JP5111924B2 - Medical diagnostic imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image diagnostic apparatus having a function of displaying and reproducing medical images.

Conventionally, a method for easily selecting and reproducing a desired Run image from a plurality of captured Run images (a group of medical images made up of a plurality of frames collected by one imaging) during and after an examination For example, a method of displaying a thumbnail image of a representative image in each Run image as a catalog is used. Further, in order to efficiently reproduce each Run image, a continuous reproduction method for sequentially reproducing medical images constituting the Run image in units of frames as shown in Patent Document 1 is used.
JP-A-10-71140

  Here, in the case of the catalog display described above, the number of thumbnail images displayed in the catalog increases as the number of Run images per examination increases. In this case, it is not easy to find a desired Run image, and in order to find a desired image, it may be necessary to repeat the operation of actually reproducing the Run image displayed in the catalog and confirming the contents. .

  In the case of the continuous reproduction of Patent Document 1, since all the Run images collected during one examination are reproduced in time series, if the number of Run images increases, the reproduction time increases, and the desired medical use is performed. It may take a lot of time to find a Run image including an image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a medical image diagnostic apparatus that can easily find a desired Run image in a short time.

In order to achieve the above object, the medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention automatically selects some of the plurality of frames of medical images from each of the plurality of frames of medical images collected for each imaging. And a reproducing unit that sequentially reproduces each of the selected some of the plurality of frames of medical images , wherein the selecting unit includes the plurality of frames of medical images collected for each imaging. The medical image having the number of frames corresponding to a common ratio is selected for each photographing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the medical image diagnostic apparatus which can find a desired Run image easily and in a short time can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a single plane X-ray diagnostic apparatus as an example of a medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a subject 3 such as a patient having a disease in a cardiovascular or the like is placed on a bed 4. The mechanism control unit 6 is provided with a C-arm 7 that is rotatable. An X-ray generator 2 and an X-ray detector 5 are provided at each end of the C arm 7 so as to face each other. The X-ray generator 2 includes an X-ray tube, and emits X-rays when a tube voltage and a tube current are supplied to the X-ray tube. The X-ray detector 5 detects the amount of X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator 2 and transmitted through the subject 3 and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected amount of X-rays. The X-ray detector 5 uses a flat panel detector (FPD) or I.I. (Image Intensifier).

  The mechanism control unit 6 rotates the C arm 7. As a result, the X-ray generation unit 2 and the X-ray detection unit 5 rotate around the subject 3 as a rotation center.

  The X-ray control unit controls the tube voltage and tube current supplied to the X-ray generation unit 2, and includes a high voltage control unit 20 and a high voltage generation unit 1. The high voltage control unit 20 controls the tube voltage value and the tube current generated by the high voltage generation unit 1. The high voltage generator 1 is controlled by the high voltage controller 20 to generate a predetermined tube voltage and tube current and supply the tube voltage and tube current to the X-ray generator 2.

  The control device body is a computer. The main body of the control device includes a system control unit 8 and an image calculation / storage unit 10 and is connected to a display unit 11 such as a liquid crystal display. An operation unit 9 is provided in the control device main body. The operation unit 9 includes a hand switch 12 and a user interface unit 14. The system control unit 8 controls the mechanism control unit 6 to rotate the C-arm 7 to rotate the X-ray generation unit 2 and the X-ray detection unit 5 around the subject 3 as a rotation center, and also the high voltage control unit 20 is controlled to adjust the amount of X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator 2. Further, the system control unit 8 sequentially receives the output signal of the X-ray detection unit 5, generates still image data (medical image data) of a plurality of frames from the signal, and stores it in the image calculation / storage unit 10.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image calculation / storage unit 10 and the user interface unit 14 in the first embodiment.

  The image calculation / storage unit 10 includes a reproduction processing unit 101 and an image database 102. The reproduction processing unit 101 as reproduction means receives operation input via the user interface unit 14 and reproduces moving image data. The image database 102 stores medical image data generated by the system control unit 8 in units of frames, units of Run (units of medical image data of a plurality of frames collected in one imaging), and units of examination (in one examination). (One or more Run image data units), together with incidental information such as patient information, Run type, examination date, collection site, and image processing conditions.

  The user interface unit 14 serving as a selection unit includes, for example, a software operation unit that is operated in response to an operation of the hand switch 12, and a display unit that graphically displays the operation unit. The user interface unit 14 includes at least a digest reproduction mode selection unit 141, a reproduction start instruction unit 142, a reproduction end instruction unit 143, and a display frame selection unit 144 as operation units. The digest playback mode selection unit 141 is an operation unit for selecting a digest playback mode, which will be described later, as a playback mode of medical image data by the playback processing unit 101. Each time the digest playback mode selection unit 141 is selected, the medical image playback mode is switched between the digest playback mode and the normal playback mode. The reproduction start instruction unit 142 is an operation unit for instructing the reproduction processing unit 101 to start reproduction of Run image data. The reproduction end instruction unit 143 is an operation unit for instructing the reproduction processing unit 101 to end reproduction of Run image data. The display frame selection unit 144 is an operation unit for selecting a frame area to be played back in the digest playback mode.

  Here, each operation unit of the user interface unit 14 may be configured as a hardware operation unit.

  Hereinafter, the digest playback mode will be described. In general, an image that a doctor wants to see in a catheter test or the like is an image from when a contrast medium is injected until it flows. Therefore, when imaging a medical image, the imaging start time and imaging time are set with sufficient time so that an image from when the contrast medium is injected until it flows is included. Therefore, it is not necessary for the doctor to see the images of all the frames in the Run image to identify the desired Run image from the collected Run images, and only the image of the frame containing the contrast agent can be seen. It ’s fine. If the timing of adding the contrast medium at the time of photographing is almost the same, it can be considered that the frame range where the image containing the contrast medium exists is almost the same in all Run images.

  Therefore, in the digest playback mode described below, only a medical image in a predetermined frame region is extracted from each Run image and played back so that a desired Run image can be found quickly.

  FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a display example of the operation unit on the user interface unit 14 when the digest playback mode is selected in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, when the digest reproduction mode is selected, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the reproduction start instruction unit 142, the reproduction end instruction unit 143, and the display frame selection unit 144 are respectively Is displayed.

  Here, as the display frame selection unit 144, a reproduction start position designation unit 144a and a reproduction frame region designation unit 144b are displayed. Then, by specifying the position of the playback start position specifying unit 144a by operating the hand switch 12, the position of the frame from which playback is to be started can be specified in units of% in the 1 Run image. Further, by designating the area of the reproduction frame area designation unit 144b by operating the hand switch 12, the frame area to be reproduced can be designated in units of% in one Run image.

  When the position of the reproduction start position designation unit 144a and the area of the reproduction frame area designation unit 144b are designated, the designation results are visually displayed, for example, as indicated by reference numeral 144c. As a result, it is possible to instantly identify which frame region of the medical image is to be reproduced among all the frames at the time of reproduction.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the playback frame area is specified not by the number of frames but by the ratio to all the frames in one Run image. The result of specifying the playback frame area can be used in common for all Run images.

  Hereinafter, the flow of Run image playback in the digest playback mode of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the digest playback mode according to the first embodiment, when the playback start instruction unit 142 is operated in a state where the playback start position specifying unit 144a and the playback frame area specifying unit 144b are specified, a Run image is played back. In this reproduction, the reproduction processing unit 101 selects medical image data of a frame included in the reproduction frame region from the image database 102 for each Run image, and reproduces the selected medical image data on the display unit 11 as a moving image. In FIG. 3, the medical image data of the frame area to be reproduced is shown by hatching. The same applies to the following embodiments.

  For example, when the reproduction start position is designated at the position of 20% shown in FIG. 2B and the reproduction frame area is designated within the range of 30% from the reproduction start position, 20 of all the frames in each Run image. A medical image in the range of 50% to 50% is selected and reproduced. A fraction may occur depending on the designation of%, but when a fraction occurs, the value is rounded off, for example.

  For example, in FIG. 3, when the first Run image (Run # 1) is composed of 100 frames of medical images and the second Run image (Run # 2) is composed of 50 frames of medical images. In Run # 1, medical images from the 20th frame to the 50th frame are selected and reproduced, and in Run # 2, medical images from the 10th frame to the 25th frame are selected and reproduced. These are images with substantially the same shooting timing, although the number of frames to be reproduced is different. Here, after the reproduction of one Run image is completed, the reproduction may be paused, or the reproduction of the next Run image may be started as it is.

  Further, when the reproduction end instruction unit 143 is operated during the reproduction of the Run image, the reproduction of the medical image is ended. When a desired Run image is found in this way, it is possible to return from the digest playback mode to the normal playback mode and to observe the desired Run image in detail in the normal playback mode.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when a Run image is reproduced, not all the frames in the Run image are reproduced, but only a part of the frames is extracted and reproduced. By doing so, it is possible to find a desired Run image in a short time even if the number of Run images becomes large.

  In addition, since the range of frames to be played back is specified as a ratio to all frames, it is possible to specify playback frame regions for all Run images with one playback frame region specifying operation.

  Here, in the example of FIG. 2B, an example in which one playback frame region is specified in one Run image is shown, but a plurality of playback frame regions can be specified in one Run image. Also good. Even when a plurality of reproduction frame areas are designated, the reproduction processing unit 101 selects and sequentially reproduces medical image data of frames included in the plurality of designated reproduction frame areas.

  In the example of FIG. 3, an example in which all Run images are reproduced in the digest reproduction mode is shown, but it is not always necessary to reproduce all Run images. For example, a representative image of each Run image may be displayed as a catalog on the display unit 11, and only the Run image selected in this list and the Run image in the vicinity thereof may be reproduced. By combining the catalog display and the digest reproduction mode in this way, it is possible to find a desired Run image more quickly.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, an example in which the playback frame area is manually specified has been described. However, if the ratio for specifying the playback frame area is a fixed value, the playback processing unit 101 automatically specifies the playback frame area. It can also be specified.

  Further, each operation unit displayed on the user interface unit 14 may be displayed on the display unit 11 so that the above-described digest playback mode operation can be performed on the display unit 11.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the user interface unit 14 in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4A, the second embodiment is different in that a Run type selection unit 145 is added to the user interface unit 14 of the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The Run type selection unit 145 is an operation unit for selecting a desired Run type (the type of imaging or a medical image generated thereby) from medical images stored for each Run image in the image database 102. is there. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a display example on the user interface unit 14 of the Run type selection unit 145. As the Run type selection unit 145, a check box 145a for each Run type is displayed. The Run type is selected by selecting any one of the check boxes 145a by operating the hand switch 12.

  Here, in FIG. 4B, “Fluoro”, “DA”, “DSA”, “3D-DA”, and “3D-DSA” are shown as examples of the Run type. “Fluoro” is a Run image taken with fluoroscopy, “DA” is a Run image taken with digital angiography, and “DSA” is the difference between DA images before and after contrast agent injection. Run images “3D-DA” and “3D-DSA” obtained by taking the images are Run images obtained by three-dimensional reconstruction of the DA image and the DSA image, respectively.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the operation unit on the user interface unit 14 when the digest reproduction mode is selected in the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, when the digest playback mode is selected, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a playback start instruction unit 142, a playback end instruction unit 143, a display frame selection unit 144, and a Run type selection unit are displayed. 145 is displayed respectively. In the second embodiment, when the Run type and the reproduction frame area are designated, the medical image as shown in FIG. 3 is reproduced only for the Run image corresponding to the designated Run type.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, by providing the Run type selection unit 145, it is possible to find a desired Run image in a shorter time than in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the user interface unit 14 in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6A, the third embodiment is different in that a playback speed changing unit 146 is provided instead of the display frame selecting unit 144 in the user interface unit 14 of the first embodiment. Yes. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The playback speed changing unit 146 is an operation unit for changing the playback speed of the Run image in the digest playback mode. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a display example of the operation unit on the user interface unit 14 when the digest reproduction mode is selected in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, when the digest reproduction mode is selected, the reproduction start instruction unit 142, the reproduction end instruction unit 143, and the reproduction speed change unit 146 are displayed as shown in FIG. 6B, for example. Is done. Here, as the playback speed changing unit 146, an index 146a for specifying the playback speed is displayed. The playback speed can be changed by moving the index 146a by the hand switch 12. During playback of a Run image, the playback processing unit 101 selects medical image data of a frame corresponding to the playback speed by thinning out the image database 102 for each Run image, and plays back the selected medical image data as a moving image on the display unit 11. To do. In FIG. 6B, as an example of the reproduction speed, “1 × speed (× 1)”, “2 × speed (× 2)”, “4 × speed (× 4)”, “8 × speed (× 8) ) ". “1 × speed” is the same playback speed as in the normal playback mode, and the playback processing unit 101 selects the medical image data of all the frames in the Run image. In the case of “double speed”, the reproduction processing unit 101 selects medical image data in the Run image for each frame. Similarly, in the case of “4 × speed”, the reproduction processing unit 101 selects medical image data in the Run image every three frames, and in the case of “8 × speed”, the reproduction processing unit 101 selects the medical image data in the Run image. Medical image data is selected every 7 frames.

  Hereinafter, the flow of Run image playback in the digest playback mode of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the digest playback mode of the third embodiment, when the playback start instruction unit 142 is operated with the playback speed changing unit 146 specified, playback of the Run image is started. Here, FIG. 7 shows a case where “double speed” is selected, and the reproduction processing unit 101 selects the medical image data in the Run image for each frame, and uses the selected medical image data as a moving image. Playback on the display unit 11. Further, when the reproduction end instruction unit 143 is operated during the reproduction of the Run image, the reproduction of the medical image is ended. When a desired Run image is found in this way, it is possible to return from the digest playback mode to the normal playback mode and to observe the desired Run image in detail in the normal playback mode.

  Here, after the reproduction of one Run image is completed in the third embodiment, the reproduction may be paused similarly to the first embodiment, or the reproduction of the next Run image is started as it is. You may make it let it.

  In particular, when the reproduction speed is increased, the number of frames after thinning is very small, and as a result, there is a case where the reproduction time of the Run image is almost eliminated. Therefore, a minimum playback time is provided for each playback speed, and if the playback time of the run image after thinning falls below the minimum playback time, the frame rate for the run image playback is increased accordingly. Therefore, it is desirable that the playback is performed during the minimum playback time. In this way, it is possible to identify a desired Run image even if the number of frames after thinning decreases.

  As described above, the method of the third embodiment can also find a desired Run image in a short time as in the first embodiment.

  Here, also in the third embodiment, the Run type selection unit 145 of the second embodiment is provided, and the Run image reproduction in which the reproduction speed is changed with respect to the Run image selected by the Run type selection unit 145 is performed. You may be able to do it.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, a keep reproduction instruction unit and a non-display instruction unit are added to the first to third embodiments.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the keep reproduction instruction unit and the non-display instruction unit on the user interface unit 14 when the digest reproduction mode is selected in the fourth embodiment. The keep reproduction instruction unit 147 is an operation unit for designating a Run image to be repeatedly reproduced during the digest reproduction mode. Further, when the keep reproduction instruction unit 147 is operated in a state where the keep reproduction instruction is given, the keep reproduction instruction is canceled. The non-display instruction unit 148 is an operation unit for designating a Run image that is not to be reproduced during the digest reproduction mode. Further, when the non-display instruction unit 148 is operated in a state where the non-display instruction is given, the non-display instruction is canceled.

  Hereinafter, the flow of Run image playback in the digest playback mode of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the digest playback mode of the fourth embodiment, while the keep playback instruction unit 147 and the non-display instruction unit 148 are not operated (Run # 1 in FIG. 9), normal digest playback (the first playback in FIG. 9) is performed. Although the Run image reproduction in the embodiment is shown, the Run image reproduction in the third embodiment can also be applied).

  Then, when the keep reproduction instructing unit 147 is operated when a desired Run image (Run # 2 in FIG. 9) is found, after the digest reproduction of the Run image is completed, the desired reproduction image is displayed as shown in FIG. The reproduction of the medical image data of all frames of the Run image is repeated. This makes it possible to perform detailed observation of the desired Run image without having to bother to return to the normal playback mode after finding the desired Run image.

  Further, when a non-display instruction unit 148 is operated at the time when a Run image that does not need to be reproduced such as a failed image is found, the reproduction of the Run image is skipped after the digest reproduction of the Run image ends. The process proceeds to playback of the next Run image. As a result, unnecessary Run images are not reproduced, so that a desired Run image can be found more efficiently.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fifth embodiment is an example in the case of playing back a Run image recorded on an image recording medium such as a CDROM or DVDROM in the past, instead of playing back a Run image obtained immediately after the inspection. The above-described digest reproduction is used to find a desired Run image from past images.

  For this reason, when the image recording medium is a readable / writable medium, the number of reproductions for each frame in each Run image is recorded in the image recording medium. Further, when the image recording medium is a read-only medium, the number of reproductions for each frame in each Run image is recorded in the reproduction processing unit 101 of the medical image diagnostic apparatus.

  When the Run image is played back, the medical image data near the frame with the highest playback count is selected with reference to the playback count information recorded in the image recording medium or the playback processing unit 101, and digest playback is performed.

  A medical image of a frame that has been played many times in the past is often an important image, so by playing back only the vicinity of this image, the doctor can specify the important frame without specifying the playback frame area by himself / herself. It is possible to perform digest reproduction including

  Furthermore, when the transfer speed of the image recording medium is not high and it takes a long time to import an image, it is preferable that only the necessary medical image data can be imported. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, an import instruction unit 149 as a still image selection unit as shown in FIG. 10 is provided. When the import instruction unit 149 is operated by the hand switch 12 during the digest reproduction, the medical image 150 reproduced at that time is imported as a still image.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to find a desired Run image more efficiently when playing back a Run image recorded on an image recording medium such as a CDROM or DVDROM in the past. is there.

  Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are naturally possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus is cited as an example of a medical image diagnostic apparatus. However, the method of the above-described embodiment may be applied to various medical image diagnostic apparatuses other than the X-ray diagnostic apparatus. Is possible. In addition, the shape, arrangement, and the like of each operation unit of the user interface unit 14 shown in each embodiment described above are not limited to those illustrated.

  Further, the above-described embodiments include various stages of the invention, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some configuration requirements are deleted from all the configuration requirements shown in the embodiment, the above-described problem can be solved, and this configuration requirement is deleted when the above-described effects can be obtained. The configuration can also be extracted as an invention.

1 is a configuration diagram of a single plane X-ray diagnostic apparatus as an example of a medical image diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image calculation / storage unit and the user interface unit in the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a diagram in which the digest playback mode is selected in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation part on the user interface part. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of Run image reproduction | regeneration in the digest reproduction | regeneration mode of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the configuration of the user interface unit in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a display example on the user interface unit of the Run type selection unit. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation part on a user interface part when digest reproduction | regeneration mode is selected in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a configuration of a user interface unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a user interface unit when the digest playback mode is selected in the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the upper operation part. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of Run image reproduction | regeneration in the digest reproduction | regeneration mode of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the keep reproduction | regeneration instruction | indication part on a user interface part when a digest reproduction | regeneration mode is selected in the 4th Embodiment of this invention, and a non-display instruction | indication part. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of Run image reproduction | regeneration in the digest reproduction | regeneration mode of 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display on the user interface part of the import instruction | indication part in the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... High voltage generation part, 2 ... X-ray generation part, 3 ... Subject, 4 ... Bed, 5 ... X-ray detection part, 6 ... Mechanism control part, 7 ... C arm, 8 ... System control part, 9 ... Operation , 10 ... Image calculation / storage unit, 11 ... Display unit, 12 ... Hand switch, 14 ... User interface unit, 20 ... High voltage control unit, 101 ... Playback processing unit, 102 ... Image database, 141 ... Digest playback mode selection , 142... Playback start instruction section, 143... Playback end instruction section, 144... Display frame selection section, 145... Run type selection section, 146. 149 ... Import instruction section

Claims (7)

A selection means for automatically selecting a part of a plurality of frames of medical images from each of a plurality of frames of medical images collected for each imaging;
Reproducing means for sequentially reproducing each of the selected plurality of frames of medical images ,
Comprising
The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a medical image having a number of frames corresponding to a common ratio for each photographing in the plural frames of medical images collected for each photographing. The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects the medical image by thinning out the selected part of the frames. The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reproduction unit lengthens the reproduction time of the selected medical image in accordance with the number of frames of the selected medical image. Non-reproduced image selection means for selecting a medical image related to imaging that is not reproduced from a plurality of frames of medical images collected for each imaging,
The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit performs reproduction while skipping the medical image selected by the non-reproduction image selection unit when reproducing the medical image. Repetitive reproduction image selection means for selecting a medical image related to radiography to be repeatedly reproduced from a plurality of frames of medical images collected for each radiographing,
The said reproduction | regeneration means repeats and reproduces the medical image of all the frames collected in the imaging | photography selected by the said repeated reproduction | regeneration image selection means at the time of reproduction | regeneration of the said medical image. Medical diagnostic imaging device. 2. The selection unit according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of frames of medical images collected for each imaging are input from an image recording medium, the medical images of the partial frames are automatically selected. The medical image diagnostic apparatus described in 1. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a still image selection unit for selecting and capturing an arbitrary medical image as a still image from the sequentially reproduced medical images.

Images