JP2010252884A - MEDICAL IMAGE DEVICE AND ITS CONTROL PROGRAM - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a medical image apparatus capable of interrupting the reproduction of an image without performing a complicated operation when reproducing a plurality of medical images as a series of images, and a control program therefor.
Combining data related to a plurality of B-mode images stored in a hard disk drive as medical images creates combined data consisting of data related to B-mode images for a plurality of frames to be reproduced on a display unit. A combination B mode data creation unit; and a reproduction interruption frame setting unit that divides the combination data into a plurality of division data divided by the reproduction interruption frame by setting one or a plurality of reproduction interruption frames in the combination data; The control unit 9 is characterized by interrupting reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame when reproducing the combination data.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image apparatus that captures a medical image related to a subject and a control program therefor.

  As medical image apparatuses, for example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, and the like are known. Among these, for example, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, there is a case where ultrasonic scanning is performed by an ultrasonic probe, and imaging is performed multiple times on the same subject. Specifically, a still image is taken a plurality of times by changing the angle of the ultrasonic probe for a certain part of the subject, or a plurality of parts are photographed a plurality of times in a series of examinations for a certain subject (stationary Drawing or animation).

  As described above, the data related to the ultrasonic image obtained by a plurality of imaging operations are sequentially stored as one file. Therefore, when displaying an ultrasonic image based on the stored data, the operator has to select the ultrasonic image to be displayed and display each ultrasonic image one by one. For this reason, even when multiple files are to be played back continuously, a complicated operation is required in which the files to be played back are selected one by one and played back each time, reducing work efficiency. It was.

  Therefore, in order to reduce complicated operations and improve work efficiency, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that creates combined data composed of data related to multiple frames of ultrasonic images by combining data related to multiple ultrasonic images is proposed. (For example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-14779 A

  Here, for example, in order to compare the pre-treatment and post-treatment ultrasonic images, the combination data including the data on the ultrasonic images for a plurality of frames is reproduced as the pre-treatment ultrasonic image as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1. In some cases, it is desirable to display an ultrasonic image in real time and display the ultrasonic image after treatment in real time along with the ultrasonic image. In this case, if the combination data is reproduced at a stroke, the operation of the ultrasonic probe for obtaining a real-time ultrasonic image cannot catch up and there is a possibility that comparison cannot be performed. Therefore, when reproducing the combination data, there is a case where the reproduction is desired to be interrupted at a predetermined timing. In this case, if the operator performs an operation of interrupting reproduction at the operation unit, the operation is performed while scanning with the ultrasonic probe, which is very complicated. In addition, it is not easy to determine the timing at which playback is interrupted, and when the timing for stopping the playback has passed, it is necessary to rewind the timing and try again.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a medical image apparatus capable of interrupting the reproduction of an image without performing a complicated operation when reproducing a plurality of medical images as a series of images, and a control program therefor. That is.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the invention of the first aspect includes a display unit that displays a medical image, and a storage unit that stores data related to a plurality of medical images by a plurality of imaging operations. A combination data creation unit that creates combination data composed of data about a plurality of frames of medical images displayed on the display unit by combining data about the plurality of medical images stored in the storage unit; A reproduction control unit that reproduces combination data and displays the medical image on the display unit, and by setting one or a plurality of reproduction interruption frames in the combination data, the combination data is divided by the reproduction interruption frame. A reproduction interruption frame setting unit that divides the data into a plurality of segment data, and the reproduction control unit includes the combination During playback over data, a medical image apparatus characterized by interrupting playback in the playback interrupt frame.

  The invention of the second aspect is characterized in that, in the invention of the first aspect, the operator comprises a reproduction order designating unit for designating a reproduction order of data relating to the plurality of medical images in the combination data. It is a medical imaging device.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the selection for selecting data to be used as the combination data by the operator from the data related to the plurality of medical images stored in the storage unit A medical image device comprising a unit.

  The invention according to a fourth aspect is the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the reproduction control unit interrupts reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame and pauses reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame. This is a medical image device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the reproduction control unit interrupts reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame, and includes a plurality of frames including a reproduction interruption frame in which reproduction is interrupted. The medical image apparatus is characterized by repeatedly reproducing minute segment data.

  The invention of the sixth aspect is the invention of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein after the reproduction is interrupted in the reproduction interruption frame, an instruction to resume reproduction from the frame next to the reproduction interruption frame in the combination data A medical image apparatus comprising a restart instruction unit for an operator to input

  A seventh aspect of the invention is the medical image apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the data relating to the plurality of medical images is still image data or moving image data.

  The invention according to an eighth aspect is the invention according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the medical image is any one of an ultrasonic image, an X-ray CT image, and an MRI image. Device.

  The invention of the ninth aspect is a combination of data relating to medical images for a plurality of frames displayed on the display unit by combining data relating to a plurality of medical images stored in the storage unit by multiple times of imaging with a computer. A combination data creation function for creating data, a reproduction control function for reproducing the combination data and displaying the medical image on the display unit, and setting one or a plurality of reproduction interruption frames in the combination data, A reproduction interruption frame setting function that divides combination data into a plurality of division data divided by the reproduction interruption frame, and in the reproduction control function, the reproduction interruption is performed when the combination data is reproduced. Control program for medical imaging apparatus characterized by interrupting playback in a frame It is.

  According to the present invention, a reproduction interruption frame is set by the reproduction interruption frame setting unit in combination data including data related to medical images for a plurality of frames reproduced on the display unit, and reproduction is interrupted by the reproduction interruption frame. Therefore, when reproducing a plurality of medical images as a series of images, the reproduction of the images can be interrupted without performing a complicated operation.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is an embodiment of a medical image apparatus according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the edit part of the ultrasonic diagnosing device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the B mode image before treatment displayed on the graphic display of a display part, and the B mode image after treatment. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an embodiment of an operation in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the real-time pre-treatment B mode image displayed on the graphic display of a display part. 5 is a flowchart showing details of processing for creating combination B mode data shown in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the thumbnail image displayed on the graphic display of a display part. It is explanatory drawing of preparation of combination B mode data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described as an example of a medical image apparatus according to the present invention.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission / reception unit 3, an echo processing unit 4, a memory 5, a hard disk drive (Hard Disk Drive) 6, an editing unit 7, a display unit 8, and a control unit. 9 and the operation unit 10.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits an ultrasonic wave to a living tissue and receives an echo thereof. The transmission / reception unit 3 drives the ultrasonic probe 2 with a predetermined scan parameter to scan the scan surface, and performs signal processing such as phasing addition processing on the echo signal obtained by the ultrasonic probe 2. .

  The echo processing unit 4 performs B-mode processing such as logarithmic compression processing and envelope detection processing on the echo signal for each sound ray output from the transmission / reception unit 3 to create B-mode data.

  The memory 5 is a buffer memory, and stores B-mode data output from the echo processing unit 4. Of the B mode data stored in the memory 5, the B mode data of the frame instructed by the operation unit 10 as described later is stored in the hard disk drive 6. The B mode data stored in the hard disk drive 6 is still image data or moving image data. The hard disk drive 6 is an example of an embodiment of a storage unit in the present invention. The B-mode data is an example of an embodiment of data relating to a medical image in the present invention.

  Incidentally, when a predetermined amount of B-mode data is stored in the memory 5, the new B-mode data is overwritten and stored in order from the old data. The B mode data stored in the memory 5 and the hard disk drive 6 is raw data before being converted into image data by a DSC described later.

  The display unit 8 includes, for example, a graphic display 8a (see FIGS. 3, 5, and 7) and a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) (not shown). In the display unit 8, the B mode data output from the memory 5 is converted into image data to be displayed on the graphic display 8a by the DSC, and a B mode image based on the image data is displayed on the graphic display 8a. It has come to be. The display unit 8 is an example of an embodiment of a display unit in the present invention, and the B-mode image is an example of an embodiment of a medical image in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the editing unit 7 includes a combination B mode data creation unit 71 and a reproduction interruption frame setting unit 72. The combination B mode data creation unit 71 creates a combination B mode data to be reproduced on the display unit 8 as a series of images by combining a plurality of B mode data stored in the hard disk drive 6 (combination B mode). Data creation function). The reproduction interruption frame setting unit 72 sets one or a plurality of reproduction interruption frames in the combination B mode data (reproduction interruption frame setting function). Details will be described later. The combination B mode data creation unit 71 and the reproduction interruption frame setting unit 72 are examples of embodiments of the combination data creation unit and the reproduction interruption frame setting unit, respectively, according to the present invention. The reproduction interruption frame setting function is an example of an embodiment of the combination data creation function and the reproduction interruption frame setting function in the present invention, respectively. The combination B mode data is an example of an embodiment of combination data in the present invention.

  The control unit 9 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), reads out a control program stored in the hard disk drive 6, and performs various components of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 such as the combination data creation function and the reproduction interruption frame setting function. The function in is executed. Further, as a function executed by the control unit 9, there is a reproduction control function for reproducing the combination B mode data, and this reproduction control function is an example of an embodiment of the reproduction control unit in the present invention.

  The operation unit 10 includes a keyboard and a pointing device (not shown) for an operator to input instructions and information. In the operation unit 10, for example, the operator designates the reproduction order of the plurality of B mode data in the combination data, or the operator selects the plurality of B mode data stored in the hard disk drive 6. An operation for selecting data to be used as combination B mode data is performed. Further, the operation unit 10 is configured to input an instruction to resume reproduction from the frame next to the reproduction interruption frame in the combination B mode data after interruption of reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame. The operation unit 10 is an example of an embodiment of a reproduction order designation unit, a selection unit, and a restart instruction unit in the present invention.

  Now, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this example will be described. In this example, a plurality of B-mode ultrasonic imagings are performed on a certain subject P, and a pre-treatment B-mode image X and a post-treatment B-mode image Y are displayed and compared for each imaging site as shown in FIG. The operation will be described.

  In the flow shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S1, a B-mode image X before treatment is taken. Specifically, the ultrasonic probe 2 is brought into contact with a portion to be imaged on the subject P to perform ultrasonic scanning, and the B-mode image X is displayed in real time on the graphic display 8a of the display unit 8 as shown in FIG. To display. Then, when an image to be stored in the hard disk drive 6 is displayed, the operator inputs a storage instruction by pressing a button (not shown) on the operation unit 10 (storage operation). The operator can select and store either a still image or a moving image. When the image to be stored is a still image, the operation unit 10 inputs an instruction to store an image for one frame. When the image to be stored is a moving image, the operation unit 10 inputs an instruction to store images for a plurality of frames. Incidentally, a series of operations in which scanning with the ultrasonic probe 2 is performed to display a B-mode image in real time and stored in the hard disk drive 6 is referred to as imaging.

  The operator performs the storage operation a plurality of times while changing the scanning plane by changing the angle or position of the ultrasonic probe 2 (that is, performing the B-mode image shooting a plurality of times). As a result, a plurality of B-mode data is stored in the hard disk drive 6. In this example, it is assumed that B mode data A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are stored in the hard disk drive 6. Each of the B mode data A to H is stored as one file.

  Next, in step S2, the B mode data A to H stored in the hard disk drive 6 are edited to create combined B mode data MD. Specifically, based on the flow of FIG. 6, first, in step S21, the operator operates the operation unit 10, and the subject P is stored in the hard disk drive 6 as shown in FIG. Thumbnail images AS, BS, CS, DS, ES, FS, GS, HS of B mode data A to H are displayed on the graphic display 8a. At this time, the B mode data A to H stored in the hard disk drive 6 are written into the memory 5.

  Next, in step S22, the operator uses the pointing device (not shown) of the operation unit 10 to designate an image to be used as the combination B mode data MD from the thumbnail images AS to HS. Thereby, B mode data used as the combination B mode data MD is selected. In this example, it is assumed that B mode data A, B, C, F, and H are selected.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 8, the B mode data A and C are still image data, and the B mode data B, F and H are moving image data. That is, the B mode data A is composed of one frame of data A1, and the B mode data C is composed of one frame of data C1. The B mode data B is composed of data B1, B2, and B3 for three frames, and the B mode data F is composed of data F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 for five frames. H consists of data H1, H2, H3, and H4 for four frames.

  Next, in step S23, the playback order of the B-mode data A, B, C, F, H is input through the operation unit 10. In this example, the B mode data A, B, F, H, and C are reproduced in this order. When the input of the playback order is completed in step S23, in step S24, the combination B-mode data creation unit 71 performs playback in the order of B-mode data A, B, F, H, C as shown in FIG. As is performed, the B mode data A, B, C, F, and H are combined to create combined B mode data MD.

  The B-mode data MD is in a raw data state, and is converted into image data and displayed by the DSC during reproduction.

  The combination B mode data MD is reproduced in the order of data A1, B1, B2, B3, F1,..., C1 from the left in FIG.

  Next, in step S25, a reproduction interruption frame is set in the combination B mode data MD, and the combination B mode data MD is divided into a plurality of segment data. Specifically, the reproduction interruption frame setting unit 72 performs data of the last frame in the B mode data A, B, C, F, H (data for still image data), that is, data A1, data B3, data Let C1, data F5, data H4, and data C1 be playback interrupt frames. Thereby, the combination B mode data MD includes the delimiter data md1 for the data A1, the delimiter data md2 for the data B1 to B3, the delimiter data md3 for the data F1 to F5, the delimiter data md4 for the data H1 to H4, the data Divided into delimiter data md5 for C1.

  The B mode data MD in which the reproduction interruption frame is set as described above may be stored in the memory 5 and also stored in the hard disk drive 6.

  The reproduction interruption frame may be set manually by the operator using the operation unit 10. Specifically, while the combination B mode data MD is reproduced on the graphic display 8a, a portion of the combination B mode data MD to be reproduced is input on the operation unit 10. Thereby, the reproduction interruption frame setting unit 72 sets the data of the frame corresponding to the input of the interruption point in the operation unit 10 as the reproduction interruption frame.

  When the combination B mode data MD is created in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, as shown in FIG. 3, the pre-treatment B-mode image X and the post-treatment B-mode image Y are displayed side by side on the graphic display 8a. Specifically, the control unit 9 reproduces the combined B-mode data MD while scanning the subject P after the treatment with the ultrasonic probe 2 and displaying the post-treatment B-mode image Y in real time. The pre-treatment B-mode image X is displayed.

  The control unit 9 interrupts reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame when reproducing the combination B mode data MD. Then, when restarting the reproduction, the operator inputs an instruction to resume the reproduction at the operation unit 10. As a result, the control unit 9 resumes reproduction from the frame next to the reproduction interruption frame where the reproduction is interrupted.

  Here, the interruption of reproduction will be described. The control unit 9 suspends reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame, and pauses reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame, that is, as the pre-treatment B-mode image X, The still image of the playback interruption frame may be kept displayed. In addition, when the playback is interrupted in the playback interruption frame, the control unit 9 may repeatedly play back the partition data when the partition data including the playback interruption frame in which the playback is interrupted includes data of a plurality of frames. .

  When the reproduction is paused, specifically, the image of the data A1 is first displayed and the pause state is entered. When an instruction to resume reproduction is input through the operation unit 10, the moving image is reproduced in the order of the data B1, B2, and B3, and the image of the data B3 is paused. Thereafter, the reproduction is resumed and paused in the same manner from data F1 to C1, and the image is reproduced. When the image of the data C1 is displayed, it returns to the data A1 again.

  On the other hand, when the segment data is repeatedly reproduced, first, an image of the data A1 is first displayed and a pause is made. When an instruction to resume reproduction is input in the operation unit 10, the image of the delimiter data md2, that is, images B1, B2, and B3 are repeatedly reproduced in this order. Next, when an instruction to resume reproduction is input in the operation unit 10, the image of the delimiter data md3, that is, the image is repeatedly reproduced in the order of data F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5. Thereafter, data H1 to data C1 are reproduced in the same manner. When the image of the data C1 is displayed, it returns to the data A1 again.

  The operator adjusts the ultrasonic probe 2 so that a B-mode image of the same scanning plane as the pre-treatment B-mode image X is displayed in accordance with the pre-treatment B-mode image X displayed as described above. A post-treatment B-mode image Y is displayed by scanning.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this example described above, the combination B mode displayed as the pre-treatment B-mode image X when the pre-treatment B-mode image X is compared with the real-time post-treatment B-mode image Y. The reproduction of the data MD can be interrupted in the reproduction interruption frame without performing a complicated operation. Thereby, even when the operator is unfamiliar with the ultrasonic probe 2 in a predetermined manner so that the same image as the displayed pre-treatment B-mode image X can be obtained as the real-time post-treatment B-mode image Y. The operation to adjust the position is easier than before. Therefore, it is very useful even when used for education for grasping the inspection procedure.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the said embodiment, of course, this invention can be variously implemented in the range which does not change the main point. For example, B mode data may be newly added to the combination B mode data MD once created. In this case, B-mode image data to be newly added in the graphic unit 8a is selected using the reproduction unit 10, and the reproduction order is input in the operation unit 10. Further, the reproduction interruption frame may be added and set. Further, any one of the B mode data constituting the combination B mode data MD may be deleted.

  Further, the hard disk drive 6 may store image data after being converted from raw data by the DSC, and the combined B-mode data may be created by combining the image data. .

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the B mode data has been described as an example of the data related to the medical image in the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an ultrasonic image in which the B mode and the color Doppler mode are superimposed, Data regarding other ultrasonic images such as an M-mode image may be used. Further, the medical image is not limited to an ultrasound image, and may be, for example, an X-ray CT image or an MRI image.

1 Ultrasonic diagnostic device 6 Hard disk drive (storage unit)
8 Display unit 9 Control unit (Display control unit)
10 Operation part (playback order designation part, selection part, restart instruction part)
71 Combination B mode data creation unit (combination data creation unit)
72 Playback interruption frame setting part MD Combination B mode data (combination data)

Claims (9)

A display unit for displaying medical images;
A storage unit in which data related to a plurality of medical images is stored by a plurality of imaging operations;
A combination data creation unit that creates combination data composed of data related to a plurality of frames of medical images displayed on the display unit by combining data related to the plurality of medical images stored in the storage unit;
A reproduction control unit for reproducing the combination data and displaying the medical image on the display unit;
A reproduction interruption frame setting unit that divides the combination data into a plurality of division data divided by the reproduction interruption frame by setting one or a plurality of reproduction interruption frames in the combination data;
The reproduction control unit suspends reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame when reproducing the combination data.   The medical image apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reproduction order designating unit for an operator to designate a reproduction order of data related to the plurality of medical images in the combination data.   3. The medical image according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit for an operator to select data to be used as the combination data from among data related to a plurality of medical images stored in the storage unit. apparatus.   The medical image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reproduction control unit interrupts reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame, and pauses reproduction in the reproduction interruption frame. apparatus.   4. The playback control unit according to claim 1, wherein the playback control unit interrupts playback in the playback interrupted frame and repeatedly plays back the segment data for a plurality of frames including the playback interrupted frame in which playback is interrupted. The medical imaging device according to Item.   The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a restart instruction unit for an operator to input an instruction to resume playback from a frame next to the playback interrupt frame in the combination data after the playback is interrupted in the playback interrupt frame. The medical image apparatus according to any one of 5.   The medical image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data regarding the plurality of medical images is still image data or moving image data.   The medical image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image is any one of an ultrasonic image, an X-ray CT image, and an MRI image. On the computer,
A combination data creation function for creating combination data composed of data on a plurality of frames of medical images displayed on the display unit by combining data on a plurality of medical images stored in the storage unit by a plurality of imaging operations;
A reproduction control function for reproducing the combination data and displaying the medical image on the display unit;
By setting one or a plurality of reproduction interruption frames in the combination data, a reproduction interruption frame setting function for dividing the combination data into a plurality of division data divided by the reproduction interruption frames is executed,
In the reproduction control function, when reproducing the combination data, the reproduction is interrupted in the reproduction interruption frame.

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