conventional image display device disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, in-vivo image groups other than substantially the same data among the in-vivo image groups of the subject are displayed. When an in-vivo image obtained by imaging a characteristic part such as a lesion is included in the image group, there is a possibility that an image of the characteristic part may be overlooked.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an image display device that can suppress oversight of an image of a characteristic part inside a subject and can observe an in-vivo image group of the subject in a short time. The purpose is to provide.

  The inventors of the present application have found that the above problem can be solved by further displaying a list of potential images typified by an image designated from a list of displayed images. That is, the present invention provides an image acquisition means for acquiring an image group captured in time series, a display means for displaying the image group acquired by the image acquisition means, and a representative image group from the image group. The display means is controlled to extract and display the representative image group as a list, and one or more latent images represented by the representative images in the representative image group displayed in the list are selected from the image group Then, the above-mentioned problem is solved by an image display device comprising: control means for controlling the display means so as to display the selected one or more latent images as a list.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image display apparatus that can suppress oversight of an image of a characteristic part inside a subject and can observe an in-vivo image group of the subject in a short time.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of an image display device according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, as an example of the image display device according to the present invention, an image display device that displays an image group captured by a capsule endoscope, which is an example of an in-vivo imaging device introduced into the organ of a subject. Although illustrated, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image display apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes a data input / output unit 2 that inputs and outputs image data, and a display unit 3 that displays image data, a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and the like. And an input unit 4 for inputting various information, a storage unit 5 for storing image data input by the data input / output unit 2, and a control unit 6 for controlling each component of the image display device 1. .

  The data input / output unit 2 functions as an image acquisition unit that acquires an image group captured in time series. Specifically, the data input / output unit 2 is realized by using a drive having a structure in which a portable recording medium such as a card-type memory can be attached and detached. Based on the control of the control unit 6, the data input / output unit 2 reads stored data in the inserted recording medium and inputs the acquired stored data to the control unit 6. Further, the data input / output unit 2 writes the data instructed by the control unit 6 to the inserted recording medium. As data acquired by the data input / output unit 2 from the recording medium, for example, an image group such as an in-vivo image sequentially captured in time series by the capsule endoscope, and an imaging time of each image in the image group Patient data such as a patient name and a patient ID for identifying a subject in which the capsule endoscope is introduced into the organ. Examples of data written in the recording medium by the data input / output unit 2 include patient information such as a patient name and a patient ID for specifying a subject.

  The display unit 3 functions as a display unit that displays the image group acquired by the data input / output unit 2. Specifically, the display unit 3 is realized by using a display device such as a CRT display or a liquid crystal display, and displays various information such as an image instructed to be displayed by the control unit 6 and a GUI. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of the display mode of the display unit in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, a list display area 11 and a detailed display area 12 are formed in the display unit 3. The display unit 3 displays the representative image group DP instructed to be displayed by the control unit 6 in the list display area 11 in a still image state, and the latent image group SP instructed to be displayed by the control unit 6 in the detail display area 12. Display in a still image state. In this case, the display unit 3 displays a list of representative image groups DP in a manner in which the images are arranged in time series as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, and the latent image group SP in the same arrangement manner as the representative image group DP. List.

  The representative image in the representative image group DP is an image extracted based on a predetermined extraction condition from the image group acquired by the data input / output unit 2. In addition, the latent images in the latent image group SP are the remaining images excluding the representative images in the image group, and are latent images between the representative images in the representative image group DP displayed as a list. .

  The display unit 3 also inputs a list display icon 13 that is a GUI for inputting instruction information for instructing display of a list of representative image groups DP, and instruction information for instructing display of a list of latent image groups SP. A detailed display icon 14 that is a GUI, a graphic bar 15 and an indicator 16 that are GUIs for indicating the time positions of images selected from the representative image group DP and the latent image group SP that are currently displayed, and an input unit A mouse cursor 17 that can be moved in response to the operation 4 is displayed.

  The graphic bar 15 is time scaled as shown in FIG. 2 and shows the overall time position of a series of images taken by the capsule endoscope. Furthermore, the graphic bar 15 is created based on the color information of a series of images taken by the capsule endoscope. The color bar 15 distinguishes between the internal and external images, the organs, the residue Can indicate presence or absence. The time scale of the graphic bar 15 indicates the elapsed time from the imaging time of the first frame image captured by the capsule endoscope, for example. The indicator 16 moves along the graphic bar 15 and indicates the time position of any one of the currently displayed representative image group DP and latent image group SP.

  Note that the display unit 3 highlights an image selected from the representative image group DP and the latent image group SP, such as a representative image obtained by combining the mouse cursor 17 in the representative image group DP shown in FIG. To do. The display unit 3 highlights an image corresponding to the time position indicated by the indicator 16 on the graphic bar 15, that is, a representative image in the list display area 11 or a latent image in the detail display area 12. On the other hand, the display unit 3 is not particularly shown in FIG. 2, but includes a patient in which a capsule endoscope is introduced into an organ, that is, patient data of a subject corresponding to the representative image group DP and the latent image group SP. Various information useful for observing the in-vivo image group of the subject is displayed.

  The input unit 4 is realized by using an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and inputs various information to the control unit 6 in response to an input operation by the user. Specifically, the input unit 4 provides the control unit 6 with image designation information for designating any of the images currently displayed on the display unit 3 and various instruction information for instructing the control unit 6. input. As the image designation information input by the input unit 4, for example, representative image designation information for designating representative images included in the representative image group DP in the list display area 11, and latent image group in the detailed display area 12. And latent image designation information for designating a latent image included in the SP. In addition, as the instruction information input by the input unit 4, for example, display instruction information for instructing a list display of the representative image group DP, display instruction information for instructing a list display of the latent image group SP, and the list display area 11. Display number instruction information for instructing the number of frames of the representative image group DP to be displayed in a list.

  The input unit 4 inputs representative image designation information for designating the representative image by clicking the representative image group DP of the representative image group DP in the list display area 11 with the mouse cursor 17 being clicked. Then, the latent image designation information for designating the latent image is input by placing the mouse cursor 17 on the latent image to be designated in the latent image group SP in the detail display area 12 and performing a click operation. Further, the input unit 4 inputs display instruction information for instructing a list display of the representative image group DP by moving the mouse cursor 17 to the list display icon 13 and performing a click operation, and moves the mouse cursor 17 to the detail display icon 14. The display instruction information for instructing the list display of the latent image group SP is input by performing a click operation together.

  The storage unit 5 is realized by using a large-capacity recording medium such as a RAM, an EEPROM, or a hard disk, stores various data instructed to be written by the control unit 6, and stores stored data instructed to be read out by the control unit 6. Transmit to the control unit 6. Specifically, the storage unit 5 displays a list in the entire image folder 5a that is a storage area for storing the image group captured by the data input / output unit 2 and the list display area 11 of the display unit 3 described above. A representative image folder 5b which is a storage area for storing the representative image group DP to be stored. The storage unit 5 stores a group of images taken by the capsule endoscope in time series, that is, a series of images including the in-vivo images of the subject in the entire image folder 5a, and extracts from the image group. The representative image group DP thus obtained is stored in the representative image folder 5b. In addition to the image data, the storage unit 5 stores time data of each image in the image group captured by the capsule endoscope, the similarity of each image between adjacent images in the image group, the subject The patient data etc. are memorized. In this case, each image data stored in the storage unit 5 is associated with time data and similarity for each image.

  The control unit 6 is for controlling each component of the image display device 1, and temporarily stores a CPU for executing a processing program, a ROM in which the processing program and the like are recorded in advance, and calculation parameters for each processing. It implement | achieves using RAM memorize | stored in. Specifically, the control unit 6 controls the operations of the data input / output unit 2, the display unit 3, the input unit 4, and the storage unit 5 described above, and controls the input / output of signals between the component units. To do. More specifically, the control unit 6 controls the data input / output unit 2 based on the instruction information input by the input unit 4, thereby acquiring the storage data of the recording medium in the data input / output unit 2. To do. The control unit 6 controls the storage unit 5 so as to store the acquired storage data, that is, the image group obtained by the capsule endoscope, the time data of each image, and the like. Further, the control unit 6 highlights the representative image specified in the representative image designation information input by the input unit 4 and moves the indicator 16 to the time position on the graphic bar 15 corresponding to the representative image. The display unit 3 is controlled. Similarly, the control unit 6 highlights the latent image designated in the latent image designation information input by the input unit 4 and moves the indicator 16 to the time position on the graphic bar 15 corresponding to the latent image. Thus, the display unit 3 is controlled.

  The control unit 6 also extracts an image extraction unit 6 a that extracts representative images to be displayed in a list in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3, and an image selection unit that selects latent images to be displayed in a list in the detail display area 12 of the display unit 3. 6b. The image extraction unit 6 a extracts a plurality of representative images from a series of images stored in the entire image folder 5 a of the storage unit 5. Specifically, the control unit 6 determines the number of representative images extracted based on the display number instruction information input by the input unit 4, that is, the number of representative images displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3. Set. Based on the color information of each image in the image group acquired by the data input / output unit 2 or the motion vector between adjacent images, the image extraction unit 6a calculates the similarity between adjacent images in the image group. Calculate every time. The image extracting unit 6a extracts representative images for the same number of frames as the set display number based on the similarity of each image from the image group stored in the all image folder 5a. In this case, the image extracting unit 6a extracts as many representative images as the set display number in the ascending order or descending order of the similarity of each image. The control unit 6 controls the storage unit 5 so as to save the data of a plurality of representative images extracted by the image extraction unit 6a in the representative image folder 5b. Further, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 3 to display a list of the plurality of representative images in the list display area 11 based on the display instruction information corresponding to the list display icon 13. The plurality of representative images extracted by the image extraction unit 6a are displayed as a list in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3 as, for example, the representative image group DP shown in FIG.

  The image selection unit 6b selects images that exist between representative images in the representative image group DP displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3 from among the image groups stored in the entire image folder 5a, that is, latent images. Select one or more images. Specifically, the image selection unit 6b has one or more latent images typified by one or more representative images designated by the representative image designation information described above, that is, the representative designated by the representative image designation information. One or more latent images latent between the image and another representative image adjacent to at least one of the representative image before and after the representative image are selected from the group of images stored in the entire image folder 5a. Based on the display instruction information corresponding to the detail display icon 14, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 3 to display a list of one or more latent images selected by the image selection unit 6b in the detail display area 12. To do. Note that one or more latent images extracted by the image selection unit 6b are displayed in a list in the detailed display area 12 of the display unit 3 as, for example, the latent image group SP shown in FIG.

  Next, when the representative image group DP is displayed as a list in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3 and the latent images between the representative images in the representative image group DP are displayed as a list in the detailed display area 12 of the display unit 3. The operation of the image display apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the control unit of the image display apparatus until a list of the latent images latent between the representative images is displayed. The image display device 1 displays a list of latent image groups SP represented by representative images designated from the representative image group DP displayed as a list in the list display area 11 in the detail display area 12.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 6 of the image display device 1 determines whether or not any representative image included in the representative image group DP in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3 is designated ( Step S101). In step S101, when the representative image designation information is input by the input unit 4, the control unit 6 determines that the representative image corresponding to the representative image designation information is designated (step S101, Yes), and the input is performed. The representative image designated by the representative image designation information is identified from the representative image group DP (step S102).

  Next, the control unit 6 determines whether or not there is an instruction to display a list of latent images represented by the representative image specified in step S102 (step S103). In step S103, when the display instruction information corresponding to the detail display icon 14 is input by the input unit 4, the control unit 6 determines that there is a latent image list display instruction (step S103, Yes), and in step S102. A latent image between representative images including the identified representative image is selected (step S104).

  In step S104, the image selection unit 6b selects the representative image stored in the representative image folder 5b of the storage unit 5 based on the time information associated with each representative image in step S102. Another representative image that is adjacent to the specific representative image in time series is searched for. Then, the image selection unit 6b has a potential between the other representative image adjacent to the specific representative image and the specific representative image among the images stored in the entire image folder 5a of the storage unit 5. Select one or more latent images.

  Subsequently, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 3 to display a list of one or more frames of latent images selected in step S104 in the detailed display area 12 (step S105), and then returns to step S101 described above, The processing procedure after step S101 is repeated. In step S105, the display unit 3 displays a list of latent image groups SP in the detail display area 12, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 based on the control of the control unit 6.

  If the representative image designation information has not been input in step S101 described above, the control unit 6 determines that no representative image is designated (step S101, No), and repeats step S101. On the other hand, when the display instruction information corresponding to the detail display icon 14 is not input in step S103 described above, the control unit 6 determines that there is no latent image list display instruction (No in step S103), and performs step S103. repeat.

  Next, a case where the control unit 6 sets the display number of representative images to 12 frames based on the input information of the input unit 4 is exemplified, and 12 frames of representative images displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3 are listed. The operation of the image display device 1 when displaying a list of latent images latent between representative images in the group DP in the detailed display area 12 of the display unit 3 will be specifically described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for specifically explaining the operation of the image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the image display device 1 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  The control unit 6 of the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment acquires the image group AP captured in time-series order by the capsule endoscope and the time data of each image from the data input / output unit 2. The control unit 6 calculates the similarity between adjacent images in the acquired image group AP for each image, and uses the obtained similarity between each adjacent image and each time data and each image in the image group AP. Associate them with each other. The control unit 6 stores the image group AP in which the similarity and time data are associated with each image in the all image folder 5 a of the storage unit 5. Further, the control unit 6 sets the number of frames of the representative image displayed as a list in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3 based on the display number instruction information input by the input unit 4, for example, 12 frames.

  When the display instruction information corresponding to the list display icon 13 shown in FIG. 2 is input, the control unit 6 displays the 12-frame representative image group DP of the image group AP in the list display area 11. The display unit 3 is controlled. In this case, the image extraction unit 6a, as shown in FIG. 4, from the image group AP, the 12 frames of representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe that are the same as the set display number in ascending order of similarity. , Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, Pm are extracted. The control unit 6 associates the 12-frame representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm extracted in this way with each similarity and each time data. The representative image folder 5b of the storage unit 5 stores the 12-frame representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm as the representative image group DP. The display unit 3 is controlled to display in the list display area 11.

  Note that the representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm extracted in ascending order of similarity are low in similarity among the image groups AP. It is an image of the upper 12 frames from the side. Specifically, the representative images Pa and Pb are images captured by the capsule endoscope before being introduced into the subject, that is, external images, and the remaining representative images Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm are internal organ images captured by the capsule endoscope introduced into the subject, that is, in-vivo images.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, representative image designation information for designating the representative image Ph is input from the input unit 4 to the control unit by a click operation performed by placing the mouse cursor 17 on the representative image Ph in the representative image group DP. 6, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 3 to highlight the representative image Ph designated by the inputted representative image designation information. After that, when the display unit information corresponding to the detail display icon 14 shown in FIG. 2 is input by the input unit 4, the control unit 6 details the latent image group SP that exists between the representative images including the representative image Ph. The display unit 3 is controlled to display in the display area 12.

  Specifically, the image selection unit 6b designates the representative image from the representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm in the representative image folder 5b. The representative image Ph specified by the information and the representative images Pg and Pi adjacent to the representative image Ph in time series are specified. The image selection unit 6b then selects all the latent images Pg1 to Pg4 that exist between the representative image Pg and the representative image Ph, the representative image Ph, and the representative image from the image group AP in the entire image folder 5a. All the latent images Ph1 to Ph5 that exist between Pi are selected. The control unit 6 controls the display unit 3 to display the latent images Pg1 to Pg4 and Ph1 to Ph5 selected by the image selection unit 6b as the latent image group SP in the detailed display area 12. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 6 includes the representative images Pg, Ph, and Pi representing the latent images Pg1 to Pg4 and Ph1 to Ph5 selected by the image selection unit 6b. The group may be displayed as a latent image group SP.

  The latent images Pg1 to Pg4 are in-vivo images typified by the representative image Pg, and exist in chronological order between the representative image Pg and the representative image Ph. The latent images Ph1 to Ph5 are in-vivo images represented by the representative image Ph, and exist between the representative image Ph and the representative image Pi in chronological order.

  Such a control unit 6 also receives the representative image designation information for designating a representative image other than the representative image Ph and the display instruction information corresponding to the detailed display icon 14 as in the case of the representative image Ph described above. Then, the display unit 3 is controlled so that a latent image group that is latent between representative images including the representative image specified by the input representative image specifying information is displayed in the detailed display area 12.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of representative images are extracted from a group of images taken in time series, and the extracted plurality of representative images are displayed as a list on the display unit. In addition, one or more latent images that exist between representative images including a designated representative image are selected from the group of representative images displayed in the list, and the selected 1 Two or more latent images are displayed in a list on the display unit. For this reason, it is possible to display a list of a plurality of representative images having a relatively low degree of similarity from among a group of images taken along a time series, and the latent potential between desired representative images in the plurality of displayed representative images. Images can be easily displayed as a list, for example, in a still image state. Thus, even if the remaining images other than the plurality of representative images displayed in a list, that is, the latent images include images of characteristic parts to be observed such as lesions or bleeding parts inside the subject, The display of the list of the latent images increases the possibility that the images of the characteristic portions are displayed on the screen. As a result, the in-vivo image group of the subject is suppressed in a short time while suppressing the oversight of the images of the characteristic portions inside the subject. Can be realized.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, a display unit displays a representative image group extracted from an image group captured in time series and one or more latent images latent between representative images in the representative image group. In the second embodiment, a representative image designated from the representative image group displayed as a list on the display unit 3 and a latent image represented by the representative image are displayed in the second embodiment. It can be set to hide.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the image display apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of the display mode of the display unit in the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the image display device 21 according to the second embodiment includes a control unit 26 instead of the control unit 6 of the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment described above. Further, in the image display device 21, the display unit 3 displays a delete icon 18 that is a GUI for instructing the non-display setting of the image as shown in FIG. 6, and the time position of the non-display setting image is displayed. A mark M to be displayed is displayed on the graphic bar 15. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components.

  The control unit 26 includes an image extraction unit 26a instead of the image extraction unit 6a of the control unit 6 in the first embodiment, and includes an image selection unit 26b instead of the image selection unit 6b. Further, the control unit 26 includes a grouping processing unit 26c that performs image grouping processing and a non-display setting unit 26d that performs image non-display setting processing. In addition, the control unit 26, at the time position on the graphic bar 15 corresponding to the image set as the non-display target by the non-display setting unit 26d of the image group stored in the entire image folder 5a of the storage unit 5, The display unit 3 is controlled to display the mark M as shown in FIG. The control unit 26 is a control unit according to the first embodiment described above, except for the functions related to the image extraction unit 26a, the image selection unit 26b, the grouping processing unit 26c, or the non-display setting unit 26d and the display control function of the mark M. 6 has the same function.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image extraction unit 26 a includes a representative image deleted from the display target in the representative image group DP displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3, that is, a representative image set to be hidden. The same number of representative images are re-extracted from the image group in all image folders 5a. In this case, the image extraction unit 26a has latent images having similarities in the order subsequent to the representative images that have already been extracted from the latent images that are not set to be hidden in the image group in the entire image folder 5a. Are extracted as new representative images by the same number as the non-display set representative images. The control unit 26 controls the display unit 3 so that the new representative image re-extracted by the image extracting unit 26a is displayed as a list in the list display area 11 in addition to the already displayed representative image. In this case, the control unit 26 controls the display unit 3 so that the representative image group DP including the new representative image is arranged and displayed as a list in time series. The image extraction unit 26a has the same function as the image extraction unit 6a of the control unit 6 in the first embodiment described above, except for the representative image re-extraction function.

  The image selection unit 26b is a latent image that is not set to be hidden by the non-display setting unit 26d among the latent images that are hidden between the representative images in the representative image group DP displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3. Select. In this case, the image selection unit 26b obtains all the latent images that exist between the representative image specified by the representative image specifying information described above and another representative image adjacent to at least one of the representative image before and after the representative image. One of the latent images that are not set to non-display is selected from the image group in the entire image folder 5a. The latent images selected by the image selection unit 26b are displayed in a list in the detailed display area 12 of the display unit 3 as exemplified by the latent image group SP shown in FIG. The

  When the non-display instruction information for instructing the non-display setting of the image is input by the input unit 4, the grouping processing unit 26c and the representative image specified by the representative image specifying information described above, and the specified representative image One or more latent images that are latent between two representative images adjacent to each other are grouped. The grouping processing unit 26c, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the representative image designated from the representative image group DP displayed in the list display area 11 as a list and all the latent images represented by the representative image. Are grouped as a series of image groups. The non-display instruction information is input from the input unit 4 to the control unit 26 when a click operation on the input unit 4 is performed with the mouse cursor 17 placed on the delete icon 18 illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. .

  The non-display setting unit 26d sets an image to be deleted from the display target of the display unit 3 among the image groups in the entire image folder 5a as a non-display image. Specifically, when the non-display instruction information is input by the input unit 4, the non-display setting unit 26 d is grouped by the representative image specified by the representative image specifying information described above or the grouping processing unit 26 c described above. A non-display flag indicating that the image is not a display target of the display unit 3 is added to each image in the series of image groups. Thereby, the non-display setting unit 26d sets the designated representative image or each image in the series of image groups as a non-display image. The non-display setting unit 26d repeats the image non-display setting process every time the above-described non-display instruction information is input. The control unit 26 controls the display unit 3 so as not to display the representative image and the latent image to which the non-display flag is added.

  Next, the operation of the image display device 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described by exemplifying a case where a list of 12 frames of the representative image group DP is displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3. . FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for specifically explaining the operation of the image display apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the image display device 21 according to the second embodiment includes an operation for setting an image to be non-displayed and an operation for adding the same number of new representative images to the list display as the non-display-set representative images. Are the same as those of the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment described above. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the operation of the image display device 21 when the image is set to be non-displayed and the image display when the same number of new representative images as the non-display set representative images are added to the list display are displayed. The operation of the device 21 will be specifically described.

  The control unit 26 of the image display device 21 according to the second embodiment designates the representative images Pa, Pb, and Pe in the 12-frame representative image group DP displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3. When the representative image designation information is sequentially input by the input unit 4, the display unit 3 is controlled so as to highlight each representative image Pa, Pb, Pe designated by the representative image designation information. The representative image designation information of each representative image Pa, Pb, Pe is input by sequentially repeating the operation of the input unit 4 such that the mouse cursor 17 is clicked with the representative image desired to be designated.

  In such a state, when the non-display instruction information is input by the input unit 4, the control unit 26 deletes at least the representative images Pa, Pb, and Pe specified as described above from the display target of the display unit 3. . In this case, the non-display setting unit 26d includes the representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm extracted from the image group AP by the image extraction unit 26a. A non-display flag F is added to the representative images Pa and Pb designated by the representative image designation information. Accordingly, the non-display setting unit 26d sets the representative images Pa and Pb as non-display images.

  The grouping processing unit 26c groups the images in time series including the representative image Pe designated by the representative image designation information and all the latent images represented by the representative image Pe as a series of image groups PeG. Process. Note that all the latent images included in the image group PeG are latent images that exist between the representative image Pf and the representative image Pe adjacent to the representative image Pe, for example. The non-display setting unit 26d adds a non-display flag F to each image in the image group PeG grouped by the grouping processing unit 26c, that is, the representative image Pe and all the latent images represented by the representative image Pe. To do. Accordingly, the non-display setting unit 26d sets each image in the image group PeG as a non-display image.

  When the non-display flag F is added to each image in the representative images Pa and Pb and the image group PeG as described above, the control unit 26 does not display the image group AP in the entire image folder 5a in the storage unit 5. Each image to which the flag F is added is excluded from the display target of the display unit 3, and the representative images Pa and Pb to which the non-display flag F of the representative image group DP in the representative image folder 5b of the storage unit 5 is added. , Pe is excluded from the display target of the display unit 3.

  Subsequently, the image extraction unit 26a newly re-extracts, from the image group AP, the same number of representative images Pa, Pb, Pe to which the non-display flag F is added, that is, three frames of representative images. In this case, the image extraction unit 26a selects the representative images Pc, Pd, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, and Pk that have already been extracted from the images to which the non-display flag F is not added. , Pm are extracted as new representative images Px, Py, and Pz. The control unit 26 stores the data of the new representative images Px, Py, and Pz re-extracted by the image extraction unit 26a in the representative image folder 5b in association with the above-described time data and similarity. The storage unit 5 is controlled.

  Thereafter, the control unit 26 hides the representative images Pa, Pb, and Pe to which the non-display flag F is added from the representative image group DP already displayed in the list display area 11 as well as displaying them. The display unit 3 is controlled to add the same number of representative images Px, Py, Pz as the number of non-displayed representative images Pa, Pb, Pe to the list display in the list display area 11. In this case, the control unit 26 displays the representative image group DP in a form in which new representative images Px, Py, Pz are added to the existing representative images Pc, Pd, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, Pm. The display unit 3 is controlled so as to display a list in a sequence order.

  Based on the control of the control unit 26, the display unit 3 displays the representative images Pa, Pb, and Pe that are not to be displayed as in the display mode change from the state before deletion to the state after deletion / update shown in FIG. Are deleted, and new representative images Px, Py, and Pz are additionally displayed in the list display area 11. In this case, the display unit 3 additionally displays the representative image Px that is after the representative image Ph in time series and before the representative image Pi, between the representative images Ph and Pi, and after the representative image Pi in time series. The representative image Py that is present and before the representative image Pj is additionally displayed between the representative images Pi and Pj, and the representative image Pz that is after the representative image Pj and before the representative image Pk in time series is displayed as the representative image Pj, Additional display between Pk.

  The control unit 26 excludes each latent image in the image group PeG to which the above-described non-display flag F is added from the display target in the detailed display area 12 of the display unit 3. That is, the control unit 26 adds the non-display flag F even when the representative image designation information for designating the representative image Pd or the representative image Pf and the display instruction information corresponding to the detailed display icon 14 are input. The display unit 3 is controlled not to display each latent image in the image group PeG in the detailed display area 12.

  Here, the non-displayed representative images Pa, Pb, and Pe to which the above-described non-display flag F is added are images that are unnecessary for observation inside the organ of the subject. Specifically, the representative images Pa and Pb are images outside the subject, and the representative image Pe is an in-vivo image with a lot of residues such as stool and a little drawing of the inner wall of the organ. In addition, the latent image in the image group PeG represented by the representative image Pe is an in-vivo image with a lot of residue, that is, an image unnecessary for observation inside the organ of the subject, like the representative image Pe. The image display device 21 having the above-described configuration designates the representative images Pa, Pb, and Pe which are images unnecessary for such observation, so that the representative images Pa, Pb, and Pe are displayed from the list display in the list display area 11. Can be easily deleted, and new representative images Px, Py, and Pz that can be in-vivo images in which characteristic sites such as a lesion or a bleeding part inside the subject are imaged by the number of deleted images are displayed. Display additional. As a result, the image display device 21 can reduce images unnecessary for observation from the list display and increase the possibility of displaying images useful for observation.

  In addition, as an image unnecessary for observation inside the organ of the subject, in addition to the above-described image outside the subject and in-vivo image with much residue, a normal part in which a characteristic part such as a lesioned part or a bleeding part is not imaged is normal. In-vivo images, images of the same subject continuously captured with the capsule endoscope inside the subject stagnating, and the like.

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the representative image of one or more frames specified from the plurality of representative images displayed in a list on the display unit is hidden and set to be hidden. The same number of representative images as the representative images are newly extracted, and the newly extracted representative images of the same number are added to the list display of the existing representative images, and the others are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. did. For this reason, while enjoying the same effects as the first embodiment described above, it is possible to easily delete images unnecessary for observation inside the organ of the subject from the representative images displayed in a list on the display unit, and Instead of the deleted representative image, it is possible to display a new list of representative images that may be useful images for observation on the display unit. As a result, representative images that are unnecessary for observation from the list display of representative images can be displayed. In addition, the possibility of displaying a representative image useful for observation can be increased, and oversight of a characteristic part inside the subject can be further suppressed.

  In the second embodiment, the latent image of one frame or more typified by the representative image set to non-display is set as a non-display image, so that it is not necessary for observation in the list display of the latent image in the display unit. As a result, the probability of displaying a representative image unnecessary for observation can be reduced and the possibility of displaying in-vivo images useful for observation can be further increased. The in-vivo image group of the subject can be observed in a shorter time.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described second embodiment, the representative image to be set to non-display is designated from the plurality of representative images displayed in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3. The range of the time position of the image to be set to non-display is designated from among the time positions of the image indicated by the graphic bar 15 of the display unit 3, and the image corresponding to the time position on the graphic bar 15 designated for this range is not designated. It can be set to display.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an image display apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of the display mode of the display unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific example of a setting menu for setting an image to non-display. As shown in FIG. 8, the image display device 31 according to the third embodiment includes a control unit 36 instead of the control unit 26 of the image display device 21 according to the second embodiment described above. Further, in this image display device 31, the display unit 3 displays the designated range R of the image on the graphic bar 15 as shown in FIG. 9 according to the operation of the input unit 4, and as shown in FIG. A setting menu 19 for setting the image to non-display is displayed as necessary. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The control unit 36 has a non-display setting unit 36d instead of the non-display setting unit 26d of the control unit 26 in the second embodiment. The non-display setting unit 36d has the same function as the non-display setting unit 26d in the above-described second embodiment, and further, a specified range based on the range specifying information and the non-display instruction information input by the input unit 4 A function of setting the image in the non-display image.

  Specifically, the control unit 36 uses the input unit 4 to input range designation information indicating the range of the time position designated from among the time positions of the image indicated by the graphic bar 15 of the display unit 3 and non-display instruction information. Entered. The non-display setting unit 36d adds a non-display flag F to all images corresponding to the range of the time position specified by the range specification information among the image group such as the representative image and the latent image stored in the storage unit 5. Thus, all images within the specified range are set as non-display images. The control unit 36 controls the display unit 3 to display the above-described mark M at a position on the graphic bar 15 corresponding to the time position of the image set to non-display by the non-display setting unit 36d. The display unit 3 is controlled so as not to display an image set to non-display. The control unit 36 has the same functions as the control unit 26 of the image display device 21 according to the second embodiment described above, except for the functions related to the non-display setting unit 36d.

  In the image display device 31 according to the third embodiment, the display unit 3 displays the designated range R of the image on the graphic bar 15 as shown in FIG. 9 based on the control of the control unit 36. The designated range R indicates the range of the time position designated from among the time positions of all the images indicated by the graphic bar 15. For example, the designated range R corresponds to an operation of the input unit 4 such as a mouse drag operation. 3 is displayed. The input unit 4 inputs range designation information indicating the range of the time position on the graphic bar 15 surrounded by the designated range R to the control unit 36 by an input operation for forming the designated range R on the graphic bar 15.

  On the other hand, the setting menu 19 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 3 in response to an operation of the input unit 4 such as a right click operation of the mouse. When the input unit 4 selects the non-display setting item of the image “set to be excluded from display” from the setting menu 19 by clicking or the like, the range of the time position corresponding to the above-described range specifying information Non-display instruction information for setting the non-display of all the images is input to the control unit 36.

  Next, the case where a part of continuous image groups included in the image group AP imaged along the time series is set to non-display is exemplified, and the image display device 31 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is configured. The operation will be specifically described. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for specifically explaining an image non-display setting operation by the image display apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the image display device 31 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment described above, except for the operation when all images within the specified range of the time position specified on the graphic bar 15 are set to be non-displayed. It is the same as that of the image display apparatus 21 concerning. Hereinafter, the operation of the image display device 31 when the image within the specified range of the time position specified on the graphic bar 15 is set to non-display will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  When the designated range R is formed on the graphic bar 15, the control unit 36 of the image display device 31 according to the third embodiment includes a range indicating the time position range 15 a on the graphic bar 15 surrounded by the designated range R. The designation information is input by the input unit 4. In such a state, when the non-display instruction information is input by the input unit 4, the control unit 36 indicates the time position indicated by the range designation information in the image group AP in the entire image folder 5 a of the storage unit 5. The continuous image group PG1 corresponding to the range 15a is excluded from being not displayed on the display unit.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the non-display setting unit 36d adds a non-display flag F to each image in the continuous image group PG1 corresponding to the time position range 15a in the image group AP, Thus, all the images in the continuous image group PG1 are set as non-display images. The control unit 36 controls the display unit 3 so as not to display the continuous image group PG1 to which the non-display flag F is added.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 11, when the representative image Ph is included in the continuous image group PG1 set to be non-displayed, the image extracting unit 26a does not have the non-display flag F of the image group AP added. Among the images, latent images having similarities of ranks subsequent to representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm that have already been extracted are represented as non-displayed representatives. A new representative image is extracted instead of the image Ph. Such a new representative image is displayed in addition to the existing representative images Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pm, as in the case of the second embodiment. A list is displayed in the list display area 11 of the section 3.

  As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the time position range of the designated image is designated from the graphic bar indicating the time position of each image in the image group captured along the time series, Based on the non-display instruction information, all the images within this time position range are set as non-display images, and the others are configured in the same manner as in the second embodiment. For this reason, while enjoying the same effect as the second embodiment described above, the range of the time position of the image to be set to be hidden is visually recognized from the entire range of the time position of each image indicated by the graphic bar. However, it is possible to easily specify, and a continuous image group corresponding to the specified time position range can be easily set to non-display. As a result, a continuous image group that is unnecessary for observation inside the organ of the subject, such as a continuous image group in which a plurality of images of the same subject are continuously displayed, is easily displayed from among a group of images in chronological order. Thus, the in-vivo image group of the subject can be observed in a shorter time.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment described above, all images within the time position range specified from the time positions of the images indicated by the graphic bar 15 of the display unit 3 are set to be non-displayed. 4, the time position of the image to be displayed is designated as a range from the time positions of the images indicated by the graphic bar 15, and each image corresponding to the time position on the graphic bar 15 designated in the range is selectively selected. It can be displayed.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an image display apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific example of a setting menu for setting an image as a display target. As shown in FIG. 12, the image display device 41 according to the fourth embodiment includes a control unit 46 instead of the control unit 36 of the image display device 31 according to the third embodiment. In the image display device 41, the display unit 3 displays a setting menu 19 for setting an image to be a display target or a non-display target in accordance with an operation of the input unit 4, as shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components.

  The control unit 46 includes an image extraction unit 46a instead of the image extraction unit 26a of the control unit 36 in the third embodiment described above, and includes an image selection unit 46b instead of the image selection unit 26b. The control unit 46 has the same functions as the control unit 36 of the image display device 31 according to the third embodiment described above, except for the functions related to the image extraction unit 46a and the image selection unit 46b.

  The image extraction unit 46a has an image extraction function similar to that of the image extraction unit 26a described above, and further extracts a representative image within the designated range based on the range designation information and display instruction information input by the input unit 4. It has the function to do. Specifically, when the range specifying information corresponding to the specified range R illustrated in FIG. 9 and the display instruction information corresponding to the display setting item of the setting menu 19 are input to the control unit 46 by the input unit 4, The image extraction unit 46a extracts a representative image existing in the range of the time position specified by the range specification information from the image group in the entire image folder 5a of the storage unit 5. In this case, the image extraction unit 46a extracts representative images for the set display number based on the display number instruction information described above from each image within the range of the time position specified by the range specifying information. The control unit 46 controls the storage unit 5 so as to overwrite the representative image data for the set display number extracted by the image extraction unit 46a in the representative image folder 5b, and the representative image for the set display number. Is displayed in the list display area 11 as a list.

  A setting menu 19 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display unit 3 in response to an operation of the input unit 4 such as a right click operation of the mouse. When the display setting item of the image “set to display” is selected from the setting menu 19 by clicking or the like, the input unit 4 is within the range of the time position corresponding to the above-described range designation information. Display instruction information for instructing to set all images as display targets is input to the control unit 46.

  The image selection unit 46b displays detailed information on the display unit 3 from the images existing in the time position range specified by the above-described range specification information in the image group in the entire image folder 5a of the storage unit 5. A latent image of one frame or more to be displayed as a list in the area 12 is selected. The image selection unit 46b has the same function as the image selection unit 26b described above, except that a latent image is selected from each image existing within the range of the time position specified by the range specification information.

  Next, an example of setting a partial continuous image group included in the image group AP captured in time series as a display target will be described, and the image display device 41 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The operation will be specifically described. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for specifically explaining the operation of the image display apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the operation of the image display device 41 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment described above, except for the operation when all images within the specified range of the time position specified on the graphic bar 15 are displayed. It is the same as that of the image display apparatus 31 concerning. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 12 and 14, the operation of the image display device 41 when all images within the specified range of the time position specified on the graphic bar 15 are to be displayed will be described in detail.

  When the designated range R is formed on the graphic bar 15, the control unit 46 of the image display device 41 according to the fourth embodiment includes a range indicating the time position range 15b on the graphic bar 15 surrounded by the designated range R. The designation information is input by the input unit 4. In this state, when the display instruction information for instructing to set the display target is input by the input unit 4, the control unit 46 selects this range designation information among the image groups AP in the entire image folder 5 a of the storage unit 5. The continuous image group PG2 corresponding to the time position range 15b indicated by is set as a display target of the display unit.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the image extraction unit 46 a out of the images in the continuous image group PG <b> 2 corresponding to the time position range 15 b in the image group AP for the set display number described above. A representative image group DG is extracted. The control unit 46 controls the storage unit 5 to overwrite each image data of the representative image group DG extracted from the continuous image group PG2 in the representative image folder 5b, and lists the representative image group DG described above. The display unit 3 is controlled to display a list in the display area 11.

  When the display instruction information corresponding to the detailed display icon 14 described above is input, the image selection unit 46b from the continuous image group PG2 displays one or more latent images indicated by the display instruction information. Select.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, all images within the time position range designated from the graphic bar indicating the time position of each image in the image group captured in time series. , The representative image for the set display number is extracted from all the images within the specified time position range, and the extracted representative images for the set display number are displayed in a list on the display unit, and The latent images to be displayed as a list on the display unit are selected from all the latent images within the time position range, and the others are configured in the same manner as in the third embodiment. For this reason, while enjoying the effect similar to Embodiment 3 mentioned above, the range of the time position of the image to set as a display object is visually recognized from the whole range of the time position of each image shown by this graphic bar. However, it can be easily specified, and a continuous image group corresponding to the specified time position range can be selectively displayed on the display unit. As a result, it is possible to selectively display a continuous image group of the digestive tract site to be observed, such as the stomach, small intestine or large intestine of the subject, from among the image group in time series order. A list of continuous images inside the subject can be selectively displayed and the in-vivo image group of the subject can be observed in a shorter time.

(Embodiment 5)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In Embodiments 1 to 4 described above, latent images that exist between representative images are displayed in a list in the detailed display area 12 in a still image state. However, in Embodiment 5, a non-display flag is added. All the images to be displayed excluding the display setting image can be displayed as moving images in the detailed display area 12.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an image display apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of the display mode of the display unit in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the image display device 51 according to the fifth embodiment includes a control unit 56 instead of the control unit 46 of the image display device 41 according to the fourth embodiment described above. Further, in this image display device 51, as shown in FIG. 16, the display unit 3 displays a moving image mode icon 100 which is a GUI for instructing setting of the moving image mode, and when the moving image mode is set, detailed display is performed. A display operation icon group 101 that is a GUI for performing a display operation when displaying an image as a moving image is displayed in the area 12. Other configurations are the same as those of the fourth embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components.

  The control unit 56 switches the image display operation mode from the still image mode to the moving image mode when mode setting instruction information for instructing setting of the moving image mode is input by the input unit 4. In the moving image mode, the control unit 56 sets the detailed display area 12 described above as a display area for moving image display, and controls the display unit 3 to display the display operation icon group 101 for operating the moving image display. Based on the moving image display instruction information corresponding to the display operation icons in the display operation icon group 101, the control unit 56 sorts the images included in the image group in the entire image folder 5a in time series order or in reverse order of time series. Play video sequentially. In this case, the control unit 56 displays the remaining images in the detailed display area 12 in the detailed display area 12 except for the non-display setting image to which the non-display flag F is added, among the image groups in the entire image folder 5a. The display unit 3 is controlled. An image displayed as a moving image on the display unit 3 based on the control of the control unit 56 may be only a representative image or only a latent image as long as it is an image to which a non-display flag is added. It may be both a representative image and a latent image. The control unit 56 has the same functions as those of the control unit 46 of the image display device 41 according to the fourth embodiment described above, except for the functions related to the moving image display.

  Note that in the image display device 51 according to the fifth embodiment, the input unit 4 moves the mouse cursor 17 to the moving image mode icon 100 and performs a click operation to display mode setting instruction information for instructing setting of the moving image mode. 56. In addition, the input unit 4 moves the mouse cursor 17 to any display operation icon in the display operation icon group 101 and performs a click operation, thereby moving image display instruction information corresponding to the display operation icon with the mouse cursor 17 combined. Is input to the control unit 56.

  As described above, in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the remaining images other than the image set to non-display among the images in the image group taken in time series are displayed as a moving image. Other configurations are the same as those in the fourth embodiment. For this reason, while enjoying the same effect as Embodiment 4 mentioned above, each remaining image other than the image unnecessary for observation inside the organ of the subject can be displayed as a moving image. As a result, the number of images to be displayed on the display unit as a moving image can be reduced to the minimum necessary, and the possibility of displaying an image of a characteristic part such as a lesioned part or a bleeding part inside the subject in a moving image can be increased. As a result, the observation time of the in-vivo image group of the subject by moving image reproduction can be shortened.

  In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the time position of each image in the image group captured in time series is indicated by the graphic bar 15 and the indicator 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. An imaging position of each image in the image group may be indicated by using a digestive tract schematic image simulating the digestive tract inside the subject that is the movement path of the endoscope.

  FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating the display mode of the display unit when the time position of each image is indicated using a digestive tract schematic image. As shown in FIG. 17, the display unit 3 displays a digestive tract schematic image 15c instead of the graphic bar 15 described above, and displays an indicator 16a inside the digestive tract indicated by the digestive tract schematic image 15c. The digestive tract schematic image 15c schematically shows a digestive tract that is a movement path of a capsule endoscope that sequentially captures in-vivo images of a subject in time series. The indicator 16a moves along the digestive tract indicated by the digestive tract schematic image 15c, thereby indicating the imaging position of each image inside the subject. In this case, by forming the designated range R at a desired digestive tract position in the digestive tract schematic image 15c, each image captured at the digestive tract position in the designated range R is set as a non-display target or a display target. can do. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, when the designated range R is formed so as to surround the stomach in the digestive tract schematic image 15 c, the non-display setting item “set outside display target” in the setting menu 19 is selected. Each image obtained by imaging the inside of the stomach can be excluded from the display target, and if the display setting item “set as display target” in the setting menu 19 is selected, each image obtained by imaging the inside of the stomach is selectively selected. Can be set as a display target. The mark M described above may be displayed at the imaging position corresponding to the non-display setting image in the digestive tract schematic image 15c.

  In the first to fifth embodiments described above, a plurality of representative images are displayed in a list in the list display area 11 of the display unit 3, and the detail display area 12, which is a display area different from the list display area 11, is displayed. Although a list of one or more latent images latent between representative images is displayed, the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the detailed display area for displaying a list of latent images that are latent between representative images. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating another aspect of a list display example of latent images.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the image display apparatus according to the present invention displays one or more latent images that exist between representative images in a plurality of representative images displayed in a list in the list display area 11. A list may be displayed in the balloon-like detailed display area 12 in a form indicating the position between representative images where images are latent. For example, in FIG. 18, a balloon-like detailed display area 12 for displaying a list of latent image groups SP indicates between the representative images Pg and Ph and the representative images Ph and Pi where the latent image group SP is latent. Yes. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19, the image display apparatus according to the present invention may display a list of latent images in a list display area 11 for displaying a list of representative images. In this case, the image display device displays a list of the latent images that exist between the representative images Pg and Ph in the latent image group SP between the representative images Pg and Ph in the list display area 11, and the representative images Ph, A list of latent images between the representative images Ph and Pi in the latent image group SP is displayed between Pi.

  Although not particularly illustrated, the image display apparatus according to the present invention may display a list of latent images represented by the representative image in a form arranged in the upper or lower stage of the representative image, or may be displayed on the right side of the representative image. Alternatively, latent images typified by this representative image may be displayed in a list in a manner arranged on the left side.

  On the other hand, in Embodiments 1 to 5 described above, when displaying a list of latent images that exist between representative images, one of a plurality of representative images displayed in a list is specified. Not limited to this, a plurality of representative images may be designated, and latent images represented by the designated representative images may be displayed in a list, or two representatives of the plurality of representative images displayed in a list may be displayed. An image may be designated, and latent images that exist between the two designated representative images may be displayed as a list. In this case, the two designated representative images may be representative images that are adjacent in time series or may be representative images that sandwich one or more representative images.

  In the above-described second embodiment, the representative image designated from the plurality of representative images displayed in a list and the latent images represented by the representative image are set out of the display target. Not limited to this, only the designated representative image may be set out of the display target.

  Furthermore, in the above-described third and fourth embodiments, all images corresponding to the designated range R formed on the graphic bar 15 are selectively excluded from display targets or display targets. Of all the images specified by R, only the representative image may be selectively excluded from the display target or display target, or only the latent image may be selectively excluded from the display target or display target.

  Moreover, in Embodiment 1-5 mentioned above, although all the latent images latent between the designated representative images were displayed as a list, it is not restricted to this, All the latent images latent between the designated representative images It is only necessary to display a list of latent images of one frame or more. For example, a list of latent images may be displayed in a mode in which frames are skipped frame by frame, or a list of latent images is displayed in a mode in which frames are skipped by multiple frames. Also good.

  Furthermore, in Embodiment 1-5 mentioned above, although the representative image was extracted based on the similarity of the image between the adjacent images in the image group imaged along the time series, it is not restricted to this, The representative image may be extracted based on conditions other than the similarity of images between adjacent images. For example, a representative image may be extracted based on the frame number of each image in the image group, or a representative image may be extracted based on time data such as an imaging time of each image or an elapsed time from the start of imaging. Alternatively, a representative image may be extracted based on the imaging position of each image, or a representative image may be extracted based on the moving distance of an in-vivo imaging device such as a capsule endoscope. Alternatively, the representative image may be extracted based on the magnitude of the movement of the image.

  In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the time-series image groups captured by the capsule endoscope introduced into the subject are displayed. The in-vivo imaging device that captures the image groups. Is not limited to a capsule endoscope, and may be another in-vivo imaging device. For example, an image group displayed on the image display device according to the present invention is a distal end of an insertion portion that is inserted into the digestive tract of a subject. It may be a group of images captured by an endoscope with a built-in imaging unit.

  Furthermore, in Embodiments 1 to 5 described above, the displayed image group can be stored in the recording medium inserted in the data input / output unit 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. The image set as the non-display target is not output to the recording medium in the data input / output unit 2 and the remaining images excluding the non-display target image are stored in the recording medium in the data input / output unit 2. It may be recorded.

  In the first to fifth embodiments described above, when displaying each image as a list, the images are arranged in chronological order from left to right toward the display screen, and in chronological order from top to bottom. Although each image was arranged, the present invention is not limited to this, and each image to be displayed in a list may be in a desired arrangement form as long as it is arranged in chronological order, for example, from right to left toward the display screen. The images may be arranged in time series order, or the images may be arranged in time series from bottom to top toward the display screen. In any arrangement mode, it is desirable that the arrangement modes of the representative image list display area 11 and the latent image detail display area 12 are the same as each other.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration example of an image display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a specific example of the display mode of the display part in this Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which illustrates the process sequence of the control part of the image display apparatus until it displays the list of the latent image latent between representative images. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating concretely the operation | movement of the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically one structural example of the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a specific example of the display mode of the display part in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating concretely the operation | movement of the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the example of 1 structure of the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a specific example of the display mode of the display part in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the setting menu for setting an image to non-display. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating concretely the image non-display setting operation | movement by the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the example of 1 structure of the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a specific example of the setting menu for setting an image as a display target. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating concretely the operation | movement of the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically one structural example of the image display apparatus concerning Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a specific example of the display mode of the display part in Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the display mode of a display part in the case of showing the time position of each image using a digestive tract schematic image. It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of the detailed display area which displays a list of the latent images latent between representative images. It is a schematic diagram which shows another aspect of the list display example of a latent image.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 31, 41, 51 Image display device 2 Data input / output unit 3 Display unit 4 Input unit 5 Storage unit 5a All image folder 5b Representative image folder 6, 26, 36, 46, 56 Control unit 6a, 26a, 46a Image extraction unit 6b, 26b, 46b Image selection unit 11 List display area 12 Detailed display area 13 List display icon 14 Detailed display icon 15 Graphic bar 15a, 15b Time position range 15c Gastrointestinal tract schematic image 16, 16a indicator 17 Mouse cursor 18 Delete Icon 19 Setting menu 26c Grouping processing unit 26d, 36d Non-display setting unit 100 Movie mode icon 101 Display operation icon group AP image group DP representative image group F Non-display flag M mark Pa to Pm, Px to Pz representative image PeG image group PG1, P 2 successive image group Pg1~Pg4, Ph1~Ph5 latent image R-range SP latent image group

Claims (13)

Image acquisition means for acquiring a group of images captured in time series;
Display means for displaying the image group acquired by the image acquisition means;
The display means is controlled to extract a representative image group from the image group and display the representative image group as a list, and at least one representative image in the representative image group displayed in the list is displayed. Control means for selecting a latent image from the image group and controlling the display means to display a list of the selected one or more latent images;
An image display device comprising: Input means for inputting representative image designation information for designating one or more representative images from the representative image group;
The control means selects the one or more latent images represented by one or more representative images designated by the representative image designation information in the representative image group from the image group, and selects the selected image The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is controlled to display a list of the one or more latent images.   The control means selects, from the image group, the one or more latent images that exist between a representative image designated by the representative image designation information and another representative image adjacent to the representative image, The image display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is controlled to display a list of the selected one or more latent images. The input means inputs non-display instruction information for instructing non-display of an image,
The control means controls the display means so as to hide one or more representative images designated by the representative image designation information when the non-display instruction information is inputted by the input means. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the image display device is a display device.   The control means, when the non-display instruction information is input by the input means, one or more representative images designated by the representative image designation information and one or more representatives represented by the one or more representative images The image display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display unit is controlled so as to hide the latent image.   When the non-display instruction information is input by the input unit, the control unit is latent 1 between a representative image specified by the representative image specifying information and two representative images adjacent to the representative image. 5. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the display unit is controlled to group two or more latent images and to hide the grouped representative images and latent images. The input means inputs image group designation information for designating a desired continuous image group from the image group,
When the non-display instruction information is input by the input unit, the control unit controls the display unit to hide the representative image and the latent image in the continuous image group designated by the image group designation information. The image display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image display apparatus is controlled.   The control means extracts a representative image having the same number of frames as the hidden representative image from the latent image group excluding the representative image group of the image group, and extracts the extracted image. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the display unit is controlled to display a list of the representative image group including the representative images of the number of frames.   The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to display a list of the representative image group having a preset number of frames. The input means inputs display instruction information for instructing a list display of images,
When the display instruction information is input by the input unit, the control unit extracts one or more representative images designated by the representative image designation information from the image group, and extracts the one or more representatives. The image display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is controlled to display images in a list. The input means inputs image group designation information for designating a desired continuous image group from the image group,
The control means controls the display means to display a list of representative images and latent images in a continuous image group designated by the image group designation information when the display instruction information is inputted by the input means. The image display device according to claim 10.   The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to display a list of the representative image groups in a manner arranged in time series.   13. The image display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to display a list of the one or more latent images in the same arrangement manner as the representative image group.

Images