JPH04285540A - Medical image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute the analyzing processing of free combination without lowering the using efficiency of a magnetic disk, and improve the diagnostic efficiency by image by storing the command data for analytical processing of a medical image in relation to the medical image. CONSTITUTION:To record an analytical information, an analytical target image is first displayed to execute various analyses. Thereafter, the analytical processing information is recorded. As the processing, the analytical processing is filed at the point of time when a SAVE key is pushed, and a pointer 17 in an image ID information 15 is set. At the time of reprocessing, an analytical processing image data 16 is read and displayed also as an original CT image. Then, the analytical processing information recorded together with the analytical processing image data 16 of this displayed image is properly selected, and this analytical processing is automatically applied to the image under display. The image obtained at the result of this processing is displayed on an indicator, and utilized for diagnosis.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical image display device such as a CT device that improves the efficiency of analysis processing.

0002

[Prior Art] CT devices have the purpose of storing and displaying CT images for use in diagnosis, but recently, they have been used to perform image analysis processing on CT images and display them to improve diagnostic capabilities. There is a strong tendency to try. In this case, the image analysis process includes various processes such as region of interest extraction process (ROI), edge enhancement process, smoothing process, and spatial filtering process. The results of such processing are displayed on a screen to be used for diagnosis, but there is a strong demand for them to be reused at a later time. Therefore, conventionally, an image after image analysis processing is stored together with a CT image, and the image after analysis processing is read out and redisplayed at a necessary time.

[0003] Furthermore, there is a method called a hold function function to perform the same analysis processing. The hold function function is to perform the same analysis process on two or more images. Specifically, when an analysis process is first performed on a CT image, the command data for this analysis process is retained, and the next time you want to perform an analysis process, the target CT image is displayed, and this display The command data is automatically given to the image and the same analysis process is performed.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The first conventional example is a CT
In addition to images, images resulting from analysis processing are also stored, so there is a problem in that the memory capacity of a disk or the like becomes large.

[0005] With the hold function function, which is the second conventional example, there is only a selection of whether to hold or cancel a specific analysis function, and it is not possible to specify analysis processing for each image or multiple analysis processing for one image. Combination processing is not possible.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image display device that allows analysis processing to be easily performed in any combination without reducing the usage efficiency of magnetic disks, and improves the efficiency of diagnosis using images. .

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A display device of the present invention is provided with means for storing command data for analyzing a medical image in connection with the medical image (claim 1).

The display device of the present invention further includes means for performing analysis processing while displaying a medical image on the display section, and means for storing command data for the analysis processing in connection with the corresponding medical image after the analysis processing is completed. and a means for reading out a corresponding medical image according to the command data at the time of reanalysis processing and causing the reanalysis processing to be performed (Claim 2).

[0009]

[Operation] According to the display device of the present invention, since the command data for medical image analysis processing is stored in connection with the image, there is no need to store the processed image that is the result of the analysis processing. (Claim 1).

[0010] When performing reanalysis processing, the reanalysis processing can be performed by reading out the command data, but this reanalysis processing can be easily and quickly realized using current computer software. Therefore, there is no burden on computer processing (Claim 2).

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if there are multiple types of analysis processing, the command data of the plurality of types can be stored, processing of combinations of analysis processing is also possible, and furthermore, the command data Application to other images is also possible (claims 1 and 2).

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although the present invention includes MRI and ultrasonic devices other than CT devices, the following explanation will be given using a CT device as an example. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the CT apparatus of the present invention. Bus line 6 in Figure 1
For magnetic disk (MD) 1, CPU 2, memory 3
, an image display (for example, CRT) 4, and a keyboard 5 are connected. The magnetic disk 1 includes an image storage area 10 that stores various measurement images (hereinafter collectively referred to as CT images) such as CT images and MR images, and a storage area 11 that stores command data for analysis processing. The CPU 2 uses the memory 3 to perform various processes such as reading out CT images, analysis processing, and display processing.

The keyboard 5 includes alphabet keys,
In addition to special processing keys, P, S, and DI used in this display method
SPLAY, →, ←, SAVE, RESTOR, COP
It has Y, PAST, A1, ...An keys. P key is ON
The patient directory in the magnetic desk 1 is displayed. When the S key is turned on, the slice directory of the selected patient is displayed. Turn on the → and ← keys to select the currently displayed patient directory or slice directory. D
When the ISPLAY key (hereinafter referred to as D key) is turned on, the image of the selected slice is loaded from the magnetic disk 1 and displayed. When the A1...An key is turned on, analysis processing is performed on the displayed image. For example, processing such as smoothing and enhancement is performed. When the SAVE key is turned on, information on analysis processing performed on the image is registered. REST
When the OR key (hereinafter referred to as RST key) is turned on, the registered analysis process is reproduced. The COPY key temporarily leaves the registered analysis information to the system work area. The PAST key sets the removed analysis information to the specified image. C
The OPY and PAST keys are used when applying registered analysis information to other images.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an information structure and an example of information storage according to the present invention. Image information is image ID information 15 and image data 1
6, and is stored in area 10 in FIG. The image ID information 15 is personal information such as the patient's name, disease, and gender, and the image data 16 is CT image data belonging to this personal information.

The image ID information 15 has a pointer 17 for linking it with analysis processing information. Pointer 17 indicates the storage address of area 11 (FIG. 1) where analysis processing information is stored. The analysis processing information 18 is composed of an analysis identifier 18A and a command data parameter 18B,
The analysis identifier 18A indicates a processing name such as ROI processing or edge enhancement processing. In the figure, the analysis processing information is 18 to 2
0 and multiple examples are shown. This allows it to be known that multiple analysis processes have been or will be performed on one image data 16 (method of presetting and then specifying the name of the analysis process). Note that it is also possible to store the analysis processing information directly in the information 15 or 16 instead of in the pointer. This can also be defined as a kind of connection (so-called relating). The command data parameters 18B are data used for commands for analysis processing, and are specifically as follows.

(1) Region of Interest Processing (ROI) One C
Indicate the region of interest in the T image with a mouse cursor, etc. (region designation using a circle or ellipse), and process to find the distribution and characteristics of data within this region of interest (for example, normal distribution, density, area calculation, etc.) processing). In this case, R.O.
For I processing, it is necessary to give its position and size, and this position and size serve as command data. When the region of interest is designated as a circle, the position refers to the center position, and the size refers to the radius. Further, calculation commands for the above-mentioned distribution, characteristics, etc. may be included in the definition of the specified data.

(2) Edge emphasis processing Since this is performed by spatial filtering, specific examples of data patterns for the vertical and horizontal sizes of the spatial filter and the degree of emphasis are used as command data.

(3) There are various other processes such as image enlargement processing, smoothing processing, and blurring processing (performed by spatial filtration). Each of these processes also has its own command data.

In FIG. 2, the existence of a plurality of pieces of analysis processing information means that in addition to each individual analysis process, analysis processing such as image processing that combines enlargement processing, emphasis processing, and ROI is possible. It also means.

Note that in order to have the configuration and storage as shown in FIG. 2, it is necessary to refer to the result of actually performing multiple analysis processes on the image data 16 as shown in the figure, and the case where the analysis process is not performed on the image data 16. There are two methods: one is to preset command data in anticipation of multiple analysis processes that may be expected in the future; and the other is to preset command data in advance. Both are possible.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of displaying a CT image in a CT apparatus. First, by turning on key P,
Image ID information 15 multiple patient directory (#01, #
02,...) are displayed on the display 4. Select the corresponding patient directory from this list by operating the → and ← keys. Next, by turning on the key S, a plurality of slice directories (#01, #02, . . . ) showing a plurality of slice images related to the selected patient directory are displayed. Select the corresponding slice directory from among these by operating the → and ← keys. Finally, by turning on key D, the slice images related to the selected slice directory are displayed on the display 4.

The CT image thus displayed is not only provided to the observer as diagnostic information, but also serves as an image to be subjected to necessary image analysis, and command data is given to perform a predetermined image analysis and the image is displayed again. After this display, the command data will be changed to the original C.
It is stored on the disk together with the T image as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of each function will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 3. (1) Recording of analysis information First, use the P, S, and D keys to display the image to be analyzed. A1... Various analyzes are performed using the An key. SAVE
The analysis processing information is recorded using the key as shown in FIG. As for processing, when the SAVE key is pressed, the analysis processing is filed and a pointer 17 in the image ID information 15 is set (FIG. 2).

(2) Return of analysis processing (reprocessing). Using the P, S, and D keys, the analyzed image data 16 is read out and displayed as an original CT image. Next, press the RST key to display the image data 16 of this display image.
The analysis processing information recorded together with the image is selected as appropriate, and this analysis processing is automatically applied to the image being displayed. The image resulting from this processing is displayed on the display 4 and used for diagnosis. Next, press the D key again to return to the original CT image.

(3) Application of analysis information to other images. Use the P, S, D, →, and ← keys to display the image in which the analysis information is recorded. This is the same procedure as (2). Press the COPY key to record the analysis information of the currently displayed image into the work area of the system. Next, P, S
, D, →, ← keys to display the image to which the analysis information will be transferred. When the PAST key is pressed, the analysis information recorded in the work area of the system is recorded in the displayed image. As for the processing, the pointer 17 is saved to the save area 30 as shown in FIG. 4, and the above operation is realized by returning.

[0026]

According to the present invention, analysis results can be retained and reproduced without having to be temporarily stored on a magnetic disk (claims 1 and 2). Therefore, the analysis process does not consume more capacity of the magnetic disk than necessary. Also, compared to the conventional hold function function,
A combination of analysis processing between image units can be realized (claims 1 and 2).

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment diagram of a CT apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information and a storage example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a CT image display procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing copy processing according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Magnetic disk 2 CPU 3 Memory 4 CRT 10 Image storage area 11 Command data storage area

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A medical image display device comprising a memory for storing a medical image such as a CT image, and a display section for displaying the image, in which command data for analysis processing of the medical image is connected to the image. A medical image display device comprising storage means. 2. In a medical image display device comprising a memory for storing medical images such as CT images and a display section for displaying the images, means for performing analysis processing while displaying the medical images on the display section; , means for storing the command data for the analysis process in connection with the corresponding image after the completion of the analysis process, and means for reading out the corresponding medical image using the command data during the reanalysis process to perform the reanalysis process; A medical image display device consisting of: