JP2006006671A - Medical image display device and medical image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve image data at the same photographing position or the like from an image data group belonging to a plurality of series by a simple operation and display them by comparing them with each other. <P>SOLUTION: A diagnostic reading series setting part 12 sets the reference image data group and comparison object image data group of a diagnostic reading series for which a diagnostic reading range is determined to the image data group of the plurality of series kept beforehand in an image data storage part 11, and a thumbnail image data generation part 13 generates thumbnail image data for the image data groups. Then, in a display part 16 displaying the reference image data of a desired photographing position selected from the reference image data group and the thumbnail image data at the photographing position, by dragging and dropping the thumbnail image data to a prescribed comparison object image data display area, an image data retrieval part 14 retrieves the comparison object image data at the same photographing position as the reference image data and displays them together with the reference image data at the display part 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image set processing system and a medical image set processing method for managing and processing an image set composed of a plurality of image data.

  Medical image diagnostic technology has made rapid progress with MRI apparatuses and X-ray CT apparatuses that have been put into practical use with the development of computer technology in the 1970s, and has become indispensable in today's medical care. Each image data generated by these devices is centrally managed in a medical image management communication system (PACS) connected via a network, and doctors are stored in an HIS or RIS image data server. By reading out desired image data from existing image data, for example, comparison of image data obtained by different image diagnostic apparatuses or imaging conditions for the same patient, and past and latest obtained by the same image diagnostic apparatus The diagnostic accuracy is improved by comparing image data.

  Recently, the image data centrally managed in the image data server includes not only conventional two-dimensional image data but also, for example, an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the like. The obtained three-dimensional image data, time-series two-dimensional image data, and further, time-series three-dimensional image data (so-called four-dimensional image data) are included, and the image comparison described above is included. The number of image data to be subjected to is increasing rapidly.

  In the comparison of image data as described above, a plurality of image data groups of the subject collected spatially or temporally continuously are treated as a series, and obtained under different imaging conditions by comparison between series. Comparative observation of image data is performed.

  By the way, when two series are selected from an image data group composed of three or more series and displayed on the monitor of the display unit, for example, in order to efficiently select and update the series, a thumbnail image has been conventionally used. The method using is used.

  On the display screen of the display unit in this method, as shown in FIG. 12, the image data display area 51 in which the image data of the reference series and the image data of the comparison target series to be compared and interpreted with this image data are displayed, and these A thumbnail image data display area 52 for displaying thumbnail image data of a series to which the image data belongs is provided. In the image data display area 51, for example, image data A5 of the series A that is the reference series and image data B1 of the series B that is the comparison target series are displayed in parallel.

  When replacing the image data B1 displayed in the image data display area 51 with the image data C1 of the series C, the operator selects from among the thumbnail image data At, Bt and Ct displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 52. Series C thumbnail image data Ct is selected. Next, by dragging and dropping the thumbnail image data Ct onto the image data B1 in the image data display area 51, the image data B1 is updated to the image data C1. That is, the image data displayed on the display unit can be updated from the series B to the series C by a simple operation of simply dragging and dropping the series C thumbnail image data Ct to the currently displayed series B image data B1. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In the thumbnail image data display area 52, thumbnail image data At, Bt, Ct of representative image data in each series is displayed. The image data A5, B1, and C1 displayed in the image data display area 51 include the fifth image data of the series A, the first image data of the series B, and the first image data of the series C. In the image data display area 51 where the thumbnail image data Ct is dragged and dropped, for example, the image data C1 at the head address in the series C is displayed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-73680 (page 4, FIG. 3)

  When comparing and displaying image data in different series, it is necessary to compare the image data of each series with the same shooting position or shooting time phase. The shooting positions or shooting time phases of the two image data displayed in the display area do not always match. In addition, when the operator himself / herself performs an image data search for matching the imaging position with respect to CT image data, etc., in which one series is composed of a large amount of image data, a long time is required for the search. Therefore, the diagnostic efficiency is greatly reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and its purpose is to take a shooting position by a simple operation using thumbnail image data when comparatively interpreting image data belonging to a plurality of series. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image display apparatus and a medical image display method that can easily search and display image data between series that match each other.

  In order to solve the above problems, the medical image display apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of series of image data groups and image data for storing incidental information of these image data. For the storage means, the image data of the image interpretation series set for the image data group of the plurality of series and the image data of one or a plurality of comparison target image data groups, the incidental information of these image data Thumbnail image data generation means for generating reference thumbnail image data and comparison target thumbnail image data, and the additional information substantially equal to the additional information of desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group Thumbnail image data display for displaying comparison target thumbnail image data of one or more comparison target image data groups And image data search means for searching for comparison target image data having auxiliary information substantially equal to the reference image data based on the auxiliary information of the comparison target thumbnail image data displayed by the thumbnail image data display means. And a display means for displaying the comparison target image data obtained in this way.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical image display apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of series of image data groups, image data storage means for storing incidental information in these image data, Thumbnail image data generating means for generating reference thumbnail image data having the auxiliary information of the image data for image data of the reference image data group of the interpretation series set for the image data group of the series; Based on the thumbnail image data display means for displaying the reference thumbnail image data of the desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group, and the incidental information of the reference thumbnail image data displayed by the thumbnail image data display means Search for comparison target image data having supplementary information substantially equal to the reference image data. An image data retrieval means, it is characterized by comprising a display means for displaying retrieved the comparison image data.

  On the other hand, the medical image display method of the present invention according to claim 9 is a step of setting an interpretation series using a plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of series of image data groups stored in advance and the accompanying information; Generating reference thumbnail image data and comparison target thumbnail image data having supplementary information of these image data for the image data of the reference image data group of the image interpretation series and one or more comparison target image data groups; Displaying the comparison target thumbnail image data of the one or more comparison target image data groups having auxiliary information substantially equal to the auxiliary information of the desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group; Incidental information substantially equal to the reference image data based on the incidental information of the comparison target thumbnail image data Retrieving the comparison target image data having, it is characterized by having a step of displaying the comparison target image data obtained by searching.

  Further, the medical image display method of the present invention according to claim 10 includes a step of setting an image interpretation series using a plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of image data groups stored in advance and the accompanying information; Generating, for the image data of the reference image data group of the image interpretation series, reference thumbnail image data having supplementary information of these image data; and for the desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group A step of displaying reference thumbnail image data; a step of searching for comparison target image data having auxiliary information substantially equal to the reference image data based on the auxiliary information of the displayed reference thumbnail image data; A step of comparing and displaying the comparison target image data and the reference image data. That.

  According to the present invention, when comparatively interpreting image data belonging to a plurality of series, image data between series whose photographing positions and the like substantially match can be easily searched and displayed by a simple operation using thumbnail image data. be able to.

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

  In an embodiment of the present invention described below, reference thumbnail image data and comparison target thumbnail image data are generated for each of the interpretation image reference image data group and comparison target image data group in which the interpretation range is set. Then, in the display unit including the reference image data display area, the comparison target image data display area, and the thumbnail image data display area, the reference thumbnail image data corresponding to the reference image data of the desired shooting position displayed in the reference image data display area The comparison target thumbnail image data having the same shooting position information is displayed on the thumbnail image data display area, and then the reference image data is dragged and dropped on the comparison target image data display area. The comparison target image data at the substantially same photographing position is searched.

  In the following, comparative interpretation performed on CT image data groups of series A to series C obtained under different imaging conditions will be described. Then, for example, a series A of image data groups before contrast medium injection, a series B of image data groups after contrast medium injection, and a DSA image obtained by subtraction of image data before contrast medium injection and image data after injection The data group is a series C, the series A is a reference image data group, and the series B and the series C are comparison target image data groups.

(Configuration of medical image display device)
A configuration of a medical image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the medical image display apparatus.

  The medical image display apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 stores the above-described series A to series C image data groups supplied from a separately provided medical image diagnostic apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and stores these image data groups. An image data storage unit 11 that stores thumbnail image data of individual image data constituting the image data, and an image interpretation range (hereinafter referred to as “interpretation range”) when performing comparative image interpretation on each series of image data groups stored in the image data storage unit 11. The interpretation series setting unit 12 for setting the interpretation series) and thumbnails for generating thumbnail image data for each of the image data groups of the interpretation series Ax to Cx newly set in the interpretation series setting unit 12. An image data generation unit 13 is provided.

  The medical image display device 100 also includes an image data search unit that searches the image data and thumbnail image data designated by the operation unit 17 from the image data and thumbnail image data stored in the image data storage unit 11. 14, a display data generation unit 15 that generates display data by combining the searched image data, thumbnail image data, and the like, and a display unit 16 that displays the generated display data, and further includes an image data group. The operation unit 17 for setting an image interpretation range (interpretation series) for the image, dragging and dropping thumbnail image data to the comparison target image data display area, and inputting various commands, and the above-described units are collectively controlled. A system control unit 18 is provided.

  The image data group of each series stored in the image data storage unit 11 and the thumbnail image data generated by the thumbnail image generation unit 13 based on the image data group are captured by the image data. Shooting position information is added as supplementary information.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a plurality of image data groups stored in the image data storage unit 11 and thumbnail image data of these image data groups, and an image data storage area 61 of the image data storage unit 11. Includes the reference image data groups A1 to Am, the comparison target image data groups B1 to Bm, the comparison target image data groups C1 to Cm and the shooting position information PA1 to PAm, PB1 to PBm, PC1 to PCm in the series A to series C. Is saved.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the image data groups of series A to series C obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus are stored in the image data storage area 61 of the image data storage unit 11 in advance. Each of A to Series C is composed of a plurality of pre-injection image data, post-injection image data, and DSA image data at different imaging positions.

  The series A reference image data groups A1 to Am are image data of a cross section substantially perpendicular to the body axis direction taken at the imaging positions PA1 to PAm in the body axis direction of the subject P as shown in FIG. It consists of The comparison target image data groups B1 to Bm of the series B are used at the shooting positions PB1 to PBm (not shown), and the comparison target image data groups C1 to Cm of the series C are used at the shooting positions PC1 to PCm (not shown). It is comprised by the image data image | photographed by.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the interpretation series setting unit 12. The interpretation series setting unit 12 generates scout image data to be described later using the image data group stored in the image data storage unit 11. A scout image data generation unit 121 for performing interpretation, an interpretation series range setting unit 122 for setting a range (series range) of an image data group in interpretation using scout image data, and an interpretation series range storage for storing information on the set interpretation range Part 123 is provided.

  The scout image data generation unit 121 of the interpretation series setting unit 12 uses, for example, the series A reference image data groups A1 to Am continuous in the body axis direction shown in FIG. The scout image data AS such as MPR (Multi Planar Reconstruction) image data is reconstructed. When volume data and MPR image data obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus are stored in the image data storage unit 11 in advance, scout image data is generated based on these data.

  Next, the interpretation series range setting 122 sets the position of the start point and end point of the interpretation series for the scout image data based on the interpretation series range instruction signal supplied from the operation unit 17, and stores the position information of the interpretation series range. Stored in the unit 123. The above-mentioned interpretation series is normally set based on the series A reference image data groups A1 to Am, but may be set using the series B or series C image data groups.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the thumbnail image data generation unit 13 of the medical image display apparatus 100 includes the series A to C reference image data groups A1 to Am and the comparison target image data groups B1 to B stored in the image data storage unit 11. Bm, reference image data groups Ax1 to Axn, comparison target image data groups Bx1 to Bxn, and comparison target image data groups in the interpretation series Ax to Cx set by the interpretation series setting unit 12 from the comparison target image data groups C1 to Cm Read Cx1 to Cxn. Next, reference thumbnail image data Ax1t to Axnt, comparison target thumbnail data Bx1t to Bxnt, and comparison target thumbnail data Cx1t to Cxnt are generated for each of these image data, and the obtained thumbnail image data is stored in image data. It is stored in the thumbnail image data storage area 62 of the unit 11.

  Next, the image data search unit 14 selects the reference of the desired shooting position selected by the operator from the reference image data groups Ax1 to Axn of the interpretation series Ax stored in the image data storage area 61 of the image data storage unit 11. The image data Ax0 is searched, and the comparison target thumbnail image data (for example, Bx0t) having the same imaging position information as the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t of the reference image data Ax0 is stored in the thumbnail image data storage area 62 of the image data storage unit 11. To search.

  Further, the image data search unit 14 selects the comparison target image data Bx0 corresponding to the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t based on the drag and drop of the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t with respect to the comparison target image data display area of the display unit 16. Search is performed from the comparison target image data groups Bx1 to Bxn in the image data storage area 61.

  On the other hand, in setting the interpretation series, the display data generation unit 15 obtains the above-mentioned scout image data, the image data at the start point (Top) and the end point (Bottom) of the specified interpretation series, and information on the interpretation series range. Compositing to generate display data. In the comparison display of the reference image data Ax0 and the comparison target image data (for example, Bx0), the reference image data Ax0 and the comparison target image data Bx0 are combined with the thumbnail image data Ax0t and Bx0t corresponding to these image data. Generate display data. The generated display data is displayed on a monitor (not shown) of the display unit 16.

  On the other hand, the operation unit 17 is an interactive interface including an input device such as a keyboard, a trackball, and a mouse, a selection button, a display panel, and the like on the operation panel. Then, by using the input device and the display unit 16, setting of the interpretation series Ax to Cx, selection of the reference image data Ax0 of the desired imaging position in the interpretation series Ax, comparison at the same imaging position as the imaging position of the reference image data Ax0 The comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t for the purpose of searching and displaying the target image data (for example, Bx0) is dragged and dropped into the comparison target image data display area, and various command signals are input.

(How to set the interpretation series)
Next, a method for setting an interpretation series using scout image data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a specific example of an interpretation series setting screen displayed on a monitor (not shown) of the display unit 16. The interpretation series setting screen 70 includes, for example, a scout image data display area 71, a series range setting slide bar 72, An interpretation series image data display area 73, an interpretation series range display area 74, an interpretation series setting button 75, and an interpretation series setting end button 76 are provided.

  Then, the operator starts setting of an interpretation series by operating an interpretation series creation start button provided on the operation unit 17. At this time, the scout image data AS generated by the scout image data generation unit 121 of the interpretation series setting unit 12 is displayed in the scout image data display area 71 of the interpretation series setting screen 70 displayed on the monitor of the display unit 16 (see FIG. 3). ) And slice lines indicating the photographing positions PA1 to PAm of the reference image data groups A1 to Am used for generating the scout image data are displayed.

  Next, the operator sets the range of the interpretation series Ax using the scout image data AS displayed in the scout image data display area 71 and the slide portion 721 of the series range setting slide bar 72.

  At this time, cursors 722 and 723 corresponding to the upper end and lower end of the slide unit 721 are superimposed on the scout image data AS, and the operator uses the input device provided in the operation unit 17 to display the upper end of the slide unit 721. The cursors 722 and 723 are moved to desired positions by dragging the part and the lower end part, and image data groups Ax1 to Axn (n <m) of the interpretation series Ax are set.

  The first image data Ax1 and the last image data Axn of the interpretation series Ax set by the slide unit 721 are displayed in “Top” and “Bottom” of the interpretation series image data display area 73, respectively. By observing these image data, it is possible to determine whether or not the above-mentioned interpretation series Ax is set. If this setting is inappropriate, the setting is performed again using the series range setting slide bar 72.

  If it is confirmed that the setting of the interpretation series Ax is appropriate, the operator clicks the interpretation series setting button 75 to determine the interpretation series Ax. At this time, in the interpretation series range display area 74 of the interpretation series setting screen 70, the series number of the set interpretation series Ax, the numbers of the first image data Ax1 and the last image data Axn in the interpretation series Ax, and the like are displayed. The

  The interpretation series Bx and Cx based on the series B comparison target image data groups B1 to Bm and the series C comparison target image data groups C1 to Cm may also be set by the same method as described above, but as in this embodiment. If the image data groups Ax1 to Axn of the interpretation series Ax are reference image data, the setting range in the interpretation series Ax is applied to the series B or series C as it is to set the interpretation series Bx and the interpretation series Cx. Of course, these setting methods are selected by the operator.

(Display method of reference image data and comparison target image data)
Next, the display method of the reference image data and the comparison target image data in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 shows the reference image data or the comparison target displayed on the display screen (hereinafter referred to as the reference / comparison target image data display screen) 80 of the reference image data and the comparison target image data displayed on the monitor of the display unit 16. The relationship between image data and thumbnail image data of these image data is shown.

  This reference / comparison target image data display screen 80 has a reference image data display area 81 where reference image data of the interpretation series Ax is displayed, and comparison target image data display where comparison target image data of the interpretation series Bx or Cx is displayed. An area 82 and a thumbnail image data display area 83 for displaying thumbnail image data selected from the thumbnail image data of the interpretation series Ax to Cx are provided.

  FIG. 6A shows the first reference image data Ax1 in the reference image data Ax1 to Axn in the interpretation series Ax displayed in the reference image data display area 81, and the reference thumbnail image data Ax1t of the reference image data Ax1 is a thumbnail. The case where image data is displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83 is shown.

  Then, by using the input device of the operation unit 17 and clicking the reference image data display area 81 on the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80 described above, the reference image data Ax1 becomes the reference image data Ax2 of the same interpretation series Ax. Further, the reference thumbnail image data Ax1t displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83 is the reference thumbnail image data Ax2t having the same shooting position information as the reference image data Ax2, as shown in FIG. 6B. Updated to

  By repeating the same operation, the reference image data Ax0 at the desired shooting position is displayed in the reference image data display area 81, and the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t corresponding to the reference image data Ax0 is displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83. .

  FIG. 7A shows the reference / data obtained when the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t and Cx0t of the interpretation series Bx and Cx at the same shooting position as the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t of the reference image data Ax0 are searched by the image data search unit 14. The comparison target image data display screen 80 is shown. In the thumbnail image data display area 83, in addition to the reference thumbnail image data of the reference image data Ax0, the comparison target thumbnail image data searched by the image data search unit 14 is shown. Bx0t and Cx0t are displayed.

  Next, when the thumbnail image data Bx0t and Cx0t displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83 are observed and, for example, the interpretation series Bx is selected as the comparison target image data, the operator inputs the input to the operation unit 17. Using the device, the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t is dragged and dropped onto the comparison target image data display area 82.

  On the other hand, the image data search unit 14 reads the shooting position information of the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t dragged and dropped into the comparison target image data display area 82, and then the comparison having the same shooting position information as this shooting position information. The target image data Bx0 is read from the image data storage area 61 of the image data storage unit 11. Then, the display data generation unit 15 combines the comparison target image data Bx0 and the reference image data Ax0 and displays them on the monitor of the display unit 16.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the reference image data Ax0 is displayed in the reference image data display area 81 of the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80 displayed on the monitor of the display unit 16, and the comparison target image is displayed. In the data display area 82, comparison target image data Bx0 at the same photographing position as the image data Ax0 is displayed.

  In this case, when the display format of the reference image data is different from the display format of the comparison target image data, the comparison target image data is edited based on the display format of the reference image data and compared with the reference image data. . For example, when the image magnification of the reference image data and the image magnification of the comparison target image data are different, the comparison target image data searched by the image data search unit 14 is the reference image data already displayed in the reference image data display area 81. The image is enlarged / reduced so as to coincide with the magnification of 1 and displayed in the comparison target image data display area 82.

(Display procedure of reference image data and comparison target image data)
Next, the display procedure of the reference image data and the comparison target image data in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  An operator of the medical image display apparatus 100 displays a list of image data groups (series) regarding the subject on the display panel of the operation unit 17 or the monitor of the display unit 16. Next, a reference image data group and a comparison target image data group capable of comparative interpretation with the reference image data group are selected from these image data groups.

  In this case, the comparison target image data group is automatically selected based on information such as the number of image data and the shooting direction of these series.

  Here, as already described, the image data group obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus before injection of the contrast agent is set as series A, the image data group after injection of the contrast agent is set as series B, and the DSA image data group is set as series C. The image data group A is selected as the reference image data group, and the series B and series C image data groups are selected as the comparison target image data groups (step S1 in FIG. 8).

  Next, the operator displays the interpretation series setting screen 70 shown in FIG. 5 on the monitor of the display unit 16 by using a selection button provided on the operation unit 17. Then, an interpretation series setting start command signal output from the selection button is supplied to the interpretation series setting unit 12 via the system control unit 18.

  Receiving this command signal, the interpretation series setting unit 12 reads the series A reference image data groups A1 to Am stored in the image data storage unit 11 to generate scout image data, and performs the scouting on the interpretation series setting screen 70. Displayed in the image data display area 71. If the scout image data related to the series A is already stored in the image data storage unit 11, the scout image is displayed as it is in the scout image data display area 71 (step S2 in FIG. 8).

  The operator moves the series range setting slide bar 72 provided in the scout image data display area 71 while observing the image data displayed in the interpretation series image data display area 73 of the interpretation series setting screen 70, thereby interpreting the interpretation series. Set the range of Ax.

  Next, the operator selects (clicks) the interpretation series setting end button 76 to end the setting of the interpretation series Ax for the series A reference image data groups A1 to Am. Next, for the series B and the series C, the interpretation series Bx and the interpretation series Cx are set by the same procedure, or the setting range of the interpretation series Ax that has already been set is applied as it is, and the interpretation series Bx and the interpretation series. A range of Cx is set (step S3 in FIG. 8).

  When the setting of the above-described interpretation series is completed, the thumbnail image data generation unit 13 that has received the setting end signal via the system control unit 18 determines the reference of the interpretation series Ax to Cx set by the interpretation series setting unit 12. The image data groups Ax1 to Axn, the comparison target image data groups Bx1 to Bxn, and the comparison target image data groups Cx1 to Cxn are read, and the reference thumbnail image data Ax1t to Axnt, the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx1t to Bxnt, and the comparison target thumbnail image data Cx1t Through Cxnt. Then, these thumbnail image data are stored in the thumbnail image data storage area 62 of the image data storage unit 11 (step S4 in FIG. 8).

  Next, the operator uses the selection button of the operation unit 17 to display the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80 on the monitor of the display unit 16 (see FIG. 6), and then displays it in the reference image data display area 81. The reference image data of the interpretation series Ax to be updated is updated using the input device of the operation unit 17 to select the reference image data Ax0 at the desired photographing position (step S5 in FIG. 8). At this time, the image data search unit 14 selects the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t of the selected reference image data Ax0, and comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t and Cx0t having substantially the same shooting position information as the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t. A search is performed in the thumbnail image data storage area 62 of the data storage unit 11, and if it exists, it is displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83 of the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80 (see FIG. 7A) (see FIG. 7). 8 step S6).

  Next, the operator selects desired comparison target thumbnail image data (for example, comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t) from the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t and Cx0t displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83, and The comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t is dragged and dropped onto the comparison target image data display area 82 (step S7 in FIG. 8).

  The image data search unit 14 that has received the movement information of the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t described above stores the comparison target image data Bx0 corresponding to the comparison target thumbnail image data Bx0t in the image data storage area 61 of the image data storage unit 11. (Step S8 in FIG. 8), and the reference image data Ax0 and the comparison target image data Bx0 are displayed in parallel by displaying them in the comparison target image data display area 82 of the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80. (Step S9 in FIG. 8).

(Modification)
Next, a modified example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this modification, reference thumbnail image data and comparison target thumbnail image data are generated for each of the reference image data group and comparison target image data group of the interpretation series in which the interpretation range is set. Then, in the display unit including the reference image data display area, the comparison target image data display area, and the thumbnail image data display area, the reference thumbnail image data corresponding to the desired reference image data displayed in the reference image data display area is The thumbnail image data is displayed in the thumbnail image data display area, and then the reference thumbnail image data is dragged and dropped into the comparison target image data display area, thereby searching for comparison target image data at substantially the same shooting position as the reference image data.

  Note that the configuration of the medical image display apparatus in this modification is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Further, in the flowchart showing the display procedure of the reference image data and the comparison target image data in this modification shown in FIG. 9, the same steps as those in the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. Detailed description is omitted.

  The operator of the medical image display apparatus 100 selects a reference image data group and a comparison target image data group from the image data group of the subject (step S1 in FIG. 9). Next, the interpretation series setting unit 12 reads the reference image data groups A1 to Am stored in the image data storage unit 11 to generate scout image data (step S2 in FIG. 9), and uses the scout image data. The range of the interpretation series Ax, Bx, Cx is set (step S3 in FIG. 9).

  On the other hand, the thumbnail image data generation unit 13 includes the reference image data groups Ax1 to Axn of the interpretation series Ax to Cx set by the interpretation series setting unit 12, the comparison target image data groups Bx1 to Bxn, and the comparison target image data groups Cx1 to Cxn. To generate reference thumbnail image data Ax1t to Axnt, comparison target thumbnail image data Bx1t to Bxnt, and comparison target thumbnail image data Cx1t to Cxnt (step S4 in FIG. 9).

  Next, the operator selects desired reference image data Ax0 from the reference image data groups Ax1 to Axn of the interpretation series Ax displayed in the reference image data display area 81 (step S5 in FIG. 9). On the other hand, the image data search unit 14 searches the thumbnail image data storage area 62 of the image data storage unit 11 for the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t of the selected reference image data Ax0, and displays the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80. They are displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83 (see FIG. 10A) (step S16 in FIG. 9).

  Next, the operator drags and drops the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t displayed in the thumbnail image data display area 83 to the comparison target image data display area 82 (step S17 in FIG. 9).

  Then, the image data search unit 14 that has received the movement information of the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t stores the comparison target image data Bx0 having substantially the same shooting position information as the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t in the image data storage unit 11. A search is performed in the area 61 (step S8 in FIG. 8), and the reference image data Ax0 and the comparison target image data Bx0 are displayed in parallel by displaying in the comparison target image data display area 82 of the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80. (See FIG. 10B) (step S9 in FIG. 8).

  However, when there are a plurality of image data (for example, comparison target image data Bx0 and Cx0) having substantially the same shooting position information as the reference thumbnail image data Ax0t dragged and dropped in the comparison target image data display area 82, A plurality of comparison target image data is displayed in the comparison target image data display area 82, and the operator selects desired comparison target image data from these comparison target image data as necessary, and the reference image data. Comparison display with.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when comparatively interpreting image data belonging to a plurality of series, the comparison image data at the same photographing position as the reference image data can be searched by a simple operation using the thumbnail image data. Can be automatically displayed. For this reason, when searching for comparison target image data at the same shooting position as the reference image data, a conventional page turning operation by the operator himself is not required.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the interpretation series corresponding to the diagnostic purpose is newly set for the image data stored in advance, the selection range of the reference image data is narrowed, and the time and labor required for the selection are reduced. To reduce. Furthermore, since thumbnail image data of other series that can be compared and interpreted with respect to the reference image data is displayed in a list, desired image data to be compared can be easily selected.

  Accordingly, comparative interpretation of series image data at the same photographing position is facilitated, and diagnostic efficiency is dramatically improved.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example, It can change and implement. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the comparison display of the reference image data and the comparison target image data at the same photographing position has been described. However, the same image data generation position, slice slice position, or the like may be used. Further, for a subject having movement such as breathing or pulsation, the comparison display of the reference image data and the comparison target image data in the same time phase may be performed.

  On the other hand, the generation of thumbnail image data in the above-described embodiment was performed for the reference image data group and the comparison target image data group in the newly set interpretation series. May be generated.

  In this embodiment, three series of image data obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other image diagnosis apparatuses such as an MRI apparatus and an X-ray diagnosis apparatus. May be a plurality of series of image data with different shooting conditions collected.

  Furthermore, although the series in the above-described embodiment has described the image data group and the DSA image data group before and after the contrast medium injection, the present invention is not limited thereto.

  In the above-described embodiment, the reference / comparison target image data display screen 80 displayed on the display unit 16 displays the reference image data and the comparison target image data one by one. As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of pieces of image data may be compared and displayed. In this case, the same number of comparison target image data as the plurality of reference image data displayed in the reference image data display area 81 is displayed in the comparison target image data display area 82.

The functional block diagram of the medical image display apparatus in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows typically the image data preserve | saved at the image data memory | storage part of the Example. The figure which shows the imaging position of the image data in the Example. The functional block diagram of the interpretation series setting part in the Example. The figure which shows the interpretation series setting method using the scout image data in the Example. The figure which shows the display method of the reference | standard image data and its thumbnail image data in a present Example. The figure which shows the display method of the comparison object image data using the thumbnail image data in a present Example. 6 is a flowchart showing a display procedure of reference image data and comparison target image data in the present embodiment. The flowchart which shows the display procedure of the reference | standard image data in the modification of a present Example, and comparison object image data. The figure which shows the display method of the comparison object image data using the thumbnail image data in the modification of a present Example. The figure which shows the other display method of the comparison object image data using the thumbnail image data in a present Example. The figure which shows the comparison display method of the conventional image data between series.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Image data storage part 12 ... Interpretation series setting part 13 ... Thumbnail image data generation part 14 ... Image data search part 15 ... Display data generation part 16 ... Display part 17 ... Operation part 18 ... System control part 61 ... Image data storage area 62 ... Thumbnail image data storage area 70 ... Interpretation series setting screen 71 ... Scout image data display area 72 ... Series range setting slide bar 73 ... Interpretation series image data display area 74 ... Interpretation series range display area 75 ... Interpretation series setting button 76 ... Interpretation series setting end button 80 ... Reference / comparison target image data display screen 81 ... Reference image data display area 82 ... Comparison target image data display area 83 ... Thumbnail image data display area 121 ... Scout image data generation unit 122 ... Interpretation series range Setting unit 123 ... interpretation series range storage 100 ... medical image display apparatus

Claims (10)

A plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of series of image data groups and image data storage means for storing incidental information of these image data;
The reference image data group of the image interpretation series set for the image data group of the plurality of series and the image data of one or a plurality of comparison target image data groups, the reference having the auxiliary information of these image data Thumbnail image data generating means for generating thumbnail image data and comparison target thumbnail image data;
Thumbnail image data display for displaying comparison target thumbnail image data of the one or more comparison target image data groups having supplementary information substantially equal to the supplementary information of desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group Means,
Image data search means for searching for comparison target image data having auxiliary information substantially equal to the reference image data based on the auxiliary information of the comparison target thumbnail image data displayed by the thumbnail image data display means;
A medical image display device comprising display means for displaying the comparison target image data obtained by searching. A plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of series of image data groups and image data storage means for storing incidental information of these image data;
Thumbnail image data generation means for generating reference thumbnail image data having the supplementary information of the image data for image data of the reference image data group of the image interpretation series set for the image data group of the plurality of series; ,
Thumbnail image data display means for displaying reference thumbnail image data of desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group;
Image data search means for searching for comparison target image data having auxiliary information substantially equal to the reference image data based on the auxiliary information of the reference thumbnail image data displayed by the thumbnail image data display means;
A medical image display device comprising display means for displaying the searched comparison target image data.   The display means includes a thumbnail image data display area for displaying at least either the reference thumbnail image data or the comparison target thumbnail image data, and an image data display area for displaying the reference image data and the comparison target image data. The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image display apparatus is a medical image display apparatus.   An operation unit having an input device, wherein the image data search unit is based on supplementary information of the reference thumbnail image data or the comparison target thumbnail image data dragged and dropped onto the image data display area using the input device. 4. The medical image display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the comparison target image data is searched.   An operation unit having an input device is provided, and the desired reference image data is selected by sequentially updating image data of a reference image data group displayed in the image data display area using the input device. The medical image display apparatus according to claim 3.   An interpretation series setting means is provided, and the interpretation series setting means is used for comparative interpretation with respect to scout image data generated using image data of one or a plurality of image data groups stored by the image data storage means. 3. The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a range of the image data group is set.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the incidental information in the image data is any one of a photographing position, a photographing part, a generation position, and a photographing time phase of the image data.   2. The medical image display according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image data display means selects and displays the comparison target thumbnail image data based on supplementary information of reference thumbnail image data with respect to the desired reference image data. apparatus. A step of setting an interpretation series using a plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of image data groups stored in advance and the accompanying information;
Generating reference thumbnail image data and comparison target thumbnail image data having supplementary information of these image data for the image data of the reference image data group of the image interpretation series and one or more comparison target image data groups;
Displaying the comparison target thumbnail image data of the one or more comparison target image data groups having additional information substantially equal to the additional information of the desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group;
Searching comparison target image data having auxiliary information substantially equal to the reference image data based on the auxiliary information of the displayed comparison target thumbnail image data;
A medical image display method comprising a step of comparing and displaying the comparison target image data obtained by searching and the reference image data. A step of setting an interpretation series using a plurality of image data constituting each of a plurality of image data groups stored in advance and the accompanying information;
Generating reference thumbnail image data having additional information of the image data for image data of the reference image data group of the interpretation series;
Displaying reference thumbnail image data for desired reference image data selected from the reference image data group;
Searching comparison target image data having auxiliary information substantially equal to the reference image data based on the auxiliary information of the displayed reference thumbnail image data;
A medical image display method comprising a step of comparing and displaying the comparison target image data obtained by searching and the reference image data.

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