JP2002008005A - Method and device for outputting medical image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of a waste area or an image defect regardless of the combination of the size of a gained image or the image size of an area of concern with the maximum output size of an outputting film in a medical image output device. SOLUTION: This image output device QA-WS 40 is provided with an area concerned designation means, 43 for designating the area concerned of a desired size to the whole image to a desired position; an area concerned image generating means 44 for extracting an area concerned image data S2 for the designated area concerned; a variable power processing part 45 for performing a variable power processing so that the image of the designated area concerned is outputted in substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the outputting film to generate a power varied image data S4;, an image processing means 47 for subjecting the power varied image data S4 for the area concerned to an image processing so that the image readability of the image outputted to the output film can be improved according to the variable power rate to generate a processed image data S5; and an output means 49 for outputting the processed image data S5 to a selected film.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medical image output method and apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium such as a CRT or a film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of handling medical images, for example, a radiation image of a patient is stored and recorded on an imaging plate (a stimulable phosphor sheet) having a stimulable phosphor, and the radiation image thus stored is recorded. 2. Description of the Related Art An image read by a CR (Computed Radiography) device is soft-copy output on a display surface such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel, or hard-copy output on a film or the like.

[0003]

On the other hand, the size of an imaging plate to be used, the size of an image necessary for diagnosis or the like, or the maximum output size of an image output medium such as a CRT, a liquid crystal panel, and a film do not always match. Sometimes. When the sizes are different as described above, a preferable state may not always be obtained depending on the combination.

[0004] For example, to be able to cope with large people,
Regardless of the image size required for diagnosis, as an imaging plate (such as a stimulable phosphor sheet), for example, a half-cut size (14 inches wide × 17 inches long) or a large-size image (1 inch wide)
A radiographic image is stored and recorded using a relatively large object such as 4 inches x 14 inches in height, and a region of interest required for diagnosis is specified on the read relatively large image.
When the so-called trimming of outputting the image of the designated region of interest to the film as it is is performed, if the film size of the film (substantially the maximum output size) is larger than the designated region of interest, the film is wasted. If an area (a non-image area) is generated while the film size is smaller than the designated area of interest, a part of a necessary image is missing and output, which may hinder the diagnosis.

Also, for example, even if a region of interest is designated and output, the conventional output mode is limited to trimming in which the image of the region of interest is output at the same size, and the image reading performance is not always good. It is also desired to be able to set a variety of output modes, such as to enlarge and output an image of a designated region of interest.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and regardless of the size of an image acquired by reading or the like, the size of an image required for diagnosis, or the combination of the maximum output size of an image output medium, the present invention is wasteful. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image output method and apparatus capable of preventing an unnecessary area or image loss from occurring.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a medical image output method and apparatus capable of setting a variety of output modes.

[0008]

A first medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium. The image of the region of interest is scaled so that the specified image of the region of interest is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium, and the scaling process is performed. The image of the region of interest is output to an image output medium.

The scaling process is specified when the scaling factor of the scaling process is 1 or less and the size of the image of the designated region of interest is reduced, and when the scaling factor of the scaling process is 1 or more. And enlargement processing for increasing the size of the image of the region of interest. The same applies hereinafter.

"Specifying a region of interest" means to specify at least one of the size (size) and position of the region of interest. The shape of the region of interest may be arbitrary, such as a polygon such as a rectangle or a circle.

The phrase "substantially the same size" does not mean that the size of the image of the region of interest and the maximum output size of the image output medium are strictly the same. Is used, comments such as patient information may be written on the outer edge of the film. In this case, in the maximum output size (substantially the entire film), the entire portion excluding the outer edge on which the comment is written is included. Output of the image of the region of interest.

Although the term "substantially the same size" is used, it is not necessarily limited to the same size in both the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) and the vertical direction (sub-scanning direction). What is necessary is just to make it become substantially the same size in one direction. That is, when the aspect ratios of the two sizes are different, it is sufficient to set the image of the region of interest to a substantially maximum value within a range in which the image does not protrude from the output medium, that is, the image is not lost. Note that a non-image area (surplus area) that may occur in this case may be subjected to, for example, blackening processing. In addition, the designated region of interest may be expanded so as to fill a possible non-image region (only in a direction in which filling is to be performed) so that a non-image region is not generated as a result.

The scaling process may be performed after the directions of the long side and the short side of the region of interest are the same as the direction of the long side and the short side of the image output medium. in this case,
It is preferable to rotate the image of the region of interest by 90 degrees, or to change an image output medium such as a film tray that accommodates an image output medium from portrait to landscape.

A plurality of image output media are prepared in advance, a desired image output medium is selected from the plurality of image output media, and output is performed at a size substantially equal to the maximum output size of the selected image output medium. The image of the region of interest may be subjected to the scaling process so that the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process may be output to the selected image output medium.

"Output image of region of interest to image output medium"
However, the image of the region of interest is not limited to a soft copy output immediately on a display surface such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel, or a hard copy output immediately to a film or the like, but is also output to an image storage device such as a file server. That is, the image of the region of interest may be temporarily stored, or may be transferred and output to a network. In this case, the size information regarding the maximum output size of the image output medium assumed at the time of the scaling process is stored or transferred and output in association with the image data carrying the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process. It is desirable. The same applies hereinafter.

When a region of interest is specified for a medical image, the medical image acquired by reading or the like is read from a CRT.
It is preferable to use a method in which the information is displayed on a monitor or the like and specified based on a user's instruction, such as a method of specifying on a display screen using a pointing device such as a mouse or a method of inputting coordinates using a keyboard or the like. The size of the designated region of interest may be selected from a plurality of fixed sizes prepared in advance, or the size may be freely set.

When the designated size of the region of interest is the same as the maximum output size of the image output medium, the output may be performed without performing the scaling process as in the related art.

After the region of interest is designated, the image of the designated region of interest becomes an image necessary for diagnosis or the like.
It is preferable to save and transfer the image of the designated region of interest. Further, when performing scaling processing on an image of a designated region of interest as in the first medical image output method,
It is preferable to save and transfer the image of the region of interest on which the scaling process has been performed.

A second medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, wherein a region of interest is designated for the medical image, and the region of interest is designated. The magnification of the image of the designated region is designated, the image of the designated region of interest is subjected to the scaling process at the designated magnification, and the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling is output to the image output medium. It is characterized by doing.

Note that the order of designating the region of interest and designating the scaling factor does not matter.

In the first medical image output method, scaling processing is performed on the image of the region of interest so that the image of the region of interest is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium. In this second medical image output method, the user can freely specify the scaling factor. Is different.

Even if the scaling process is performed at the designated scaling factor, the designated scaling factor does not always become appropriate for the output size, and there is a possibility that an unnecessary area or image loss may occur on the image output medium. There is. For this reason, in the second medical image output method, among the plurality of image output media prepared in advance, the size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process by the designated scaling factor is set. It is desirable to select an image output medium having the maximum output size and to output an image of the region of interest on which scaling processing has been performed on the selected image output medium at the specified magnification.

Even when the image output medium is selected as described above, the maximum output size of the selected image output medium is set to be smaller than the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process by the designated scaling factor. Is also reduced, and there is still a possibility that an image may be lost. In order to avoid this, in the second medical image output method, the size of the image of the region of interest, which has been subjected to the scaling process by the designated scaling ratio, out of a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. An image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the area of interest subjected to the scaling process is selected from image output media having a large maximum output size, and the selected image output medium is changed to the selected image output medium. It is desirable to output an image of the region of interest that has been subjected to the double processing.

In the above-mentioned second medical image output method, the maximum output closest to the size of the image of the region of interest, which has been subjected to the scaling process by the designated scaling factor, from a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. Even if an image output medium having a size is selected and an image of a region of interest subjected to scaling processing is output to the selected image output medium, depending on the specified scaling ratio, an unnecessary area or There is a possibility that an image is lost. On the other hand, the third medical image output method corrects the difference between the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the specified scaling factor and the maximum output size of the selected image output medium. The variable magnification processing is performed, and the image is output at the maximum size on the selected image output medium.

That is, a third medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium. Specify the scaling ratio for the image of the area, and from among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance,
An image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the designated scaling factor is selected, and the image of the region of interest is substantially equal to the maximum output size of the selected image output medium. A scaling process is performed on an image of a region of interest so that the image is output in the same size, and the image on which the scaling process has been performed is output to a selected image output medium.

The order of designating the region of interest and designating the scaling factor is not limited.

Here, when performing scaling processing on the image of the region of interest so that the image is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the selected image output medium, the image of the designated region of interest is (First scaling process) at the specified scaling factor, and further scaling process (second scaling process) so as to correct the shift amount with respect to the scaled image of the region of interest. And a scaling factor for correcting the deviation amount with respect to the image scaled at the designated scaling factor, and a new scaling factor calculated from the determined scaling factor and the designated scaling factor. (Synthetic scaling factor) may be obtained, and any of the methods of performing scaling processing only once with the new scaling factor on the image of the designated region of interest may be used.

In each of the first to third image output methods, the image reading performance of the image output to the image output medium can be improved in accordance with the scaling ratio of the scaling process for the image of the region of interest. It is desirable to perform image processing and output the image of the region of interest subjected to this image processing to an image output medium.

As the image processing that can improve the image interpretation performance, for example, when the enlargement processing is performed when the magnification of the magnification processing is 1 or more, the image after the enlargement processing can be a blurred image. It is preferable to perform frequency emphasis processing for improving image sharpness. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the frequency emphasizing process, and may perform, for example, a gradation process.

A fourth medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, wherein a region of interest is designated for the medical image and the medical image is prepared in advance. Out of multiple image output media
The image output medium having the maximum output size closest to the actual size of the image of the designated region of interest is selected, and the image of the region of interest is output to the selected image output medium.

The "actual size" means the same size as the size of the subject. For example, when storing and recording the subject image on the stimulable phosphor sheet, the size of the stored and recorded subject image is the same as the size of the subject. When they are approximately the same size, they may be the same size as the subject image on the sheet.

In specifying the region of interest in each of the first to fourth image output methods, the method is not limited to the method of specifying a region of interest based on a user's instruction. For example, a characteristic portion included in a medical image is extracted and extracted. The region of interest can be automatically specified according to the part.

As the “characteristic portion included in the medical image”, for example, an irradiation field, a subject, or an outline of a target portion in the subject can be used.

In extracting a characteristic portion included in a medical image, for example, JP-A-61-39039 and JP-A-6-39039
A method of recognizing an irradiation field as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-259538, a method of recognizing a breast region as a subject as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-8351, and
No. 294,479 discloses a method for detecting an abnormal shadow of a breast as a portion of interest of a subject, or a method for recognizing a divided photographing pattern as disclosed in JP-A-63-257879 and JP-A-1-120655. A method or the like may be used.

A fifth medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, and includes a region designation for designating a region of interest for the medical image. A region of interest is specified for the medical image using a region specifying frame, which is a frame that can output an image of the region of interest at the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium. Is output to an image output medium.

In this case, the image of the region of interest is output on the image output medium in the same size (actual size).

In each of the first to fourth image output methods, a region of interest having an appropriate size is designated on the image output medium irrespective of the maximum output size. First, an area is specified using an area specification frame having a size that allows the same output according to the maximum output size of the image output medium, that is, using an area specification frame having a size suitable for the maximum output size. The points are different.

When the maximum output size of the image output medium that can be used is one, it is preferable to prepare an area designation frame corresponding to the maximum output size of the image output medium in advance.

Also, a plurality of image output media are prepared in advance, a desired image output medium is selected from the plurality of image output media, and an area designation frame corresponding to the maximum output size of the selected image output medium is set. You may make it generate | occur | produce.

Also, an area specification frame that can be output at the same size as the maximum output size of a plurality of image output media prepared in advance is prepared, and each area specification frame is displayed together with the obtained image, and a desired size is displayed. May be selected. In this case, it goes without saying that the image output medium corresponding to the selected area specifying frame is selected, and the image of the region of interest specified by the selected area specifying frame is output to the selected image output medium.

A first medical image output apparatus of the present invention is a medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, and is a region-of-interest specifying means for specifying a region of interest for a medical image. Scaling processing means for performing scaling processing on the image of the region of interest so that the image of the designated region of interest is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium; And output means for outputting an image of the region of interest to which an image has been applied to an image output medium, and implements the first medical image output method.

A second medical image output apparatus according to the present invention is a medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, and is a region of interest specifying means for specifying a region of interest for a medical image. Scaling factor designating means for designating a scaling factor for an image of a region of interest; scaling processing means for scaling the image of the designated region of interest at a designated scaling factor; And outputting means for outputting the image of the region of interest to the image output medium, wherein the second medical image output method is carried out.

In the second medical image output device,
Selecting means for selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process by the designated scaling ratio from among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance; In addition to the above, it is preferable that the output unit outputs an image of the region of interest obtained by performing the scaling process on the selected image output medium.

Further, in the second medical image output apparatus, of the plurality of image output media prepared in advance,
Among the image output media having the maximum output size larger than the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process by the designated scaling factor, the size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process The apparatus further comprises a selection means for selecting an image output medium having the maximum output size, and the output means outputs an image of a region of interest obtained by performing a scaling process on the selected image output medium. Is more desirable.

A third medical image output apparatus according to the present invention is a medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, and is a region of interest specifying means for specifying a region of interest for a medical image. A scaling factor designating means for designating a scaling factor for the image of the region of interest; and a plurality of image output media prepared in advance, the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the designated scaling factor is Selecting means for selecting an image output medium closest to the maximum output size; and changing the image of the region of interest so that the image of the region of interest is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the selected image output medium. The third medical image, comprising: a magnification processing unit for performing a magnification process; and an output unit for outputting the image subjected to the magnification process to a selected image output medium. output method It is intended to implement.

In the first to third medical image output apparatuses, the image reading performance of the image output to the image output medium can be improved in accordance with the magnification of the magnification processing for the image of the region of interest. It is desirable that the image processing apparatus further include an image processing unit that performs image processing, and that the output unit output the image subjected to the image processing to an image output medium.

The fourth medical image output device of the present invention is a medical image output device for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, and is a region of interest specifying means for specifying a region of interest for a medical image. Selecting means for selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the actual size of the image of the designated region of interest from a plurality of image output media prepared in advance; and Output means for outputting to the selected image output medium, which implements the fourth medical image output method.

In the first to third medical image output devices, the region-of-interest designating means extracts a characteristic portion included in the medical image and automatically designates a region of interest in accordance with the extracted characteristic portion. be able to.

A fifth medical image output apparatus of the present invention is a medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, and is an area designating apparatus for designating a region of interest for a medical image. Region specifying frame generating means for generating a region specifying frame which is a frame and which can output an image of the region of interest at the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium;
A region-of-interest designating unit that designates a region of interest for a medical image using the generated region designation frame; and an output unit that outputs the image of the region of interest to an image output medium in an actual size. This implements the fifth medical image output method.

[0050]

According to the first medical image output method and apparatus of the present invention, an image of a designated region of interest is output such that the image of the designated region of interest is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium. The image is output after performing the scaling process on the image, so that regardless of the combination of the size of the designated region of interest and the size of the selected film, etc. If the aspect ratios are the same, useless areas and image omissions do not occur.

When the size of the designated region of interest is smaller than the size of the selected film or the like, the image of the region of interest is enlarged to a film or the like and output in substantially full size. An additional effect that the diagnostic ability is improved is also obtained.

According to the second method and apparatus for outputting a medical image of the present invention, the image of the designated region of interest is subjected to the scaling process at the designated scaling factor and the image is output. Unlike the simple trimming, the output mode can be set in a variety of ways. For example, it is possible to enlarge the image of the region of interest to an arbitrary size desired by the user and output the image, thereby improving the image interpretation. Further, the user can also specify the scaling ratio so that no useless area or image loss occurs.

In the second method and apparatus,
Even if the scaling process is performed at the specified scaling ratio, the specified scaling ratio is not always appropriate for the output size, and there is a possibility that an unnecessary area or image loss may occur on the image output medium. An image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process by the specified scaling ratio is selected from the plurality of image output media prepared, and the selected By outputting an image of the region of interest on which the scaling process has been performed at the specified scaling ratio on the image output medium, it is possible to minimize the useless region and the degree of image omission as much as possible.

Even when a preferable image output medium corresponding to the designated magnification is selected, the maximum output size of the selected image output medium is subjected to the magnification processing according to the designated magnification. If the size of the image of the region of interest becomes smaller than the size of the image of the region of interest, there is still a possibility that an image may be lost. However, the scaling process is performed according to a specified scaling factor among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. And selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process from among image output media having a maximum output size larger than the size of the image of the region of interest. By doing so, it is possible to minimize the useless area as much as possible without causing image loss.

According to the third medical image output method and apparatus of the present invention, an image output medium in which the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the designated scale is closest to the maximum output size is selected. Performing a scaling process on the image of the region of interest so that the image of the region of interest is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the selected image output medium;
In other words, the scaling process is performed so as to correct the amount of deviation between the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the specified scaling factor and the maximum output size of the selected image output medium. Regardless of the combination of the scaling ratio and the size of the selected film, etc., it is possible to reduce unnecessary areas or image omissions or to prevent them from occurring at all, and to maintain the size of the image scaled at the specified scaling ratio as much as possible. Can also.

In the first to third medical image output methods and apparatuses according to the present invention, the reading performance of the image output to the image output medium according to the magnification of the magnification processing for the image of the region of interest is improved. If image processing of the region of interest on which the image processing has been performed is output to an image output medium, for example, frequency enhancement processing is performed so as to correct image blur that may occur with enlargement processing. For example, the magnification can be changed without lowering the diagnostic ability.

According to the fourth medical image output method and apparatus of the present invention, the maximum output size closest to the actual size of the image of the designated region of interest is selected from a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. Since the selected image output medium is selected and the image is output, it is possible to output the image of the designated region of interest in the actual size while minimizing useless areas and image omissions.

In each of the first to fourth image output methods and apparatuses, a characteristic portion included in a medical image is extracted,
If the region of interest is automatically specified according to the extracted characteristic portion, the image of the necessary portion (region of interest) can be automatically output to a film of an appropriate size without any trouble of the operator. .

According to the fifth method and apparatus for outputting a medical image of the present invention, a region specifying frame for specifying a region of interest for a medical image, wherein the image of the region of interest is the maximum output size of the image output medium Generates an area specification frame of a size that can be output at the same size as the original, specifies the region of interest for the medical image using the generated area specification frame, and prints the image of the specified region of interest on the image output medium in actual size. Since the image is output in the size, the image of the area of interest specified using the area specification frame that is almost the same size as the film size for the image output is used so that almost useless areas and image omissions do not occur. It can be output in actual size while it is being output.

[0060]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a medical network system having a first embodiment of a QA-WS (work station for image quality check) which is one mode of the medical image output apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. QA of the first embodiment
It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of -WS.

The system shown in FIG. 1 includes an imaging device 10, a patient identification information input device 20 for inputting patient ID information, a reading device 30, a QA-WS 40, a file server 50 as image storage means, an image recording device 60, Image diagnostic device 7
0 and a network 90, a radiation image of a patient is accumulated and recorded on an imaging plate IP having a stimulable phosphor by an imaging device 10 provided in a radiology imaging room, and the accumulated and recorded radiation image is captured. The image is read by the reading device 30 provided in the reading room near the room, and the read image (digital image) is displayed on the CRT monitor 43a of the QA-WS 40 to check the image quality such as image density and contrast, and check the photographing range and the like. To obtain image data carrying an image in a specified required range, output the image data to an image recording device or a network, temporarily store the image data in the file server 50, read the image data from the file server 50, Hard copy output to film etc. by the image recording device 60 using a scanner etc. It is configured to or an image is diagnosed by or or the image diagnostic apparatus 70.

The reading device 30 scans an imaging plate IP in which a transmitted radiation image of a subject is stored and stored as energy information with a laser beam as excitation light, and emits light with a light amount corresponding to the stored energy. A CR device that obtains a transmitted radiation image of a subject as a digital image by photoelectrically reading emitted light, and is widely used in medical institutions such as hospitals. In the following embodiments, it is assumed that a medical image stored and recorded on an imaging plate IP having a relatively large size such as a half-cut size or a large-size size is read.

The image diagnostic apparatus 70 is disclosed in, for example,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 79, there is provided an image display means such as a CRT, which has both functions of the whole image display means and the local image display means, and is provided with an abnormal shadow detection algorithm based on morphological processing. An apparatus that detects a shadow candidate of a calcified portion (hereinafter, referred to as a microcalcification shadow candidate) and detects a shadow candidate of a tumor portion (hereinafter, referred to as a tumor shadow candidate) by an abnormal shadow detection algorithm based on iris filter processing, A whole image showing the whole radiographic image of the subject, a whole image with a sign,
And an image of a local region (hereinafter, referred to as a local image) including an abnormal shadow candidate such as a microcalcification shadow candidate or a tumor shadow candidate detected based on digital image data representing the entire image (hereinafter, referred to as overall image data). This is an apparatus for displaying, on a predetermined layout, a processed local image on which a predetermined image enhancement process has been performed on an image display unit.

The patient identification information input device 20 is connected to the image diagnostic device 70 and the image recording device 60, and an image is displayed and an image is output based on the input ID information.

A digital image acquired by the reading device 30 is provided between the reading device 30 and the network 90.
A QA-WS 40 is provided as a medical image output device of the present invention, which is displayed on a display medium such as a CRT monitor before being stored in the file server 50 and checks image quality such as image density and contrast, and checks an imaging range and the like. Have been. The QA-WS 40 has an image recording device 60.
And an image diagnostic apparatus 70 are directly connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the QA-WS 40 of the first embodiment is an entire medical image of a relatively large size read by the reading device 30 (hereinafter also referred to as an entire image).
, An area of interest designating unit 43 for designating a region of interest of a desired size at a desired position with respect to the entire image, and entire image data carrying the entire image. A region-of-interest image generating means 44 for extracting region-of-interest image data S2 carrying an image of a designated region of interest in S1, and an image of the designated region of interest is stored in a horizontal direction (main scanning direction) and a vertical direction (sub- A scaling process is performed on the region-of-interest image data S2 carrying an image of the region of interest so that the image is output in at least one direction (the scanning direction) at a size substantially equal to the maximum output size of the image output medium. A scaling processing section 45 for generating data S4, and a scaled image data S4 carrying an image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling processing, in accordance with the scaling factor of the scaling processing. An image processing means 47 for performing image processing capable of improving the image reading performance of an image output to a force medium to generate processed image data S5, and an output for outputting the processed image data S5 to a desired image output medium Means 4
9 is provided.

The QA-WS 40 is provided with a selecting section 48 so that a desired image output medium can be selected from a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. Film size information J1 relating to a film size as an image output medium that can be used in the image recording device 60 is input to the selection unit 48, and a film size that can be selected based on the film size information J1 is displayed (not shown). It is designed to be displayed on the panel.
The operator can select a desired film size from the displayed film sizes. Output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selection unit 48 based on the operator's selection is input to the scaling unit 45 and the output unit 49.

The output means 49 outputs the processed image data S
5 is output to the image recording device 60 or the image diagnosis device 70 installed near the QA-WS 40, and the image of the region of interest, which has been subjected to the scaling process and the image processing, is immediately printed on a film or the like by the image recording device 60. In addition to hard copy output or soft copy output immediately on a display screen such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel provided in the image diagnostic apparatus 70, the processed image data S5 is transmitted to the file server 50 or By transferring and outputting the image to the recording device 60 or the diagnostic imaging device 70, the image of the region of interest can be temporarily stored in the file server 50, and a hard copy output or a soft copy output can be performed even in a place remote from the QA-WS 40. It has become. Therefore, the output unit 49 converts the output size information J2 regarding the maximum output size of the image output medium assumed at the time of the scaling process into a processed image carrying an image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process and the image processing. It is configured to transfer and output the data in association with the data S5. The file server 50 stores the processed image data S5 and the output size information J2 in association with each other.

A pointing device such as a CRT monitor 43a, a mouse 43b, etc.
And a keyboard 43c, etc., so that the comparison device read by the reading device 30 based on the whole image data S1 input from the whole image memory 41 so that the region of interest can be designated based on the instruction of the operator. A target-sized medical image is displayed on a CRT monitor 43a, and a region of interest is specified on a screen (display screen) using a mouse 43b or the like, or a region of interest is specified by inputting coordinate data with a keyboard 43c. It is configured to be able to. The size of the region of interest is
It can be selected from a plurality of standard sizes prepared in advance, and the size can be set freely.

The scaling section 45 includes a region of interest designation means 4
The position data PD representing the region of interest specified by 3 and the output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selector 48 are input, and the size and output of the region of interest determined from the position data PD Based on the size information J2, a scaling factor calculating unit 45a for calculating a scaling factor for making the image of the designated region of interest approximately the same as the maximum output size of the image output medium; Scaling means 45b for performing scaling processing on the area image data S2 to generate scaled image data S4
Are provided.

Next, the flow of the basic processing in the medical network system having the above configuration will be outlined.

The ID information of the patient is recorded on the ID card by an ID card writing device provided at a reception desk of a hospital or the like.

The patient receives the ID card, and receives a diagnosis and an inquiry from a doctor in a predetermined medical department. A photographing menu such as a photographing site and a photographing direction is determined according to the result of the diagnosis and the inquiry, and the photographing menu information is additionally recorded on the ID card.

Next, the patient goes to the radiology department and hands the ID card to a radiologist waiting in the reading room. Radiologist I
Read the D card with a card reader. The radiologist reads the barcode of the imaging plate IP for imaging with a barcode reader. This makes it possible to associate the imaging plate IP used for imaging with the patient and the imaging menu.

Next, the radiologist sets the imaging plate IP
Is loaded into the photographing apparatus 10 to photograph a radiation image of the patient. After this imaging, the reading device 30 reads the imaging plate IP in which the transmitted radiation image of the patient is stored and recorded as energy information, thereby acquiring the transmitted radiation image as a digital image. The radiologist is QA-WS40
After confirming the image while looking at the display screen, a part required for diagnosis is designated as a region of interest, and region-of-interest image data S5 carrying an image of the region of interest is transferred to the file server 50 via the network. Store. Also, based on the region of interest image data S5, a film or CR
An image is output to an image output medium such as T.

Next, the point of designating the region of interest in the entire image, the point of outputting the image of the designated region of interest to the desired image output medium, ie, the operation of the QA-WS 40 as the medical image output device of the present invention. Will be described in detail.
In each of the embodiments described below, a film is used as a specific example of an image output medium to be selected.

The operator, such as a radiologist, checks the whole image displayed on the screen of the CRT monitor 43 a provided in the region of interest designating means 43 while using the mouse 4.
Using the 3b and the keyboard 43c, a region of interest having a desired size is designated at a desired position with respect to the obtained entire image.

The region-of-interest specifying means 43 specifies a pixel position on the entire image of the outline of the specified region of interest, and outputs position data PD indicating the specified pixel position to the region-of-interest image generating means 44 and the scaling unit. 45 scaling factor calculation means 45
Input to a.

The whole image data S1 stored in the whole image memory 41 is also input to the region of interest image generating means 44, and the image of the region of interest in the whole image data S1 is input based on the input position data PD. Is extracted. The extracted region-of-interest image data S2 is input to the scaling unit 45b of the scaling unit 45.

Output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selection section 48 (based on the operator's instruction) is also input to the scaling factor calculating means 45a. Data P
Based on the size of the region of interest calculated from D and the output size information J2, a scaling factor J3 for making the image of the designated region of interest approximately the same as the maximum output size of the selected image output medium is calculated. I do. The information on the size of the designated region of interest is input from the region of interest designating unit 43 to the scaling factor calculating unit 45a, and the scaling factor J3 is calculated based on the input information on the size of the region of interest and the output size information J2. May be configured.

The scaling means 45b calculates the calculated scaling factor J3
Performs scaling processing on the region-of-interest image data S2 to generate scaled image data S4.
4 is input to the image processing means 47.

When the size of the region of interest and the maximum output size of the film as the image output medium are the same size, it is not necessary to perform the scaling process. Therefore, the input region of interest image data S2 is converted to the scaled image. What is necessary is just to input directly to the image processing means 47 as the data S4. The same applies to each embodiment described later.

The image processing means 60 includes a scaling factor calculating means 45.
The image processing means 60 inputs the scaling factor J3 of the scaling process in the scaling means 45b to the input scaled image data S4.
Generates image data S5 by performing image processing such as gradation processing and frequency processing so that image reading performance of an image output to an image output medium can be improved in accordance with the image processing medium. S5 is input to the output means 49.

The output means 49 outputs the output size information J2 input from the selection section 48 to the image recording device 60 or the image diagnostic device 70 installed near the QA-WS 40 as additional information of the processed image data S5. Together with the output size information J2 and the processed image data S5 on the network 9
0 and output.

As a result, the image of the region of interest, which has been subjected to the scaling process based on the calculated scaling factor J3 and the image processing according to the scaling factor J3, is placed on the film selected by the operator, at the maximum output of this film. A hard copy is output at approximately the same size as the size (full size).

As described above, the QA-WS 40 of the first embodiment
In, the image of the designated region of interest is output in a size (full size) substantially the same as the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the operator, so that the size of the designated region of interest and the selected film Regardless of the combination with the size, no useless area or image dropout occurs. For example, when the B4 size is selected as the output film, and when a region of interest having a desired size different from the B4 size is designated on the entire image acquired in the half-cut size, the size of the image of the region of interest is reduced. Since the image is output after being subjected to the scaling process so as to have a substantially B4 size, no imageless region is generated on the output film, and a part of the image of the region of interest is not lost.

When the size of the designated region of interest is smaller than the size of the selected film or the like, the image of the region of interest is enlarged to a film or the like and output in substantially full size. An additional effect that the diagnostic ability is improved is also obtained.

Further, the image of the region of interest is subjected to image processing capable of improving the interpretation performance of the image output to the image output medium in accordance with the scaling ratio of the scaling process. Since the image of the area is output to the image output medium, the magnification is changed without lowering the diagnostic performance, for example, a frequency emphasizing process is performed so as to correct image blur that may be caused by the enlarging process. Processing can also be performed. It should be noted that the image processing means 47 for performing such image enhancement processing is not necessarily provided.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A second embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 3 shows the second
It is a block diagram showing the functional composition of QA-WS40 of an embodiment. In FIG. 3, elements that are the same as the elements in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted unless otherwise necessary. The same applies to other embodiments described later.

The QA-WS 40 of the second embodiment is provided with a scaling factor designating means 46 for designating a scaling factor J3 for an image of a designated region of interest by an operator. Is input to the image processing means 47, and the scaling unit 45 performs scaling processing on the region of interest image data S2 at the designated scaling factor J3 to generate scaled image data S4. The image processing means 47 performs a gradation process on the scaled image data S4 so that the image reading performance of the image output to the image output medium can be improved in accordance with the specified scale factor J3. The processed image data S5 is generated by performing image processing such as processing and frequency processing.

As a result, the QA-WS4 of the second embodiment
The scaling unit 45 of 0 performs scaling processing on the region-of-interest image data S2 at the scaling ratio J3 specified by the operator to generate scaled image data S4, and converts the scaled image data S4. Input to the image processing means 47. The image processing means 60 converts the scaled image data S4
The image processing has been performed such that the image reading performance of the image output to the image output medium can be improved in accordance with the magnification J3 (specified by the operator) of the magnification processing in the magnification processing unit 45. The image data S5 is generated, and the generated processed image data S5 is input to the output unit 49.

The selecting section 48 includes the region-of-interest specifying means 4.
3, the position data PD representing the region of interest designated by 3 and the magnification J3 designated by the magnification designating means 46 are inputted, and the magnification is changed based on the size of the region of interest and the magnification J3 determined from the position data PD. A size calculating unit 48a for calculating the size of the region of interest after the magnification processing, and a designated scaling factor J3 from a plurality of image output media prepared in advance based on the calculated size and the film size information J1. And a selecting unit 48b for selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process. Accordingly, the selection unit 48 selects a manual selection mode in which an operator selects a film size from selectable film sizes displayed on a display panel (not shown) based on the film size information J1, and automatically selects a preferable film size. It is configured so that any one of the automatic selection modes to be selected can be set. Output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the selected image output medium (film) is input to the scaling unit 45 and the output unit 49.

Here, when the selection section 48 is set to the manual selection mode, the selection means 48b selects the operator from the selectable film sizes displayed on the display panel (not shown) based on the film size information J1. The output size information J2 indicating the film size selected by the above is input to the output means 49.

The output unit 49 outputs the output size information J2 input from the selection unit 48 to the image recording device 60 and the image diagnostic device 70 installed near the QA-WS 40 as supplementary information of the processed image data S5. Together with the output size information J2 and the processed image data S5 on the network 9
0 and output.

As a result, the image of the region of interest, which has been subjected to the scaling process based on the scaling factor J3 instructed by the operator and the image processing according to the scaling factor J3, is converted to the scaling factor J3 on the film of the size selected by the operator. A hard copy is output at the appropriate size.

Here, in the manual selection mode,
What is conventional simple trimming, such as the ability to enlarge the image of the region of interest to the size of the operator's preference on a film of the size selected by the operator and output it, and improve the image reading ability? Differently, a variety of output modes can be set.

For example, when a B4 size film is selected as the output film, a region of interest of a desired size is designated on the entire image acquired in a half-cut size.
An image can be output by designating an arbitrary scaling factor for the image of the designated region of interest.

Further, the operator can also specify a preferable scaling ratio so as not to cause a useless area or image loss.

On the other hand, when the selection section 48 is set to the automatic selection mode, the selection section 48b outputs a plurality of images prepared in advance based on the size calculated by the size calculation section 48a and the film size information J1. From among the output media, an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process by the scaling factor J3 specified by the operator is automatically selected, and the automatically selected image is selected. Output size information J2 indicating the maximum output size of the output medium is input to the output unit 49.

The output unit 49 outputs the output size information J2 input from the selection unit 48 to the image recording device 60 and the image diagnostic device 70 installed near the QA-WS 40 as supplementary information of the processed image data S5. Together with the output size information J2 and the processed image data S5 on the network 9
0 and output.

Thus, the image of the region of interest, which has been subjected to the scaling process based on the scaling factor J3 instructed by the operator and the image processing according to the scaling factor J3, is automatically placed on the film of the selected size. Is output in the size corresponding to the hard copy.

In the manual selection mode described above, the designated scaling factor is not always appropriate for the output size, and there is a possibility that an unnecessary area or image dropout may occur on the image output medium. Since a film having a size close to the output image size is automatically selected, an image having a size corresponding to the magnification J3 specified by the operator can be output to a film having a more preferable size. The degree can be as small as possible. For example, when the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process at the designated scaling ratio is close to the B4 size, a B4 size film is selected and output as an image. The degree to which a part of the image of the region of interest is lost is reduced.

As a condition for selecting an output film, the scaling process is performed from a film having a maximum output size larger than the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process at the designated scaling factor. If a film having the maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest is selected, at least image omission does not occur, and the extent of a useless region can be minimized.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A third embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 4 shows the third
It is a block diagram showing the functional composition of QA-WS40 of an embodiment.

In the QA-WS 40 of the second embodiment, when the selection unit 48 is set to the automatic selection mode, a film having a size close to the output image size is automatically selected. Although an image of a corresponding size is output on a film of a more preferable size, a size deviation such as a non-image area or a missing image may still occur. The QA-WS 40 according to the third embodiment is obtained by changing the configuration of the scaling unit 45 according to the second embodiment so as to solve the problem of the size shift.

That is, the scaling unit 45 of the QA-WS 40 according to the third embodiment includes the position data PD representing the region of interest specified by the region of interest specifying means 43 and the maximum size of the image output medium selected by the selection unit 48. The output size information J2 relating to the output size and the scaling factor J3 designated by the scaling factor designating means 46 are input, and based on the size of the region of interest determined from the position data PD, the output size information J2, and the scaling factor J3. A scaling factor calculating means 45a for calculating a scaling factor J4 for making the image of the designated region of interest substantially the same as the maximum output size of the image output medium; and calculating the scaling factor J4 for the region of interest image data S2. On the other hand, a scaling means 45b for performing scaling processing to generate scaled image data S4 is provided.

The conditions for the automatic selection of the film in the selecting section 48 are those which are closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process by the designated scaling factor, or those which have a larger maximum output size. Any of them may be used.

The scaling factor calculation unit 45a calculates the position data PD.
From the size of the region of interest calculated from the above and the size of the image when scaled by the designated scaling factor J3, a scaling factor for correcting the amount of the size deviation is obtained, and the obtained scaling factor and the specified scaling factor are determined. A new scaling factor (combined scaling factor) J4 is calculated from the scaling factor J3, and the scaling processing unit 45 performs once with the new scaling factor J4 on the image of the designated region of interest. Only the scaling process is performed.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a modification of the QA-WS 40 according to the third embodiment.
Is different from that of FIG.

That is, the scaling unit 4 in the mode shown in FIG.
5 is a scaling factor J3 designated by the scaling factor designating means 46.
Is input, and a scaling process is performed on the region of interest image data S2 at the specified scaling factor J3 to change the scaled image data S2.
And a region-of-interest designating unit 4 for generating the scaled image data S3 and inputting the scaled image data S3 to the second scaling unit 45d.
3, the position data PD representing the region of interest specified by 3, the output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selection unit 48, and the magnification J3 specified by the magnification specifying means 46 are input. Position data PD
Size of the region of interest calculated from the information, output size information J
A scaling factor calculating unit 4 for calculating a scaling factor J5 for making the image of the designated region of interest substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium, based on the scaling factor J3 and the scaling factor J3
5a and the scaled image data S3 at the calculated scaling factor J5.
And second scaling means 45d for performing scaling processing to generate scaled image data S4.

In this modified embodiment, the scaling factor calculating means 45 is used.
a is for obtaining a scaling factor J5 for correcting the size deviation amount with respect to the size of the region of interest calculated from the position data PD and the size of the image when scaling is performed at the specified scaling factor J3; The scaling unit 45 performs the first scaling process on the image of the designated region of interest at the designated scaling factor J3 in the first scaling unit 45c, and the image is scaled at the designated scaling factor J3. In order to correct the size deviation with respect to the image of the region of interest, a second
In the second scaling means 45d.

The Q of the third embodiment and its modifications are described.
In the A-WS 40, the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the designated scaling factor is selected to be the closest to the maximum output size, and the image of the region of interest is substantially the same as the maximum output size of the selected film. Performs scaling processing on the image of the region of interest so that it is output in the size, that is, the difference between the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the specified scaling factor and the maximum output size of the selected film Since the magnification process is applied to correct it,
Regardless of the combination of the designated magnification and the size of the selected film or the like, no useless area or image dropout occurs.
For example, when the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process at the designated scaling ratio is close to the B4 size, B
Four size films are selected, and the size of the image of the region of interest (the size close to B4) subjected to the scaling process at the specified scaling ratio and the size of the selected film B4
The magnification process is performed so as to correct the deviation amount from the above, so that a part of the image of the non-image region or the region of interest is not lost on the output film.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A fourth embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 6 shows the fourth
It is a block diagram showing the functional composition of QA-WS40 of an embodiment.

The QA-WS 40 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as the scaling processor 4 in the QA-WS 40 according to each of the above embodiments.
5, scaling ratio designating unit 46, and image processing unit selecting unit 4
8 is removed.

The position data PD representing the region of interest designated by the region-of-interest designation means 43 and the film size information J1 are input to the selecting section 48, and the size of the region of interest and the film size information J1 calculated from the position data PD are inputted. The film having the maximum output size closest to the actual size of the image of the designated region of interest is automatically selected from a plurality of films prepared in advance based on the above.

As a result, the image of the designated region of interest can be output in the actual size while minimizing useless regions and image omissions. For example, when a region of interest close to the B4 size is specified on the entire image acquired in half-cut size, a B4 size film is selected and output at the actual size, so that the image of the specified region of interest is converted to the actual size. Output while saving film.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A fifth embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 7 shows the fifth
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a QA-WS 40 according to the embodiment, which is a modification of the configuration of the region of interest specifying unit 43 according to the first embodiment.

In each of the above embodiments, the size and position of the region of interest are specified based on the instruction of the operator. However, in the QA-WS 40 of the fifth embodiment, the characteristic portions included in the image are specified. The region-of-interest specifying means 43 extracts the characteristic portion included in the entire image based on the input entire image data S1 so that the size and position of the region of interest can be automatically specified according to the extracted characteristic portion. A feature point extracting means 43d for extraction is provided. Information about the feature points extracted by the feature point extracting means 43d is input to a CPU (not shown), and the size and position of the region of interest are automatically obtained according to a predetermined algorithm, and the region of interest is automatically set.

Thus, an image of a necessary portion (region of interest) can be automatically output to a film of an appropriate size without bothering the operator.

Here, as a specific example of the characteristic portion extraction processing in the characteristic point extracting means 43d, for example, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-39039 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-25953
As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-83551 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-294479, a process of automatically recognizing a boundary portion between an irradiation field and a subject as the characteristic portion is disclosed in For example, a process of recognizing a subject as the characteristic portion or an outline of a target portion in the subject can be used. Then, it is preferable to automatically set a rectangular region surrounding an outline such as a boundary portion between the irradiation field and the subject as an extracted characteristic portion or an attention site as a region of interest.
The position may be corrected by a mouse operation or the like by an operator.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the structure of the region-of-interest designation means 43 of the first embodiment.
Region of interest designation means 43 for automatic setting of this region of interest
Is applicable to each of the second to fourth embodiments.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A sixth embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 8 shows the sixth
It is a block diagram showing the functional composition of QA-WS40 of an embodiment.

In each of the first to fourth embodiments, the size and position of the region of interest can be freely set based on the instruction of the operator. However, in the QA-WS 40 of the sixth embodiment, The point of difference is that the region of interest is set using an area designation frame having a size (size) that matches the maximum output size of the image output medium.

That is, the QA-WS40 of the sixth embodiment
Is an area designation frame for designating a region of interest with respect to the entire image, in which output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selection unit 48 based on the operator's instruction is input. There is provided an area specification frame generating means 42 for generating an area specification frame having a size capable of outputting the image of the region of interest at the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium.

The area specification frame generating means 42 generates an area specification frame having a size capable of being output at the same magnification according to the maximum output size of the image output medium. Information J6 relating to the generated region designation frame having a size suitable for the output size is input to the region of interest designation means 43, and the region designation frame is displayed so as to overlap the entire image on the CRT monitor 43a. The operator adjusts the arrangement position of the area designation frame by using the displayed area designation frame itself to complete the area designation.

As described above, the QA-WS40 according to the sixth embodiment is used.
In, the size of the region of interest is automatically set so that the image of the region of interest and the maximum output size of the image output medium are substantially the same size. Even if not, the maximum output size of the image output medium and the size of the image of the region of interest can be made the same. Thus, the image of the region of interest can be output at the actual output size in the maximum output size, so that no useless region or image loss occurs regardless of the size of the selected film. For example, when a B4 size film is selected as the output film, an area designation frame of a size equivalent to the B4 size is automatically displayed on the entire image acquired in a half-cut size. The region designation can be completed only by adjusting the position of the designated region designation frame. Further, since the image of the region of interest designated by the region designation frame having a size equivalent to the B4 size is output on a B4 size film in actual size and in full size, there is almost no useless region or image loss.

Although the QA-WS 40, which is one mode of the medical image output apparatus of the present invention, and the respective embodiments of the operation thereof have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, a film for hard copy output is used as a specific example of the image output medium to be selected, but a film for soft copy output such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel may be used.

For example, when outputting at the same magnification, the size of the image of the region of interest on the CRT or the liquid crystal may be set to be the same as the subject size (the image size on the imaging plate). In this case, for example, a CRT or a liquid crystal having a maximum output size (image size) closest to the actual size of the image of the region of interest can be selected, or when the entire image of the region of interest is not accommodated in one screen, By scrolling the image, an image in which the entire image of the region of interest can be confirmed may be selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating QA, which is an embodiment of a medical image output apparatus according to the present invention.
-Block diagram showing a configuration of a medical network system including a first embodiment of WS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a modification of the QA-WS according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a sixth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 imaging device 20 patient identification information input device 30 reading device 40 QA-WS (one mode of medical image output device) 41 overall image memory 42 area designation frame generation means 43 region of interest designation means 43a CRT monitor 43b mouse 43c keyboard 43d feature points Extraction unit 44 Region of interest image generation unit 45 Scaling unit 45a Scaling unit 45b Scaling unit 45c First scaling unit 45d Second scaling unit 46 Scaling ratio designation unit 47 Image processing unit 48 Selection unit 48a Size calculation unit 48b Selection means 49 Output means 50 File server 60 Image recording device 70 Image diagnostic device 90 Network

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Okubo Takeshi 798, Miyadai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture Photo Film Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B057 AA08 BA24 CD05 5C082 AA04 AA27 AA37 BA20 BB01 CA03 CA32 CB05 DA51 MM10

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, wherein a region of interest is specified for the medical image, and an image of the specified region of interest is output to the image output device. Performing a scaling process on the image of the region of interest so that the image is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the medium; and outputting the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process to the image output medium. A medical image output method comprising: 2. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, comprising: specifying a region of interest for the medical image; and specifying a magnification for the image of the region of interest. A medical image, wherein the image of the designated region of interest is subjected to a scaling process at a designated scaling factor, and the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process is output to the image output medium. output method. 3. An image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of an image of a region of interest, which has been subjected to scaling processing by the designated scaling factor, from among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. 3. The medical image output method according to claim 2, wherein an image of the region of interest on which the scaling process has been performed is output to the selected image output medium. 4. An image output medium having a maximum output size larger than the size of an image of a region of interest that has been subjected to scaling processing by the designated scaling factor, among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. And selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process. 3. The medical image output method according to claim 2, wherein an image of the area is output. 5. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, comprising: specifying a region of interest for the medical image; specifying a magnification for the image of the region of interest; From a plurality of image output media prepared in advance, an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the designated scaling factor is selected, The image of the region of interest is subjected to a scaling process so that the image is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the selected image output medium, and the image subjected to the scaling process is selected. A medical image output method comprising: outputting a medical image to a selected image output medium. 6. An image processing that can improve image interpretation performance of an image output to the image output medium according to a scaling factor of the scaling process on the image of the region of interest. The medical image output method according to claim 1, wherein the performed image of the region of interest is output to the image output medium. 7. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, wherein a region of interest is designated for the medical image, and a plurality of image output media prepared in advance are provided. Selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the actual size of the image of the designated region of interest, and outputting the image of the region of interest to the selected image output medium. Image output method. 8. The medical image output method according to claim 1, wherein a characteristic part included in the medical image is extracted, and the region of interest is specified according to the extracted characteristic part. . 9. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, comprising: an area specifying frame for specifying a region of interest for the medical image; A region of interest is specified for the medical image using a region specification frame having a size that allows an image to be output at the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium, and the image of the region of interest is output to the image output medium. A medical image output method characterized by outputting. 10. A medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, comprising: a region-of-interest specifying means for specifying a region of interest for the medical image; Scaling means for performing scaling processing on the image of the region of interest so that the image is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium; Output means for outputting an image to the image output medium. 11. A medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, comprising: a region-of-interest specifying means for specifying a region of interest for the medical image; Scaling factor designating means for designating a scaling factor; scaling processing means for scaling the image of the designated region of interest at a designated scaling factor; and an image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process Output means for outputting the image data to the image output medium. 12. An image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of an image of a region of interest, which has been subjected to scaling processing by the designated scaling factor, from among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a selection unit configured to select the image data, wherein the output unit outputs an image of the region of interest on which the scaling process has been performed on the selected image output medium. Medical image output device. 13. An image output medium having a maximum output size larger than the size of an image of a region of interest that has been subjected to scaling processing at the designated scaling factor, among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. Further comprising a selection unit for selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest subjected to the scaling process, wherein the output unit includes the selected image output medium 12. The medical image output apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an image of the region of interest on which the scaling process has been performed is output. 14. A medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, comprising: a region-of-interest specifying means for specifying a region of interest for the medical image; Scaling factor designating means for designating a scaling factor; and an image having a maximum output size closest to the size of the image of the region of interest scaled by the designated scaling factor, from among a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. Selecting means for selecting an output medium; and performing scaling processing on the image of the region of interest so that the image of the region of interest is output at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the selected image output medium. A medical image output apparatus comprising: a scaling unit; and an output unit that outputs the image on which the scaling process has been performed to the selected image output medium. 15. An image processing means for performing image processing on an image of the region of interest in accordance with a scaling factor of the scaling process to improve image reading performance of an image output to the image output medium. The medical image output apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the output unit outputs the image on which the image processing has been performed to the image output medium. 16. A medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, comprising: a region-of-interest designating unit for designating a region of interest for the medical image; Selecting means for selecting an image output medium having a maximum output size closest to the actual size of the image of the designated region of interest from among the image output media, and transferring the image of the region of interest to the selected image output medium An output device for outputting a medical image. 17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said region-of-interest designation means extracts a characteristic portion included in the medical image and designates the region of interest in accordance with the extracted characteristic portion. The medical image output device according to claim 1. 18. A medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium, wherein the area is a region specifying frame for specifying a region of interest for the medical image, and Region-of-interest designating means for designating a region of interest on the medical image using a region designation frame of a size capable of outputting an image at the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium; Output means for outputting the image to the image output medium.