JPH03176025A - Image work station - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve diagnostic efficiency by providing an image-successively displaying means which can freely switch and select whether all the images recorded in an image memory is displayed or only the first image of an inspection unit is displayed in the recorded order or the reverse order. CONSTITUTION:In an image work station, an image transmitted from a medical imaging instrument, etc., is received by means of a communication circuit 11 through a local area network LAN and is stored in a magnetic disc 14. An image which is necessary for a diagnosis is successively red out and recorded from the magnetic disc 14 on an image memory 15 and a required image selected by indication of an operational table 13 is transferred to a display memory 16 at a high speed and is displayed on a display monitor 18. In this case, in a switch button type, when a button 32 for switching inspection/image mode is pushed among switch buttons 31, a condition where the first image of an inspection unit can be displayed is brought out. Under this condition, when the NEXT button 33 is pushed, the first image of the inspection unit is cyclically displayed on a display monitor 18 and when a BACK button 34 is pushed, it becomes in a reverse order. As a result, reference and display of a required image can be performed simply and rapidly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image workstation for recording and displaying medical images.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, the spread of this type of image workstation has been remarkable, but the conventional image workstation has a built-in memory for image recording (image memory) of about 32 MW, and can record about 32 images in a 1024×1024 matrix. And that image is the next image (NEXT)
The next image display function that displays the previous image (BACK) and the previous image display function that displays the previous image (BACK) make it possible to display all images recorded in the image memory in the recording order or in the reverse order.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the conventional image workstation described above has the following problems.

Assume that images for each patient and each examination are stored in the image memory of a conventional image workstation in the order shown in FIG.

As mentioned above, conventional image workstations only have the next image display function and the previous image display function, so the first image, that is, the first image taken during the 1989 examination of patient A, is displayed first. When the next image (NEXT) instruction is given, the second image, that is, the second image taken during the same 1989 examination of patient A, is displayed.

Therefore, 1. For example, search for record number 15 (155th image, the first image from the 1989 examination of patient C)9
In order to display the image, the 5th order image must be instructed 15 times.

If the image of patient B is to be displayed after the image of patient C is displayed, a previous image (BACK) instruction is given.

This method is still usable if all you have to do is search and display 9 necessary images from around 32 images at most. However, if the capacity of the 5-image memory increases further and the number of images that can be recorded increases, the trouble and time required to search for and display a desired image will increase significantly, resulting in a decrease in diagnostic efficiency. Ta.

An object of the present invention is to easily search and display a desired image.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image workstation that can be performed quickly and improve diagnostic efficiency.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above purpose is to arbitrarily switch whether to display all the images recorded in one image memory in the recording order or the reverse order, or to display only the first image of the inspection unit among all the images in the recording order or the reverse order. This is achieved by providing a selectable image sequential display means.

[Effect]

The image sequential display means displays all the images recorded in the image memory on the display monitor in the recording order or the reverse order according to instructions from the operation console (action 1).

Further, the image sequential display means displays only the first image of the inspection unit out of all the images on the display monitor in the recording order or in the reverse order (action 2).

Further, the image sequential display means can be switched to any desired side as desired for the above-mentioned action 1.2 by instructions from the operation console.

For example, in FIG. 6, when the first image is displayed, if you specify "examination" and then "r-th image", the third image of all images will be displayed, that is, patient A. The first image taken in 1988 is displayed. After that, if you want to see the fourth image among all images, switch "r-examination" to "image" and instruct "r-th image".

According to the above, compared to the conventional image workstation which only has the above-mentioned function 1, the search 2 display of a desired image becomes easier and faster, and the diagnostic efficiency is improved.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to one drawing. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image workstation according to the present invention. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 11 indicates a local area network LA connected to a medical imaging machine N# (not shown), etc.
A communication circuit that sends and receives images (image data) to and from N, 1
2 is a CPU that controls each part and performs various calculations; 13 is a CPU 1
This is an operation console that gives various instructions to devices such as 2.

In addition, 14 is a magnetic disk device that stores various data such as images, 15 is an image memory that records about 32 images that are subject to diagnosis, and 6 is one of the images recorded in the image memory 15. 17 is a D/A converter for D/A converting the image data stored in the display memory 16; 18 is a D/A converter; This is a display monitor that displays images based on the signal from the A converter 17.

19 is an address control circuit that transfers image data from the image memory 15 to the display memory 16; 20 is the display monitor 1;
This is a display control circuit that sequentially transfers image data from the display memory 16 to the D/A converter 17 in synchronization with the double-sided scanning of 8.

Here, the CPU 2, address control circuit 19, and display control circuit 20 also constitute image sequential display means. This image sequential display means displays all the images recorded in the one-image memory 15 on the display monitor 18 in the recording order or the reverse order, or displays only the first image of the inspection unit among all the images in the recording order or the reverse order. Display monitor 18 in reverse order
It is possible to arbitrarily select whether or not to display the image in accordance with an instruction from the operation console 13.

The above-mentioned "inspection unit first image" refers to the first image when the inspection content changes among the images sequentially recorded in the image memory 15, and a sign 22 to that effect is pre-installed in a predetermined memory, here in the CPU 12. is recorded in the inspection unit first image address register 21 as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the definition of "examination" can be given arbitrarily, and here it is the date of photographing. That is, if the photographing date is the same, the examination is the same, and if the photographing date is different, the examination is different. In addition, whether or not the image was captured with contrast agent injection, or the difference in the medical imaging equipment that obtained the image are also defined as the type of examination.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained. First, an image transmitted from a medical imaging device (not shown) is received by the communication circuit 11 via the local area network LAN, and is stored on the magnetic disk 14.

Approximately 32 images necessary for diagnosis are successively stored in the image memory 15 from the magnetic disk 14 and recorded therein. Among them, the desired image selected by the instruction from the operation console 13 is transferred to the display memory 16 at high speed and displayed on the display monitor 1.
8 is displayed.

At this time, instructions for displaying the desired image using the console 13 are performed as follows. This will be explained below using two examples: a switch button method and a mouse icon method.

First, the switch button method will be explained with reference to FIG. Of the switch buttons 31 provided on the operation console 13, pressing the inspection/image mode switching button 32 (operation button for switching between inspection unit sequential display mode and image unit sequential display mode) at the left end in the figure switches to inspection unit sequential display mode. , a state is reached in which the first image of the inspection unit can be displayed.

If you press the next image (NEXT) button 33 from this state, the CP
U12 searches the inspection start image address register 21 for the address assigned to each inspection unit start image. As a result, according to the example in FIG. 6, the 1st, 3rd, 10th, 1st
5th and 18th.

The first image of the inspection unit is cyclically displayed on the display monitor 18, such as the 20th image, the 22nd image, the 1st image, etc. (returns to the first image when all images are completed). Ru.

The opposite is true when the previous image (BACK) button 34 is pressed.

For example, if you want to display the 11th image, use the examination unit sequential display mode as described above to display the 11th image.
This is achieved by searching and displaying the second image, pressing the inspection/image mode switching button 32 to switch to image unit sequential display mode, and then pressing the primary image button 33 once.

Next, the mouse icon method will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In both figures, 41 is the display monitor 1
8 is an image display screen, 42 is an image display area on the screen 41, 43 is a display mode/order switching operation area (icon area) on the same screen 41, 51 is a mouse, and the inspection/image mode switching button ( Operation button (C) for cyclically switching between examination unit sequential display mode and image unit sequential display mode, next image (NEXT) button, and previous image (BACK) button R
Equipped with.

In such a configuration, when the mouse 51 is moved on the operation heavy equipment 3 and the arrow-shaped cursor Y on the screen 41 is placed in the icon area 43, the CPU 12 enters a standby state for display mode and order switching operation control.

The initial state of the inspection/image mode switching operation is the inspection unit sequential display mode, so if you press the next image button on the 5th mouse button in this state, the next image for the inspection unit first image will be displayed sequentially. Is displayed. According to the example in Figure 6,
1st, 3rd, 10th, 15th, 18th, 20
The 22nd one.

The first image of the inspection unit is cyclically displayed on the display monitor 18, such as the first image (when all images are completed, the process returns to the first image; the same applies hereinafter).

Similarly, when the previous image button R is pressed, the previous first image of the inspection unit is displayed in sequence, contrary to when the primary image button is pressed.

If you press the inspection/dual image mode switching button C of the mouse 51 once from the above initial state, the mode will change from the inspection unit sequential display mode to the image unit sequential display mode, and if you press the next image button in this state, the next image in the image unit, When the previous image button R is pressed, the previous images in image units are sequentially displayed one by one.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, a conventional image unit search is performed.

In addition to the display, search and display of examination units can also be selected arbitrarily, so even when the capacity of one image memory increases and the number of images that can be recorded in it increases, it is easy to search and display the desired image. It has the advantage that it can be done quickly and diagnostic efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the image workstation according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the recorded contents of the inspection unit start image address register in the CPU of the same workstation, Figs. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of an instruction method for displaying a desired image by the workstation, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an image recording state in the image memory of the image workstation. 11...Communication circuit, Engineering 2...CPU, 13...Operation console, 14...Magnetic disk, 15...Image memory, Engineering 6...Display memory, 17...D/ A converter,
18...Display monitor, 19...-address control circuit,
20...Display control circuit, 21...Inspection unit first image address register, 22...Inspection unit first image sign, 3
1... switch button, 32. C...Inspection/image mode switching button, 33°L...Next image (NEXT) button, 34.
R... Previous image (BACK) button, 41... Image display screen, 42... Image display area, 43... Display mode/
Order switching operation area (icon area), 51...mouse, LAN...local area network, Y...
Arrow shaped cursor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It is possible to arbitrarily select whether to display all the images recorded in the image memory in the recording order or the reverse order, or to display only the first image of the inspection unit among all the images in the recording order or the reverse order. An image workstation characterized in that it is equipped with means for sequentially displaying images.