JP2014236846A - Medical image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cause an image reader to accurately recognize a medical image photographing direction.SOLUTION: A medical image display device according to one embodiment includes a display part, a storage part, and a control part. The display part displays an image. The storage part stores medical image data related to an object to be examined, and collateral information showing a photographing direction of the medical image data. The control part causes the display part to display an image based on data of superimposition images superimposing a second plane with a mark at a position according to the photographing direction shown by the collateral information of the medical image data on a first plane where the medical image data stored in the storage part is arranged.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a medical image display apparatus that displays a medical image.

  In the medical field, modalities such as an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are used.

  When interpreting medical images based on medical image data generated by scanning the subject with the modalities as described above, the interpreter accurately recognizes the imaging direction of the medical image in order to ensure high-precision diagnosis. There is a need.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a medical image display apparatus that allows an image interpreter to accurately recognize the direction of photographing a medical image.

  A medical image display apparatus according to an embodiment includes a display unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The display unit displays an image. The storage unit stores medical image data relating to the subject and incidental information indicating the imaging direction of the medical image data. The control unit adds a mark to the first plane on which the medical image data stored in the storage unit is arranged at a position corresponding to the imaging direction indicated by the supplementary information of the medical image data. An image based on the superimposed image data obtained by superimposing the images is displayed on the display unit.

The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the medical image display apparatus of 1 aspect. The figure for demonstrating the display method of the medical image by a medical image display apparatus. The figure for demonstrating an image display plane and an overlay plane. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process which CPU of a medical image display apparatus performs. The figure for demonstrating the superimposed image which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows a mode that the some superimposed image was displayed simultaneously in the same embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the superimposed image which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows a mode that the some superimposed image was displayed simultaneously in the same embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the superimposed image which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows a mode that the some superimposed image was displayed simultaneously in the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, some embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a configuration common to the embodiments will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of the medical image display apparatus 1. The medical image display apparatus 1 may be any type of apparatus such as a console such as an X-ray CT apparatus or an MRI apparatus, a main body of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a workstation, or a tablet terminal.

  The medical image display apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 that functions as a control center, a memory 12 connected to the CPU 10 via a bus line 11, a communication device 13, an auxiliary storage device 14, and a display device. 15 and an input device 16.

  The memory 12 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory), and functions as a main memory of the medical image display apparatus 1. The memory 12 stores in advance a computer program to be executed by the CPU 10.

  The communication device 13 transmits and receives various data to and from a host system such as a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) system and peripheral devices. Communication between the communication device 13 and the host system or the like is performed, for example, according to a protocol conforming to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standard.

  The auxiliary storage device 14 is a mass storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The auxiliary storage device 14 has a medical image DB (Data Base) 20 for storing medical image data. The medical image data stored in the medical image DB 20 is, for example, tomographic image data, volume data, PET (Positron Emission Tomography) apparatus or SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) generated by an X-ray CT apparatus or an MRI apparatus. The functional image data of the subject generated by the apparatus, the ultrasonic image data of the subject generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the like.

  Tag information conforming to the DICOM standard is attached to the medical image data included in the medical image DB 20. Tag information is information managed by a tag composed of groups and elements. A tag is represented by a hexadecimal group number (first half part) and a hexadecimal element number (second half part), such as [0x0000, 0x0000]. For example, “0008” indicates information regarding an image, “0010” indicates information regarding a patient, “0018” indicates information regarding image data collection, “0020” indicates image supplementary information, and “0028”. Indicates information related to image display. The element number indicates an information item belonging to each group. For example, [0008,0020] indicates an examination date, [0008,0030] indicates an examination time, and [0010,0010] indicates a patient's name. , [0010,0020] indicates a patient ID, and “0020,0020” indicates an anatomical imaging direction of the image.

  The display device 15 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OELD (Organic Electroluminescence Display), or the like, for example, and displays a medical image based on medical image data stored in the medical image DB 20.

  The input device 16 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a trackball, and a touch panel provided on the display screen of the display device 15 for inputting information and commands by an operator's operation.

Next, display of a medical image on the display device 15 will be described with reference to FIG.
The display device 15 displays a superimposed image based on superimposed image data obtained by superimposing M (integer, M ≧ 1) image display planes PL1 and N (integer, N ≧ 1) overlay planes PL2. The image display plane PL1 and the overlay plane PL2 are generated in separate memory spaces in the image memory provided in the display device 15. The image display plane PL1 and the overlay plane PL2 are both rectangular.

  The image display plane PL1 is a plane for writing medical image data stored in the medical image DB 20. One piece of medical image data is written to one image display plane PL1. For example, when a plurality of medical images are superimposed and displayed on the display device 15 as in the case of fusion of a tomographic image generated by an X-ray CT apparatus and functional image data generated by a PET apparatus, Medical image data to be superposed is written to separate image display planes PL1.

  The overlay plane PL2 is a plane for writing incidental information and direction identification marks. The supplementary information includes, for example, the date and time when the medical image was taken, patient information (ID, name, gender, etc.) of the patient as the subject, the scale representing the scale of the medical image, information about the modality that took the medical image, and the imaging conditions for the medical image Etc. The direction identification mark is a mark that represents the photographing direction of a medical image. The incidental information and the direction identification mark may be written on one overlay plane PL2, or may be written on a separate overlay plane PL2.

  In the following description, as shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal width of the image display plane PL1 is defined as Sxi and the vertical width is defined as Syi. Further, the horizontal width of the overlay plane PL2 is defined as Sxo and the vertical width is defined as Syo.

The operation of the medical image display device 1 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the CPU 10 of the medical image display device 1 when displaying a medical image on the display device 15. The CPU 10 starts this processing in response to, for example, an operator operating the input device 16 to input a medical image browsing start instruction.

  At the beginning of processing, the CPU 10 first accesses the medical image DB 20 of the auxiliary storage device 14 and reads out medical image data to be displayed and its tag information to the memory 12 (step S1). The medical image data to be displayed is designated by the operator by operating the input device 16, for example. Further, when medical image data generated by scanning a subject is stored in the medical image DB 20, the CPU 10 may designate the medical image data as a display target without intervention of an operator.

  After step S1, the CPU 10 writes the medical image data read to the memory 12 to the image display plane PL1 (step S2). When a plurality of medical images are superimposed and displayed, the CPU 10 reads each medical image data and tag information of each medical image data into the memory 12 in step S1, and the medical image data read in step S2. Are written in separate image display planes PL1.

  After step S2, the CPU 10 writes various information such as the examination date / time, examination time, patient name, and patient ID included in the tag information of the medical image data read out to the memory 12 in the overlay plane PL2 (step S3). Note that the information to be written to the overlay plane PL2 in step S3, the write destination overlay plane PL2, the write position in the overlay plane PL2, and the like may be determined in advance. The destination overlay plane PL2 may be different for each type of information, or all may be written to one overlay plane PL2.

  Further, the CPU 10 refers to the imaging direction included in the tag information of the medical image data read out to the memory 12, and writes a direction identification mark corresponding to the imaging direction in a predetermined overlay plane PL2 (step S4).

  After step S4, the CPU 10 causes the display device 15 to display a superimposed image based on the superimposed image data obtained by superimposing the overlay plane PL2 on which the supplementary information and the direction identification mark are written on the image display plane PL1 on which the medical image data is written. It is displayed (step S5). This is the end of the processing shown in the flowchart.

  When a plurality of medical images are displayed on the display device 15 at the same time, the processes in steps S1 to S5 are executed for each medical image data to be displayed.

  After the medical image is displayed on the display device 15, the operator can input an instruction to delete the auxiliary information superimposed on the medical image and to restore the deleted auxiliary information by operating the input device 16. For example, when the operator operates the input device 16 and inputs an instruction to delete any additional information, the CPU 10 superimposes the overlay plane PL2 excluding the overlay plane PL2 in which the additional information is written and the image display plane PL1. Image data is generated, and a superimposed image based on the superimposed image data is displayed on the display device 15. Further, when the operator operates the input device 16 to input an instruction to restore the deleted auxiliary information, the CPU 10 writes the overlay plane PL2 used for the currently displayed superimposed image and the auxiliary information. The superimposed image data between the overlay plane PL2 and the image display plane PL1 is generated, and the superimposed image based on the superimposed image data is displayed on the display device 15. Note that the CPU 10 does not accept a deletion instruction with respect to the overlay plane PL2 in which the direction identification mark is written, in order to make the operator reliably recognize the imaging direction of the medical image.

Hereinafter, an embodiment relating to a direction identification mark and a method of attaching the mark will be described.
(First embodiment)
A first embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, the horizontal width Sxi of the image display plane PL1 is less than the horizontal width Sxo of the overlay plane PL2 (Sxi <Syo), and the vertical width Syi of the image display plane PL1 is less than the vertical width Syo of the overlay plane PL2. (Syi <Syo).

  Then, in step S5, the CPU 10 generates superimposed image data by superimposing the image display plane PL1 and the overlay plane PL2 with their respective centroids as shown in FIG. 5, and a superimposed image based on the generated superimposed image data. G is displayed on the display device 15. In FIG. 5, the outer edge of the image display plane PL1 is shown by a broken line, but this broken line is shown for convenience of explanation and does not need to be shown in the actual display image.

  When the image display plane PL1 and the overlay plane PL2 are overlapped as described above, a non-overlapping portion of both is generated on the overlay plane PL2. A direction identification mark is attached to this non-overlapping portion. In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a broken line B as a direction identification mark is attached to either one of the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides of the overlay plane PL2. The width of the broken line B is a length that fits in the non-overlapping portion.

Here, how to attach the broken line B will be described.
The tag [0020, 0020] described above includes first identification information given by the direction from the first pixel in the first row of the medical image data to the last pixel in the row (from left to right of the image), and the medical image. And second identification information given by the direction of the last pixel in the column (from top to bottom of the image) from the first pixel in the first column of data. As each identification information, for example, any of A (Anterior: front), P (Posterior: back), R (Right: right), L (Left: left), H (Head: head), F (Foot: foot) Is written.

  In step S4, the CPU 10 refers to the first identification information and the second identification information written in the tags [0020, 0020] in the tag information, and determines the imaging direction of the medical image from these identification information. Then, for example, the CPU 10 writes the broken lines B on the two sides corresponding to the back side and the left side of the subject in the overlay plane PL2 for writing the direction identification mark.

  FIG. 5A shows a case where the left side of the superimposed image G is the left side of the subject and the lower side is the back side of the subject. Therefore, the broken line B is attached to the left side and the lower side of the superimposed image G. FIG. 5B shows a case where the right side of the superimposed image G is the left side of the subject and the upper side is the back side of the subject. Therefore, the broken line B is attached to the right side and the upper side of the superimposed image G.

  FIG. 6 shows a plurality of superimposed images G (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6) displayed on the display device 15 at the same time. In the superimposed images G1 to G4 and G6, since the broken line B is attached to the left side and the lower side, it can be seen that the left side is the left side of the subject and the lower side is the back side of the subject. In the superimposed image G5, since the broken line B is attached to the right side and the upper side, it can be seen that the right side is the left side of the subject and the upper side is the back side of the subject.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a slit S1 as shown in FIG. The slit S1 is positioned at a non-overlapping portion between the image display plane PL1 and the overlay plane PL2.

  In step S4, the CPU 10 refers to the first identification information and the second identification information written in the tags [0020, 0020] in the tag information, and determines the imaging direction of the medical image from these identification information. Then, for example, the CPU 10 writes the slits S1 on two sides corresponding to the back side and the left side of the subject in the overlay plane PL2 for writing the direction identification mark.

  FIG. 7A shows a case where the left side of the superimposed image G is the left side of the subject and the lower side is the back side of the subject. Therefore, the slit S1 is attached to the left side and the lower side of the superimposed image G. FIG. 7B shows a case where the right side of the superimposed image G is the left side of the subject and the upper side is the back side of the subject. Therefore, the slit S1 is attached to the right side and the upper side of the superimposed image G.

  FIG. 8 shows a plurality of superimposed images G (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6) displayed on the display device 15 simultaneously. In the superimposed images G1 to G4 and G6, since the slit S1 is attached to the left side and the lower side, it can be seen that the left side is the left side of the subject and the lower side is the back side of the subject. In the superimposed image G5, since the slit S1 is attached to the right side and the upper side, it can be seen that the right side is the left side of the subject and the upper side is the back side of the subject.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, the horizontal width Sxi of the image display plane PL1 matches the horizontal width Sxo of the overlay plane PL2 (Sxi = Syo), and the vertical width Syi of the image display plane PL1 is an overlay. It is assumed that it coincides with the vertical width Syo of the plane PL2 (Syi = Syo). In step S <b> 5, the CPU 10 generates superimposed image data by superimposing the image display plane PL <b> 1 and the overlay plane PL <b> 2 with the respective centroids aligned, and displays the superimposed image G based on the generated superimposed image data on the display device 15. .

  In the present embodiment, a slit S2 as shown in FIG. 9 is attached to the superimposed image as a direction identification mark. The slit S2 is positioned at a non-overlapping portion between the image display plane PL1 and the overlay plane PL2.

  In step S4, the CPU 10 refers to the first identification information and the second identification information written in the tags [0020, 0020] in the tag information, and determines the imaging direction of the medical image from these identification information. Then, the CPU 10 writes, on the overlay plane PL2 for writing the direction identification mark, for example, a slit S2 that is in contact with these two sides in the vicinity of the corner where the two sides corresponding to the back side and the left side of the subject intersect.

  FIG. 9A shows a case where the left side of the superimposed image G is the left side of the subject and the lower side is the back side of the subject. Therefore, the slit S2 is attached so as to contact these two sides in the vicinity of the lower left corner where the left side and the lower side of the superimposed image G intersect. FIG. 9B shows a case where the right side of the superimposed image G is the left side of the subject and the upper side is the back side of the subject. Therefore, the slit S2 is attached so as to contact these two sides in the vicinity of the upper right corner where the right side and the upper side of the superimposed image G intersect.

  FIG. 10 shows a plurality of superimposed images G (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6) displayed on the display device 15 at the same time. Since the superimposed images G1 to G4 and G6 are attached so that the slit S2 is in contact with the left side and the lower side, it can be seen that the left side is the left side of the subject and the lower side is the back side of the subject. Since the superimposed image G5 is attached so that the slit S2 is in contact with the right side and the upper side, it can be seen that the right side is the left side of the subject and the upper side is the back side of the subject.

  In any of the first to third embodiments described above, the imaging direction of the medical image is indicated by the direction identification mark. Therefore, the radiogram interpreter can accurately recognize the photographing direction of the medical image displayed on the medical image display device 1.

  Further, if a direction identification mark is attached to a non-overlapping portion between the image display plane PL1 and the overlay plane PL2 as in the first and second embodiments, the medical image does not overlap with the direction identification mark. Can smoothly interpret medical images.

  Further, if the broken line B, the slit S1, the slit S2, and the like are arranged as the direction identification marks, the image shooting direction can be seen at first glance, as compared with the case where the direction of the image is expressed by, for example, characters. It becomes possible to discriminate. In particular, when a plurality of images are displayed simultaneously as shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 10, the direction identification marks such as the broken line B, the slit S <b> 1, the slit S <b> 2, etc. Can be used to easily recognize images with different shooting directions.

Various modifications can be added to the configuration disclosed in the above embodiment.
For example, the direction identification mark is not limited to the broken line B, the slit S1, and the slit S2 exemplified in the first to third embodiments.

  Further, the position where the direction identification mark is attached according to the shooting direction is not limited to the position exemplified in the first to third embodiments.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Medical image display apparatus, 10 ... CPU, 11 ... Bus line, 12 ... Memory, 13 ... Communication apparatus, 14 ... Auxiliary storage device, 15 ... Display apparatus, 16 ... Input device, 20 ... Medical image DB, PL1 ... Image Display plane, PL2 ... overlay plane, G ... superimposed image, B ... broken line, S1, S2 ... slit.

Claims (4)

A display for displaying an image;
A storage unit for storing medical image data relating to the subject and incidental information indicating a photographing direction of the medical image data;
The first plane on which the medical image data stored in the storage unit is arranged is overlaid with the second plane on which a mark is added at a position corresponding to the imaging direction indicated by the accompanying information of the medical image data. A control unit that causes the display unit to display an image based on the superimposed image data;
A medical image display device comprising: The second plane is larger than the first plane,
The control unit attaches the mark to a non-overlapping portion of the second plane with the first plane;
The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit causes the display unit to simultaneously display an image based on the superimposed image data regarding each of a plurality of medical image data.
The medical image display device according to claim 1, wherein the medical image display device is a medical image display device. The incidental information is tag information attached to medical image data conforming to the DICOM standard.
The medical image display device according to claim 1, wherein the medical image display device is a medical image display device.

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