JPH09262212A - Ophthalmological image searching method and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search a desired image in a short time. SOLUTION: On searching the objective image among images stored in an image memory, firstly an interesting region A on an eye ground image E shown on an image monitor 16 is set. Setting the region A, plural images in the region A designated by a data searching unit are displayed on the image monitor 16 and the objective image can be selected among them by using any input device of mouse or key board, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ophthalmic image retrieval method and apparatus for retrieving an ophthalmic image stored as digital data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ophthalmologic image represented by a fundus image has been stored as a digital image and used for diagnosis due to the progress of electronic technology. As a result, in regard to the management of images, which are increasing year by year, the physical space saving and the efficiency of image retrieval have been very successful, and are being widely accepted by society.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an ophthalmic filing device. The output of the CCD camera 2 incorporated in the fundus camera 1 is A.
It is connected to the image memory 4, the D / A converter 5, and the image monitor 6 via the / D converter 3. The information of the fundus camera 1 is connected to the incidental information management unit 7, and the image memory 4, the incidental information management unit 7, and the data search unit 8 are connected.
Is connected to the D / A converter 5 and the character display 9.

The image taken by the fundus camera 1 is
It is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 12 and sent to the A / D converter 3. Then, it is stored in the image memory 4 and at the same time D
It is displayed on the image monitor 6 via the / A converter 5. In addition, incidental information such as a timer and ID sent from the fundus camera 1 at the same time as photographing is sent to the incidental information management unit 7.

Usually, the images stored in the image memory 4 are selected and displayed based on the following retrieval method. Based on the patient information such as the patient name, the shooting date, and the disease name input from the input device such as a keyboard (not shown) in advance, and the incidental information sent from the fundus camera 1, the items that match the conditions of the target image are specified. As a result, an image is searched in the data search unit 8, an image of the search result is displayed on the image monitor 6, and patient information, incidental information and the like are displayed on the character display 9, respectively.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ophthalmic filing apparatus, when selecting a desired one from a plurality of fundus images, all images are displayed as candidate images. It took a long time to display.

[0007] When selecting from a plurality of images, there is a situation in which the retrieval efficiency becomes poor unless the number of candidate images is large to some extent. This creates a vicious cycle of being overwhelmed.

In the fundus image, for example, when searching for a desired image from the images stored in the image memory 4, attention is paid to a partial region such as the optic disc or the macula depending on the case. In many cases, when the entire image is displayed, it becomes difficult to see the area of interest.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ophthalmologic image search method and device capable of searching a predetermined image in a short time.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an ophthalmic image retrieval method according to the present invention sets a partial area of an ophthalmic image displayed on a display means and digitally stores the ophthalmic image. Is displayed on the display means, and a required partial image is selected from these partial images.

The ophthalmic image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention is
The image storage means for digitally storing the ophthalmic image, the area setting means for setting a partial area of the image stored in the image storage means, and the area setting means for the image stored in the image storage means An image multi-display unit that displays a plurality of partial images corresponding to the set area is provided.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment according to the present invention.
2 is a block circuit configuration diagram of the embodiment of FIG.
The output of the CCD camera 12 built in the camera is sent to the image memory 14 and the D / A converter 1 via the A / D converter 13.
It is connected to the image monitor 16 via 5. Further, the information of the fundus camera 11 is connected to the incidental information management unit 17, and the outputs of the image memory 14, the D / A converter 15, the incidental information management unit 17, the data search unit 18, and the area setting unit 19 are connected to the character display 20. Has been done.

In operation, the fundus of the subject's eye is photographed by operating a photographing switch (not shown) on the fundus camera 11. The photographed fundus image is photoelectrically converted by the CCD camera 12, further converted into digital data by the A / D converter 13, and then stored in the image memory 14.

Along with the photographing operation of the fundus camera 11, the incidental information management section 17 shows incidental information such as the value of a timer (not shown) built in the ocular fundus camera 11 used for fluorescence contrast imaging, the type of the ocular fundus camera 11, and the photographing angle of view. Sent to and stored in. The fundus image stored in the image memory 14 is displayed on the image monitor 16 via the D / A converter 15.

In the case of fundus disease, it is routine to follow changes over time in order to confirm the degree of effect of treatment or surgery on the same site. For example, in the case of senile discoid macular degeneration, the macular region is mainly targeted, and in the case of glaucoma, the optic nerve head and peripheral nerve fiber layers are targeted.

Therefore, in searching for an image from the images stored in the image memory 14, the region A of interest, in this case the macula, is displayed on the image monitor 16 as shown in FIG. The fundus image E is set.

A method for setting the area A based on a cursor or the like displayed on the image monitor 16 by an area setting unit 19 including an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard,
Alternatively, a method of designating an area range on the character display 20 by an address or the like can be used.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the area A is set as a rectangle, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any area A can be set by a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or freehand. You may set it. When the area A is set, the data search unit 18 may display a plurality of images E1 to E9 in the specified area A as shown in FIG. 3 and select a target image from the plurality of images. This image can be selected by an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard (not shown).

Further, although FIG. 3 exemplifies selection from only image information, the present invention is not limited to this, and incidental information or the like relating to each image information is displayed on the character display 20, and based on these information, A desired image may be selected on the image monitor 16 or the character display 20.

Furthermore, it is also possible to first perform a search in the data search section based on character data such as supplementary information and display the image of FIG. 3 as an image of the search result. The image monitor 16 and the character display 20 can be shared without separately providing them. In that case, the image and characters are displayed on the same display.

In the embodiment, the method of directly inputting the fundus image by the CCD camera 12 connected to the fundus camera 11 has been described as an example, but the invention is not limited to this and a video tape for reproducing a fundus image or the like is reproduced. Data obtained by A / D converting the signal obtained from the output data of the tape recorder,
Alternatively, data obtained from a device such as a film scanner that converts a fundus image recorded on a 35 mm film or the like into digital data can be input to the image memory 14 and handled in the same manner.

In the above description, the image taken by the fundus camera 11 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained even with an image input from another ophthalmologic device such as a photo slit lamp. It goes without saying that it will be done.

[0023]

As described above, the method and apparatus for retrieving an ophthalmic image according to the present invention reduces the display time of candidate images for retrieval by performing a retrieval using a partial image of the stored ophthalmic image. In addition to displaying only the region of interest, there is an advantage that the target image can be searched more easily and in a shorter time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a fundus image in which a region is set.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a partial image of a search candidate image.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 fundus camera 12 CCD camera 13 A / D converter 14 image memory 15 D / A converter 16 image monitor 17 incidental information management section 18 data search section 19 area setting section 20 character display A area

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A partial area of an ophthalmic image displayed on a display means is set, and a plurality of partial images corresponding to the corresponding partial area among digitally stored ophthalmic images are displayed on the display means. A method for retrieving an ophthalmic image, which comprises selecting a necessary partial image from the images. 2. An image storage means for digitally storing an ophthalmic image, an area setting means for setting a partial area of the image stored in the image storage means, and an image storage means for storing the image stored in the image storage means. An ophthalmologic image search device, comprising: an image multi-display means for displaying a plurality of partial images corresponding to the area set by the area setting means. 3. The ophthalmic image retrieval apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising image selecting means for selecting a specific image from the images displayed on the image multi-display means. 4. The ophthalmic image retrieval apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image stored in the image storage means is an image captured by a fundus camera.