JP2010099157A - Medical image processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image processing apparatus and program capable of rearranging a display sequence, with a plurality of medical images acquired from different imaging devices intermingled. <P>SOLUTION: This medical image processing apparatus 40 acquires a plurality of medical images formed by a plurality of different imaging devices and rearranges the display sequence of the medical images on a display screen by inspecting the plurality of acquired medical images. This medical image processing apparatus 40 includes a storage section 45 storing a master table T1 where a predetermined code indicating an imaging site, an imaging direction and imaging conditions is associated with the display sequence previously, and a control section 41 rearranging the display sequence of the plurality of acquired medical images based on the master table T1 and incidental information of a plurality of pieces of acquired medical information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus and a program.

In a medical field, a plurality of medical images are generated by a plurality of imaging devices, and the generated medical images are used for image diagnosis of an interpretation doctor.
Here, with respect to the medical image generated by the photographing apparatus, “image inspection” is performed before being used for image diagnosis by an interpreting doctor, which is a general flow in the medical image processing flow. Image inspection means checking whether or not the generated medical image is appropriate for interpretation or storage, or correcting it to an appropriate content if it is not appropriate. Examination can reduce the burden on the interpreting physician and prevent misdiagnosis.

  Among the processes included in the image inspection, there is a process of rearranging the display order of medical images. Usually, when a plurality of medical images are displayed on a viewer, film, or the like at once, the display order is the imaging order. When the imaging order is difficult to perform image diagnosis, rearrangement is made in advance to a display order that facilitates image diagnosis by image inspection.

According to Patent Literature 1, when displaying a series of images, a technique for automatically changing the grouping of images or the order of images and displaying the images in a certain manner is disclosed (see Patent Literature 1). ).
Further, according to Patent Document 2, there is disclosed a technique for displaying images related to each other such as past and time-difference images in the order according to the user's preference (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-337347 A JP 2005-56065 A

However, with the techniques of Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, it is not possible to rearrange the display order by mixing a plurality of medical images acquired from different imaging devices.
For example, a medical image (hereinafter referred to as a CR image) acquired from a certain CR (Computed Radiography) apparatus and a medical image (hereinafter referred to as an FPD image) acquired from an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) apparatus are mixed to arrange the display order. It cannot be changed. The same applies to a medical image acquired from one CR device and a medical image acquired from another CR device. The display order of medical images that are CR images or FPD images and generated by the same model is merely rearranged.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image processing apparatus and a program capable of rearranging the display order by mixing a plurality of medical images acquired from different imaging apparatuses.

According to the present invention,
In a medical image processing apparatus that acquires a plurality of medical images captured by a plurality of different imaging apparatuses, displays the acquired plurality of medical images on a display screen, and examines the image,
A storage unit for storing a table in which a display order is predetermined based on an imaging region, an imaging direction, and imaging conditions;
A control unit for determining a display order of the plurality of acquired medical images based on the table and incidental information of the medical images, and displaying the medical images on the display screen according to the determined display order;
A medical image processing apparatus is provided.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of medical images photographed by different photographing apparatuses are displayed on the display screen, the display order can be rearranged regardless of the model and type of the photographing apparatus. Therefore, even in the case of medical images generated by different imaging devices, the display order can be rearranged, and efficiency in image diagnosis can be improved.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, FIG. 1 shows an image display system 100 as an overall configuration.
The image display system 100 includes an RIS 10, a modality 20, a modality 30, a medical image processing apparatus 40, a PACS 50, a viewer 60, and the like. The image display system 100 uses DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standard for exchanging medical images.

The RIS 10 is an abbreviation for “Radiology Information System” and is a radiology information system that manages information in the radiology department. The RIS 10 receives the input of order information by the operator and registers the order information. The order information mainly includes patient information and examination information. Patient information is information for specifying a patient such as a patient name and a patient ID. The examination information is information relating to examinations such as an imaging region, an imaging direction, and an imaging method, and specifically includes information such as “imaging site: chest, imaging direction: front AP, imaging method: expiration”, and the like. is there.
The RIS 10 transmits the registered auto information to any of the imaging devices (for example, the CR device 21) in the modality 20 or 30 and also to the medical image processing device 40.

  The modality 20 is an imaging device that acquires transmitted X-rays transmitted through a patient and generates a medical image. For example, a CR (Computed Radiography) device 21 to a CR device 24, an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) device 25, and an FPD device. 26 etc.

  The CR device 21 is an upright type, the CR device 22 is an upright type, and the CR device 23 and the CR device 24 are cassette type X-ray imaging devices. These imaging devices are selectively used according to the purpose of imaging. The CR devices 21 to 24 are common in that analog medical image data is acquired using a stimulable phosphor, and the acquired analog medical image data is converted into digital medical image data.

  The FPD devices 25 and 26 are standing type and lying type X-ray imaging apparatuses. The FPD devices 25 and 26 are common in that digital medical image data is directly acquired by an X-ray detector without using a stimulable phosphor.

  Since the medical images generated by the modality 20 are generated by transmitted X-rays, all of them are visually similar medical images. However, in the operation of the image display system 100, since the medical images are generated from different imaging devices, they are handled as different medical images.

Further, the medical image generated by the modality 20 includes incidental information in addition to the patient image information. The incidental information is a part of the order information, and is, for example, information on an imaging part, an imaging direction, and an imaging method.
The modality 20 transmits the generated medical image to the medical image processing apparatus 40.

The modality 30 is an imaging apparatus that generates a medical image by an imaging technique different from that of the modality 20, and includes, for example, a CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus 31, an MR (Magnetic Resonance) apparatus 32, a US (Ultra Sound) apparatus 33, and the like.
Similar to the modality 20, the modality 30 transmits the generated medical image to the medical image processing apparatus 40.

  The medical image processing apparatus 40 receives the order information transmitted from the RIS 10 and receives the medical image generated by the modality 20 or the modality 30. Then, the medical image processing apparatus 40 examines whether or not the received medical image is appropriate for interpretation or storage, and if not, performs a process of correcting the content to an appropriate content (hereinafter, image inspection). Do. In the present embodiment, among the processes included in the image inspection, a process for rearranging the display order of medical images will be described.

FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the medical image processing apparatus 40.
The medical image processing apparatus 40 includes a control unit 41, an input unit 42, a display unit 43, a communication unit 44, a storage unit 45, and the like, and each unit is connected by a bus 46.

  The control unit 41 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown). The control unit 41 reads out various programs such as a system program and a processing program stored in the storage unit 45 and develops them in a RAM, and comprehensively controls the processing operation in cooperation with the read out various programs.

  The input unit 42 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse. The input unit 42 outputs, to the control unit 41, a key pressing signal that has been pressed with the keyboard and an operation signal from the mouse as input signals.

  The display unit 43 includes, for example, a monitor such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display unit 43 displays various screens according to instructions of display signals input from the control unit 41.

  The communication unit 44 includes a network interface or the like. The communication unit 44 transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to a communication network (not shown), and receives order information and medical images. In addition, the communication unit 44 transmits the imaged medical image to the PACS 50 or the viewer 60.

The storage unit 45 includes an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, or the like. The storage unit 45 stores various programs including a system program executed by the control unit 41, and stores data processed by the various programs.
In addition, the storage unit 45 stores a master table in which a display order for displaying medical images is predetermined.

FIG. 3 shows the master table T1.
The master table T1 is a table in which the display order is predetermined for each imaging direction and each imaging region. Specifically, the display order and the RIS code / condition key number are associated with each other in the master table T1. The RIS code / condition key number is information indicating an imaging direction and an imaging region, and is incidental information attached to a header or the like of a medical image. The RIS code is a 16-digit number and is supplementary information of a medical image generated by the FPD device 25 and the FPD device 26, for example.
The condition key number is an 18-digit number, for example, supplementary information of a medical image generated by the CR device 21 to the CR device 24. Whether the display order is associated with the RIS code or the condition key number depends on the imaging apparatus. In any case, it is sufficient that the display order can be associated with information indicating the imaging direction and the imaging region.

  The master table T1 is created based on a plurality of sub-tables whose display order is predetermined for each model of the photographing apparatus. For example, if the CR device 21 and the CR device 22 are the same model (manufactured by △△ company), there is one sub-table. There are two. By registering these in the master table T1, the master table T1 shown in FIG. 3 is created.

FIG. 4 shows a registration process to the master table T1.
The control unit 41 acquires an RIS code or a condition key number for each model of the photographing apparatus (step S1). For example, the condition key number of the medical image of “Chest Front P-A” and the condition key number of the medical image of “Chest Side RL” generated by the CR device 21 is acquired.

The control unit 41 determines whether or not the acquired RIS code or condition key number is from the same model of the same imaging apparatus (step S2).
If the same photographing apparatus is not the same model (step S2; N), the control unit 41 ends the registration process.
When the same imaging device is the same model (step S2; Y), the control unit 41 creates a subtable from the acquired RIS code or condition key number, and registers the created subtable in the master table T1 ( Step S3), the registration process is terminated.

FIG. 5 shows editing processing of the master table T1.
The control unit 41 determines whether there is an instruction to sort by the photographing device (step S11). “Sort by photographing device” means that the CR devices 21 to 24 are sorted as one group, and the FPD device 25 and the FPD device 26 are sorted as one group.

When there is an instruction to sort by photographing apparatus (step S11; Y), the control unit 41 sorts the RIS code or the condition key number registered in the master table T1 by photographing apparatus (step S12).
When there is no instruction for sorting by photographing apparatus (step S11: N), the control unit 41 proceeds to step S13.

  The control unit 41 determines whether there is an instruction to sort by shooting direction (step S13). “Sort by imaging direction” means that, for example, a medical image of the chest front PA is grouped into one group and a medical image of the chest side RL is used regardless of whether the CR device or the FPD device is used. Sorting as a group.

When there is an instruction to sort by photographing direction (step S13; Y), the control unit 41 sorts the RIS code or the condition key number registered in the master table T1 by photographing direction (step S14).
When there is no instruction to sort by shooting direction (step S13; N), the control unit 41 proceeds to step S15.

  The control unit 41 determines whether there is an instruction to sort by the imaging region (step S15). “Sort by imaging region” means, for example, that medical images on the chest front PA and chest front AP are sorted as one group, and the medical images on the chest side RL and chest side LR are sorted as one group. It is to be.

When there is an instruction to sort by imaging region (step S15; Y), the control unit 41 sorts the RIS code or the condition key number registered in the master table T1 by imaging region (step S16).
When there is no instruction for sorting by imaging region (step S15; N), the control unit 41 proceeds to step S17.

The control unit 41 determines whether there is an instruction to rearrange the display order of the RIS code or the condition key number registered in the master table T1 via the input unit 42 (step S17).
When there is an instruction to rearrange (step S17; Y), the control unit 41 rearranges the display order according to the instruction (step S18), and ends the master table editing process.
When there is no instruction to rearrange (Step S17; N), the control unit 41 ends the master table editing process.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the edited master table T1.
In the master table T1, the RIS code or the condition key to be registered when sorting is performed by imaging direction and imaging region (left side) and when sorting is performed by imaging device, imaging direction and imaging region (right side). The order of the numbers is rearranged.
In addition, the order of the registered RIS code or condition key number is sequentially rearranged by editing the master table T1 (see FIG. 5).

Returning to FIG. 1, a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System for medical application) 50 has a database (not shown), and stores medical images in the database.
The viewer 60 includes a display unit that displays medical images. The viewer 60 is a terminal device such as a PC (Personal Computer) installed for image diagnosis such as interpretation.

With reference to FIG. 7, a series of processes from generation to storage of medical images will be described.
The RIS 10 registers the order information (step S21), and transmits the registered order information to the modality 20 (step S22). The RIS 10 also transmits the registered order information to the medical image processing apparatus 40 (step S23). The registered order information includes information indicating the imaging region and the imaging method. Specifically, an RIS code and a condition key number are included.

  The modality 20 captures a patient based on the order information and generates a medical image (step S24). A part of the order information is attached as supplementary information to the header portion of the generated medical image. A part of the attached order information includes a RIS code and a condition key number.

The modality 20 transmits a medical image to the medical image processing apparatus 40 (step S25).
Here, the modality 20 generates a plurality of different medical images by a plurality of different imaging devices (for example, the CR device 21, the CR device 22, the FPD device 25, etc.), and the plurality of different medical images are generated by the medical image processing device 40. May be sent to.

  When the medical image processing apparatus 40 displays a plurality of different medical images on the display screen, the normal display order is the imaging order. However, the order in which images are taken is not necessarily an order suitable for image diagnosis. Therefore, the medical image processing apparatus 40 performs processing for rearranging in an order suitable for image diagnosis.

  The medical image processing apparatus 40 acquires medical images and rearranges the display order (step S26).

FIG. 8 shows a process for rearranging the display order.
When receiving a plurality of medical images (step S31), the control unit 41 determines whether or not the received plurality of medical images are from the same series of the same examination (step S32).
Note that when making the determination, the control unit 41 refers to the supplementary information of the medical image.

  When the images are not based on the same series of the same examination (step S32; N), the control unit 41 determines that the received plurality of medical images are not the objects of rearrangement of the display order, and ends this processing.

  When it is based on the same series of the same examination (step S32; Y), the control unit 41 extracts either the RIS code or the condition key number from the received medical image (step S33). According to the present embodiment, the control unit 41 extracts the RIS code from the medical images received by the CR devices 21 to 24, and sets the condition key number from the medical images received by the FPD device 25 and the FPD device 26. Extract.

The control unit 41 determines whether or not the extracted RIS code or condition key number is registered in the table T stored in the storage unit 45 (step S34).
If it is not registered (step S34; N), the control unit 41 determines that the received plurality of medical images is not a target for rearrangement of the display order, and ends this process.

  If registered (step S34; Y), the control unit 41 rearranges the display order of the plurality of received medical images based on the table T and the extracted RIS code or condition key number, and determines the display order. (Step S35).

  The control unit 41 displays the received plurality of medical images on the display unit 43 in the determined display order (step S36), and ends this process.

FIG. 9 shows a conceptual diagram of the display order rearrangement process.
As shown in the display screen example G1, for example, when the image is taken by the CR device 21 and then taken by the FPD device 25, the medical images generated by these photographing devices are usually displayed on the display screen in the order of photographing. . In the example shown in FIG. 9, the medical images are displayed on the display screen in the order of photographing, that is, the front of the chest, the right oblique position, the side face, and the left oblique position.

  After the display order rearrangement process described in FIG. 8, a plurality of different medical images are rearranged from the display screen example G1 to the display screen example G2.

  As shown in the display screen example G2, when the display order is rearranged by the master table T1, the medical images are always displayed on the display screen in a predetermined order regardless of the imaging order and the imaging apparatus. . In the example shown in FIG. 9, medical images are displayed on the display screen in the order of the chest side, front, right oblique, and left oblique.

Returning to FIG. 7, the medical image processing apparatus 40 transmits the acquired plurality of medical images to the PACS 50 or the viewer 60 in a state where the display order is rearranged (step S27).
The PACS 50 stores a plurality of medical images in a database in a state where the display order is rearranged. Further, the viewer 60 displays a plurality of medical images on the display unit in a state where the display order is rearranged (step S28). Thereby, a series of processing from generation to storage of the medical image is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the medical image processing device 40 can easily perform image diagnosis on a plurality of medical images generated by a plurality of different imaging devices (such as the CR device 21 and the FPD device 25) in the modality 20. It can be rearranged in the display order. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of image diagnosis such as interpretation, and to easily grasp a medical image necessary for interpretation, and to reduce the burden of re-imaging or the like on the patient.

  Further, in the master table T1, the RIS code or the condition key number and the display order are associated with each other regardless of which imaging device the generated medical image is from. The RIS code or the condition key number is information indicating the imaging part, the imaging direction, and the imaging method, and the medical image processing apparatus 40 can extract the RIS code or the condition key number from the supplementary information of the medical image. That is, the medical image processing apparatus 40 can rearrange the display order of medical images into the order of the imaging region, the imaging direction, and the imaging direction based on the extracted RIS code or condition key number and the master table T1.

  Further, a plurality of tables having a display order different from the master table T1 given as an example in FIG. 3 may be stored, and based on any one of the stored master tables. The display order of medical images may be rearranged. By providing a plurality of master tables, it is possible to display medical images in a display order that meets the needs of each user such as an interpretation doctor.

  Further, the input unit 42 may be able to change and rearrange the display order defined in the master table T1. By making it possible to change the display order as appropriate, medical images can be displayed in the display order desired by the user, and the burden on the storage unit 45 can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of master tables are provided.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of an image display system. It is a functional block diagram of a medical image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a master table. It is a figure which shows the registration process to a master table. It is a figure which shows the edit process of a master table. It is a figure which shows an example of the master table after an edit process. It is a flowchart which shows a series of processes from the production | generation to storage of a medical image. It is a flowchart which shows the rearrangement process of a medical image. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the rearrangement process of a medical image.

Explanation of symbols

100 image display system 10 RIS
20, 30 Modality 40 Medical image processing apparatus 41 Control unit 42 Input unit 43 Display unit 44 Communication unit 45 Storage unit 50 PACS
60 Viewer

Claims (5)

A medical image processing device that acquires a plurality of medical images generated by a plurality of different imaging devices and rearranges the display order of the plurality of medical images on a display screen by examining the acquired plurality of medical images In
A storage unit for storing a table in which predetermined information indicating a photographing part, a photographing direction, and photographing conditions and a display order are associated in advance;
A control unit that rearranges the display order of the plurality of acquired medical images based on the table and incidental information of the plurality of acquired medical images;
A medical image processing apparatus comprising: The predetermined information indicating the imaging part, the imaging direction, and the imaging condition of the table is RIS information or a condition key number.
The control unit extracts the RIS information or the condition key number included in the supplementary information of the medical image, and displays the acquired plurality of medical images based on the table and the extracted RIS information or the condition key number. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order is rearranged. The storage unit stores two or more different tables.
The control unit determines any one of the two or more different tables, and sets the display order of the acquired plurality of medical images based on the determined table and the incidental information of the medical images. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image processing apparatus is rearranged. An input unit for changing a display order associated with the predetermined information in the table in advance;
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: In a program for rearranging the display order of the plurality of medical images on a display screen by acquiring a plurality of medical images generated by a plurality of different imaging devices and examining the acquired plurality of medical images,
Computer
Storage means for storing a table in which predetermined information indicating an imaging region, an imaging direction, and an imaging condition is associated with a display order in advance;
Control means for rearranging the display order of the plurality of acquired medical images based on the table and the incidental information of the plurality of acquired medical images;
Program to function as.