JP4329588B2 - Captured image generation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a captured image generation system that generates a captured image of a patient and generates a processed image obtained by processing the captured image.

  At present, digitization of medical images obtained by examination imaging and the like has been realized, and a computer radiographic imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as CR; Computed Radiography) and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as MRI; Magnetic Resonance Imaging). When a digital image data is obtained by a tomographic imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as CT; Computed Tomography) or the like, a captured image generation system is used that distributes it to an image management apparatus or a display apparatus via a communication network (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  In a conventional photographed image generation system, when a photograph is taken using a cassette, a photograph reading device that reads the photographed image as digital data while photographing as in the CR, the photographed image recorded in the cassette is displayed. A reading device dedicated to the cassette to be read, and a control device that manages the picked-up images and the picked-up images generated by the reading device are connected via a communication network. The captured image generation system is connected to a system for managing information in the radiology department (hereinafter referred to as RIS; Radiology Information System).

  In the radiographic image generation system configured as described above, radiographing order information (instruction information for instructing radiographing target patient, radiographing site, radiographing method, etc.) is first issued in response to a request from a doctor at the RIS and transmitted to the control device. Is done. Shooting order information is displayed on the control device, and the shooting engineer performs shooting on the shooting device in accordance with the displayed shooting order information. After photographing, the photographing reading device generates photographed image data and transmits it to the control device. On the other hand, when photographing is performed using the cassette, the photographing engineer attaches the cassette to the reading device and causes the data to be read. The reading device reads the data of the photographed image from the attached cassette and transmits the data to the control device. In the control device, various image processes are performed on the received captured image so that it can be confirmed whether or not an image suitable for interpretation is captured, and the captured image subjected to the image processing is displayed on the monitor.

In general, when a breast image (this is called mammography) is taken, since the breast image requires high image quality, a higher-definition reading process is performed than in the case of other imaging parts, and further referred to as phase contrast imaging. It is predicted that shooting with the shooting method will increase. As a result, in the case of a breast image, the data capacity becomes large. For example, a captured image of another part (this is referred to as a general image) is an 18 × 24 inch (six-cut size) cassette and has a read pixel size of 87.5 μm, whereas in the case of a breast image, 43. 75 μm. That is, the breast image has a data capacity about four times that of a general image. In addition, when shooting is performed using the phase contrast imaging method, the size of the cassette used for the shooting is twice that of normal shooting, and the read pixel size is halved. It is about 16 times the image.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-276587

  Thus, since the generated breast image has a considerably large data capacity of 4 times or 16 times as compared with other general images, it takes a considerable amount of time for image processing. Therefore, when a breast image is taken and the image processing is performed by the control device, the control device cannot perform other processing during the image processing, and other processing in the control device is delayed. This delays the processing in the entire system and reduces the processing efficiency.

  Furthermore, in the case of a breast image, the right and left breasts can be imaged in different imaging directions, such as the vertical direction and the oblique direction, for a single patient, and a comprehensive diagnosis can be performed from these multiple breast images. Many. Thus, when taking a breast image for one patient, the data capacity for one image is large and a plurality of images must be processed, and various image processing is performed for the purpose of improving the image quality. Therefore, if the breast image is handled in the same manner as a general captured image, the processing efficiency of the entire system is reduced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a captured image generation system that does not decrease the processing efficiency of the entire system even when processing a captured image that has a large capacity and requires a long time for processing.

The invention according to claim 1 is a captured image generation system,
An image generation means for generating a captured image of a patient and a plurality of control means for acquiring and managing the generated captured image and associating with the acquired imaging order information are connected via a communication network,
Determining means for determining whether or not a captured image associated with the imaging order information is a breast image based on the imaging order information;
When it is determined that the captured image associated with the imaging order information is a breast image, the image generation unit that generates the captured image can communicate only with a predetermined specific control unit among the plurality of control units. first switch to communication mode, the shooting if the order information and association is photographed image is determined to be the general picture of the non-breast image, the image generating means generates the captured image of the plurality of control means for the Communication control means for switching to the second communication mode that enables communication with the control means that manages the imaging order information ,
It is characterized by providing.

The invention described in claim 2 is the captured image generation system according to claim 1 ,
A plurality of image processing means for performing image processing on the captured image acquired by the control means are connected via the communication network,
In the communication control unit, when the determination unit determines that the captured image associated with the imaging order information is a breast image, the control unit that has acquired the captured image is predetermined among the plurality of image processing units. It is possible to communicate only with a specific image processing means.

The invention described in claim 3 is the captured image generation system according to claim 1 or 2,
A plurality of the image generating means;
The communication control unit can switch the communication mode only when a captured image is generated by a specific image generation unit among the plurality of image generation units.

The invention described in claim 4 is the captured image generation system according to claim 3 ,
The specific image generation means determines whether to switch the communication mode depending on whether the captured image generated by the image generation means is a breast image or a general image ,
The communication control means switches the communication mode only when the specific image generation means decides to switch the communication mode.

The invention according to claim 5, in the photographing image generation system according to any one of claims 1-4,
The image generation unit reads the breast image with a first reading pixel size, and reads the general image with a second reading pixel size larger than the first reading pixel size .

The invention according to claim 6 is the captured image generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The communication control means switches the first communication mode to the second communication mode when reading of all breast images for one patient is completed .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a breast image that has a large data capacity and needs to be subjected to complicated image processing is generated, the mode is switched to the first communication mode, and the other normal processing time. When a general image that can be completed is generated, by switching to the second communication mode, the image generating means and the control means for processing a breast image that takes time to process can be dedicated. That is, it is possible to separate a communication system that handles a captured image that requires processing time from a communication system that handles a general image, and the processing efficiency of the entire system can be improved even when the general image and the captured image that requires processing time are processed in the same system. It is possible to prevent the decrease.

According to the invention described in claim 2, when the breast image data capacity of one image must subjected to large, complex image processing has been generated is switched to the first communication mode, and other normal processing time When a general image that can be completed is generated, by switching to the second communication mode, it is possible to dedicate the control means and the image processing means for processing a breast image that requires time for processing. That is, it is possible to separate a communication system that handles a captured image that requires processing time from a communication system that handles a general image, and the processing efficiency of the entire system can be improved even when the general image and the captured image that requires processing time are processed in the same system. It is possible to prevent the decrease.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the communication mode can be switched only when a captured image is generated by a specific image generation unit, a large amount of time is required for processing among a plurality of image generation units in advance. By specifying an image generating means capable of processing a captured image, the image generating means can be dedicated, which is preferable from the viewpoint of processing efficiency in the entire system. Further, since the general image is processed by other image generation means other than the specified image generation means, it is not necessary to switch the communication mode. Therefore, the communication mode only has to be switched when an image is generated by a specific image generation means, so that the efficiency of communication control is good.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a captured image is generated on the specific image generation means side, it is possible to determine whether or not to switch the communication mode according to the captured image.

<First Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, a control device that processes a breast image is specified. When a breast image is generated in the captured image generation system, the image generation device that generated the breast image is a specific control device. An example will be described in which the image generation device and the control device that process the breast image by switching to the communication mode in which only communication is possible are separated from the image generation device and control device that process the general image.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a captured image generation system 100 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the captured image generation system 100 includes a server SV, a plurality of image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, and a plurality of control apparatuses 30a to 30n, and each apparatus is communicably connected via a communication network N. Has been. An image processing device 50 is connected to the control device 30a.

  Furthermore, the captured image generation system 100 is connected to an RIS (not shown). The RIS receives a request from a doctor and issues imaging order information, and the issued imaging order information is referred to as identification information (hereinafter referred to as order ID) for identifying the imaging order information from other imaging order information. ). The captured image generation system 100 receives the imaging order information from this RIS. Not RIS. A system for managing information in the hospital (hereinafter referred to as HIS; Hospital Information System) and a reception terminal for issuing and receiving imaging order information may be connected.

Hereinafter, each device of the captured image generation system 100 will be described.
The server SV comprehensively manages each device in the captured image generation system 100, and is a communication control unit that performs communication control between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n.

FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the server SV.
As shown in FIG. 2, the server SV includes a control unit 1, a communication unit 2, and a storage unit 3.

  The control unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and is stored in the storage unit 3, a pre-shooting processing program according to the present invention, a first general image processing program, Various control programs such as the first breast image processing program are developed in the RAM, and each part is controlled according to the developed control program.

  In the pre-shooting process, cassette registration (cassette registration will be described later) is performed in any one of the control devices 30a to 30n, and the cassette ID, order ID, control device ID, and information on the reading conditions of the shot image related to the cassette registration are stored. When transmitted, these pieces of information are stored in the distribution management table 3b of the storage unit 3. When receiving an inquiry about the transmission destination of the captured image from any of the image generation devices 10a to 10n based on the cassette ID, the imaging order information of the order ID corresponding to the cassette ID is read from the order file 3a of the storage unit 3, It is determined whether the captured image that has received an inquiry based on the imaging order information is a breast image or an image other than a breast image (hereinafter referred to as a general image). If it is determined that the captured image is a general image, the first general image processing is executed, and if it is determined that the captured image is a breast image, the first breast image processing is executed.

  In the first general image processing, the control device ID and the reading conditions corresponding to the inquired cassette ID are read from the distribution management table 3b, and designation information for designating the control device of the control device ID as the transmission destination of the general image is provided. The information is generated and returned to the image generation apparatus by the communication unit 2, and the reading condition information corresponding to the cassette ID is read out and transmitted to the image generation apparatus, and the general image reading condition is designated.

  In the first breast image processing, the image generation apparatus 10a to 10n and the control apparatuses 30a to 30n are switched to the second communication mode in which communication is arbitrarily set, and the image generation apparatus 10a that has generated the breast image The first communication mode is set to allow communication only with a specific control device 30a designated as dedicated to an image. Next, designation information for designating the breast image-dedicated control device 30a as a transmission destination of the breast image is generated and transmitted to the image generation device 10a that has generated the breast image, and reading condition information corresponding to the cassette ID is read out. It transmits to the said image generation apparatus 10a, and the reading condition of a breast image is designated. Next, when the breast image is read by the image generation device 10a and the acquisition of the breast image is received by the control device 30a dedicated to the breast image, and notification information indicating completion of the reading process is received, the communication mode is switched to generate each image. The apparatus 10a-10n sets to the 2nd communication mode which can communicate with arbitrary control apparatuses 30a-30n, and returns to the original communication state.

  The communication unit 2 includes a communication interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) and a modem, and transmits and receives information to and from external devices such as the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n.

  The storage unit 3 includes a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and includes various control programs such as a pre-imaging processing program, a first general image processing program, and a first breast image processing program, and those control programs. Store the processed data and the like.

The storage unit 3 includes an order file 3a that stores imaging order information in an updatable manner.
In the order file 3a, as shown in FIG. 3, shooting order information is stored for each piece of identification information (hereinafter referred to as order ID) for individually identifying shooting order information. The imaging order information includes information about the patient such as the patient ID and name of the patient to be imaged (hereinafter referred to as patient information), information related to imaging such as the imaging region, imaging direction, and imaging date (hereinafter referred to as imaging information). Etc. are included.

Further, the storage unit 3 includes a distribution management table 3b that defines to which control devices 30a to 30n a captured image read and generated from a cassette in each of the image generation devices 10a to 10n is distributed.
In the distribution management table 3b, as shown in FIG. 4, the identification information (hereinafter referred to as the control device ID) of the control device that is the transmission destination of the photographed image, the order ID of the photographing order information corresponding to the photographed image, and its photographing As cassettes for recording images, cassette identification information registered in the imaging order information (hereinafter referred to as cassette ID), and item information of reading conditions when reading a captured image from the cassette are stored.

  For example, from the control device 30a with the control device ID “M301”, the order ID “0001” of the imaging order information, the cassette ID “10101” of the cassette registered in the imaging order information, and the reading pixel size “43.75 μm as the reading condition” Are received, the order ID, cassette ID, and reading condition information are written in the distribution management table 3b in association with the received control device ID. Then, in any of the image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, when the captured image is read from the cassette with the cassette ID “10101” and an inquiry about the transmission destination of the captured image is received based on the cassette ID, the cassette ID “10101” is obtained. Is read from the distribution management table 3b, information on the control device ID is returned, and the captured image is designated to be transmitted to the control device 30a of the control device ID “M301” and read. A reading condition is designated so as to read a captured image with a pixel size of “43.75 μm”.

Next, the image generation devices 10a to 10n will be described.
The image generation devices 10a to 10n are image generation means for generating digital data of a captured image of a patient. There are two types of shooting: a cassette type that uses a portable cassette for shooting, and a dedicated type that is fixed in the shooting room and that is used for shooting and reading with the shooting reader that reads the shot image. Divided. Therefore, as the image generation devices 10a to 10n, a cassette-dedicated reading device that reads a captured image from a cassette and generates digital data, and a detection unit that detects X-rays are used for shooting and the captured image is captured. An imaging reading device such as CR or CT that generates digital data, or an imaging reading device such as an MRI or an ultrasonic imaging device is applicable without being limited to X-rays.

  In addition, the reading device dedicated to cassettes can read not only general images, but also high-definition reading types that can read breast images with high-definition pixel sizes and can be used for both breast images and general images. The general-purpose ones that handle only general images are included. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that only the image generation device 10a is a specific image generation unit that is a dual-purpose type cassette-dedicated reading device. From the viewpoint of processing efficiency in the system, when performing reading processing of a cassette in which a breast image is recorded, the dual-purpose image generating apparatus 10a is used, and when performing reading processing of a general image, a general dedicated image is used. It is advisable to make arrangements in advance between imaging technicians so as to use the generation devices 10b to 10n.

  Furthermore, as the image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, a flat panel detector (hereinafter referred to as FPD; Flat Panel Detector) is also applicable. For example, as described in JP-A-6-342098, an FPD includes a radiation detection element that generates charges according to the intensity of irradiated radiation, and a capacitor that stores charges generated by the radiation detection elements. Are two-dimensionally arranged, and capture a radiographic image of the subject and output it as an electrical signal.

  Further, a film digitizer that scans a captured image recorded on a film and reads it as digital data can be applied.

Next, the control devices 30a to 30n will be described.
The control devices 30a to 30n control the reading operation of the captured images of the image generation devices 10a to 10n according to the imaging order information distributed from the RIS, and acquire the data of the captured images read by the image generation devices 10a to 10n. Thus, the control unit performs image management by associating the acquired captured image with the managed imaging order information.

  In addition, among the plurality of control devices 30a to 30n, the control device 30a is designated as a specific control device that performs breast image processing. That is, the control device 30a is a dual-purpose control device that can process a breast image and a general image, and the other control devices 30b to 30n are control devices that can process only a general image.

Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the control devices 30a to 30n will be described. Since the control devices 30a to 30n have substantially the same configuration, the control device 30a will be described as a representative.
FIG. 5 shows an internal configuration of the control device 30a.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the control device 30 a includes a control unit 31, an input unit 32, a display unit 33, a communication unit 34, and a storage unit 35.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU, a RAM, and the like, expands various control programs stored in the storage unit 35 to the RAM, and controls each unit according to the expanded control program.

  The controller 31 performs pre-shooting processing during cassette-type shooting. In the pre-shooting process, each cassette order ID stored in the order file 351 of the storage unit 35 is stored in association with a cassette ID of a cassette used for shooting the shot order information. This is called cassette registration. At this time, it is determined whether the captured image is a breast image or a general image based on the imaging order information registered in the cassette, and an image reading condition is determined based on the determination result. For example, in the case of a breast image, the reading pixel size is determined as a high-definition reading condition of “43.75 μm”, and in the case of a general image, the reading pixel size is determined as “87.5 μm”. Then, the registered cassette ID, the order ID, and the information of the determined reading condition are transmitted to the server SV via the communication unit 34 together with its own control device ID.

  Then, after the photographing, reading of the photographed image is started in any of the image generation devices 10a to 10n, and when the photographed image and the cassette ID of the cassette from which the photographed image is read are transferred, the photographed image is based on the cassette ID. Is stored in the image DB 352 in association with the photographing order information. This is called image registration. When the captured image is a general image, in the first general image processing, the general image is subjected to image processing to generate a processed image, which is stored in the image DB 352. On the other hand, when the captured image is a breast image (only in the case of the control device 30a), an instruction is given to transfer the breast image to the image processing device 50 in the first breast image processing and perform image processing for the breast image. To do. When the processed image is returned from the image processing apparatus 50, the processed image is stored in the image DB 352, and notification information notifying that the reading process is completed is transmitted to the server SV.

  In addition, when dedicated type shooting is performed, shooting order information is selected, and when an image generation device that performs shooting is specified among the image generation devices 10a to 10n, the specified image generation device is controlled to control the image generation device. The reading operation of the photographic image taken in is controlled, and the read photographic image is acquired. Then, image registration is performed by associating the acquired shooting order information with the selected shooting order information.

  The input unit 32 includes a keyboard including numeric keys, character keys, and various function keys, a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 33, a mouse, and the like, and controls the control unit 31 according to these operations. Output to. That is, the cassette ID of the cassette for which cassette registration is to be performed can be input by the input unit 32. The cassette ID may be converted into a barcode and provided in the cassette, and a barcode reader may be provided to read and input the cassette ID.

  The display unit 33 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various operation screens such as a shooting order information list screen, a cassette registration screen, and an image confirmation screen, processing results by the control unit 31, and the like.

  The communication unit 34 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, and the like, and transmits / receives information to / from an external device. For example, the photographing order information is received from the RIS before photographing, and the photographed images are received from the image generating apparatuses 10a to 10n after photographing.

  The storage unit 35 is configured by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and is processed by various control programs such as a pre-imaging processing program, a first general image processing program, a first breast image processing, and the like. Stored data and the like are stored.

  Further, the storage unit 35 includes an order file 351 that stores imaging order information in an updatable manner. The data structure of the order file 351 is the same as that of the order file 3a (see FIG. 3) provided in the server SV except that an item of cassette ID associated with each photographing order information is added. Illustration is omitted. That is, the order file 351 stores shooting order information and cassette ID information associated with the shooting order information.

  The storage unit 35 includes an image DB 352, and stores various image data such as a captured image (original image) acquired from each of the image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, a processed image subjected to image processing, and the like in the image DB 352.

Next, the image processing apparatus 50 will be described.
The image processing device 50 is an image processing unit that is connected to a control device 30a designated as a control device that performs breast image processing, and that performs various image processing on a captured image input from the control device 30a. The image processing device 50 is a computer device equipped with an image processing program, and stores a CPU for executing image processing, a RAM, a communication unit for communicating with an external device on the communication network N, and an image data group. ROM, a program memory for storing an image processing program, and the like.

  Various types of image processing include gradation processing to adjust contrast, frequency processing to adjust image sharpness, and dynamic range compression to keep an image with a wide dynamic range within an easy-to-view density range without reducing the contrast of details of the subject. Processing is performed.

Hereinafter, each image processing will be described.
The gradation process is a process of converting the gradation of the original image data to a desired gradation using a gradation conversion curve indicating the correspondence between the original image data and the processed image data after the gradation process. As a method for creating a gradation conversion curve, for example, the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 55-116340 and 2-272529 can be applied.

As frequency processing, for example, unsharp mask processing disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-62373 and multi-resolution analysis disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-44645 can be applied. In the frequency processing, a specific sharpness component of a certain mask size included in the original image data is multiplied by the enhancement coefficient α to perform the calculation represented by the following formula (1), and the desired sharpness is obtained from the original image data. Get the processed image data.
S = So + α (So-Sus) (1)
S: frequency processed image signal
So: Original image signal
Sus: Unsharp image signal
α: Emphasis coefficient

As the dynamic range compression processing, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 250950 can be applied. In the dynamic range compression processing, the density of the low density region is corrected by multiplying the image signal in the low density region from a certain signal value A by the correction coefficient β by performing the calculation represented by the following equation (2). Compress gradation.
S = So + β (A−Sus) (2)
However, β = βL (Sus ≦ A) βL is a positive value
β = βH (Sus> A) βH = 0
S: Dynamic range compression processed image signal
So: Original image signal
Sus: Unsharp image signal
β: Correction coefficient
A: Constant (threshold value)

  In addition, when the input captured image is a breast image, the image processing apparatus 50 enlarges the density gradation of the low density region of the mammary gland or tumor that tends to have a small contrast, and conversely, there may be a microcalcification cluster. Contrast correction processing is performed to perform correction so as to compress the density gradation of the fat region with low characteristics. The contrast correction process is a process for converting the original image data using a contrast correction curve for correcting the contrast of a shadow area existing over a wide area to the same level, and is performed as a pre-process for detecting an abnormal shadow candidate. . As a method for creating the contrast correction curve, the method described in pages 665 to 679 of MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY Vol.14 No.6 November 1996 can be applied.

  In contrast correction processing, by converting the medical image using the above contrast correction curve, the density of the low density region of the mammary gland or tumor that tends to be low in contrast is enlarged, and conversely there is an image of a microcalcification cluster. Correction is performed so as to compress the density gradation of the fat mass region that is less likely. This contrast correction process not only contributes to improving the detection accuracy of abnormal shadow candidates, but is also very effective as a pre-process for abnormal shadow candidate detection in that it facilitates visual observation in the mammary gland tissue. Image processing.

  Furthermore, the image processing device 50 executes processing for detecting candidates for abnormal shadows such as microcalcification clusters and tumors that are findings of breast cancer from breast images. Detection of abnormal shadow candidates is performed for each lesion type using a detection algorithm corresponding to the lesion type of the abnormal shadow to be detected.

  The mass shadow has a shape close to a circle, and appears as a low-density shadow having a Gaussian distribution-like density change on the breast image. When detecting a shadow of a mass based on such characteristic density characteristics, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-263642, an iris filter is used to mask the size of the mask around the pixel of interest. Is set, and the intensity component and direction component of the density gradient from the periphery to the target pixel are calculated as feature amounts in this mask size, and candidate regions are specified based on the feature amounts.

  When a candidate area is specified, various feature quantities such as contrast, standard deviation, density average value, curvature, fractal dimension, circularity, and area in the candidate area are calculated. Is compared with the set threshold value for detecting the tumor shadow, and it is determined whether or not the identified candidate area is a true positive abnormal shadow. If it is determined that the shadow is a true positive abnormal shadow, this candidate area is output as a detection result of a final tumor shadow candidate.

  In addition, the microcalcification cluster shadow appears on the breast image as a shadow in which low-density microcalcification portions having a substantially conical density change are gathered (clustered). Based on such characteristic density characteristics, as a filter for detecting a microcalcification portion, three ring filters in which the intensity component and the direction component of the density gradient when the density change shows an ideal cone shape are determined in advance. An image region having a density change close to a conical shape is specified as a candidate region for a microcalcification portion.

  When a candidate area is specified, as in the case of a tumor shadow, various feature amounts in the candidate area are calculated, and the feature amount and a microcalcification cluster shadow set in advance for each feature amount are detected. And a region in which a plurality of candidate regions of microcalcification portions determined to be true positive abnormal shadows are collected and output as a final microcalcification cluster shadow detection result.

  The image processing described above is an example, and other image processing, such as irradiation field detection processing, rotation / reversal processing, blackening processing (processing to paint a predetermined area black), overlay (composition of characters, etc.) Processing) and the like.

  The image processing device 50 transmits the captured image that has been subjected to image processing (this is referred to as a processed image) to the control device 30a. When an abnormal shadow candidate is detected, information on the detection result is transmitted to the control device 30a in association with the processed image.

  Next, the operation of the captured image generation system 100 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the present invention is not applied when dedicated type shooting is performed, and therefore only the case of cassette type shooting will be described in the following description. Also, as a premise for explanation, the communication mode in the photographed image generation system 100 at the start of the pre-shooting process is the communication mode A in which any of the image generation devices 10a to 10n can communicate with any of the control devices 30a to 30n, i.e. It is assumed that the generated image generation apparatus is set to the second communication mode that can communicate with any of the control apparatuses 30a to 30n.

  In the image generation system 100, first, in the pre-shooting process shown in FIG. 6, the shooting order information is distributed from the RIS, and the shooting order information distributed in the server SV and each of the control devices 30a to 30n is stored. In the control devices 30a to 30n, shooting order information is displayed as a list in accordance with an instruction from the shooting engineer, and shooting order information to be shot is selected and cassette registration is performed (step S1).

  When imaging order information is selected and cassette registration is performed, the control devices 30a to 30n determine whether the imaging image is a breast image or a general image based on the imaging order information registered in the cassette, Accordingly, the reading condition of the captured image is determined (step S2). For example, a high-definition read pixel size is determined as a reading condition for a breast image, and a normal read pixel size is determined for a general image. Next, the order ID of the selected imaging order information, the cassette ID of the cassette registered in the cassette, the control device IDs of the control devices 30a to 30n from which the imaging order information has been selected, and the information on the read conditions of the determined captured image Is transmitted to the server SV (step S3).

  When the server SV receives the order ID, cassette ID, controller ID, and control device ID of the imaging order information registered in the cassette from any of the control devices 30a to 30n, the received order ID, Both cassette ID and reading condition information are stored in the distribution management table 3b in association with the received control device ID (step S4).

  On the other hand, the imaging engineer who registered the cassette in any of the control devices 30a to 30n moves toward the imaging apparatus with the cassette registered in the cassette, and performs imaging using the cassette. After taking a picture, hold the cassette in which the photographed image is recorded, move to the image generation apparatus dedicated to the cassette among the image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, load the cassette into the image generation apparatus, and instruct the reading of the photographed image To do. Here, it is assumed that a cassette is loaded in the image generation apparatus 10a capable of processing both a breast image and a general image, and reading of a captured image is instructed. In the image generating apparatus 10a, when a cassette is loaded (step S5), a cassette ID is read from the loaded cassette (step S6), and information on the cassette ID is transmitted to the server SV to correspond to the cassette ID. An inquiry about the destination of the captured image is made (step S7).

  When the server SV receives an inquiry about the transmission destination of the captured image based on the cassette ID from any of the image generation devices 10a to 10n, the order ID corresponding to the cassette ID is read from the distribution management table 3b, and the order The photographing order information corresponding to the ID is read from the order file 3a (step S8).

  Next, it is determined whether the captured image corresponding to the cassette ID for which an inquiry has been received based on the read imaging order information is a breast image or a general image (step S9). If the imaging part included in the imaging order information is an imaging part other than the breast, such as the abdomen and chest, and the captured image is determined to be a general image (step S9; general image), the process proceeds to the first general image processing. If it is determined that the imaging region included in the imaging order information is the breast and the captured image is a breast image (step S9; breast image), the process proceeds to the first breast image processing.

First, the first general image processing will be described with reference to FIG.
In the first general image processing shown in FIG. 7, the control device ID and the reading condition information corresponding to the cassette ID that is inquired in the server SV are read from the distribution management table 3b. Then, designation information for designating the control device with the read control device ID as the transmission destination of the general image is generated, transmitted to the inquiring image generation device 10a, and read conditions for the read captured image Is transmitted, and general image reading conditions are designated (step S21). Here, it is assumed that the control device 30b is designated as the transmission destination of the general image.

  In the image generation device 10a, communication with the control device 30b designated by the designation information received from the server SV is started, and reading of the general image is started in accordance with the reading control of the control device 30b (step S22). The read general image is transferred to the control device 30b together with the cassette ID (step S23). In the control device 30b, when the general image is acquired (step S24), the acquired general image is stored in the image DB 352, and image registration is performed based on the cassette ID associated with the general image.

  Next, in the control device 30b, various image processing such as gradation processing, frequency processing, dynamic range compression processing, and the like are performed on the general image (step S25), and a processed image is generated. Note that the acquired general image may be transferred to the image processing apparatus 50, and the image processing apparatus 50 may perform image processing to obtain a processed image. The generated processed image is stored in the image DB 352 (step S26), and this process ends.

Next, the first breast image processing will be described with reference to FIG.
When the captured image generated in the image generation device 10a is a breast image, the server SV switches the communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n to generate the breast image. Is set to a first communication mode (hereinafter referred to as communication mode B) in which only the breast image dedicated control device 30a can communicate (step S41). Next, designation information for designating the breast image dedicated control device 30a as the transmission destination of the breast image is generated in the image generation device 10a, transmitted to the image generation device 10a, and reading conditions corresponding to the cassette ID for which the inquiry has been received. Is read from the distribution management table 3b and transmitted to the image generation apparatus 10a, and reading conditions are designated (step S42).

FIG. 9 shows a communication state when the communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n is switched from the communication mode A to the communication mode B. 9A is a diagram showing a communication state when the communication mode A is set, and FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a communication state when the communication mode B is set. In the figure, a solid line indicates a line for which communication is effective, and a dotted line indicates a line for which communication is invalid.
As shown in FIG. 9A, in the communication mode A, each of the image generation devices 10a to 10n can communicate with any control device 30a to 30n, whereas as shown in FIG. 9B, In the communication mode B, the image generation device 10a that generates a breast image is set to be able to communicate only with the control device 30a specified as dedicated to the breast image, and the other image generation devices 10b to 10n cannot access the control device 30a. . Also, the control device 30a cannot access the other image generation devices 10b to 10n, and the communication state is as if the image generation device 10a and the control device 30a are disconnected from the captured image generation system 100.

  In such a communication state, the image generation device 10a starts communication with the control device 30a designated by the designation information received from the server SV, and reads a breast image from the cassette according to the reading control of the control device 30a. The operation is started (step S43), and the read breast image is transferred to the control device 30b together with the cassette ID (step S44). When the reading of the image generation device 10a is completed and a breast image is acquired in the control device 30a (step S45), the transferred breast image is registered based on the cassette ID, and the acquired image is acquired. The breast image is transferred to the image processing apparatus 50, and image processing for the breast image is performed in the image processing apparatus 50 to generate a processed image. In the control device 30a, when the processed image is acquired from the image processing device 50 (step S46), the processed image is stored in the image DB 352, and notification information for notifying that the reading of the breast image is completed is generated. Is transmitted to the server SV (step S47).

  In the case of a breast image, imaging is performed in one or a plurality of imaging directions for each of the left and right breasts for one patient, so that a plurality of breast images are obtained for one patient. Therefore, the control device 30a transmits notification information notifying the end of reading to the server SV when reading of all breast images for one patient is completed.

  In the server SV, when the notification information notifying the end of the reading of the breast image for one patient is received, the communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n is switched from the communication mode B to the communication mode A. Then, the restriction on communication between the image generation device 10a and the control device 30a is released (step S48). That is, the image generation device 10a can communicate with any control device 30a to 30n, and the control device 30a can communicate with any image generation device 10a to 10n. In this way, when the communication state is returned to the original state, this processing is terminated.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, a control device that processes a breast image exclusively among the plurality of control devices 30a to 30n is identified as the control device 30a, and a breast image is generated in the image generation device. Then, the communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n is switched to a communication mode in which the image generation device 10a can communicate only with the control device 30a dedicated to breast images. An image generation apparatus that generates a breast image that is large and has a large number of images for one patient and a control apparatus that processes the generated breast image can be dedicated.

  That is, a communication system that exchanges breast images that require processing time can be separated from a communication system that handles other general images, and the captured image generation system 100 that combines general imaging and mammography can process breast images. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the processing efficiency in the entire system from being lowered.

  In the above description, the case where the cassette is loaded in the cassette-dedicated image generation apparatus 10a capable of processing both the breast image and the general image has been described as an example. However, the server SV can use both the breast image and the general image. The communication mode can be switched only when a photographed image is generated in the correct image generation apparatus 10a. This is because the other image generation apparatuses 10b to 10n dedicated to general images handle only general images, so that the system efficiency is not lowered by the processing of the breast image, and switching of the communication mode is not necessary.

Second Embodiment
In the second embodiment, a plurality of image processing devices are further connected to the captured image generation system 100 of the first embodiment to identify a control device and an image processing device that handle breast images, and a breast image is generated. In this case, the image generation apparatus that has generated the breast image is switched to a communication mode in which only the specific control apparatus can communicate, and the specific control apparatus is switched to a communication mode in which only the specific image processing apparatus can communicate. An example will be described in which an image generation apparatus, a control apparatus, and an image processing apparatus that process breast images are separated from other image generation apparatuses, control apparatuses, and image processing apparatuses that process general images.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 10 shows a captured image generation system 200 according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 10, the captured image generation system 200 includes a server SV, image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, control apparatuses 30a to 30n, and image processing apparatuses 50a to 50n, and each apparatus can communicate via a communication network N. It is configured. In addition, the captured image generation system 200 is connected to an RIS (not shown) as in the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, each device of the captured image generation system 200 will be described.
The server SV comprehensively manages each device in the captured image generation system 200, and is between each captured image generation device 10a to 10n and each control device 30a to 30n, and each control device 30a to 30n and each image processing device. It is a communication control means which performs communication control between 50a-50n.

  Since the internal configuration of the server SV is the same as that of the server SV (see FIG. 2) in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and illustration thereof is omitted. That is, the server SV includes a control unit 1, a communication unit 2, and a storage unit 3.

  The control unit 1 executes pre-imaging processing as in the first embodiment, and executes second breast image processing when it is determined that the captured image generated in the pre-imaging processing is a breast image. If it is determined that the image is a general image, second general image processing is executed.

  In the second general image processing, when an inquiry about the transmission destination of a general image is received based on the cassette ID from any of the image generation devices 10a to 10n in which the general image is generated, the control device ID corresponding to the cassette ID Is read from the distribution management table 3b, designation information for designating the control device of the control device ID as a transmission destination of the general image is generated and returned to the image generation devices 10a to 10n, and information on the reading conditions corresponding to the cassette ID Is transmitted to the image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, and general image reading conditions are designated. Next, designation information for designating any one of the plurality of image processing apparatuses 50a to 50n as an image processing apparatus for performing image processing of a general image is generated, and the designation information is designated as a transmission destination of the general image. Send to control device.

  In the second breast image processing, the image generation apparatus 10a to 10n and the control apparatuses 30a to 30n are switched to the second communication mode in which the communication is arbitrarily set, and the image generation apparatus 10a that has generated the breast image The first communication mode is set to allow communication only with a specific control device 30a designated as dedicated to an image. Next, designation information for designating the breast image-dedicated control device 30a as a transmission destination of the breast image is generated and transmitted to the image generation apparatus that has generated the breast image, and information on the reading condition corresponding to the cassette ID is read out The image is transmitted to the image generation apparatus 10a, and breast image reading conditions are designated. Subsequently, the second communication mode in which the control devices 30a to 30n and the image processing devices 50a to 50n are arbitrarily set to be communicable is switched, and the specific image processing device 50a designated as dedicated to the breast image by the control device 30a. Is set to the first communication mode in which communication is possible only. Next, designation information for designating the image processing apparatus 50a dedicated to the breast image among the plurality of image processing apparatuses 50a to 50n as an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on the breast image is generated, and the designation information is transmitted to the control apparatus 30a. Let

  When the notification information notifying that the image processing of the breast image has been completed is received from the control device 30a dedicated to the breast image, the image generation devices 10a to 10n are switched to the arbitrary control devices 30a to 30n by switching the communication mode. While setting to the communication mode in which communication is possible, the control device 30a sets the communication mode in which communication is possible with any of the image processing devices 50a to 50n, and returns to the original communication state.

  Since the communication unit 2 and the storage unit 3 have the same functions as those in the first embodiment, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  The image generation devices 10a to 10n are image generation means for generating digital data of a captured image of a patient. Since the image generation devices 10a to 10n have the same configuration as the image generation devices 10a to 10n in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted. That is, only the image generation apparatus 10a is a dual-purpose cassette-dedicated reading apparatus capable of processing a breast image and a general image.

  The control devices 30a to 30n control the reading operation of the captured images of the image generation devices 10a to 10n according to the imaging order information distributed from the RIS, and the captured image data read by the image generation devices 10a to 10n The control means performs image management by associating the acquired captured image with the managed imaging order information.

  As in the first embodiment, among the plurality of control devices 30a to 30n, the control device 30a is specified as a dedicated control device for breast images that processes breast images. When the breast image is generated, the control device 30a communicates only with the image generation device 10a and controls the image generation device 10a to acquire the breast image to be processed.

  Since the internal configurations of the control devices 30a to 30n are the same as those of the control devices 30a to 30n (see FIG. 5) in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the respective components and the illustration thereof is omitted. That is, the control devices 30 a to 30 n include a control unit 31, an input unit 32, a display unit 33, a communication unit 34, and a storage unit 35.

  The controller 31 performs pre-shooting processing during cassette type shooting. The pre-shooting process is the same as the pre-shooting process described in the first embodiment, and cassette registration is performed for each piece of shooting order information stored in the order file 351 of the storage unit 35. At this time, it is determined whether the captured image is a breast image or a general image based on the imaging order information registered in the cassette, and an image reading condition is determined based on the determination result. Then, the registered cassette ID, order ID, and information on the determined reading condition are transmitted to the server SV via the communication unit 24 together with its own control device ID.

  Then, reading of the captured image is started in any of the image generation devices 10a to 10n after shooting, and when the captured image is transferred, if the captured image is a general image, the server in the second general image processing The general image is transferred to the image processing devices 50b to 50n arbitrarily designated by the SV and subjected to image processing, and the obtained processed image is stored in the image DB 352. On the other hand, when the captured image transferred is a breast image (only in the case of the control device 30a), the breast image is transmitted to the image processing device 50a dedicated to the breast image designated by the server SV in the second breast image processing. The image data is transferred and processed, and the obtained processed image is stored in the image DB 352. Next, notification information notifying that the image processing of the breast image has been completed is generated and transmitted to the server sv.

  In addition, when dedicated type shooting is performed, shooting order information is selected, and when an image generation device that performs shooting is specified among the image generation devices 10a to 10n, the specified image generation device is controlled to control the image generation device. The reading (image generation) operation of the photographed image photographed in step 1 is controlled, and the photographed photographed image is acquired. Then, image registration of the acquired captured image is performed.

  Since the input unit 32, the display unit 33, the communication unit 34, and the storage unit 35 have the same functions as those described in the first embodiment, descriptions thereof are omitted here.

  The image processing devices 50a to 50n are image processing units that perform various types of image processing on captured images generated by the image generation devices 10a to 10n and input via the control devices 30a to 30n. Among the plurality of image processing devices 50a to 50n, the image processing device 50a is specified as a dedicated image processing device for processing a breast image. That is, the image processing device 50a is a dual-purpose image processing device that can perform image processing of a breast image and a general image, and the other image processing devices 50b to 50n are image processing devices that can process only a general image.

  Since the internal configuration of the image processing devices 50a to 50n is the same as that of the image processing device 50 in the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. When the input captured image is a general image, the image processing apparatus 50a designated as the specific image processing apparatus performs gradation processing, frequency processing, and the like using image processing parameters for the general image, and is a breast image. Performs gradation processing, frequency processing, and the like using image processing parameters for breast images, and performs contrast correction processing specific to breast images. Furthermore, abnormal shadow candidate detection processing is performed as necessary. On the other hand, the image processing apparatuses 50b to 50n input only captured images as general images. Therefore, the general image is subjected to gradation processing, frequency processing, dynamic range compression processing, and the like using image processing parameters for general images. Apply.

Next, the operation of the captured image generation system 200 in the second embodiment will be described.
In the captured image generation system 200 according to the second embodiment, first a pre-shooting process is executed. The pre-shooting process is the same as the pre-shooting process described in the first embodiment, and will be described below with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the present invention is not applied when dedicated type shooting is performed, and therefore only the case of cassette type shooting will be described in the following description. Also, as a premise of the description, at the start of the pre-shooting process, the image generation devices 10a to 10n whose communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n is arbitrary can communicate with the arbitrary control devices 30a to 30n The communication mode A is set, and the communication mode between the control devices 30a to 30n and the image processing devices 50a to 50n is a communication mode in which any control device 30a to 30n can communicate with any image processing device 50a to 50n. C, that is, the control device that has acquired the captured image is set to the second communication mode in which communication with any of the image processing devices 50a to 50n is possible.

  In the captured image generation system 200, first, in the pre-shooting process shown in FIG. 6, the shooting order information is distributed from the RIS, and the shooting order information distributed in the server SV and each of the control devices 30a to 30n is stored. In the control devices 30a to 30n, shooting order information is displayed as a list in accordance with an instruction from the shooting engineer, and shooting order information to be shot is selected and cassette registration is performed (step S1).

  When imaging order information is selected and cassette registration is performed, the control devices 30a to 30n determine whether the imaging image is a breast image or a general image based on the imaging order information registered in the cassette, Accordingly, the reading condition of the captured image is determined (step S2). Next, the order ID of the selected imaging order information, the cassette ID of the cassette registered in the cassette, the control device IDs of the control devices 30a to 30n from which the imaging order information has been selected, and the information on the read conditions of the determined captured image Is transmitted to the server SV (step S3).

  When the server SV receives the order ID, cassette ID, controller ID, and control device ID of the imaging order information registered in the cassette from any of the control devices 30a to 30n, the received order ID, Both cassette ID and reading condition information are stored in the distribution management table 3b in association with the received control device ID (step S4).

  On the other hand, the imaging engineer who registered the cassette in any of the control devices 30a to 30n moves toward the imaging apparatus with the cassette registered in the cassette, and performs imaging using the cassette. After taking a picture, hold the cassette in which the photographed image is recorded, move to the image generation apparatus dedicated to the cassette among the image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n, load the cassette into the image generation apparatus, and instruct the reading of the photographed image To do. Here, it is assumed that a cassette is loaded in the image generation apparatus 10a capable of processing both a breast image and a general image, and reading of a captured image is instructed. In the image generating apparatus 10a, when a cassette is loaded (step S5), a cassette ID is read from the loaded cassette (step S6), and information on the cassette ID is transmitted to the server SV to correspond to the cassette ID. An inquiry about the destination of the captured image is made (step S7).

  When the server SV receives an inquiry about the transmission destination of the captured image based on the cassette ID from any of the image generation devices 10a to 10n, the order ID corresponding to the cassette ID is read from the distribution management table 3b, and the order The photographing order information corresponding to the ID is read from the order file 3a (step S8).

  Next, it is determined whether the captured image corresponding to the cassette ID for which an inquiry has been received based on the read imaging order information is a breast image or a general image (step S9). If the imaging part included in the imaging order information is an imaging part other than the breast, such as the abdomen and chest, and the captured image is determined to be a general image (step S9; general image), the process proceeds to the second general image processing. If it is determined that the imaging region included in the imaging order information is the breast and the captured image is a breast image (step S9; breast image), the process proceeds to the second breast image processing.

First, the second general image processing will be described with reference to FIG.
In the second general image processing shown in FIG. 11, the control device ID and the reading condition information corresponding to the cassette ID for which the server SV has received an inquiry are read from the distribution management table 3b. Then, designation information for designating the control device with the read control device ID as the transmission destination of the general image is generated, transmitted to the inquired image generation device 10a, and read conditions of the read captured image. Information is transmitted, and general image reading conditions are designated (step S101). Here, it is assumed that the control device 30b is designated as the transmission destination of the general image.

  Next, in the server SV, designation information that designates an image processing device that performs image processing of a general image that can be read by any image processing device among the plurality of image processing devices 50a to 50n is generated and transmitted to the control device 30b. (Step S102). Here, it is assumed that the image processing apparatus 50b is designated. As an arbitrary image processing apparatus, for example, an image processing apparatus that is not currently processed is selected, or a standby state image processing apparatus is selected, or an image processing apparatus that has a higher priority order is selected in advance. An arbitrary image processing apparatus may be selected so as to improve efficiency.

  On the other hand, in the image generation device 10a, communication with the control device 30b designated by the designation information received from the server SV is started, and reading of the photographed image is started according to the reading control of the control device 30b (step S103). . The read captured image is transferred together with the cassette ID to the control device 30b (step S104). In the control device 30b, when a general image is acquired (step S105), the acquired general image is stored in the image DB 352, and shooting order information is associated with the cassette ID associated with the general image. And image registration is performed.

  Next, in the control device 30b, the registered general image is transferred to the image processing device 50b arbitrarily designated by the server SV, and image processing is instructed (step S106). In the image processing device 50b, the transferred general image is subjected to various image processing such as gradation processing, frequency processing, dynamic range compression processing, and the like (step S107), and a processed image is generated. The generated processed image is returned to the control device 30b (step S108).

  When the processing image is obtained from the image processing device 50b in the control device 30b, the processing image is stored in the image DB 352 (step S109), and this processing is terminated.

Next, the second breast image processing will be described with reference to FIG.
In the second breast image processing shown in FIG. 12, the communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n is switched, and the image generation device 10a can communicate only with the control device 30a dedicated to breast images. Communication mode B is set (step S121). Next, designation information for designating the breast image dedicated control device 30a as the transmission destination of the breast image is generated in the image generation device 10a, transmitted to the image generation device 10a, and reading conditions corresponding to the cassette ID for which the inquiry has been received. Is read from the distribution management table 3b and transmitted to the image generation apparatus 10a, and the breast image reading conditions are designated (step S122).

FIG. 13 shows a communication state when the communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n is switched to the communication mode B. 13A is a diagram illustrating a communication state when the communication mode A is set, and FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating a communication state when the communication mode B is set. In the figure, a solid line indicates a line set to be communicable, and a dotted line indicates a line set to be incapable of communication.
As shown in FIG. 13A, in the communication mode A, each of the image generation devices 10a to 10n can communicate with any control device 30a to 30n, whereas as shown in FIG. 13B, In the communication mode B, the image generation device 10a that generates a breast image is set to be able to communicate only with the control device 30a specified as dedicated to the breast image, and the other image generation devices 10b to 10n cannot access the control device 30a. . Also, the control device 30a cannot access the other image generation devices 10b to 10n, and the communication state is as if only the image generation device 10a and the control device 30a are disconnected from the captured image generation system 200.

  In such a communication state, the image generation device 10a starts communication with the control device 30a designated by the designation information received from the server SV, and reads a breast image from the cassette according to the reading control of the control device 30a. The operation is started (step S123), and the read breast image is transferred to the control device 30a together with the cassette ID (step S124). When the reading of the image generation device 10a is completed and a breast image is acquired by the control device 30a (step S125), the acquired breast image is stored in the image DB 352 and associated with the breast image. Based on the cassette ID, shooting order information is associated and image registration is performed.

  On the other hand, in the server SV, the communication mode between the control devices 30a to 30n and the image processing devices 50a to 50n is switched, and the control device 30a dedicated to breast images can communicate only with the image processing device 50a dedicated to breast images. Communication mode (hereinafter referred to as communication mode D) (step S126). Next, designation information for designating the image processing device 50a as an image processing device for performing image processing of breast images among the plurality of image processing devices 50a to 50n is generated and transmitted to the control device 30a (step S127).

FIG. 14 shows a communication state when the communication mode between the control devices 30a to 30n and the image processing devices 50a to 50n is switched to the communication mode D. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a communication state when the communication mode D is set. In the figure, a solid line indicates a line set to be communicable, and a dotted line indicates a line set to be incapable of communication.
Before the communication mode is switched, the communication mode C is set as shown in FIG. 13A. In the communication mode C, the control devices 30a to 30n can communicate with any image processing devices 50a to 50n. ing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, in the communication mode D, the control device 30a is set to be communicable only with the image processing device 50a dedicated to the breast image, and accesses the other image processing devices 50b to 50n from the control device 30a. And the communication control state that the other control devices 30b to 30n cannot access the image processing device 50a and that only the control device 30a and the image processing device 50a are disconnected from the captured image generation system 200. Become.

  Then, the breast image acquired in such a communication state is transferred to the image processing apparatus 50a dedicated to the breast image designated by the server SV, and image processing is instructed (step S128). In the image processing apparatus 50a, in addition to image processing such as gradation processing, image processing for breast images such as contrast correction processing and abnormal shadow candidate detection processing is performed on the transferred breast image to generate a processed image. (Step S129). The generated processed image is returned to the control device 30a (step S130).

  In the control device 30a, the returned processed image is stored in the image DB 352 (step S131), and notification information notifying that the image processing has been completed is generated and transmitted to the server SV (step S132). In the case of a breast image, imaging is performed in one or a plurality of imaging directions for each of the left and right breasts for one patient, so that a plurality of breast images are obtained for one patient. Therefore, the control device 30a transmits notification information for notifying the end of reading to the server SV when image processing is completed for all breast images for one patient.

  When the server SV receives notification information indicating that the image processing of the breast image for one patient has been completed from the control device 30a, the communication mode between the image generation devices 10a to 10n and the control devices 30a to 30n is the communication mode A. The communication mode between the control devices 30a to 30n and the image processing devices 50a to 50n is switched to the communication mode C, and the communication restriction between the control device 30a and the image processing devices 50a to 50n is released (step S133). ). That is, the control device 30a can communicate with any image processing device 50a to 50n, and the image processing device 50a can communicate with any control device 30a to 30n. In this way, when the communication state is returned to the original state, this processing is terminated.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, among the plurality of control devices 30a to 30n, a control device that exclusively processes a breast image is specified as the control device 30a, and any one of the image generation devices 10a to 10n. When a breast image is generated in step S1, the communication mode between the image generation apparatuses 10a to 10n and the control apparatuses 30a to 30n is switched to a communication mode in which the generated image generation apparatus can communicate only with the control apparatus 30a dedicated to breast images. Therefore, it is possible to dedicate an image generation apparatus that generates a breast image having a large data capacity for one image and a large number of images for one patient and a control apparatus that processes the generated breast image. That is, it is possible to separate a communication system that exchanges breast images that require processing time from a communication system that handles other general images.

  In addition, an image processing device that exclusively processes a breast image among the plurality of image processing devices 50a to 50n is identified as the image processing device 50a, a breast image is generated, and the breast image is transferred to the control device 30a. Since the communication mode between the control devices 30a to 30n and the image processing devices 50a to 50n is switched to the communication mode C in which the control device 30a can communicate only with the image processing device 50a dedicated to breast images, the data capacity of one image is reduced. An image processing apparatus that performs high-definition image processing and time-consuming image processing such as abnormal shadow candidate detection processing on a breast image that has a large number of images for one patient may be dedicated to the breast image. it can.

  That is, the communication system that exchanges breast images that require processing time can be separated from the communication system that handles other general images, and the captured image generation system 200 that combines general imaging and mammography allows processing of the breast images. It can prevent that the processing efficiency of the whole system falls.

  In the above description, the case where the cassette is loaded in the cassette-dedicated image generation apparatus 10a capable of processing both the breast image and the general image has been described as an example. However, the server SV can use both the breast image and the general image. The communication mode can be switched only when a photographed image is generated in the correct image generation apparatus 10a. This is because the other image generation apparatuses 10b to 10n dedicated to general images handle only general images, so that the system efficiency is not lowered by the processing of the breast image, and switching of the communication mode is not necessary.

  In the second embodiment, an example of a system configuration in which a plurality of image processing devices 50a to 50n are all connected to the communication network N has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. Only the image processing device 50a may be directly connected to the control device 30a dedicated to breast images.

  The description contents in the first and second embodiments are a suitable example to which the captured image generation system of the present invention is applied, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the communication mode is switched when a breast image is generated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing time such as detection processing of an abnormal shadow candidate is large. If the captured image has a possibility of processing delay, such as image processing that requires processing, the image generation device, the control device, and the image processing device that handle the captured image by switching the communication mode are dedicated. Also good.

  In the above description, the server SV determines whether the captured image generated by the image generation devices 30a to 30n is a breast image or a general image, and switches the communication mode according to the determination result. However, since the image generation apparatus 30a is the only image generation apparatus that can process a breast image, the captured image is a breast image based on the reading conditions specified by the server SV when the captured image is read by the image generation apparatus 30a. Or a general image, and if it is a breast image, it may be determined to switch the communication mode and the server SV may be instructed to switch the communication mode. Thereby, it is possible to determine the switching of the communication mode when the captured image is generated on the image generation device 30a side.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of the captured image generation systems 100 and 200 in the first and second embodiments can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the picked-up image generation system 100 in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of server SV. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of the order file 3a. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of the delivery management table 3b. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the control apparatus 30a. 5 is a flowchart for explaining pre-shooting processing in the picked-up image generation system 100. It is a flowchart explaining 1st general image processing. It is a flowchart explaining a 1st breast image process. It is a schematic diagram which shows the communication state when a communication mode is switched, (a) is a figure which shows the case of the communication mode A in which arbitrary image generation apparatuses 10a-10n can communicate with arbitrary control apparatuses 30a-30n. (B) is a diagram showing a case of the communication mode B in which the image generation apparatus 10a in which the breast image is generated can communicate only with the control apparatus 30a dedicated to the breast image. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the picked-up image generation system 200 in 2nd Embodiment. 12 is a flowchart for describing second general image processing in the photographed image generation system 200. 5 is a flowchart illustrating second breast image processing in the captured image generation system 200. It is a figure which shows the communication state in the picked-up image generation system 200, (a) is the communication mode A in which arbitrary image generation apparatuses 10a-10n can communicate with arbitrary control apparatuses 30a-30n, and arbitrary control apparatuses 30a to 30n are diagrams illustrating a communication state when a communication mode C is set in which communication with any image processing apparatus 50a to 50n is possible, and (b) is a control apparatus dedicated to the image generation apparatus 10a and the breast image. It is a figure which shows a communication state when the communication mode B in which only 30a can communicate is set. It is a figure which shows the communication state in the picked-up image generation system 200 when the communication mode D in which the control apparatus 30a can communicate only with the image processing apparatus 50a only for a breast image is set. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the picked-up image generation system in other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Captured Image Generation System (First Embodiment)
SV server 1 control unit 2 communication unit 3 storage unit 3a order file 3b distribution management table 10a to 10n image generation device 30a to 30n control unit 31 control unit 32 input unit 33 display unit 34 communication unit 35 storage unit 351 order file 352 image DB
50 Image Processing Device 200 Captured Image Generation System (Second Embodiment)
50a-50n image processing apparatus

Claims (6)

An image generation means for generating a captured image of a patient and a plurality of control means for acquiring and managing the generated captured image and associating with the acquired imaging order information are connected via a communication network,
Determining means for determining whether or not a captured image associated with the imaging order information is a breast image based on the imaging order information;
When it is determined that the captured image associated with the imaging order information is a breast image, the image generation unit that generates the captured image can communicate only with a predetermined specific control unit among the plurality of control units. first switch to communication mode, the shooting if the order information and association is photographed image is determined to be the general picture of the non-breast image, the image generating means generates the captured image of the plurality of control means for the Communication control means for switching to the second communication mode that enables communication with the control means that manages the imaging order information ,
A photographed image generation system comprising: A plurality of image processing means for performing image processing on the captured image acquired by the control means are connected via the communication network,
In the communication control unit, when the determination unit determines that the captured image associated with the imaging order information is a breast image, the control unit that has acquired the captured image is predetermined among the plurality of image processing units. photographed-image generating system according to claim 1, characterized in that to enable only communicate with a particular image processing means has. A plurality of the image generating means;
3. The photographing according to claim 1, wherein the communication control unit can switch a communication mode only when a photographed image is generated by a specific image generation unit among the plurality of image generation units. Image generation system. The specific image generation means determines whether to switch the communication mode depending on whether the captured image generated by the image generation means is a breast image or a general image ,
4. The captured image generation system according to claim 3 , wherein the communication control unit switches the communication mode only when it is determined that the communication mode is switched by the specific image generation unit.   The image generation means reads the breast image with a first reading pixel size, and reads the general image with a second reading pixel size larger than the first reading pixel size. The captured image generation system according to claim 4.   The said communication control means switches the said 1st communication mode to the said 2nd communication mode, when reading of all the breast images for one patient is complete | finished, The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The captured image generation system according to Item.

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