WO2006137294A1

WO2006137294A1 - X-ray diagnosis supporting apparatus, program, and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2006137294A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/311847
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shigeru Sanada; Rie Tanaka
Original assignee: National University Corporation Kanazawa University
Priority date: 2005-06-21
Filing date: 2006-06-13
Publication date: 2006-12-28
Also published as: JPWO2006137294A1; JP4797173B2

Abstract

An X-ray diagnosis supporting apparatus, a program, and a storage medium for performing local quantitative evaluation of the function of, e.g., a lung to be examined and obtaining evaluation results effectively usable for image interpretation and diagnosis. A moving picture processing section (23) determines the movement amount by measuring the position of the diaphragm from a moving picture, specifies a moving picture of the maximum inspiration and a moving picture of the maximum expiration of CT images, and determines relative ventilation information for each divided breast area by using a pixel difference value. A CT image processing section (24) performs linear interpolation, creates a coronal image, a saggital image, and a raysum image, and measures the position of the diaphragm from the raysum image. An integrating section (25) aligns the frame of the moving picture having a respiration level equal to that of the CT image with the raysum image created from the CT image, and superimposes the ventilation information on the coronal image and the moving picture.

Description

Specification

X-ray diagnosis support apparatus, program and recording medium

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an X-ray diagnosis support technology for obtaining information for dynamic image diagnosis by performing computer analysis using a CT (Computed Tomography) image and an X-ray moving image.

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, the prevalence of respiratory diseases has been increasing worldwide, and in particular, the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is high. This chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a disease such as pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis mainly caused by air pollution and smoking, and occurs frequently in the elderly. For this reason, as the prevalence of respiratory diseases increases, there is a need for a method for simply and repeatedly performing quantitative functional evaluation on chest diseases.

[0003] In general, functional evaluation of respiratory diseases is performed by a pulmonary function test. This pulmonary function test determines whether ventilation, gas and blood flow distribution, diffusion, etc. are performed normally in order to evaluate the basic functions of taking oxygen into the body and discharging carbon dioxide outside the body. Qualitatively and quantitatively. However, pulmonary function testing has a problem in that it is impossible to examine the lungs locally or separately on the left and right sides, and accurate examination cannot be performed without maximum effort breathing. In addition, the examinee was burdened with a great deal of physical strength required for the examination.

[0004] In order to solve such a problem of pulmonary function testing and reduce the burden on the examinee, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus for locally quantitatively evaluating pulmonary function has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1). See). This X-ray diagnostic device stores a still image obtained by X-ray imaging of the chest in a storage means, and an arbitrary part of the chest in this still image, a method for calculating density values, and a method for displaying the result are set. Then, based on the pixel value (density value) of the set part, the analysis process related to the density is performed, and the result of the analysis process is displayed on the screen. In addition, the X-ray diagnostic apparatus stores a time-series frame still image obtained by X-ray imaging of the chest in the storage means, and an arbitrary part of the chest in this still image, a calculation method of density value, and an analysis target When the frame and the result display method are set, it is based on the pixel value of the set part. The analysis processing related to the density between frames is performed in time series, and the results of the analysis processing are displayed on the screen. Such still image analysis processing and moving image analysis processing display information necessary for interpretation and diagnosis, enabling diagnosis that does not rely on human eyes. Therefore, the possibility that the diagnostic results vary by the interpretation doctor is reduced. In addition, various processing techniques relating to images obtained by X-ray diagnosis are disclosed (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4).

Incidentally, conventionally, an X-ray CT apparatus that obtains a tomographic image (CT image) of a subject by X-ray irradiation has been used. This X-ray CT system irradiates a subject with X-rays, detects differences in X-ray absorption rates of human tissues such as organs, blood, and gray matter with a detector, and reconfigures them by computer processing. Thus, an image of the tomographic plane (slice plane) of the examination site is obtained. Based on the CT image obtained in this way, a doctor can diagnose a patient's medical condition with high accuracy.

[0006] Conventionally, an apparatus for screening examination of the chest of a subject has been developed.

For example, an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) is a device that obtains an image by converting X-rays into an electrical signal, and is a photographing device that uses a flat panel detector that directly digitizes the image. By using this FPD, it is possible to obtain a stable moving image by performing image confirmation, density adjustment and geometric adjustment. For example, a moving image of a series of breathing movements from inspiration to exhalation is obtained, the distance from the lung apex to the diaphragm is measured, the moving image is analyzed, and the results are used as information necessary for interpretation and diagnosis. Can be displayed. However, knowledge of respiratory physiology is required to interpret moving images obtained using FPD.

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-194583

[Patent Document 2] JP-A-5-7579

[Patent Document 3] JP-A-4-134568

[Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-17631

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Under such circumstances, the morphological information of the CT image or moving image obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus is associated with the kinetic information obtained by analyzing the moving image, for example, the morphological information related to the chest It is hoped that this information and new respiratory information will be used as new information and that this information will be used for interpretation and diagnosis.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to perform local quantitative evaluation on the function of a lung or the like as a subject for interpretation and diagnosis. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray diagnosis support apparatus, a program, and a storage medium capable of obtaining an evaluation result that can be used effectively.

Means for solving the problem

[0010] An X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to the present invention includes a moving image storage unit that stores an X-ray moving image of a series of operations of a diagnostic region, and a still image storage that stores an X-ray still image of the diagnostic region. A moving image that reads out a moving image from the moving image storage unit, generates dynamic information indicating a function related to the diagnostic part based on the moving image, and reads out a still image from the still image storage unit, A still image processing unit that generates a new image related to the diagnostic region from the still image, dynamic information generated by the moving image processing unit, and a new image generated by the moving image and the still image processing unit. It is characterized by comprising an integration unit that integrates at least one of the form information and displays the integrated information on a screen.

Here, the morphological information includes, for example, the thickness and distribution of blood vessels and bronchi, the size and position of the heart

This refers to information about still images or moving images that can recognize the location and shape of the diaphragm, bone infiltration and fracture, the nature of the lungs, and the presence of abnormalities (cancer, water, foreign bodies, mold, air masses, etc.). The motion information is biological function information obtained by analyzing and processing a moving image, for example, diffusion or contraction of blood vessels or bronchi, heart pulsation, diaphragm motion or movable region, lung ventilation. Information on the mobility of abnormal objects. This dynamic information includes respiratory dynamic information and heartbeat dynamic information.

[0012] In addition, the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to the present invention captures an X-ray moving image stored in the moving image storage unit from the rear surface of the chest and shows a series of breathing operations from inspiration to expiration. X-ray still images stored in the still image storage unit as CT images showing the slice plane of the chest, and the moving image processing unit sets the position of the diaphragm for each frame of the chest X-ray moving image. And measure the maximum inspiratory frame and maximum exhalation from the position of the diaphragm. For each predetermined chest area, a pixel difference value between the maximum inspiration frame and the maximum expiration frame is calculated as ventilation information, and the ventilation information is generated as dynamic information. The still image processing unit generates, as a new image, at least one of a rear surface force of the chest, a viewed laysum image, a coronal image, and a sagittal image based on the CT image.

[0013] In addition, the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to the present invention captures an X-ray moving image stored in the moving image storage unit from the rear surface of the chest, and shows a series of breathing operations from inspiration to expiration. The X-ray still image stored in the still image storage unit is used as a CT image showing a slice plane of the chest, and the moving image processing unit determines the position of the diaphragm for each frame of the chest X-ray moving image. For each frame of the chest X-ray moving image, the pixel difference value between the frames before and after the time series is calculated as ventilation information, and the ventilation information is used as dynamic information. And the still image processing unit generates a new image including at least the latham image out of a latham image, a coronal image, and a sagittal image viewed from the rear of the chest based on the CT image. Reisa The position of the diaphragm is measured for the image, and the integration unit compares the position of the diaphragm measured by the still image processing unit with the position of the diaphragm measured for each frame by the moving image processing unit. Moving image information generated by the moving image processing unit, the moving image, the frame of the specified moving image, the latham image, the coronal image, and the sagittal image generated by the still image processing unit. And at least one form information is integrated, and the integrated information is displayed on a screen.

[0014] Further, in the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to the present invention, the integration unit shifts and rotates the frame of the identified moving image and the laysum image generated by the still image processing unit, while changing the position of each position. The pixel difference value is calculated at the position, the shift and rotation position where the sum of the absolute values of the pixel difference values is the smallest is determined, the position is determined as a matching position, and the dynamic information and the form information are determined by the matching position. And is displayed on the screen.

[0015] In addition, the X-ray diagnosis support program according to the present invention includes a moving image storage unit that stores an X-ray moving image of a series of operations of a diagnostic region, and a static image that stores an X-ray still image of the diagnostic region A program executed by an X-ray diagnosis support apparatus, which includes an image storage unit and supports diagnosis using the X-ray moving image and the still image, and the computer constituting the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus includes: A process of reading a moving image from the moving image storage unit, generating dynamic information indicating a function related to the diagnosis part based on the moving image, reading a still image from the still image storage unit, and performing the diagnosis from the still image A process of generating a new image relating to a part, a process of integrating the generated dynamic information and at least one form information of the moving image and the new image, and displaying the integrated information on a screen; It is characterized by executing.

The invention's effect

[0016] According to the present invention, local quantitative evaluation of the function of the subject's lung, etc. is performed, and for example, morphological information that is a CT image obtained by an X-ray CT apparatus and a moving image are analyzed. Therefore, new information that integrates morphological information and dynamic information about the chest can be used effectively for interpretation and diagnosis.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an entire system including an X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an X-ray diagnosis support apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the pulmonary apex force and the distance to the diaphragm in a series of breathing movements from inspiration to expiration.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a coronal image in which ventilation information is superimposed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of ventilation information.

Explanation of symbols

[0018] 1 X-ray diagnosis support device

2 X-ray moving image equipment

3 X-ray CT system 11 CPU

12 RAM

13 ROM

14 HD

15, 16 I / F

17 In-clothes π.α.

18 mouse

19 Keyboard

21 Moving image storage

22 CT image storage

23 Video processing unit

24 CT image processing unit

25 Integration Department

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

〔Constitution〕

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an entire system including an X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes an X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1, an X-ray moving image apparatus 2, and an X-ray CT apparatus 3. The internal configuration of the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 represents hardware resources. This X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11 that executes each process according to a program, a RAM 12 that temporarily stores programs and data, a system program such as an OS that stores system data, and an R ○ M13 that stores each process. IZF15 that relays input / output of information between HD14, X-ray moving image device 2 and X-ray CT device 3 that stores program data, moving images, and CT images to be executed, moving images and CT images Etc. are displayed on the screen, a mouse 18 for inputting the operation of the operator, a keyboard 19, and an I / F 16 for relaying the display 17 etc. The CPU 11 inputs a moving image and a CT image from the X-ray moving image apparatus 2 and the X-ray CT apparatus 3 via the I / F 15 and stores them in the HD 14. In addition, the CPU 11 reads programs and data for executing each process from the HD 14. According to the program, the operator operates the mouse 18 and keyboard 19 via the I / F 16 to read out the moving image and CT image from the HD 14, execute each process, and execute the results to the I / F 16 Is displayed on the display 17 via.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 includes a moving image storage unit 21, a CT image storage unit 22, a moving image processing unit 23, a CT image processing unit 24, and an integration unit 25. The moving image storage unit 21 stores a chest X-ray moving image captured by the X-ray moving image apparatus 2 such as the FPD described above. The chest X-ray moving image is a moving image in a series of breathing movements from inspiration to expiration, and is stored for each examinee. The CT image storage unit 22 stores a CT image of the chest imaged by the X-ray CT apparatus 3. The CT image is a still image obtained by slicing each part of the chest horizontally and is stored for each examinee. Here, the moving image storage unit 21 and the CT image storage unit 22 correspond to the HD 14 in FIG.

[0021] The moving image processing unit 23 reads a moving image from the moving image storage unit 21 according to an operator's operation, measures the position of the diaphragm to obtain a moving amount, and records a moving image at the time of maximum inspiration and maximum expiration. Relative ventilation information (ventilation volume) is obtained for each divided chest area using the pixel difference value that is the difference between the pixel values of these frames and the pixel difference value between the frames. Further, the moving image read from the moving image storage unit 21 and the measured position information of the diaphragm are displayed on the screen by the operation of the operator.

[0022] The CT image processing unit 24 reads the CT image from the CT image storage unit 22 by the operation of the operator, performs linear interpolation between the read CT images, and creates isotropic CT data. MPR (Multi Planer Reconstruction) images (coronal images (tomographic images of the chest viewed from the front)) sagittal images (tomographic images of the chest viewed from the side) and DRR (Digital Reconstruction Radiographs (Ray Sum images) are created, and the position of the diaphragm is measured, and the CT image read out from the CT image storage unit 22 and the created coronal image and Display a sagittal image on the screen.

[0023] The integration unit 25 identifies a moving image frame whose respiratory level matches the CT image, and then a moving image frame whose respiratory level matches the CT image and a ray created from the CT image. Align with the thumb image. The integration unit 25 also inputs from the moving image processing unit 23 chest division information indicating area information obtained by dividing the chest and relative ventilation information for each chest area, and coronal images of ventilation information for each area. And superimposed on the moving image. Further, the integration unit 25 displays a coronal image and a moving image in which ventilation information is superimposed by an operator's operation.

[0024] [Operation]

Next, the operation of the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1. As shown in Fig. 3, X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 reads chest X-ray moving images and CT images, performs preprocessing, alignment between moving images and CT images, dynamic analysis of moving images, and overlaying. Perform a series of processing. This will be specifically described below. The moving image storage unit 21 has chest X-ray moving images 1344 X I 344 h. Xenore image size (angularity), 0.32mm / h. It is assumed that 30 frames are stored in chronological order with xenore, 12-bit, gray scale of 4096 / t. Assume that the CT image storage unit 22 stores 66 CT images with a slice thickness of 5 mm with an image size of 512 x 512 pixels, a gradation of 0.664 mm / pixels, 16-bit / 65536. .

The moving image processing unit 23 reads the 30 frames of moving images from the moving image storage unit 21 (step 301). Then, in order to match the image size of the CT image, the image size of 1344 × 1344 pixels is adjusted to the image size of 512 × 512 pixels, and a moving image of the size corresponding to 30 frames is created (step 302).

The CT image processing unit 24 reads the 66 CT images from the CT image storage unit 22 (step 303). Then, voxelization of the image data is performed by linear interpolation on two CT images with a slice thickness of 5 mm (step 304). Specifically, using the two CT images, a 1-slice CT image is interpolated into a 7.8125-slice CT image. In other words, when the read CT images of 512 pixels x 512 pixels x 66 slices are interpolated, the total size is 327.68mm x 327.68mm x 327.68mm. Then, the CT image processing unit 24 creates a coronal image and a sagittal image for MPR display using a CT image subjected to internal interpolation, and also creates a DRR (Latham image) (step). 305). In this case, the coronal image, the sagittal image, and the ray-thum image have an image size of 512 × 512 pixels and an image of 0.64 mm / pixel, respectively.

[0027] The moving image processing unit 23 recognizes a lung field region for all frames of moving images generated in step 302 (step 306). Further, the CT image processing unit 24 recognizes the lung field region by threshold processing (step 306). Specifically, the CT image processing unit 24 sets the CT value of air as a threshold value, compares the CT value of each pixel with the threshold value, extracts pixels whose CT value is less than the threshold value, and extracts the extracted pixels. Are recognized as lung field regions.

[0028] The moving image processing unit 23 detects the position of the lung apex and the diaphragm for the moving image of all frames created in step 302, and the lung apex force also calculates the distance to the diaphragm (step 307). ). In addition, the CT image processing unit 24 detects the positions of the lung apex and the diaphragm from the latham image created in Step 305, and calculates the distance from the lung apex to the diaphragm (Step 307). Specifically, the moving image processing unit 23 detects the boundary where the value of the moving image of the first frame is changed greatly, and the CT image processing unit 24 detects the boundary where the value of the ray image is changed based on the pixel value. The coordinates (position) of the lung apex are determined at the upper part of the region, and the coordinates of the diaphragm are determined at the lower part of the lung field region. Then, the moving image processing unit 23 sets the periphery of the lung apex coordinates determined from the moving image of the first frame as the region of interest (ROI), and similarly sets the periphery of the coordinates of the diaphragm as the region of interest. The moving image after the second frame is tracked with respect to the region of interest, the boundary where the pixel value changes greatly is detected, and the coordinates of the lung apex and the diaphragm are determined respectively.

[0029] The integration unit 25 inputs the distance from the apex of the lungs to the diaphragm calculated in step 307 from the moving image processing unit 23 and the CT image processing unit 24, and the distance in the lathe image and the distance in each frame of the moving image To identify frames with the same distance (step 308). That is, the frame where the respiratory level of the CT image and the respiratory level of the moving image match is specified from a plurality of frames.

[0030] The integration unit 25 inputs the laysum image from the CT image processing unit 24, and performs alignment between the frame of the identified moving image and the laysum image (step 309). Specifically, the difference between the pixel values of both images at each pixel is calculated while gradually shifting and rotating the input specific frame and the latham image, and the sum of the absolute values of the difference values is the smallest. Find the shift and rotation position. This position is determined as a position where both images match. That is, the integration unit 25 obtains R in the following formula by shifting and rotating both images little by little, and determines the shift and rotation position where R is the minimum as the matching position.

[Number 1]

N M

= V | ί «ί + dx, y + dy), dr)-F (x, y) where R is the sum of the absolute values of the pixel difference values, F (x, y) is the specific frame of the video, G (X , y) is the Latham image, Rotation is the rotation function (input is the image and rotation angle, output is the rotated image), X is the horizontal coordinate (0 <x <M), y is the vertical coordinate (0 <y <N), M is the horizontal image size (in pixels), N is the vertical image size (in pixels), dx is the horizontal shift amount (0 to dx, 10, in pixels) ), Dy is the vertical shift amount (0-dy-10, unit is pixel), dr is the rotation amount (0-dr-5, unit is deg).

[0031] Note that the integration unit 25 reduces the image size of the input frame and the laysum image of 512 X 512 pixels to an image size of 128 XI 28 pixels, respectively, and reduces the reduced frame and the latham image. It may be used to determine the matching position. Thereby, the time for determining the matching position can be shortened.

[0032] The moving image processing unit 23 divides the frame of the moving image specified in step 308 by a predetermined number for each area horizontal in the X-axis direction with respect to the left lung field region and the right lung field region ( Step 310). Here, from the viewpoint of ecological follow-up accuracy in lung function, it is preferable to divide the left and right lung field regions into 8 parts.

[0033] The moving image processing unit 23 calculates an average of pixel values for each area divided in step 310, and calculates a difference in pixel values between frames of moving images adjacent in time series. Also, the difference between the pixel value at maximum inspiration and the pixel value at maximum expiration is calculated (step 311). Specifically, the moving image processing unit 23 determines the pixel difference value (average difference value of pixel values) between the first frame and the second frame in the time-series moving image frame, the second The pixel difference value between the frame and the third frame is calculated for each area. In addition, the moving image processing unit 23 performs all the moving images calculated in step 307. From the distance to the lung apex force / diaphragm of the image frame, the frame with the maximum distance is specified and the frame with the minimum distance is specified. Here, the frame with the maximum distance indicates the form at the time of the maximum inspiration, and the frame with the minimum distance indicates the form at the time of the maximum expiration. Then, the moving image processing unit 23 calculates, for each area, a pixel difference value that is a difference between the pixel value of the frame at the time of the maximum inspiration and the pixel value of the frame at the time of the maximum expiration. Here, the pixel difference value calculated by the moving image processing unit 23 is ventilation information.

[0034] The integration unit 25 inputs the chest division information, the inter-frame pixel difference value for each area, and the maximum inspiration / expiration pixel difference value from the moving image processing unit 23, and the inter-frame pixel difference value for each area. Depending on the maximum inspiration / expiration pixel difference value for each area, it is superimposed and displayed on the coronal image and moving image (step 312). ). Details of the screen display will be described later.

[0035] [Screen display]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device 17 shown in FIG. This screen is displayed when the operator operates the mouse 18 or the keyboard 19. In FIG. 4, a CT image is in the upper left area 401 of the screen, a moving image 402 is in the upper center area of the screen, a coronal image is in the lower left area 403 of the screen, a sagittal image is in the right area 404, and the right The next region 405 displays the same moving image as the region 402, the right adjacent region 406 displays a graph indicating the distance from the lung apex to the diaphragm, and the operator operation regions 407 to 409 are displayed on the right side of the screen. Hereinafter, the operation from the operation of the operator to the screen display will be described.

[0036] First, when the operator selects a folder or file in area 407 and presses the "Ope n images" button in area 409, a moving image is read from HD14 (moving image storage unit 21), and areas 402 and 405 are read out. Is displayed. This moving image is a series of breathing motion images from inspiration to expiration. Similarly, when the operator selects the same examinee's holder or file in area 407 and presses the “〇pen CT” button in area 409, the CT image is read from HD14 (CT image storage unit 22), and the area is 401 is displayed. In the area 408, the image size in the x-axis direction, the image size in the y-axis direction, the pixel size, the slice thickness, and the number of gradation bits are set and displayed.

[0037] When the operator presses the “Lung areaj button” in area 409, lung field recognition of the moving image is performed. In addition, the amount of movement is obtained by measuring the position of the diaphragm in the moving image, and a graph of the distance from the lung apex to the diaphragm in each frame of the moving image is displayed in region 406. In this case, when the operator operates the scroll bar at the bottom of the area 406 to the left and right, a frame of a moving image corresponding to the position of the scroll bar is displayed in the areas 402 and 405. That is, when the operator moves the scroll bar from the left end to the right end, a moving image of a series of breathing motions from inspiration to expiration is displayed in regions 4 02 and 405.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged graph of the region 406 shown in FIG. 4, and shows the distance from the lung apex to the diaphragm in a series of breathing operations from inspiration to expiration. The characteristic of the circle (circle) is the distance in the right lung, and the mark (X) is the distance in the left lung.

[0039] Returning to FIG. 4, when the operator presses the isotropic dataj button in the area 409, the CT image is converted into a botacel, and a coronal image, a sagittal image, and a latham image are created. A sagittal image is displayed in each region 404. At this stage, ventilation information is not superimposed on the areas 403 and 405. Also, the ray image is not displayed on the screen. In this case, when the operator operates the scroll bar at the bottom of the region 401 to the left or right, a sagittal image corresponding to the position of the scroll bar is displayed in the region 404. When the operator operates the scroll bar on the right side of the region 401 up and down, a coronal image corresponding to the position of the scroll bar is displayed in the region 403. When the operator operates the scroll bar on the right side of the region 404 up and down, a CT image (axial image) corresponding to the position of the scroll bar is displayed in the region 401 in the regions 403 and 404. In addition, the distance from the apex of the lung to the diaphragm in the Latham image is measured.

[0040] When the operator presses the “Registration” button in area 409, the pulmonary apex force / diaphragm distance in each frame of the moving image and the pulmonary apex force / diaphragm distance in the laysum image are used. Then, the frame of the moving image having the same breathing level is specified, and the frame is displayed in the areas 402 and 405. Then, alignment is performed between the images. In addition, the position of the scroll bar in the area 406 is a position corresponding to the specific frame. At this stage, ventilation information is not superimposed on the areas 403 and 405. [0041] When the operator presses the “Ventilation” button in area 409, the pixel difference value at the time of maximum inspiration / expiration for each chest area is used as ventilation information, and a specific frame of the coronal image in area 403 and the moving image in area 400 Are displayed in a superimposed manner. In addition, the inter-frame pixel difference value for each chest area is displayed as ventilation information superimposed on the moving image in the region 405. In this case, when the operator operates the scroll bar at the bottom of the area 406 to the left or right, a moving image corresponding to the position of the scroll bar is displayed in the area 405 and the ventilation information of the inter-frame pixel difference value is displayed in an overlapping manner. The From the moving image in this area 405, the inspiration and expiration states can be grasped.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the region 403 shown in FIG. 4, and the pixel difference value at the time of maximum inspiration Z exhalation is displayed superimposed on the coronal image as ventilation information. As shown in Fig. 6, ventilation information is displayed for each area where the left and right breasts are divided into 8 equal parts, and the pixel difference value is shown in shades according to the size. The larger the pixel difference value, the more the color of the area. Is getting darker. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the region 405 shown in FIG. 4, and the pixel difference value at the time of maximum inspiration / expiration is displayed as ventilation information superimposed on a specific frame of the moving image. As in Fig. 6, ventilation information is displayed for each area with the left and right breasts divided into 8 equal parts, and the pixel difference value is displayed in shades according to the size. The larger the pixel difference value, the more the color of the area. It's getting darker. The central chevron curve shows the pixel difference values for each area with the center vertical line set to 0. The left curve is the left chest difference value, and the right curve is the right chest difference value. It is. The closer to the bottom of the chest, the larger the pixel difference value, so the area is darker and the curve is wider.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, when the operator presses the button at the bottom of the region 403, the display of the original coronal image or the coronal image and the maximum inspiration / expiration in the region 403 is performed. It is possible to select the overlapping display of pixel difference values (ventilation information) at the time. Also, referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, by pressing the button at the bottom of the region 405, in the region 405, the display of the moving image, the specific frame of the moving image, and the pixel difference value during the maximum inspiration Z expiration (ventilation) Information) or superimposed display of moving image and inter-frame pixel difference values can be selected.

[0044] Here, although not shown in the figure, in the region 405, the inter-frame pixel for each chest area. If the difference value is displayed on the moving image as ventilation information, it is divided into the expiration phase color when the pixel difference value is positive, and the inspiration phase color when the pixel difference value is negative. Indicated by the shade of the color according to the size of the pixel difference value

In the area 409, setting and display of the screen contrast and the like, setting of a data saving method such as a bitmap, saving of data, and the like are performed by an operator's operation.

[0046] As described above, according to the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the integration unit 25 has a respiratory property that is chest shape information and ventilation information for each divided chest area. The dynamic information is overlaid on the screen. This makes it possible to achieve local quantitative evaluation and obtain evaluation results that can be used effectively for interpretation and diagnosis.

[0047] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and intention of the present invention. . For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pixel difference value in the chest is superimposed on the morphological information as ventilation information. However, the region may be a heart or the like that is not limited to the chest, and may be limited to the ventilation information. However, it may be other dynamic information, for example, information on the diffusion and contraction of blood vessels.

[0048] The conditions such as the image size, the number of gradations, and the number of frames of the chest X-ray moving image, and the conditions such as the image size, the number of gradations, and the slice thickness of the CT image are the conditions described in the above embodiment. It is not limited to. Further, the image size adjusted by the moving image processing unit 23 and the number of slices voxelized by the CT image processing unit 24 are not limited to the image size and the number of slices shown in the embodiment. Also, in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the ventilation information is not limited to the area of eight equal forces displayed for each area obtained by dividing the left and right chests into eight equal parts.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 includes a volatile storage medium such as a CPU 11 and a RAM 12, a non-volatile storage medium such as a ROM 13, a mouse 18, a keyboard 19, and a pointing device. Etc., a display 17 for displaying images and data, and a computer having an interface I / F 15 for communicating with an external device.

Of the moving image processing unit 23, the CT image processing unit 24 and the integration unit 25 included in the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus 1 Each function is realized by causing the CPU 11 to execute a program describing these functions. These programs can also be stored and distributed in storage media such as magnetic disks (floppy disk, hard disk HD14, etc.), optical disks (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), semiconductor memory, and the like.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A moving image storage unit that stores an X-ray moving image of a series of motions of a diagnostic region;

A still image storage unit storing an X-ray still image of the diagnostic region;

A moving image processing unit that reads out a moving image from the moving image storage unit and generates dynamic information indicating a function relating to the diagnostic region based on the moving image;

A still image processing unit that reads a still image from the still image storage unit and generates a new image relating to the diagnostic region from the still image;

The dynamic information generated by the moving image processing unit and at least one form information of the moving image and the new image generated by the still image processing unit are integrated, and the integrated information is displayed on the screen. An X-ray diagnosis support apparatus characterized by comprising an integrated unit.

[2] In the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1,

An X-ray moving image stored in the moving image storage unit is taken from the back of the chest, and is taken as a chest X-ray moving image showing a series of breathing movements from inspiration to expiration,

The X-ray still image stored in the still image storage unit is a CT image showing a slice plane of the chest,

The moving image processing unit measures the position of the diaphragm for each frame of the chest X-ray moving image, identifies the frame of the maximum inspiration and the frame of the maximum expiration from the position of the diaphragm, and sets each predetermined area of the chest. In addition, a pixel difference value between the maximum inspiration frame and the maximum expiration frame is calculated as ventilation information, and the ventilation information is generated as dynamic information.

The still image processing unit generates, as a new image, at least one of a Latham image, a coronal image, and a sagittal image viewed from the rear of the chest based on a CT image. .

[3] In the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1,

An X-ray still image stored in the still image storage unit is displayed on the chest slice plane. Image and

The moving image processing unit measures the position of the diaphragm for each frame of the chest X-ray moving image, and for each predetermined chest area, for each frame of the chest X-ray moving image, frames before and after the time series. The pixel difference value between them is calculated as ventilation information, the ventilation information is generated as dynamic information,

The still image processing unit generates a new image including at least the ray-sum image among a ray-sam image, a coronal image, and a sagittal image viewed from the back of the chest based on the CT image, and the diaphragm is generated for the generated ray-sam image Measure the position of

The integration unit compares the position of the diaphragm measured by the still image processing unit with the position of the diaphragm measured for each frame by the moving image processing unit, identifies a moving image frame in which both positions match, Dynamic information generated by the moving image processing unit, and at least one form information of the moving image, the frame of the identified moving image, a laysum image generated by the still image processing unit, a coronal image, and a sagittal image An X-ray diagnosis support apparatus characterized in that the integrated information is displayed on the screen.

[4] The X-ray diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 3,

The integration unit calculates a pixel difference value at each position while shifting and rotating the frame of the identified moving image and the resumable image generated by the still image processing unit, and calculates an absolute value of the pixel difference value. X-ray diagnosis characterized in that a shift and rotation position with the smallest sum of the two is obtained, the position is determined as a matching position, and the dynamic information and form information are integrated and displayed on the screen by the matching position. Support device.

[5] A moving image storage unit in which an X-ray moving image of a series of operations of a diagnostic part is stored, and a still image storage unit in which an X-ray still image of the diagnostic unit is stored, and the X-ray moving image And a program executed by an X-ray diagnosis support apparatus that supports diagnosis using a static image, the computer constituting the X-ray diagnosis support apparatus,

A process of reading out a moving image from the moving image storage unit and generating dynamic information indicating a function relating to the diagnostic region based on the moving image;

Processing for reading a still image from the still image storage unit and generating a new image relating to the diagnostic region from the still image; An X-ray diagnosis support program for executing the process of integrating the generated dynamic information and at least one form information of a moving image and a new image and displaying the integrated information on a screen.

A recording medium on which the X-ray diagnosis support program according to claim 5 is recorded.