JP2018023414A - Medical image processing device and object moving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image processing device and an object moving method that enable a plurality of kinds of movements of an object on a medical image to be performed with one time operation (stroke) by a general pointing device.SOLUTION: A CPU 101 of a medical image processing device 1 assigns a method for moving an object disposed on a medical image for an operation direction of a mouse 108 (pointing device). Specifically, "translation" of the object is assigned for a vertical moving operation of the mouse 108, and "rotation" of the object is assigned for a horizontal moving operation, for example. The CPU 101 discriminates the operation direction of the mouse 108, and moves the object by the assigned moving method. Thereby, the object can be rotated while being translated by one stroke. In particular, image analysis work performed in diagnosis of scoliosis for evaluating the inclination of the vertebra can be carried out efficiently.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus and an object moving method, and more particularly to an operation for supporting image diagnosis such as scoliosis.

  In an image processing apparatus used for image analysis by a doctor or the like, a keyboard and a mouse (pointing device) are used as general input devices. In addition to these configurations, a special interface may be added. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of moving and rotating an object using a pointing device having two coordinate displacement input units. In medical image analysis, the shape of a bone or the like is often observed and visually judged, and the use of a measurement tool as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an important interpretation means. For example, in the diagnosis of scoliosis, which is a disease of the spinal column, the degree of spinal curvature is evaluated by the Cobb method using medical images taken with an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus or the like. The Kobb method is a method of measuring the angle (cobb angle) formed by the upper edge of the upper terminal vertebra and the lower edge of the lower terminal vertebra from the X-ray image, etc. Doctors draw a straight line in contact with the upper terminal vertebra and a straight line in contact with the lower terminal vertebra on the medical image, and obtain a hump angle from the angle at which these straight lines intersect. At this time, the doctor adjusts the angle and position of the straight line. Need to do work.

JP 2001-202197 A

  However, in the image analysis work, in the work of adjusting the position and angle of the movement target on the medical image using a pointing device, it is necessary to perform multiple types of movements of parallel movement and rotational movement by separate operations, and the number of operations There were many complicated. Also, it is not preferable to add a new interface (device) as shown in Patent Document 1 to the apparatus from the viewpoint of versatility of operation and cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and medical image processing that enables a plurality of types of movement of an object on a medical image by a single operation (stroke) using a general pointing device. An object is to provide an apparatus and an object moving method.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the first invention obtains a medical image and displays it, an object placement unit that places an object on the displayed medical image, and an operation for moving the object A pointing device that inputs a pointing device, a setting unit that assigns the moving method of the object to the operation direction of the pointing device, a determination unit that determines the operation direction of the pointing device, and an operation direction determined by the determination unit And a movement processing unit that moves the object in accordance with the movement method assigned by the setting unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a display unit that acquires and displays a medical image, an object placement unit that places an object on the displayed medical image, and an object moving tool that receives an operation by a pointing device are placed on the object. An object movement tool placement unit; a setting unit that assigns the amount of rotation of the object to each position on the object movement tool; a determination unit that determines an instruction position to the object movement tool by the pointing device; and the pointing A movement processing unit that moves the object in accordance with a drag operation of the object movement tool by a device, and that rotates the object by a rotation amount assigned by the setting unit according to an instruction position determined by the determination unit; With DOO is a medical image processing apparatus according to claim.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a step of acquiring and displaying a medical image, a step of arranging an object on the displayed medical image, and an operation direction of a pointing device for inputting an operation for moving the object A step of assigning a moving method of the object; a step of determining an operation direction of the pointing device; and a step of moving the object by an assigned moving method according to the determined operation direction. This is an object moving method.

  4th invention acquires a medical image, displays it, the step which arrange | positions an object on the displayed medical image, the step which arrange | positions the object movement tool which receives operation by a pointing device on the said object, Assigning the amount of rotation of the object to each position on the object moving tool; determining a position indicated by the pointing device to the object moving tool; and dragging the object moving tool by the pointing device And moving the object along with the step of rotating the object by an assigned rotation amount in accordance with the determined indication position.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a medical image processing apparatus and an object moving method capable of moving a plurality of types of objects on a medical image with a single operation (stroke) using a general pointing device.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the medical image processing apparatus 100 The block diagram regarding the object movement function of the medical image processing apparatus 100 which concerns on this invention Flow chart explaining the flow of object movement processing The figure explaining the example which applies an object movement process on the medical image 50 The figure explaining the auxiliary line and reference line (object) which are set in an object movement process The figure which shows an example of the rotation amount bar 301 A flowchart for explaining the flow of object movement processing according to the second embodiment The figure explaining the example which applies the object movement process of 2nd Embodiment with respect to the medical image 50 Example of object moving tool 71 Translation of comparison object 63 using object movement tool 71 Rotation of comparison object 63 using object movement tool 71 Example of movement combining object translation tool 71 with translation and rotation Example of rotation amount change by right button click of object movement tool 71 The flowchart explaining the flow of the object movement process of 3rd Embodiment Flowchart following FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, the configuration of an image processing system to which the medical image processing apparatus 100 of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system includes a medical image processing apparatus 100 having a display device 107 and an input device 109, a medical image database 111 connected to the medical image processing apparatus 100 via a network 110, and a medical image. And an imaging device 112.

  The medical image processing apparatus 100 is a computer that performs processing such as image generation and image analysis. As shown in FIG. 1, the medical image processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a main memory 102, a storage device 103, a communication interface (communication I / F) 104, a display memory 105, and a pointing device (mouse) 108. And an external device such as an interface (I / F) 106, and each unit is connected via a bus 113.

  The CPU 101 calls a program stored in the main memory 102 or the storage device 103 to the work memory area on the RAM of the main memory 102 and executes the program, drives and controls each unit connected via the bus 113, and performs medical image processing. Various processes performed by the apparatus 100 are realized.

  The CPU 101 executes object movement processing in response to an operation input from the pointing device 108. Details of this processing will be described later.

  The main memory 102 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM permanently holds a computer boot program, a program such as BIOS, data, and the like. The RAM temporarily stores programs, data, and the like loaded from the ROM, the storage device 103, and the like, and includes a work area used by the CPU 101 for performing various processes.

  The storage device 103 is a storage device that reads and writes data to and from an HDD (hard disk drive) and other recording media, and stores a program executed by the CPU 101, data necessary for program execution, an OS (operating system), and the like. . As for the program, a control program corresponding to the OS and an application program are stored. Each of these program codes is read by the CPU 101 as necessary, transferred to the RAM of the main memory 102, and executed as various means.

The communication I / F 104 includes a communication control device, a communication port, and the like, and mediates communication between the medical image processing apparatus 100 and the network 110. The communication I / F 104 is connected to the medical image database 111, another computer, an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a scintillation camera apparatus, a PET apparatus, via the network 110. Communication control with a medical image photographing apparatus 112 such as a SPECT apparatus is performed.
The I / F 106 is a port for connecting a peripheral device, and transmits / receives data to / from the peripheral device. For example, a pointing device such as a mouse 108 or a stylus pen may be connected via the I / F 106.

  The display memory 105 is a buffer that temporarily accumulates display data input from the CPU 101. The accumulated display data is output to the display device 107 at a predetermined timing.

  The display device 107 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel and a CRT monitor, and a logic circuit for executing display processing in cooperation with the display device, and is connected to the CPU 101 via the display memory 105. The display device 107 displays display data stored in the display memory 105 under the control of the CPU 101.

  The input device 109 is an input device such as a keyboard, for example, and outputs various instructions and information input by the operator to the CPU 101. The operator interactively operates the medical image processing apparatus 100 using devices such as the display device 107, the input device 109, and the pointing device (mouse) 108.

  The network 110 includes various communication networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the Internet, and connects the medical image database 111, a server, other information devices, and the like to the medical image processing apparatus 100. Mediate.

  The medical image database 111 accumulates and stores medical image data captured by the medical image capturing device 112. In the image processing system illustrated in FIG. 1, the medical image database 111 is connected to the medical image processing apparatus 100 via the network 110, but the medical image database is stored in, for example, the storage device 103 in the medical image processing apparatus 100. 111 may be provided.

Next, a functional configuration related to object movement will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 101 of the medical image processing apparatus 100 includes a medical image acquisition / display unit 21, a diagnosis target part extraction unit 22, an object placement unit 23, a setting unit 24, a determination unit 25, and an object movement processing unit 26. Have.

  The medical image acquisition / display unit 21 reads image data from the storage device 103, the medical image photographing device 112, or the medical image database 111, holds the image data in the main memory 102, and displays it on the display device 107. The medical image data is a medical image obtained by photographing a subject with a medical image photographing apparatus 112 such as an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus, or an MR apparatus. In the following description, an example in which an X-ray image of a spine obtained by an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus is used as an input image will be described.

  The diagnosis target part extraction unit 22 extracts a part to be diagnosed from the medical image displayed by the medical image acquisition / display unit 21. In the present embodiment, a region to be extracted is a spine region. Extraction of the spinal region may be performed manually or a known extraction method may be used. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-246661 describes a method for extracting a vertebral body (bone) region in consideration of continuity in the body axis direction of a subject.

  The object placement unit 23 places an object on the part (spine region) extracted by the diagnosis target part extraction unit 22. An object is an object to be moved in the present invention. The object is, for example, a straight line object or a comparison object. The straight line object is, for example, a reference line 43 (see FIG. 4) that is arranged in the spine image when searching for the final spine of the spine. The reference line 43 is set as a moving object in the object moving process of the present invention as a straight line object. The comparison object 63 is an object indicating a comparison target shape. For example, an object simulating the shape of a vertebral body (see FIG. 8). The comparison object may be a part extracted from the medical image.

  The setting unit 24 performs processing for assigning an object moving method to the operation direction of the mouse 108 (pointing device). Specifically, for example, “parallel movement” of the object is assigned to the operation direction which is the first direction. Further, “rotation” of the object is assigned to the operation direction which is the second direction different from the first direction. In the following description, the operation in the vertical direction of the mouse 108 is referred to as a first direction, and the operation in the horizontal direction is referred to as a second direction. Further, the first direction and the second direction are not necessarily perpendicular to each other, and an arbitrary direction may be set.

  The determination unit 25 determines the operation direction of the mouse 108 (pointing device) and notifies the object movement processing unit 26 of the operation direction.

  The object movement processing unit 26 moves the object by the movement method assigned by the setting unit 24 according to the operation direction of the mouse 108 (pointing device) determined by the determination unit 25. For example, “translation” of the object is assigned to the operation direction that is the first direction (vertical direction), and “rotation” of the object to the operation direction that is the second direction (lateral direction) different from the first direction. When the mouse 108 is moved vertically, the object is translated in the operation direction of the mouse 108. When the mouse 108 is moved in the horizontal direction, the object is rotated by a preset amount of rotation. For example, the movement method (rotation, parallel movement, etc.) and movement amount (rotation amount, movement, etc.) with respect to the operation direction and operation amount, such as the rotation amount “+ 10 °” of the object with respect to the mouse movement in the right direction “1 cm”. Quantities etc.) are predetermined.

  The object movement processing unit 26 preferably translates the object along the shape of the part extracted by the diagnosis target part extraction unit 22 when it is determined that the operation direction of the mouse 108 is the first direction. . For example, when the extraction site is the spine, it is desirable to translate the object along the spine, such as using the core of the spine as a path.

  In addition, when the determination unit 25 determines that the operation direction of the mouse 108 (pointing device) includes the first direction component and the second direction component, the object movement processing unit 26 sets each direction according to the ratio of each direction component. Performs a combination of movement methods assigned to directions. For example, when “parallel movement” is assigned to the vertical movement of the mouse 108 and “rotation” is assigned to the horizontal movement, the mouse 108 is moved when it is moved obliquely. A movement amount and a rotation amount due to parallel movement are calculated according to the ratio of the vertical component and the horizontal component in the oblique direction, and the object is rotated while moving according to the calculated movement amount and rotation amount.

  Next, the flow of object movement processing executed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the CPU 101 (medical image acquisition / display unit 21) acquires a medical image 50 to be processed from the medical image database 111 connected via the storage device 103 or the communication I / F 104. Is displayed on the display device 107 (step S101). Then, the CPU 101 extracts a diagnosis target part from the acquired medical image 50 (step S102). In the following description, an example in which a site to be diagnosed is a spinal region will be described. Extraction of the spine region may be performed manually by an operator or a known technique. The threshold for extracting the spine may be input using the input device 109 or the like, or a preset value may be used.

  Next, the CPU 101 sets two auxiliary lines 41a and 41b in parallel so as to sandwich the target portion on the medical image 50 (step S102). The auxiliary lines 41a and 41b are two parallel straight lines for determining a reference line 43 to be described later and for limiting the movement range of the object. The auxiliary lines 41a and 41b may be drawn at a preset position, or the CPU 101 may determine a target region (candidates for the upper end spine and the lower end spine of the spine, etc.) and set the auxiliary lines 41a and 41b. The position may be determined. In addition, the CPU 101 does not determine the range of the auxiliary lines 41a and 41b, but the operator instructs the auxiliary lines 41a and 41b to arbitrary positions on the medical image 50 displayed on the display device 107 with the mouse 108 or the like. May be arranged.

  In the process of searching for the terminal vertebra, it is desirable to arrange auxiliary lines 41a and 41b (two parallel lines) in a range including the spinal column 51, for example, as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operator designates (clicks) an arbitrary point within the range where the auxiliary lines 41a and 41b are drawn using the input device 109 such as the mouse 108 or the keyboard. When the CPU 101 detects the click operation (step S103; Yes), as shown in FIG. 5, the line segment ab that passes through the click position and is perpendicular to the auxiliary lines 41a and 41b is drawn. The line segment ab is set as the reference line 43 (step S104). The reference line 43 is a straight line object to be moved.

  Further, the CPU 101 sets a predetermined point on the line segment ab as the reference point O. The reference point O may be a midpoint of the line segment ab or may be a point clicked by the operator in step S103. Alternatively, as described later, a point on a part (such as a spine) extracted from the medical image 50 may be used as the reference point O.

  When the reference line 43 is dragged using a pointing device such as the mouse 108 (step S105; drag), the CPU 101 calculates the movement amount (parallel movement amount, rotation amount) of the reference line 43 based on the drag operation direction ( Step S106).

  In step S106, in the first embodiment, when the moving direction of the mouse 108 is the vertical direction, “parallel movement” is set, and when the moving direction is the horizontal (left and right) direction, “rotation” is set. The parallel movement amount of the reference line 43 is an amount obtained by multiplying the actual movement distance of the mouse 108 by a predetermined coefficient α. The value of the coefficient α is an arbitrary value and may be set by the operator. Further, the rotation amount of the reference line 43 by the movement of the mouse 108 in the left-right direction is, for example, 0 ° to 180 ° (counterclockwise) with the mouse 108 moving in the right direction, and 0 ° to −180 ° (clockwise) with the left movement. Rotation).

  The above-described allocation of the rotation amount is an example and is not limited to this. The operator may be able to specify the amount of rotation of the object (reference line 43) relative to the amount of operation of the mouse 108. In this case, the CPU 101 displays a user interface such as a rotation amount bar 301 shown in FIG. 6 on the display device 107, and inputs an assignment of the rotation amount to the mouse operation amount. A rotation amount pointer 302 written on the rotation amount bar 301 indicates assignment of the rotation amount of the object to the mouse operation amount, and can be moved by the input device 109 such as the mouse 108 or the keyboard. When the rotation amount pointer 302 is slid to a position away from the center of the rotation amount bar 301, the rotation amount of the object (reference line 43) to be moved can be set to be larger than the operation amount of the mouse 108. When the rotation amount pointer 302 is on the right side from the center of the rotation amount bar 301, a counterclockwise rotation amount (0 ° to 180 °) can be set, and the rotation amount pointer 302 is on the left side from the center of the rotation amount bar 301. In this case, the amount of rotation in the clockwise direction (0 to -180 °) can be set.

  When the movement amount and the rotation amount of the reference line 43 are obtained based on the operation amount and operation direction of the drag operation in step S105, the CPU 101 moves the reference line 43 by the obtained movement amount and rotation amount and redraws (step S105). S107). When dropped (step S105; drop), the CPU 101 clears (deletes) the auxiliary lines 41a and 41b, and determines the position of the reference line 43 (object) as the redrawn position (step S108).

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the reference line 43 is dragged from the initial position (line segment ab) by the mouse 108 along the locus indicated by the arrow 47, the locus of the arrow 47 includes horizontal and vertical operations. The parallel movement and the rotation are combined according to the operation amount, and are rotated and moved to the position of the reference line 48 (the line segment a ′ ″ b ′ ″) after the movement. In this way, translation and rotation can be performed by one-stroke operation with the mouse 108.

  In order to move the reference line 43 to the position of the line segment a′b ′, the mouse 108 may be dragged in the vertical direction (downward). If it is desired to change only the inclination without changing the position of the reference point O on the reference line 43, the reference point O can be obtained as shown by a line segment a ″ b ″ by operating the mouse 108 in the horizontal direction (right direction). The inclination can be changed through

  Such an object moving operation can be applied to the analysis of the medical image 50 of the spine region shown in FIG. In the diagnosis of scoliosis, image analysis is performed such that the upper and lower end vertebrae 53 and 55 are searched from the medical image 50 and the hump angle 57 is obtained. In this case, the operator assumes, for example, the vertebral body 53 as the upper terminal vertebra, and checks whether the inclination of the vertebra 53 is the largest inclination by drawing a line on the image. In the operation of drawing this line, the object movement process shown in FIG. 4 is applied.

  That is, the operator first arranges the auxiliary lines 41 a and 41 b so as to include the spinal column 51. The CPU 101 sets a reference line 43 perpendicular to the auxiliary lines 41a and 41b. The operator clicks on the reference line 43 and performs a drag operation in an oblique direction toward the assumed position of the final vertebra 53. Then, the reference line 43 is moved upward and rotated using the core of the spinal column 51 as a path. The operator moves the reference line 43 to a position (a position of the line segment 47a) in contact with the upper edge of the final vertebra 53 by this drag operation, and performs a drop operation at the redrawn position. By this series of drag and drop operations, the CPU 101 moves the reference line 43 to the position of the line segment 47a. For comparison, the operator draws lines 47b and 47c in contact with the upper edge of each vertebral body by the same drag and drop operation for the upper and lower vertebral bodies of the assumed final vertebra (vertebra) 53. Of the line segments 47a, 47b, 47c, the vertebral body having the greatest inclination is the terminal vertebra. The operator determines that the terminal vertebra is the vertebra 53 by observing the inclinations of the plurality of lines 47a, 47b, 47c.

  Similarly, for the lower terminal vertebra, the reference line 43 is translated and rotated by a drag and drop operation of the mouse 108, and a line 47d is drawn at a position in contact with the assumed lower edge of the terminal vertebra 54. For comparison, the operator draws a line with the same operation for the upper and lower vertebral bodies of the assumed final vertebra 54. Then, since the inclination of the line 47e drawn at the position of the vertebral body 55 is larger than that of the line segment 47d, it is actually confirmed that the vertebral body 55 is the lower terminal vertebra. Therefore, the size of the angle formed by the line 47 a drawn on the upper terminal vertebra 53 and the line 47 b drawn on the lower terminal vertebra 55 is measured as the bump angle 57. The size of the bump angle 57 is referred to at the time of diagnosis as a diagnostic index for scoliosis. As described above, when the present invention is applied when a plurality of straight lines having different angles and positions are drawn, the inclination and position of the line object (reference line 43) can be changed only by one stroke operation of the mouse 108. Therefore, work efficiency is improved. This is suitable for diagnosing the spine and the like.

  As described above, the medical image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment can translate and rotate an object (the above-described reference line 43) in one stroke, and therefore can efficiently arrange an object on a diagnosis target. In particular, the image analysis work performed at the time of scoliosis diagnosis for evaluating the inclination of each vertebral body can be performed efficiently.

In the above description, the center of rotation of the object is not limited to the midpoint of the reference line 43. For example, a point on the core line of the spine 51 may be used as the center of rotation of the object.
Further, the reference line 43 after the movement may be calculated from the positional relationship between the start point and the end point specified by the pointing device. That is, when the reference line is dragged to an arbitrary position using the pointing device, the CPU 101 draws a tangent line having the end point as a contact point with respect to a circle whose diameter is a line segment connecting the start point and the end point of the drag. This tangent may be used as a reference line after movement.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second embodiment, the object to be moved is not a straight line but a comparison object 63. The comparison object 63 is an object indicating a comparison target shape. The comparison object 63 may be an object extracted from a medical image to be compared, or may be an image stored in advance in the storage device 103 or the like. In the second embodiment, the movement method assigned to the vertical operation of the mouse 108 is movement along the shape of the part extracted by the diagnosis target part extraction unit 22. The movement method assigned to the lateral operation of the mouse 108 is assumed to be rotation.

  Each part of the medical image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). Hereinafter, the description which overlaps is abbreviate | omitted and each same part attaches | subjects and demonstrates the same code | symbol.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the flow of the object movement process in 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, the CPU 101 acquires the medical image 50 from the medical image database 111 connected via the storage device 103 or the communication I / F 104, and displays it on the display device 107 (step S201). Then, the CPU 101 extracts the spinal region 50 that is a diagnosis target part from the acquired medical image 50 (step S202). The extraction of the diagnosis target part may be performed manually or by a known method by the operator, as in the first embodiment.

  In step S201 to step S202, the CPU 101 similarly acquires a medical image to be compared, and extracts an object (comparison object 63) from the medical image to be compared.

  When the operator clicks the mouse 108 (pointing device) on the medical image 50 (step S204; Yes), the CPU 101 draws the comparison object 63 at the click position (step S205).

  FIG. 8 shows a spinal column (spine) 51 that is a diagnosis target region extracted from a medical image 50, and further uses a final spine extracted from a medical image that is a comparison target (not shown) as a comparison object 63 to be a medical image 50 that is a diagnosis target. The state displayed above is shown. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the comparison object 63 is superimposed and displayed on the medical image 50 in a translucent manner.

  Next, the CPU 101 calculates the path of the diagnosis target part on the medical image 50 (step S203). In the example of FIG. 8, the diagnosis target site is the spinal column 51. When it is intended to perform vertebral body comparison, the core wire 61 of the spinal column is calculated as the path of the diagnosis target part.

  The CPU 101 displays the comparison object 63 extracted in step S202 on the path (core line 61) calculated in step S203. If the spine core line is obtained with reference to the center of the vertebral body in step S203, display is made so that the center of the comparison object 63 moves on the movement path.

  Note that the movement path is not limited to the spine core line as shown in step S202. For example, the spine core line is calculated from the original medical image (not shown) from which the comparison object 63 is extracted, and the spine core line is calculated in step S202. The movement path may be displayed on the medical image 50 together with the vertebral body that is the comparison object 63.

  When the operator moves (drags) the comparison object 63 while being clicked using the mouse 108 (pointing device) (step S206; drag), the CPU 101 moves the comparison object (parallel) based on the drag operation. A movement amount and a rotation amount are calculated (step S207).

  In step S207, in the second embodiment, when the moving direction of the mouse 108 is the vertical direction, “parallel movement” is set, and when the moving direction is the horizontal (left and right) direction, “rotation” is set. In the case of parallel movement, it is assumed that the comparison object 63 moves on the route calculated in step S203. The parallel movement amount of the comparison object 63 is an amount obtained by multiplying the actual movement distance of the mouse 108 by a predetermined coefficient α. The value of the coefficient α is an arbitrary value and may be set by the operator. Further, the rotation amount of the comparison object 63 due to the movement of the mouse 108 in the left-right direction is, for example, 0 ° to 180 ° (counterclockwise) with the mouse 108 moving in the right direction, and 0 ° to −180 ° with the left movement ( The amount of rotation is clockwise.

  The above-described assignment of the movement amount and the rotation amount is an example and is not limited to this. The operator may be able to specify the amount of movement and the amount of rotation of the comparison object 63 relative to the amount of operation of the mouse 108.

  When the movement amount (movement amount on the path) and the rotation amount of the comparison object 63 are obtained according to the drag operation, the CPU 101 compares the comparison object 63 by the calculated movement amount (movement amount on the route) and rotation amount. Redrawing is performed at the position to which 63 is moved (step S208). When dropped (step S206; drop), the CPU 101 determines the position of the comparison object 63 as the redrawn position (step S209).

  As described above, in the second embodiment, since the comparison object 63 can be easily translated and rotated on the medical image, the diagnostic efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the comparison object 63 can be moved along the diagnosis target region by operating the mouse 108 in the vertical direction, for example, the comparison object 63 can be easily moved along the core line of the curved spine, and image analysis performed when diagnosing scoliosis is performed. You will be able to work efficiently.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the third embodiment, an object moving tool 71, which is a GUI (graphical user interface) suitable for operating an object to be moved with a pointing device, will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the object moving tool 71 is, for example, a GUI indicating the shape of a bar having a predetermined length, and five instruction inputs of a central portion 73, a left end portion 72, a right end portion 74, a left region 75, and a right region 76 are input. Have an area. Different operations can be assigned to these areas 72 to 76, respectively. When the object moving tool 71 is arranged on an object to be moved, the object moving tool 71 moves or rotates together with the object.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, an object moving tool 71 is arranged on a moving object 65 that is an object to be moved, and a center portion 73 of the object moving tool 71 is clicked with the mouse 108 and dragged and dropped. In this case, the moving object 65 is moved in parallel with the object moving tool 71 in the drag direction. It is assumed that the movement amount with respect to the operation amount is predetermined. When the left end portion 72 or the right end portion 74 of the object moving tool 71 is clicked and dragged and dropped, as shown in FIG. 11, the moving object 63 rotates around the center of the object moving tool 71 as the rotation center. Is done. When the left end 72 is clicked, it is rotated left, and when the right end 74 is clicked, it is rotated right.

  When the left region 75 and the right region 76 of the object moving tool 71 are clicked and dragged and dropped, the movement and rotation are performed simultaneously as shown in FIG. The rotation is centered on the center 73 and is rotated clockwise when the left region 75 is clicked and counterclockwise when the right region 76 is clicked. Different rotation amounts are assigned to the positions of the left region 75 and the right region 76, respectively. What is necessary is just to allocate the rotation amount to each position so that rotation for 360 degrees is possible in total on the left and right. The amount of rotation for each position may be arbitrarily assigned according to the distance from the central portion 73, such as 180 ° in 1 ° increments or 1800 in 0.1 ° increments. The operator may be able to set an arbitrary value.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, when a click operation is performed on a button different from the button used in the drag operation while the object movement tool 71 is being dragged (for example, the drag operation is performed while pressing the left button). You may fine-tune the angle each time you click). As shown in FIG. 13A, for example, when a right button is clicked while an arbitrary position in the right region 76 is dragged by clicking the left button, rotation during dragging is performed as shown in FIG. 13B. The amount changes. When clicked again, the amount of rotation further changes as shown in FIG. If the positions of the rotation amount notification lines 77a and 77b are also changed, the operator can grasp the current rotation amount from the positions. The rotation angle may be finely adjusted by operating the mouse wheel instead of pressing the right button.

  A comparison object moving operation using the object moving tool 71 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the CPU 101 acquires the medical image 50 to be processed from the medical image database 111 connected via the storage device 103 or the communication I / F 104 and displays it on the display device 107 (step S301). Then, the CPU 101 extracts a diagnosis target part from the acquired medical image 50, and sets the extracted part as a moving object (step S302). The extraction of the diagnosis target part may be performed manually or by a known method by the operator, as in the first embodiment. The extraction site is, for example, each vertebral body of the spine.

  The operator displays (places) the object moving tool 71 on the object to be moved (hereinafter referred to as the moving object 65) among the objects extracted in step S302 (step S303).

  When a click operation (for example, clicking the left button) is performed on the object moving tool 71 with the mouse 108 (step S304; Yes), the CPU 101 determines that the click position is the end (left end 72 or right end) of the object moving tool 71. 74) (step S305). When a position (left region 75 or right region 76) that is not the left end portion 72 or the right end portion 74 is clicked (step S305; No), the CPU 101 acquires the rotation amount assigned to the click position (step S306). . It is assumed that data indicating the correspondence between the click position on the object moving tool 71 and the rotation amount is held in the main memory 102. When the central portion 73 is clicked, the rotation amount is set to “0 °”.

  When a drag operation is performed in this state (a state where a position other than the end of the object moving tool 71 is clicked) (step S307; drag), the CPU 101 moves the moving object 65 together with the object moving tool 73 in the drag direction. However, it is rotated by the rotation amount acquired in step S306 (step S308) and redrawing (step S309). When dropped (step S307; drop), the CPU 101 determines the position of the moving object 65 as the redrawn position (step S310).

  When the right button (a button different from the click in step S304) is clicked in a state where a position other than the end of the object moving tool 71 is clicked (step S307; right button), the CPU 101 decreases the rotation amount. Adjustment is made (step S311). For example, when the right button is clicked once, the object moving tool 71 and the moving object 65 are rotated by, for example, 1 °. This fine adjustment of the rotation amount can be performed during the drag operation (steps S308 and S309).

  When dropped (step S307; drop), the CPU 101 determines the position of the moving object 65 as the redrawn position (step S310).

  When the position of the click operation (left click) in step S304 is the left end portion 72 or the right end portion 74 (step S305; Yes), the process proceeds to step S312 in FIG.

  When a drag operation is performed with the left end portion 72 or the right end portion 74 being clicked (step S312; drag), the CPU 101 calculates a rotation amount based on the drag operation amount (step S313). Then, the object moving tool 71 and the moving object 65 are rotated by the rotation amount calculated in step S313 and redrawn (step S314). Thereafter, when dropped (step S312; drop), the CPU 101 determines the position of the moving object 65 as the redrawn position (step S315).

  In the process of step S308, the movement direction in the drag operation may be a route along the diagnosis target site, not the drag direction, as in the second embodiment. For example, when the site to be diagnosed is the spinal column 51, the core 61 of the spinal column is used as the moving path of the moving object 65 (see FIG. 8).

  As described above, according to the medical image processing apparatus 100 of the third embodiment, using the object moving tool 71, a movement method is assigned according to the click position of the object moving tool 71, and rotation and parallel movement are performed. It is possible to perform an operation in combination.

  In the above example, an example in which the rotation angle in the same plane is assigned to the left region 75 and the right region 76 of the object moving tool 71 for a two-dimensional image, but the present invention is applied to a three-dimensional image. It is also possible to do. For example, it is also possible to provide at least three operation areas for the object movement tool 71, assign rotation amounts in three directions orthogonal to each operation area, and apply to rotation and movement of a three-dimensional figure. In this case, the shape of the object moving tool 71 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 9, and may be a three-dimensional figure.

  The preferred embodiments of the medical image processing apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Is done.

1... Image processing system 100... Medical image processing apparatus 101.
102... Main memory 103... Storage device 104... Communication I / F
105... Display memory 106... I / F
107... Display device 108... Mouse 109... Input device 110... Network 111. ···················································································· • Storage unit 24... Setting unit 25... Discriminating unit 26... Object movement processing unit 301.・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rotation amount pointers 41a and 41b ・ ・ ・ Auxiliary line 43 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Reference line 47 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Arrows 45 and 48 indicating the operation direction Reference line 50 after movement ... Medical image 51 ... Spinal column 53 ... Final spine 54 ....... assumed Tsuishi 55 ........ Tsuishi 57 ........ Cobb angle 61 ........ wire (route)
63 ... Comparison object 65 ... Moving object 71 ... Object moving tool 72 ... Left end 73 ... ··· Center portion 74 ····· Right end portion 75 ····· Left region 76 ······ Right region 77a, 77b ··· Rotation amount notification line

Claims (16)

A display unit for acquiring and displaying medical images;
An object placement unit for placing an object on the displayed medical image;
A pointing device for inputting an operation for moving the object;
A setting unit that assigns a moving method of the object to an operation direction of the pointing device;
A determination unit for determining an operation direction of the pointing device;
A movement processing unit for moving the object by a movement method assigned by the setting unit according to the operation direction determined by the determination unit;
A medical image processing apparatus comprising:   The setting unit assigns parallel movement of the object to the operation direction that is a first direction, and assigns rotation of the object to the operation direction that is a second direction different from the first direction. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1. An extraction unit for extracting a part to be diagnosed from the medical image;
The said movement process part moves the said object in parallel along the shape of the site | part extracted by the said extraction part, when it determines with the said operation direction being a 1st direction. Item 3. The medical image processing apparatus according to Item 2.   4. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the part is a spine and the object moves along a core line of the spine.   When the determination unit determines that the operation direction of the pointing device includes the first direction component and the second direction component, the movement processing unit moves and rotates by parallel movement according to the ratio of each direction component. 5. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an amount is calculated, and the object is moved and rotated in accordance with the calculated movement amount and rotation amount.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object is a straight line object.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object is an object indicating a comparison target shape. A display unit for acquiring and displaying medical images;
An object placement unit for placing an object on the displayed medical image;
An object moving tool placement unit for placing an object moving tool for receiving an operation by a pointing device on the object;
A setting unit that assigns a rotation amount of the object to each position on the object moving tool;
A discriminator for discriminating a position pointed to the object moving tool by the pointing device;
A movement processing unit that moves the object in accordance with a drag operation of the object moving tool by the pointing device, and rotates the object by a rotation amount assigned by the setting unit according to an instruction position determined by the determination unit. When,
A medical image processing apparatus comprising:   When the determination unit determines that the pointing position by the pointing device is the end of the object moving tool, the movement processing unit rotates the object by a predetermined rotation amount without translating the object by the drag operation. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 8.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the setting unit assigns a different rotation amount to each position other than an end in the object moving tool.   In the case where the medical image is a three-dimensional image, the setting unit includes at least three operation areas in the object movement tool, and assigns rotation amounts in three directions orthogonal to each operation area. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9. A special operation input unit that receives an input of a predetermined operation to the pointing device during a drag operation of the object movement tool;
A rotation amount adjustment unit that changes the rotation amount each time an operation is input by the special operation input unit;
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: An extraction unit for extracting a part to be diagnosed from the medical image;
The movement processing unit moves the object along the shape of the part extracted by the extraction unit when a drag operation is performed by the pointing device. A medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a rotation amount is displayed on the object moving tool. Acquiring and displaying a medical image;
Placing an object on the displayed medical image;
Assigning a movement method of the object to an operation direction of a pointing device that inputs an operation for moving the object;
Determining an operating direction of the pointing device;
Moving the object by an assigned movement method according to the determined operation direction;
An object moving method characterized by comprising: Acquiring and displaying a medical image;
Placing an object on the displayed medical image;
Placing an object moving tool on the object for receiving an operation by a pointing device;
Assigning a rotation amount of the object to each position on the object moving tool;
Determining an instruction position to the object moving tool by the pointing device;
Moving the object in accordance with a drag operation of the object moving tool by the pointing device, and rotating the object by an assigned rotation amount according to the determined indication position;
An object moving method characterized by comprising:

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