JPH1169136A - Image processing apparatus and method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To prevent unauthorized editing of input digital image data in image processing in which importance is placed on originality of an image in a medical field or the like. Alternatively, it is possible to identify that the content has been edited illegally. SOLUTION: Input means for inputting digital image data obtained by imaging a patient by a predetermined imaging device, and additional information is added to the digital image data input by the input means so that the additional information is hardly discernible to human eyes. The image processing apparatus further includes an adding unit, and an output unit that outputs the digital image data to which the additional information has been added by the adding unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method capable of adding additional information to an image and a storage medium storing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a film is generally used for X-ray image diagnosis, and the diagnosed film is the only original image. In addition, it is important that these medical images are securely stored as originals, and there should be no unnecessary editing or the like.

On the other hand, in recent years, digitization of image processing has been advanced, and various images are often stored as digital images.

[0004]

With the recent digitization, it has become possible to store medical images as digital images.

[0005] However, there is a problem that digital images can be easily edited, and editing that should not be performed as medical images is easily performed.

For example, when the digital image is communicated on a network, there is a possibility that editing is executed on the network, and it is proved whether the digital image called from this network is really an original image. Difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has been made to prevent unauthorized editing of input digital image data in image processing in which importance is placed on the originality of an image in the medical field and the like. Aim. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to identify unauthorized editing.

[0008]

According to an image processing apparatus of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus, comprising: input means for inputting digital image data obtained by imaging a patient with a predetermined imaging device; The image processing apparatus further includes an adding unit that adds the additional information to the digital image data input by the input unit so that the additional information is hardly discernible to human eyes, and an output unit that outputs the digital image data to which the additional information is added by the adding unit. And

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of an X-ray imaging apparatus using a large-screen solid-state imaging device. The imaging device 1 includes a sensor unit 2 that generates digital image data by detecting X-rays, a display unit and an operation unit for displaying and confirming the digital image data or digital image data in a memory 14 described later. And an operation unit 3 having the following. The digital data can be displayed on the display unit, and various information such as photographing conditions, which will be described later, can be input from the operation unit.

The photographing apparatus 1 further includes a control means 4 for executing various image processing on the digital image data input from the sensor unit 2 and exchanging control data and digital image data with the operation unit 3.

The photographing device 1 is controlled by the control unit 4
LAN (Lo) installed in hospitals such as Ethernet
cal Area Network) 5, and an image display device 6, an image storage device 7, and a medical billing system 8 are also connected to the LAN 5 via a network.

Therefore, the photographing apparatus 1 converts digital image data or control data generated from the sensor unit 2 into LA.
The data can be output to the image display device 6, the image storage device 7, and the medical treatment request system 8 via N5. Image display device 6
Can directly display digital image data output from the photographing device 1 or can display digital image data stored in the image storage device 7. The image storage device 7 is a device for storing diagnostic images (digital image data) captured by the imaging device 1 in the past, and is a large-capacity storage memory.

The medical treatment request system 8 is a public line 10
Is connected to the external medical expenses database system 9 so that various data can be exchanged. It is possible to refer to various types of information on the medical treatment cost database or make a medical treatment request for insurance points in accordance with an instruction from the medical treatment request system 8.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a determination device for determining whether the digital image data held by each unit on the network can be used for medical purposes, that is, whether the digital image data is an original image that has not been edited since the time of photographing. Device.
The function of the determination device 11 will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the control means 4. In the figure, imaging conditions such as a patient ID input from the operation unit of the operation unit 3 are input to a necessary processing unit via the interface 16. Digital image data generated from the sensor unit 2 is stored in the memory 14 via the interface 19.

The stored digital image data is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 15 and then output to the operation unit 3 via the interface 16.

The digital image data input to the operation unit 3 is displayed on a display unit in the operation unit 3, and an X-ray technician as an operator checks the displayed image. After confirming the image, the operator transfers digital image data representing the image to the LAN 5 via the interface 17 according to an instruction from the operation unit.

FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the image processing unit 15. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a non-rewritable ROM for storing predetermined additional information that does not normally change (in this embodiment, the serial number of the image processing unit 15), and 22 denotes a ROM that is stored in the ROM 21. Pattern forming means for forming a pattern image of the obtained additional information. Reference numeral 23 denotes a pattern image thus obtained, and reference numeral 24 denotes a fixed pattern storage memory for temporarily storing the pattern image 23.

The information stored in the ROM 21 is not limited to the information relating to the image processing unit 15, but may be the serial number of the photographing apparatus 1. Instead of the serial number, a manufacturer ID, a model number, a user ID who purchased the apparatus, a version of software used for the apparatus, a version of firmware, an ID of a sensor unit, and the like may be stored instead. Further, a plurality of these pieces of additional information may be stored in combination.

On the other hand, reference numeral 25 denotes additional information that changes each time a radiograph is taken. In this embodiment, a radiographing time, a patient ID, or a CRC (Cyclic Redu) calculated from these information.
A rewritable RAM for storing a Random Check Code 26 is a pattern forming means for converting the CRC code 26 into a pattern image. Note that this CRC code is based on the original data (imaging time, patient I
D) is an encrypted code.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a pattern image obtained by this, and reference numeral 29 denotes a variable pattern storage memory for temporarily storing an image of the pattern.

The additional information stored in the RAM 25 is not limited to this, and various types of additional information that change each time shooting is performed can be applied. For example, when the information of the photographed patient is used as the additional information, the patient name, date of birth, age, gender, height, weight, and smoking history can be stored.
If the radiographing conditions at the time of X-ray radiography are additional information, the radiographing date, the name of the radiographing technician, the name of the interpreting physician (the name of a specialized physician who diagnoses by looking at the radiographed image), and the name of the doctor in charge (in the case of the same doctor as the radiological reading doctor) ), Imaging site, tube voltage (transmission energy of X-rays and related to contrast of captured image), tube current (indicating amount of X-rays and related to sharpness of captured image), irradiation time,
The irradiation distance can be stored, and if the configuration information of the captured image is additional information, the number of bits, the number of pixels, the pixel size, the aspect ratio, the contrast information,
Image processing parameters can be stored.

Reference numeral 14 denotes the memory described with reference to FIG. 2, which temporarily stores medical digital image data generated from the sensor unit 2. The digital image data stored in the memory 14 is input to a synthesizing unit 30 described below via the internal bus 13.

The synthesizing means 30 converts the digital image data stored in the memory 14 into a fixed pattern memory 24
Is combined with the pattern image stored in the variable pattern storage memory 29 so as to be difficult for the human eye to recognize. This is because the density is substantially preserved before and after the pattern images are synthesized.

It is to be noted that a method of forming a pattern image of the additional information by the pattern forming means 22 and 27 and a method of synthesizing the pattern image by the synthesizing means 30 so as to be hardly discernible to human eyes are well known and will not be described in detail. In the embodiment, the pattern image addition method described in JP-A-5-244389 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various known addition methods can be applied.

The digital image data obtained by synthesizing the various types of additional information by the synthesizing means 30 is output to the display unit of the operation unit 3 as a diagnostic image.

As described above, when the diagnostic image is confirmed on the display unit, the diagnostic image is transferred to the image display device 6, the image storage device 7 and the like in FIG. 1 based on the instruction from the operation unit. At this time, the same digital image data is shared by a plurality of devices on the network (LAN5).

Therefore, the digital image data can be edited (falsified) and copied somewhere on the network.

A method for determining whether or not such an action has been performed by the determination device 11 of FIG. 1 will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for executing the above determination. First, in S101, additional information to be combined with the diagnostic image (digital image data) (in this embodiment, the manufacturing number of the image processing unit 15, the imaging time, and the patient ID) is read from the memory in the determination device. Note that the determination device does not need to have a memory for storing the additional information. In this case, in step S101, the operator uses the keyboard or the like to input the additional information (also in this case, the serial number of the image processing unit 15, (Time, patient ID).

In step S102, the image is read out from the memory in step S101 or inputted from the keyboard.
The RC code 26 is calculated.

In step S103, the digital image data is actually analyzed, and a pattern image described later is extracted. Then, the extracted pattern image is inversely converted into the corresponding additional information.

At S104, the serial number read from the memory at S101 or input to the keyboard is input to S10.
It is determined whether or not the portion corresponding to the serial number of the additional information obtained by the inverse conversion by the pattern image extraction of No. 3 matches.

As a result of the determination in S104, if they match, S
The process proceeds to S105, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to S106.

In S105, the CR calculated in S102
It is determined whether or not the C code 26 matches the additional information obtained by the inverse conversion based on the pattern image extraction in S103.

If the result of determination in S105 is that they match, S
The process proceeds to S107, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to S106.

In step S106, a warning is displayed on the display unit of the determination device to the effect that the digital image data may be illegally edited or copied. The operator who confirms the warning display checks whether the content of the digital image data has been changed or copied illegally. In particular, when checking whether or not the content has been changed, it is performed by displaying digital image data on a display unit in the determination device.

In step S107, an OK display indicating that there is no possibility that the digital image data to be determined is illegally edited or copied is displayed. In this case, the digital image data can be used for medical diagnosis as reliable.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of the configuration of the determination device 11, and a process of extracting a pattern image from a diagnostic image (digital image data) to which additional information is added, that is, in S103 of FIG. It is a figure showing composition required for processing of extracting additional information.

In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes an extracting means, which performs an inverse process (inverse conversion) of the synthesis by the synthesizing means 30 in FIG. 3 from the diagnostic image to the fixed pattern storage memory 24 and the variable pattern storage memory 29 in FIG. Extract each stored pattern image.

Of the extracted pattern images, the pattern image indicating the serial number stored in the fixed pattern storage memory 24 is stored in the fixed pattern storage memory 32 and the CRC code 2 stored in the variable pattern storage memory 24.
6 is stored in the variable pattern memory 33. Then, the remaining original images (images obtained by X-ray imaging by the sensor unit 2) are stored in the captured image storage memory 34.

The pattern image stored in the fixed pattern storage memory 32 is converted into a serial number corresponding to the pattern image, and is used for the determination in S104 in FIG.

On the other hand, the pattern image stored in the variable pattern memory 33 is a CRC image corresponding to this pattern image.
After being converted into a code, it is used for the determination in S105 of FIG.

In the above description, the determination as to whether the digital image data is an original image at the time of shooting is performed by the dedicated determination device 11 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. May be used to execute the above-described determination processing.

Next, in order to compare and refer to a diagnostic image (digital image data) of a patient stored in the image storage device 7 and a new diagnostic image obtained from the imaging device 1 for the same patient, A process for displaying the image on the image display device 6 in FIG. 1 will be described.

At the time of this comparison and reference, there is a possibility that the past diagnostic images stored in the image storage device 7 may have been edited, so that the diagnostic images in the image storage device 7 are different from those at the time of photographing. It is necessary to determine whether or not it has. This determination is performed by the determination device 11.

The procedure of this determination will be described below with reference to FIG.
First, in S201 in the figure, the patient ID of the patient to be compared and read is read from the internal memory or input from a keyboard or the like.

In step S202, digital image data corresponding to the patient's past diagnostic image stored in the image storage device 7 is retrieved and read. And S20
In step 3, a pattern image is separated by performing the same reverse processing as the processing described in FIG. 5 on the read digital image data, and further, a serial number and a CRC code are determined based on the pattern image. The imaging date and time and the patient ID are determined by comparing the various imaging dates and times with the CRC code calculated from the patient ID.

In S204, it is determined whether the patient ID determined in S203 matches the patient ID read or input in S201. As a result of this determination, if they match, it is known that the diagnostic image (digital image data) read from the image storage device 7 in S202 is the original image at the time of shooting, so the image display device 6
A past diagnostic image read from the image storage device 7 is displayed together with the diagnostic image input from the photographing device 1 on a display unit of the image processing apparatus 1. (S205) These multiple diagnostic images are displayed simultaneously on one screen.

On the other hand, if the patient IDs do not match in S204, the process proceeds to S206, and a warning display indicating that the past diagnostic image stored in the image storage device has been changed from the original image at the time of imaging is displayed. Perform in the department.

By the above processing, when comparing the current diagnostic image and the past diagnostic image of the same patient on the image display device 6, it is confirmed that the past diagnostic image has not been changed and is reliable. Can be determined.

Patient I as a source for determining a match
Since D is synthesized as a pattern image with the diagnostic image, if a person who does not have knowledge of the synthesizing method easily edits the diagnostic image, the shape of the synthesized pattern image will be broken, and at the time of determination, The pattern image cannot be extracted. If the pattern image cannot be extracted as described above, the patient ID of the determination means and the patient ID indicated by the pattern image cannot match, and as a result, it can be determined that the diagnostic image has been edited in some way. .

In the above description, the additional information for comparing the patient ID is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the serial number and the photographing date and time may be used, and the comparison is made based on the state of the CRC code calculated from the patient ID and the photographing date and time. You may. Further, the above-described various additional information (information of the patient who was imaged, imaging conditions at the time of X-ray imaging, and configuration information of the captured image) may be used as a comparison target.

If various information related to medical treatment is added to digital image data, it is possible to refer to the additional information when performing a medical examination using the digital image data.

(Modification) Even if the present invention is applied as a part of a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), one device (for example, a copying machine) , A facsimile machine).

Further, the present invention is not limited to only the apparatus and method for realizing the above-described embodiment, but includes a computer (CPU or MP) in the above system or apparatus.
U), a program code of software for realizing the above-described embodiment is supplied, and the computer of the system or the apparatus operates the various devices according to the program code to realize the above-described embodiment. It is included in the category of the present invention.

In this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, specifically, A storage medium storing the above program code is included in the scope of the present invention.

As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

In addition to the case where the computer controls the various devices in accordance with only the supplied program code to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, the program code operates on the computer. Such a program code is included in the scope of the present invention even when the above-described embodiment is realized in cooperation with an OS (Operating System) or other application software.

After the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function is stored based on the instruction of the program code. The case where the CPU or the like provided in the storage unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, additional information is added to digital image data obtained by imaging a patient so that it is difficult for human eyes to recognize, and originality at the time of imaging is improved. Even if important medical images are edited, it can be determined whether or not the images are original.

In particular, since the additional information is embedded so as not to deteriorate the image quality of the photographed image as much as possible, it can be sufficiently used as an original photographed image.

In addition, by adding various information related to medical treatment, at the time of medical examination using the digital image data, the additional information can be effectively used in association with the image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration example of an X-ray imaging apparatus

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of an image processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure for determining the originality of digital image data.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram for extracting additional information from digital image data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure for determining the originality of digital image data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging device 2 Sensor unit 3 Operation unit 4 Control means 5 LAN

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Claims (17)

[Claims] An input means for inputting digital image data obtained by imaging a patient with a predetermined imaging device, and additional information is added to the digital image data input by the input means so as to be hardly discernible to human eyes. An image processing apparatus comprising: an adding unit that outputs digital image data to which additional information has been added by the adding unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging apparatus images a patient by X-rays. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes information on the patient. 4. The additional information includes a patient ID, a patient name,
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information includes any one of a patient's date of birth, age, sex, height, weight, and smoking history. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the additional information includes an imaging condition for X-ray imaging. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes any one of a photographing date, a photographed technician's name, a doctor's reading doctor's name, a doctor in charge, a photographing site, a tube voltage, a tube current, an irradiation time, and an irradiation distance. The image processing device according to claim 5. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes configuration information of an image indicated by the digital image data input by the input unit. 8. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes any one of a bit number, a pixel number, a pixel size, an aspect ratio, contrast information of the image of the digital image data, and a parameter for image processing the digital image data. The image processing device according to claim 7. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the digital image data output by said output means. 10. The image according to claim 9, further comprising an extracting unit for extracting the additional information added by the adding unit by analyzing the digital image data stored by the storing unit. Processing equipment. 11. A judging means for judging whether or not the digital image data output by the output means has been changed by comparing the additional information extracted by the extraction means with the additional information stored in advance. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising display means for performing display based on a result of the determination by said determination means. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display unit displays a warning when the result of the determination is a change in digital image data. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display unit displays an image indicated by the digital image data stored in the storage unit when the result of the determination does not change the digital image data. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the addition by the adding unit combines the additional information as a pattern image. 16. An inputting step of inputting digital image data obtained by imaging a patient with a predetermined imaging device, and adding additional information to the digital image data input in the inputting step, so that it is difficult for human eyes to recognize the additional information. And an output step of outputting the digital image data to which the additional information has been added in the adding step. 17. An input step of inputting digital image data obtained by imaging a patient with a predetermined imaging device, and adding additional information to the digital image data input in the input step, so that the additional information is hardly discernible to human eyes. A storage medium storing an image processing program having an adding means for performing the above and an output step of outputting the digital image data to which the additional information has been added in the adding step, in a state readable by a computer.