JP3618877B2 - Ophthalmic image processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic image processing apparatus used for ophthalmic examinations in an ophthalmic clinic.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a fundus camera, in order to remove the flare generated around the fundus image and clarify the effective photographing range, a mask is disposed immediately before the recording means such as a film as a light shielding member for shielding light toward the peripheral region. Alternatively, a mask is placed on the imaging plane, and an optical system that re-images the mask and the fundus image is placed behind the mask.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, an electronic image pickup device such as a CCD camera is used, and various filters, a cover glass, and the like are arranged immediately before the image pickup surface. When using a three-plate camera having three image sensors behind a color division prism such as a prism, the mask and fundus image must be optically re-imaged in order to capture the mask. Therefore, there is a problem that the optical path length becomes long and the optical system becomes complicated.
[0004]
Further, in the case of magnified photographing, there is a drawback that the observation range becomes narrow because the mask blocks up to a portion having no flare, and in order to compensate for this disadvantage, the size of the mask is set according to the imaging magnification. If it is changed, there is a problem that the structure and control of the apparatus become complicated.
[0005]
Furthermore, in the case of a fundus camera, an optical system is used for focusing in accordance with the diopter of the subject's eye, so that the fundus imaging magnification varies depending on the diopter of the subject's eye during focusing. As a result, a mask with a certain size causes problems such as concealing even a portion that has been successfully photographed, and flare mixing around.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmic image processing apparatus that solves the above-described problems and synthesizes a mask image corresponding to a captured fundus image with the fundus image .
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, an ophthalmologic image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a setting means for setting a photographing magnification, a photographing optical system for photographing a fundus image with the photographing magnification, and a fundus image via the photographing optical system. An image pickup means for picking up an image and a combining means for combining a mask image having a size corresponding to the photographing magnification with the fundus image are provided .
[0010]
An ophthalmologic image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging optical system having a focus lens arranged so as to be movable in the optical axis direction, an imaging means for imaging a fundus image via the imaging optical system, and the focus lens. And a combining unit that determines an effective range in the fundus image based on the operation information and combines a mask image corresponding to the effective range with the fundus image .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a fundus camera. On a light path from an observation alignment light source 1 such as a lamp to an objective lens 2, a condenser lens 3, a still image photographing light source 4 such as a strobe, a condenser lens 5 and a mirror 6 are shown. , A lens 7, a diaphragm 8 having a ring-shaped opening, a relay lens 9, and a perforated mirror 10 having an opening in the center thereof are sequentially arranged. On the optical path behind the perforated mirror 10, a focus lens 11, a photographing lens 12 having a zooming function, a switching mirror 13, and a high-definition camera 14 for taking a still image such as a digital camera are sequentially arranged and switched. In the reflection direction of the mirror 13, a high-sensitivity camera 15 for moving image observation is arranged.
[0013]
The output of the moving image observation camera 15 is connected to the moving image observation monitor 17 via the character generating means 16, and the output of the character generating means 16 is connected to the focus lens 11 and the photographing lens 12, respectively. The output of the knob 18 is also connected. The output of the still image capturing camera 14 is connected to a control means 19 having an image memory. The output of the control means 19 is a still image reproduction monitor 20 such as a computer display, and an external storage means 21 such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk. Are connected to each. Further, the output of the photographing switch 22 is connected to the still image photographing light source 4, and the output of the photographing switch 22 is further connected to the control means 19. Further, the output of the zoom switch 23 for changing the photographing magnification is connected to the character generating means 16 and the control means 19, respectively.
[0014]
In such a configuration, the light beam emitted from the observation alignment light source 1 passes through the condenser lens 3, the still image photographing light source 4, and the condenser lens 5, and is reflected upward by the mirror 6. It passes through the opening and the relay lens 9, is reflected leftward by the perforated mirror 10, passes through the objective lens 2, and illuminates the fundus Er through the pupil Ep of the eye E to be examined. The fundus image Er ′ thus illuminated passes through the pupil Ep of the eye E, the objective lens 2, the focus lens 11, and the photographing lens 12, and is reflected downward by the switching mirror 13, and is photographed by the moving image observation camera 15. The image is formed on the surface. The fundus oculi image Er ′ is converted into an electric signal, passes through the character generating means 16 and reaches the moving image observation monitor 17, and the moving image observing monitor 17 receives the fundus image Er ′ and the mask generated from the character generating means 16. The image M is projected, the flare portion around the fundus oculi image Er ′ is masked, and only the effective portion that matches the imaging range of still image shooting of the fundus oculi Er is displayed.
[0015]
The photographer checks the fundus image Er ′ while confirming the photographing region, alignment, and focus state. If the focus is not correct, the focus knob 18 is operated to interlock with the movement of the focus knob 18. The focusing lens 11 is moved in the optical axis direction to perform focusing. As a result, the imaging magnification of the fundus oculi Er and the image sensor changes, so that the character generation means 16 detects this focusing information to determine the optimum effective range and corresponds to that range on the moving image observation monitor 17. Generate a mask image. Further, since the effective image range of the moving image observation monitor 17 changes with the focusing operation, the control means 16 prepares to block the same range as the effective image range based on the transmitted focusing information.
[0016]
When the examiner operates the photographing switch 22 after this preparation is completed, the switching mirror 13 is retracted out of the optical path and the still image photographing light source 4 emits light. The light beam emitted from the still image photographing light source 4 reaches the lens 5 and then illuminates the fundus Er through the same optical path as the light beam emitted from the observation alignment light source 1. The fundus image Er ′ illuminated in this way passes through the pupil Ep, passes through the objective lens 2, the hole of the perforated mirror 10, the focus lens 11 and the photographing lens 12, and forms an image on the photographing image plane of the still image photographing camera 14. To do. The captured image is converted into an electric signal by the still image capturing camera 14, converted into a digital signal, and transferred to the memory in the control means 19.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows an image captured by the still image capturing camera 14. This fundus image Er ′ is surrounded by the flare F, and the boundary region of the fundus image Er ′ effective for diagnosis is not clear. Accordingly, a predetermined mask image is superimposed on this image, or data in a predetermined area is rewritten with black level display data and displayed on the still image monitor 20. In this way, the fundus oculi image Er ′ is surrounded by the mask image M as shown in FIG. 3, and a region effective for diagnosis is clearly displayed.
[0018]
Note that the mark S indicating the effective vertical direction when printed out, and the data D indicating the subject or the imaging state may be displayed together with the mask image M. The camera number in the data D identifies the fundus camera or image sensor used for shooting, and is effective when comparing the recorded image with other images or correcting the image by image processing or the like. Become. Then, this image is stored in the external storage means 21, the switching mirror 13 returns to the optical path, and a series of photographing is completed. Note that the data D indicating the subject or the imaging state at this time may be stored separately from the mask image M and the fundus oculi image Er ′.
[0019]
In this way, the fundus oculi image Er ′ can be photographed without using an optical mask, so that the optical path can be shortened and the configuration becomes easy. In particular, an image sensor such as a three-plate television camera having a 3P prism can be used. This is effective when it is difficult to place a mask immediately before the.
[0020]
Further, when the fundus image Er ′ and the data indicating the subject or the photographing state are displayed on the same screen, the background image other than the fundus image Er ′ can be darkened so that the data can be easily observed. Since the data other than the part can be reliably set to a constant value, the noise data can be removed to reduce the amount of information as an image, and the image can be compressed while maintaining the image quality of the effective part better. Is possible. Thereby, the memory can be used efficiently.
[0021]
In the case of enlarging photographing, when the photographer operates the zoom switch 23, the photographing lens 12 is moved, and information relating to the imaging magnification is transmitted to the character generating means 16 and the control means 19, and the control means 19 is used for observation alignment. The light amounts of the light source 1 and the still image photographing light source 4 are controlled according to the magnification. The fundus oculi Er is illuminated by the light beam emitted from the observation alignment light source 1, and the fundus oculi image Er ′ passes through the same path as described above and is enlarged and formed on the imaging surface of the still image observation camera 14. This image is converted into a video signal, input to the character generating means 15, combined with a mask image having a size corresponding to the shooting magnification, and displayed on the moving image observation monitor 17. FIG. 4 shows an image shown on the moving image observation monitor 17, and an enlarged fundus image Er ′ and a mask image M corresponding thereto are displayed.
[0022]
The photographer checks the imaging region, alignment, and focus state while viewing the fundus oculi image Er ′. If the subject is not in focus, the photographer performs focusing by the same method as described above. When the photographer operates the photographing switch 22 after completing these preparations, the switching mirror 13 is retracted out of the optical path and the still image photographing light source 4 emits light. The light beam emitted from the still image photographing light source 4 reaches the lens 5 and then illuminates the fundus Er through the same optical path as the light beam emitted from the observation alignment light source 1. The fundus image Er ′ illuminated in this way passes through the pupil Ep, passes through the objective lens 2, the hole of the perforated mirror 10, the focus lens 11, and the photographing lens 12 arranged to magnify the still image. The image is formed on the imaging surface of the camera 14.
[0023]
The image captured as described above is converted into an electric signal by the still image capturing camera 14, and then converted into a digital signal and transferred to the memory in the control means 19. FIG. 5 shows an image immediately after being output from the still image capturing camera 14, and the enlarged fundus image Er ′ is surrounded by the flare F, and the region of the fundus image Er ′ effective for diagnosis is not clear. A predetermined mask image M is superimposed on this image, or data in a predetermined area is rewritten to data representing a black level and displayed on the still image reproduction monitor 20.
[0024]
FIG. 6 shows an image after the mask composition, and the fundus oculi image Er ′ is surrounded by the mask image M and a region effective for diagnosis is clearly displayed. Further, the mark S indicating the effective vertical direction when printed out and the data D indicating the subject and the photographing state may be displayed together with the mask image M, and when these data overlap with the fundus image Er ′. It is good to be able to delete it arbitrarily. Then, this image is stored in the external storage means 21, the switching mirror 13 returns to the optical path, and a series of photographing is finished. The data D indicating the subject and the imaging state may be stored separately from the mask image M and the fundus oculi image Er ′.
[0025]
In this way, the mask size can be changed according to the imaging magnification, so that a wide range can be observed and recorded even when magnifying and observing, and focusing is performed on the eye E to be examined with different diopters. Even when the imaging magnification changes when performing, it is possible to always observe and record an effective range without waste.
[0026]
Further, in this embodiment, the mask image M is created after being taken into the memory at the time of still image shooting. However, when an electric signal is A / D converted into digital data, only a predetermined mask area is set to a black level. If these functions are incorporated into a single fundus camera, the apparatus becomes more convenient to use.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the ophthalmologic image processing apparatus according to the present invention combines the mask image corresponding to the captured fundus image with the fundus image, so that noise data can be removed and the image of the effective portion can be satisfactorily retained. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a fundus image before mask image synthesis.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a fundus image after the mask image synthesis.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged moving image observation image.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged fundus image before mask image synthesis.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged fundus image after mask image synthesis.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Observation alignment light source 4 Still image photographing light source 10 Perforated mirror 11 Focus lens 12 Photographing lens 14 Still image photographing camera 15 Movie observation camera 16 Character generating means 17 Movie observation monitor 19 Control means 20 Still image reproduction monitor 21 External storage means

Claims (4)

Setting means for setting photographing magnification, photographing optical system for photographing a fundus image at the photographing magnification, imaging means for photographing a fundus image through the photographing optical system, and a mask image having a size corresponding to the photographing magnification An ophthalmologic image processing apparatus comprising: a combining unit that combines the image with the fundus image. An imaging optical system having a focus lens arranged so as to be movable in the optical axis direction, imaging means for imaging a fundus image via the imaging optical system, and an effective range in the fundus image based on operation information of the focus lens An ophthalmologic image processing apparatus comprising: a combining unit that determines and combines a mask image corresponding to the effective range with the fundus image . The ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit synthesizes any one of a mark indicating the vertical direction, data indicating a subject, and data indicating a photographing state together with the mask image. . The ophthalmologic image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores either the fundus image or the mask image.

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