JP4137621B2 - Medical diagnostic imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an MRI apparatus, an X-ray CT diagnostic apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to improvement of a man-machine interface in image display in a medical image diagnostic apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional medical image diagnostic apparatus, as in [Patent Document 1], specifies a desired image by pressing a function key of an input device, and then selects and registers desired image processing using the function key. The image processing procedure is stored in the work area of the storage device. Thereafter, in order to execute the stored image processing, the image processing is sequentially performed only by pressing a predetermined function key on the input device. It has become. Thus, a technique is described in which the same image processing can be performed on a plurality of images with a simple operation.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-044851 [0004]
In addition, as in [Patent Document 2], it is possible to display a plurality of captured images on a screen (also referred to as “display”), and the number of images that can be displayed on the display is limited. Therefore, a technique is described in which an observer can select an image to be displayed from a plurality of images and display it on a display.
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-4-113393 [0006]
In such a medical image diagnostic apparatus, a patient name for displaying information attached to a medical image, a character string such as an imaging method, an image scale measurement, a figure such as a gray scale (hereinafter referred to as “overlay information”). Overlay information is arranged in the end area of the image display area so as not to hinder the observer from observing the imaging target by overlapping with the medical image.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when displaying an image taken by an observer on a display or when outputting an image taken by an observer to a film, as a technique for an observer to more easily observe a display image, an image enlargement ratio, Since there is a function to set the amount of movement and display the area of interest in the image to the maximum extent, there is a case where the medical image and overlay information overlap when the function is executed. Since there is a possibility that appropriate diagnostic information may not be obtained in the case of outputting to the camera, it is complicated to move the medical image or change the display position of the overlay information in order to avoid overlapping. Complexity has been a problem.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image diagnostic apparatus that remarkably improves the operability of an operation for confirming whether or not a medical image and overlay information overlap with each other, and avoiding overlapping of the medical image and overlay information. It is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object is to provide an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject , an image processing unit that performs image processing on the captured image, and
In a medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays the image and image information incidental to the image, the image processing unit generates a reference image indicating a display position of the image, and the image and the image This is achieved by moving the position of the reference image so as to avoid overlap with image information, and moving the image based on the movement .
[0010]
In other words, when setting the image magnification and image movement amount, a reference image is displayed as information indicating the image area of all images, and by using this reference image, an image including an image not displayed on the display is recognized. Since it becomes possible, it becomes possible to simultaneously perform the operations for setting the enlargement ratio and the movement amount for a plurality of images.
[0011]
Further, the image processing means, as referenced image, adding an image obtained by adding the pixel values of a plurality of images, or to generate a projection image obtained by projecting the value derived from the pixel values of a plurality of images.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example to which the present invention can be applied.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a CPU, 2 is a main memory, 3 is a magnetic disk, 4 is a display memory, 5 is a CRT, 6 is a controller, 7 is a mouse, 9 is a communication interface, and 11 is a removable storage medium interface. Are connected to a common bus 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes an imager that outputs a display image to a film and is connected to a communication interface.
[0013]
The magnetic disk device 3 stores a plurality of tomographic images, a program for executing the method of the present invention, and the like. The CPU 1 reads out the plurality of tomographic images and the program for executing the present invention, performs operations such as three-dimensional image processing using the main memory 2, sends the results to the display memory 4, and displays them on the CRT monitor 5. Let The mouse 7 connected to the controller 6 is used for setting the image ratio and the image movement amount.
[0014]
A communication interface 9 such as a local area network is used to communicate with an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus and acquire image data. Reference numeral 10 denotes an imager device connected to a communication interface, which outputs a film of a designated image. 11 is a removable storage medium interface that uses a SCSI interface, etc., which is connected to drive devices such as MOD, DAT, 8mm tape, CD, CDR, DVD, etc. Acquire image data from CT and MRI devices, and store and store processing data externally.
[0015]
Next, the setting of the image movement amount according to the present invention performed using the medical image diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method for setting an image ratio and an image movement amount for a plurality of display display images by providing a display area for a reference image that transmits all the images. A method for setting the image ratio and the image movement amount will be described according to this flowchart. The display state of the CRT will be described for steps 202 to 207 in the flowchart.
[0017]
3 to 5 show display states on the CRT. In each figure, since the superposition of images becomes complicated, it is simplified and represented only by the outline. FIG. 3 shows a display state at the start of the flowchart. 18 is a diagram showing an image display area for displaying an image on the CRT. A plurality of images can be displayed simultaneously in the image display area. The observer can set the image ratio and the image movement amount for the displayed image by operating the mouse. Reference numeral 19 denotes a scroll bar control for moving an image. For an image that cannot be displayed on the CRT, an image displayed in the image display area can be changed by the observer operating this scroll bar to feed the image. Reference numeral 20 denotes a button for displaying a reference image area for setting an image ratio and an image movement amount. Reference numeral 21 denotes a button for outputting the display state as a film. When the observer clicks this button with a mouse, the display state reflecting the current image ratio and the amount of image movement can be output as a film. Reference numerals 22 and 23 denote overlay information for displaying the supplementary information of the image.
[0018]
In the state shown in FIG. 3, since the image display target and the overlay information overlap, it is not suitable for film output. The observer wants to set the image ratio and the image movement amount so as to satisfy the following two conditions in order to perform film output. Set the enlargement ratio and movement amount for film output so that the shooting target is maximized within the range that is not hidden by the overlay information. For all images to be output to film, unified values are used for the image enlargement ratio and movement amount.
[0019]
The operation in step 202 in the flowchart indicates an operation in which the observer presses the 22 button. By performing this operation, a reference image area for setting an image enlargement ratio and movement amount is displayed.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows a display state of the apparatus displaying the reference image area. Reference numeral 24 denotes a reference image display area. Reference numerals 25 and 26 indicate overlay information displaying image supplementary information. Reference numeral 27 denotes a button for changing the reference image. By clicking this button with the mouse, the image is set to the maximum value reference image. Similarly, buttons 28 and 29 are buttons for changing the reference image. By clicking this button with a mouse, the reference image is set to the minimum value reference image.
[0021]
Using this function, the observer operates step 203 in the flowchart. 203 is an operation for determining whether the displayed reference image is suitable for grasping the positional relationship between all images and overlay information. If the reference image is not an image suitable for grasping the positional relationship between all images and overlay information, the operation of the flowchart 204 is performed. The operation of step 204 indicates that the reference image being displayed is selected from the maximum value projection, the average value projection, and the minimum value projection by clicking the buttons 27, 28 and 29 with the mouse. By this operation, the observer can select an image suitable for grasping the positional relationship between the entire image and the overlay information from among the maximum value projection, the average value projection, and the minimum value projection.
[0022]
The operation in step 205 in the flowchart is an operation for confirming whether the reference image overlaps the overlay information. In the reference image display area indicated by 24, there is an area where the overlay information indicated by 25 and 26 and the reference image in the reference image are displayed overlappingly.
[0023]
The operation in step 206 in the flowchart is an operation for setting the enlargement ratio and the movement amount on the reference image area. FIG. 5 shows a display state in the reference image display area at the time of operation in step 206. The observer refers to the reference image 31 on the screen 30 and operates the setting of the enlargement ratio and movement amount of the image with the mouse so that the entire image does not overlap with the overlay information 32 and 33.
[0024]
After setting the enlargement ratio and moving amount of the image and confirming that all the images do not overlap with the overlay information, the operation proceeds to step 207 in the flowchart.
[0025]
The operation in step 207 indicates an operation for closing the reference image display area indicated by 24. The enlargement ratio and movement amount of the image set on the reference image are applied to all display images indicated by 18. The enlargement ratio and movement amount set on the reference image are also applied to the image being displayed in the image display area and the image not being displayed in the image display area. By performing film output operation in this state, the observer can output the film with the maximum display state setting in which the enlargement ratio and movement amount of all images are equal and overlay information and images do not overlap. Is possible.
[0026]
According to the embodiment described above, with respect to the positioning operation at the time of film, which was difficult with the conventional medical image diagnostic apparatus, the observer can easily read the overlay information with the same enlargement ratio and movement amount of all images. It is now possible to set the maximum display possible.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention provides a medical image diagnostic apparatus that remarkably improves the operability of an operation for confirming whether or not a medical image and overlay information overlap with each other in order to avoid overlapping of the medical image and overlay information. There is an effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of a medical image diagnostic apparatus that employs the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the medical image diagnostic apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display state on a CRT before setting an enlargement ratio and a movement amount of a medical image diagnostic apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example of a reference image in FIG. 3;
5 is a diagram showing an example in which a reference image is displayed when an enlargement ratio and a movement amount are set in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... CPU, 2 ... main memory, 3 ... magnetic disk, 4 ... display memory, 5 ... CRT, 6 ... controller, 7 ... mouse, 8 ... common bus, 9 ... communication interface, 10 ... imager, 11 ... removable display Medium

Claims (2)

Imaging means for capturing an image of a subject;
Image processing means for image processing the captured image;
Display means for displaying the image and image information incidental to the image;
In a medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising:
The image processing means generates a reference image indicating the display position of the image, moves the position of the reference image so as to avoid overlap between the image and the image information, and converts the image based on the movement. A medical image diagnostic apparatus characterized by being moved . The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.
The image processing unit generates, as the reference image, a summed image obtained by adding pixel values of a plurality of images, or a projection image obtained by projecting a value derived from pixel values of the plurality of images. Diagnostic device.

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