JPH06311517A - Radiation picture display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display an easy to see reproduced picture by displaying part of area in which a reproduced picture and a histogram are made correspondent with each other in a 1st hue and displaying the other area monochromatically or in a 2nd hue. CONSTITUTION:An electric signal obtained by a photoelectric converter 108 is converted into digital picture data S by an A/D converter 110 and stored once in a memory 111 and read and inputted to an arithmetic operation means 113. Prescribed spatial frequency processing arithmetic operation and gradation processing arithmetic operation are executed by the means 13 and the data are converted into picture data suitable for the reproduced picture and a histogram of the picture data is obtained and stored in a memory 112 as the display picture data. Moreover, the X-ray picture reader display device is provided with a CRT 115 able to display color and an entry means 114 to command the arithmetic operation for display and when the reproduced picture is displayed on the CRT 115 and observed and diagnosed, the display picture data stored in the memory 112 are read by the means 113 and after color processing is executed, the result is sent to the CRT 115.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation image display device for displaying a reproduced image on a CRT screen, for example, based on image data representing the radiation image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, radiographic images such as X-ray images have been widely used for disease diagnosis. Taking an X-ray image as an example, the phosphor layer (fluorescent screen) is irradiated with X-rays that have passed through the subject, whereby the X-rays are converted into visible light, and this visible light is irradiated onto the silver salt film. An X-ray image is obtained by forming a latent image and developing it, and the X-ray image thus obtained is used for disease diagnosis (hereinafter,
Called "S / F method"). As the number of X-ray films thus obtained increases, a large space is required for storage, and when observing changes over time in the same subject (for example, patient) due to illness, X-ray film for comparison. There is a problem that it is troublesome to take out the line film. Therefore, in recent years, X obtained on a silver salt film as described above
A line image is photoelectrically read by a so-called film reader to obtain an image signal, and image processing is performed on the image signal to determine various image performances such as sharpness, dynamic range, and graininess for image diagnosis and disease diagnosis. After improving the diagnostic performance, a system for obtaining a reproduced image with high image quality and high diagnostic performance has also been used.

On the other hand, a system using a stimulable phosphor (stimulated phosphor) is beginning to be used in place of the system using the silver salt film. The system using this stimulable phosphor means that a stimulable phosphor panel (including a sheet) in which the stimulable phosphor is formed into a sheet or panel is irradiated with X-rays transmitted through an object. This is a system for accumulating and recording an X-ray image on a panel, thereafter photoelectrically reading this X-ray image to obtain an image signal, and subjecting the image signal to image processing to obtain a reproduced image. The method is described in US Pat. No. 5,859,527. Here, the stimulated phosphor means X-ray, α-ray, β
When irradiated with radiation such as gamma rays and gamma rays, a part of the energy of the radiation is accumulated inside for a while or for a long time, and excitation light such as infrared light, visible light, and ultraviolet light is irradiated during that time. Then, it refers to a phosphor that emits the accumulated energy as stimulated emission light. Depending on the type of the phosphor, the type of radiation that easily accumulates energy, the wavelength of the excitation light that easily emits stimulated emission light, and the emission The wavelengths of stimulated emission light are different.

In the system using this stimulable phosphor, the energy of the radiation applied to this stimulable phosphor and the amount of the stimulated emission light emitted by the irradiation of the excitation light are proportional over a wide energy range. This ratio can be changed depending on the light amount of the excitation light, and therefore, a radiation image that is not affected by fluctuations in the radiation exposure amount can be obtained, and imaging mistakes can be reduced. Further, in a system for obtaining an X-ray image of a human body, it is possible to reduce the exposure dose of the human body in X-ray photography.

Further, both the system using the film reader and the system using the photostimulable phosphor have a feature that the space for storage is small and the retrieval is easy because a digital image signal is obtained. In addition, it has a feature that image processing is possible.

[0006]

As a method of this image processing, there are, for example, spatial frequency filtering processing, gradation processing, etc., and various researches have been made so far. A reproduced image with excellent diagnostic suitability is obtained. However, the visibility of the reproduced image greatly depends on the display mode, and proposals from this viewpoint have not been made yet. That is, although X-ray image diagnosis using a CRT has become widespread in recent years, a drawback of the CRT as compared with the conventional X-ray film is that the luminance dynamic range is low. Therefore, CRT diagnosis is C
In many cases, the RT brightness is raised and it is performed in a dark room.
Therefore, the eyestrain of the person who observes and diagnoses is large,
Further, operations such as enlargement are frequently performed for detailed diagnosis, and it takes a lot of time for diagnosis. This is one of the causes of delaying the spread of CRT diagnosis.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radiation image display device capable of displaying a reconstructed image which is excellent in observation suitability and diagnostic suitability and which is easy to see based on image data.

[0008]

A radiation image display apparatus of the present invention which achieves the above object, is based on image data obtained by reading an image formed by radiation transmitted through an object, In a radiographic image display device for displaying a reproduced image corresponding to the entire area or a partial area, a histogram of the reproduced image and image data corresponding to the reproduced image is displayed simultaneously or sequentially in correspondence with each other. A display unit for displaying the partial region in the first hue and the region excluding the partial region in the achromatic color or the second hue of one color or multiple colors different from the first hue. To do.

Here, it is preferable that a first area designating unit for designating the partial area on the reproduced image is provided.
In addition, the second to specify the partial area on the histogram
It is also a preferable embodiment to provide the area designating means. When the first area designating means is provided, the partial area of the partial area on the histogram corresponding to the partial area designated on the reproduced image by the first area designating means It is preferable to include a third area designating unit for designating an area to be excluded from the histogram.

When the second area designating means is provided, one of the partial areas on the reproduced image corresponding to the partial area designated on the histogram by the second area designating means is selected. It is preferable to include a fourth area designating unit for designating an area to be excluded from the partial area on the reproduced image. Further, it is also a preferable aspect to include a display brightness range designating unit for designating a display brightness range of the partial area on the reproduced image.

Here, as the first to fourth area designating means and the display brightness range designating means, for example, one mouse, a keyboard or the like may be combined.

[0012]

The radiation image display apparatus of the present invention displays a partial area corresponding to each other in the reproduced image and the histogram in the first hue, and displays the other area in an achromatic color, that is, a so-called monochrome or another second hue. Since it is provided with a display means for displaying by, the features of the image can be easily identified as compared with the conventional monochrome image. For example, when diagnosing a lesion, we sometimes see the smoothness around the lesion shadow, but by defining the area on the histogram, we can determine whether the periphery of the lesion is smooth or jagged on the reproduced image. , It is clearly displayed by color display, and correct diagnosis and judgment can be easily performed.

Further, a part of the partial area specified on the reproduced image is removed on the histogram, or conversely, a part of the partial area specified on the histogram is removed on the reproduced image. By doing so, the region important for diagnosis can be more effectively highlighted in the first hue.

[0014]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows an X including an example of the radiation image display apparatus of the present invention.
It is a schematic block diagram of a line image reading display device. X not shown
By irradiating the stimulable fluorescent recording medium 100 with X-rays that have passed through the subject using a radiographic device, an X-ray image of the subject is stored and recorded in the stimulable fluorescent recording medium 100.
A storage fluorescent recording medium 100 in which this X-ray image is stored and recorded.
Is set at a predetermined position inside the X-ray image reading and displaying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is transported (sub-scanning) inside the apparatus in the Y direction shown in FIG.

During this transportation (sub-scanning), the laser beam 10 as the excitation light emitted from the laser light source 101.
2 is a scanner 10 such as a rotary polygon mirror
3 is repeatedly reflected and deflected, passes through a beam shape correction optical system 104 such as an fθ lens, and is further reflected by the reflection mirror 1.
After being reflected by 05, it is irradiated onto the stimulable fluorescent recording medium 100, and the stimulable fluorescent recording medium 100 is repeatedly scanned (main scanning) by the laser beam 102 in the arrow X direction. From each point of this scanning, stimulated emission light carrying the X-ray image accumulated and recorded in the stimulable fluorescent recording medium 100 is emitted. This stimulated emission light is condensed by a condenser 106 such as an optical fiber array, passes through an optical filter 107 that cuts the excitation light and transmits the stimulated emission light, and a photoelectric converter such as a photomultiplier tube. It is guided to 108 and converted into an electric signal.

The electric signal obtained by the photoelectric converter 108 is appropriately amplified and then converted into digital image data S by the A / D converter 110. This digital image data S is temporarily stored in the memory 111, then read out and input to the arithmetic means 113. The calculation unit 113 performs predetermined spatial frequency processing calculation and gradation processing calculation to convert the image data into image data suitable for a reproduced image, and also obtains a histogram of the image data, which is stored in the memory 112 as display image data. Is stored.

Further, in this X-ray image reading and displaying apparatus, a CRT 115 capable of color display and an input means 1 such as a mouse or a keyboard for instructing calculation at the time of display are provided.
14, the display image data stored in the memory 112 is read out to the arithmetic means 113 when the reproduced image is displayed on the CRT 115 for observation and diagnosis, and for example, the following processing is performed. Then, it is sent to the CRT 115.

2 and 3 are schematic diagrams showing an example of a reproduced image and a histogram displayed on a CRT, respectively. For example, the reproduced image 10 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the CRT, a partial area 11 is designated on the reproduced image 10, and the partial area is color-displayed in a predetermined hue. The designated area is clearly recognized by the color display. After that, the screen is changed to the histogram corresponding to the reproduced image 10. Then, an area 21 corresponding to the partial area 11 on the reproduced image 10 is displayed in the histogram 20 in the same hue as the partial area 11 on the reproduced image 10. As a result, the correspondence between the area 11 on the reproduced image 10 and the area 21 on the histogram becomes clear.

Here, in the histogram 20 shown in FIG. 3, a region 21 corresponding to a partial region 11 on the reproduced image 10 is displayed.
There are two areas 21a and 21b. Area 21
When a and 21b are areas having normal and abnormal pixel values with respect to the area 11 on the reproduced image 10, respectively, this time, the area 21a is deleted on the histogram, only the area 21b is left, and the image is returned to the reproduced image again. . Then, only the area corresponding to the area 21b on the histogram 20 is displayed in color on the reproduced image, and the area on the reproduced image corresponding to the abnormal pixel value is visually recognized at a glance. The cause, such as a lesion, can be easily identified.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a histogram of image data. Here, first, a histogram as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the CRT, and as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the minimum points m ₁ , m ₂ , m ₃ are specified, and the pixel values between these minimum points are specified. Specify the hue and brightness range of. After that, when the screen is changed to the reproduced image corresponding to this histogram, the reproduced image color-coded for each pixel value is displayed. Thereby, for example, the lesion is displayed in a hue different from the hue around the lesion, which facilitates observation and diagnosis.

The input of the characteristic points of the histogram, the characteristic amount, the hue to be displayed in color, the brightness, etc. may be manually input, but it is also possible to store the information in a memory etc. and automatically process it. Is. In addition, feature points of histogram shape, feature amount, number of mountains, size, shape of mountains,
The relationship between the information such as the number and position of valleys and the display area and features on the X-ray image has been clarified up to now, but the present invention is applicable not only to the color display of the image but also to the corresponding display. Since the histogram is also displayed in the same hue, it is helpful in understanding the individual characteristics of each patient.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to an example using a luminescent phosphor, the present invention is not limited to this, and a radiation image recorded on a silver salt film can be read using a film digitizer. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a system for obtaining image data. When the configuration of the present invention is adopted, a wide variety of uses other than the above-described embodiments are conceivable, and a radiation image display device suitable for observation and diagnosis is realized.

[0023]

As described above, in the radiation image display apparatus of the present invention, the reproduced image and the histogram of the image data corresponding to the reproduced image are simultaneously or sequentially corresponded to each other. A display means is provided for displaying the partial area in the first hue and the area excluding the partial area in the achromatic color or in the second hue of one color or multicolor different from the first hue. , Compared with the conventional monochrome image, the features of the image can be easily identified, for example, whether the periphery of the lesion is smooth or jagged on the reproduced image is clearly displayed by color display, making it easy to make correct diagnosis and judgment. It can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an X-ray image reading and displaying apparatus including an example of a radiation image displaying apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a reproduced image displayed on a CRT.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a histogram displayed on a CRT.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a histogram of image data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Photostimulable Phosphor Recording Medium 102 Laser Beam 108 Photomultiplier Tube 115 CRT for Color Display

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A radiation image display device for displaying a reproduced image corresponding to the entire region or a partial region of the radiation image based on image data obtained by reading an image formed by radiation that has passed through an object. A reproduced image and a histogram of the image data corresponding to the reproduced image, simultaneously or sequentially, a partial area corresponding to each other of the reproduced image and the histogram in a first hue, and an area excluding the partial area. An achromatic color or a second color of one color or a multicolor different from the first hue
A radiation image display device comprising display means for displaying the hue of 2. The radiation image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first area designating unit that designates the partial area on the reproduced image. 3. The radiation image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second area designating unit for designating the partial area on the histogram. 4. The area excluded from the partial area of the partial area on the histogram, which corresponds to the partial area specified on the reproduced image by the first area specifying unit, The radiation image display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a third area designating unit that designates on the histogram. 5. The area excluded from the partial area of the partial area on the reproduced image, which corresponds to the partial area specified on the histogram by the second area specifying unit, 4. The radiation image display device according to claim 3, further comprising a fourth area designating unit for designating on the reproduced image. 6. The radiation image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display brightness range designating unit for designating a display brightness range of the partial area on the reproduced image.