JP2015150062A - Image inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image inspection device capable of suppressing an influence of image inspection on diagnosis/image reading.SOLUTION: An image inspection device includes an image processing part, a determination processing part, and an alert output processing part. The image processing part performs image processing for a medical image photographed based on order information. The determination processing part determines whether or not an alarm needs to be output based on an amount related to the deterioration of quality of the medical image or an amount related to the disappearance of the image in the image processing. The alert output processing part outputs an alert when it is determined by the determination processing part that an alarm needs to be output.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image detection apparatus for detecting medical image data captured by a medical image capturing apparatus.

  Before confirming the image captured by the modality, an engineer / doctor confirms whether the image has been captured correctly, and if necessary, corrects the image such as enlargement / reduction, movement and rotation, and is unnecessary. There is an act of “image inspection” that deletes an image. In order to support the action, a dedicated application / software such as a viewer may be used. The doctor performs diagnosis / interpretation using the image after the examination.

  By the way, when comparing the images before and after the image detection, there is information that is lost, for example, the image is cut off due to movement or the image is interpolated by rotation and the gradation value is changed. As a result, there is a problem that there is information that is missed during diagnosis / interpretation.

JP 2010-26984 A

  As described above, the conventional imaging apparatus has a problem that information necessary for image correction in imaging is lost and there is information that is missed in diagnosis / interpretation.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of suppressing the influence of diagnostic imaging on diagnosis / interpretation.

  The imaging device according to the present embodiment includes an image processing unit, a determination processing unit, and an alert output processing unit. The image processing unit performs image processing on a medical image captured based on the order information. The determination processing unit determines whether or not it is necessary to output a warning based on the amount relating to the deterioration in image quality of the medical image or the amount relating to the disappearance of the image in the image processing. The alert output processing unit outputs an alert when the determination processing unit determines that warning output is necessary.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the image inspection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the table memorize | stored in the memory | storage part shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart when the image inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1 performs image inspection on medical image data. It is a figure which illustrates a part of alert displayed on the monitor for imaging shown in FIG.

  The image inspection apparatus according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging device 10 includes a receiving unit 11, an input IF (interface) unit 12, a storage unit 13, an information processing processor 14, and an output IF unit 15.

  The receiving unit 11 receives medical image data regarding a medical image captured by a medical image capturing apparatus (not shown). The medical image capturing device captures a medical image based on order information input from an engineer / doctor. The receiving unit 11 stores the received medical image data in the storage unit 13.

  The receiving unit 11 receives order information input by a technician / doctor. The receiving unit 11 outputs the received order information to the information processing processor 14.

  The input IF unit 12 receives an input signal input from a user such as a doctor via input devices such as a keyboard 21 and a mouse 22. Here, the input signal includes an image processing instruction for a medical image, an image confirmation confirmation instruction indicating the end of image inspection, and the like. The input IF unit 12 outputs the received input signal to the information processing processor 14.

  The storage unit 13 stores in advance a table that associates the order information with an allowable amount for preventing the diagnosis / interpretation from being affected by the correction process described in detail later. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a table stored in the storage unit 13. The table stores the inspection purpose, modality, the maximum and minimum allowable values for each operation, and details of the influence (warning details) of the operation.

  The storage unit 13 records medical image data supplied from the receiving unit 11. The storage unit 13 records a history of image processing performed on medical image data and post-processing image data after image processing. In addition, the storage unit 13 records post-examination image data for which the imaging process has been completed.

  The output IF unit 15 outputs the medical image data recorded in the storage unit 13 to the imaging monitor 23. An operator of the image inspection apparatus 10 inputs an image processing instruction for a medical image displayed on the image detection monitor 23 by operating the keyboard 21 and the mouse 22. Further, the output IF unit 15 outputs post-detection image data recorded in the storage unit 13 to the reference information monitor 24. The reference information monitor 24 displays the post-examination image data in order to create an interpretation report or the like.

  The information processor 14 functions as the center of the image inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment. The information processing processor 14 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage area for programs and data for the CPU to execute processing such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The information processing processor 14 causes the CPU to execute a program, thereby causing the image processing unit 141, the processing content confirmation unit 142, the image change amount detection unit 143, the alert output processing unit 144, the reconstruction request processing unit 145 illustrated in FIG. A display control unit 146 and a system control unit 147 are realized.

  The image processing unit 141 performs image processing on medical image data in accordance with an image processing instruction input via the input IF unit 12. Here, the image processing includes correction processing in which information may be lost in medical image data such as image interpolation, arbitrary rotation, filter, enlargement / reduction, and movement. Here, the loss of information indicates that the quality of the medical image is degraded and a part of the medical image is lost.

  When an image confirmation confirmation instruction is input via the input IF unit 12, the image processing unit 141 stores post-processing image data after image processing and a history of image processing performed on medical image data. Remember me.

  The processing content confirmation unit 142 refers to the history stored in the storage unit 13 and determines whether or not the above-described correction processing is included in the image processing performed on the medical image data.

  When the image processing performed on the medical image data includes a correction process, the image change amount detection unit 143 detects the amount of change in the medical image data due to the correction process. Here, when the correction process is image interpolation, the amount of change corresponds to the amount of change in resolution. When the correction process is arbitrary rotation, the change amount corresponds to the change amount of the rotation angle. When the correction process is enlargement / reduction, the change amount corresponds to the change amount of the enlargement rate / reduction rate. When the correction process is movement, the change amount corresponds to the change amount of the coordinate position.

  For example, the image change amount detection unit 143 detects the change amount as follows.

  When the details of the image processing are included in the processed image data stored in the storage unit 13, the image change amount detection unit 143 reads the processed image data from the storage unit 13 to determine the change amount of the correction process. To detect.

  Further, when the details of the image processing are included in the correction processing history stored in the storage unit 13, the image change amount detection unit 143 reads the history from the storage unit 13, thereby calculating the change amount of the correction processing. To detect.

  Further, the image change amount detection unit 143 reads the medical image data and the processed image data from the storage unit 13 and compares the two data to detect the change amount of the correction process.

  The alert output processing unit 144 includes a determination unit 1441 and an alert creation unit 1442.

  The determination unit 1441 determines whether or not the amount of change detected by the image change amount detection unit 143 exceeds a preset threshold value. For example, when the enlargement ratio threshold, which is the change amount of the enlargement process, is set to 50%, when the enlargement ratio is changed from 100% to 200%, the determination unit 1441 determines that the detected change amount has the threshold value. Judge that it exceeded. As a result, it is possible to narrow down the processed image data that is highly likely to have lost information.

  Further, when the receiving unit 11 receives the order information, the determining unit 1441 refers to a table stored in the storage unit 13 and reads an allowable amount for preventing the diagnosis / interpretation from being affected by the correction process. The order information differs for each examination and examination purpose, and the degree of correction processing given to diagnosis / interpretation differs for each examination and examination purpose. Since the determination unit 1441 can set an allowable amount for each order information by referring to the table stored in the storage unit 13, the determination unit 1441 sets an appropriate allowable amount for each diagnosis and examination purpose. It becomes possible.

  If it is determined that the detected change amount exceeds the threshold, the determination unit 1441 determines whether the change amount exceeds the read allowable amount.

  When it is determined that the change amount exceeds the read allowable amount, the alert creating unit 1442 outputs an alert to the operator. At this time, the alert includes a message such as what kind of correction processing causes how much deviation occurs, and what kind of influence might cause diagnosis / interpretation. Further, the alert creating unit 1442 may include an image obtained by comparing the images before and after the correction process in the alert so that the operator can know what change has occurred in the medical image due to the correction process.

  The reconstruction request processing unit 145 displays a message on the imaging monitor 23 as to whether or not to request a medical image reconstruction request from the medical imaging apparatus. When an instruction to request a medical image reconstruction request is input from the operator, the reconstruction request processing unit 145 sets information corresponding to the amount of change given by the correction process as an argument, and the medical image A reconstruction request is output to the imaging apparatus. For example, when information below OO cm is interpolated and collapsed by interpolation processing, the enlargement ratio is set as an argument, and a reconstruction request is output to the medical image photographing apparatus.

  When the operator does not request a reconfiguration request, the reconfiguration request processing unit 145 notifies the image processing unit 141 that the image inspection has been confirmed. The image processing unit 141 sets the post-processing image data stored in the storage unit 13 as post-detection image data.

  The display control unit 146 controls the imaging monitor 23 to display the medical image data, post-processing image data, and post-examination image data recorded in the storage unit 13. The display control unit 146 also controls the image detection monitor 23 to display the alert output from the alert output processing unit 144. Further, the display control unit 146 controls the reference information monitor 24 to display post-examination image data recorded in the storage unit 13.

  The system control unit 147 functions as the center of the information processing processor 14. The system control unit 147 controls the operation in the information processing processor 14 in accordance with instructions input from the keyboard 21 and the mouse 22 to execute image detection processing unique to the present embodiment.

  Next, the image detection operation by the image detection apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described in detail. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart when the image detection apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 detects medical image data.

  First, the image processing unit 141 of the image inspection apparatus 10 performs image processing on medical image data in accordance with an image processing instruction input from the operator, and an image determination confirmation instruction is input from the operator (step S31). Then, the history of image processing and the processed image data are recorded in the storage unit 13 (step S32).

  The processing content confirmation unit 142 of the image inspection device 10 confirms the history stored in the storage unit 13 (step S33). Then, the processing content confirmation unit 142 determines whether or not the image processing performed on the medical image data includes a correction processing that may cause loss of information in the medical image data (step S34). .

  When the correction process is included in the image processing performed on the medical image data (Yes in step S34), the image change amount detection unit 143 of the image detection device 10 determines the change amount of the medical image data due to the correction process. It detects (step S35). When the correction processing is not included in the image processing performed on the medical image data (No in step S34), the image processing unit 141 converts the processed image data recorded in the storage unit 13 into post-examination image data. (Step S36).

  The alert output processing unit 144 of the imaging device 10 determines whether or not the amount of change detected in step S35 exceeds a preset threshold value (step S37). When it is determined that the detected change amount exceeds the threshold (Yes in step S37), the alert output processing unit 144 determines whether the change amount exceeds the allowable amount read from the storage unit 13 (step S38). If the detected amount of change does not exceed the threshold (No in step S37), the alert output processing unit 144 proceeds to step S36.

  When the amount of change exceeds the allowable amount (Yes in step S38), the alert output processing unit 144 outputs an alert to the operator (step S39). FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a part of the alert displayed on the image monitoring monitor 23. In FIG. 4, a square indicated by a solid line indicates medical image data, and a square indicated by an inner broken line indicates processed image data. In FIG. 4, rotation and reduction image processing is performed on medical image data. The hatched portion indicates an image area that is deleted by rotation and reduction. When the amount of change does not exceed the allowable amount (No in step S38), the alert output processing unit 144 proceeds to step S36.

  The reconstruction request processing unit 145 displays a message on the imaging monitor 23 as to whether or not to request a medical image reconstruction request from the medical imaging apparatus, and determines whether or not a reconstruction request is requested. Judgment is made (step S310). When an instruction to request a reconstruction request is input from the operator (Yes in step S310), the reconstruction request processing unit 145 outputs a reconstruction request to the medical image photographing apparatus (step S311). When an instruction to request a reconfiguration request is not input from the operator (No in step S310), the reconfiguration request processing unit 145 proceeds to step S36.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the processing content confirmation unit 142 confirms whether correction processing is included in image processing performed on medical image data. If it is included, the image change amount detection unit 143 detects the change amount given to the medical image data by the correction process. The alert output unit 144 issues an alert to the operator, assuming that there is a possibility of affecting diagnosis / interpretation after image detection when the amount of change exceeds a predetermined threshold. As a result, the image inspection apparatus 10 can notify the operator that there is information that is lost during the image inspection.

  Therefore, according to the imaging device according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the influence of diagnostic imaging on diagnosis / interpretation.

  In the above embodiment, the alert output processing unit 144 receives the order information input by the operator, and reads the allowable amount corresponding to the received order information from the table stored in the storage unit 13. Then, the alert output processing unit 144 determines whether or not the change amount detected by the image change amount detection unit 143 exceeds the read allowable amount, thereby determining whether or not the diagnosis / interpretation is affected. I am doing so. As a result, the imaging device 10 can determine whether the imaging affects diagnosis / interpretation for each diagnosis and inspection purpose.

  In the above-described embodiment, the reconstruction request processing unit 145 issues an alert to the operator, and then confirms whether the medical image needs to be reconstructed. When the operator determines that reconfiguration is necessary, the reconfiguration request processing unit 145 outputs a reconfiguration request to the image capturing apparatus. As a result, the image inspection device 10 can determine / store the image without losing information as much as possible.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications 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 10 ... Image detection apparatus, 11 ... Reception part, 12 ... Input interface part, 13 ... Memory | storage part, 14 ... Information processing processor, 141 ... Image processing part, 142 ... Processing content confirmation part, 143 ... Image variation detection part, 144 ... alert output processing unit, 1441 ... determining unit, 1442 ... alert creating unit, 15 ... output interface unit, 21 ... keyboard, 22 ... mouse, 23 ... monitor for image detection, 24 ... monitor for reference information

Claims (5)

An image processing unit that performs image processing on a medical image captured based on the order information;
In the image processing, a determination processing unit that determines whether or not it is necessary to output a warning based on an amount related to a reduction in image quality of the medical image or an amount related to the disappearance of the image;
An image detection apparatus comprising: an alert output processing unit that outputs an alert when the determination processing unit determines that a warning output is necessary. An image processing unit that performs image processing on a medical image captured based on the order information;
A storage unit for storing a history of the image processing;
A processing content confirmation unit for determining whether or not the history includes a correction process that may cause loss of necessary information in the medical image;
When the correction process is included, a change amount detection unit that detects a change amount given to the medical image by the correction process;
And an alert output processing unit that outputs an alert when the amount of change exceeds a preset threshold. The storage unit further stores, for each order information, an allowable amount for preventing the diagnosis / interpretation from being affected by the correction process,
The alert output processing unit determines whether or not the amount of change exceeds a preset threshold, and if so, determines whether or not the amount of change exceeds the allowable amount, and if so, outputs an alert. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alert output processing unit outputs the change amount and the influence on the diagnosis / interpretation included in the alert.   After the alert is output, a confirmation message is output as to whether or not the medical image needs to be reconstructed. If necessary, the medical image reconstruction device that has captured the medical image is requested to reconstruct the medical image. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a reconstruction request processing unit that requests.

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