JPH05212020A - Method for recording or displaying radiograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To support the diagnosis of a person reading a radiograph by recording or displaying the internal structure diagram of a human body together with the radiograph at an image recorder. CONSTITUTION:The image recorder is constituted as follows; A storage device B12 previously stores the internal structure diagram of the human body as data at every part such as the brest and the neck, for example. Then, a storage device A11 for images stores radiographic data. According to the instruction of the operator, a host computer 13 reads the image data in the storage devices A11 and B12, transmits them to an image display device 14 or an image recorder 15 and displays or records the received data. By the control of the host computer 13, various formats can be outputted, and images from the storage device A11 or B12 can be arbitrarily reduced/enlarged or the display position can be moved. On the other hand, the image data (internal structure diagram) in the storage device B12 can also be displayed only as necessary.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of recording and displaying a radiation image, and more particularly to a method of recording an image on a silver salt film or a display device (CRT).
And a method of displaying an image on a display device such as.

Radiation images such as X-ray images are often used for disease diagnosis. In order to obtain this X-ray image, X-rays that have passed through the subject are transferred to the phosphor layer (fluorescent screen
The so-called radiography is used in which visible light is generated by the irradiation with a laser beam and the visible light is applied to a film using a silver salt to develop the film.

According to this method, radiation image information is recorded directly on the film. At this time, the film plays a role as an image display unit together with the image recording unit. On the other hand, as a high-sensitivity and high-resolution X-ray imaging system, a film coated with a conventional silver salt sensitizer is indirectly
Alternatively, instead of directly recording a two-dimensional image of radiation, a method of using a stimulable (stimulated) phosphor has begun to be used.

A basic method of this kind is described in detail in US Pat. No. 3,859,527. In this way, the image information is obtained directly as digital values. The obtained image data is stored in a storage device such as a magnetic disk, and a display device such as a CRT is used for display.

Further, the conventional display on the film can be performed by using a device such as a laser imager. Such a radiographic image is displayed on a display device such as a film or a CRT and then diagnosed by a radiogram interpreter. At this time, the radiogram imager has an internal structure of a human body at a site corresponding to the radiographic image. Diagrams are often diagnostic aids.

For example, in a chest X-ray image, the bronchi
The structure of blood vessels serves as a clue for interpretation. This is because if the blood vessels have disappeared, it is considered that an abnormality has occurred.

[0007] Therefore, conventionally, when an image interpreter of an X-ray image makes a diagnosis, it is necessary to have knowledge of the internal structure of the human body. The radiogram reader memorizes the internal structure diagram in advance with a book or the like, and when actually diagnosing the image, the image reader remembers the internal structure diagram and makes the diagnosis.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a radiogram interpretation method in which the radiogram interpreter does not have to remember the internal structural diagrams of the human body, which have been examined in advance.

[0009]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional apparatus for recording and displaying a radiation image. 11 is a storage device A,
A film obtained from so-called radiography using a normal silver salt film, which is obtained by digitizing data with a scanner, or from a so-called digital X-ray image using stimulable luminescence by using a stimulable phosphor. The obtained X-ray image data (direct digital value in this case) is stored.

A host computer 13 controls the storage device A 11 and the entire device. An image display device 14 displays a radiation image. The CRT is the representative device, but the film is also the display device as described above.

An image recording apparatus 15 is used for recording the obtained radiation image. A laser imager or the like is applicable and then recorded on film. When making a diagnosis with such a conventional apparatus for recording and displaying a radiographic image, the internal structure diagram of the human body at the site corresponding to the radiographic image often assists the diagnostician for the diagnosis.

As described above, for example, in a chest X-ray image, the structures of the bronchi and blood vessels serve as clues for image interpretation. This is because if the blood vessels have disappeared, it is considered that an abnormality has occurred.

Therefore, conventionally, a radiogram reader needs to have knowledge of the internal structure of the human body when making a diagnosis. The radiogram reader memorizes the internal structure diagram in advance with a book or the like, and when actually diagnosing the image, the image reader remembers the internal structure diagram and makes the diagnosis.

[0014]

Therefore, there is a problem that the radiologist has extremely poor operability. In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a method of recording or displaying a radiographic image that assists diagnosis of a radiogram interpreter by recording or displaying the internal structure diagram of the human body together with the radiographic image. The purpose is to do.

[0015]

1 to 3 are views for explaining the principle of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an image recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show the present invention. The example of the display of the image by is shown. The above problems can be solved by a method of recording or displaying a radiation image configured as follows.
(1) An image recording apparatus for recording a radiation image of a human body is configured to record or display an image of an internal structure diagram of a corresponding human body part together with the radiation image. (2)
In the image recording apparatus for recording the radiation image, the size of the image of the internal structural diagram to be recorded or displayed can be changed by designation.

(3) In the image recording apparatus for recording the radiation image, the recording position or the display position of the image of the internal structure diagram can be changed by designation. (4) In the image recording apparatus for recording the radiation image, the image of the internal structure diagram is displayed / designated.
Make sure to select hidden.

(5) In the above-mentioned image recording apparatus for recording a radiation image, the radiation image is overlapped with an internal structure diagram of a corresponding part of the human body, and the gradation or hue is changed and displayed. To do.

[0018]

That is, the method for recording or displaying a radiation image according to the present invention is to display the internal structure diagram of the human body simultaneously with the display on a film or a CRT, which has conventionally been a display of only the radiation image.

There are various human internal structure diagrams, but it is thought that this display is desirable because it is mainly the vascular system that helps diagnosis, but of course, other structural diagrams such as skeletal diagrams It doesn't matter.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a storage device A, which uses a film obtained from a so-called radiograph using a normal silver salt film, read with a scanner or the like, and digitizes image data on the film, or a stimulable phosphor is used. X-ray image data (a direct digital value in this case) obtained from a so-called digital X-ray image utilizing the stimulated emission is stored.

Reference numeral 12 is also a storage device B, and storage device A
The data of the internal structure diagram of the part of the human body corresponding to the radiation image stored in 11 is stored. This data is
The information is obtained in advance from medical books, etc., and the image interpreter or system builder creates the data.

The data in the storage device A 11 is updated each time X-ray irradiation is performed, that is, each time a new radiographic image is obtained, but the data in the storage device B 12 is semipermanently stored. It is read every time it is needed.

A host computer 13 controls the storage device A 11 and the storage device B 12. An image display device 14 displays the radiation image. The CRT is the representative device, and the film is the display device as described above.

An image recording device 15 is used for recording the obtained radiation image. A laser imager or the like is applicable and then recorded on film. The operation of the radiation image recording or display method according to the present invention will be described below. First, the data of the internal structure diagram of the human body is stored in the recording device B 12 in advance. It is convenient to use this data as data for each site that is often used in radiographic images, such as the chest and neck. Furthermore, it is convenient to store some different data that may be useful for diagnosis, such as vascular system diagram and skeletal diagram as the type of data. Also, as a data representation method, two-dimensional display, 3
It may be stored in several different representation methods such as three-dimensional display, monochrome display, and color display.

Next, the radiation image data is stored in the image storage device A 11. As described above, the image acquisition means may be either a conventional X-ray imaging device or a digital X-ray device using a photostimulable phosphor, but in the former case, the film is read once with a scanner or the like. It is necessary to digitize the data in.
In the latter case, the storage device A 11 can be directly connected.

The host computer 13 reads out the image data from the storage device A 11 and the storage device B 12 according to the instruction of the operator, and the image display device 14 or the image recording device 1
Send to 5.

The image display device 14 or the image recording device 15 displays or records the received data. The output at this time is a combination of the data in the storage devices A 11 and B 12, and an example thereof is shown in FIG. 2 (a). In this example, the radiation image is displayed by compressing the entire image.

The display format shown in FIG. 2A is an example, and various formats can be output under the control of the host computer 13. An example is shown in FIGS. 2 (b)-(d). FIG. 2B shows an example in which an X-ray image is displayed on the right half and an internal structure diagram is displayed on the left half. Of course, the reverse case is also possible.
In the above example, a part of the entire radiation image, for example, the left side or the right side is cut out and displayed.

FIG. 2C shows an example in which an X-ray image is displayed in the upper half and an internal structure diagram is displayed in the lower half. Also in this case, a part of the entire radiation image, for example, the upper side or the lower side is cut out and displayed. As in the case of FIG. 2 (b), the opposite case can be considered.

FIG. 2D is an example in which an internal structure diagram is displayed on a small part of the display screen or the recording screen. Also, CRT
Since the image display device 14 such as the above can display an image in real time, another example can be considered. That is, it is possible to arbitrarily reduce or enlarge the image from the storage device A 11 or the image from the storage device B 12 and move the display position. or,
The image data (internal structure diagram) of the storage device B 12 can be displayed only when necessary.

These operations are performed by the host computer 13
It can be easily done with a mouse (not shown) attached to the.
FIGS. 3 (e1) and (e2) show examples of those operations. Figure 3 (e1)
The example in Fig. 3 shows a display example of enlargement / reduction of the internal structure diagram (shown with diagonal lines), and the example in Fig. 3 (e2) moves the internal structure diagram (shown with diagonal lines) to an arbitrary place. The example is displayed as follows.

Although not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the X-ray image and the internal structure diagram are displayed by superimposing them while adjusting the size and changing the gradation or the hue. You may do so.

As described above, the present invention displays the internal structure diagram of the human body together with the radiographic image, and has an effect of assisting a diagnostician of the radiographic image.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 described above are explanatory views of the principle of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is the figure which showed the other Example of this invention.

In the present invention, in an image recording apparatus for recording or displaying a radiation image of a human body, a means for recording or displaying an image of the internal structure diagram of a corresponding human body part together with the radiation image, at this time, , Means for changing the size of the internal structure diagram of each part of the human body by designating it, or means for specifying the recording position of the internal structure diagram or the display position for changing it, or , A means for selectively designating display or non-display, further, superimposing the internal structure diagram on a radiation image, gradation,
Alternatively, means for changing and displaying the hue is a necessary means for carrying out the present invention. The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG.
A method of recording or displaying a radiation image according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This is an example in which a conventional X-ray imaging apparatus, a CRT as an image display apparatus, and a laser imager as an image recording apparatus are connected.

First, an image is recorded on a silver salt film by the X-ray photographing device 51 and developed by the developing device 52 to obtain an X-ray image on a normal film. Next, the film is read by the scanner 53 into digital data and stored in the storage device A 11
Remember. This storage device A11 is a host computer
It may be the main storage device 13 or the auxiliary storage device 12 (such as a magnetic disk).

In this embodiment, the magnetic disk 12 is
It is connected to the host computer 13 and the image data of the internal structure diagram is recorded in advance. Host computer 1
3 reads the data (X-ray image) stored in the storage device A 11 and the image data (internal structure diagram) stored in the auxiliary storage device (magnetic disk) 12 according to the operator's instruction, and FIG. , Is combined as shown in FIG. 3 and transmitted to the CRT of the image display device 14 to display the image. Alternatively, the read data is sent to the laser imager 58, the image is printed on the film, and the film is developed by the developing device 59. The film obtained here is used in the developing device 52 described above.
Of course, the obtained image is different. That is, it is an image like the display examples shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which a radiation image device using a photostimulable phosphor and an image display device (CRT) 14 and a laser imager 57 are connected. X-ray generator 61 is used to
Irradiate a line. The X-ray transmitted through the subject is read by the reading device 62.
After being stored as a latent image in the photostimulable phosphor plate therein, it is read by laser light, subjected to photoelectric conversion and A / D conversion, and stored in the image memory 63.

The subsequent operation of recording and displaying the radiation image is similar to the operation of the conventional X-ray imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 4 (see FIG. 4).
Or, via the laser imager 58 and the developing device 59,
Displayed on the film as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 above,
Or it is recorded.

Although not shown in the above embodiment, the radiation image and the internal structure diagram of the human body are stored in the host computer.
It is also said that, in step 13, the images may be combined while adjusting their mutual sizes so that they are overlapped, and the gradation or hue of the internal structure diagram of the human body may be displayed instead of the radiation image. It's a mere thing.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the image recording apparatus for recording or displaying the radiation image of the human body, the image of the internal structure diagram of the corresponding human body portion is recorded or displayed together with the radiation image. At this time, the size of the internal structure diagram of each part of the human body is specified so that it can be changed.
Also, the recording position or display position of the internal structure diagram can be designated and changed. In addition, the above display or non-display can be specified selectively. Further, it is characterized in that the internal structure diagram is superimposed on the radiation image and the gradation or hue is changed and displayed.

[0043]

As described above in detail, the method of recording or displaying the radiation image of the present invention is to record the image of the internal structure diagram of the corresponding human body part together with the radiation image,
Or display. At this time, the size of the internal structure diagram of each part of the human body is specified so that it can be changed. Also, the recording position or display position of the internal structure diagram can be designated and changed. In addition, the above display or non-display can be specified selectively. Further, since the internal structure diagram is superimposed on the radiation image and the gradation or the hue is changed and displayed, there is an effect that it is possible to assist a diagnostician of the radiation image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention (No. 1)

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention (No. 2)

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention (No. 3)

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a conventional apparatus for recording and displaying a radiation image.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Storage device A 12 Storage device B or external storage device (magnetic disk) 13 Host computer 14 Image display device (CRT) 15 Image recording device 51 X-ray imaging device 52,59 Development device 53 Scanner 58 Laser imager 61 X-ray generation Device 62 Reader 63 Image memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for recording a radiation image of a human body, which records or displays an image of the internal structure diagram () of a corresponding human body part together with the radiation image, or Display method. 2. The image recording apparatus for recording the radiation image described above, wherein the size of the image of the internal structure diagram () to be recorded or displayed can be changed by designation. The method for recording or displaying the radiation image described in. 3. The image recording apparatus for recording the radiation image described above, wherein a recording position or a display position of the image of the internal structure diagram () can be changed by designation. The method for recording or displaying the radiation image according to 2. 4. The image recording apparatus for recording the radiation image described above, wherein the display of the image of the internal structure diagram () is selected from display / non-display according to designation. The method for recording or displaying the radiation image described in. 5. An image recording apparatus for recording a radiation image as described above, wherein the radiation image is displayed by superimposing the internal structure diagram () of the corresponding part of the human body and changing the gradation or hue. A method of displaying a characteristic radiation image.