JP4491091B2 - Medical image display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medical image display device, and more particularly to a medical image display device that displays images taken on different examination days in association with each other and makes comparison easier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In medical examinations and the like, CT images are regularly taken and follow-up is performed. Since cancer increases with time, images taken on different examination days are displayed on the same screen for comparison.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if it is the same person, taking CT images on different examination days generally changes the imaging conditions such as the range to be taken and slice thickness, so the doctor will search for and display the image of the same imaging location for comparison. There was a drawback of having to.
[0004]
In addition, when viewing a plurality of examination images in succession, there is no time until the doctor turns to see the other examination image for comparison after seeing one examination image. There was a drawback that you can not see from the beginning.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a medical image display device that can easily compare cross-sectional images of the same part from two image groups.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first tomogram selected from a first image group and a tomogram selected from a second image group related to the first image group. In the medical image display device including a display control unit that synchronously displays a second tomographic image that is the same site or the closest site to the first tomographic image on a display screen, the display control unit includes the first tomographic image. setting on the tomographic image, in correspondence to the updated frame indicating the first region of interest, wherein Rukoto to display a frame showing a second region of interest in the corresponding point on the second tomographic image And
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of a medical image display apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0011]
First, the principle of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, one image 10, 12 of continuous images taken on two different examination days is displayed on the screen of the CRT monitor 148, respectively. In FIG. 1, a CT image examined on August 23, 1998 (may be MR or other images) (image 10 of examination A) and a CT image examined on August 27, 1999 (even MR or other images) Good) (image 12 of examination B).
[0012]
When the operator looks at the two images 10 and 12 and confirms that the images are the same part or the nearest part, the synchronization button 14 is clicked.
[0013]
With reference to the synchronized images, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the two examination images are associated with each other based on the information on the bed position and the slice thickness on which the patient is placed and passes through the imaging apparatus. The bed memory Ak of the inspection A and the bed memory Bi of the inspection B serve as a reference for association, and other images are associated with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the image corresponding to the bed memory Bi + 1 of the inspection B is an image between the bed memories Ak + 1 and Ak + 2 of the inspection A, and is obtained by interpolation or between the bed memories Ak + 1 and Ak + 2. Use the closest image. Also, as shown in FIG. 2B, the image corresponding to the bed memory Ak-1 of the inspection A corresponds to the image between the bed memories Bi and Bi-1 of the inspection B, and is obtained by interpolation calculation or the bed memory. The closest image of Bi and Bi-1 is substituted.
[0014]
When the operator updates one image, the other associated image is automatically updated. For example, when the images from the bed memory Ak to Ak + m of the inspection A are displayed, the images from the bed memories Bi to Bi + n of the inspection B are automatically and sequentially displayed.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the display procedure of the medical image display apparatus of the present invention.
[0016]
First, as shown in FIG. 1, images 10 and 12 taken on two different examination days are displayed on the screen (step 20).
[0017]
When the operator looks at the two images 10 and 12 displayed and confirms that the images are the same part or the nearest part, the synchronization button 14 is clicked (step 21).
[0018]
With reference to the image synchronized in step 21, as shown in FIG. 3, the two inspection images are associated with each other from the information on the bed position and the slice thickness (step 22).
[0019]
Flag A1 = flag B1 = flag A2 = flag B2 = 0 (step 23). When the flag A1 is 1, it indicates that the image of the examination A has been switched in the direction in which the bed memory increases, and when the flag A2 is 1, it indicates that the image of the inspection A has been switched in the direction in which the bed memory decreases. When the flag B1 is 1, it indicates that the image of the examination B is switched in the direction in which the bed memory is increased, and when the flag B2 is 1, it indicates that the image of the examination B is switched in the direction in which the bed memory is decreased.
[0020]
It is determined whether or not the next button 16 of the examination A has been clicked (step 24). If the next button 16 of the examination A is on, the flag A1 = 1 and the next image of the examination A (for example, the bed memory Ak + 1 → Ak + 2) is displayed (step 40). Thereafter, the process returns to step 24.
[0021]
If the next button 16 of inspection A is OFF in step 24, it is determined whether or not flag A1 = 1 (step 25). If the flag A1 = 1, the delay time is awaited (step 41), and a series of images B corresponding to the change of the image A are continuously displayed (step 42). For example, if the image of the inspection A changes from the bed memory Ak to Ak + m, the image of the inspection B is also sequentially displayed from the bed memory Bi to Bi + n. Set flag A1 = 0 and return to step 24.
[0022]
If flag A1 = 0 in step 25, it is determined whether or not the front button 18 for inspection A is on (step 26). If the front button 18 of the examination A is on, the flag A2 = 1 and an image immediately before the examination A (for example, the bed memory Ak + 2 → Ak + 1) is displayed (step 34). Thereafter, the process returns to step 24.
[0023]
If the front button 18 for inspection A is OFF in step 26, it is determined whether or not flag A2 = 1 (step 27). If the flag A2 = 1, the delay time is awaited (step 35), and a series of images corresponding to the examination B corresponding to the change in the examination A image is displayed (step 36). Set flag A2 = 0 and return to step 24.
[0024]
If flag A2 = 0 in step 27, it is determined whether or not the next button 20 for inspection B is on (step 28). If the next button 20 of the examination B is ON, the flag B1 = 1 and the next image of the examination B is displayed (step 43). Thereafter, the process returns to step 24.
[0025]
If the next button 20 of inspection B is OFF in step 28, it is determined whether or not flag B1 = 1 (step 29). If the flag B1 = 1, a delay time is awaited (step 44), and a series of images corresponding to the examination A corresponding to the change in the examination B image are continuously displayed (step 45). Set flag B1 = 0 and return to step 24.
[0026]
If flag B1 = 0 in step 29, it is determined whether or not the front button 22 for inspection B is on (step 30). If the front button 22 of the examination B is on, the flag B2 = 1 and the image before the examination B is displayed (step 37). Thereafter, the process returns to step 24.
[0027]
If the front button 22 of the inspection B is OFF in step 30, it is determined whether or not the flag B2 = 1 (step 31). If flag B2 = 1, the delay time is awaited (step 38), and a series of images of examination A corresponding to the change in the image of examination B are displayed (step 39). For example, if the image of the inspection B changes from the bed memory Bi to Bi + n, the image of the inspection A is also sequentially displayed from the bed memory Ak to Ak + m. Set flag B2 = 0 and return to step 24.
[0028]
If flag B2 = 0 in step 31, it is determined whether or not the delay setting button 24 is on (step 32). If the delay setting button 24 is on, the delay time is input using a keyboard or the like (step 46), and it is determined whether the end button 26 is on (step 33). If the delay setting button 24 is OFF in step 32, the process proceeds to step 33.
[0029]
If the end button 26 is turned on in step 33, the process ends. If it is off, the process returns to step 24.
[0030]
By clicking the ROI setting button 28 and setting a region of interest (for example, region of interest A) on one image, the region of interest (for example, region of interest B) is displayed by a dotted line at the corresponding location of the other image. Is done. When any one region of interest is moved, the other region is also moved to the corresponding region.
[0031]
Although two images are displayed on the screen of the same CRT monitor 148 in FIG. 1, they may be displayed on the screens of separate CRT monitors 148a and 148b connected to the computer 100 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the next button 16, 20 and the previous button 18, 22 are turned on / off to change the image, but may be performed by dragging the slide bars 30, 32 as shown in FIG. 4. Further, the delay time may be set by dragging with the slide bar 34 without inputting with the keyboard or the like.
[0032]
FIG. 5 shows a hardware configuration example to which the present invention can be applied. This medical image display device records and displays medical image data collected for a target region of a subject with, for example, an X-ray CT apparatus, and a central processing unit (CPU) 140 that controls the operation of each component; A main memory 142 storing a control program of the apparatus, a magnetic disk 144 storing a plurality of tomographic images and an image reconstruction program, and a display memory 146 for storing the reconstructed image data; A CRT monitor 148 for displaying the image data from the display memory 146, a mouse 150 as a position input means, and signals such as the position of the mouse pointer on the CRT monitor 148 and the state of the mouse 150 by detecting the state of the mouse 150 A mouse controller 152 for outputting the operation command to the CPU 140, a keyboard 154 for inputting various operation commands, and the like. Constructed from a common bus 156 which connects the various components.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the currently displayed first tomographic image is updated, the currently displayed second tomographic image is the same as the updated first sectional image. By automatically updating the second tomographic image at the cross-sectional position or the closest cross-sectional position, it is possible to easily compare two images at the same cross-sectional position or the closest cross-sectional position at any time. The doctor no longer has to search for the same image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a screen configuration diagram of a medical image display apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of associating two examinations. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a display procedure of the medical image display apparatus according to the present invention. Other screen configuration diagram of the present invention [FIG. 5] Hardware configuration diagram applicable to the present invention [Explanation of symbols]
10, 12 ... Image, 14 ... Synchronization button, 16, 20 ... Next button, 18, 22 ... Previous button, 140 ... CPU, 142 ... Main memory, 148 ... CRT monitor, 150 ... Mouse

Claims (1)

A first tomographic image selected from the first image group and a tomographic image selected from a second image group associated with the first image group, wherein Bei give a display control unit for displaying synchronized with the second tomographic image is near the site, a display screen,
The display control unit displays a second region of interest at a corresponding position on the second tomographic image in association with a frame indicating the first region of interest set / updated on the first tomographic image. In a medical image display device that displays a frame to be shown ,
When the selection of the first tomographic image is updated, the display control unit is configured to display a second synchronized display after the selection is updated from the second tomographic image displayed synchronously before the selection is updated. A medical image display apparatus that sequentially displays a series of images up to a tomographic image after waiting for a predetermined time .

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