JP2002099268A - Image display method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display method and device constituted in such a manner that photographic information is displayed in a visible form in display medical image information as a visible image and that relating to the noteworthy image its display to the most easily visible display position among the plural displays is made possible. SOLUTION: The method of displaying at least one sheet among plural sheets of the displays of the image display device constituted by combining M pieces of plural sheets of the displays in a transverse direction and N pieces in a longitudinal direction as the display for displaying the image display state over the entire part of the image display device. The device having a control means for realizing this method.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display method and apparatus, and more particularly, to an image display method and apparatus that enables easy-to-see display of medical image information as a visible image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, X
2. Description of the Related Art Various diagnostic image acquisition apparatuses using X-rays and the like have been used, such as X-ray imaging apparatuses, CR (Computed Radiography) apparatuses, CT (Computed Tomography) apparatuses, and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). ) Devices have been put to practical use.

[0003] Medical image information obtained by these devices is recorded on a photographic film, observed on a Schaukasten or recorded on another recording medium, and then subjected to desired image processing such as frequency processing and gradation processing. After being processed, it is displayed on an image display device (monitor screen) or the like, and is used for diagnosis or the like at a medical site.

Conventionally, as the above-mentioned image display device, a CRT display device or the like has been used from the above-mentioned Schaukasten, but recently, a so-called flat panel display using a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel has been widely used. Is being used. This flat panel display generally has advantages such as space saving, light weight, and low power consumption as compared with a CRT display device.
It is thought that it will spread further in the future.

[0005] A CR (computed radiography) device is a device in which a part of radiation energy is accumulated by irradiation of radiation, and then irradiated with excitation light such as visible light or infrared light. Radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is recorded on a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor) that exhibits stimulable light emission in accordance with the accumulated radiation energy, and this information is photoelectrically converted to the stimulable light emission. This is a radiation image recording / reading device that obtains an image signal by reading the image data.

[0006] A CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus uses a computed tomography method, in which projected images of a parallel beam on a straight line by X-rays are obtained at various angles, and their data are obtained. The X-ray absorptance of the internal tissue, that is, the structure of the tissue, is obtained by calculation from. As a reconstruction method from a projection image, there are methods such as a successive approximation method and a back projection method.

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus is an apparatus for extracting and imaging an electromagnetic wave signal generated by a nuclear magnetic resonance effect of hydrogen atoms.
Specifically, an electromagnetic wave having a natural resonance frequency of a nucleus is applied from the outside to make a nuclear magnetic moment derived from spin into an excited state, and when the above-mentioned electromagnetic wave is stopped from this state, the excited nucleus becomes a ground state. The electromagnetic wave of the resonance frequency is emitted in the process, and the electromagnetic wave is received by the coil and is imaged.

[0008]

By the way, the above-mentioned CR
In a device or the like, a display system for observing a computerized X-ray photograph on a screen of a flat panel display (hereinafter, simply referred to as a display) is used. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a display is arranged in two rows and four columns, and here, up to eight images are displayed in this case.

Conventionally, in such a display system, the number of displays and the type and order of images to be displayed have not been particularly controlled. In other words, when there are X-ray images for a plurality of patients, the X-ray images are displayed in the order of the number of displays sequentially from the first patient.

When a radiographic image is photographed and recorded, an ID for identifying a subject (generally a patient) to be photographed, or a tube voltage, L (left side) / R (Right side), PA (front) / AP (rear),
Various shooting information such as LAT (oblique) is recorded together. These pieces of photographing information are necessary when observing (diagnosing) an image, and are preferably displayed in association with the image.

Conventionally, such a method has been adopted in which a part (usually, a lower part) of an image area is shaved and put into the image area. In this method, for example, depending on the contents of the image, for example, In the case of an image vertically long at the center of the screen like a pair, there is a problem that a necessary image is missing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to solve the problems in the prior art and to display medical image information as a visible image.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display method and apparatus which displays photographing information in an easy-to-view form, and enables an image of interest to be displayed at the most visible display position among a plurality of displays.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, an image display method according to the present invention is directed to an image display apparatus comprising a plurality of displays combined in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction by combining N display units. At least one of the plurality of displays is a display for displaying an image display state of the entire image display device.

[0014] In the image display method according to the present invention, the display for displaying the image display state includes information about the image displayed on the image display device and each of the displayed images. Is displayed. Further, by instructing the display position of an arbitrary image to be changed to an arbitrary position between the displayed images, it is possible to change the display position between the displayed images. I do.

Further, the image display device according to the present invention is an image display device comprising a plurality of displays combined in M in the horizontal direction and N in the vertical direction, wherein at least one of the plurality of displays is provided. Is designated as a display for displaying the image display state of the entire image display apparatus, and a control means for controlling the display to display the image display state of the entire apparatus is provided.

Further, in the image display device according to the present invention, the display for displaying the image display state includes information about an image displayed on the image display device and a display of each of the displayed images. It is characterized by displaying a position. Further, in addition to the above-described control function, the control unit instructs a display position of an arbitrary image to be changed to an arbitrary position between the displayed images, thereby enabling a display between the displayed images. It has a function of enabling a change of a display position.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image display device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an image information acquisition device such as the above-described CR device, 13 denotes an input device for inputting a patient ID related to the image information, character information indicating a photographing condition and an instruction from an operator, and 15 denotes an image. It shows an information processing unit that processes all information including information.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an information recording unit for recording information processed by the information processing unit 15; 19, an output control unit for controlling outputs from the image information acquisition device 11 and the information recording unit 17; An output unit 41 for displaying information output from the output control unit 19 indicates an operation unit (controller) for the output unit 21.

The input device 13 is a portion for receiving information from the outside, and is composed of one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like. Commands from the operator for controlling various devices, such as / end, switching of the display of the output unit 21, or various information from the operator, for example, information such as patient information and diagnosis results. To the information processing unit 15.

The outline of the operation of the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above is as follows.

The image information about the patient acquired by the image information acquisition device 11 is sent to the information processing unit 15 and the output control unit 19. The information processing unit 15 has a function of processing various information and controlling the entire image display apparatus, and includes an image processing unit 23, a storage medium 25, and a control unit 27 having a CPU 29. The image processing unit 23 receives the image information from the image information acquisition device 11, performs various calculations as necessary, and transmits the result to the information recording unit 17. The image processing unit 23 also performs a process of synthesizing character information in a display screen, which may be performed as needed.

The control section 27 is a section for controlling the entire image display apparatus. The control section 27 includes a ROM storing various programs necessary for the operation and control of the image display apparatus, and a storage comprising a RAM as necessary. It comprises a medium 25 and a CPU 29 for executing the above-mentioned program. Further, the CPU 29 transmits a command based on the command and information from the operator input through the input device 13 to the image processing unit 23 and other parts at an appropriate timing.

The information recording section 17 is a means for temporarily or long-term recording various information processed by the image processing section 23. The information recording section 17 includes a memory 31 composed of a RAM and a recording device 33 composed of a hard disk or an optical disk. It is configured. Generally, information to be temporarily recorded is stored in the memory 31.
The information to be recorded for a long time is recorded in the recording device 33.

The recording device 33 can also record programs necessary for the operation and control of the present embodiment. The information recorded in the information recording unit 17 is read out to the output control unit 29 as needed. The output control unit 29 processes an information group including the image information acquired by the image information acquisition device 11 and processed by the information processing unit 15 according to an output unit such as the display 39 of the output unit 21, and outputs the information. This is a part for controlling the timing, and includes a recording information output circuit 35 and an output switching circuit 37.

The recording information output circuit 35 reads out image information, character information, and the like from the memory 31 of the information recording unit 17 or the recording device 33 in response to a command from the control unit 27, and converts it into an information signal for output. To the output switching circuit 37. The output switching circuit 37 receives various signals for output from the image information acquisition device 11 and the recording information output circuit 35 based on the command from the CPU 29, and outputs various setting information and other operations included in the received signal. The information output form and output device are set according to instructions from the user.

The setting of the information output mode can be performed by a method such as performing a specific operation with the input device 13. For example, the information output mode is set on the display 39 of the output unit 21. Is displayed, the image information received from the recording information output circuit 35 is displayed on the display 3.
9 is set to an output mode suitable for display.

The display 39 of the output section 21 is a section for interpreting the output signal from the output switching circuit 37 of the output control section 29 and displaying the interpreted signal. Here, as described below, all controls are performed on a plurality of displays arranged in a matrix.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of images displayed using the image display device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 having the arrangement state of the display as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, (a) shows an overall view, and
(B) is a partially enlarged view showing a situation in which a display at a specific position (here, the display M23) is used as a display for displaying information (such as the above-described shooting information).

Here, the arrangement state of the display of the image display device is 2 rows and 4 columns, and as described above, the display M23, that is, the third display from the lower left is used as the display for displaying information. However, the description will be continued below, assuming that the display M22 on the left side of the display M22 is the position where the observer can most easily see it (hereinafter, referred to as the optimal observation position).

First, FIG. 2A shows that the most noticeable image is located at the optimum observation position of the display M22 among a total of eight displays M11 to M24 in two rows and four columns of the image display device.
Other displays M11 to M14, M21, M2
4 displays images of other general interest levels, while
The display M23 for information display shows a state in which shooting information is displayed.

FIG. 2B shows the details of the display contents of the information display M23 described above.
Here, information (photographing information and the like) on images displayed on other displays except the own display (M23) is displayed in a list. here,
The contents such as the photographing information are as described above.

In this display state, the observer observes the immediate attention image (display M22) while referring to the display contents of the display M23, and if necessary, refers to the display contents of the display M23. Then, the image to be observed next is determined. When the image to be observed next is determined, the image may be observed at the currently displayed position. However, if necessary, the image is replaced with the position where the most noticeable image has been displayed ( It may be moved to the display M22).

In the following, a description will be given of the image moving method in this case, assuming that the image determined next as the most noticed image is the one that was conventionally at the position of the display M11. As the operation here, a method of dragging the image of the display M11 to the position of the display M22 on the screen of the display M23, which is often performed by a personal computer, is easy to understand. For this operation,
The control unit 27 includes, for example, the displays M11 and M11.
Processing is performed so that the display image is switched at the position 22 (see FIG. 3).

As another moving method, a method of moving an image on the display M11 to the position of the display M22 and moving other images by a progressive method may be used. Specifically, in this case, an image of M12 (hereinafter simply abbreviated as M12 etc.) → M11, M1
3 → M12, M14 → M13, M21 → M14, M22
→ This is a method of forward feeding, such as M21 (see FIG. 4).

In the present invention, either of the above two methods may be used. Further, other moving methods may be used. Furthermore, the above-described operation processing may be realized by a method of dividing the screen into eight using a single large-screen display instead of using eight independent displays in two rows and four columns. .

According to the above embodiment, not only can the most noticeable image be arranged at a position that is easy for the observer to see, but also the image information can be displayed by a simple operation while confirming shooting information of a plurality of images on another screen. Can be replaced, and an effect that an easy-to-use image display device can be realized is obtained.

The above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this.

[0039]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when displaying medical image information as a visible image, the imaging information is displayed in an easy-to-view form, and a plurality of images to be focused on are displayed. Among these displays, there is a remarkable effect that an image display method and an image display device capable of displaying an image at the most visible display position can be realized.

More specifically, in the case of observing an image with the Schaukasten, the fact that the observer actually lowers the hand and replaces the image each time is determined by searching for the controller of the image display device. An image display method and apparatus capable of observing an image while sequentially exchanging images as needed can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating an image displayed on the image display device according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the entirety, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating a process of replacing a most noticed image.

FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating a process of replacing the most noticed image.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image display device in which displays are arranged in two rows and four columns.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 image information acquisition device 13 input device 15 information processing unit 17 information recording unit 19 output control unit 21 output unit 23 image processing unit 25 storage medium 27 control unit 29 CPU 31 memory 33 recording device 35 recording information output circuit 37 output switching circuit 39 Display 41 of output unit 21 Operation unit (controller) for output unit 21

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image display device comprising a plurality of displays combined with M in the horizontal direction and N in the vertical direction, wherein at least one of the plurality of displays is an image of the entire image display device. An image display method comprising a display for displaying a display state. 2. A display for displaying the image display state, wherein information about an image displayed on the image display device and a display position of each of the displayed images are displayed. The image display method according to claim 1. 3. A display position can be changed between the displayed images by instructing a display position of an arbitrary image to be changed to an arbitrary position between the displayed images. 3. The image display method according to claim 1, wherein: 4. An image display device comprising a combination of a plurality of displays in the horizontal direction and N displays in the vertical direction, wherein at least one of the plurality of displays is used as a whole of the image display device. An image display apparatus, comprising: a display for displaying the image display state of the apparatus, and control means for controlling the display to display the image display state of the entire apparatus. 5. A display for displaying the image display state, the display for displaying information on an image displayed on the image display device and a display position of each of the displayed images. The image display device according to claim 4, characterized in that: 6. The control means according to claim 1, further comprising:
By having the function of instructing the display position of an arbitrary image to be changed to an arbitrary position between the displayed images, the display position can be changed between the displayed images. The image display device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: