JP2015176580A - Medical image processor, medical image processing system, medical image display device, medical image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a load in a medical image processing system.SOLUTION: A medical image processor includes an acquisition part for acquiring a plurality of pieces of DICOM data, a generation part for combining the plurality of pieces of DICOM data acquired by the acquisition part in each series to generate a combined file, and a registration part for storing the combined file generated by the generation part in a storage part. For example, the registration part stores the combined file generated by the generation part in a storage part connected to the medical image processor through a network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus, a medical image processing system, a medical image display apparatus, a medical image processing method, and a program.

  Imaging such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT (Computed Tomography), and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) that allows medical personnel to non-invasively take medical images such as tomographic images (slices) of the human body. The device is being used. The medical staff can judge the progress, cure, and treatment policy of the medical condition by comparing the medical images of the same part taken with time by these image taking devices. Conventionally, for such interpretation, it has been considered to display a medical image in an easy-to-see manner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5200631

  However, conventionally, there has been a case where a load on a medical image processing system that processes medical images is large. Image capturing apparatuses such as MRI, CT, and PET may capture several hundred or more tomographic images in a single examination. Since the medical image processing system has to process a huge number of images, there are cases where the load on the system is heavy.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a medical image processing apparatus, a medical image processing system, a medical image display apparatus, a medical image processing method, and a program that reduce the load on the medical image processing system.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and one aspect of the present invention combines an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of DICOM data and a plurality of DICOM data acquired by the acquisition unit for each series. A medical image processing apparatus comprising: a generation unit that generates a combined file; and a registration unit that stores the combined file generated by the generation unit in a storage unit.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the medical image processing apparatus, the registration unit stores the combined file generated by the generation unit in a storage unit connected to the medical image processing apparatus via a network. It is characterized by that.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the combined file generated by the generation unit in the medical image processing apparatus includes an additional information unit that stores additional information and an image data unit that stores image data. The image processing apparatus stores, in the incidental information part of the combined file, reference position information indicating image data corresponding to a reference position in the shooting target among the image data stored in the image data part of the combined file. Part.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical image processing system including a medical image display device and the medical image processing device, wherein the medical image processing device responds to an image acquisition request acquired from the medical image display device. And a conversion unit that converts the combined file acquired from the storage unit into a plurality of DICOM data, and the medical image display device acquires an image acquisition request for acquiring the plurality of DICOM data converted by the medical image processing device. A processing unit, a selection unit that selects image data stored in an image data unit of a plurality of DICOM data acquired by the image acquisition request processing unit based on the reference position information, and image data selected by the selection unit A medical image processing system comprising: a display control unit that displays an image on a display unit.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided DICOM data having an auxiliary information part for storing auxiliary information and an image data part for storing image data, the image data being stored in the image data part. Reference position information indicating image data corresponding to the reference position is stored in the incidental information section. The acquisition section for acquiring DICOM data from the storage section for storing DICOM data, and the incidental information section for the DICOM data acquired by the acquisition section. A selection unit that selects image data stored in the image data unit of DICOM data stored in the storage unit based on the reference position information stored in the storage unit, and a display unit that displays an image indicated by the image data selected by the selection unit And a display control unit to be displayed on the medical image display device.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acquisition process in which the medical image processing apparatus acquires a plurality of DICOM data, and a combined file in which the medical image processing apparatus combines the plurality of DICOM data acquired in the acquisition process for each series. And a registration process in which the medical image processing apparatus stores the combined file generated in the generation process in a storage unit.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, an acquisition procedure for acquiring a plurality of DICOM data in a computer, a generation procedure for generating a combined file by combining a plurality of DICOM data acquired in the acquisition procedure for each series, and the generation procedure The program for performing the registration procedure which memorize | stores the joint file produced | generated in (2) in a memory | storage part.

  According to the present invention, the load on the medical image processing system can be reduced.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the medical image processing system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the data format of DICOM data which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data format of the combined file which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the management information which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic function structure of the medical image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic function structure of the medical image display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a registration process of the joint file by the medical image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the specific process of the image data corresponding to the position of the reference | standard by the medical image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific processing of the image data corresponding to the reference | standard position which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the reference process of the medical image by the medical image processing system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a display process of the medical image by the medical image display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the aspect of the display by the medical image display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the aspect of the display by the medical image display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the aspect of a display of the comparison object of the medical image display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment.

[Schematic configuration of medical image processing system]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the medical image processing system A1.
The medical image processing system A1 is a computer system for displaying medical images. The medical image processing system A1 includes a medical image processing device 1, an image capturing device 2, a management information management device 3, a combined file management device 4, and a medical image display device 5.

  The medical image processing device 1, the image photographing device 2, the management information management device 3, and the medical image display device 5 are installed in a medical facility, for example. Further, the medical image processing apparatus 1, the image photographing apparatus 2, the management information management apparatus 3, and the medical image display apparatus 5 are connected to be communicable via a network N1. The combined file management device 4 is installed outside a medical facility, for example. The medical image processing apparatus 1 and the combined file management apparatus 4 are communicably connected via a network N2.

  The image capturing apparatus 2 is an apparatus that captures and generates a medical image, such as MRI, CT, and PET. In the present embodiment, the image capturing apparatus 2 is an MRI as an example. Moreover, in this embodiment, the imaging object of the image capturing device 2 is, for example, around the head of a human body. Moreover, in this embodiment, the image imaging device 2 demonstrates the case where an image is continuously image | photographed with the predetermined | prescribed slice space | interval length toward the direction of a jaw part from a parietal part as an example. Hereinafter, a plurality of images generated in one continuous photographing process by the image photographing device 2 are referred to as a series. That is, one series includes a plurality of images continuously photographed with a predetermined slice interval length. The examination may be configured by a plurality of series having different imaging directions, imaging sites, or signals. That is, a plurality of series can be obtained by one inspection. The medical image data generated by the image capturing apparatus 2 conforms to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standard, which is a standard for medical images. Hereinafter, data conforming to the DICOM standard is referred to as DICOM data. The image capturing device 2 transmits the generated DICOM data to the medical image processing device 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format of DICOM data.
In this example, DICOM data is composed of a plurality of data elements, and has an image data part including image data and an incidental information part including personal information of the patient. In the image data portion, image data indicating the substance of an image photographed by the image photographing device 2 is stored. In the incidental information part, incidental information of the image data stored in the image data part is stored. The incidental information stored in the incidental information section includes, for example, identification information of the patient to be imaged, name of the patient, identification information of the examination, identification information of the series, continuous number indicating the imaging order in the series, and imaging date and time in the examination And information such as the slice interval length. The incidental information section has an area for storing incidental information defined by the DICOM standard, and an area for arbitrarily defining the information to be stored. The image capturing apparatus 2 such as MRI or CT continuously captures a plurality of images. A plurality of images taken are assigned consecutive numbers in the order of shooting, and the numbers are set as file names. Therefore, the file name indicates the relative position of the imaging region from the imaging start point. Similarly, a continuous number indicating the imaging order in the series stored in the incidental information section also indicates the relative position of the imaging part from the imaging start point. In the following description, the file name is used to specify the imaging position of the image. The case will be described.

Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued.
The medical image processing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that performs information processing on medical images, and is, for example, a server apparatus. The medical image processing apparatus 1 generates a combined file obtained by combining a plurality of DICOM data. The medical image processing apparatus 1 transmits to the generated combined file management apparatus 4 and stores it. Further, the medical image processing apparatus 1 transmits the storage position information indicating the storage position of the combined file and the incidental information of the combined file to the management information management apparatus 3 for storage. In addition, when the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires an image acquisition request including the accompanying information of the combined file from the medical image display apparatus 5, the medical image processing apparatus 1 transmits a storage location information acquisition request including the accompanying information to the management information management apparatus 3. The medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires the storage position information transmitted from the management information management apparatus 3 in response to the storage position information acquisition request, and transmits a combined file acquisition request including the acquired storage position information to the combined file management apparatus 4. To do. The medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires the combined file transmitted from the combined file management apparatus 4 in response to the combined file acquisition request, and transmits the acquired combined file to the medical image display apparatus 5.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data format of the combined file.
The combined file is a file obtained by combining a plurality of DICOM data. In this embodiment, as an example, the combined file includes a plurality of data elements, and includes an image data part for storing a plurality of image data and an accompanying information part. In the image data portion of the combined file, the image data stored in the image data portions of the plurality of DICOM data before combining is stored. In the incidental information part of the combined file, incidental information of the image data stored in the image data part of the combined file is stored. Further, reference position information indicating image data corresponding to a reference position in the photographing target among the plurality of image data stored in the image data portion is stored in the incidental information portion of the combined file. In the present embodiment, the reference position in the imaging target is, for example, the top of the head. The image data indicated by the reference position information is image data of an image obtained by photographing the top of the head.

  The management information management device 3 is a device that manages management information of DICOM data, and is, for example, a server device. The management information management apparatus 3 includes a management information storage unit that stores management information in which incidental information acquired from the medical image processing apparatus 1 is associated with storage position information. Further, when the management information management device 3 acquires the storage location information acquisition request of the combined file from the medical image processing device 1, the management information management device 3 refers to the management information stored in the own device and associates it with the incidental information included in the storage location information acquisition request. The stored storage location information is transmitted.

FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of management information.
Management information includes a sequence number, patient ID that is identification information for identifying a patient (hereinafter, identification information for identifying something is described as ID (IDentification)), patient name, examination ID, series ID, imaging date, and Has each value of the file path. The sequence number indicates identification information of management information. The sequence number is, for example, a number assigned to each piece of management information by the management information management device 3. The patient ID indicates identification information for identifying a patient to be imaged. The patient name indicates the name of the patient to be imaged. The examination ID indicates examination identification information. The series ID indicates series identification information. The shooting date indicates the date when shooting was performed. The file path indicates storage location information of the combined file.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the management information storage unit stores a plurality of management information. In the management information shown in the row L1, the value of the sequence number is “001”. The value of the patient ID is “0001”. The value of the patient name is “Data Taro”. Further, the value of the inspection ID is “001”. The series ID is “00001”. The shooting date is “2014/02/01”. The file path is “/ home / data / 00001”. Therefore, the management information shown in the row L1 includes the examination with the examination ID “001” performed on the patient “Data Taro” identified by the patient ID “0001” on “2014/02/01”. Among them, a combined file of a plurality of DICOM data acquired in the series whose series ID is “00001” is stored in the folder “/ home / data /” of the combined file management device 4, and the file name of the combined file Indicates “00001”.

  Further, in the management information shown in the row L2, the value of the sequence number is “002”. The value of the patient ID is “0001”. The value of the patient name is “Data Taro”. Further, the value of the inspection ID is “001”. The series ID is “00002”. The shooting date is “2014/02/01”. The file path is “/ home / data / 00002”. Therefore, the management information shown in the row L2 includes the examination with the examination ID “001” performed on the patient “Data Taro” identified by the patient ID “0001” on “2014/02/01”. Among them, a combined file obtained by combining a plurality of DICOM data acquired in the series having the series ID “00002” is stored in the folder “/ home / data /” of the combined file management device 4, and the combined file Indicates that the file name is “00002”.

Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued.
The combined file management device 4 is a device that manages combined files, and is, for example, a plurality of server devices. The combined file management device 4 is, for example, a distributed storage that makes a combined file acquired from the medical image processing device 1 redundant and stores it in a combined file storage unit included in the own device. Further, when the combined file management apparatus 4 acquires the combined file acquisition request from the medical image processing apparatus 1, the combined file management apparatus 4 acquires the combined file from the combined file storage unit based on the storage location information included in the acquired combined file acquisition request. It transmits to the image processing apparatus 1.

  The medical image display device 5 is a device that displays medical images and supports interpretation by medical staff. The medical image display device 5 is a computer device such as a personal computer or a tablet, for example. The medical image display device 5 receives an input from the user of the own device. For example, when receiving a medical image display request from a user, the medical image display device 5 transmits an image acquisition request to the medical image processing device 1 to acquire a combined file. The medical image display device 5 displays the image indicated by the image data stored in the image data portion of the acquired combined file on the display portion.

The network N1 is an information communication network configured by, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) that connects devices in a medical facility.
The network N2 includes, for example, a mobile phone network, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) network, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) network, a dedicated communication network, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN, and a PSTN (Public Network Network). A public switched telephone network) or a combination of these.

[Schematic configuration of medical image processing apparatus]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic functional configuration of the medical image processing apparatus 1.
The medical image processing apparatus 1 includes a first communication unit 111, a second communication unit 112, a storage unit 12, a registration processing unit 13, and a transfer processing unit 14. The medical image processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device.
The first communication unit 111 includes a communication interface and is connected to the network N1.
The second communication unit 112 includes a communication interface and is connected to the network N2.

  The storage unit 12 includes, for example, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), or a RAM (Random Access Program). Various programs to be executed by the CPU included in the medical image processing apparatus 1 and results of processing executed by the CPU are stored. The storage unit 12 functions, for example, when the CPU included in the medical image processing apparatus 1 executes a program stored in the storage unit 12.

The registration processing unit 13 performs registration processing of DICOM data captured by the image capturing apparatus 2. The registration processing unit 13 includes an acquisition unit 131, a generation unit 132, a specification unit 133, and a registration unit 134.
The acquisition unit 131 acquires DICOM data from the image capturing device 2 via the first communication unit 111. At this time, the acquisition unit 131 acquires, for example, a plurality of series of DICOM data photographed in one examination and a plurality of DICOM data of the same series photographed in one series. The acquisition unit 131 outputs the acquired DICOM data to the generation unit 132.

  The generation unit 132 acquires DICOM data from the acquisition unit 131. The generation unit 132 generates a combined file from a plurality of acquired DICOM data. Specifically, the generation unit 132 refers to, for example, the series identification information stored in the accompanying information unit of the acquired plurality of DICOM data, and the image data unit of the plurality of DICOM data having the same series identification information Separate the incidental information section. The generation unit 132 stores the image data stored in the image data portion of the plurality of DICOM data in the image data portion of the combined file in the order of the file name numbers. As described above, the storage position of the image data in the image data portion corresponds to the order in which the images of the image data are taken in the series.

  Further, the generation unit 132 selects, for example, an arbitrary incidental information part from a plurality of DICOM data to be combined, and sets it as the incidental information part of the combined file. In the present embodiment, since a plurality of combined DICOM data are acquired in one series, there are many common values for incidental information such as identification information of a patient to be imaged and a slice interval length. That is, incidental information stored in the incidental information section of a plurality of DICOM data to be combined has many common values and can be aggregated as described above. Note that the selection unit 552 may select any one of the accompanying information pieces of the combined file when storing the accompanying information with different DICOM data to be combined. The generation unit 132 outputs the generated combined file to the specifying unit 133. Thus, since the medical image processing apparatus 1 generates a combined file in which incidental information is aggregated, the file size can be reduced and the load on the medical image processing system A1 can be reduced.

  The specifying unit 133 acquires the combined file from the generation unit 132. The specifying unit 133 performs processing for specifying the image data corresponding to the reference position for the plurality of image data stored in the image data portion of the acquired combined file. In this specifying process, the specifying unit 133 selects image data of an image obtained by capturing the top of the head by image difference analysis, for example. The specifying unit 133 stores the reference position information indicating the storage position of the selected image data in the image data part as a part of the accompanying information in the accompanying information part of the combined file. The reference position information is stored in an area where arbitrary information can be stored in the incidental information section. The specifying unit 133 outputs the combined file in which the reference position information is registered to the registration unit 134.

  The registration unit 134 acquires a combined file from the specifying unit 133. The registration unit 134 transmits the acquired combined file to the combined file management device 4 via the second communication unit 112 and stores it. The registration unit 134 manages, via the first communication unit 111, management information in which the storage location information indicating the storage location of the combined file in the combined file management device 4 is associated with the auxiliary information stored in the auxiliary information unit. The information is transmitted to the information management device 3 and stored. At this time, the registration unit 134 may associate a part of the incidental information stored in the incidental information unit with the storage position information.

In response to an image acquisition request from the medical image display device 5, the transfer processing unit 14 acquires a combined file from the combined file management device 4 and performs a transfer process of transferring the combined file to the medical image display device 5. The transfer processing unit 14 includes an incidental information acquisition unit 141 and a transfer unit 142.
When the supplementary information acquisition unit 141 acquires an image acquisition request including the supplementary information from the medical image display device 5, the storage information acquisition request including the supplementary information is transmitted to the management information management device 3 via the first communication unit 111. Send to. When the supplementary information acquisition unit 141 acquires the storage location information transmitted in response to the storage location information acquisition request, the supplementary information acquisition unit 141 outputs the acquired storage location information to the transfer unit 142.

  When the transfer unit 142 acquires the storage location information from the incidental information acquisition unit 141, the transfer unit 142 transmits a combined file acquisition request including the acquired storage location information to the combined file management device 4 via the second communication unit 112. When the transfer unit 142 acquires the combined file transmitted in response to the combined file acquisition request, the transfer unit 142 transmits the acquired combined file to the medical image display device 5 via the first communication unit 111.

[Schematic configuration of medical image display device]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic functional configuration of the medical image display device 5.
The medical image display device 5 includes a communication unit 51, a storage unit 52, a display unit 53, an input unit 54, an image acquisition request processing unit 551, a selection unit 552, and a display control unit 553. The medical image display device 5 includes a CPU and a storage device.

The communication unit 51 includes a communication interface and is connected to the network N1.
The storage unit 52 includes, for example, an HDD, a flash memory, an EEPROM, a ROM, or a RAM, and includes various programs executed by the CPU of the medical image display device 5 such as firmware and application programs, and processes executed by the CPU. Memorize the results. The image acquisition request processing unit 551, the selection unit 552, and the display control unit 553 function, for example, when the CPU included in the medical image display device 5 executes a program stored in the storage unit 52.

The storage unit 52 includes a first combined file cache storage unit 521 and a second combined file cache storage unit 522.
The first combined file cache storage unit 521 and the second combined file cache storage unit 522 store combined file data to be displayed on the display unit 53, respectively.
The display unit 53 displays an image indicated by the image data stored in the image data portion of the combined file. In the present embodiment, as an example, the display unit 53 acquires two combined files, and displays the images indicated by one of the image data stored in the image data portion of each combined file side by side. The display unit 53 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display.

  The input unit 54 receives an input from the user of the medical image display device 5. The input unit 54 includes an input device such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel, for example. The content of the operation accepted by the input unit 54 is displayed on a display device included in the display unit 53 by using a GUI (Graphical User Interface), for example. The input received by the input unit 54 is incidental information of the image for specifying a medical image to be displayed on the display unit 53, for example. In this case, for example, the input unit 54 receives input of incidental information such as a patient ID, a patient name, an examination ID, a series ID, and an imaging date, and outputs the received incidental information to the image acquisition request processing unit 551.

  The input accepted by the input unit 54 is, for example, operation information for changing one of the two medical images displayed on the display unit 53 to a medical image obtained by photographing a different position. In this case, for example, the input unit 54 receives information for specifying the changed medical image as operation information, and outputs the received operation information to the selection unit 552. Here, the operation information includes, for example, instruction information indicating a combined file instructed to change display, and storage position information indicating a storage position of the changed image data in the combined file.

  When acquiring the incidental information from the input unit 54, the image acquisition request processing unit 551 transmits an image acquisition request including the acquired incidental information to the medical image processing apparatus 1 via the communication unit 51. When acquiring the combined file transmitted in response to the image acquisition request, the image acquisition request processing unit 551 stores the acquired combined file in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 or the second combined file cache storage unit 522. Based on the supplementary information acquired from the input unit 54, the image acquisition request processing unit 551 indicates, for example, 2 images that are images of the same series of the same examination with the same person being imaged and that are captured on different dates. Two combined files are acquired, and the two acquired combined files are stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 and the second combined file cache storage unit 522, respectively. Further, the image acquisition request processing unit 551 notifies the selection unit 552 of a new acquisition notification indicating the first combined file cache storage unit 521 or the second combined file cache storage unit 522 that is the storage destination of the newly acquired combined file. .

  The selection unit 552 performs processing according to the notification acquired from the image acquisition request processing unit 551 and the operation information acquired from the input unit 54. When the selection unit 552 acquires the new acquisition notification from the image acquisition request processing unit 551, the selection unit 552 refers to the reference position information stored in the additional information unit of the combined file stored in the storage destination indicated by the acquired new acquisition notification. . The selection unit 552 acquires image data indicated by the referenced reference position information and outputs the image data to the display control unit 553.

  Further, when the selection unit 552 acquires the operation information from the input unit 54, the selection unit 552 stores the combination stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 or the second combined file cache storage unit 522 based on the instruction information included in the acquired operation information. One of the files is referred to, and the image data indicated by the storage position information among the image data stored in the image data portion of the combined file is output to the display control unit 553.

  Also, the selection unit 552 refers to either the combined file stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 or the second combined file cache storage unit 522 based on the instruction information included in the acquired operation information, and combines the combined file The reference position information stored in the incidental information section and the slice interval length are acquired. Based on the storage position information included in the operation information, the acquired reference position information, and the acquired slice interval length, the selection unit 552 selects the position of the image data indicated by the instruction information in the imaging target and the image data indicated by the reference position information. A distance from the position in the imaging target is calculated, and distance information indicating the distance is acquired. The selection unit 552 refers to the combined file not indicated by the instruction information in the combined file stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 or the second combined file cache storage unit 522, and displays the combined file in the incidental information unit of the combined file. The stored reference position information and slice interval length are acquired. Based on the acquired slice interval length, the selection unit 552 identifies image data indicating an image in which the distance from the position in the imaging target of the image data indicated by the reference position information corresponds to the distance indicated by the distance information. The selection unit 552 outputs the specified image data to the display control unit 553.

  The display control unit 553 selects the image data stored in the image data portions of the two combined files stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 and the second combined file cache storage unit 522, respectively. Get from. The display control unit 553 generates image data of a display image in which two acquired image data are arranged. The display control unit 553 controls the display unit 53 to display the generated image data on the display unit 53.

[Operation of medical image processing system]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of registration processing of a combined file by the medical image processing apparatus 1.
First, the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires a plurality of DICOM data from the image capturing apparatus 2 (step S101). Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 selects DICOM data to be combined (step S102). For example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 refers to the identification information of the series stored in the incidental information part of the plurality of DICOM data acquired in step S101, and identifies the identification information of the same series among the plurality of acquired DICOM data. Select the DICOM data you have. Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 generates a combined file from the selected DICOM data (step S103). Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 transmits the incidental information extracted from the incidental information part of the generated combined file to the management information management apparatus 3 (step S104).

  Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 performs processing for specifying image data corresponding to the reference position (step S105). Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 generates storage position information indicating a position where the combined file is stored (step S106). Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 transmits the generated storage location information to the management information management apparatus 3 (step S107). Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 transmits the combined file to the combined file management apparatus 4 (step S108), and stores it in the storage position indicated by the generated storage position control information. Then, the medical image processing apparatus 1 ends the process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing for specifying image data corresponding to the reference position by the medical image processing apparatus 1.
First, the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires image data stored in the image data portion of the combined file (step S201). The medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires, for example, the image data stored first in the image data portion of the combined file at the start of the processing of this example. Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires the pixel value of each pixel of the acquired image data (step S202).

  Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires the lowest value from the pixel values of the pixels of the entire image data, and corrects the pixel value of each pixel of the image data with the lowest value (step S203). More specifically, the medical image processing apparatus 1 corrects the pixel value by subtracting the minimum value from the pixel value of each pixel of the image data, for example. Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 calculates a pixel value total value of three pixels located near the center of the image indicated by the image data (step S204). Here, the three pixels near the center may be arbitrarily selected as long as the image of the top of the head, which is the reference position, is captured. Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not previous image data exists and the pixel value total value is calculated (step S205). If the previous image data does not exist (step S205; NO), the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires the next image data (step S206), and proceeds to step S202. When the previous image data exists (step S205; YES), the medical image processing apparatus 1 calculates the difference between the pixel value total value of the previous image data and the current image data ( Step S207).

  Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the next image data exists (step S208). If the next image data does not exist (step S207; NO), the medical image processing apparatus 1 advances the processing to step S206. When the next image data exists (step S207; YES), the medical image processing apparatus 1 compares the difference between the pixel value total values calculated so far by the process of step S207. Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 stores the information indicating the storage position of the first image data indicating a difference larger than a predetermined threshold as reference position information in the incidental information part of the combined file (step S209). Then, the medical image processing apparatus 1 ends the process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the image data specifying process corresponding to the reference position.
The lower axis in FIG. 9 indicates the slice direction. In this example, the slice direction indicates the direction from the top of the subject to be imaged to the jaw. The lower part of FIG. 9 shows an example of a medical image photographed by the image photographing device 2. The upper part of FIG. 9 shows a histogram. Each histogram is a histogram of an image shown immediately below. The horizontal axis of the histogram indicates the horizontal coordinate of the image. The vertical axis of the histogram represents the sum of pixel values of pixel groups having the same horizontal coordinate. A broken line parallel to the horizontal axis of the histogram indicates a threshold value.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, three images show cross-sectional images from the left to the right, above the head, near the top, and near the center of the head. The three images are images indicated by the image data included in one combined file, and are one series of images. Since the image of the upper part of the head shown on the left does not include the human body to be imaged, the pixel values of the pixels in the entire image are low. Therefore, the total pixel value of the three pixels located near the center calculated in the process of step S204 in FIG. 8 is small.

  On the other hand, in the image shown in the center, a cross section of the top of the head is photographed near the center of the image. At this time, the total pixel value of the three pixels located near the center calculated in the process of step S204 in FIG. 8 is increased. Similarly, in the image shown on the right, a cross section near the center of the head is photographed near the center of the image. At this time, the total pixel value of the three pixels located near the center calculated in the process of step S204 in FIG. 8 is increased.

  As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the pixel value changes abruptly between the image obtained by photographing the upper part of the head and the image obtained by photographing the top of the head. As a result, for example, when these three images are continuous images, the difference calculated in the process of step S207 in FIG. 8 is between the image data of the image shown on the left and the image data of the image shown in the center. At Accordingly, by performing image difference analysis on a plurality of images in one series as shown in FIG. 8 in order, the medical image processing apparatus 1 can detect the top of the head as an example of the reference position in one series. The captured image can be specified appropriately.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a medical image reference process performed by the medical image processing system A1.
First, the medical image display device 5 receives input from a user and acquires incidental information of a combined file to be displayed (step S301). Next, the medical image display device 5 transmits an image acquisition request including the acquired supplementary information to the medical image processing device 1 (step S302). Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires an image acquisition request from the medical image display apparatus 5, and transmits a storage position information acquisition request including incidental information included in the image acquisition request to the management information management apparatus 3 (step S303). . Next, the management information management device 3 refers to the management information stored in the device itself, and transmits the storage location information associated with the supplementary information included in the storage location information acquisition request to the medical image processing device 1 (step) S304).

  Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires storage position information from the management information management apparatus 3, and transmits a combined file acquisition request including the acquired storage position information to the combined file management apparatus 4 (step S305). Next, the combined file management apparatus 4 reads out the combined file stored in the self apparatus based on the storage position information included in the combined file acquisition request acquired from the medical image processing apparatus 1, and transmits the combined file to the medical image processing apparatus 1 ( Step S306). Next, the medical image processing apparatus 1 acquires a combined file from the combined file management apparatus 4, and transmits the acquired combined file to the medical image display apparatus 5 (step S307). Next, the medical image processing system A1 extracts the reference position information from the incidental information part of the combined file acquired from the medical image processing apparatus 1, and specifies the image data indicated by the reference position information (step S308). Then, the medical image display device 5 displays the image indicated by the specified image data (step S309), and ends the process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a medical image display process performed by the medical image display device 5.
The following processing is indicated by an image indicated by one of the combined file image data stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 and one of the combined file image data stored in the second combined file cache storage unit 522. An example of the flow of processing when displaying images side by side is shown. Further, the two images are selected so that their positions in the photographing target are aligned. In the example shown below, the slice interval length stored in the incidental information part of the combined file respectively stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 and the second combined file cache storage unit 522 may be different. .

  First, the medical image display apparatus 5 receives input from the user and acquires operation information (step S401). Next, the medical image display device 5 specifies the image data of the combined file indicating the designated image based on the instruction information of the operation information. The medical image display device 5 displays the first image indicated by the image data of the identified combined file (step S402). Next, the medical image display device 5 calculates an actual distance between the position of the first image displayed in the processing of step S402 on the shooting target and the position of the image of the image data indicated by the reference position information on the shooting target (step). S403). For example, the medical image display device 5 calculates the actual distance by multiplying the number of images from the image of the image data indicated by the reference position information to the first image by the slice interval length.

  Next, based on the calculated actual distance, the medical image display device 5 identifies the image data of the image to be displayed among the image data of the other combined file (step S404). For example, the medical image display device 5 calculates a quotient obtained by dividing the actual distance by the slice interval length stored in the incidental information part of the other combined file. The medical image display device 5 specifies the image data in the order of the quotient values counted from the image data indicated by the reference position information. The other combined file indicates, for example, the instruction information of the operation information in the process of step S401 among the combined files stored in the first combined file cache storage unit 521 or the second combined file cache storage unit 522. It is not a combined file. Next, the medical image display device 5 displays the second image indicated by the image data specified in the process of step S404 (step S405), and ends the process.

[Display mode]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a display mode by the medical image display device 5.
The first example of this display mode shows a display mode when the medical image display apparatus 5 receives input of supplementary information by the user and displays a combined file acquired based on the received supplementary information. In this example, the display unit 53 of the medical image display device 5 displays two medical images. Each of the two medical images indicates a tomographic image of the top of the same person. The two medical images are images taken on different days. The image on the left is from a past examination taken on “2013 / xx / xx”. The right image is that of today's examination taken at “2014 / xx / xx”. As described above, when the medical image display apparatus 5 acquires the combined file from the medical image processing apparatus 1, the image of the top of the head is based on the image data indicated by the reference position information stored in the incidental information section of the acquired combined file. Is displayed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a display mode by the medical image display device 5.
The second example of this display mode is an example of a display mode when the medical image display device 5 receives an input of operation information from the user and changes an image to be displayed based on the received operation information. In the second example of the display mode, the two medical images are images obtained by photographing the vicinity of the center of the head.

  The second example of the display mode is displayed when, for example, operation information is input in the first example of the display mode shown in FIG. For example, in the first example of the display mode, the user inputs operation information for displaying images taken at different positions by selecting a left image and performing a scroll operation. At this time, the left image is changed to the image of the second example of the display mode. Further, the medical image display device 5 calculates the actual distance between the image of the top of the head at the reference position shown on the left in the first example of the display mode and the image near the center of the head shown on the left in the second example of the display mode. calculate. Then, the medical image display device 5 displays on the right an image of the head central region that is about the calculated actual distance from the top of the reference position shown on the right in the first example of the display mode. As described above, the medical image display device 5 can display, for example, a plurality of medical images photographed on different days with the positions of the photographing objects aligned.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode according to the comparison target of the medical image display device 5.
As an example of the display mode of the comparison target of the medical image display device 5, two medical images are displayed side by side in the same manner as the medical image display device 5. However, the comparison target of the medical image display device 5 does not have a function of displaying the two images in the same position in the photographing target. Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 13, in the first example of the display mode, when the user selects the left image and performs a scroll operation, the comparison target of the medical image display device 5 is the left image. Change, but do not change the right image. Therefore, when comparing two images, the user to be compared of the medical image display device 5 must change each image by his / her own hand.

  Conventionally, imaging apparatuses such as MRI, CT, and PET have been used in diagnosis of tumors and dementia. In diagnosis based on images captured by these image capturing apparatuses, medical workers often compare a plurality of images having different shooting dates and times in order to examine the progress of a medical condition. When comparing a plurality of images having different shooting dates and times, it is desirable that the medical image display device displays images obtained by shooting the same position of the body in cooperation with each other.

  In addition, since image capturing apparatuses such as MRI, CT, and PET continuously capture tomographic images, a large amount of images are captured each time an inspection is performed. In addition, medical images are required to have high reliability in management. For this reason, image data captured by the image capturing device may be stored in a large-capacity storage device outside the medical facility in order to ensure high reliability at a low cost. However, conventionally, since image data is managed for each image, the load on the system may be large. For example, in the interpretation by a medical staff, the medical image display device reads a series of images related to the examination. In this case, an acquisition request or a response of each image data is generated via the network, and the load on the system may increase.

  In contrast, the medical image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a generation unit that generates a combined file by combining a plurality of DICOM data for each series. Thereby, since the medical image processing apparatus 1 can make a data acquisition request or response in units of combined files, the frequency of communication can be reduced and the load on the medical image processing system A1 can be reduced.

Further, the medical image processing apparatus 1 stores the combined file in the combined file management apparatus 4 connected via the network. Thereby, the medical image processing apparatus 1 can ensure the reliability of the combined file at low cost, and can also reduce the load on the medical image processing system A1.
Further, the medical image display device 5 includes a selection unit that selects image data to be displayed based on the reference position information stored in the incidental information unit of the combined file. As a result, the medical image display device 5 can display a plurality of medical images taken at different dates, for example, by aligning the positions in the shooting target. Further, since the reference position information is stored in the incidental information part of the combined file, it is not necessary to manage the reference position information as separate data. As a result, the medical image processing system A1 can display a plurality of medical images in an easy-to-view manner and can reduce the load on the system.

  Note that the combined file generated by the medical image processing apparatus 1 may not have the above-described format. For example, the combined file may be a combined file obtained by collecting a plurality of DICOM data in a zip format or a tar format. The DICOM data to be combined may not be for each series. For example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 may combine a plurality of DICOM data of the same series, DICOM data of the same examination, and the like. Further, for example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 may combine DICOM data acquired by different apparatuses. Further, for example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 may combine DICOM data acquired by an apparatus other than the image capturing apparatus 2 described above. The medical image processing apparatus 1 may combine DICOM data acquired by, for example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus or a CR (Computed Radiography).

  Note that the reference position in the object to be photographed may not be the top of the head. The reference position in the imaging target is, for example, a body position that can be specified by image processing, and may be the upper or lower end of a temporal region or an organ. Further, there may be a plurality of reference positions in the photographing target. In that case, the medical image display device 5 may align the positions of the medical images to be displayed in the imaging target based on a plurality of reference positions. For example, the medical image display device 5 uses the top of the head and the lower end of the jaw as reference positions, and calculates the slice interval length based on the number of photographs taken between the two reference positions. Then, the medical image display device 5 may align the positions in the imaging target based on the calculated slice interval length. Further, for example, when generating a combined file, the medical image processing apparatus 1 may discard DICOM data in which a human body is not imaged.

  The medical image display device 5 may include a conversion unit that converts the acquired combined file into a data format before combining, and may display the converted DICOM data. For example, the conversion unit may add an accompanying information part of the combined file to each of the image data stored in the image data part of the combined file, and each may be set as one DICOM data. For example, the reference position information may be stored in an accompanying information portion of DICOM data that stores image data corresponding to the reference position, and may indicate that the image data corresponds to the reference position.

  The medical image processing apparatus 1 does not directly transmit the acquired combined file to the medical image display apparatus 5 in place of the transfer unit 142, but converts the combined file into a plurality of DICOM data and converts the plurality of DICOM data into the plurality of DICOM data. It is good also as providing the conversion part transmitted to the medical image display apparatus 5 via the 1st communication part 111. FIG. The conversion unit, for example, generates a plurality of DICOM data by associating each piece of image data stored in the image data portion of the combined file with auxiliary information stored in the auxiliary information portion of the combined file. Further, the conversion unit may assign file names of a plurality of DICOM data after conversion sequentially according to the arrangement order of the image data stored in the image data unit. As another example of the operation of the conversion unit that ensures the shooting order even if the combined file is separated, for example, the conversion unit separates the combined file into an incidental information unit and a plurality of image data units and separates them. Attached information is added to each image data part, and when generating DICOM data, a method of assigning file names according to a predetermined rule in the order of arrangement of the image data parts of the combined file, and the order of image data in the auxiliary information part are shown. There is a method of assigning consecutive numbers.

  When receiving a plurality of DICOM data (a set of DICOM data) converted from a combined file in response to an image acquisition request, the medical image display device 5 handles a set of DICOM data converted from the combined file instead of the combined file. Also good. In this case, the selection unit 552 may acquire the reference position information and the slice interval length stored in the incidental information unit of the DICOM data constituting the DICOM data set, and specify the image data.

Note that the processes by the medical image processing system A1 do not have to be executed in the order described above. For example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 may execute the combined file generation process after executing the image data specifying process corresponding to the reference position.
Note that the processing for specifying image data corresponding to the reference position may not be as described above. For example, the number of pixels used for the image difference analysis is not limited to three, and may be two or more than four, or may be pixels of the entire image. Further, for example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 may perform pattern matching on the image data and specify the image data corresponding to the reference position.

The display mode by the medical image display device 5 may not be as described above. For example, the medical image display device 5 may display one medical image, or may display three or more medical images in cooperation with each other. Further, the medical image displayed in cooperation with the medical image display device 5 may be an image other than the date. For example, the medical image display device 5 may display medical images of different persons side by side.
In addition, the function of each apparatus mentioned above may be implement | achieved as an integrated apparatus. For example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 and the medical image display apparatus 5 may be an integrated apparatus. For example, the medical image processing apparatus 1 may include a management information storage unit and a combined file storage unit.

  In addition, a part of the medical image processing apparatus 1 and the medical image display apparatus 5 in each embodiment described above, for example, the registration processing unit 13, the transfer processing unit 14, the image acquisition request processing unit 551, the selection unit 552, and the display control unit. 553 and the like may be realized by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing this function may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. Here, the “computer system” is a computer system built in the medical image processing apparatus 1 or the medical image display apparatus 5 and includes hardware such as an OS (Operating System) and peripheral devices.

  The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” is a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short time, such as a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, In this case, a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client may be included that holds a program for a certain period of time. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  Moreover, you may implement | achieve part or all of the medical image processing apparatus 1 and the medical image display apparatus 5 in embodiment mentioned above as integrated circuits, such as LSI (Large Scale Integration). Each functional unit of the medical image processing apparatus 1 and the medical image display apparatus 5 may be individually made into a processor, or a part or all of them may be integrated into a processor. Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. In addition, when an integrated circuit technology that replaces LSI appears due to the advancement of semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit based on the technology may be used.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible to

A1 ... medical image processing system, 1 ... medical image processing apparatus, 111 ... first communication unit, 112 ... second communication unit, 12 ... storage unit, 13 ... registration processing unit, 131 ... acquisition unit, 132 ... generation unit, 133 Reference unit 134 Registration unit 14 Transfer processing unit 141 Attached information acquisition unit 142 Transfer unit 2 Imaging device 3 Management information management device 4 Combined file management device 5 Medical Image display device 51. Communication unit 52 52 Storage unit 521 First combined file cache storage unit 522 Second combined file cache storage unit 53 Display unit 54 Input unit 551 Image acquisition request processing Part, 552 ... selection part, 553 ... display control part, N1, N2 ... network

Claims (7)

An acquisition unit for acquiring a plurality of DICOM data;
A generating unit that combines a plurality of DICOM data acquired by the acquiring unit for each series to generate a combined file;
A registration unit for storing the combined file generated by the generation unit in a storage unit;
A medical image processing apparatus comprising: The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit stores the combined file generated by the generation unit in a storage unit connected to the medical image processing apparatus via a network. The combined file generated by the generation unit includes an additional information unit for storing additional information and an image data unit for storing image data.
The medical image processing apparatus includes:
A specifying unit that stores reference position information indicating image data corresponding to a reference position in a shooting target among the image data stored in the image data unit of the combined file in the incidental information unit of the combined file,
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A medical image processing system comprising a medical image display device and the medical image processing device according to claim 3,
The medical image processing apparatus includes:
A conversion unit that converts the combined file acquired from the storage unit into a plurality of DICOM data in response to an image acquisition request acquired from the medical image display device;
Further comprising
The medical image display device includes:
An image acquisition request processing unit for acquiring a plurality of DICOM data converted by the medical image processing apparatus;
A selection unit that selects image data stored in an image data unit of a plurality of DICOM data acquired by the image acquisition request processing unit based on the reference position information;
A display control unit that causes the display unit to display an image indicated by the image data selected by the selection unit;
A medical image processing system comprising: DICOM data having an auxiliary information part for storing auxiliary information and an image data part for storing image data, and image data corresponding to a reference position in a photographing target among image data stored in the image data part. An acquisition unit for acquiring DICOM data from a storage unit for storing DICOM data for storing reference position information to be indicated in the incidental information unit;
A selection unit that selects image data stored in an image data unit of DICOM data stored in the storage unit based on reference position information stored in an incidental information unit of DICOM data acquired by the acquisition unit;
A display control unit that causes the display unit to display an image indicated by the image data selected by the selection unit;
A medical image display device comprising: An acquisition process in which the medical image processing apparatus acquires a plurality of DICOM data;
A generation process in which the medical image processing apparatus generates a combined file by combining a plurality of DICOM data acquired in the acquisition process for each series;
A registration process in which the medical image processing apparatus stores the combined file generated in the generation process in a storage unit;
A medical image processing method comprising: On the computer,
Acquisition procedure for acquiring multiple DICOM data,
A generation procedure for combining a plurality of DICOM data acquired in the acquisition procedure for each series to generate a combined file;
A registration procedure for storing the combined file generated in the generation procedure in a storage unit;
A program for running