JP3290683B2 - Image display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display apparatus for displaying image data and displaying overlay data over the image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus,
When medical images (hereinafter, simply referred to as “images”) taken by various medical devices such as a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus are displayed on a monitor and used for diagnosis, image data a shown in FIG.
In addition, one overlay data b shown in FIG. 11 for assisting diagnosis is prepared, and both data a and b are displayed on the same monitor in a superimposed manner as shown in FIG. I have. Here, there are several applications that require the overlay data, for example, as follows:

[0003] (1) When a radiologist wants to write auxiliary symbols, lines, etc. on a monitor image for interpretation, (2) exchange of diagnostic opinions between the radiologist and the requesting physician, If you want to give a consultation, (3) you want to use it as a presentation at a conference, (4) you want to use it for a conference presentation,
(5) If you want to use for education, that is, if you want to communicate between students and doctors.

[0004] When overlay data is used for the above-mentioned purpose (2), the overlay data may be used as a bulletin board, a message board, or the like in diagnosing the overlay data. That is, for example, overlay data to be used in consultation between a radiologist and a requesting physician for a certain purpose is previously determined in common, opinions and questions are written in the overlay data, and the overlay data is updated and stored in a storage device. The radiologist or the requesting physician observes the image data and the updated overlay data at a convenient time, further writes a reply to the opinion or question, and updates the overlay data. By repeating this operation, it is possible to provide consultation through the stored overlay data even if they are not convenient at the same time.

[0005] In addition to using the overlay data as a bulletin board, a message board, etc., the overlay data may be used like a videophone. That is, a device for displaying image data and overlay data is provided at each remote location, a certain target overlay data is previously determined in common, opinions and questions are written in the overlay data, updated overlay data, and the opinions are updated. By writing an answer to a question or the like and displaying the updated overlay data on each display device in real time, information can be exchanged between remote points in real time. As a result, the same overlay data can be viewed and discussed by multiple people between remote points at the same time, and the object can be achieved without being in the same place. The same applies to use (5).

[0006]

The conventional medical image display apparatus has the following problems. First, when one piece of overlay data is shared for several uses as described above, that is, when only one piece of overlay data is prepared for one piece of image data, a plurality of uses for one piece of overlay data are provided. Is written at once and it is very difficult to see.

In order to avoid this difficulty, FIG.
When a plurality of overlay data D11 to D14 are prepared for one image data as shown in (1), each overlay data is not distinguished by use, and therefore, overlay data which is not overlay data corresponding to the use is used. There is a possibility that it will be displayed.

In the case where the overlay data is used as in the above-described bulletin board, message board, etc., even if a plurality of overlay data D11 to D14 are prepared for one image data as shown in FIG. It is unclear which overlay data the opinion or the like was written in, so that there is a possibility that the radiologist and the requesting physician may display different overlay data, for example, D11 and D14, and the information written by the other party Cannot be seen, and mutual information exchange becomes impossible.

[0009] Similarly, when overlay data is used like a videophone, there is a possibility that the other party will display overlay data different from that of the user, that is, as shown in FIG. It is possible that D11 is displayed on one display device and D13 is displayed on the other display device, so that mutual information cannot be exchanged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide an image display device that allows each person to easily view overlay data suitable for his / her own use. Is what you do.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in an image display apparatus for displaying image data and overlay data in a superimposed manner, a plurality of overlay data corresponding to the same image data is identified by identification information unique to an image observer. Storage means for storing the use in association with each other, means for inputting identification information to read out desired overlay data, and when there are a plurality of overlay data associated with the input identification information, It is characterized by comprising a means for displaying a menu for prompting the user to select a use of the overlay data to be displayed, and a reading means for reading out from the storage means the overlay data associated with the use selected from the menu.

[0012]

In the image display apparatus according to the present invention, identification information unique to an image observer and use are associated with a plurality of overlay data corresponding to the same image data.
Therefore, desired overlay data can be specified from the identification information of the image observer. When there are a plurality of pieces of overlay data associated with the identification information, a menu for prompting the user to select the use of the overlay data to be displayed is displayed. Overlay data can be read.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image display device according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a medical image display device as an embodiment of the image display device according to the present invention.

The medical image display apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as "CPU") 1, a storage unit 2, and a multi-display system (hereinafter, "MDS").
3) is connected to the data bus 6. The CPU 1 controls the overall control operation of the apparatus, and holds the correspondence table shown in Table 1.

[0015]

[Table 1]

This correspondence table will be described later. The storage unit 2 is composed of various memories, and stores image data to be displayed on a display unit 4 described later for diagnosis and overlay data corresponding to the image data. Here, the overlay data is prepared for each of a plurality of applications, for example, for each of the five applications as described in “Prior Art”. The MDS 3 is connected to the display unit 4 and the input unit 2, reads out overlay data stored in the storage unit 2, and calculates an address and a data length corresponding to the overlay data. Further, the MDS 3 is provided with a display memory 3M, and stores the read overlay data in the display memory 3M. The display means 4 is composed of a CRT display or the like, and is for superimposing and displaying the image data stored in the storage means 2 and the overlay data corresponding thereto. The input means 5 comprises a keyboard, a mouse, etc., for writing desired data on the overlay data displayed on the display means 4, and for inputting identification information for specifying the overlay data. It is.

Here, the correspondence table shown in Table 1 will be described. This correspondence table is a correspondence table in which identification information unique to an observer of a certain image data, usually a physician such as a radiologist, in this case, a doctor name is associated with overlay data of a use specific to each doctor. . In this correspondence table, for example, the overlay data for the use required by each physician is often specified by the physician, so that the overlay data for the use required by the radiologist is overlay data for reading assistance. Focus on the points and set in advance. However, this correspondence table can be changed as needed. Then, when identification information unique to a doctor is input, overlay data of a use required by the doctor is immediately displayed based on the correspondence table. Of course, one physician may need overlay data for a plurality of uses. In this case, the overlay data for a plurality of uses is made to correspond to the physician's name, and an identification unique to this physician is made. When the information is input, a menu M as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, and the user selects overlay data for a desired application from the menu M.

The operation of the medical image display apparatus according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, a case will be described in which a radiologist wants to write auxiliary symbols, lines, and the like on a monitor image for interpretation.

An observer who wants to observe the image data D 1 shown in FIG. 2, ie, a radiologist, turns on the power of the medical image display device, selectively reads out the image data D 1 from the storage means 2, and displays it on the display means 4. By performing a necessary operation for causing the image data D1 stored in the storage means 2 to be read out and displayed on the display means 4 under the control of the CPU 1.

Next, the radiologist inputs his / her own identification information, here the identification number A, through the input means 5. This input method is based on, for example, the following method. Enter your own identification number A from the keyboard. Alternatively, an identification number A such as an identification card possessed by each doctor is read from a reader (not shown) or the like. When the identification number A of the radiologist is input, the identification number A is sent to the MDS 3, and the MDS 3 sends the identification number A to the CPU 1. Using the correspondence table shown in Table 1, the CPU 1 reads the overlay data corresponding to the identification number A, here the overlay data for image interpretation assistance, from the storage means 2 and sends it to the MDS 3. Then, the overlay data is sent to the display means 4. Therefore,
Appropriate overlay data according to the use of each doctor can be selected and displayed together with the image data. Here, as described above, when one identification number corresponds to overlay data for a plurality of uses, when this identification number is input, a menu M as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. The overlay data to be displayed is selected from the menu M with a mouse or the like.

Next, desired write data is written to the overlay data displayed on the display means 4 by using the input means 5 as shown in FIG. This writing is performed by operating a display cursor (not shown) to a desired position on the screen of the display means 4 and inputting desired data from the input means 5 such as a keyboard. The overlay data on which the desired data is written in this manner is M
The data is stored in the memory 3M of the DS 3 and further transferred to the storage means 2 and stored.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the radiologist Y3
A case will be described in which overlay data is used by the requesting physician Y4 (doctor in charge of the patient X) for the purpose of radiology-requesting department / exchange of opinions. However, it is assumed that both the identification numbers of the radiologist Y3 and the requesting physician Y4 correspond to the overlay data for the radiologist-requesting department / opinion exchange. Therefore, the radiologist Y3 and the requesting physician Y4 can select the same overlay data, that is, overlay data for the radiology-requesting department / exchange of opinion, by inputting the respective identification numbers.

First, the requesting physician Y4 inputs and identifies his / her identification number, selects and reads overlay data for radiology-requesting department and opinion exchange, and displays the overlay data D4 overlaid on the image data a. . Then, by looking at the image data a, the requesting physician Y4 updates the overlay data D4 in the storage means 2 and stores it at the timing T1. Next, at timing T
In step 2, the radiologist Y3 similarly inputs his or her own identification number to display the overlay data D4 in which the question etc. of the requesting physician Y4 has been written, together with the image data a, and asks the question on the overlay data D4. By reading, the answer to this question is further updated and stored in the writing storage means 2 on the overlay data D4 at timing T3. Subsequently, the requesting physician Y4 can input his / her identification number again at the timing T4 to display the overlay data D4 in which the answer to his / her question or the like is written,
Read the answer. This allows the radiologist Y3 and the requesting physician Y4 to communicate at the same time even if it is not convenient, and the common overlay data D
4 can be consulted.

Next, when the identification number of the doctor Y5 corresponds to the overlay data for presentation,
The doctor Y5 inputs his / her identification number, and reads and displays the overlay data D5 for presentation of the image data a corresponding to this identification number. The doctor Y5 writes, updates, and stores any data necessary for the presentation in the overlay data D5. Then, when giving a presentation, the user inputs his / her own identification number again, reads out the overlay data D5 in which arbitrary data necessary for the presentation is written, updated, and stored, and displays the overlay data D5 overlaid on the image data a. The conference participant Y6 can observe this.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of overlay data are prepared for each application corresponding to the image data to be displayed, and identification information such as the name of each observer is input. It is possible for the observer to display the overlay data according to the necessary application so as to overlap the image data. Further, when a plurality of observers exchange information with each other, information can be exchanged without any hindrance even when the other party is inconvenient at the same time or when the other party is in a remote place. Therefore, efficient image diagnosis can be performed. In this way, each person can easily read the overlay data suitable for his / her desired use from the storage means and observe it together with the image data.

It should be noted that the overlay data is stored in the storage means 2, but instead of the storage means 2, a local area network (LA) is stored in an external database 8 as shown in FIG.
N) 9 and a LAN interface (I / F) 10.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a medical image display device according to the present embodiment. In the medical image display apparatus according to the present embodiment, two medical image display apparatuses according to the previous embodiment are connected via the LAN 9. However, the number of medical image display devices according to the above embodiment is not limited to two, but may be plural. As shown in FIG. 7, the LAN I / F 10A connected to the data bus 6A of the medical image display device A and the LAN I / F 10A connected to the data bus 6B of the medical image display device B.
/ F10B via the LAN 9. Other configurations of the medical image display devices A and B are the same as those of the medical image display device according to the previous embodiment.

The operation of the medical image display device configured as described above will be described. The present medical image display apparatus is mainly used when a radiologist and a requesting physician exchange opinions between remote places. As shown in FIG. 8, the radiologist Y1 and the requesting physician Y2 face each other via the LAN 9 using the medical image display devices A and B, and observe opinions while observing common overlay data at the same time. Exchange. Here, it is assumed that both the identification numbers of the radiologist Y1 and the requesting physician Y2 correspond to the overlay data for the radiology-requesting department / exchange of opinions. As in the previous embodiment, the radiologist Y1 and the requesting physician Y2 input the respective identification numbers to thereby obtain the same overlay data, that is, the overlay data for the radiologist-request department / opinion exchange. A and B are read from the respective storage means 2A and 2B, and are displayed on the display devices 4A and 4B.
B is displayed together with the image data. Here, storage means 2
The storage contents of A and 2B are the same, and one of them may be excluded from the configuration and shared by the medical image display apparatuses A and B. As shown in FIG. 9, a database 8 shared by the medical image display apparatuses A and B may be connected to the LAN 9 externally.

Next, it is assumed that the radiologist Y1 has written any arbitrary data necessary for diagnosis on the displayed overlay data. Then, the overlay data updated by this data is immediately stored from the memory 3M of the MDS 3A to the LAN 9 via the LAN I / F 10A, and temporarily to the auxiliary memory 8M in the database 8, and is further stored in the MDS 3B via the LAN I / F 10B. Memory 3M
To be displayed on the display means 4B. Thereby, the requesting physician Y2 can understand the opinion of the radiologist Y1 by observing the display means 4B. Therefore, by observing each other's display means 4A and 4B and further writing arbitrary data on both sides, it is possible to exchange opinions in real time on common overlay data.

Also, in order to display the overlay data written and updated by the radiologist Y1 on the requesting physician Y2 side in real time as much as possible, only the data written by the radiologist Y1 is finely divided in time, and the radiologist Y1 It is also conceivable to send the request to the requesting doctor Y2 side. Requested doctor Y2
The same applies to the case where the data written by the requesting physician Y2 is sent from the side to the radiologist Y1 side.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the effect of shaking can be obtained as in the first embodiment, and furthermore, between remote locations, each person can easily store overlay data suitable for his / her desired use from the storage means. Read, observe with image data,
We can exchange opinions with each other.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, the type of overlay data is not limited to the above example, and any type can be prepared according to the purpose, application, and the like. In addition, as shown in FIG.
In the case of connection via N, the number of medical image display devices may be two instead of two, and in this case, information can be exchanged among a plurality of observers. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a medical image display device has been described, but the present invention may be applied to other general image display devices.

[0033]

In the image display apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of overlay data corresponding to the same image data is associated with identification information unique to an image observer and a use. Therefore, desired overlay data can be specified from the identification information of the image observer. When there are a plurality of pieces of overlay data associated with the identification information, a menu for prompting the user to select the use of the overlay data to be displayed is displayed. Overlay data can be read.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a medical image display device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a display screen on which image data is displayed on the display means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a display screen on which image data and overlay data are displayed on the display means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display screen on which image data, overlay data, and write data are displayed on the display unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a menu displayed on the display means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of the medical image display device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image display device in which the storage unit of the medical image display device according to the first embodiment is changed to an external database.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a medical image display device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a medical image display device in which a storage unit of the medical image display device according to the second embodiment is changed to an external database.

FIG. 10 is a view showing one image data used for explaining a general method of using overlay data.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of overlay data displayed together with the image of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a case where the image data shown in FIG. 10 and the overlay data shown in FIG. 11 are displayed in a superimposed manner.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining display of a plurality of overlay data in a conventional medical image display device.

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining an operation when a conventional medical image display apparatus is used at two remote locations.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... storage means, 3 ... MDS, 4 ... display means, 5 ... input means, 6 ... data bus.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09G 5/00-5/42 A61B 6/00 G06F 3/14-3/153 G06T 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image display apparatus for displaying image data and overlay data in a superimposed manner, wherein a plurality of overlay data corresponding to the same image data are stored in association with identification information unique to an image observer and use. Means for inputting identification information for reading desired overlay data; and selecting a use of overlay data to be displayed from among a plurality of overlay data associated with the input identification information when there are a plurality of overlay data. An image display apparatus comprising: a unit for displaying a menu prompting the user; and a reading unit for reading out overlay data associated with a use selected from the menu from the storage unit.