JP2000339445A - Non-invasive organism inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-invasive organism inspection device where a user can recognize the position and the analysis of a blood vessel. SOLUTION: A non-invasive organism inspection device is provided with a light source supplying light to an organism being an inspection object, an image pickup part which image-picks up image information on the organism receiving light, an analysis part analyzing image information and an output part outputting organism information obtain by the analysis part. In the analysis part, an analysis area is set against the image, the analysis area is analyzed and organism information is calculated, and an output part displays information on the analysis area with the picked up image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-invasive biopsy apparatus for non-invasively measuring biological component information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A transmission image of a blood vessel fitted to a part of a living body such as a finger is obtained with a simple apparatus configuration, and the image is analyzed to determine the blood vessel size, hemoglobin concentration, and blood component concentration such as hematocrit. Devices for percutaneous and non-invasive measurement have been devised (for example, WO 97/24066, WO 99/24066).
00005 publication). In such a non-invasive biopsy apparatus, an optimal analysis area is set by automatically recognizing a blood vessel. However, the user depends on the measurement situation,
It was not possible to know in which blood vessel region the analysis region was set.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a non-invasive biopsy device, a user can confirm analysis information such as the position of a blood vessel and an analysis region. An invasive biopsy device is provided.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a light source unit for supplying light to a living body to be inspected, an imaging unit for capturing image information from the living body receiving the light, and analyzing the image information. An analysis unit and an output unit that outputs biological information obtained by the analysis unit, the analysis unit sets an analysis region for the image, calculates the biological information by analyzing the analysis region,
The output unit displays information on the analysis area together with the captured image. Here, an overlay display can be used as a means for displaying information on the analysis area.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the living body examination apparatus of the present invention, a living body is a mammal including a human, and a part of the living body is not a tissue separated from the living body but a part of a tissue as it is. For example, a finger or a soft ear may be used.

The detecting section of the product of the present invention comprises a light source section, an image pickup section and a holding section. A semiconductor laser (hereinafter, LD), LED, or halogen light source can be used for the light source unit, and the light source unit may directly irradiate a part of the living body or irradiate through a fiber. The wavelength is preferably in the range of 600 to 950 nm, which transmits through the living tissue and does not absorb much water.

[0008] The imaging section can be composed of an optical system such as a lens and a light receiving element such as a photodiode or a CCD. When a CCD is used as the light receiving element, density distribution information of a blood vessel portion can be obtained. As the light receiving element, a line sensor or a photodiode array can be used in addition to the CCD.

In the case where a CCD is used as the light receiving element, the optical system of the image pickup section may be configured using only a TV lens.

[0010] In order to obtain more preferable optical information, the detecting section preferably includes a holding member for holding the light source section and the imaging section to a part of the living body. When a part of the living body is, for example, a finger of a human hand, the holding member may be a member that detachably holds the finger between the light source unit and the imaging unit. A type in which the finger is inserted into a hole or groove corresponding to the shape of the finger, or a type in which the finger is sandwiched between the movable pieces from both sides can be used.

The analyzing section can display on the output section information relating to blood and processed images from the plurality of obtained optical information of the same person. The information relating to blood is information relating to blood or blood flow, and specifically includes blood vessel diameter, blood component concentration (eg, hemoglobin, hematocrit, etc.), blood component concentration ratio (eg, oxygenation rate, etc.), and the like. . In addition, the analysis unit is used to analyze optical information.
A microcomputer consisting of U, ROM, RAM and I / O port and a commercially available personal computer can be used.

The output unit can use a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display, or a printing device such as a printer.

The operation unit can be composed of a keyboard or numeric keys for inputting measurer information, measurement data, and the like.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. This does not limit the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the non-invasive blood analyzer of the present invention. Using this device, the blood vessel width, blood component concentration, and oxygenation rate can be measured. In FIG. 1, a detection unit 1 includes a light source unit 11 for illuminating a part of a living body (here, a human finger) that fits a blood vessel, and a light image (here, a transmitted light image) of the illuminated living body part. A light receiving unit 12 for imaging is provided.

When the measurement key is pressed after the attribute information of the subject is input from the operation unit 35, the light source unit 11 is turned on, and the light receiving unit 12 obtains a transmitted image of the blood vessel. The transmission image obtained by the light receiving unit 12 is analyzed by the feature extraction unit 31 via the connectors 7 and 8, the feature points of the living body (finger 16) are calculated, and this is compared with the feature points stored by the storage unit 32. The comparison is performed by the unit 33, and the analysis region is set by the analysis region setting unit 34.

Next, the profile extracting unit 21
A concentration profile in a direction perpendicular to the blood vessel is created in the analysis region, and the concentration profile of that portion is quantified by the quantification unit 22 into a peak height, a half width, and the like.

The quantified value is stored in the storage unit 32, and based on the value, the arithmetic unit 23 calculates the blood vessel width, the blood component concentration (hemoglobin, hematocrit), and the oxygenation rate.

These measurement results are stored in the recording unit 25, and the stored data can be displayed as time series data as a graph or a table by the output unit 24.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the apparatus, and shows a detecting unit 1.
2 shows a state where is mounted on the mounting section 4 of the analysis section 3. The detection unit 1 includes an arm 5 and a housing 6. A light source unit 11 is provided in the arm 5, and an imaging unit (a lens and a CCD) is built in the housing 6 so as to face the arm 5. Arm 5
A finger 16 is held between the housing and the housing 6, and light is applied to the finger 16, and the transmitted light is imaged by the imaging unit as a transmitted image. The analysis unit 3 includes a personal computer, and can process information and images related to blood from optical information. The output unit (liquid crystal monitor) 24 can display information and images related to blood, is connected to the analysis unit 3 by the hinge 10, and can be folded. The operation unit 35 can input measurer information, data, and the like, and can switch display. The analysis unit 3 has an insertion port 36 for an external storage medium, and an external storage medium can be inserted therein to record a measurement result and the like.

The procedure of overlay display on the image of the region including the blood vessel performed by the analysis unit 3 in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the operation unit 35 is operated to acquire a transmission image including the blood vessel region of the finger 16 (step S1). Since the acquired image does not clearly show light and dark as shown in FIG. 4, it can be seen that it is not clear which region is a blood vessel.

First, as a characteristic pattern of an image, a polygonal line (blood vessel pattern) connecting points having lower valleys than the surroundings is extracted and stored. That is, FIG.
As shown in (A), the pixel of interest (x, y) is ± 10 pixels in the y-axis direction, that is, from (x, y-10) to (x, y).
A point lower than 95% of the average luminance value in the range between (y + 10) is extracted as a blood vessel candidate point. That is, in 21 consecutive pixel groups in the y-axis direction, a pixel whose luminance of the pixel group is 95% or less of the average luminance is selected as a blood vessel candidate point. Then, the pixel group is shifted one pixel at a time in the y-axis direction, and extraction of blood vessel candidate points is repeated from one end to the other in the y-axis direction. Next, the operation is repeated by one pixel in the x-axis direction, and the above-described operation is repeated to extract a blood vessel candidate point in the entire region of the captured image (step S2).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, a blood vessel candidate point having the lowest luminance and a lowest luminance point (a1, b1) (shown in black) within a range of ± 10 pixels are extracted. Here, hatched portions indicate blood vessel candidate points. In the adjacent row, a point (a2, b1) corresponding to the lowest point (a1, b1) corresponding to the lowest point (a1, b1) has a lowest point (a) having the lowest luminance within a range of ± 10 pixels.
2, b2) (shown in black) are extracted, and the lowest luminance point (a
1, b1) and (a2, b2). The above operation is repeated in all of the imaging regions to extract blood vessels as a line segment sequence and form a blood vessel pattern (Step S
3).

Next, at least one analysis area is set on the line segment sequence (blood vessel pattern) of the blood vessel (step S).
4). Output the captured transmission image (LCD monitor) 2
4, the line segment (blood vessel pattern) indicating the stored extracted blood vessel position is superimposed on the screen and displayed (steps S5 and S6). Further, a marker (rectangle) indicating the position of the set analysis area is displayed on the output unit (liquid crystal monitor) 24 so as to be superimposed on the screen (step S7). Also,
The display color, shape, or size of the blood vessel or the analysis region can be changed. For example, by giving a vivid color to the display color of the blood vessel and the analysis area, the blood vessel and the analysis area become clearer than a black and white transmission image.

FIG. 5 shows an image in which blood vessels and an analysis region are displayed on the transmission image by overlaying them. As shown in FIG. 5, the blood vessel and the analysis region can be clearly distinguished.
Another transmission image taken from the same subject is shown in FIG.
It can be seen at a glance that the analysis area is shifted, and it is possible to determine whether the blood vessel detection is appropriate and whether the analysis area is analyzing the same place as the previous time.

[0026]

According to the present invention, a line segment (blood vessel pattern) indicating a blood vessel position extracted from a transmission image and a marker indicating a position of an analysis area are displayed in the noninvasive biopsy device. Therefore, the position of the blood vessel and the analysis area can be easily confirmed. When analyzing the same area continuously,
It is possible to check whether the analysis area has shifted, and use it with confidence.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outer shape of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an image obtained by the non-invasive biopsy device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an image obtained by the non-invasive living body inspection apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an image obtained by the non-invasive biopsy device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method for obtaining a blood vessel pattern according to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 detection unit 2 data processing unit 3 analysis unit 11 light source unit 12 light reception unit 21 extraction unit 22 quantification unit 23 operation unit 24 output unit 25 storage unit 31 feature extraction unit 32 storage unit 33 comparison unit 34 analysis area Setting unit 35 Operation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06T 7/40 100 G01B 11/00 H // G01B 11/00 A61B 5/14 310

Claims (3)

[Claims] A light source unit for supplying light to a living body to be inspected; an imaging unit for capturing image information from the living body receiving the light; an analyzing unit for analyzing the image information; and an analyzing unit. And an output unit for outputting the obtained biological information, wherein the analysis unit sets an analysis region for the image, analyzes the inside of the analysis region and calculates the biological information, and the output unit relates to the analysis region together with the captured image. A non-invasive biopsy apparatus characterized by displaying information. 2. The non-invasive biopsy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit extracts a characteristic pattern of the captured image, and the output unit displays information on the characteristic pattern. 3. A light source unit for supplying light to a living body to be inspected, an imaging unit for capturing image information from the living body receiving the light, an analyzing unit for analyzing the image information, and an analyzing unit. An output unit for outputting the obtained biological information, wherein the analysis unit extracts a characteristic pattern of the captured image, and the output unit displays information about the characteristic pattern together with the captured image.