JP2014210084A - Medical image processor and medical image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

There are provided a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing program capable of generating an image that allows a user to easily and simultaneously grasp the state of the inner wall, the state of the outer wall, and the whole image of a tubular structure. A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a core line extraction unit 22 that extracts a core line of a tubular structure from medical three-dimensional image data, and an inner wall and an outer wall of the tubular structure from the three-dimensional image data. The inner wall image is extracted by stretching the tubular structure in the direction along the core line and rendering the image from a viewpoint located outside the outer wall by partially breaking the tubular structure so that the inner wall image is included. And an image generation unit 23 that generates an SPR rendering image that is a three-dimensional image obtained by stretching a tubular structure in a direction along the core line while simultaneously including an image of the outer wall. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing program.

  As a method of observing a tubular structure based on volume data (three-dimensional data) obtained by an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an MRI apparatus), etc., MPR (Multi-Planner Reconstruction) ) Method, CPR (Curved multi-Planner Reconstruction) method, and stretched CPR (Stretched CPR) method (hereinafter referred to as SPR method) are known.

  The MPR method is a method of cutting three-dimensional data along a plane in an arbitrary direction and reconstructing a cross-sectional image viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane. On the other hand, the CPR method is a method mainly used for observing a tubular structure in three-dimensional data, cutting the three-dimensional data with a curved surface having a curvature in one direction along the core line of the tubular structure, By developing this curved surface into a plane, a cross-sectional image along the core line of the tubular structure is reconstructed. The SPR method is a method of further stretching the core wire extracted by the CPR method into a linear shape. According to these methods, the user can easily observe the cross section of the tubular structure.

  There is also a virtual endoscope mode (fly-through mode) in which the user's viewpoint in the volume data is virtually set inside the tubular structure and the inside of the tubular structure observed from this viewpoint is displayed as a three-dimensional image. well known. According to the fly-through image, the user can easily grasp the inside of the tubular structure.

JP 2006-346177 A

  However, with these methods, it is difficult for the user to simultaneously grasp the state of the inner wall of the tubular structure, the state of the outer wall, and the overall image.

  For example, when the MPR3 cross-sectional image is used, it is difficult for the user to grasp the whole image because the user has to call the cross sections one by one in order to grasp the whole image of the tubular structure. In addition, when using an SPR image, an overall image in a direction along the core line of the tubular structure can be grasped. However, since the SPR image is only an image of one cross section passing through the core line, the state of the inner wall and the outer wall is as follows. Only a small part of the situation can be grasped in this one section. When using a fly-through image, the user can grasp the state of the inner wall, but cannot grasp the state of the outer wall at all, and it is very difficult to grasp the whole image.

  For example, when the screen of the display unit is divided into two and the fly-through image and the SPR image are displayed at the same time, the user must compare the two images, and the inner wall, the outer wall, and the whole image of the tubular structure are simultaneously displayed. Difficult to grasp.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a core line extraction unit that extracts a core line of a tubular structure from medical three-dimensional image data, and a tubular structure from the three-dimensional image data. By extracting the inner wall and outer wall of the tube, stretching the tubular structure in the direction along the core line, partially breaking the tubular structure so that the image of the inner wall is included, and performing rendering processing from the viewpoint located outside the outer wall An image generation unit that generates an SPR rendering image that is a three-dimensional image obtained by stretching a tubular structure in a direction along the core line while simultaneously including an inner wall image and an outer wall image.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic block diagram which shows the structural example of the function implementation part by control part CPU. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conventional fly through image, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conventional crosscut image, (c) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conventional SPR image. . The figure for demonstrating an example of the production | generation method of a SPR rendering image. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image when a part of tubular structure is cut | disconnected by the cut surface. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image when a part of tubular structure is cut | disconnected by the curved surface. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image before rotation in the case of rotating a tubular structure centering on a core wire, (b) rotated 90 degree | times centering on a core wire from the example shown to (a). It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an SPR rendering image, (c) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image rotated 90 degree | times centering on the core line from the example shown in (b). (A) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image before a movement in the case of moving a tubular structure along a core line, (b) is a predetermined distance movement along the core line from the example shown to (a). It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the performed SPR rendering image, (c) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image which moved further the predetermined distance along the core line from the example shown to (b). Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the image in the case of carrying out the superimposed display which shows the position of an abnormal location on an SPR rendering image and an SPR image. The flowchart which shows the procedure at the time of producing | generating the SPR rendering image in which the user can grasp | ascertain the state of the inner wall of a tubular structure, the state of an outer wall, and a whole image easily by CPU of the control part shown in FIG.

  Embodiments of a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a medical image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the medical image processing apparatus 10 includes an input unit 11, a display unit 12, a network connection unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

  The input unit 11 includes at least a pointing device and is configured by a general input device such as a mouse, a trackball, a keyboard, a touch panel, and a numeric keypad, and outputs an operation input signal corresponding to a user operation to the control unit 15.

  The display unit 12 includes a general display output device such as a liquid crystal display or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, and displays various images such as an SPR rendering image under the control of the control unit 15.

  The network connection unit 13 implements various information communication protocols according to the form of the network 100. The network connection unit 13 connects the medical image processing apparatus 10 and other electrical devices according to these various protocols. Here, the network 100 means an entire information communication network using telecommunications technology. In addition to a wireless / wired LAN such as a hospital basic LAN (Local Area Network) and an Internet network, a telephone communication line network, an optical fiber communication network. Cable communication networks and satellite communication networks.

  The storage unit 14 stores medical volume data (medical three-dimensional image data) and reconstructed image data output from the modality 101. The modality 101 is a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, or an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, and is obtained by imaging a subject (patient). It can be constituted by a device capable of generating volume data (three-dimensional image data) based on the projection data obtained.

  The medical image processing apparatus 10 may receive a reconstructed image and volume data from the modality 101 and the image server 102 connected via the network 100. Reconstructed images and volume data received via the network 100 are also stored in the storage unit 14.

  The image server 102 is a server for long-term storage of images provided in, for example, a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), and is an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus connected via the network 100, A reconstructed image or volume data generated by a modality 101 such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus or an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is stored.

  The control unit 15 includes a storage medium such as a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and controls the operation of the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to a program stored in the storage medium.

  The CPU of the control unit 15 loads a medical image processing program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM and data necessary for the execution of the program into the RAM, and the user follows the program to make the inner wall of the tubular structure. , A state of the outer wall, and the whole image are processed to generate an SPR rendering image as an image that can be easily grasped simultaneously.

  The RAM of the control unit 15 provides a work area for temporarily storing programs and data executed by the CPU. The storage medium such as the ROM of the control unit 15 stores a startup program for the medical image processing apparatus 10, a medical image processing program, and various data necessary for executing these programs. A storage medium such as a ROM has a configuration including a recording medium readable by a CPU, such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and a part of programs and data in the storage medium. Or you may comprise so that all may be downloaded via an electronic network.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the function realization unit by the CPU of the control unit 15. In addition, this function realization part may be comprised by hardware logics, such as a circuit, without using CPU.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the CPU of the control unit 15 performs at least an image data acquisition unit 21, a core line extraction unit 22, an image generation unit 23, a viewpoint information acquisition unit 24, an abnormal part information acquisition unit 25, according to a medical image processing program. And it functions as the end determination unit 26. Each unit 21-26 uses a required work area in the RAM as a temporary storage location for data.

  The image data acquisition unit 21 acquires the reconstructed image and volume data generated by the modality 101 and stores them in the storage unit 14.

  Here, in order to observe tubular structures such as blood vessels, bronchi, large intestine, and small intestine, an image generated based on volume data by a conventional method will be briefly described.

  3A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional fly-through image, FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional cross-cut image, and FIG. 3C illustrates an example of a conventional SPR image. It is explanatory drawing.

  The fly-through image shown in FIG. 3A is an image for observing the inner wall 40 along the core line 31 of the tubular structure 30. According to the fly-through image, the user can easily grasp the inside of the tubular structure 30. However, as a matter of course, the fly-through image does not include the image of the outer wall, and it is difficult to grasp the entire image of the tubular structure 30.

  The cross cut image shown in FIG. 3B is an image of a cross section orthogonal to the core line 31 of the tubular structure 30. In order to grasp the whole image using the cross cut image, the user needs to call the cross section one by one.

  In the following description, an example in which the spatial coordinates are set with the direction along the core line 31 as the z-axis direction will be described.

  The SPR image shown in FIG. 3C is obtained by cutting three-dimensional data with a curved surface having a curvature in one direction along the core line 31 of the tubular structure 30 and expanding the curved surface into a plane. It is a cross-sectional image along the core line 31 of the tubular structure 30 obtained by extending in the shape. According to the SPR image, the user can grasp the whole image in the direction along the core line 31 of the tubular structure 30. However, since the SPR image is merely an image of one cross section passing through the core wire 31, only a small part of the state of the inner wall and the outer wall can be grasped.

  Therefore, the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment generates an image (hereinafter referred to as an SPR rendering image) that can easily grasp the state of the inner wall, the state of the outer wall, and the whole image at the same time.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for generating an SPR rendering image.

  This SPR rendering image is generated by stretching a fly-through image linearly along the core line 31 as in the SPR image, and performing rendering processing on the outer wall 50 from the viewpoint 32 located outside the outer wall 50 3. It is a dimensional image. The position of the viewpoint 32 may be a position set in advance, or may be a position set as appropriate via the input unit 11 by the user.

  Further, in order to include the image of the inner wall 40 in the SPR rendering image, the tubular structure 30 is stretched in the direction along the core line 31 and partly broken in the SPR rendering image. Specifically, the tubular structure 30 is a position where an image of the inner wall 40 is included when the tubular structure 30 is projected onto a virtual projection surface 33 in front of the viewpoint 32 located outside the outer wall 50. Torn. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a part of the tubular structure 30 is cut at the cutting surface 34.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an SPR rendering image when a part of the tubular structure 30 is cut by the cutting surface 34.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tubular structure 30 is stretched in a direction along the core line 31, and the tubular structure 30 is partially broken so that an image of the inner wall 40 is included, and is rendered from a viewpoint 32 positioned outside the outer wall 50. By performing the processing, it is possible to generate an SPR rendering image including the image of the inner wall 40 and the image of the outer wall 50 at the same time.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an SPR rendering image when a part of the tubular structure 30 is cut by a curved surface. As shown in FIG. 6, the breaking method of the tubular structure 30 is not limited to the method of cutting at the cutting plane 34 as long as the SPR rendering image includes the state of the inner wall 40 and the state of the outer wall 50 at the same time. .

  Such an SPR rendering image that allows the state of the inner wall 40, the state of the outer wall 50, and the whole image of the tubular structure 30 to be easily grasped at the same time is the core line extraction unit 22 and image generation of the medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. Generated by the unit 23.

  The core wire extraction unit 22 extracts the core wire 31 of the tubular structure 30 based on the volume data. For example, the core line extraction unit 22 first extracts a region of the tubular structure 30 included in the volume data by performing threshold processing on the volume data. And the core wire extraction part 22 extracts the core wire 31 by thinning-processing this area | region, for example.

  The tubular structure 30 may be fully automatically extracted by performing threshold processing on the volume data, or the reconstructed image acquired from the modality 101 is displayed on the display unit 12 and displayed by the user on the display unit 12. The region may be manually set via the input unit 11 while confirming the reconstructed image. In addition, the user accepts one point of information that the user thinks belongs to the tubular structure 30 through the input unit 11 by a click operation or the like, and semi-automatically extracts by segmentation (region expansion) from the position of this one point. Also good.

  Further, as a method for extracting the core wire of the tubular structure 30, there are known various fully automatic core wire extraction methods such as a method using distance conversion in addition to the thinning method, and any of these is used. It is possible. Further, for example, the reconstructed image acquired from the modality 101 is displayed on the display unit 12, and the core 31 is manually set via the input unit 11 while the user confirms the reconstructed image displayed on the display unit 12. May be. In this case, the core wire extraction unit 22 receives information on the core wire 31 set manually by the user. When the core wire 31 is extracted semi-automatically, the core wire extraction unit 22 receives, for example, a plurality of pieces of information that the user thinks belongs to the core wire 31 via the input unit 11 by the user, and the interval between the plurality of points. The core wire 31 is extracted by automatically interpolating.

  In the case of manual operation or semi-automatic operation, the core wire extraction unit 22 may omit the operation of extracting the region of the tubular structure 30. Further, even when a core line extraction algorithm that does not require area information of the tubular structure 30 is used, the core line extraction unit 22 may omit the operation of extracting the area of the tubular structure 30.

  The image generation unit 23 extracts the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 50 of the tubular structure 30 from the volume data. Further, the image generation unit 23 extends the tubular structure 30 in the direction along the core line 31 so that the image of the inner wall 40 is included when viewed from a predetermined viewpoint 32 set outside the outer wall 50. The object 30 is partially broken. As a method of stretching the tubular structure 30 in the direction along the core line 31, various methods conventionally used when generating an SPR image can be used. Then, the image generation unit 23 generates an SPR rendering image by performing rendering processing of the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 50 of the tubular structure 30 based on the viewpoint 32 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

  Further, the image generation unit 23 generates a fly-through image once based on the information of the inner wall 40 extracted from the volume data, stretches the fly-through image linearly along the core line 31 and partially breaks it, An SPR rendering image may be generated by rendering the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 50 of the tubular structure 30 based on the viewpoint 32.

  When the user receives an instruction to change the position of the viewpoint 32 via the input unit 11, the viewpoint information acquisition unit 24 gives the content of the change instruction to the image generation unit 23.

  FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an SPR rendering image before rotation when the tubular structure 30 is rotated about the core wire 31, and FIG. 7B is an illustration of the core wire 31 as an axis from the example illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an SPR rendering image rotated by 90 degrees, and FIG. 8C is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an SPR rendering image further rotated by 90 degrees around the core line 31 as an axis from the example shown in FIG.

  7 shows an example in which the first inner wall abnormal portion 41 and the second inner wall abnormal portion 42 exist on the inner wall 40, and the first outer wall abnormal portion 51 and the second outer wall abnormal portion 52 exist on the outer wall 50, respectively. Indicated.

  When the user receives an instruction to rotate the tubular structure 30 around the core wire 31, the image generation unit 23 performs rendering processing by rotating the viewpoint 32 around the core wire 31.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, a case is considered where the second inner wall abnormal portion 42 and the first outer wall abnormal portion 51 cannot be confirmed in the SPR rendering image before rotation. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the image generation unit 23 regenerates the SPR rendering image so as to rotate the tubular structure 30 about the core wire 31, so that the SPR before the rotation is generated. The second inner wall abnormal part 42 and the first outer wall abnormal part 51 that could not be confirmed in the rendered image can be confirmed.

  FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an SPR rendering image before movement when the tubular structure 30 is moved along the core wire 31, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the core wire 31 from the example illustrated in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image which moved the predetermined distance along, (c) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the SPR rendering image which moved further the predetermined distance along the core line 31 from the example shown in (b). .

  8 shows an example in which the third inner wall abnormal portion 43 and the fourth inner wall abnormal portion 44 exist on the inner wall 40, and the third outer wall abnormal portion 53 and the fourth outer wall abnormal portion 54 exist on the outer wall 50, respectively. Indicated.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, a case is considered where the fourth inner wall abnormal part 44 and the fourth outer wall abnormal part 54 cannot be confirmed in the SPR rendering image before movement. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the image generation unit 23 moves the tubular structure 30 along the core line 31 so that the observation cross section can be reproduced and displayed in the same manner as the fly-through image. By regenerating the SPR rendering image, the fourth inner wall abnormal portion 44 and the fourth outer wall abnormal portion 54 that could not be confirmed in the SPR rendered image before movement can be confirmed.

  When the tubular structure 30 is moved along the core line 31, the image generation unit 23 fixes, for example, the spatial coordinates of the viewpoint 32 and the cut surface 34, and the tubular structure 30 is moved along the core line 31 within the spatial coordinates. An SPR rendering image may be generated for each predetermined movement interval while being moved. By fixing the spatial coordinates of the viewpoint 32 and the cut surface 34, it is possible to always include the image of the inner wall 40 in the SPR rendering image.

  The abnormal part information acquisition unit 25 acquires position information of an abnormal part such as a stenosis part or a thickened part based on the reconstructed image corresponding to the volume data or the volume data acquired from the modality 101, and uses this information as an image generation part. 23.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image in a case where the SPR rendering image and the emphasized images 45 and 55 indicating the position of the abnormal part are superimposed on the SPR image.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the image generation unit 23 displays an enhanced image 45 indicating the position of the abnormal location on the inner wall 40 and an enhanced image 55 indicating the position of the abnormal location on the outer wall 50 on the SPR rendering image. Further, the emphasized images 45 and 55 may be superimposed on a reconstructed image such as an SPR image, an X-ray CT image, or an MRI image, and may be displayed side by side on the display unit 12 together with the SPR rendering image. As the emphasized images 45 and 55, for example, graphics and character information surrounding the abnormal part, abnormal colors according to the abnormal level, color coding and luminance of the graphic surrounding the abnormal part, or a combination thereof can be used.

  As an acquisition method of the location information of the abnormal location, the abnormal location information acquisition unit 25 applies, for example, an automatic convex region extraction algorithm to the reconstructed image corresponding to this volume data acquired from the volume data or modality 101. For example, a method of acquiring position information of an abnormal part can be used. Further, the reconstructed image acquired from the modality 101 is displayed on the display unit 12, and the user manually sets an abnormal part via the input unit 11 while checking the reconstructed image displayed on the display unit 12. May be. In this case, the abnormal part information acquisition unit 25 receives the position information of the abnormal part manually set by the user. Alternatively, the location information of the abnormal location may be acquired semi-automatically. In this case, the abnormal location information acquisition unit 25 performs a click operation on one point of information that the user thinks belongs to the abnormal location via the input unit 11. The abnormal part is extracted by segmenting from the position of this one point.

  The end determination unit 26 determines whether an instruction to end the display of the SPR rendering image is received via the input unit 11.

  Next, an example of the operations of the medical image processing apparatus and the medical image processing program according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 10 shows a case where the CPU of the control unit 15 shown in FIG. 1 generates an SPR rendering image that allows the user to easily and simultaneously grasp the state of the inner wall 40, the state of the outer wall 50, and the overall image of the tubular structure 30. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of. In FIG. 10, reference numerals with numbers added to S indicate steps in the flowchart.

  First, in step S <b> 1, the image data acquisition unit 21 acquires the reconstructed image and volume data generated by the modality 101 and stores them in the storage unit 14.

  Next, in step S2, the core line extraction unit 22 extracts a region of the tubular structure 30 included in the volume data by performing a threshold process on the volume data, fully automatically, or manually or semi-automatically.

  Next, in step S3, the core wire extraction unit 22 extracts the core wire 31 by performing a thinning process on this region, for example, fully automatically, or manually or semi-automatically.

  Note that when the core wire 31 is extracted manually or semi-automatically in step S3, or when the core wire 31 is extracted using a core wire extraction algorithm that does not require the region information of the tubular structure 30, step S2 may be omitted. .

  Next, in step S4, the image generation unit 23 extracts the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 50 of the tubular structure 30 from the volume data. Further, the image generation unit 23 extends the tubular structure 30 in the direction along the core line 31 so that the image of the inner wall 40 is included when viewed from a predetermined viewpoint 32 set outside the outer wall 50. The object 30 is partially broken. Then, the image generation unit 23 performs rendering processing of the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 50 of the tubular structure 30 based on the viewpoint 32, thereby generating an SPR rendering image and displaying it on the display unit 12 (FIGS. 5 and 6). reference).

  Next, in step S <b> 5, the viewpoint information acquisition unit 24 determines whether or not the user has received an instruction to change the position of the viewpoint 32 via the input unit 11. When the viewpoint change instruction is received, the process returns to step S4, and the SPR rendering image is regenerated by the image generation unit 23 according to the viewpoint change instruction and displayed on the display unit 12 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). On the other hand, if there is no viewpoint change instruction, the process proceeds to step S6.

  Next, in step S6, the abnormal part information acquisition unit 25 determines whether or not information on the abnormal part has been acquired. When the information on the abnormal part is acquired, the process proceeds to step S7, and the image generation unit 23 displays the emphasized images 45 and 55 indicating the position of the abnormal part superimposed on the SPR rendering image. At this time, the image generation unit 23 superimposes the enhanced images 45 and 55 on the reconstructed image such as the SPR image, the X-ray CT image, and the MRI image, and displays them side by side on the display unit 12 together with the SPR rendering image. It is also possible (see FIG. 9).

  In step S <b> 8, the end determination unit 26 determines whether an instruction to end the display of the SPR rendering image is received via the input unit 11. If no instruction to end is received, the process returns to step S5. On the other hand, when an instruction to end is received, a series of procedures ends.

  With the above procedure, an SPR rendering image that allows the user to easily and simultaneously grasp the state of the inner wall 40 of the tubular structure 30, the state of the outer wall 50, and the overall image can be generated.

  The medical image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can generate an SPR rendering image. This SPR rendering image is generated by stretching a fly-through image linearly along the core line 31 as in the SPR image, and performing rendering processing on the outer wall 50 from the viewpoint 32 located outside the outer wall 50 3. It is a dimensional image. Therefore, according to the SPR rendering image generated by the medical image processing apparatus 10, the user can easily and simultaneously grasp the state of the inner wall 40, the state of the outer wall 50, and the whole image of the tubular structure 30. Therefore, according to the medical image processing apparatus 10, the user can very easily find an abnormal portion existing on either the inner wall 40 or the outer wall 50 while grasping the entire image of the tubular structure 30. it can.

  Further, when the medical image processing apparatus 10 receives an instruction to change the position of the viewpoint 32 via the input unit 11 from the user, the medical image processing apparatus 10 can regenerate the SPR rendering image in accordance with the viewpoint changing instruction. For this reason, even if there is an abnormal part at a position that is difficult to confirm at the initial viewpoint 32, the user can easily find this abnormal part from the SPR rendering image regenerated by the viewpoint change instruction. it can.

  Further, the medical image processing apparatus 10 can superimpose and display the emphasized images 45 and 55 on the abnormal part. For this reason, when the user superimposes the emphasized images 45 and 55 on the abnormal part once confirmed, there is no possibility of overlooking the abnormal part when confirming again at a later date. In addition, when an abnormal location is automatically extracted, even if an abnormal location exists at a position that is difficult to confirm from the initial viewpoint 32, the presence of the abnormal location can be easily known.

  In addition, although some embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, each step of the flowchart shows an example of processing that is performed in time series in the order described. The process to be executed is also included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Medical image processing apparatus 15 Control part 22 Core line extraction part 23 Image generation part 24 Viewpoint information acquisition part 25 Abnormal location information acquisition part 30 Tubular structure 31 Core line 32 Viewpoint 34 Cut surface 40 Inner wall 45 The position of the abnormal part of the inner wall 40 is shown Emphasized image 50 outer wall 55 Emphasized image showing the position of an abnormal location on the outer wall 50

Claims (7)

A core line extraction unit for extracting the core line of the tubular structure from the medical three-dimensional image data;
An inner wall and an outer wall of the tubular structure are extracted from the three-dimensional image data, the tubular structure is stretched in a direction along the core line, and the tubular structure is partially broken so that the image of the inner wall is included. SPR rendering that is a three-dimensional image in which the tubular structure is stretched in a direction along the core line while simultaneously including the image of the inner wall and the image of the outer wall by performing rendering processing from a viewpoint located outside the outer wall An image generation unit for generating an image;
A medical image processing apparatus. The image generation unit
Generating the SPR rendering image by cutting the tubular structure at a predetermined cutting position so as to include the image of the inner wall and performing a rendering process from the viewpoint;
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The image generation unit
The spatial coordinates of the viewpoint and the predetermined cutting position are fixed, and the SPR rendering image is generated every predetermined movement interval while moving the tubular structure along the core line in the spatial coordinates.
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The image generation unit
The inner wall and the outer wall of the tubular structure are extracted from the three-dimensional image data, a fly-through image is generated based on the information on the inner wall, and the fly-through image is stretched in a direction along the core line to thereby generate the outer wall. Generating the SPR rendering image by partially breaking the inner wall so that the inner wall can be seen from a viewpoint located outside the image and performing a rendering process from the viewpoint based on information on the outer wall.
The medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The image generation unit
An emphasis image indicating the position of the abnormal portion of the inner wall and the outer wall of the tubular structure is superimposed and displayed on the SPR rendering image.
The medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The image generation unit
Regenerating the SPR rendering image in response to the viewpoint change instruction;
The medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. On the computer,
Extracting the core wire of the tubular structure from the medical three-dimensional image data;
Extracting an inner wall and an outer wall of the tubular structure from the three-dimensional image data;
Stretching the tubular structure in a direction along the core wire;
A step of partially breaking the tubular structure so that an image of the inner wall is included from a viewpoint located outside the outer wall, and rendering processing from a predetermined line-of-sight direction viewed from the viewpoint; Generating an SPR rendering image that is a three-dimensional image obtained by stretching the tubular structure in a direction along the core line while simultaneously including an image of the outer wall;
Medical image processing program for executing