JP2010124350A - Image recording and playback method, image recording and playback apparatus and image recording and playback system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that, when continuous long-time moving images are recorded in a DICOM format, it is necessary in some cases to divide the image into a plurality of files and when divided, each of the files may be recognized as independent contents and playback of videos may be finished in the end of the file. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an image recording and playback apparatus comprising: a DICOM processing section for generating a DICOM image file by converting input image data into a format specified by DICOM standards in accordance with instructions from an operating section; and a connection information processing section in which, when a plurality of DICOM image files are generated from a series of input image data, file connection information is generated for logically connecting the plurality of DICOM image files and described in the plurality of DICOM image files. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for recording / reproducing an image, and more particularly to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method in the field of medical image diagnosis.

  Conventionally, digitization of a medical image obtained by imaging a patient has been realized in a medical field, and CR (Computed Radiography), CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an endoscopic diagnostic apparatus. Or the like (hereinafter referred to as modality) generates medical image data.

  Since medical image data is digital data, management by a database on a network is easy, and a medical image management system called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) is known.

  The PACS can receive medical image data from the modality and store it in a database, and can retrieve specific image data from the database and send it to the client in response to an image request from a client such as an image viewer. A communication protocol between the modality and the PACS and a standard that determines the data format for communication is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine).

  DICOM is an industry standard that enables medical image data of different types (multi-modalities) from different manufacturers (multi-vendors) to be connected to each other via a network or a recording medium of image data inside and outside the hospital. It is a standard that contributes to reducing management costs and improving diagnostic accuracy, and its versatility is still expanding.

  In the DICOM standard, a file format of medical image data is defined. The DICOM file format is composed of medical image data and parameters for explaining image data such as patient information and examination contents, and is a format established by a single file (hereinafter referred to as a DICOM image file). Version 3 of the latest DICOM standard is standardized so that not only still image data but also moving image data can be handled (Non-patent Document 1).

Also, depending on the modality such as MRI, multiple image data may be generated in a single examination, and the frequency of pixels in an arbitrary direction of each image data is histogrammed, and grouping of measurement parts is automatically performed based on the characteristics of the histogram. Has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).
DICOM PS 3 2008 JP 2006-15125 A

  The problem in the above conventional example is that even if a series of data, one file size is limited, a series of data exceeding the limit cannot be handled as one file.

  That is, in the above-described conventional example, the upper limit of one file size is set in the DICOM standard, and therefore the size of the data exceeds the upper limit of the file size even for a series of correlated data. In some cases, it could not be handled as a single file.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to handle a series of data as one file.

  For example, in the medical field, when a large amount of medical image data is generated for a long time in one examination, it is necessary to divide the file. For example, depending on the PACS, there is a limit on the file size that can be registered in the database. When playing back the divided medical images, the information is closed in one file in the DICOM standard, so it is generated in one inspection. It is not possible to play back all the images. In this case, it is necessary to re-search subsequent image data and manually reproduce it.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an image recording / playback apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording / playback apparatus for recording and playing back a moving image input in accordance with a format defined by the DICOM standard. According to a command from the operation unit, an operation input unit for inputting an image, an image input unit for inputting a moving image being photographed from the outside, a display unit for displaying input image data input to the image input unit, A DICOM processing unit that converts the image data into a format defined by the DICOM standard to generate a DICOM image file, and a communication unit that transmits and receives the DICOM image file to and from another device on the network; Alternatively, a portable medium processing unit that records the DICOM image file on a removable recording medium, or the DICOM image file inside One or more recording units stored in a recording device, and when the DICOM processing unit generates a plurality of DICOM image files from a series of input image data, the plurality of DICOM image files are logically connected. And a connection information processing unit that generates file connection information to be described and describes them in the plurality of DICOM image files.

  The image recording / reproducing method of the present invention is an image recording / reproducing method for recording and reproducing a moving image input in accordance with a format defined by the DICOM standard, and a moving image that is being photographed or has been photographed is in a DIOCM format. And generating a DICOM image file, a step of ending recording in the DICOM image file when the size of the DICOM image file reaches a specific threshold, and a DIOCM image different from the DIOCM image file A step of recording the continuation of the moving image in a file, a step of writing file connection information for logically connecting the plurality of DICOM image files, and a file connection that means the beginning to the DICOM image file that has started recording Steps to write information and before recording stops And writing the file connection information indicating termination to DIOCM image file, in which is characterized by having a.

  As described above, the present invention is an image recording / playback apparatus for recording and playing back a moving image input in accordance with a format defined by the DICOM standard, and an operation unit for inputting an operation command from a user, and shooting from the outside In accordance with a command from the operation unit, the input image data is converted into a format defined by the DICOM standard in accordance with an image input unit for inputting the moving image, a display unit for displaying the input image data input to the image input unit, A DICOM processing unit that converts and generates a DICOM image file, and a communication unit that transmits / receives the DICOM image file to / from another device on the network, or a recording in which the DICOM image file is detachable Either a portable medium processing unit for recording on a medium or a recording unit for storing the DICOM image file in an internal recording device The DICOM processing unit, when generating a plurality of DICOM image files from a series of input image data, generates file connection information for logically connecting the plurality of DICOM image files; And a linked information processing unit described in a plurality of DICOM image files. Conventionally, a series of data that has been divided due to file size limitations can be linked and handled as one file. Become.

  For example, in the medical field, a plurality of independent DICOM image files generated by a single examination can be logically concatenated so that they can be reproduced as if they were one file. Diagnosis efficiency is improved. Furthermore, it becomes possible to recombine a plurality of DICOM image files as one, and it becomes possible to adopt a method for managing image files according to the recording medium, thereby realizing reduction in management costs. .

  Embodiments of an image recording / reproducing method and an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The normal Arabic numerals (0, 1 to 9) described below are expressed in decimal numbers, and when expressed in hexadecimal numbers (0, 1 to 9, A to F), the numerical prefix "0x" is given as a number to represent a number (for example, decimal number 10 is represented as 0xA in hexadecimal number).

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  According to FIG. 1, the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes an image input unit 101, a display unit 102, a DICOM processing unit 103, an operation unit 104, a communication unit 105, a portable medium processing unit 106, and a recording unit 107. It is composed of Further, the DICOM information processing unit 103 includes a linked information processing unit 103 (a).

  As external devices connected to the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100, a camera 110, a monitor 111, a user 112 for inputting commands, a network 113, and a removable recording medium DISC 114 are connected.

  The image input unit 101 is connected to a video generation device external to the image recording / reproducing device 100, receives a video sent from the external device, and outputs the video to the display unit 102 as it is, or an image such as analog-digital conversion or data compression. It is a functional block that performs processing and outputs the processing data to the DICOM processing unit 103. The image input unit 101 in FIG. 1 is connected to the camera 110 of one or more external video generation apparatuses, receives an analog video signal output from the camera 110, and receives it, for example, MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group-2). This indicates that image encoding processing for conversion and compression into standard digital data is performed, and the MPEG2 image data is output to the display unit 102 and the DICOM processing unit 103. Further, the analog video signal may be directly passed through without performing digital processing according to the output destination. The external device that is connected to the image input unit 101 of the image recording / playback apparatus 100 of the present embodiment and generates a video signal is not limited to a camera that generates an analog video signal. Any device may be used as long as it is a video generation device that generates and outputs, for example, a modality that outputs medical image data.

  The display unit 102 is connected to an external monitor 111 of the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100, and converts the image data from the image input unit 101 and the DICOM processing unit 103 into a video signal for display on the external monitor 111 and outputs the video signal. It is a block. In the present embodiment, the image input unit 101 and the DICOM processing unit 103 are connected, and an image decoding process for expanding digital data compressed in accordance with the MPEG2 standard and converting it into a video signal that can be output to the external monitor 111 is performed. It shall be.

  The DICOM processing unit 103 converts arbitrary input video data other than the DICOM standard into a format defined by the DICOM standard and outputs it to an arbitrary output destination, and vice versa, the DICOM format image data is converted to DICOM. It is a functional block that converts to arbitrary video data other than the standard and outputs it to an arbitrary output destination.

  FIG. 1 shows that the DICOM processing unit 103 is connected to all the functional blocks of the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 105 connected to the DICOM processing unit 103, the portable unit Video data input / output between the medium processing unit 106 and the recording unit 107 is in the DICOM format, and video data input / output between the display unit 102 is in the MPEG2 format. Therefore, the DICOM processing unit 103 converts the image data in the MPEG2 format input from the image input unit 101 into the DICOM format according to the instruction of the user 112 input from the operation unit 104, and the communication unit 105 and the portable medium processing unit 106. Output to at least one of the recording units 107, read DICOM format image data from any one of the communication unit 105, the portable medium processing unit 106, and the recording unit 107, converts the data into the MPEG2 format, and displays the display unit 102. Is a functional block that outputs to In this embodiment, the data format exchanged between the DICOM processing unit 103 and the communication unit 105, the portable medium processing unit 106, and the recording unit 107 is described as a DICOM format. However, the format is limited to that format. Instead, the image format may be an arbitrary image format, and may be an image format such as MPEG2 or Motion-JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), for example.

  Further, the DICOM processing unit 103 incorporates a linked information processing unit 103 (a) physically or logically. The link information processing unit 103 (a) generates link information of an image file for the DICOM format image processed by the DICOM processing unit 103, adds the link information to the DICOM image file, and also has DICOM having link information of the image file. It is a functional block for specifying an image file to be linked to an image file. Detailed processing contents of the linked information processing unit 103 (a) will be described later.

  The operation unit 104 is an interface for the user 112 to operate the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100, and a command from the user 112 is notified to the DICOM processing unit 103. The operation unit 104 is a device that is provided in the image recording / reproducing device 100 such as a touch panel type operation panel, or a device that receives a signal from an operating device different from the image recording / reproducing device 100 such as a keyboard. But you can. In the latter case, for example, there is a PS / 2 connector. The operation unit 104 may be anything as long as it can receive the command of the user 112 and output it to the DICOM processing unit 103, and is not limited to those described here.

  The communication unit 105 is a functional block that is connected to a network and performs transmission / reception of image data with a communication device on the network. As a communication protocol which is a transmission / reception procedure, a protocol defined by the DICOM standard is used. The DICOM standard stipulates that communication is performed using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). Therefore, this block receives image data and a communication request from the DICOM processing unit 103, transmits image data and a command to a device on the network, and receives image data and a communication response.

  This embodiment will be described as an IEEE (The Institute of Electrical Engineers, Inc.) 802.3u standard-compliant network interface known as 100BASE-TX having a maximum communication speed of 100 Mbps. However, the network to which the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is connected may be any method as long as it can transmit and receive image data using TCP / IP, and is not limited to the one shown here. For example, IEEE 802.3 known as a maximum communication speed of 10 Mbps and 10BASE-T may be used.

  The portable medium processing unit 106 is a block that controls a recording medium that is removable from the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100, and reads / writes image data from / to the recording medium inserted in the block. That is, image data is received from the DICOM processing unit 103, recorded on a recording medium connected to the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100, and when a recording medium on which an image is recorded is connected, the image data is read from the recording medium. This is a functional block that performs processing of reading and sending to the DICOM processing unit 103. For example, when the recording medium is an optical disc, the portable medium processing unit 106 is an optical disc drive.

  In the present embodiment, a recording medium is described as a device that reads and writes a 4.7-Gbyte DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disk Random Access Memory) on one side. The portable medium handled by the portable medium processing unit 106 may be any medium that can record and read digital data, and is not limited to the one shown here. For example, it may be a DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disk Recordable) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface flash memory.

  The recording unit 107 is a block that controls a non-removable recording medium built in the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100. The recording unit 107 performs a process of writing image data to the recording medium and a process of reading the recording medium according to a command from the DICOM processing unit 103. . This embodiment will be described as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). However, any recording medium can be used as long as it can record and read image data, and is limited to the one shown here. It is not something.

  Therefore, in an apparatus for recording and reproducing an input image, it is possible to generate a plurality of DICOM image files from a series of input image data and logically combine these physically divided files.

  FIG. 2 shows the format of a DICOM image file defined by the DICOM standard. 201 in FIG. 2 represents one DICOM image file, and the DICOM image file 201 includes information elements called a plurality of elements. Since each element holds one piece of information, FIG. 2 shows that a DICOM image file is composed of N elements (N is an integer of 1 or more) (202 to 204 in the figure). Accordingly, the contents of patient information, examination information, and medical image data are each managed as an element to form one DICOM image file. Which DICOM information element is required for image data is determined by the DICOM standard according to the modality. The medical image data is image data generated by a modality. For example, the content of a JPEG file is stored for a still image, and the content of a Motion-JPEG or MPEG file is stored for a moving image. Each element includes a tag portion 205 indicating an ID, a length portion 206, and an information portion 207. The length part 206 holds the length of the information part 207 in bytes. If necessary, the length part 206 is stipulated in the DICOM standard so as to be an even number of bytes by adding padding information to the information part 207. .

  The tag unit 205 is composed of two elements each of a 2-byte field of a group number 208 and an element number 209, and has a mechanism capable of categorizing information and uniquely identifying the contents of an element. Yes. The numbers of group number 208 and element number 209 and their contents are defined in the DICOM standard. It is also possible for a manufacturing company to have its own private information, and it is possible to mix information specified in the DICOM standard with user-specific private information (hereinafter, this group number 208 and if necessary) A set of element numbers 209 is expressed as a mathematical matrix).

  The private information element has a mechanism for reserving the private information element so as not to be duplicated by a plurality of manufacturing companies and DICOM image data users. In the DICOM standard, even numbers of group numbers are reserved, and manufacturing companies and users cannot use them as private information storage destinations, but groups with odd numbers of 9 or more retain private information. It is stipulated that a manufacturing company or a user can freely use it as an element.

  When an odd group number of 9 or more is set to G, an element between the element numbers 0x0010 to 0x00FF of the group number G is a reservation element for reserving a private information element in a specific range. By setting a character string (an arbitrary character string by the user), it is possible to reserve elements in a specific range of the group number G.

For example, if an arbitrary character string is set in the following private information reservation element,
(Group number, element number) = (G, 0x0010) (Equation 1)
However, private information can be set for G because elements in the range of 9 or more and an odd number or less are reserved.
(G, 0x1000) to (G, 0x10FF) (Equation 2)
However, G is an odd number greater than or equal to 9 specified in (Equation 1). If an arbitrary character string is set in the following reservation element,
(Group number, element number) = (G, 0x00FF) (3)
However, G is reserved because elements in the range of 9 or more and an odd number or less are reserved.
(G, 0xFF00) to (G, 0xFFFF) (Equation 4)
However, G is an odd number greater than or equal to 9 specified by (Equation 3). The reserved elements that have already been reserved must not be used by other users.

In the present embodiment, file connection information is set using a private information element. The initial group number and element number of the private information element for reservation are determined as follows.
(Group number, element number) = (0x2001, 0x0010) (5)
Therefore, it is possible to freely use an element in the range of (0x2001, 0x1000) to (0x2001, 0x10FF), and among these, the head element is used as an element for recording file connection information. However, the range reserved as private information may be any element as long as it is an unused element, and is not limited to the one shown here.

  The reserved character string is “Panasonic File Connection Information”. However, the reservation character string shown here may be a unique one that can be identified by the user of this information, and is not limited to the one described here.

  If the group number and element number of the private information element to be reserved are already reserved (a character string is set), it is searched whether or not an element number having the same group number but different is unused. In the case where all reservations have been made within the same group number, an unused element may be searched for in the next private group number. Therefore, when searching for the file connection information, the initial group number and element number of the reservation private information element may be searched, and the reservation character string set therefrom may be searched.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of information included in the header part of the DICOM image file. The tag number, length part, and information part are described from the left, and the meaning of each tag is described in the explanation column. Since the length portion represents the specific length of the information portion, a specific value is omitted. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the examination date is March 14, 2000, the examination time is 16: 15: 30.000 seconds, the modality is MR examination (Magnetic Resonance), the manufacturing company is Panasonic, and the patient As information, it is shown that the patient name is Taro Matsushita, the patient's weight is 70 kg, and it is composed of image data.

  FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration example of file connection information and a convenient length of each field. The file connection information includes a file number 301 to be continued, a previous file number, a recording start time 303 of the previous file, and a device identifier 304. In the present embodiment, the file number is incremented by 1 when the recording start is file number 1, and continuous image data is recorded in another file. Therefore, the file number immediately before the first image file that has started recording is 0. In the case of the last image file, the continued file number 301 is 0. Therefore, DICOM image files having consecutive file numbers may be connectable. If the file number cannot be expressed in 1 byte or the previous file recording start time cannot be expressed in 8 bytes, the length of each field can be changed as necessary, and is limited to the one described here. It is not something.

  The immediately preceding file recording start time 303 is the time when the recording of the image file indicated by the immediately preceding file number 302 is started. Accordingly, the recording start time 303 of the file immediately before the file numbers 1, 2, and 3 is 0, the recording start time of the file number 1, and the recording start time of the file number 2, respectively. Further, the recording start time of an arbitrary DICOM image file having file connection information must be the same as the time advanced by the reproduction time of the image, and the recording start time of the continuous image file must match.

In the present embodiment, the reference recording time is the following element.
(0x0008, 0x0023) Content Date
(0x0008, 0x0033) Content Time
If the above elements are not present, the following elements are used as a reference.
(0x0008, 0x0020) Study Date
(0x0008, 0x0030) Study Time
In the case of a DICOM image file that does not hold the reference time, the file connection information may be generated at the time when the DICOM image file is generated or at a relative time with the first file being 0.

  The device identifier 304 is an ID unique to the recording device. The device-specific ID includes, for example, a manufacturing number and a serial number, and the device recorded by this ID can be uniquely specified. When connecting consecutive videos, if there is a file with the same start time only with the start time of the previous file, correct selection / connection cannot be performed. For example, when the surgery is synchronized with a plurality of cameras and photographing is performed at the same time, a plurality of files having the same start time exist, and the correct files cannot be connected. In order to avoid such a state, not only the file start time but also information on which apparatus was used for shooting is added to the connection information, so that a correct file can be selected / connected. If the device identifier 304 is not used, 0 may be set as an invalid device identifier.

  Therefore, when the DICOM image file shown in FIG. 10 is divided into three files (named as divided files A, B, and C from the beginning), the file connection information of the divided files A, B, and C is shown in FIG. Become a thing. In this case, the recording start time is calculated by adding the reproduction time of each image file with reference to “163150.000” of the “Study Time” tag. As the device identifier, an ID unique to the recording device (here, device A) is input.

  In the present embodiment, the immediately preceding file recording start time in the file connection information is set as an absolute time. However, as another implementation, a relative time in which the start time of the file number 1 is 0 may be used. In this case, the immediately preceding file recording start times in the file connection information included in the file numbers 1, 2, and 3 are 0, 0, and the playback time of the file number 1, respectively. The recording start time immediately before being included may be an elapsed time from the file number 1. This method is effective when the recording time cannot be obtained from the tag information of the image data.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the file division information is described as being added to the image file being recorded, but the present invention can also be applied to recorded image data. Even when the recorded image data is divided into a plurality of image data, by adding the file connection information, it is possible to logically connect and reproduce the image files physically divided into a plurality of files. Become.

  Therefore, by configuring the file connection information with the file number of the image data and the time information, it is possible to logically combine the DICOM image data composed of the moving image data. Further, since the file number starting from 1 is used, it is possible to determine the number of the file from the beginning in the divided file by simply referring to the file connection information.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram in the case where the file connection information shown in FIG. 3 exists as an arbitrary information element defined by the DICOM standard. At this time, the file connection information is held in a unique element defined by DICOM. The format of the DICOM image file in this state is shown in FIG. Since file connection information exists in arbitrary elements (group number 403 and element number 404 are arbitrary) and the length is 14 bytes, 14 is set in the length field 405. Also, file connection information (continuation file number 406, immediately preceding file number 407, immediately preceding file recording start time 408, device identifier 409) for linking with this DICOM image file is set in the information section.

  Next, detailed contents of the linked information processing unit 103 (a) in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing for generating file division information and dividing the file for an image file that is being recorded or has been recorded.

  First, at the same time as imaging is started, parameters necessary for the DICOM format, such as patient information and examination information, are output to a file (step 501). Then, the image data being shot is recorded in the file, and when the image file size being recorded reaches a specific threshold (step 502), the recording to the image file being recorded is stopped (step 503) and continued. The recording of the image to a new image file is started (step 504), and the next file number is set as the continuation file number of the file connection information of the DICOM image file whose recording is stopped at step 503. In addition, the file number immediately before the recording stop time in step 503 and the recording start time are respectively recorded in the file number immediately before the file connection information of the DICOM image file whose recording is started in step 504 and the immediately preceding recording start time (step 505). ). When the recording is stopped (step 506), the file number immediately before the file connection information of the DICOM image file that has started recording and the recording start time are set to 0 (step 507), and the recording of the DICOM image file that has stopped recording is set. What is necessary is just to set 0 to the file number which file connection information continues (step 508).

  FIG. 5 illustrates the flow from the start to the stop of recording, but the dividing process of FIG. 5 is also effective for a recorded image file that has already been recorded in the DICOM format. In this case, division processing can be performed by sequentially generating as a separate file from the beginning of the DICOM image file that is the division source to the file division threshold, and generating file connection information together with patient information and examination information that are common as DICOM format. It is.

  Further, the division source file does not need to be in the DICOM format. For example, the division source file is temporarily recorded in the recording unit 107 in the image format output from the image input unit 101 in FIG. 1, and parameters necessary for the DICOM format are set in the image file. By adding, it may be converted and divided as DICOM format.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a search procedure for specifying an image file to be linked from among a plurality of DICOM image files using file linkage information.

  In order to identify a DICOM image file connected before and after a DICOM image file having file connection information from among a plurality of DICOM image files, first, for the DICOM image file having file connection (step 601). Among the plurality of DICOM image files, a file having the same DICOM information is specified by using patient information and examination information of DICOM information (step 602). This can be uniquely identified because it is impossible for a specific individual to undergo an examination with a different modality at the same time, for example, based on examination information and patient information. In order to logically connect DICOM image files, using DICOM information including patient information and examination information together has an effect of reducing the number of information items required as file connection information.

  If a file having the same DICOM information can be found (step 603), the file connection information of the DICOM image file selected in step 601 is acquired (step 604), and the image immediately preceding in time is obtained from the file connection information. Determine if the file exists. This indicates that when the immediately preceding file number in the file connection information is 0, it indicates that there is no immediately preceding file, and when it is not 0, it indicates that the immediately preceding file exists. If the immediately preceding file exists (step 605), the immediately preceding file recording start time in the file connection information is searched from the Content Time element of the DICOM information or, if this element does not exist, the search time element matches. If the DICOM image file is searched and found (step 609), if it has the same identifier as the device identifier of the file connection information of the DICOM image file selected in step 601, the file is a linked file ( Step 612). At this time, if the DICOM image file selected in step 601 holds an invalid identifier, step 612 may be omitted or whether the same invalid identifier is compared.

  Further, it is determined from the file connection information whether or not there is an image file immediately after in time (step 606). This indicates that the file does not exist when the continuation file number of the file connection information is 0, and when the continuation file number is other than 0, it indicates that the continuation file exists. If there is an immediately following file, an image file having a time obtained by adding the reproduction time to the recording start time of the DICOM image file selected in step 601 is searched (step 608), and if it can be found (step 609), step If the file identifier of the DICOM image file selected in 601 has the same identifier as the device identifier, the file is a linked file (step 612). At this time, if the DICOM image file selected in step 601 holds an invalid identifier, step 612 may be omitted or whether the same invalid identifier is compared. At this time, the recording start time of the DICOM image file is the value of the Study Time element when there is no Content Time element and no Content Time element, and the elements to be searched are also the same.

  In some cases, a plurality of DICOM image files are searched in the result of the search procedure shown here (for example, when a single DICOM image file having been recorded is subjected to the same condition division processing a plurality of times). It is possible to determine that they are image files having exactly the same contents, and any file may be a file to be concatenated. However, in order to completely identify these files, in addition to the file concatenation information described in FIG. Thus, it is necessary to add parameters such as the division processing time and the number of divisions for each file.

  Further, when the search is made but not found (Step 603, Step 605, Step 606, Step 609, Step 610), it means that there is no linked file (Step 611).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the case where logically continuous DICOM image files are continuously reproduced according to file connection information.

  First, an arbitrary DICOM image file is reproduced according to the reproduction control information (step 701). This reproduction control information is information necessary for reproducing a DICOM image file, and here, it is assumed to be composed of a reproduction position, a reproduction speed, and a reproduction direction. The playback position means the position from which the moving image is played back, and represents the top of the image when playing back from the beginning, or any playback position of the image in the case of a playback method such as skip playback. . The playback direction has a forward direction and a reverse direction in time, and the playback speed is M-times speed (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the case of fast-forward playback when normal playback is set to 1-time speed. Here, as the reproduction control information, the reproduction position, the reproduction speed, and the reproduction direction are the beginning, the 1 × speed, and the forward direction of the image, respectively.

  When images are sequentially played back from the playback position and the playback position reaches the end of the DICOM image file (step 702), and when the DICOM image file currently played back has file connection information (step 703), It is confirmed from the file connection information whether there is a DICOM image file to be continuously reproduced in the direction of temporal reproduction (step 704). If the playback direction at this time is the forward direction in time, the continuation file number of the file connection information may be referred to. If the playback direction is the reverse direction, the file number immediately before the file connection information may be referred to. . In any case, when the file number is 0, it means that there is no continuous file, and when the value is 1 or more, it means that there is a continuous file.

  If there are DICOM image files to be played back continuously in the playback direction, the file is identified according to the flow shown in FIG. 6 from the DICOM information (eg, patient information and examination information) of the DICOM image file and the file connection information (step 705) After the reproduction is completed, the subsequent DICOM image file may be reproduced (step 706).

  If there is no file connection information in the DICOM image file being played back (step 703), or if the file connection information exists in the DICOM image file but the DICOM image file being played back is the end (step 704), the playback process is performed. The process ends (step 707).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of connecting a plurality of DICOM image files that are physically separate files but logically continuous according to the file connection information.

  When two or more DICOM image files are physically combined as one image file, an arbitrary DICOM image file is first selected (step 801), and when file connection information exists in the DICOM image file (step 802), Files that can be linked to the selected DICOM image file are identified from the DICOM information (for example, patient information and examination information) of the DICOM image file and the file linkage information according to the flow shown in FIG. 6 (step 803). A new DICOM image file is generated by combining the DICOM image files (step 804). At this time, among the file connection information of the newly created DICOM file, the previous file number and the previous file recording start time set the value of the file connection information of the previous DICOM image file in time, and the continuation file number is temporal. Then, the value of the file connection information of the later DICOM image file may be set.

  If there is a DICOM image file that can be connected before and after the completed DICOM image file (step 805), a series of DICOM image files that are physically divided by repeating from step 803 are combined into one DICOM image file. Can be combined as At this time, the divided DICOM image file used for combining may be deleted or may be left as it is.

  FIG. 9 shows two image recording / playback apparatuses (device identifiers A and B, respectively), and shows the data amount and file number of a DICOM image file generated from the recording start to the recording stop by each apparatus. . Reference numeral 901 denotes a recording start position, and reference numeral 903 denotes a recording stop position. Further, reference numeral 902 logically represents a file size to be divided. When a series of records exceeds this size, it is physically recorded in another file using the file connection information. The device A indicates that the file numbers 1 to 4 are generated, and the device B also indicates that the file numbers 1 to 4 are generated.

  At this time, if each device shoots the same content, and the recording start and the recording stop are exactly the same, the data amount of the image generated from each device will be exactly the same, resulting in the generation The structure of the DICOM image file having the file connection information is exactly the same.

  That is, when the same scene (for example, photographing the operating room from different viewpoints) is simultaneously photographed by a plurality of image recording / reproducing apparatuses, the information in the header part of the DICOM image file is the same, and the plurality of apparatuses When the image file shot in step S is divided, a DICOM image file having exactly the same file connection information is generated, and there is a possibility that the DICOM image file to be connected cannot be correctly specified. In this embodiment, by setting an ID unique to an image recording / playback device as file connection information, only the image file by the same device is identified from among the divided DICOM image files recorded simultaneously by a plurality of devices. Made possible. Further, instead of the image recording / reproducing apparatus, the ID of the apparatus connected to the image recording / reproducing apparatus may be set as the apparatus identifier in the file connection information.

  In this embodiment, it is described that only one camera device is connected to the image recording / reproducing device. However, two or more camera devices are connected to one image recording / reproducing device. In this case, even if the unique ID of the image recording / playback apparatus is input to the file connection information, there is a possibility that the DICOM image file to be connected cannot be correctly specified. In this case, the DICOM image file to be linked can be specified by using the unique ID of the camera device as the file linkage information.

  In addition, the ability to continuously play back a DICOM image file divided into a plurality of files has the effect of reducing the burden on the person viewing the image, for example, a diagnostician, improving usability and improving diagnostic accuracy. is there. In addition, since the file can be divided into arbitrary sizes and can be recombined, it can be divided according to the size of the portable medium to be recorded, which has the effect of reducing image management costs. .

  In addition, when DICOM image files are managed by a DICOM image server on the network, it is necessary to download all DICOM image files in the conventional method, but it is possible to specify an image to be downloaded by file connection information. This also has the effect of reducing traffic on the network.

  In addition, when a recorded DICOM image file is divided into arbitrary file sizes using file connection information, the result of division processing performed on the same file with the same division size is always the same, and the exact same contents Divided DICOM image files are generated. Therefore, when the recorded DICOM image file is divided under the same conditions, there is a possibility that the files cannot be uniquely specified when connecting them. When the ICOM image file is detected, it means that the contents are exactly the same, so the result is the same regardless of which one is used, and there is no need to uniquely identify it. However, in this case, it is also possible to uniquely specify the file connection information by adding the time when the division process is determined, the number of divisions for the same file, and the like.

  Specifically, for example, the DICOM image file shown in FIG. 10 is divided into three files (respectively named divided files A, B, and C from the top), and the same file is divided twice under the same conditions. (The divided file generated by the first division is named A1, B1, C1, and the divided file names generated by the first division are named A2, AB2, C2 from the first). The time of the second division process should be different. Therefore, when the first division processing time is T1, the division processing time T1 is set in the file connection information of the divided files A1, B1, and C1, and when the second division processing time is T2, the division processing time is divided. By setting the division processing time T2 in the file connection information of the files A2, B2, and C2, it is possible to uniquely distinguish the division processing results under the same conditions for the same file. In addition, the division processing time may be set instead of the division processing time. The division file A1, B1, C1 has 1 indicating the first division number, and the division files A2, B2, C2 have the division number. What is necessary is just to set 2 which shows the 2nd time to file connection information. Therefore, if a plurality of DICOM image files are found in the search result shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to uniquely identify the file by further distinguishing the division processing time and the number of divisions.

  Such an image recording / reproducing apparatus and an image recording / reproducing method according to an embodiment of the present invention can divide a continuous long-time moving image into a plurality of files and combine them when recording in a DICOM format. Furthermore, since compatibility with the existing PACS is maintained, it is possible to perform image recording / playback in accordance with the purpose of the image file.

  The functional elements and the image recording / reproducing method constituting the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment described above can be realized by a computer-readable program, and the program can be read by the DICOM processing unit 103. As a recording medium recorded in such a state, it can be configured to be separable from the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100. Further, the program recorded on the recording medium is loaded into the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 so that the DICOM processing unit 103 can directly read the program, or the program is read connected to the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 via an interface (not shown). It may be configured to be read by a device. Examples of the recording medium include magnetic tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks and hard disks, CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), MO (Magneto Optical), DVD (Digital). A disk system including an optical disk such as Versatile Disk (CD) and CD-R (Compact Disk Recordable), IC card, memory card card system, mask ROM (Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), UV-EPROM (UV-EPROM) Ultra-Violet EPROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Pro) rammable ROM), or the like can be used semiconductor memory system such as a flash ROM.

  This is effective in the field of managing image files, and is particularly effective in the field of medical diagnostic imaging and in the field of imaging such as taking a long-time operation. Specifically, it is effective for cost reduction in image management such as efficiency of image diagnosis by a doctor, reduction of network traffic, storage in a PACS or a recording medium, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of components of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Block diagram of information elements that make up a DICOM image file Block diagram of file connection information Block diagram when file connection information is set in the DICOM information element Flow chart for dividing and recording Flowchart for identifying linked files Flow chart for continuous playback of physically divided image files Flowchart for connecting multiple files into one Relationship diagram between DICOM image file data amount and file number generated from recording start to recording stop An example of information included in the header part of a DICOM image file Diagram of file connection information for split files A, B, and C

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image recording / reproducing apparatus 101 Image input part 102 Display part 103 DICOM process part 103 (a) Connection information processing part 104 Operation part 105 Communication part 106 Portable medium process part 107 Recording part 110 Camera 111 Monitor 112 User 113 External network 114 Portable media 201 DICOM image file 202 Information element 1
203 Information element 2
204 Information element N
205 Tag part 206 Length part 207 Information part 208 Group number 209 Element number 301 Continuing file number 302 Immediate file number 303 Immediate file recording start time 304 Device identifier 401 DICOM image file 402 Arbitrary information element 403 Group number 404 Element number 405 Length 406 Continuation file number 407 Immediate file number 408 Immediate file recording start time 409 Device identifier 901 Recording start position 902 Division size 903 Recording stop position

Claims (14)

An image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an input image,
An operation unit for inputting an operation command from a user;
An image input unit for inputting an image being shot from outside;
A display unit for displaying input image data input to the image input unit;
A DICOM processing unit that generates a DICOM image file by converting the input image data into a format defined by the DICOM standard in accordance with a command from the operation unit;
Have
further,
A communication unit that transmits and receives the DICOM image file to and from another device on the network;
Or
A portable medium processing unit for recording the DICOM image file on a removable recording medium;
Or
One or more recording units for storing the DICOM image file in an internal recording device;
The DICOM processing unit
When multiple DICOM image files are generated from a series of input image data,
A connection information processing unit for generating file connection information for logically connecting the plurality of DICOM image files and describing the information in the plurality of DICOM image files;
An image recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: The file connection information is
For the DICOM image file,
A file number indicating the subsequent image in time,
A file number indicating the previous image in time,
From the recording start time of the previous image in time,
The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording / reproducing apparatus is configured. The file connection information is
In addition to the content of claim 2,
The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, comprising at least one piece of identifier information unique to the camera apparatus or the image recording / reproducing apparatus. The file number is
The recording start is set to 1, 0 is an invalid number, and increments by 1 each time the file is switched.
The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the number is a number that sequentially increases during a series of recording. The linked information processing unit
From any of the image input unit, the recording unit, the communication unit, and the portable medium processing unit,
When reading a plurality of DICOM image files having the file connection information and outputting them to the display unit,
According to the file connection information of the plurality of DICOM image files,
The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of DICOM image files are continuously reproduced. The linked information processing unit
From any of the image input unit, the recording unit, the communication unit, and the portable medium processing unit,
Reading a plurality of DICOM image files having the file connection information;
According to the file connection information of the plurality of DICOM image files,
Generating a DICOM image file different from the plurality of DICOM image files obtained by concatenating the plurality of DICOM image files;
2. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording / reproducing apparatus outputs to at least one processing unit of the recording unit, the communication unit, and the portable medium processing unit. An image recording / reproducing system comprising the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 and a camera device,
The camera device transmits an identifier unique to the camera device together with the image data being shot to the image recording / reproducing device,
The image recording / reproducing device records the image data and the device identifier in association with each other,
Furthermore, the apparatus identifier is used for the file connection information. An image recording / reproducing method for recording and reproducing an input image,
Recording a captured or captured image in a DIOCM format and generating a DICOM image file;
When the size of the DICOM image file reaches a specific threshold,
Ending recording to the DICOM image file;
Recording the continuation of the image in a DIOCM image file separate from the DIOCM image file;
Writing file connection information for logically connecting the plurality of DICOM image files;
Writing file connection information indicating the beginning to the DICOM image file that has started recording;
Writing file connection information indicating termination to the DIOCM image file whose recording has been stopped;
An image recording / reproducing method comprising: The file connection information is
For the DICOM image file,
A file number indicating the subsequent image in time,
A file number indicating the previous image in time,
The recording start time of the immediately preceding image in time,
9. The image recording / reproducing method according to claim 8, comprising an identifier unique to the camera device or the device of the image recording / reproducing device. The file number is
The recording start is set to 1, 0 is an invalid number, and increments by 1 each time the file is switched.
The image recording / reproducing method according to claim 9, wherein the number is a sequentially incremented number during a series of recording. The image recording / reproducing method includes:
Selecting any one of a plurality of DIOCM image files having the file connection information;
If there is a temporally previous image of the DICOM image file from the file connection information,
DICOM information of the DICOM image file;
Using the recording start time of the previous image in the file connection information,
Retrieving a DICOM image file to be linked from the plurality of DICOM image files;
When there is an image later in time than the DICOM image file from the file connection information,
DICOM information of the DICOM image file;
Using the recording start time obtained by adding the playback time of the DICOM image file to the recording start time of the DICOM image file,
Retrieving a DICOM image file to be linked from the plurality of DICOM image files;
The image recording / reproducing method according to claim 8, further comprising: The DICOM information is
Patient information that is individual patient information,
12. The image recording / reproducing method according to claim 11, comprising inspection information indicating the contents of the inspection. The image recording / reproducing method includes:
Select an arbitrary file from multiple DIOCM image files,
Replaying according to replay control information composed of a replay position, a replay speed, and a replay direction;
When the playback position reaches the end of the DICOM image file,
When the DICOM image file being played has the file connection information,
Among the plurality of DICOM image files,
Identifying the DICOM image file to be connected using the file connection information and the playback control information of the DICOM image file being played back;
Continuously playing back the connected DICOM image files after the playback of the playing back DICOM image files;
The image recording / reproducing method according to claim 8, further comprising: The image recording / reproducing method includes:
Selecting an arbitrary file from a plurality of DIOCM image files having the file connection information;
Among the plurality of DICOM image files,
Using the file connection information of the DICOM image file being played back,
Identifying a DICOM image file to be linked;
A plurality of connectable DICOM image files
Connect according to each file connection information,
Generating a new DICOM image file;
The image recording / reproducing method according to claim 8, further comprising:

Images