JP5878009B2 - Medical image processing network system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image processing system that makes it possible to obtain the effects of either high image quality of CT tomographic images, low dose during CT imaging, or both by image processing of CT images.

  The computed tomography apparatus using X-rays, which was invented in 1967 and put into practical use in 1971, is known as a CT apparatus, and can obtain clear tomographic images without overlapping, so that it is widely spread in the medical and industrial fields. doing. Later, helical imaging, multi-row detector mounting, high-speed imaging for 1 second or less, 3D display processing, 4D display processing, etc. were realized one after another. Instead of X-ray imaging, CT imaging has become the first choice for diagnostic imaging necessary for the diagnosis of many diseases.

  However, recent advances in CT systems have led to an increase in the X-ray exposure dose. In particular, the increase in the number of images taken in one rotation called volumetric imaging and the increase in the number of rows of helical imaging and multi-row detectors is an increase in the number of imaging images. Increased X-ray exposure dose almost proportional to In addition, the appearance of multiple imaging using a contrast agent and continuous rotation imaging for obtaining a dynamic functional image also cause a large increase in X-ray exposure dose. More than 50,000 CT apparatuses are in operation around the world, and this X-ray exposure problem has been widely taken up. Some academic papers suggest that some of the cancers that develop are due to X-ray exposure with a CT device.

  Recently, taking into account the patient's body type and the part to be imaged, a function to reduce the X-ray exposure dose during imaging by optimizing the X-ray tube current or tube voltage during imaging will be added. Became. This includes a static method for determining the X-ray tube current or tube voltage at the time of imaging in advance by scout images or dedicated preparatory imaging, and instantaneous analysis of the acquired data at the time of imaging and feedback. And X-ray tube current or tube voltage is dynamically changed during imaging.

  In addition, the CT image reconstruction processing method is changed from the reverse projection method using a general filter to the image reconstruction method using the successive approximation method, so that even a low tube current is captured with a normal tube current. A system capable of obtaining a tomographic image equivalent to the CT apparatus is also realized, and is set as an option for some CT apparatuses. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a CT scanner that reconstructs a plane image using a successive approximation method. However, the image reconstruction method using the successive approximation method requires an enormous amount of arithmetic processing as compared with the reverse projection method using a general filter, which increases the arithmetic processing time and increases the price of the CT apparatus. To do.

  Although it is desirable to add a function to reduce the X-ray exposure dose in these latest CT devices, the majority of CT devices currently operating around the world cannot add such a function later. There are only a limited number of CT devices that can benefit. In addition, because this is a unique function of each CT device manufacturer, doctors and engineers involved in clinical imaging cannot fully understand such functions and features, and a tomographic image obtained by CT imaging with a desired image quality. You may not get.

  In addition to attempts to reduce the X-ray exposure dose by the CT apparatus main body, image processing by the successive approximation method is performed afterwards on CT tomographic images generated by the image reconstruction method by the back projection method using a general filter In order to reduce the noise component and improve the image quality, as a result, it is possible to reduce the X-ray tube current and tube voltage during CT imaging, and a method for reducing the X-ray exposure dose has been devised. Since any CT device has a function to adjust the X-ray tube current and tube voltage at the time of CT imaging, this method has already been sold and all CTs currently operating around the world. It can be applied to the device.

  Actually, the image processing by the successive approximation method is performed afterwards to improve the image quality by reducing the noise component. As a result, the X-ray tube current and tube voltage at the time of CT imaging can be reduced, and the X-ray exposure dose can be reduced. A retrofit system for reduction was commercialized and put into practical use in 2010. However, there is a big problem that the parameter change by the successive approximation method can only be performed statically.

JP-A-5-168620

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an image of an in-hospital image distribution network system related to the present invention. Usually, in a hospital, the image data of a plurality of CT apparatuses are transferred to and stored in a CT image server 201 called a PACS server, which includes an image data storage apparatus and a database function. The CT image server selects necessary data in response to a search inquiry and a transfer request from the image browsing device, and transfers the entire image data to the image browsing device. In FIG. 1, image data captured by a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses 101, 102, and 103 is connected to the CT image server via a network line 111-113 that connects the CT imaging apparatus and the CT image server 201. 211. When browsing images with a plurality of image browsing devices 301-305 connected to the hospital network 401, the CT image server is connected from the image browsing device via a wired or wireless local network connection 411-415 connected to the hospital network. A search inquiry and an image data transfer request are applied to the selected image data, the necessary image data is selected, the entire image data is transferred to and stored in the storage devices 311 to 315 attached to the image browsing device, and read from the storage device each time. Browse images on an image browsing device.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of an image of an in-hospital image processing network system related to the present invention in which an image processing apparatus that can only statically change parameters by the successive approximation method is incorporated. A CT image processing apparatus 501 is installed between a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses and a CT image server in the in-hospital image distribution network system of FIG. In contrast, after the image processing by the successive approximation method is performed afterwards to improve the image quality by reducing the noise component, the image is transferred to the CT image server via the data transfer path 551 from the CT image processing apparatus to the CT image server. Have transferred. When browsing images with an image browsing device, images with improved image quality with reduced noise components are browsed, so reduce the X-ray tube current and tube voltage during CT imaging in anticipation of the improved image quality. X-ray exposure dose can be reduced. However, this is a system that performs image processing by the successive approximation method afterwards using fixed parameters set in advance for each part of the body or each organ, and the image viewer can adjust the parameters as desired X-ray exposure dose can be reduced because it is impossible to obtain the image processing, but doctors and technicians who are involved in image diagnosis in the clinical field obtain a tomographic image by CT imaging having a desired image quality. I can't. Also, doctors and engineers are not provided with means for confirming the original image, and cannot confirm whether or not the image processing by the successive approximation method has been performed without excess or deficiency.

  Image processing by the successive approximation method has many image processing parameters, and setting these values to fixed values in advance sufficiently corresponds to the variety of body shapes of various subjects and various organs. Making it impossible. As a result, if image processing by the successive approximation method is applied too much with parameter settings, detailed morphological information as well as image noise components will be lost at the same time, so sufficient diagnosis can be performed even if the X-ray exposure dose can be reduced. Only tomographic images that are not obtained can be obtained. In addition, when image processing by the successive approximation method is weakly applied by parameter setting, sufficient noise removal is performed for tomographic images in which noise components are increased by imaging using a protocol for reducing the X-ray exposure dose. In this case, only tomographic images that cannot be sufficiently diagnosed can be obtained.

  For this, the parameter setting of the successive approximation method of the CT tomographic image after reconstruction is changed in real time, interactively, referring to the difference image and measurement processing information as necessary, and the desired CT tomographic image is changed. A retrofit medical image that provides means to efficiently obtain the image quality in an optimal form, and that enables high-quality CT tomographic images or low doses during CT imaging by image processing of CT tomographic images. A processing system is conceivable.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an image of an in-hospital image processing network system related to the present invention, which incorporates an image processing apparatus 502 capable of dynamically and interactively changing parameters by the successive approximation method. FIG. In the hospital image processing network system incorporating the image processing apparatus in which the parameter change by the successive approximation method can only be performed statically in FIG. 2, it is installed between the plurality of CT imaging apparatuses and the CT image server. In the in-hospital image processing network system 3, all the reconstructed images generated by a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses are temporarily stored in the CT image server. Similar to a normal image browsing apparatus, the CT image processing apparatus 502 requests the CT image server 201 to search and transfer image data each time, and transfer the entire necessary image data from the hospital network to the CT image processing apparatus. Obtained through the data transfer path 421. Unlike the CT image processing apparatus 501, an image browsing apparatus 511 is attached to the CT image processing apparatus 502, and parameter setting for the successive approximation method of the CT tomographic image after reconstruction is interactively performed as necessary. Thus, the image quality of the desired CT tomographic image can be efficiently obtained in an optimal form by making changes while referring to the difference image and the measurement processing information. Based on this result, the CT image processing apparatus 502 notifies each CT imaging apparatus of the optimal parameter setting via the parameter setting information transfer path 621-623.

  The CT image server 201 is usually installed in a dedicated server room, while the CT image processing apparatus 502 is often installed in a place away from the server room, usually in the vicinity of the CT imaging apparatus. Therefore, in the post-installation medical image processing system 502 that efficiently enables high-quality CT tomographic images or low dose during CT imaging by image processing of CT tomographic images, an image server is provided each time processing is performed. It is necessary to transfer a huge amount of image data from 201 via the hospital network 401 and the data transfer path 421 from the hospital network to the CT image processing apparatus, and it takes a long transfer time before image processing. There is a concern that a small proportion of the network bandwidth of the internal network 401 will be consumed.

  In addition, it is necessary for the image viewer to go to a fixed specific place where the medical image processing system in the hospital is located, browse the image, and check the image processing result every time. Absent. Further, in a hospital where a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses are operated as shown in FIG. 3, when CT image processing apparatuses 502 corresponding to the number of CT imaging apparatuses are not prepared, it is necessary to use the CT image processing apparatuses 502 jointly. It is not efficient.

  In related hospitals and affiliated hospitals, parameter settings for high-quality CT tomographic images or low-dose CT scans are remotely set from specific hospitals, and the CT image quality and exposure dose of the CT imaging device are centralized. Although it may be desired to manage, it is not realistic to transfer a huge amount of CT image data from each hospital to a CT image processing device of a specific hospital each time using an out-of-hospital network whose bandwidth is usually much narrower than the in-hospital network .

  Doctors and technicians may be urgent from outside the hospital, such as on business trips, to set parameters for high-quality CT tomographic images or lower doses during CT scans, but the bandwidth is usually much higher than in-hospital networks. In addition to the problem of using a narrow out-of-hospital network, if the medical image processing system is not located outside the hospital, parameter setting cannot be performed even if image data can be transferred.

  In recent years, the number of CT tomographic images acquired by one imaging has become enormous, and in clinical practice, in addition to CT tomographic images, CT images are three-dimensionally rendered by three-dimensional volume rendering and interactive. Various three-dimensional image processing is performed on a daily basis, for example, in real time by changing the conditions. In this case as well, the effect on the image quality of the three-dimensional volume rendering image by the image processing parameter setting by the successive approximation method for improving the image quality of CT images or reducing the dose during CT imaging is not small, and the successive approximation method. By adjusting the image processing parameter setting by observing not only the CT tomographic image but also the three-dimensional volume rendering image, it is possible to further optimize the parameter setting.

  However, in the three-dimensional volume rendering process, it is necessary to process an enormous amount of data, and the problem of the network bandwidth and the CT image data transfer time is unavoidable as in the case of image processing by the successive approximation method of CT tomographic images. Even if CT image data can be acquired via a network, there is a problem that a high-speed successive approximation processing system and a high-speed three-dimensional volume rendering processing system are always required in a place where actual parameter setting is optimized.

  These two different medical image processing systems that both need to process a huge amount of data, have problems with network bandwidth and CT image data transfer time, and need to perform high-speed processing together. It is necessary to have close cooperation between them, and each time a parameter is changed, it requires a large amount of data transfer and consumes network bandwidth and data transfer time. Not realistic.

  It is quite difficult to control two different image processing systems in a highly coordinated form from a client terminal connected to an in-hospital / external network, and an in-hospital / external network system for mission-critical diagnostic image information. It must be avoided that management becomes complicated and inefficient. Therefore, these two different image processing systems are required to be integrated and seamlessly controlled in the same system so as not to consume network bandwidth and generate extra transfer time.

  As described above, with the recent progress of medical CT apparatuses, the X-ray exposure dose received by a subject in one CT imaging examination has become large. Although each CT device manufacturer is trying to reduce the X-ray exposure dose while improving the performance of the CT imaging device, it cannot be said that it is functioning sufficiently, and one of the benefits can be gained. The number of X-ray exposure doses has not been reduced in 50,000 scale CT apparatuses sold in the past and operating in the world. Recently, a system that can reduce the dose during CT imaging by reducing noise in CT tomographic images after CT reconstruction processing by image processing by the successive approximation method has been put into practical use. Since it is diverse and complicated, image processing by the successive approximation method is performed afterwards with fixed parameters, so that the image viewer cannot adjust the parameters each time and obtain desired image processing. Although the exposure dose can be reduced, doctors and technicians who are involved in image diagnosis at the clinical site cannot obtain a tomographic image by CT imaging having a desired image quality. For this purpose, parameter setting for the successive approximation method of CT tomographic images after reconstruction is not performed at once, but for each examination, for each body type, imaging region and organ of the subject, and tomographic image to be viewed and its Provided is a medical image processing system capable of efficiently reflecting each parameter setting of processing each time a setting change of Window / Level or a change of setting of various display conditions of a three-dimensional image. It is requested. However, even if a single and independent medical image processing system is provided, it is necessary to transfer a huge amount of data from the in-hospital image server, which requires considerable transfer time and the bandwidth of the in-hospital network. It is inevitable to occupy a small percentage of In addition, it is necessary for a doctor or engineer to go to a fixed place where the medical image processing system is installed to check the image processing result interactively and set parameters. In addition, remote control of CT tomographic image quality or low-dose CT imaging settings from a particular hospital to manage multiple hospital systems centrally, or doctors and technicians on a business trip When it is urgent from outside the hospital or the like to set parameters for improving the image quality of CT tomographic images or reducing the dose during CT imaging, the problem of network bandwidth and CT image data transfer time is inevitable. Moreover, even if CT image data is acquired via a network, the problem that the medical image processing system is always necessary in a place where actual image processing is performed is unavoidable. Many medium-sized and larger hospitals operate multiple CT imaging devices, but even if independent medical image processing systems are provided, it is necessary to share the system if the number of processing systems is less than the number of CT imaging devices And the operational efficiency of the medical image processing system is poor.

  The present invention provides a CT image processing having a server function in which captured CT image data is stored not from a specific CT image processing apparatus but from any one or a plurality of client terminals connected to an in-hospital / external network. A CT tomographic image is provided that communicates with the apparatus and realizes final determination of the optimal successive approximation parameter setting efficiently while checking a tomographic image or a three-dimensional image in real time and interactively. With this image processing, a medical image processing system that can realize the effects of either high image quality of CT tomographic images, low dose during CT imaging, or both is realized. However, the present invention can be applied to other than image data photographed by a CT imaging apparatus. For example, the present invention can also be applied to image data captured by a medical imaging apparatus such as an MRI apparatus, a PET apparatus, a SPECT apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a CT angio apparatus, an MR angio apparatus, and an angiographic apparatus. .

  The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above-described problem. By reducing the noise of the CT tomographic image after the CT reconstruction processing using the successive approximation method, the image quality of the CT tomographic image is improved or the CT imaging is performed. In the system that enables either or both of the dose reduction of the image, the result of the image processing by the parameter setting of the successive approximation method of the CT image after reconstruction is reflected in the CT image data in real time and automatically. This is a medical image processing system that efficiently changes the parameter settings interactively or interactively to obtain the desired CT image quality. The function is shared between the client terminal and server connected to the network, and a complex series in real time. By providing a dedicated server that makes it possible to coordinate the processing of the It is possible to interactively confirm the result of parameter setting of the successive approximation method that is considered to be a tomographic image or 3D image in real time from any single or multiple client terminals connected to the network inside or outside the hospital. However, it is possible to construct a medical image processing system that can realize the final determination of the optimum parameter setting of the optimum successive approximation method.

  The reconstructed image data generated by the CT imaging device is transferred to the CT image server and stored in the accompanying image data storage device. A CT image processing apparatus according to the present invention is installed in a CT image server or a place connected by a high-speed network from a CT image server, and receives desired image data from an image data storage device attached to the CT image server and sequentially A mechanism for performing image processing by an approximation method at high speed is provided. In addition, when the CT image processing apparatus has its own image data storage device and receives image data transfer directly from the CT imaging apparatus or always from the CT image server and performs image processing by the successive approximation method, It is also possible to provide a mechanism for directly reading image data from a unique image data storage device without receiving image transfer from the image server.

  The client terminal is installed with dedicated software, a function for specifying image data from the data selection list display screen, a function for specifying multiple parameters of image processing by the successive approximation method from the setting control screen, and information about them A function for transmitting the image to the CT image processing apparatus in real time via the network, and a result of the image processing of the CT image processing apparatus by a plurality of parameters of the specified successive approximation method for the specified image data A mechanism for confirming the result of image processing by the successive approximation method by changing parameter settings automatically or interactively. In addition, if necessary, the CT image processing apparatus is instructed to perform reversible or irreversible compression when sending the processed image, and the compressed image sent from the CT image processing apparatus is displayed in real time. It has a function to expand and display.

  Dedicated software is installed in the client terminal, and for the data after image processing by the successive approximation method, window / level designation based on CT values, various filter processing, slice position selection, arbitrary two-dimensional section cut-out processing And a result is received from the CT image processing apparatus via the network and interactively displayed on the processed image display screen.

  Dedicated software is installed in the client terminal, and various 3D Volume Rendering processing, MIP processing, MinIP processing, MPR processing, CPR processing, Curved MPR processing, etc. are performed on the data after image processing by the successive approximation method. It has a function of issuing an instruction and receiving the result image from the CT image processing apparatus via the network and interactively displaying it on the processed image display screen.

  In the CT image processing apparatus, one or more image processing engines for performing successive approximation processing in real time are held according to the number of connected client terminals and the amount of image data processed in the same time. In the CT image processing apparatus, the designation of image data transmitted from each of a plurality of client terminals connected to the network and the setting of a plurality of parameters for image processing by the successive approximation method are separately classified for each client terminal. Based on these functions, the data storage device and the successive approximation processing engine are instructed as needed, and the data is selected and read from the image data storage device to the successive approximation processing engine. A function of performing successive approximation processing by setting and interactively transmitting the processing result image to the original individual client terminal via the network without delay. In addition, when processing result image data is transmitted in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal, a function of transmitting data after performing reversible or irreversible compression processing is provided.

  In the CT image processing apparatus, after the image processing engine for performing successive approximation processing in real time, the image processing engine for two-dimensional tomographic image processing is processed at the same time as the number of connected client terminals. Depending on the amount, hold one or more. In the CT image processing apparatus, the sequential processing engine and the image processing engine for the subsequent two-dimensional tomographic image processing are closely connected, and are transmitted sequentially from a plurality of network-connected client terminals. Each client terminal connected to the network by performing window / level designation based on the CT value for the result image after the approximation processing, various filter processing, slice position selection, arbitrary two-dimensional section cutout processing, etc. individually according to instructions from the client Has a function of interactively sending the final result image without delay. In addition, when processing result image data is transmitted in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal, a function of transmitting data after performing reversible or irreversible compression processing is provided.

  In the CT image processing apparatus, the image data for processing the image processing engine for three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing at the same time as the number of connected client terminals is provided after the image processing engine for performing successive approximation processing in real time. Depending on the amount, hold one or more. In the CT image processing apparatus, the sequential processing engine and the subsequent three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing image processing engine are closely connected, and in cooperation, are sequentially transmitted from a plurality of client terminals connected to the network. Various 3D Volume Rendering processing, MIP processing, MinIP processing, MPR processing, CPR processing, Curved MPR processing, etc. for the result image after the approximation processing are individually performed according to instructions from a plurality of clients, and each client terminal connected to the network Has a function of interactively sending the final result image without delay. Further, according to an instruction from the client terminal as necessary, a function of sending data after performing reversible or irreversible compression processing when sending the processing result image data is provided.

  The CT image processing apparatus has a function of notifying each CT imaging apparatus of the imaging condition setting of the CT imaging apparatus that is determined to be most desirable based on the processing result image displayed on the client terminal connected to the network.

  The CT image processing apparatus and the plurality of client terminals, in addition to the normal in-hospital network, do not consume the bandwidth of the normal in-hospital network as necessary, and more efficiently transfer data and interactive parameters. In order to perform the setting efficiently, there is a case where it has its own in-hospital network line.

  The present invention uses a CT image processing apparatus having an engine for performing successive approximation processing and a plurality of client terminals installed with dedicated software connected to the inside and outside of the hospital via a hospital network, from a client terminal at an arbitrary location. It is possible to interactively control the image processing data and image processing engine of the CT image processing apparatus in real time, and to effectively set multiple parameters for optimal successive approximation processing while checking the image processing result. .

  For data after image processing by the successive approximation method, various tomographic image processing such as window / level designation based on CT values, various filter processing, slice position selection, and arbitrary two-dimensional slice cut-out processing are also performed on the client terminal. The processing is performed interactively and the processing result is observed on the post-processing image display screen of the client terminal, so that the state of the image processing by the successive approximation processing is efficiently confirmed and the image by the optimum successive approximation method is used. It was possible to set processing parameters and obtain processing result images.

  Various 3D image processing such as various 3D Volume Rendering processing, MIP processing, MinIP processing, MPR processing, CPR processing, and Curved MPR processing are also performed from the client terminal on the data after image processing by the successive approximation method. By performing interactive processing and observing the processing results on the post-processing image display screen of the client terminal, the image processing status by the successive approximation processing is efficiently confirmed and the image processing by the optimum successive approximation method is performed. Parameter setting and processing result image can be obtained.

  As a result, an image of an arbitrary CT imaging apparatus is processed from a client terminal at an arbitrary location using a CT image processing apparatus that stores data transferred from a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses. By reducing the noise of the CT image after CT reconstruction processing in an optimal form, it is possible to improve the image quality of the CT image or reduce the dose during CT imaging.

  Until now, the CT image processing apparatus has been placed in a specific place, and only one operator can perform image processing work on one image browsing screen attached to one CT image processing apparatus. When performing image processing work, it was necessary to visit a specific place where the CT image processing apparatus was placed. In addition, a plurality of operators of a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses must share a single CT image processing apparatus, and there are cases where operations are overlapped and efficient work cannot be performed. According to the present invention, it is possible for a plurality of workers to connect to a single CT image processing apparatus from a plurality of client terminals at arbitrary locations and perform processing, thereby eliminating a decrease in efficiency due to overlapping of operations. It became possible.

  The CT image processing apparatus is usually connected to a hospital network and is often installed at a different location on the network from the CT image server such as the vicinity of the CT imaging apparatus. Transferring a large amount of CT image data from a CT image server to a CT image processing device via a hospital network consumes a large amount of bandwidth in the hospital network and may interfere with other hospital operations. However, in the present invention, the CT image processing apparatus is connected within the CT image server, at a location adjacent to the CT image server, or even at a remote location via a dedicated high-speed line. There is no need to transfer a huge amount of CT image data between the hospital network and the client terminal, image data designation information, various image processing parameter information, Only the screen information of the final image processing result is transferred via the hospital network, greatly reducing the network bandwidth consumption and immediately without waiting for the time to transfer a huge amount of CT image data. It was possible to obtain optimal image processing results.

  If necessary, by providing a dedicated hospital network for connecting a CT image processing device and a plurality of client terminals, stable system operation can be performed without consuming any bandwidth of the hospital network. It was possible.

  Even from client terminals connected to a network with a narrow network bandwidth outside the hospital, the optimal image can be obtained without consuming a large amount of network bandwidth and without waiting for the time required to transfer a large amount of CT image data. The processing result can be obtained. In addition, there is no need to prepare a dedicated CT image processing apparatus at the place where processing is performed.

  Information about the optimal imaging conditions of the CT imaging device derived by the interactive operation of the CT image processing device and the client terminal by dedicated software installed on the client terminal is located in a remote place inside and outside the hospital as necessary. It was possible to notify each CT imaging apparatus.

Block diagram explaining the outline of the image of the hospital image distribution network system Block diagram for explaining the outline of an image in an in-hospital image distribution network system incorporating an image processing apparatus that can only statically change parameters by the successive approximation method Block diagram explaining the outline of an image of an in-hospital image processing network system incorporating an image processing apparatus capable of dynamically and interactively changing parameters by the successive approximation method Block diagram illustrating an embodiment Block diagram illustrating another embodiment Block diagram illustrating another embodiment Block diagram for explaining the basic configuration of a server and a client terminal for realizing an image processing system Block diagram for explaining the configuration of a server and a client terminal for realizing an image processing system Block diagram for explaining the configuration of a server and a client terminal for realizing an image processing system

  Hereinafter, a configuration for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of components described below are arbitrary, and can be changed according to the configuration of an apparatus or system to which the present invention is applied or various conditions. Further, unless otherwise specified, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the form specifically described in the configuration described below.

  The medical image processing network system according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the outline of the image processing network system. Reference numeral 601 denotes a CT image processing apparatus that forms the core of the medical image processing network system. Reference numeral 611 denotes a dedicated image data storage device provided therein. Reference numerals 641 to 644 denote a plurality of high-speed processing engines provided for successive approximation processing of image data provided therein, which are used corresponding to a plurality of simultaneous processes by time division or division for each processing request. I can do it. Reference numeral 691 denotes a processing device control unit provided therein, which includes a data selection function unit 692, a parameter setting function unit 693, and a processing result image sending function unit 699. Reference numeral 351 denotes a component of the medical image processing network system, which is one of one or more client terminals connected to the network system and installed with dedicated software. Reference numeral 381 denotes a data selection list display screen on the client terminal, and reference numeral 371 denotes an image processing parameter setting control function possessed by dedicated software of the client terminal. Reference numeral 361 denotes a screen for displaying the processed image on the client terminal and confirming the processing result. Reference numeral 451 denotes a dedicated in-hospital network provided for the medical image processing network system separately from the normal in-hospital network.

  CT tomographic image data captured by the CT imaging apparatus 101, which is one of a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses installed and operated in the hospital, is a data transfer path 111 from the CT imaging apparatus to the CT image server. And is transferred to the CT image server 201 and stored in the accompanying image data storage device 211. At the same time or after the fact, the CT tomographic image data is transferred from the CT image server to the dedicated image data storage device 611 installed in the CT image processing apparatus 601 via the dedicated image data transfer path 251. Saved.

  The CT image processing apparatus 601 has a server function. That is, it is connected to the client terminal 351 via the hospital network 451 and performs predetermined processing in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal 351. Dedicated software is installed in the client terminal 351, which is one of one or more client terminals connected to the normal hospital network 401 and also connected to the dedicated hospital network 451. When the dedicated software is activated on the client terminal 351 and CT image data to be subjected to image processing is selected from the list display screen for data selection, the dedicated software instructs the data selection instruction on the dedicated hospital network 451 from the client terminal 351. A data selection instruction is sent to the CT image processing apparatus 601 via the path 701. This instruction is received by the processing apparatus control unit 691 in the CT image processing apparatus 601 and is sent to the image data storage apparatus provided in the CT image processing apparatus 601 by the data selection function unit 692 in the processing apparatus control. Thus, data is selected and one of the plurality of successive approximation processing engines 641 to 644 is instructed to transfer the selected data to one engine having sufficient processing capacity and memory capacity.

  On the dedicated software running on the client terminal 351, the parameter setting control 371 is operated for the successive approximation process, one or a plurality of parameters are set, and the parameter set is sequentially stored on the dedicated in-hospital network 451. It is sent to the CT image processing apparatus 601 through the parameter setting instruction path 711 of the approximate processing engine. This instruction is received by the processing device control unit 691 in the CT image processing apparatus 601, and the successive approximation processing engine 641 similarly provided in the CT image processing apparatus 601 by the parameter setting function unit 693 in the processing apparatus control. Is transmitted via one of the parameter setting signal paths 761 to 764 to the successive approximation processing engine to which the CT image data selected from the image data storage device is previously transferred. .

  The parameter set set by the processing parameter setting control 371 of the client terminal 351 and transmitted to the CT image processing apparatus 601 is sent from the processing apparatus control 691 in the CT image processing apparatus to the sequential processing engine and used for the successive approximation processing. The engine performs image processing according to the parameter set, obtains the result image, and sends this to the processing result image sending function unit of the processing device control unit via one of the transfer paths 651-654. The processing result image sending function unit of the processing control unit sends the processing result image to the client terminal 351 via the dedicated hospital network 451, and the client terminal 351 displays the result image on the post-processing image display screen 361. To do.

  The operator who operates the client terminal checks the displayed processing result image, and when the processing result of the successive approximation processing is not a desired one, operates the processing parameter setting control 371 to change the parameter set. This is again sent from the client terminal 351 to the CT image processing apparatus 601 through the parameter setting instruction path 711 of the successive approximation processing engine on the dedicated hospital network 451, and the processing result image is instantaneously transmitted from the CT image processing apparatus 601. This is again displayed on the screen for image display after processing of the client terminal 351 for confirmation, and this operation is interactively repeated in a short time until the desired processing of the successive approximation processing becomes desired. Parameter setting and processing result image are obtained.

  In addition, even when it is considered that the processing result of the successive approximation process is desired from the beginning, the parameter setting control 371 for processing is operated to check whether the result is really the optimum result. The set is slightly changed, and this is again sent from the client terminal 351 to the CT image processing apparatus 601 through the parameter setting instruction path 711 of the successive approximation processing engine on the dedicated hospital network 451, and the processing result image is instantly displayed. It is received from the CT image processing apparatus 601, and this is displayed again on the post-processing image display screen of the client terminal 351 for confirmation, and whether or not the image quality is further improved interactively in a short time, You can check.

  After the optimum parameter set is finally confirmed and the optimum processing result image is obtained, the result is transferred from the CT image processing apparatus 601 to the CT imaging apparatus 101 as necessary, and the parameter setting information transfer path 621. Can be sent via. With reference to this result, an operator who operates the CT imaging apparatus 101 changes the set values of the X-ray tube current and the X-ray tube voltage when performing CT imaging to minimize the exposure dose of the subject. It is possible to obtain the highest CT image within an allowable exposure dose. When the image quality of the CT tomographic image is simply increased, the parameter setting information transfer path 621 from the CT image processing apparatus to the CT apparatus is not necessary.

  Not only the client terminal 351 but also tens and hundreds of hospital information terminals connected to the hospital network can have the same function as the client terminal 351 by installing the dedicated software. The successive approximation processing engine 641-644 installed in the CT image processing apparatus 601 depends on the required computing capacity and memory capacity depending on the scale and operation mode of the hospital where the medical image processing network system is operated. Adjust the number of engines. All of the client terminals connected to the CT image processing apparatus do not generate a waiting time and interactively set processing parameters in real time so that the processing result image can be obtained instantaneously. It is desirable to increase the number.

  The CT image processing apparatus 601 and the client terminal are not necessarily connected to the dedicated in-hospital network 451, but have the same function as the client terminal 351 as long as they are connected to the normal in-hospital network 401 having a sufficient network bandwidth. Can be realized.

  FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. The same numbers as those in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those in FIG. In the above description, the CT image processing apparatus 601 in FIG. 7 is installed at a location different from the CT image server 201 and holds the dedicated image data storage apparatus 611. In the embodiment of FIG. The image processing apparatus 601 is installed in the CT image server 201 or adjacent to the CT image server 201, and does not have an original image data storage device, but functions as one of the components of the CT image server 201. This is an example.

  FIG. 5 shows another embodiment. The same numbers as those in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those in FIG. In the above description, the CT image processing apparatus 601 has its own image data storage apparatus except when it is installed in or adjacent to the CT image server. However, the embodiment of FIG. And the CT image processing apparatus 601 are connected by a sufficiently high-speed line, the CT image processing apparatus 601 receives an instruction from the client terminal 351-355 without having an original image data storage apparatus, This is an example in which image processing is performed by receiving transfer of CT image data stored in the image data storage device 211 in the CT image server 201 each time. The CT image processing apparatus 601 and the client terminal are not necessarily connected to the dedicated in-hospital network 451, but as long as they are connected to the normal in-hospital network 401 having a sufficient network bandwidth, they are the same as the client terminals 351 to 355. The function can be realized.

  FIG. 6 shows another embodiment. The same numbers as those in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those in FIG. In the description so far, there is one client terminal in FIG. 7 connected to the dedicated in-hospital network 451 and one CT imaging apparatus, but the embodiment in FIG. 6 is connected to the in-hospital network. In this example, a plurality of client terminals and a plurality of CT imaging apparatuses are connected. As long as the number of clients is one or more and the number of CT imaging apparatuses is one or more, the number is arbitrary. The CT image processing apparatus 601 and the client terminal are not necessarily connected to the dedicated in-hospital network 451, but as long as they are connected to the normal in-hospital network 401 having a sufficient network bandwidth, they are the same as the client terminals 351 to 355. The function can be realized.

  FIG. 8 shows another embodiment. The same numbers as those in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those in FIG. In the description so far, the CT image processing apparatus 601 has the successive approximation processing engine. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, one of the transfer paths 651 to 654 is provided downstream of the successive approximation processing engine. This is an example in which the image data of the processing results of the successive approximation processing engines 641 to 644 is received via, and various two-dimensional image processing is subsequently performed in the tomographic image processing engines 661 to 664. After that, the image displayed on the post-processing image display screen 361 on the client terminal 351 is confirmed, and the operator of the client terminal determines the tomographic image processing parameters other than the successive approximation processing parameters of the processing parameter setting control 371. To change. The parameter set set by the processing parameter setting control 371 of the client terminal 351 and transmitted to the CT image processing apparatus 601 passes through any of the instruction transmission paths 771 to 774 from the processing apparatus control 691 in the CT image processing apparatus. Sent to one of the tomographic image processing engines 661-664, and the tomographic image processing engine performs image processing according to the parameter set to obtain a result image, which is obtained as one of the output paths 681-684. To the processing result image sending function unit 699 of the processing device control unit 691. The processing result image sending function unit of the processing control unit sends the processing result image to the client terminal 351 via the dedicated hospital network 451, and the client terminal 351 again displays the result image on the processed image display screen 361. indicate. The operator of the client terminal can obtain a desired tomographic image by repeating the work of the present embodiment until a desired tomographic image processing result is obtained. Further, it is possible to redo the successive approximation process again from the observation result of the desired tomographic image. If the number of the successive approximation processing engines is one or more and the number of the tomographic image processing engines is one or more, the number is arbitrary, and the number is not necessarily the same. The CT image processing apparatus 601 and the client terminal are not necessarily connected to the dedicated in-hospital network 451, but have the same function as the client terminal 351 as long as they are connected to the normal in-hospital network 401 having a sufficient network bandwidth. Can be realized.

  FIG. 9 shows another embodiment. The same numbers as those in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those in FIG. In the description so far, the CT image processing apparatus 601 has the successive approximation processing engine. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, one of the transfer paths 651 to 654 is provided downstream of the successive approximation processing engine. The image data of the processing results of the successive approximation processing engine 641 to 644 is received via, and subsequently, various 3D image processing is performed in the 3D Volume Rendering processing engine (3D VR processing engine) 671-674. It is an example. Thereafter, the image displayed on the post-processing image display screen 361 on the client terminal 351 is confirmed, and the operator of the client terminal performs a three-dimensional Volume Rendering process other than the successive approximation processing parameters of the processing parameter setting control 371. Parameters for use (three-dimensional VR processing parameters) are changed. The parameter set set by the processing parameter setting control 371 of the client terminal 351 and transmitted to the CT image processing apparatus 601 passes through any of the instruction transmission paths 771 to 774 from the processing apparatus control 691 in the CT image processing apparatus. Sent to one of the three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing engines 671-674, and the three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing engine performs image processing according to the parameter set to obtain a result image, which is output to the output path 681-684. The result is sent to the processing result image sending function unit 699 of the processing device control unit 691 via one of them. The processing result image sending function unit of the processing control unit sends the processing result image to the client terminal 351 via the dedicated hospital network 451, and the client terminal 351 again displays the result image on the processed image display screen 361. indicate. The worker of the client terminal can obtain a desired three-dimensional volume rendering process image by repeating the work of the present embodiment until a desired three-dimensional volume rendering process result is obtained. Further, it is possible to repeat the successive approximation process again from the observation result of the desired three-dimensional Volume Rendering process image. If the number of the successive approximation processing engines is one or more and the number of the three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing engines is one or more, the number is arbitrary, and the number is not necessarily the same. The CT image processing apparatus 601 and the client terminal are not necessarily connected to the dedicated in-hospital network 451, but have the same function as the client terminal 351 as long as they are connected to the normal in-hospital network 401 having a sufficient network bandwidth. Can be realized.

  In other words, the medical image processing network system described above is the following system. That is, by reducing the noise of the CT image after CT reconstruction processing using a successive approximation method typified by the Total Variation method or the like, it is possible to increase the image quality of the CT tomographic image or reduce the dose during CT imaging. In order to obtain the effects of both of them, the result of image processing by the parameter setting of the successive approximation method of the reconstructed CT image is reflected on the CT image data in real time and automatically or interactively. The CT image data after CT reconstruction processing is sent to a client terminal connected to a network in a medical image processing system that efficiently obtains the desired CT image quality by changing parameter settings to CT image with a list function to select and a server function connected to the network by changing the parameter setting of the successive approximation method Various display conditions including a tomographic image position and a tomographic image window / level after acquiring and displaying a tomographic image as a result of the control function to be transmitted to the processing apparatus and a CT image processing apparatus having a server function Control function to change and send to the server, and a function to obtain and display the final display result from the CT image processing device that has the server function, while having a server function connected to the network The CT image processing apparatus is automatically selected with a function of delivering CT image data after CT reconstruction processing in the CT image processing apparatus having a server function selected at the client terminal to an image processing engine. In addition, image processing by the successive approximation method reflecting changes in the parameter settings selected on the client side is performed sufficiently fast. Engine, an engine that performs processing that reflects various display conditions including the tomographic image position and window / level of the tomographic image, and the tomographic image that is the result of processing on the client terminal screen in real time without delay Efficiently while confirming the results of parameter setting of the successive approximation method, which is considered to be most useful, in real-time interactively with a tomographic image from any client terminal connected to the network inside or outside the hospital. This is a medical image processing network system provided with means for realizing final determination of optimal parameter setting of the successive approximation method.

  In addition, by reducing the noise of CT images after CT reconstruction processing using a successive approximation method typified by the Total Variation method or the like, it is possible to improve the image quality of CT tomographic images or reduce the dose during CT imaging. In order to obtain the effects of both of them, the result of image processing by the parameter setting of the successive approximation method of the reconstructed CT image is reflected on the CT image data in real time and automatically or interactively. The CT image data after CT reconstruction processing is sent to a client terminal connected to a network in a medical image processing system that efficiently obtains the desired CT image quality by changing parameter settings to CT image processing with a list function to select and a server function connected to the network by changing the parameter setting of the successive approximation method From a CT image processing apparatus having a server function, a control function for transmitting to a device, a function for controlling a plurality of parameters of a 3D volume rendering image, and a 3D image resulting from the successive approximation method and 3D volume rendering A control function for changing various display conditions of the 3D display after being acquired and displayed, and transmitting it to a CT image processing apparatus having a server function, and a CT having a server function for the final 3D display result A CT image processing apparatus having a server function acquired and displayed from an image processing apparatus and having a server function connected to a network is a CT image processing apparatus having a server function selected by a client terminal. A function to deliver CT image data after CT reconstruction processing to an image processing engine, and automatically An engine that performs image processing by the successive approximation method that reflects changes in the parameter settings selected or selected on the client side, and processing that reflects various display conditions of 3D volume rendering are performed at high speed It has a volume rendering engine and a function to send the processing result 3D volume rendering image to the client terminal screen in real time without delay, and the result of parameter setting of the successive approximation method considered to be most useful, Medical equipped with means for realizing the final judgment of the optimum parameter setting of the optimal successive approximation method while interactively confirming in real time with a three-dimensional volume rendering image from an arbitrary client terminal connected to a network inside or outside the hospital Image processing network system.

  Further, the above system is a medical image processing network system in which a CT image processing apparatus having a server function is integrated as a component into a general hospital CT image server or PACS server. In addition, the above system does not include a dedicated image data storage device in the CT image processing device having a server function, and every time image processing is performed in response to a request from a client terminal, This is a medical image processing network system that acquires and processes image data to be processed from an image data storage device of a PACS server each time.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to the said structure. Inventions modified within the scope not departing from the present invention and inventions equivalent to the present invention are also included in the present invention. In addition, the above-described embodiments and the like can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict the present invention.

101-103 CT imaging device 111-113 Data transfer path 201 from CT imaging device to CT image server or CT image processing device CT image server 211 Image data storage device 251 associated with CT image server CT image processing from CT image server Dedicated image data transfer path 301-305 Image browsing device 311-315 Data storage device 351-355 of image browsing device CT image processing device having a server function for interactive image processing via a hospital network Connected client terminal 401 for interactive image browsing Hospital network 411-415 Image data transfer path 421 from hospital network to image browsing apparatus Data transfer path 451 from hospital network to CT image processing apparatus Hospital network Separately installed in-hospital network 461-465 dedicated to CT image processing apparatus Image data from hospital network to client terminal and parameter setting transfer path 501 CT image processing apparatus of type installed between CT imaging apparatus and CT image server 502 CT image processing apparatus 511 of a type that acquires data from the CT image server and performs image processing Image browsing apparatus 551 associated with the CT image processing apparatus Data transfer path 601 from the CT image processing apparatus to the CT image server CT image processing apparatus 611 having a server function for realizing interactive image processing Image data storage apparatuses 621-623 associated with the CT image processing apparatus Transfer path 631-634 of parameter setting information from the CT image processing apparatus to the CT apparatus Successive approximation from image data storage Data transfer path 641 to 644 to the physical engine Outgoing path 661 to 664 of image data as a processing result from the successive approximation processing engine 651 to 654 For tomographic image processing of image data after the successive approximation process Engine 671-674 Three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing engine 681-684 of image data after the successive approximation processing The processing image data transfer path 691 from the tomographic image processing engine or the three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing engine In the CT image processing apparatus Control unit 692 Data selection function unit 693 in CT image processing apparatus Successive approximation parameter setting function unit 694 in CT image processing apparatus Tomographic image processing parameter setting function unit 695 in CT image processing apparatus CT image Three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing parameter setting function 699 in the processing device Engine for successive approximation processing, engine for tomographic image processing of image data after successive approximation processing, or engine for three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing of image data after successive approximation processing The final processing result image transmission function unit 701 by the data selection instruction path 711 from the client terminal to the CT image processing apparatus, or the image data after the successive approximation processing from the client terminal to the CT image processing apparatus Parameter setting instruction path 751 of the tomographic image processing engine or the three-dimensional Volume Rendering processing engine of the image data after the successive approximation processing from the data selection function unit in the CT image processing device to the image data storage device Data selection signal path 761-764 Parameter setting signal path 771-774 to the successive approximation processing engine Engine for tomographic image processing of image data after successive approximation processing, or three-dimensional volume rendering of image data after successive approximation processing Parameter setting signal path to the processing engine

Claims (7)

A medical image processing apparatus for performing image processing of image data after reconstruction processing using a successive approximation method, which has a server function and at least one image processing engine, and is selected on the client side A function of transferring image data to the image processing engine and a function of sequentially transmitting images processed by the image processing engine to the client side in real time;
The image processing engine automatically selected, or performs image processing by the successive approximation method that reflects the parameter setting of the image processing by setting or modified successive approximation by the client, the medical image processing apparatus.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image processing engine that performs tomographic image processing that reflects display conditions set or changed on the client side.   A medical image processing network system including the medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2 and a client terminal as the client connected to the medical image processing apparatus via a network, wherein the client terminal is A function for displaying a list for selecting the image data on a screen, a function for setting or changing parameters of image processing by a successive approximation method, and transmitting the parameters to the medical image processing apparatus, and a function from the medical image processing apparatus A function of acquiring a tomographic image after image processing by the successive approximation method and displaying it on a screen, a function of setting or changing the display condition of the tomographic image and transmitting it to the medical image processing apparatus, and reflecting the display condition A medical image processing network that realizes a function of acquiring the tomographic image after the tomographic image processing from the medical image processing apparatus and displaying it on the screen. Work system.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image processing engine that performs processing that reflects display conditions of three-dimensional volume rendering set or changed on the client side.   A medical image processing network system including the medical image processing apparatus according to claim 4 and a client terminal as the client connected to the medical image processing apparatus via a network, wherein the client terminal is A function for displaying a list for selecting the image data on a screen; a function for setting or changing parameters of a successive approximation method and transmitting the parameters to the medical image processing apparatus; and a plurality of parameters for a three-dimensional volume rendering image A function for obtaining a 3D image after image processing by the successive approximation method and 3D volume rendering from the medical image processing apparatus and displaying it on the screen, and setting or changing display conditions for 3D display A function of transmitting to the medical image processing apparatus and a processed three-dimensional image reflecting the display conditions Realizing the function of displaying on the screen acquired from the medical image processing apparatus, a medical image processing network system.   6. The medical image processing network system according to claim 3, wherein the medical image processing apparatus is integrated with an in-hospital image server or a PACS server.   6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical image processing apparatus performs processing from the image data storage device of the hospital image server or the PACS server each time image processing is performed in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal. A medical image processing network system that acquires data each time and performs image processing.

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