JPH09276231A - Ophthalmic image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To subject each part to the process suited for it within one image. SOLUTION: The processing range of a data processing part 11 is first set using a command input device such as a mouse or a keyboard. An image of the fundus oculi in an image memory inside the data processing part 11 is displayed on a monitor, etc., and closed areas in which processes are effected while consulting the image are set by use of the command input device. Next, for each of the set closed areas, a processing method, e.g. a negative-to-positive reversing process for making clearer the detail of, e.g. the capillary, is set.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ophthalmic image processing apparatus for performing digital image processing on a fundus image or the like obtained by an ophthalmologic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fundus images taken in group medical examinations and the like have been recorded on 35 mm film or the like, but recently, images taken by a CCD camera connected to a fundus camera are A / D converted. Digital image technology is used in which a digital image is generated by a host computer and the host computer manages and processes the image.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a conventional ophthalmic image processing apparatus. The output from a fundus image input section 1 composed of a CCD camera or the like connected to the fundus camera temporarily stores the fundus image. A command for outputting a command is connected to a host computer 2 that performs image processing according to The input unit 5 is connected to the host computer 2.

The fundus image input from the fundus image input unit 1 is stored in an image memory in the host computer 2,
It is displayed on the display 3. At this time, normally, image processing is performed to improve the accuracy of the image interpretation by the examiner, for example, image enhancement such as contrast enhancement is performed.

Further, in the actual fundus photography performed in a group medical examination or the like, it is necessary to photograph many fundus of many examinees in a short period of time, and therefore, many photographers lacking knowledge of ophthalmic diagnosis are tentatively appointed. The shooting is performed according to the determined routine.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

(1) However, in the above-described conventional ophthalmic image processing apparatus, the appearance of the image captured for each part in one fundus image may be different, and the density gradation and the spatial resolution of each part may be different. Since there is a difference in importance of information, there is a problem that it is not possible to effectively interpret an image and make a diagnosis with a uniform image processing method.

(2) In addition, when photographing a large number of examinees, the important parts for the examinees are not shown,
The image may be unclear, or the ophthalmologist may not be able to make a diagnosis after the imaging of all the subjects is completed, and it may be necessary to call back the subjects and perform the imaging again. Also,
When this is difficult, there arises a problem that the condition of the site must be diagnosed from a wide-angle image or an insufficient image for another purpose.

A first object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem (1).
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ophthalmic image processing apparatus capable of solving the above problem and performing a process suitable for each part in one image.

A second object of the present invention is to solve the above problem (2).
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ophthalmic image processing device capable of taking an appropriate image even by a photographer who has little knowledge in ophthalmic diagnosis.

[0010]

An ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is an image storage unit for storing an ophthalmic image, and a plurality of processes for the images stored in the image storage unit. A processing method storing means for storing a range and a predetermined processing content for each processing range; and an image processing means for processing the image stored in the image storing means by the processing method stored in the processing method storing means. It is characterized by having.

An ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes image input means for inputting an ophthalmic image of an eye to be inspected, measurement data storage means for storing measurement data on the eye to be inspected, and storage in the measurement data storage means. A condition determination means for performing a condition determination on the measured data, and an input method display means for displaying a method of inputting the ophthalmic image to the image input means based on a result of the condition determination means. To do.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the ophthalmic image processing apparatus of the first embodiment. The output of the ophthalmic image input unit 10 is connected to a data processing unit 11 that stores and processes the input fundus image, and performs data processing. The output of the unit 11 is connected to a processing method storage unit 12 and an image output unit 13 represented by an image monitor and a printer, respectively.

First, the processing range of the data processing unit 11 is set using a command input device such as a mouse or a keyboard (not shown). When the fundus image is stored in the image memory in the data processing unit 11, the fundus image displayed on the image output unit 13 is referred to as shown in FIG. Thus, the rectangle R, the circle C, or the free curve F is set as shown in FIG.

It should be noted that instead of setting the closed region as a part of the image, the entire image may be set to be divided into a plurality of closed regions. Further, in the group medical examination, the range in which the fundus of the eye to be examined is photographed can be roughly specified, so it is possible to directly set the area using a keyboard or the like using absolute addresses on the memory without referring to the fundus image. is there.

Next, a processing method is set for each of the set closed regions R, C and F. For example, for the closed region C, an edge enhancement process for making it easier to see the blood vessel crossover phenomenon, for the closed region R, a contrast enhancement process for making it easier to see the inside of the optic papilla, and for the closed region F, the details of the capillaries are clear. Settings such as negative / positive reversal processing are performed.

It is possible to set not only the processing items but also the parameters required for each processing at the same time, or the same processing may be performed in a plurality of areas.

Further, for example, by designating one point inside the optic papilla shown in the closed region R with a mouse or keyboard, a region having a preset size centering on that point is automatically set. However, it is also possible to configure the other areas around the area to be automatically set by previously designating the relationship between the areas and the size of each area.

In this way, the setting data for the determined area and the processing to be performed in the area is stored in the processing method storage unit 12. Then, when the processing method is set, the fundus image input unit 10, for example, a fundus camera with an electronic imaging device such as a CCD camera, a video tape recorder for reproducing a video tape on which a fundus image or the like is recorded,
Further, a fundus image 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 is input.

The input fundus image is stored in the image memory in the data processing unit 11, and further, based on the processing method stored in the processing method storage unit 12, processing is executed for each closed region to output an image. It is output to the unit 13. At this time, if necessary, the position and size of the closed region stored in the processing method storage unit 12 or the processing parameters can be adjusted for each image.

Alternatively, an image may be input from the fundus image input unit 10 and stored in the data processing unit 11, and then the processing method may be set in the processing method storage unit 12. Further, it is possible to apply not only to the image obtained by the fundus camera but also to the image obtained by the slit lamp.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment, in which the output of the CCD camera 21 connected to the fundus camera 20 is A
/ D converter 22, image memory 2 for temporarily storing fundus images
3, the D / A converter 24, and the TV monitor 25 are sequentially connected. Further, the output of the CCD camera 21 is sent to the TV monitor 25 via the measurement data storage unit 26 and the condition determination unit 27.
It is connected to the. Further, the output from the tonometer 28 is connected to the measurement data storage unit 26, and the output of the image memory 23 is connected to the hard disk 30 via a digital interface 29 such as SCSI.

In the above structure, first, the intraocular pressure value of the subject is measured by the tonometer 28, and the measured value is stored in the measurement data storage unit 26. The output from the tonometer 28 may be input as character data using a command input device such as a keyboard or a mouse (not shown).

Next, with respect to the intraocular pressure value of the subject stored in the measurement data storage unit 26, the condition judging unit 27 determines whether or not the preset intraocular pressure value is, for example, a normal 21 mmHg or more. If it is 21 mmHg or more, a message instructing the imaging method such as “please perform narrow-angle imaging of the nipple center” is output from a character generator (not shown) and displayed on the television monitor 25.

Regarding the condition setting in the condition judging section 27 and the display contents on the television monitor 25 when the conditions are satisfied, they are incorporated in the software in advance or a command input device such as a keyboard or a mouse is used. And enter it.

The photographer determines the region to be photographed and the photographing method according to the message displayed on the television monitor 25, and after the preparation for photographing is completed, he operates a photographing switch (not shown) on the fundus camera 20 to cause the fundus of the eye to be examined. To shoot. The photographed fundus image is photoelectrically converted by the CCD camera 21, converted into digital data by the A / D converter 22, and then stored in the image memory 23.

Further, data obtained by A / D conversion of a signal obtained from output data of a video tape recorder for reproducing a video tape on which a fundus image or the like is recorded, or a fundus image recorded on a 35 mm film or the like is converted into digital data. Data obtained from a device such as a film scanner may be input to the image memory 23.

The fundus image stored in the image memory 23 is
At the same time, it is displayed on the television monitor 25 via the D / A converter 24, and further stored in the hard disk 30 via the digital interface 29.

The television monitor 25 for displaying the message and the image display of the photographing method may be separately configured, and for the display of the photographing method, an alignment monitor or the like built in the fundus camera may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the photographing is performed according to the instruction of the photographing method only when the instruction of the photographing method is given, but the normal photographing method which covers the whole may be performed.

Further, although the embodiment in which the condition is judged based on the intraocular pressure value has been described, the condition may be judged based on the blood pressure value of the subject. A message such as “take a narrow-angle image of the blood vessel crossing portion within the nipple diameter at the nipple center” is displayed on the television monitor 25.

[0030]

As described above, the ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention can perform processing suitable for each part within one image, and therefore it is necessary to generate many processed images. Without this, accurate interpretation can be performed quickly. Also, when storing the processed image, all the necessary information is included in one image, so you can save the image with the minimum required storage capacity without using additional memory. It is possible to leave.

Further, the ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention makes a condition determination on the measured data and displays the photographing method of the image of the eye to be inspected based on the result of this determination. Even a photographer with little knowledge can capture an appropriate image, and the ophthalmologist can efficiently perform an ophthalmologic diagnosis without performing another image capture.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a fundus image.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a processing range on a fundus image.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Ophthalmological Image Input Section 11 Data Processing Section 12 Processing Method Storage Section 13 Image Output Section 20 Fundus Camera 21 CCD Camera 23 Image Memory 25 Television Monitor 26 Measurement Data Storage Section 27 Condition Judgment Section 28 Tonometer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image storage unit for storing an ophthalmologic image, a processing method storage unit for storing a plurality of processing ranges of images stored in the image storage unit and predetermined processing contents for each of the processing ranges, An image processing apparatus for ophthalmology, comprising: an image processing unit that processes an image stored in the image storage unit according to a processing system stored in the processing system storage unit. 2. The ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image input means for inputting the fundus image. 3. The ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image output means for outputting the fundus image. 4. An image input unit for inputting an ophthalmologic image of an eye to be inspected, a measurement data storage unit for storing measurement data on the eye to be inspected, and a condition for making a condition judgment on the measurement data stored in the measurement data storage unit. An ophthalmic image processing apparatus comprising: a judgment means and an input method display means for displaying a method of inputting the ophthalmic image to the image input means based on the judgment result of the condition judgment means. 5. The ophthalmic image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the measurement data is an intraocular pressure value of an eye to be inspected.