JP2014068815A - Medical image display device, control method for the same and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lessen load of user's eyes during the region specifying operation which specifies an object region for luminance reducing processing in a photographed image.SOLUTION: When luminance reducing processing (blackening processing) is conducted for a photographed image 41, the operation for specifying a region as an object region is performed. The region specifying operation is performed by inputting a region specifying point while the photographed image 41 is confirmed. In starting the region specifying operation, luminance restraint processing is conducted for the whole screen of the photographed image 41. Thus, load of user's eyes during the region specifying operation is lessened.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image display apparatus that displays a captured image captured by a medical imaging apparatus, a control method for the medical image display apparatus, and a medical image display program.

  In the medical field, a medical image display device that displays a captured image captured by an X-ray imaging device and an operation screen for performing image processing on the captured image is known. In the photographed image, there may be a high-luminance region having a higher luminance than the subject region around the subject region where the subject is depicted. The high luminance region is very dazzling for a user who observes a captured image, and causes a burden on the eyes, and also causes a decrease in the visibility of the subject. For example, the high luminance region of the captured image is generated for the following reason. In X-ray imaging, imaging may be performed with the irradiation field irradiated with X-rays narrowed down for the purpose of reducing the exposure dose of the subject and noise due to scattered radiation. When the irradiation field is narrow with respect to the imaging range, an unirradiated area outside the irradiation field is included in the imaging range. Since the non-irradiated area is not irradiated with X-rays, it becomes a high-luminance area displayed at the maximum luminance in the captured image. Since the image captured by the X-ray imaging apparatus is a monochrome image, the unirradiated area is displayed in white.

  Some medical image display apparatuses have a luminance reduction function for performing a luminance reduction process for reducing the luminance of an unirradiated area on a captured image (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). When the luminance reduction process is performed on the luminance of the non-irradiated area, the non-irradiated area displayed white immediately after photographing approaches black, and thus the luminance reduction process is also called a blackening process.

  As described in Patent Document 2, the mode for executing the blackening process includes a manual mode for manually specifying a target area for blackening processing, and a target area as described in Patent Document 1. There is an automatic mode that recognizes automatically. In the manual mode, an operation screen is operated by operating an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard while a user confirms a captured image displayed on the display, and a target area is designated. After the area designating operation for the target area is completed, when an instruction to confirm the area and perform the blackening process is given, the blackening process is performed and the non-irradiated area of the captured image is blackened. This reduces the burden on the eyes during observation and improves the visibility of the subject.

  The automatic mode for automatically recognizing an unirradiated area may be simple in that the target area is automatically specified, but has a demerit that the target area desired by the user may not be recognized accurately. On the other hand, in the manual mode, it takes time and effort to specify the target area, but the area desired by the user can be accurately specified as the target area. As described above, since both the manual mode and the automatic mode have their merits and demerits, there are medical image display apparatuses having both.

Japanese Patent No. 4729860 JP 2006-068372 PR

  As described in Patent Document 2, when the blackening process is performed in the manual mode, the area designation operation is not performed when the blackening process for the unirradiated area is in an unprocessed state (high luminance state). Don't be. The area designation operation is an operation for giving a point for area designation while confirming the boundary of the unirradiated area in the photographed image. Therefore, the user cannot avoid the light emitted from the unirradiated area. For this reason, the user is forced to endure glare during the region designation operation, which causes a problem that the burden on the eyes is very large.

  Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 do not clearly indicate or suggest such problems and solutions.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image display device capable of reducing the burden on the user's eyes during an area designation operation for designating a target area for luminance reduction processing in a captured image, and a control method and program thereof. And

  The medical image display device of the present invention includes a display control unit, a region designating unit, a luminance reduction unit, and a luminance suppression unit. The display control unit performs display control for displaying on the display a captured image captured by the medical imaging apparatus and an operation screen for performing image processing on the captured image. The area designating unit designates a high-luminance area having a luminance higher than that of the subject area in which the subject is depicted in the captured image through the operation screen. The luminance reduction unit performs a luminance reduction process for reducing the luminance with respect to the high luminance region designated as the region. The luminance suppressing unit suppresses the luminance of the captured image being displayed on the display at least during the designation operation of the high luminance area before the luminance reduction process is executed.

  For example, when the designation operation by the area designation unit is started, the luminance suppression unit performs luminance suppression of the captured image.

  Further, for example, the captured image is stored in association with image data representing the photographed image and auxiliary information representing whether the luminance reduction processing has been processed or not processed in the data storage unit in which the data is stored. The luminance suppression unit checks whether the luminance reduction processing has been processed or not processed based on the incidental information when the captured image data is read. Perform suppression. In this case, the luminance suppression unit executes luminance suppression, for example, before the read captured image is displayed on the display.

  The luminance suppression unit performs luminance suppression, for example, by performing gradation conversion processing on the captured image. The gradation conversion process is a process for reducing the brightness of the entire captured image, for example. In addition, the gradation conversion process may be dynamic range compression that reduces the gradation allocated to a relatively high brightness area in the captured image. Further, the gradation conversion process may be a process for suppressing the maximum luminance in the captured image to a predetermined value or less.

  The captured image is, for example, a monochrome image, and the luminance reduction processing by the luminance reduction unit is blackening processing that brings a high luminance area displayed white on the display close to black. The captured image is, for example, a radiation image obtained by radiation imaging. The high luminance area is an unirradiated area other than the irradiation field irradiated with radiation in the radiographic image, for example. The blackening process may be a process of making the area to be blackened translucent.

  The medical image display device control method of the present invention includes a display control step for performing display control for displaying a captured image captured by a medical imaging device and an operation screen for performing image processing on the captured image on a display, and imaging An accepting step for accepting an operation for designating a high-intensity region having a higher luminance than the subject region in which the subject is depicted in the image through the operation screen, and a luminance reduction process for reducing the luminance for the designated high-intensity region A luminance reduction step to be performed, and a luminance suppression step for suppressing the luminance of the captured image being displayed on the display at least during reception of a designation operation for a high luminance area before the luminance reduction step is executed. It is characterized by doing.

  The medical image display program of the present invention includes a display control step for performing display control for displaying a captured image captured by a medical imaging apparatus and an operation screen for performing image processing on the captured image on a display, and a subject in the captured image. A reception step for accepting an operation for designating a high-brightness region that is brighter than the subject region on which the image is drawn through the operation screen, and a luminance reduction for performing a luminance reduction process for reducing the luminance for the designated high-brightness region A process including a step and a luminance suppression step of suppressing the luminance of the captured image being displayed on the display while at least receiving the designation operation of the high luminance area before the luminance reduction step is executed. It is made to perform.

  The present invention can provide a medical image display apparatus capable of reducing the burden on the user's eyes during an area designating operation for designating a target area for luminance reduction processing in a captured image, and a control method and program thereof. .

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the X-ray imaging system containing the console which displays a picked-up image. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the electric constitution of the computer which comprises a console. It is a functional block diagram of a computer at the time of starting a medical image display program. It is explanatory drawing of the initial screen of an operation screen. It is explanatory drawing of the blackening process operation screen before blackening process execution. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st example of the gradation conversion table used for brightness | luminance suppression. It is explanatory drawing of the blackening process operation screen after blackening process execution. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the brightness | luminance suppression and blackening process of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example of the gradation conversion table used for a brightness | luminance suppression. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd example of the gradation conversion table used for a brightness | luminance suppression. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the image file of a picked-up image. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the brightness | luminance suppression and blackening process of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing before a process in the case of implementing a blackening process by translucent. It is explanatory drawing after a process in the case of implementing a blackening process by translucent.

“First Embodiment”
In FIG. 1, the X-ray imaging system 10 includes an X-ray source 11, an electronic cassette 16, and a console 20. The X-ray source 11 includes an X-ray tube 12 that irradiates the subject S with X-rays, and an irradiation field limiter (collimator) 13 that limits an X-ray irradiation field emitted from the X-ray tube 12. The irradiation field limiter 13 has, for example, a rectangular irradiation opening that transmits X-rays and a plurality of lead plates that are arranged on each side of the irradiation opening and shield X-rays, and moves the position of the lead plate. Thus, the size of the irradiation opening is changed to limit the irradiation field 19 in the electronic cassette 16.

  The electronic cassette 16 receives an X-ray irradiated from the X-ray source 11 and transmitted through the subject S, and an FPD (flat panel detector) that detects an X-ray image (captured image) of the subject S on a portable housing 17. It is an X-ray image detection device that accommodates and outputs a captured image detected by an FPD as digital data. The X-ray source 11 and the electronic cassette 16 constitute a medical imaging apparatus.

  On the irradiation surface 17a that receives X-ray irradiation in the housing 17, a frame line 18 indicating a photographing range that can be photographed is provided. When photographing the subject S, the subject S is positioned on the irradiation surface 17a. For example, when the subject S is smaller than the shooting range, such as when the subject S is an arm, the irradiation field limiter 13 adjusts the size of the irradiation opening so that the X becomes smaller than the shooting range. The irradiation field 19 of the line is narrowed down. When the irradiation field 19 is narrowed down in this way, it is possible to reduce the exposure amount of the subject S and scattered radiation that becomes noise in the captured image.

  The console 20 performs imaging conditions (X-ray tube current, tube voltage) on the medical imaging apparatus based on an examination order issued by a doctor of a medical department (internal medicine, surgery, etc.) that is a request source of the X-ray examination. And an irradiation time), and an operation terminal having a function for operating and controlling the medical imaging apparatus. The console 20 is communicably connected to the electronic cassette 16 in a wireless or wired manner, and has a function of displaying a captured image received from the electronic cassette 16 and performing image processing, and the medical image of the present invention. Functions as a display device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the console 20 is based on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation and installs a control program such as an operating system and an application program (AP) 30 for causing the computer to function as the console 20. Composed. The console 20 includes a main body 21, a display 22, and a keyboard and mouse, and includes an input device 23 for inputting operation instructions.

  A main body 21 of the console 20 is provided with a CPU 25, a memory 26, a storage device 27, and a communication I / F 28, which are connected via a data bus 29. The input device 23 may be a touch panel type input device integrated with the display 22.

  The storage device 27 is a device that stores various types of data, and includes, for example, a hard disk drive. The storage device 27 stores a control program and an application program (AP) 30 such as console software.

  The memory 26 is a work memory for the CPU 25 to execute processing. The CPU 25 loads the control program stored in the storage device 27 into the memory 26 and executes processing according to the program, thereby comprehensively controlling each part of the computer. The communication I / F 28 is an interface for communicating with the electronic cassette 16. The communication I / F 28 also functions as a network interface that performs transmission control with the network 31 such as a LAN. The console 20 is a captured image taken by various medical imaging devices in the hospital (including general X-ray imaging devices such as electronic cassettes as well as modalities such as graphy, CT, and MRI) via the network 31. And a server 32 such as an RIS (radiological information system) that manages the examination order of the X-ray examination and an HIS (hospital information system) that manages information such as an electronic medical record. In addition to displaying the captured image received from the electronic cassette 16, the console 20 can also display the captured image acquired by accessing the image server.

  The console software has functions for displaying the captured image received from the examination order, the electronic cassette 16 and the like on the display 22, performing image processing on the captured image, and operating and controlling the medical imaging apparatus. A program for causing a computer to execute. In the following, a description will be given focusing on a captured image display function and an image processing function among various functions of the console software.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the console software is activated, the CPU 25 functions as a GUI control unit 36, an image processing unit 37, and a data access unit 38 in cooperation with the memory 26. The GUI control unit 36 is an input / output control unit that controls output information to the display 22 and input information input from the input device 23. The GUI control unit 36 has a captured image 41 captured by the electronic cassette 16 and a GUI (Graphical) on the display 22. An operation screen based on (User Interface) is output, and an operation instruction input from the input device 23 is received in cooperation with the operation screen. The GUI control unit 36 executes a corresponding process according to the contents of the received operation instruction, and distributes the operation instruction to the image processing unit 37 and the data access unit 38.

  The console software includes operation screen information, and the GUI control unit 36 generates an operation screen to be displayed on the display 22 based on the operation screen information. The image processing unit 37 performs various image processing on the captured image 41. As image processing, for example, edge enhancement processing for emphasizing an edge in a captured image, frequency processing for performing enhancement processing for each specific spatial frequency component, or reducing the luminance of a high-luminance region in the captured image 41 to the minimum luminance. There is a blackening process that converts it to black. The data access unit 38 accesses the storage device 27 to read data of the captured image 41 and store the captured image 41 processed by the image processing unit 37.

  An initial screen 51 shown in FIG. 4 is an operation screen that is generated by the GUI control unit 36 and displayed first on the display 22 when the console software is started. The initial screen 51 includes a patient information display area 52 for displaying patient information such as an examination order ID, patient name, patient ID, sex, and age, an image display area 53 for displaying a captured image 41, and an operation unit display area 54. Is provided.

  Since the captured image 41 displayed on the initial screen is an image that has not been subjected to image processing, 41A is added as a code to distinguish it from an image processed image that will be described later. The captured image 41A may be simply indicated by reference numeral 41 when it is not necessary to distinguish whether the image processing has been processed or not. The photographed image 41A is an image obtained by photographing an arm as the subject S as shown in FIG. In the captured image 41A, a subject area AR1 in which the subject S is depicted is located at the center. An area AR2 indicated by hatching in the vicinity of the subject area AR1 is a so-called element in which X-rays are directly incident because the subject S does not exist among the areas corresponding to the irradiation field 19 (see FIG. 1) irradiated with the X-rays. This is the missing area AR2. As shown in FIG. 1, in the captured image 41, the irradiation field 19 is narrowed to be smaller than the imaging range. Therefore, the unirradiated area outside the irradiation field 19 where the X-rays are not irradiated is surrounded around the bare region AR2. An area AR3 exists.

  When displaying an X-ray image on the display 22, generally, a region having a larger amount of X-ray incidence has a lower luminance (high density), and a region having a smaller amount of X-ray incidence has a higher luminance (low concentration). Is displayed. Since the X-ray image is a monochrome image, the lower luminance (high density) area is closer to black, and the higher luminance (low density) area is closer to white. In the photographed image 41A, since the amount of X-rays incident on the unexposed area A2 is maximized, the minimum luminance (maximum density) of the unexposed area AR2 is displayed and displayed in black. Since the subject area AR1 absorbs X-rays by the subject S, the amount of incident light is smaller than that of the blank area AR2. Since the amount of X-ray absorption varies depending on the part in the subject S such as a bone or soft tissue, an image corresponding to the amount of absorption of each part is drawn in the subject region AR1. On the other hand, the non-irradiated area AR3 has the minimum (zero) X-ray incident amount, and therefore has the highest luminance (lowest density) in the captured image 41A and is displayed in white.

  In the operation section display area 54, an imaging condition tab 56 for displaying and setting imaging conditions, a marker indicating a region of interest to be noted in diagnosis in the captured image 41, and comments such as comments (annotations) An annotation input tab 57 for displaying an operation unit for inserting the image, and an image processing tab for displaying a menu 62 for various image processing (edge enhancement processing, frequency processing, blackening processing, etc.) performed on the captured image 41 58 is provided. By selecting each of the tabs 56 to 58 with the mouse pointer 61, a window corresponding to the selected tab among the tabs 56 to 58 is displayed. In the figure, the image processing tab 58 is selected and the image processing menu 62 is displayed. The image reading button 63 is an operation button for instructing reading of the captured image 41 stored in the storage device 27, and the save button 64 is an operation button for storing the processed captured image 41 in the storage device 27.

  When instructing the start of various image processing processing modes from the image processing menu 62, the pointer 61 is selected by a mouse click operation in accordance with a desired image processing item. When blackening processing is performed on the photographed image 41, the pointer 61 is placed on the blackening processing item 62a from the image processing menu 62 and is selected by a click operation. Thereby, the blackening process mode is started. When the blackening process mode is started, the operation screen shifts from the initial screen 51 to the blackening process mode screen 71 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the blackening process mode screen 71 is provided with a patient information display area 72 and an image display area 73 similar to the initial screen 51. In the operation unit display area 74, an operation unit corresponding to the blackening processing mode is displayed. The blackening process mode includes a manual mode for manually specifying a blackening process target area and an automatic mode for automatically recognizing the target area. The operation unit display area 74 is provided with a tab 76 for selecting the manual mode and a tab 77 for selecting the automatic mode. Each of the tabs 76 and 77 can be switched by selecting with the pointer 61. By selecting one of the tabs 76 and 77, either the manual mode or the automatic mode is selected.

  When the automatic mode is selected, an operation button (not shown) for starting the automatic mode process is displayed. When this operation button is clicked, the image processing unit 37 automatically recognizes the unirradiated area AR3 in the captured image 41 and performs blackening processing on the recognized area. In the automatic mode, area selection is simple, but the unirradiated area AR3 may not be correctly recognized depending on the content of the captured image 41. In preparation for such a case, a manual mode is provided.

  When the manual mode is selected, a window having an operation unit corresponding to the manual mode is displayed in the operation unit display area 74. The area designation button 81 is an operation unit that designates a blackening process target area in the captured image 41B. When the area specifying button 81 is clicked with the pointer 61, an instruction to start the area specifying operation is input to the GUI control unit 36 and the image processing unit 37.

  When the start of area designation is instructed, the following two processes are executed by the GUI control unit 36 and the image processing unit 37. One is that the GUI control unit 36 makes it possible to input the region designation point 88 in the captured image 41. The other is that the image processing unit 37 performs a luminance suppression process on the captured image 41 displayed in the image display area 73. The luminance suppression process is a process that is performed on the entire captured image 41, unlike the blackening process that is executed after the area is specified. Since these two processes are executed almost simultaneously, the area designating operation can be performed on the captured image 41 after the luminance suppression process.

  In FIG. 5, the captured image 41 that has been subjected to the luminance suppression process is shown as a captured image 41 </ b> B in order to distinguish it from the captured image 41 </ b> A displayed on the initial screen 51. That is, when the area designation button 81 is selected, the image processing unit 37 performs a luminance suppression process on the captured image 41A and displays the captured image 41B in the image display area 73.

  Specifically, the luminance suppression process is executed by performing a gradation conversion process on the captured image 41. The console software includes a gradation conversion table as shown in FIG. The gradation conversion table is a table that is output by dropping the pixel value (input value) of the input captured image 41 to 70%, for example. The image processing unit 37 converts all the pixel values of the input captured image 41A to 70% according to the gradation conversion table, and outputs a processed captured image 41B. Thereby, compared with the captured image 41A displayed on the initial screen 51, the luminance of the captured image 41B displayed on the blackening processing mode screen 71 is suppressed. In the captured image 41B that has been subjected to the luminance suppression process, the luminance of the entire screen including the subject region AR1 as well as the unirradiated region AR3 decreases. Since the user performs an area designation operation for blackening processing on the captured image 41B, the burden on the user's eyes is reduced by suppressing the luminance.

  Note that the value “70%”, which is the ratio between the input value and the output value defined in the gradation conversion table, is an example, and if the luminance decreases with respect to the captured image 41A, 50%, 60%, etc. Any value is acceptable. However, since the area designation operation for the blackening process is performed on the photographed image 41B after the luminance suppression process, specifically, the unirradiated area AR3 designated as the target area for the blackening process to the extent that there is no problem in the area designation operation. It is preferable that the luminance is such a level that can be determined. Further, the gradation conversion table used for the luminance suppression process may be in the form of data data or a function expression.

  Further, the data of the captured image 41 that has been subjected to the luminance suppression process is not stored in the storage device 27. That is, the luminance suppression process is a process that is temporarily performed on the captured image 41 when performing the region designation operation, and the luminance suppression process is performed on the display data generated in the memory 26. Only. The data subjected to the luminance suppression process is not stored in the storage device 27, and the luminance suppression is canceled in the memory 26 after the blackening process described later is executed.

  As described above, almost simultaneously with the luminance suppression process, when the GUI control unit 36 receives an instruction to start an area specifying operation, the GUI controller 36 specifies an arbitrary area in the captured image 41 displayed in the image display area 73 as a target area. Enable the area specification operation. The area specifying operation is performed by clicking the pointer 61. When a click operation is performed with the pointer 61 positioned at a desired position in the captured image 41B by a mouse operation, an area designation point 88 is displayed. A closed area designated by a plurality of area designation points 88 is designated as a target area. The coordinate information of the area designation point 88 is input to the image processing unit 37 through the GUI control unit 36.

  The designation cancel button 82 is an operation button for canceling the input of the area designation point 88. The area inversion button 83 is an operation button for inverting the target area to an area other than the closed area designated by the plurality of area designation points 88. The preview button 84 is an operation button for displaying a preview of a state in which the captured image 41 is blackened. When the preview button 84 is selected with the pointer 61 and clicked, the GUI control unit 36 and the image processing unit 37 temporarily display the display data obtained by performing the blackening process on the target area specified by the area specifying operation. A preview image of the captured image 41 after the blackening process is generated and displayed.

  The confirmation button 85 is an operation button for confirming the designated area designation and instructing the captured image 41 to execute the blackening process. When the confirm button 85 is operated, the image processing unit 37 performs blackening processing on the captured image 41 and stores the processed captured image 41 in the storage device 27.

  In FIG. 7, like the captured image 41C showing the captured image 41 after the blackening process, the blackening process converts, for example, the pixel value of the non-irradiated area AR3 in which the area is specified, and lowers the luminance to the minimum luminance. . That is, the pixel value of the non-irradiated area AR3 displayed in white with the highest luminance before the blackening process is converted to black with the lowest luminance which is almost the same as that in the blank area AR2.

  When executing the blackening process, the luminance suppression process applied to the entire screen including the subject area AR1 in the captured image 41B before the blackening process is canceled. Thereby, the luminance of the subject area AR1 returns to the same luminance as that of the captured image 41A displayed on the initial screen 51. The end button 86 is a button for ending the blackening process mode.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the subject S is imaged by the X-ray imaging system 10, a captured image 41 is transmitted from the electronic cassette 16 to the console 20. Since the console software is activated before the start of photographing, the console 20 is in a state where the initial screen 51 (operation screen) is displayed (S101) and waiting for transmission of the photographed image 41 from the electronic cassette 16 It is in.

  When the captured image 41 is received by the console 20, it is stored in the storage device 27. The data access unit 38 reads the captured image 41 from the storage device 27 into the memory 26 (S102). The GUI control unit 36 generates a display image of the read captured image 41 and displays the unprocessed captured image 41A in both the blackening process and the luminance suppression process in the image display area 53 of the initial screen 51 (S103). . On the display 22, the unirradiated area AR3 of the captured image 41A is displayed with the highest luminance. For this reason, the captured image 41A is very difficult for the user to observe.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to execute the blackening process on the captured image 41A, the user selects the blackening process item 62a from the image processing menu 62 on the initial screen 51 with the pointer 61. . Then, the console 20 starts the blackening process mode (S104), and the operation screen changes from the initial screen 51 shown in FIG. 4 to the blackening process mode screen 71. On the blackening process mode screen 71, when the automatic mode is selected, the tab 77 is selected. When the manual mode is selected, the tab 76 is selected.

  When the region designation button 81 is clicked in the manual mode, an instruction to start the region designation operation is given (S105). An instruction to start the area specifying operation is input to the image processing unit 37 through the GUI control unit 36. The image processing unit 37 performs a luminance suppression process on the captured image 41A based on the gradation conversion table shown in FIG. Thereby, the brightness of the entire screen including the unirradiated area AR3 of the captured image 41A is suppressed, and the captured image 41B subjected to the brightness suppression process is displayed in the image display area 73 of the blackening process mode screen 71 (S106). ).

  In this state, the area designation point 88 is input by the pointer 61 to the captured image 41B. Since the brightness of the non-irradiated area AR3 is suppressed in the captured image 41B, the burden on the user's eyes is reduced in the area designating operation for designating the non-irradiated area AR3 as the target area for the blackening process.

  When the region designation operation is completed (S108), the preview display is confirmed by operating the preview button 84. When it is confirmed in the preview display that the target area is correctly specified, the confirm button 85 is operated. By operating the confirmation button 85, the image processing unit 37 executes blackening processing on the captured image 41 (S109).

  In the blackening process, the pixel value of the unirradiated area AR3 designated as the target area is replaced with the pixel value of the lowest luminance (highest density), and the unirradiated area AR3 is blackened in the same manner as the unexposed area AR2. . When the blackening process is executed, the luminance suppression process applied to the entire screen of the captured image 41 is cancelled. Thereby, the brightness of the subject area AR1 returns to the same brightness as that of the captured image 41A, and a captured image 41C in which the unirradiated area AR3 is blackened is obtained. Data of the captured image 41C is stored in the storage device 27. When the end button 86 is clicked, the blackening process mode ends (S110).

  As described above, in the present invention, when the blackening process is performed on the photographed image 41, the luminance of the photographed image 41 is performed while the blackening process target area (high luminance area) is being specified. Therefore, the burden on the user's eyes can be reduced. In the X-ray image, since the luminance difference between the unirradiated area AR3 and the irradiation field is large, such luminance suppression processing is very effective.

  Further, in this example, the timing for executing the luminance suppression process is when the area designation button 81 on the blackening process mode screen 71 is operated and an instruction to start the area designation operation is input. It may be performed when the blackening processing mode is started. Specifically, on the initial screen 51, when the blackening processing item 62a in the image processing menu 62 is operated, that is, when the start of the blackening processing mode is instructed, or on the blackening processing mode screen 71 It may be executed when migrating. In this case, since the luminance suppression process is started when the blackening process mode is started, the captured image 41C (from the beginning is displayed on the blackening process mode screen 71 without waiting for an instruction to start the region specifying operation. FIG. 7) is displayed. Since the area designating operation is the first operation performed in the blackening processing mode, all of these timings are included when the area designating operation is started.

  In addition, on the blackening process mode screen 71, a dedicated operation button (luminance suppression button) for inputting an instruction to execute the luminance suppression process may be provided in addition to the area designation button 81.

  In this example, as the luminance suppression processing, the gradation conversion table shown in FIG. 6 is used and the example in which all the pixel values of the captured image 41 are uniformly reduced by a predetermined ratio has been described. Form may be sufficient. For example, the gradation conversion tables shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may be used. The gradation conversion table shown in FIG. 9 performs so-called dynamic range compression on the photographed image 41, which compresses the number of gradations in the high luminance area and assigns that amount to the number of gradations in the low luminance area and the medium luminance area. It is an example. In this gradation conversion table, the absolute value of the pixel value in the high luminance area is also lowered in order to increase the number of gradations in the low luminance and medium luminance areas. As a result, the pixel value of the high luminance region such as the non-irradiated region AR3 is lowered, so that the luminance is suppressed.

  The gradation conversion table shown in FIG. 10 is a table in which an upper limit value is set in advance for an output value, and a pixel value whose input value is a predetermined value or more is replaced with a preset upper limit value. According to this, since the maximum luminance is suppressed to the upper limit value or less in the captured image 41, the luminance is suppressed.

“Second Embodiment”
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, in addition to the image data, supplementary information including blackening processing execution information indicating whether the blackening processing has been performed or not is added to the data of the captured image 41. In other words, it is a mode for determining whether or not to execute the luminance suppression process based on the content of the incidental information. The image data of the captured image 41 and the accompanying information are stored in the storage device 27 in a state where they are associated with each other.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, when the console software is activated and the initial screen 51 is displayed (S201), when the image reading instruction is given, the data access unit 38 reads the image ( S202). When the image reading is performed, the image processing unit 37 checks the incidental information of the data of the captured image 41 and determines whether the blackening process has been processed or not (S203). If it is determined that the image processing unit 37 is not yet processed (N in S203), the image processing unit 37 executes a luminance suppression process (S204). Thereby, before the read captured image 41 is displayed on the display 22, the luminance suppression process is immediately executed, and the captured image 41B is displayed on the initial screen 51 (S205).

  On the other hand, if the image processing unit 37 determines that the processing has been completed (N in S203), since the captured image 41 has already been subjected to blackening processing in the unirradiated area AR3 (state of the captured image 41C), There is no need to perform luminance suppression processing. Therefore, the captured image 41C is displayed in the image display step of S205.

  For the captured image 41 that has not been subjected to the blackening process, the blackening process mode is started in the same manner as in the first embodiment (S206). Then, an area is designated (S207), and blackening processing is executed (S208). In the area designation, since the luminance suppression process is performed on the unirradiated area AR3 of the captured image 41, the burden on the user's eyes is reduced. When the area designation is completed, the blackening process is executed (S208). At this time, the luminance suppression process is canceled. Data of the captured image 41 that has been subjected to blackening processing is stored in the storage device 27. At this time, the blackened information is recorded in the incidental information. The blackening process mode is ended by the end instruction (S209).

  In each of the above embodiments, the blackening process has been described as an example in which the blackening process is reduced to the lowest luminance in substantially the same manner as the blank area AR2. However, in the blackening process, the blank area AR2 and the non-irradiated area AR3 are made translucent. Also good. This is because, as shown in FIG. 13, a marker 94 for identifying the subject S at the time of shooting may be recorded in the blank area AR2. In this example, the marker 94 is information indicating whether the subject S is the left or right arm, and displays “L” indicating that it is the left arm.

  For the marker 94, for example, a lead marker applicator (not shown) that shields X-rays is disposed on the irradiation surface 17a of the electronic cassette 16 at a position corresponding to the blank region AR2 at the time of photographing. By photographing in this state, the image is given to the photographed image 41. An X-ray transmitting portion is formed in an “L” shape on the marker applying tool. Since the marker imparting tool shields the X-rays except for the X-ray transmission part, the letter “L” corresponding to the shape of the X-ray transmission part is provided as the marker 94 in the captured image 41.

  The area to which the marker 94 is added is the unexposed area AR2, not the unirradiated area AR3. However, when the blackening process is performed in the automatic mode, the unexposed area AR2 is combined with the unirradiated area AR3 as the target area. May be recognized as. In this case, if the captured image 41 with the marker 94 is subjected to a blackening process for changing the pixel value to opaque black, the marker 94 is crushed, and the marker 94 can be identified in the captured image 41. It will disappear. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the process of making the transparent region AR2 to which the marker 94 is provided is made translucent. Thereby, the marker 94 can be identified. Since the unirradiated area AR3 to which the blackening process is performed is an area adjacent to the element missing area AR2, when the element missing area AR2 is made semi-transparent so that the joint between the areas AR2 and AR3 is not conspicuous. Accordingly, the unirradiated area AR3 is also translucent.

  Further, a marker may be given to the unirradiated area AR3 by image processing in the console 20. In that case, if the unirradiated area AR3 is translucent, the marker provided by the blackening process will not be crushed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the medical image display apparatus of the present invention has been described as an example of a console. However, the present invention may be applied to a simple image display apparatus or image processing apparatus having no console function.

  In the above embodiment, the non-irradiated area AR3 in X-ray imaging is taken as an example of the high-luminance area of the captured image 41, and the non-irradiated area AR3 is blackened. It is not limited to the irradiation area AR3, but may be a high luminance area that hinders observation. In addition, although the blackening process has been described as an example of the luminance reduction process, it is not necessary to perform the blackening process as long as the luminance in the high-brightness region can be reduced.

  Further, although an X-ray imaging apparatus using FPD has been described as an example of the medical imaging apparatus, an X-ray imaging apparatus using an IP (imaging plate) cassette may be used. Further, not limited to the X-ray imaging apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) apparatus, an endoscope, or the like may be used. The captured image is not limited to a monochrome captured image, and may be performed on a color captured image such as a captured image of an endoscope.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 X-ray imaging system 11 X-ray source 16 Electronic cassette 19 Irradiation field 20 Console 22 Display 23 Input device (area designation part)
25 CPU
27 Storage Device 36 GUI Control Unit (Display Control Unit)
37 Image processing unit (luminance suppression unit, luminance reduction unit)
38 Data Access Unit 41, 41A, 41B, 41C Captured Image 51 Initial Screen 61 Pointer 71 Blackening Processing Mode Screen

Claims (14)

A display control unit that performs display control for displaying a captured image captured by a medical imaging apparatus and an operation screen for performing image processing on the captured image;
An area designating unit for designating and operating a high brightness area having a brightness higher than that of a subject area in which the subject is depicted in the captured image;
A luminance reduction unit that performs a luminance reduction process for reducing the luminance with respect to the high-luminance region designated as an area;
Before performing the luminance reduction process, the luminance suppression unit that suppresses the luminance of the captured image being displayed on the display during at least the designation operation of the high luminance region. A medical image display device.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminance suppression unit executes luminance suppression of the captured image when a designation operation by the region designation unit is started. The photographed image is stored in association with image data representing the photographed image and incidental information representing whether the luminance reduction process has been processed or not processed in a data storage unit in which the data is stored,
The luminance suppression unit checks whether the luminance reduction processing has been processed or not processed based on the supplementary information when the captured image data is read. The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminance suppression is performed on the image.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the luminance suppression unit executes the luminance suppression before the read captured image is displayed on the display.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminance suppression unit performs the luminance suppression by performing a gradation conversion process on the captured image.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gradation conversion process is a process of reducing the luminance of the entire captured image.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gradation conversion processing is dynamic range compression that reduces gradation allocated to a relatively high brightness area in the captured image.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gradation conversion process is a process of suppressing a maximum luminance to a predetermined value or less in the captured image. The captured image is a monochrome image,
9. The medical use according to claim 1, wherein the luminance reduction process by the luminance reduction unit is a blackening process in which the high luminance area displayed in white on the display is brought close to black. Image display device.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the captured image is a radiation image obtained by radiation imaging.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the high-luminance area is an unirradiated area other than an irradiation field irradiated with the radiation in the radiographic image.   The medical image display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the blackening process is a process of making a blackened region translucent. A display control step for performing display control for displaying a photographed image photographed by the medical photographing apparatus and an operation screen for performing image processing on the photographed image;
An accepting step of accepting an operation for designating, through the operation screen, a high-intensity region having a higher luminance than the subject region in which the subject is depicted in the captured image;
A luminance reduction step of performing a luminance reduction process for reducing the luminance with respect to the high luminance area designated as an area;
A medical image that executes a luminance suppression step that suppresses the luminance of the captured image being displayed on the display, at least while the designation operation of the high luminance area is being accepted before the luminance reduction step is performed. Display device control method. A display control step for performing display control for displaying a photographed image photographed by the medical photographing apparatus and an operation screen for performing image processing on the photographed image;
An accepting step of accepting an operation for designating, through the operation screen, a high-intensity region having a higher luminance than the subject region in which the subject is depicted in the captured image;
A luminance reduction step of performing a luminance reduction process for reducing the luminance with respect to the high luminance area designated as an area;
A process including a luminance suppression step of suppressing the luminance of the photographed image being displayed on the display at least while the designation operation of the high luminance area is being accepted before the luminance reduction step is performed. A medical image display program to be executed by a computer.

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