JP6665214B2 - Apparatus and processing program - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and a processing program .

  In recent years, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment has been used for rheumatoid arthritis examinations, and in rheumatoid arthritis examinations with many observation items, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment that can be easily and repeatedly tested is used, and periodic follow-up is performed. ing. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus scans the inside of the subject with ultrasonic waves using an ultrasound probe, receives reflected waves from inside the subject, converts the intensity distribution of the reflected waves into luminance information, and generates a received signal, Thereafter, based on the generated reception signal, the internal state of the subject is imaged as an ultrasonic image (ultrasonic tomographic image).

  At the time of examination or image interpretation, a doctor or a radiologist selects a past image of the same joint as the joint currently examined or interpreted from a large number of past images, and compares the selected past image with the current image. However, when a doctor or a radiologist selects a desired past image from a large number of past images, there are a large number of joint images that look the same as the joints of the current image. ing. For example, since a plurality of past images are displayed one by one to select a desired past image, or to select a desired past image while looking at an image list, it takes time and effort to select an image, and the work efficiency is reduced.

JP-A-2004-57804

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a medical image processing apparatus that can achieve an improvement in work efficiency.

An apparatus according to an embodiment includes an acquisition unit and a display processing unit. The acquisition unit acquires an ultrasound image corresponding to the first joint of the subject. The display processing unit causes the display unit to display the ultrasound image and the schema image including the first joint. In addition, the display processing unit causes the blood flow information of the subject to be displayed so as to be superimposed on a portion corresponding to the first joint of the schema image.

It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a rheumatism diagnostic device concerning a 1st embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing a data configuration of a medical image according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining index information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing a flow of a medical image storage process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing a flow of a medical image display process according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of the rheumatism diagnostic device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of the rheumatism diagnostic device concerning a 3rd embodiment. FIG. 14 is a first explanatory diagram for describing a medical image display screen according to a third embodiment. It is a 2nd explanatory view for explaining the medical image display screen concerning a 3rd embodiment.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a rheumatism diagnostic apparatus (an example of a medical image processing apparatus) 1 according to the first embodiment includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 for imaging an internal state of a subject as an ultrasonic image, A medical image storage device 4 for storing medical images, and a medical image display device 5 for displaying medical images. These devices 2 to 5 are connected via a wired or wireless network (communication network) and can communicate with each other.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 includes an ultrasonic probe 2a for transmitting / receiving (transmitting / receiving) ultrasonic waves to / from a subject such as a patient, an image processing unit 2b for performing image processing, and a communication unit for performing communication with an external device. 2c and a probe state acquisition unit 2d for acquiring the state (probe state) of the ultrasonic probe 2a.

  The ultrasonic probe 2a is an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in a state where the distal end surface is in contact with the surface of the subject. The ultrasonic probe 2a has a plurality of built-in piezoelectric vibrators, which are two-dimensionally arranged on the tip surface. The ultrasonic probe 2a transmits an ultrasonic wave into the subject by each of the piezoelectric vibrators, scans the scan area, and receives a reflected wave from the subject as an echo signal. In addition, as this scan (scan), for example, there are various scans such as a B-mode scan and a Doppler mode scan.

  The image processing unit 2b analyzes a received signal (reflected signal) supplied from the ultrasonic probe 2a, and is based on an ultrasonic image that is a medical image, for example, DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) of the medical image standard. This is an information processing unit that generates a Dicom image. The Dicom image is composed of image information of an ultrasonic image and supplementary information of the image.

  More specifically, the image processing unit 2b has a B-mode processing unit, a Doppler mode processing unit, a color Doppler mode processing unit, and the like (all not shown). The B-mode processing unit visualizes the amplitude information of the signal received from the ultrasonic probe 2a to generate B-mode signal data. The Doppler mode processing unit extracts the Doppler shift frequency component from the reception signal from the ultrasonic probe 2a, and performs FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) processing or the like to generate Doppler signal data of blood flow information. The color Doppler mode processing unit performs imaging of blood flow information based on a signal received from the ultrasonic probe 2a, and generates data of a color Doppler mode signal. The image processing unit 2b generates image information of an ultrasonic image such as a B-mode image, a Doppler mode image, and a color Doppler mode image based on the data, and further attaches supplementary information to the image information to generate a Dicom image. Generate

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, when a joint at a desired site (for example, the second joint of the left middle finger) is photographed and the joint image is stored, the image processing unit 2 b determines joint image information and the accompanying image of the joint image. A Dicom image (Dicom image data) including information is generated. The joint image information at this time includes, for example, image information such as a B-mode image, a Doppler mode image, a color Doppler mode image, and an M-mode image. As additional information (for example, tab information), joint information (for example, site and joint name), probe state information (for example, position information and angle information of the ultrasonic probe 2a), and other information (for example, patient information) , Inspection date and time, order number, etc.).

  Examples of the part name of the joint information include a left hand, a right hand, a left foot, and a right foot. Examples of the joint name include a DIP joint (distal interphalangeal joint: first joint) and a PIP joint (proximal phalange). There are an inter-joint: a second joint), an MP joint (metacarpophalangeal joint: a third joint), a CM joint (carpal metacarpal joint: a fourth joint), and the like. Further, the position information of the probe state information includes, for example, absolute position information of the ultrasonic probe 2a and relative position information of the ultrasonic probe 2a and the joint being imaged.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the communication unit 2 c is connected to an external device such as the skeleton identification device 3 or the medical image storage device 4 via a wireless or wired network, for example, based on DICOM of medical image standard or appropriately established standard. Performs communication with the device. For example, the communication unit 2c transmits a medical image such as a Dicom image generated by the image processing unit 2b to the medical image storage device 4.

  The probe state acquisition unit 2d detects and acquires the position (for example, spatial coordinates) and the angle (for example, the tilt angle) of the ultrasonic probe 2a, and records the position information and the angle information as probe state information. As the probe state acquisition unit 2d, a sensor that detects a position or an angle, for example, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor (gyroscope), or an infrared sensor can be used. Such a sensor is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2a.

  As an example, when the probe state acquisition unit 2d is a magnetic sensor, the probe state acquisition unit 2d includes a transmitter (magnetic field generator) that generates a magnetic field and a receiver that receives a change in the magnetic field, and the relative position (x, y, z) and angle (azimuth, elevation, roll) information can be obtained. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2, a transmitter is attached to the apparatus main body, and a receiver is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2a.

  The skeleton identification device 3 includes an imaging unit 3a for imaging a human body such as a patient or a doctor, a processing unit 3b for performing various processes such as image processing for identifying a skeleton, and a communication unit 3c for communicating with an external device. I have it.

  The imaging unit 3a images a human body such as a patient or a doctor, in particular, a part (for example, a hand or a foot) of a subject to acquire a state of the part. As the photographing unit 3a, for example, various cameras can be used. Note that, in order to distinguish between the patient as a subject and a doctor, a marker (identification marker) recognizable by the imaging unit 3a is attached to one of the patient and the doctor before imaging. For example, when the imaging target is a hand, an identification marker is attached in advance to one of the patient and the doctor's wrist before imaging, so that the patient's hand and the doctor's hand can be distinguished. It has become.

  The processing unit 3b performs image processing on the image captured by the imaging unit 3a to recognize the skeleton of the patient, and generates and acquires skeleton information regarding the recognized skeleton. The skeleton information is information that defines the absolute position of a human body such as a hand or foot, and the processing unit 3b can grasp the position of the hand or foot from the skeleton information. This processing unit 3b functions as a skeleton identification processing unit.

  As an example, when the skeleton identification device 3 is a kinect, the skeleton identification device 3 includes a distance sensor (an infrared projector or an infrared camera) and a video sensor (a video camera), and each skeleton (joint) recognized by the kinect and coordinates of each skeleton. (X, y, z) can be obtained.

  The communication unit 3c communicates with an external device such as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 via a wireless or wired network based on, for example, DICOM of medical image standard or an appropriately established standard. For example, the communication unit 3c transmits the skeleton information acquired by the processing unit 3b to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2.

  The medical image storage device 4 includes an image storage unit 4a that stores a medical image (for example, a Dicom image), an index information storage unit 4b that stores index information, a processing unit 4c that performs various processes such as a storage process, and an external device. A communication unit 4d for communicating with the device.

  The image storage unit 4a is an image storage unit that stores a medical image such as a Dicom image transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2. The image storage unit 4a includes a storage unit such as a large-capacity HDD (hard disk drive) or an SSD (solid state drive) having a flash memory, and stores information in the storage unit.

  The index information storage unit 4b is a storage unit that stores index information including various information such as joint information and probe state information. The index information storage unit 4b has a storage unit such as an SSD having a large-capacity HDD or a flash memory, and stores information in this storage unit. In addition, as the storage unit, the storage unit of the above-described image storage unit 4a may be shared.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, an index table for storing index information is stored in the index information storage unit 4b. The patient ID (Identifier), joint information, probe state information, image UID (UNIQUE Identifier) and other information are grouped as index information and stored in an index table. This index table is used for searching for a past image, and will be described later in detail.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the processing unit 4c is an information processing unit that performs various processes such as the above-described storage process and index information generation process. For example, in the index information generation processing, the patient ID, joint information, probe state information, image UID, and other information are read from the supplementary information (for example, tab information) of the Dicom image, and the above-described index information (see FIG. 3) Generate

  The communication unit 4d communicates with an external device such as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 or the medical image display device 5 via a wireless or wired network, for example, based on DICOM of medical image standard or appropriately established standard. I do. For example, the communication unit 4d receives a medical image such as a Dicom image from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2, or transmits a medical image such as a Dicom image to the medical image display device 5.

  The medical image display device 5 includes a display unit 5a that displays various images, a processing unit 5b that performs various processes such as display processing, a communication unit 5c that communicates with an external device, and an operation performed by a doctor or a radiologist. And an operation unit 5d operated by a user.

  The display unit 5a is a display device that displays various images such as a medical image and an operation screen (for example, a GUI (graphic interface) for receiving various instructions from an operator). As the display unit 5a, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, or the like can be used.

  The processing unit 5b is a display processing unit that performs display processing for arranging and displaying an image at a predetermined position on the display screen of the display unit 5a. For example, when displaying a plurality of images, a display process for displaying the images side by side so as to be easily viewable is executed.

  The communication unit 5c communicates with an external device such as the medical image storage device 4 via a wireless or wired network based on, for example, DICOM of medical image standard or an appropriately established standard. For example, the communication unit 5c receives a medical image such as a Dicom image from the medical image storage device 4.

  The operation unit 5d is an input unit that receives an input operation by an operator (user) such as a doctor or a radiologist, and receives various input operations such as image display, image switching, and various settings. As the operation unit 5d, for example, an input device such as a button, a keyboard, and a mouse can be used.

  Next, a medical image storage process and a medical image display process performed by the above-described rheumatism diagnosis apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the medical image (Dicom image) storage processing will be described with reference to FIG. 4, and the medical image (Dicom image) display processing will be described with reference to FIG.

<Medical image storage processing>
As shown in FIG. 4, first, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and the skeleton identification apparatus 3 execute an initialization process (step S1). In this initialization processing, the ultrasonic probe 2a is applied to a predetermined site, the probe state information (for example, position information and angle information, etc.) of the position is obtained from the probe state acquisition unit 2d, and the image processing functioning as a joint identification unit is performed. The position (x, y, z) of a part determined to be used at the time of initialization processing is acquired from the unit 2b, calibration (positioning) of each coordinate system is performed, and the absolute position of the ultrasonic probe 2a is determined. And the absolute position of the limb (for example, the joint being imaged by the ultrasonic probe or which is the back of the hand with the palm).

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 captures the joint state of the desired part by using the ultrasonic probe 2a applied to the joint of the desired part (for example, hand or foot), acquires image information of the joint, The state information of the ultrasonic probe 2a is acquired by the probe state acquisition unit 2d (step S2). After that, the joint image information and the probe state information are stored at a predetermined timing (for example, when the user presses a button) (step S3).

  During the medical image storage process, the skeleton identification device 3 constantly captures a part (for example, a hand or a foot) including the joint captured by the ultrasonic probe 2a by the imaging unit 3a (step S4), and performs the processing in step S3 described above. At the storage timing, the processing unit 3b acquires and stores the skeleton information of the part imaged by the imaging unit 3a (step S5), and transmits the skeleton information to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 by the communication unit 3c (step S5). Step S6).

  Here, for example, when the imaging target region is a hand, the skeleton information of the hand is transmitted in step S6, and the skeleton information to be transmitted at this time may be any information including the skeleton information of the imaging target region. Alternatively, all of the skeletal information acquired by imaging may be transmitted.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 receives the skeleton information transmitted from the skeleton identifying apparatus 3 by the communication unit 2c, and uses the received skeleton information and various kinds of information such as the above-described probe state information to perform Dicom by the image processing unit 2b. An image is generated, and the generated Dicom image is transmitted to the medical image storage device 4 by the communication unit 2c (step S7).

  In step S7, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 specifies a joint imaged by the ultrasonic probe 2a based on the skeleton information and the probe state information using the image processing unit 2b, and joint information relating to the specified joint. (For example, site and joint names). Thereafter, in addition to the joint information, probe state information (for example, position information and angle information, etc.) and other information (for example, examination date and time, order number, etc.) are used as supplementary information, and a Dicom image is generated together with the joint image information. The image processing unit 2b of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 functions as a joint specifying unit and an information processing unit.

  In addition, as a method of specifying a joint, the coordinates of each skeleton acquired by the skeleton identification processing unit 3b are compared with the coordinates of the ultrasonic probe 2a acquired by the probe state acquisition unit 2d, and the coordinates match. The skeleton having the coordinates of the approximate value is determined as the skeleton currently being photographed.

  The medical image storage device 4 receives the Dicom image transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic device 2, stores the received Dicom image in the image storage unit 4a (step S8), and further stores the additional information of the Dicom image (for example, tabs). Information), patient information, joint information, probe state information, image UID, other information, etc. are read, index information is generated by the processing unit 4c, and the generated index information is stored by the index information storage unit 4b (step). S9).

<Medical image display processing>
As shown in FIG. 5, the medical image display device 5 requests the medical image storage device 4 to acquire the latest image of the desired patient (step S11). At this time, the medical image display device 5 issues an acquisition request for acquiring the latest image of the desired patient in response to the input operation of the operator on the operation unit 5d, that is, the input operation of designating the desired patient. Do for

  The medical image storage device 4 receives the acquisition request from the medical image display device 5, and transmits the latest image of the corresponding desired patient to the medical image display device 5 by the communication unit 4d (step S12). The medical image display device 5 receives the latest image transmitted from the medical image storage device 4 by the communication unit 5c (step S13), and displays the received latest image on the display unit 5a (step S14).

  Further, the medical image storage device 4 selects a comparison image corresponding to the latest image by the processing unit 4c based on the latest image transmitted to the medical image display device 5, and the selected comparison image is transmitted to the medical image by the communication unit 4d. The data is transmitted to the display device 5 (step S15). At this time, the medical image storage device 4 uses the processing unit 4c to extract patient ID, joint information, and probe state information from a plurality of past images based on the supplementary information of the latest image and the index table in the index information storage unit 4b. Selects a past image that matches the latest image, and transmits the selected past image to the medical image display device 5 as a comparison image. The processing unit 4c of the medical image storage device 4 functions as an information selection unit.

  When a past image is selected, if there are many past images whose patient ID, joint information, and probe state information match the latest image, all of these past images may be selected and transmitted. Alternatively, it is also possible to select and transmit only a part of the past image, for example, only the latest image of the latest date and time.

  The medical image display device 5 receives the comparative image transmitted from the medical image storage device 4 by the communication unit 5c (step S16), and displays the received comparative image on the display unit 5a (step S17). At this time, the medical image display device 5 displays the images side by side using the display unit 5a so that the latest image and the comparison image (past image) can be easily compared.

  According to such medical image storage processing and display processing, a past image of the same joint as the latest image is automatically selected from many past images, and is displayed together with the latest image. Thus, the doctor or the radiologist can easily compare the latest image of the joint currently examined or interpreted with the past image of the same joint as the latest image. In particular, there is no need to perform an operation of selecting a past image having the same joint as the latest image from many past images in order to compare the latest image with the past image. For example, since there is no need to display a large number of past images one by one and select a desired past image, or to select a desired past image by looking at an image list, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the selection operation, and it is possible to reduce rheumatism. The work efficiency related to the diagnosis can be improved.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, a joint to be imaged is specified, and the joint information relating to the specified joint is set as supplementary information of the medical image of the joint, whereby the stored medical image can be obtained. It is possible to easily grasp which joint is a medical image from the accompanying information. This reduces the complexity of the operation such as selecting a past image of the same joint as the currently examined or interpreted joint from a large number of past images by a doctor or a radiologist, thereby improving work efficiency. can do.

  Further, by making the probe state information additional information in addition to the above-described joint information, in addition to which joint the stored medical image is a medical image of, the probe state, that is, the imaging direction, Whether the image is a medical image can be easily grasped from the supplementary information. This reduces the complexity of the operation of selecting a past image in the same shooting direction from a large number of past images at the same joint as the joint currently being examined or interpreted by a doctor or a radiologist, thereby improving work efficiency. Can be improved.

(Second embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment (ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and skeleton identification apparatus) will be described, and the same parts as those described in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals. The description is also omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the second embodiment, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 2 does not include the probe state acquisition unit 2d according to the first embodiment, and the processing unit 3b of the skeleton identification device 3 includes an ultrasound probe. It has a probe state acquisition unit 11 for recording the state of 2a. For this reason, probe state information required when generating a Dicom image by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 is transmitted from the skeleton identification apparatus 3 to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and obtained.

  A marker (probe recognition marker) that can be recognized by the imaging unit 3a of the skeleton identification device 3 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2a according to the second embodiment. For example, as a marker, a material that easily reflects and absorbs infrared rays, a specific color, or a specific shape is used, and a marker and a marker are obtained from an image captured by an infrared camera or a video camera of the skeleton identification device 3. It is possible to specify coordinates.

  The probe state acquisition unit 11 performs image processing on an image photographed by the photographing unit 3a, detects the above-described marker, and grasps the position (for example, spatial coordinates) and angle (for example, an inclination angle) of the ultrasonic probe 2a. Then, the grasped position information and angle information are recorded as probe state information. Note that the processing unit 3b performs the same processing as in the first embodiment, that is, skeleton recognition by image processing, and thus acquires skeleton information in addition to the above-described probe state information. Therefore, the skeleton information and the probe state information are transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 by the communication unit 3c, and are used by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 to generate a Dicom image.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the probe status acquisition unit 11 of the processing unit 3b of the skeleton identification device 3 acquires probe status information by image processing, the probe status information is acquired as in the first embodiment. Since there is no need to provide a sensor for detecting the position and the angle, the number of parts of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and, consequently, the number of parts of the rheumatic diagnostic apparatus 1 can be reduced.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment (without a skeleton identification device) will be described, and the same parts as those described in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. I do.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the third embodiment, the rheumatism diagnosis apparatus 1 does not include the skeleton identification apparatus 3 according to the first embodiment, and the ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus 2, the medical image storage apparatus 4, and the medical image The display device 5 is provided. The medical image display device 5 specifies the joint under examination by the processing unit 5b in accordance with the input operation of the operator on the operation unit 5d without using the skeleton information according to the first embodiment, and specifies the specified joint. It generates joint information (for example, a part and a joint name) of the joint. The joint information is transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 by the communication unit 5c, and is used by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 to generate a Dicom image.

  Next, a real-time image diagnosis in which a diagnosis is performed using a joint image currently being inspected and an image comparison diagnosis in which a diagnosis is performed by comparing a joint image currently being inspected with a past joint image will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be explained.

<Real-time diagnostic imaging>
As shown in FIG. 8, on the display screen (an example) of the display unit 5a, a real-time image G1, which is a joint image under examination, is displayed on the upper left of the screen, and a schema image G2 is displayed on the right thereof. Further, the part of the joint under examination and the name of the joint “the second joint of the left hand” which is the joint name under examination is displayed below the real-time image G1, and the scoring table (scoring table) T1 is displayed below the schema image G2. You. A display screen having such an arrangement is used for real-time image diagnosis.

  The scoring table T1 is specialized for scoring of the rheumatism test, and presents the presence or absence of tenderness and / or heel expansion, the synovial hyperplasia score, and the blood flow signal score. With respect to the column for the presence or absence of tenderness and / or heel inflation, when a certain column is selected by the operator's input operation on the operation unit 5d (dotted grid pattern in FIG. 8), the column is located to the left of the column. The pattern (the diagonal line pattern in FIG. 8) is reflected on the schema image G2. Similarly, when a certain column is selected by the operator's input operation on the operation unit 5d with respect to the blood flow signal column (a dotted grid pattern in FIG. 8), a pattern located to the left of the column (FIG. 8). (A dot pattern in the middle) is reflected in the schema image G2. Note that, other than the identification display using the pattern, the identification display using a color or the like may be performed.

  In the real-time image diagnosis, an operator such as a doctor first performs an input operation on the operation unit 5d to specify a patient under examination, and further performs an input operation on the operation unit 5d to specify a region and a joint of the joint under examination. Select a name to identify. After that, the operator makes a diagnosis by looking at the real-time image G1, and selects a column of the scoring table T1. When each column of the scoring table T1 is selected, the pattern (or color) corresponding to that column is reflected in the schema image G2, and the diagnosis result of the joint under examination is obtained. During or after this diagnosis, the operator performs an input operation on the operation unit 5d as necessary, and presses the image save button B1.

  In response to this, the processing unit 5b generates joint information using the part and the joint name specified above, and further generates schema information on the schema image G2 and scoring information on the scoring table T1 (rheumatic evaluation information). ). The joint information, the schema information, and the scoring information are transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 by the communication unit 5c, converted into supplementary information by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2, and used for generating a Dicom image.

<Image comparison diagnosis>
As shown in FIG. 9, on a display screen (an example) of the display unit 5a, a real-time image G1, which is a joint image under examination, is displayed on the upper left of the screen, and a schema image G2 is displayed on the right thereof. Further, the part of the joint under examination and the name of the joint “left middle finger second joint” are displayed above the real-time image G1, and a past image G3, which is a past joint image, is displayed below the real-time image G1. You. In addition, a scoring table T1 is displayed below the schema image G2. A display screen having such an arrangement is used for image comparison diagnosis.

  In the image comparison diagnosis, an operator such as a doctor first performs an input operation on the operation unit 5d to specify a patient under examination, and further performs an input operation on the operation unit 5d to specify a part and a joint of the joint under examination. Select a name to identify. In response to this, a past image of the same joint as the above-mentioned joint currently being examined is searched from a large number of past images, the target image is displayed as a past image G3, and further, the target image is obtained from the incidental information of the target image. Is displayed, and the scoring table T1 corresponding to the schema image G2 is displayed.

  At this time, the medical image display device 5 generates joint information by the processing unit 5b using the part and the joint name specified above, and transmits the generated joint information and information such as the patient ID to the medical image by the communication unit 5c. It is transmitted to the storage device 4. The medical image storage device 4 receives the joint information by the communication unit 4d, and refers to the index table in the index information storage unit 4b from the information such as the joint information and the patient ID by the processing unit 4c, and stores a plurality of past images. A past image of the same joint as the joint under examination is selected from among them. Then, the selected past image is transmitted to the medical image display device 5 by the communication unit 4d.

  When a past image is selected, if there are a large number of past images of the same joint as the joint currently being examined, all of the past images may be selected and transmitted, or some of them may be transmitted. For example, only the latest image of the past image may be selected and transmitted.

  Thereafter, the operator makes a diagnosis by comparing the real-time image (latest image) G1 with the past image (comparative image) G3, and changes the fields of the scoring table T1 as necessary. When the column of the scoring table T1 is changed, the pattern (or color) corresponding to that column is reflected in the schema image G2, and the diagnosis result of the joint currently being inspected is obtained. During or after the comparative diagnosis, the operator performs an input operation on the operation unit 5d as necessary, and presses the save button B2.

  In response to this, the processing unit 5b generates, in addition to the above-described joint information, schema information regarding the schema image G2 and scoring information regarding the scoring table T1. The joint information, the schema information, and the scoring information are transmitted to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 by the communication unit 5c, converted into supplementary information by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2, and used for generating a Dicom image.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the processing unit 5b of the medical image display device 5 generates the joint information, the joint information can be obtained without using the skeletal information according to the first embodiment, and the skeletal identification device that acquires the skeletal information 3, the number of parts of the rheumatism diagnosis apparatus 1 can be reduced.

  Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rheumatism diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2a Ultrasonic probe 2b Image processing section 2c Probe state acquisition section 3 Skeletal identification apparatus 3b Processing section 4 Medical image storage apparatus 4c Processing section 5 Image display apparatus 5a Display section 5b Processing section 11 Probe state Acquisition unit

Claims (8)

An acquisition unit configured to acquire an ultrasound image corresponding to a first joint of the subject;
A display processing unit that causes the display unit to display a schema image including the ultrasonic image and the first joint,
The display processing unit, and wherein said be displayed superimposed blood flow information of the subject on a portion corresponding to the first joint of the schema image.   The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display processing unit displays the ultrasonic image, the schema image, and the blood flow information simultaneously on the display unit.   3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display processing unit further causes the display unit to further display information different from the blood flow information on a portion corresponding to the first joint. 4.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first joint is a joint of a hand of the subject.   4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first joint is a finger joint of the subject. A first ultrasonic image of a joint indicated by a first joint name of the subject and an ultrasonic image of the subject taken at a different time from the first ultrasonic image, wherein the first joint name is An acquisition unit that acquires a second ultrasonic image of the joint indicated by
A display processing unit configured to display the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image side by side on a display unit and display a schema image including a joint indicated by the first joint name on the display unit; With
The display processing unit, wherein the blood flow information of the subject is superimposed and displayed on a portion corresponding to a joint indicated by the first joint name in the schema image. To the device,
Acquiring an ultrasound image corresponding to a first joint of the subject;
Displaying the ultrasound image and a schema image including the first joint on a display unit.
Furthermore, when the ultrasonic image and the schema image are displayed on the display unit, the blood flow information of the subject is displayed by being superimposed on a portion of the schema image corresponding to the first joint. A processing program for executing processing including: To the device,
A first ultrasonic image of a joint indicated by a first joint name of the subject and an ultrasonic image of the subject taken at a different time from the first ultrasonic image, wherein the first joint name is Acquiring a second ultrasound image of the joint indicated by
Displaying the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image side by side on a display unit and displaying a schema image including a joint indicated by the first joint name on the display unit. Let
Further, when the first ultrasonic image, the second ultrasonic image, and the schema image are displayed on the display unit, a portion of the schema image corresponding to the joint indicated by the first joint name is displayed . processing program characterized by executing a process including the be displayed superimposed blood flow information of the subject on.