JPH0523528B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing system in which medical image information is transmitted between system component devices and each component device performs various processes.

[Prior art]

In recent years, large-capacity recording media such as optical disks have been put into practical use, and image information filing systems have been developed, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 121575/1983. In the medical field, an endoscope image processing system has also been put into practical use, in which a television camera is connected to an endoscope to capture and store images of a subject inside a body cavity. here,
Image information can be processed in two ways: as an analog signal and as a digital signal, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Generally, it is preferable to process still images using digital signals, which are less susceptible to deterioration due to transmission and recording/reproduction, and to process moving images using analog signals due to transmission speed and recording capacity. By the way, since conventional image processing systems are configured to be able to respond to either analog signals or digital signals, the above-mentioned advantages and disadvantages remain unresolved.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a medical image processing system that records/transmits still images as digital signals and moving images as analog signals.

〔overview〕

This purpose can be achieved by a medical image processing system that transmits medical image information as both analog and digital signals, discriminates the type of signal in each system component device, and processes the medical image information according to the discrimination results.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the medical image processing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is the first
1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment. FIG.
This system includes a television camera 10 that is connected to a medical device such as an endoscope and captures and photographs images of a subject inside a body cavity, a photographic device 12, a medical image filing system 14 such as an optical disk device,
VTR 16, video printer 18, monitor device 2
0, etc., and each system component device is interconnected. It is assumed that the transmission of signals between each device is controlled by a controller (not shown) provided within each device. However, a dedicated controller may also be provided.

The monitor device 20 is configured as follows.
The image signal supplied from the signal transmission line is input to the burst detection circuit 22, and is also input to the changeover switch 2.
4 is input. The changeover switch 24 selectively supplies the input signal to the first and second output terminals, and this switching is controlled by the output of the burst detection circuit 22. A first output terminal of the changeover switch 24 is connected to a frame memory 26. The output signal of the frame memory 26 is input to the video signal processing circuit 30 via the D/A converter 28. A second output terminal of the changeover switch 24 is connected to an input terminal of the video signal processing circuit 30. The video signal processing circuit 30 performs normal image processing on the input image signal to convert it into a signal suitable for display, and supplies the output to the CRT 32 for display.

In this embodiment, the image filing system 14
can record image signals in either analog or digital format, and accordingly, signal transmission lines can also transmit image signals in either analog or digital format. Here, still images are recorded/transmitted using digital signals, and moving images are recorded/transmitted using analog signals. However, monitor device 2
Since the video signal processing circuit 30 of No. 0 can only process analog signals, here, it is determined whether the input signal is an analog signal or a digital signal, and if it is a digital signal, it is A/D converted before being input to the video signal processing circuit 30. Must. In this embodiment, since the image signal is a color signal, identification of whether it is an analog signal or a digital signal is made by the presence or absence of a color burst signal. As shown in Figure 2a, the analog image signal has a back porch of the horizontal synchronizing signal, that is, a color burst signal is inserted before the video signal, but the digital image signal has a color burst signal inserted as shown in Figure 2b. is omitted. Here, H level is +0.7V, L
The level is 0V. As a result, each system component device can identify whether the input image signal is an analog signal or a digital signal based on the presence or absence of a color burst signal in the input image signal. Alternatively, the digital image signal may not only omit the color burst signal, but may also insert an H level start bit of a certain time width into the back porch of the horizontal synchronizing signal, as shown in FIG. 2c. Here, the digital signal is obtained by dividing the analog image signal for one horizontal scanning line into 4 to 16 lines.

The image signal supplied to the monitor device 20 is first detected by the burst detection circuit 22 for the presence or absence of a color burst signal. When the burst detection circuit 22 detects a color burst signal, it switches the changeover switch 24 to the second output terminal side and supplies the input analog image signal (video signal) as it is to the video signal processing circuit 30. On the other hand, the burst detection circuit 22
If no color burst signal is detected, the changeover switch 24 is switched to the first output terminal side, and the input digital image signal (still image signal) is stored in the frame memory 26. The digital image signal read from the frame memory 26 is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 28 and supplied to the video signal processing circuit 30.

Further, since the digital signal in this embodiment is in no way distinguished from the analog black-and-white signal, it can be recorded and reproduced as is on a VTR. Traditional
To record and play back this digital signal as is on a VTR, if the VTR configuration is 2MHz,
If each RGB is 8 bits, it is sufficient to transmit the signal at a transmission rate of 50 pixels in 1H period.

In this way, according to the first embodiment, the digital image signal is in a format in which the color burst signal is omitted, and the monitor device can identify whether the image signal is an analog signal or a digital signal, and can perform processing suitable for each signal. Therefore, an image processing system is provided that can record/transmit image signals in an appropriate signal format, either an analog signal or a digital signal, depending on the type of image. As a result, video signals can be processed using analog signals and still image signals can be processed using digital signals, and this system has satisfactory performance in terms of image quality, transmission speed, and recording capacity.

In the first embodiment, signal transmission control was not explained in detail, but next, an embodiment of signal collision control on a signal transmission line will be explained. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of this second embodiment. Here, the television camera, photographic device, image filing system, VTR, video printer, monitor device, etc. that make up the system are simple, so A, B,
Let them be C and D. In this embodiment, a controller E for transmission control is also provided, and these are connected to each other via a data line 40 and a control line 42.

The operation of each device in the second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, it is assumed that the control line 42 consists of four lines, each of which transmits four signals for collision adjustment as shown in FIGS. 4a to 4d. FIG. 4b is a signal indicating the slots assigned to each device, and the slots of each device are periodically assigned. FIG. 4a shows a reference pulse, one of which is generated for each cycle of the slot assigned to each device. FIG. 4c shows a signal indicating a transmitting device, and this signal indicates that the device corresponding to the H level slot is issuing a transmission request. FIG. 4d shows a signal indicating the receiving device, and this signal indicates that the device corresponding to the H level slot has been designated as the receiving device. Each device can transmit and receive data only during its own slot period.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of each device. Here, the control lines through which the signals shown in FIGS. 4a to 4d flow are referred to as lines A, B, C, and D, respectively. First, as shown in step S1, it is determined whether there is a transmission request. If there is a transmission request, as shown in step S2, it is determined whether the C line is at H level. If the C line is at H level, no transmission request is generated and the device waits until the C line becomes L level. And the C line is L
When the level is reached, as shown in step S3, the C line is set to the H level during the self-slot period, and a transmission request is generated. In the signal waveform diagram of FIG. 4, device B generates a transmission request and the signal is transmitted to device C. In step S4, it is determined whether the slot is such that the C line becomes H level by the next A pulse. This is because the priority order of the slots of each device is set higher the later in each cycle. That is, if transmission requests overlap within one slot period, the request generated later is given priority.
Therefore, if it is determined in step S4 that there is a slot where the C line becomes H level before the next A pulse, the C line is returned to L level during the period of its own slot, as shown in step S5. If the C line does not go to H level during another slot period before the next A pulse, as shown in step S6,
The D line is set to H level only during the period of the destination slot. In step S7, it is determined whether the D line has become L level at the destination slot. This is because, as will be explained in the reception operation, the reception device returns the D line to the L level when reception preparation is completed. Then, in step S7, the D line becomes L.
When you confirm that you have reached the level, proceed to step S8.
Start sending as shown. When the transmission is completed, step S1 is executed again.

If it is determined in step S1 that there is no transmission request,
As shown in step S9, it is determined whether the own slot of the D line is at the H level, that is, whether another device has designated the own device as a receiving device. Here, if the D line of the own slot is not at H level, step S1 is executed again. When the own device is designated as a receiving device, that is, when the D line of the own slot is at H level, it prepares for reception as shown in step S10, and when the preparation is completed, the self-slot starts as shown in step S11. The D line of the slot is returned to the L level. Reception is started in step S12, and upon completion of reception, step S1 is executed again.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, collision of signals on the signal transmission line can be prevented. Further, only four signal lines are required for this control.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is intended to speed up the search for files in the same category in the image filing system. Here, it is assumed that a plurality of image input devices are provided, and each input device includes a solid-state image sensor (SID) 50, a buffer amplifier 52, a controller 54, an operation panel 56, and a monitor 58.
A subscript is attached to each device. The image signal from the SID 50 outputted via the buffer amplifier 52 is sent to the switching switch via the video processing circuit 60.
It is supplied to the first input terminal of SW1. changeover switch
SW1 is for switching two inputs to one output, and the output signal of the changeover switch SW1 is stored in the still image filing system 62. The signal read out from the still image filing system 62 is supplied to the input end of the changeover switch SW2. changeover switch
SW2 is for switching one input to two outputs, and the first output terminal is connected to the mixer 64. mixer 64
are also supplied with signals from the operation panels 56-1, 56-2, . . . and signals from the address memory 68. The output signal of the mixer 64 is supplied to the second input of the changeover switch SW1. Video processing circuit 60, still image filing system 6
2. Changeover switch SW1, changeover switch SW2,
A controller 66 is provided to control the mixer 64 and address memory 68. Note that control signals are also supplied from the controller 66 to the controller 54 and operation panel 56 on the image input device side. A second output terminal of the changeover switch SW2 is connected to a monitor 58.

The third embodiment is characterized by the operation of labeling each file after the image information is filed, and this operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When each image file is stored, the operation is first started, and a label is input from the keyboard within the operation panel 56, as shown in step S20. This label is displayed on the operation panel 56 in step S21.
It is stored in a label RAM (not shown) inside. At step S22, the changeover switch SW2 is switched to the mixer 64 side. In step S23, the unlabeled file, ie, the latest stored file, is read from the still image filing system 62 and supplied to the mixer 64 via the changeover switch SW2. In step S24, the label is read from the label RAM in the operation panel 56, and the label is read out from the label RAM in the operation panel 56, and
supplied to In step S25, the latest file and label are multiplexed. Specifically, a label signal is inserted into a portion of the image signal that is not displayed on the screen. Thereafter, as shown in step S26, the changeover switch SW1 is switched to the mixer 64 side. step
As shown in S27, this file with multiplexed labels is stored again in the still image filing system 62 via the changeover switch SW1. The storage address at this time is stored in the address memory 68 in step S28. At step S29, the storage address of the previous labeled file in the same category is read from the address memory 68. In step S30, the storage address of the latest file is added to the read address to form address data. This address data is stored in the address memory 68 in step S31.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, since the address data indicating the storage address of each file includes the storage address of the next file in the same category, files in the same category can be searched at high speed.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. This embodiment relates to an image recording device that digitally records moving images in real time. Generally, a plurality of bits are required to represent an image signal as a digital signal, and in the case of a color image, each color component is represented by a signal of multiple bits, so the number of bits is large. Therefore, to digitally record a moving image in real time, as many recording channels as the product of the number of color components of the image signal and the number of bits for each component are required. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of optical disks 80 are arranged coaxially and are driven integrally by one disk drive section 84. Here, it is assumed that the image signal of each RGB component is represented by a 6-bit digital signal. Therefore, nine double-sided optical disks 80-1 to 80-9 are provided. and,
Six heads R1-R6, G1-G6, B1-B each consisting of a laser diode and a condensing lens for each color.
6 are provided, each of which is provided on one surface of the optical disk. Each head R1~R6, G1~G
6, B1 to B6 are held by a common arm 82 and driven by a head/arm drive section 86.

A circuit diagram of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. Color imaging is performed using the field sequential method or point sequential method.
The output of the SID 90 is input to a preprocessing section 94 via a buffer amplifier 92. The output of the preprocessing section 94 is separated into three color component signals of RGB by a color separation circuit 96. Each color component signal is A/D
Post processing units 100-1, 100- through converters 98-1, 98-2, 98-3, respectively.
2,100-3. The outputs of post processing units 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 are outputted to D/A converters 102-1, 102-2, 1, respectively.
02-3 and is supplied to the monitor 104 and displayed. Post processing section 100-1, 100-
2,100-3 output is PPI (programmable)
It is also supplied to the peripheral interface (peripheral interface) 110. The PPI 110 is controlled by the CPU 106, and the post processing units 100-1, 100-2,
The signal from 100-3 is supplied to the recording process circuits 112, 116, 120 for each color component, and the reproduction process circuits 114, 11 for each color component.
8,122 to the D/A converter 102.
Monitor 1 via -1, 102-2, 102-3
Supply on 04. Each head 124, . . . is connected to a recording process circuit 112, 116, 120 and a reproduction process circuit 114, 118, 122.

A timing generator 108 for each control reference is provided, the output of which is the SID driver 9
1. Preprocessing section 94, color separation circuit 96, A/
D converter 98-1, 98-2, 98-3, post processing section 100-1, 100-2, 100-
3. D/A converter 102-1, 102-2, 10
2-3, CPU 106, the aforementioned disk drive unit 8
4, supplied to the head/arm drive section 86;

According to the fourth embodiment, since a head is provided for each bit of each color component of the digital color image signal, it is possible to digitally record a moving image in real time.

Note that in the above description, the recording medium is an optical disk, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other media such as a magnetic disk may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to transmit and process medical image signals in both digital signal and analog signal formats.
A medical image processing system is provided that can use different signal formats to process depending on the type of medical image.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the medical image processing system according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 a to c are waveform diagrams showing examples of image signals transmitted in the first embodiment, and FIG. Block diagram of a second embodiment of the medical image processing system according to the invention, FIG. 4a-
d is a waveform diagram explaining the operation of the second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment, and FIG.
The figure shows the third part of the medical image processing system according to the present invention.
7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a medical image recording apparatus in a fourth embodiment of the medical image processing system according to the present invention; FIG. Figure 9 is the fourth
1 is a circuit diagram of an image recording device in an example. 14... Image filing system, 20... Monitor device, 22... Burst detection circuit, 26... Frame memory, 28... A/D converter, 30... Video signal processing circuit, 32... CRT.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Analog image signals,
A medical image processing system that displays medical image information transmitted as a digital image signal on an image display means, comprising: an analog image signal transmitting device that transmits the medical image information as an analog image signal having a synchronization signal and a color burst signal; a digital image signal transmitting device that transmits image information as a digital image signal having a synchronization signal; an image signal converting means that converts the digital image signal transmitted from the digital image signal transmitting device into an analog image signal; and the analog image signal. a transmitting device; and a burst detection circuit that detects a color burst signal in an image signal transmitted from a digital image signal transmitting device; when the burst detection circuit detects a color burst signal, processing the transmitted analog image signal; Medical use characterized by comprising: a video signal processing circuit that processes an analog image signal output from the image signal conversion means and displays it on the image display means when the burst detection circuit does not detect a color burst signal. Image processing system.