JP2002008008A - Medical image output method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an image outputted on a film or the like from having an inclination regardless of the photographic state or reading state in a medical image output device. SOLUTION: This image output device QA-WS 40 is provided with a concerned area designation means 43 for designating the concerned area of a desired size to the whole image to a desired position; an area concerned area image generating means 44 for extracting a concerned area image data S2 for the designated concerned area; a rotating angle designation means 81 for designating the rotating angle for rotating processing, and an image rotating means 85 for subjecting the image of the concerned area to rotating processing by the designated rotating angle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medical image output method and apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to a predetermined image output medium such as a CRT or a film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of handling medical images, for example, a radiographic image of a patient is accumulated and recorded on an imaging plate (accumulative phosphor sheet) having an accumulative phosphor by photographing. Is scanned with a laser beam as excitation light, and photostimulated emission light emitted at an amount of light corresponding to the stored energy is photoelectrically read, and a medical image obtained by reading is read out by a CRT or a liquid crystal. 2. Description of the Related Art Soft copy output is performed on a display surface such as a panel, or hard copy output is performed on a film or the like.

[0003]

On the other hand, depending on the shooting conditions, the center axis of the subject, which is the center axis of the image, and the center axis of the imaging plate may be shot with an inclination. The image output to the printer may also have an inclination, which may hinder image interpretation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for outputting a medical image in which an output image of a CRT or a film has no inclination regardless of a photographing state or a reading state. It is the purpose.

[0005]

A first medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range.
Specifying a rotation angle for rotation processing on a medical image, performing rotation processing on the medical image by the specified rotation angle, and outputting the medical image on which this rotation processing has been performed to an image output medium. It is a feature.

In other words, according to the first medical image output method of the present invention, the operator designates a rotation angle for tilt correction (manual designation) and rotates the image by the designated rotation angle. The image has no inclination.

[0007] In both cases of displaying an image (soft copy) on an image display medium and outputting an image (either soft copy or hard copy) on an image output medium, based on the input image data. Since the image is formed by scanning in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the reference axis of the rectangular display range of the image display medium and the reference axis of the rectangular output range of the image output medium generally correspond to each other. The inclination between the reference axis of the output range of the image output medium and the reference axis of the image on the image output medium (hereinafter also referred to as the inclination of the output image) is determined by the reference axis of the output range of the image display medium and the inclination of the image on the image display medium. This is equivalent to the inclination with respect to the reference axis (hereinafter also referred to as the inclination of the display image). Therefore, the inclination of the output image can be detected by detecting the inclination of the display image, and if the rotation processing is performed so that the detected inclination of the display image becomes zero, the inclination of the output image can also be made zero. it can. Also, for example, two points corresponding to the inclination of the image are specified in accordance with the reference axis of the image displayed on the image display medium, or a rectangular region of interest is specified on the image.
While displaying and confirming the image, the operator specifies the inclination specifying information indicating the inclination between the reference axis of the display range and the reference axis of the medical image, and detects the inclination based on the specified inclination specifying information. This makes it easier to detect the inclination of the display image. The second medical image output method of the present invention is based on such knowledge.

That is, a second medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, wherein the medical image is displayed in a rectangular display range. Display on an image display medium having
On the image display medium, inclination specifying information indicating the inclination between the reference axis of the display range and the reference axis of the medical image is specified, and based on the specified inclination specifying information, the reference axis of the display range and the medical The inclination of the image with respect to the reference axis is automatically detected, and based on the automatically detected inclination, a rotation process is performed on the image of the region of interest so that the inclination becomes substantially zero, and the rotation process is performed. The image of the region of interest is output to an image output medium.

As the inclination specifying information indicating the inclination between the reference axis of the display range and the reference axis of the medical image, any information can be used as long as the information can specify the inclination of the image (information on which the inclination angle can be calculated). The coordinates of two points set according to the inclination of the image can be used as described above. In this case, the inclination angle can be calculated from the angle between the straight line connecting the two designated points and the reference axis of the display range of the image display medium.

As described above, a rectangular region of interest added to an image can be used. In this case, the inclination of the designated rectangular region of interest with respect to the rectangular display range of the image display medium may be detected as the inclination angle.

Also, the tilt specifying information may be specified by rotating a straight line displayed on the image in accordance with the reference axis of the display range so as to correspond to the tilt direction of the image using a mouse.

If there is a deviation between the reference axis of the rectangular display range of the image display medium and the reference axis of the rectangular output range of the image output medium, and the inclination of the output image is not equivalent to the inclination of the display image, It is desirable to adjust the rotation angle at the time of the rotation process by the deviation.

For example, the display range of the image display medium is such that the short side is vertical, the long side is horizontal and the short side is the reference axis, while the output range of the image output medium is long side is vertical and short side is horizontal. When the long side is used as the reference axis, the vertical and horizontal relationship between the two is rotated by 90 degrees. In such a case, it is preferable to perform a rotation process so as to correct the 90-degree portion. This is convenient because it is not necessary to change the storage of the image output medium such as the film tray from the vertical position to the horizontal position.

A third medical image output method according to the present invention is a medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, wherein the medical image is output to a reference axis of the rectangular output range. Automatically detects the inclination of the reference axis of
Based on the automatically detected inclination, performing a rotation process on the medical image so that the inclination becomes substantially zero, and outputs the medical image subjected to the rotation process to the image output medium. Is what you do.

Here, automatically detecting the inclination of the reference axis of the medical image with respect to the reference axis of the rectangular output range means that the medical image is output when the medical image is output to the image output medium without applying the third invention. This means detecting the inclination between the reference axis and the reference axis in the rectangular output range.

The reference axis of the rectangular display range of the image display medium and the reference axis of the rectangular output range of the image output medium are:
Not limited to the center axis of each range, any type may be used as long as the inclination of both can be specified, such as a side defining the range.

In the second method, the inclination specifying information such as the region of interest is specified in accordance with the reference axis of the image on the image display medium, and the display image equivalent to the inclination of the output image is specified based on the inclination specifying information. Although the inclination is detected, the third method is different in that the operator detects the inclination of the output image based on the medical image itself without specifying the inclination specifying information such as the region of interest. .

The inclination of the output image may be detected by detecting the inclination of the display image. Also in this case, similarly to the second method, there is a deviation between the reference axis of the rectangular display range of the image display medium and the reference axis of the rectangular output range of the image output medium, and the inclination of the output image is displayed. When the rotation angle is not equivalent to the inclination of the image, it is desirable to adjust the rotation angle in the rotation processing by the deviation.

In automatically detecting the inclination of an image, a method may be used in which, for example, image analysis is performed to obtain the center line of the subject from the skeleton portion of the subject, and the obtained center line is used as the center axis of the image.

Further, in the case of an image photographed using an irradiation field diaphragm, a method for recognizing an irradiation field as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-61-39039 and JP-A-63-259538. , An outline of the irradiation field can be extracted by using, and the center line of the rectangular area surrounded by the outline can be used as the center axis of the image.

After automatically specifying a rectangular region of interest based on the contour of the irradiation field extracted in this manner, the region of interest specified by the operator in the above-described second method is replaced with the automatically specified region of interest. Then, the second method may be applied below.

A first medical image output apparatus according to the present invention is a medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, and includes a rotation angle for rotation processing on the medical image. Rotation angle specifying means for specifying
Image rotation means for rotating the medical image by the designated rotation angle, and output means for outputting the rotated medical image to an image output medium. This is an apparatus for performing the first medical image output method.

A second medical image output device according to the present invention is a medical image output device for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, and having a rectangular display range for outputting a medical image. A tilt specifying information specifying means for specifying tilt specifying information indicating a tilt between a reference axis of the display range and a reference axis of the medical image on the image display medium; Based on the slope identification information,
A display image inclination detecting means for automatically detecting the inclination between the reference axis of the display range and the reference axis of the medical image; and an image of the region of interest such that the inclination becomes substantially zero based on the automatically detected inclination. Image rotation means for performing rotation processing on
Output means for outputting, to an image output medium, the image of the region of interest on which the rotation processing has been performed, and is an apparatus for implementing the second medical image output method.

In the second medical image output apparatus of the present invention, the inclination specifying information specifying means specifies a rectangular region of interest with respect to the medical image displayed on the image display medium, that is, the region of interest specifying. It is desirable to use a means.

A third medical image output apparatus according to the present invention is a medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, wherein the medical image is output with respect to a reference axis of the rectangular output range. Output image inclination detecting means for automatically detecting the inclination of the reference axis, image rotation means for performing a rotation process on the medical image based on the automatically detected inclination so that the inclination becomes substantially zero, Output means for outputting the rotated medical image to an image output medium, wherein the apparatus performs the third medical image output method.

[0026]

According to the first medical image output method and apparatus of the present invention, the image output to the image output medium can be tilted by the specified rotation angle, so that an appropriate rotation angle can be specified. By doing so, it is possible to make the reference axis of the image coincide with the reference axis of the output range of the image output medium, and even if the image is tilted due to the shooting state or reading state, the image output to the film or the like is tilted. Can be prevented so as not to hinder image interpretation.

According to the second medical image output method and apparatus of the present invention, a region of interest is designated according to a reference axis of an image displayed on an image display medium, and the display is performed by automatically detecting the inclination of the region of interest. For example, by detecting the tilt of the image, specifying the tilt specifying information indicating the tilt between the reference axis of the display range and the reference axis of the medical image, and specifying the reference axis of the display range and the medical image based on the specified tilt specifying information. Since the inclination with respect to the reference axis is detected and the rotation processing is performed on the image of the region of interest based on the detected inclination so that the inclination becomes substantially zero, the image displayed on the image display medium is The rotation angle to be corrected can be substantially specified while checking.

It is difficult to instantaneously specify the tilt angle of an image, and it is practically difficult to specify the rotation angle to be corrected by a numerical value, whereas in the second method, the rotation angle to be corrected is a numerical value. The processing is facilitated as much as there is no need to make a judgment.

Further, if the region of interest is designated in accordance with the reference axis of the image on the image display medium and the inclination of the region of interest is detected, the inclination of the display image can be easily detected and the display can be easily performed. This is convenient because the inclination of the image can be specified while specifying the output range (trimming range) in the image.

According to the third medical image output method and apparatus of the present invention, the inclination of the central axis of the medical image with respect to the central axis of the rectangular output range is automatically detected, and the inclination is determined based on the automatically detected inclination. Since the rotation processing is performed on the medical image so that is substantially zero, the rotation angle to be corrected can be substantially specified without displaying the image on the image display medium.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a medical network system having a first embodiment of a QA-WS (image quality check workstation) which is one aspect of the medical image output apparatus of the present invention. QA of the first embodiment
It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of -WS. Note that the QA-WS of each embodiment is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-1.
No. 84934 proposes a QA-WS incorporating the function of the image output method of the present invention for tilting an image.

The system shown in FIG. 1 includes an imaging device 10, a patient identification information input device 20 for inputting patient ID information, a reading device 30, a QA-WS 40, a file server 50 as image storage means, an image recording device 60, Image diagnostic device 7
0 and a network 90, and an imaging plate (storage phosphor sheet) IP having a storage phosphor by an imaging device 10 provided in a radiology imaging room.
A radiation image of a patient is accumulated and recorded, and the radiation image recorded and recorded is read by a reading device 30 provided in a reading room near an imaging room.
And read the read image (digital image)
The image data is displayed on the CRT monitor 43a of the A-WS 40 to check the image quality such as image density and contrast, to check the photographing range, etc., and to acquire the image data carrying the image in the designated required range. Output to image recording device or network or file server 5
0, read the image data from the file server 50, and use an image recording device 6 using a laser scanner or the like.
0 is used to output a hard copy to a film or the like, or to perform image diagnosis by the image diagnosis device 70.

The reading device 30 scans an imaging plate IP, on which a transmitted radiation image of a subject is stored and recorded as energy information, with a laser beam as excitation light, and emits light with an amount of light corresponding to the stored energy. A CR device that obtains a transmitted radiation image of a subject as a digital image by photoelectrically reading emitted light, and is widely used in medical institutions such as hospitals. In the following embodiments, it is assumed that a medical image stored and recorded on an imaging plate IP having a relatively large size such as a half-cut size or a large-size size is read.

The image diagnostic apparatus 70 is disclosed in, for example,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 94479, the C functioning as both the whole image display means and the local image display means.
It has an image display means (not shown) such as an RT, and detects a shadow candidate of a microcalcification portion (hereinafter referred to as a microcalcification shadow candidate) by an abnormal shadow detection algorithm based on morphology processing, and furthermore, based on iris filter processing. An apparatus for detecting a shadow candidate of a tumor part (hereinafter referred to as a tumor shadow candidate) by an abnormal shadow detection algorithm,
A whole image representing the whole radiographic image of the subject, a whole image with a label, and a microcalcification shadow candidate or a tumor shadow candidate detected based on digital image data representing the whole image (hereinafter referred to as whole image data). This is an apparatus that displays, on an image display unit, a processed local image in which a predetermined image enhancement process has been performed on an image of a local region including an abnormal shadow candidate (hereinafter, referred to as a local image) in a predetermined layout.

A digital image acquired by the reading device 30 is provided between the reading device 30 and the network 90.
A QA-WS 40 is provided as a medical image output device of the present invention, which is displayed on a display medium such as a CRT monitor before being stored in the file server 50 and checks image quality such as image density and contrast, and checks an imaging range and the like. Have been. The QA-WS 40 has an image recording device 60.
And an image diagnostic apparatus 70 are directly connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the QA-WS 40 of the first embodiment is an entire medical image of a relatively large size read by the reading device 30 (hereinafter also referred to as an entire image).
Image memory 41 storing the entire image data S1 carrying the image data, and a region of interest A having a desired size for the entire image.
Region of interest designating unit 43 functioning as tilt specifying information designating unit for designating a region of interest at a desired position, and region of interest image data S2 carrying an image of the designated region of interest A in the whole image data S1 carrying the whole image. Region-of-interest generating means 44 for extracting the image of interest, rotation angle specifying means 81 for specifying a rotation angle for a rotation process on the image of the specified region of interest A, and the specified interest by the specified rotation angle. Image rotation means 85 for performing a rotation process on the image in region A
And the image of the region of interest A after the rotation process so that the image of the region of interest A after the rotation process is output in at least one of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction at substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium. Is performed on the region of interest image data S3 carrying
And a scaled-up processing unit 45 for generating the image data of the region of interest A on which the scaled-up processing has been performed. An image processing unit 47 that performs image processing capable of improving the interpretation performance of an output image to generate processed image data S5; and an output unit 49 that outputs the processed image data S5 to a desired image output medium. It has.

In the QA-WS 40 according to the first embodiment, the medical image output apparatus of the present invention is constituted by the rotation angle designation means 81, the image rotation means 85, and the output means 49.

The QA-WS 40 is provided with a selection section 48 so that a desired image output medium can be selected from a plurality of image output media prepared in advance. Film size information J1 relating to a film size as an image output medium that can be used in the image recording device 60 is input to the selection unit 48, and a film size that can be selected based on the film size information J1 is displayed (not shown). It is designed to be displayed on the panel.
The output range of the image output medium is rectangular.

The operator can select a desired film size from the displayed film sizes.
Output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selection unit 48 based on the operator's selection is input to the scaling unit 45 and the output unit 49.

The output means 49 outputs the processed image data S5 to the image recording device 60 installed near the QA-WS 40.
The image of the region of interest A, which has been subjected to the scaling process and the image processing, is immediately output to a film or the like as an image output medium by the image recording device 60. In addition to immediately outputting a soft copy on a display surface such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel as an image output medium provided in the printer, the processed image data S5 is transmitted via the network 90 to the file server 50, the image recording device 60, or the like. The image is transferred to the image diagnostic apparatus 70, and the image of the region of interest A is transferred to the file server 50.
The hard copy output and the soft copy output can be performed even in a place distant from the QA-WS 40. Therefore, the output means 49
Corresponds to the output size information J2 regarding the maximum output size of the image output medium assumed at the time of the scaling process, with the processed image data S5 carrying the image of the region of interest A subjected to the scaling process and the image processing. It is configured to transfer and output. The file server 50 stores the processed image data S5 and the output size information J2 in association with each other.

The CRT monitor 43 as an image display medium having a rectangular display range B
a, a pointing device such as a mouse 43b, a keyboard 43c, and the like are provided. The entire image data S1 input from the entire image memory 41 is provided so that the region of interest A can be specified based on an operator's instruction. A relatively large-sized medical image read by the reading device 30 based on the image is displayed on the CRT monitor 43a, and a region of interest A is designated on a screen (display screen) using a mouse 43b or the like, or a keyboard 43c is displayed.
It is configured such that the region of interest A can be designated by inputting coordinate data in. The size of the region of interest can be selected from a plurality of standard sizes prepared in advance, and the size can be set freely.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the relationship between the region of interest A and the display range B of the CRT monitor 43a in the first embodiment. When image data is input, the CRT monitor 43a displays an image in the rectangular display range B with the horizontal direction as the main scanning direction x and the vertical direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction x as the sub-scanning direction y. Has become. A line extending in the sub-scanning direction y at the center of the display range B in the main scanning direction x is defined as a central axis Cb of the display range B.

FIG. 3B shows the output range D of the image output medium.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between the center axis and a center axis Cd. The image output medium has a rectangular output range D. When image data is input to the image recording device 60 or the image diagnostic device 70, the horizontal direction is defined as the main scanning direction x in the rectangular output range D. An image is output in the vertical direction orthogonal to the direction x as the sub-scanning direction y. A line extending in the sub-scanning direction y at the center of the output range D in the main scanning direction x is defined as a central axis Cd of the output range D.

As a result, the center axis Cb of the display range B of the CRT monitor 43a corresponds to the center axis Cd of the output range D of the image output medium, and usually (unless the present invention is implemented), the CRT monitor 43a The image is output on the image output medium while keeping the inclination of the image above.

The region-of-interest designation means 43 of the first embodiment comprises:
With respect to the rectangular display range B of the CRT monitor 43a, the horizontal line b1 of the outline of the display range B and the horizontal line a1 of the outline of the region of interest A
The region of interest A can be specified only so that the vertical line b2 of the outline of the display range B and the vertical line a2 of the outline of the region of interest A are parallel to each other. Thus, the center axis Ca of the region of interest A is parallel to the center axis Cb of the display range B.

The rotation angle designating means 81 is configured so that an operator can designate a rotation angle with respect to the image of the designated region of interest A using a device having a numerical input function such as a keyboard. The keyboard or the like may also serve as the keyboard 43c of the region of interest designation means 43.

The image rotation means 85 of this embodiment is configured to perform rotation processing using affine transformation or the like by the rotation angle specified by using the center of the specified region of interest A as the fulcrum of the rotation processing. I have. Note that a configuration may be adopted in which the fulcrum of the rotation process can be specified by the operator.

The scaling section 45 includes a region-of-interest designation means 4.
3, the position data PD representing the region of interest A designated by 3 and the output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selector 48 are input, and the size of the region of interest A calculated from the position data PD A scaling factor calculating unit 45a for calculating a scaling factor for making the image of the region of interest A after the rotation process to be substantially the same size as the maximum output size of the image output medium, based on the output size information J2 and
Region-of-interest image data S after rotation processing at the calculated scaling factor
There is provided a scaling means 45b for performing a scaling process on 3 to generate scaled image data S4.

Next, an outline of a basic processing flow in the medical network system having the above configuration will be described.

The ID information of the patient is recorded on the ID card by an ID card writing device provided at a reception desk of a hospital or the like.

The patient receives the ID card, and receives a diagnosis and an inquiry from a doctor in a predetermined medical department. A photographing menu such as a photographing site and a photographing direction is determined according to the result of the diagnosis and the inquiry, and the photographing menu information is additionally recorded on the ID card.

Next, the patient goes to the radiology department and hands the ID card to a radiologist waiting in the reading room. Radiologist I
Read the D card with a card reader. The radiologist reads the barcode of the imaging plate IP for imaging with a barcode reader. This makes it possible to associate the imaging plate IP used for imaging with the patient and the imaging menu.

Next, the radiologist sets the imaging plate IP
Is loaded into the photographing apparatus 10 to photograph a radiation image of the patient. After this imaging, the reading device 30 reads the imaging plate IP in which the transmitted radiation image of the patient is stored and recorded as energy information, thereby acquiring the transmitted radiation image as a digital image. The radiologist is QA-WS40
After confirming the image while looking at the display screen, a part required for diagnosis is designated as the region of interest A, and the region of interest image data S5 carrying the image of the region of interest A is sent to the file server 50 via the network. Transfer and store.
Further, based on the region of interest image data S5, a film or C
An image is output to an image output medium such as an RT.

Next, QA-WS as a medical image output device
The operation of 40 will be described in detail. In each of the embodiments described below, a specific example of an image output medium to be selected will be described as using a rectangular film.
For hard copy other than film or CRT
A soft copy such as a liquid crystal or a liquid crystal may be used.

The operator, such as a radiologist, checks the whole image displayed on the screen of the CRT monitor 43 a provided in the region of interest specifying means 43 while using the mouse 4.
Using the 3b and the keyboard 43c, a region of interest A having a desired size is designated at a desired position with respect to the obtained entire image.

The region-of-interest designation means 43 is a CRT monitor 4
3a, the pixel position (coordinates of x and y) of the outline of the region of interest A specified on the entire image is specified, and the position data PD indicating the specified pixel position is processed by the region-of-interest image generation means 44 and the scaling processing. It is input to the scaling factor calculation means 45a of the section 45.

The whole image data S1 stored in the whole image memory 41 is also inputted to the region of interest image generating means 44, and the region of interest A of the whole image data S1 is inputted based on the inputted position data PD. The region of interest image data S2 carrying an image is extracted. The extracted region-of-interest image data S2 is input to the image rotation unit 85.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the central axis Cc of the entire image carried by the image data S1 input to the image processing apparatus and the central axis Cb of the display range B of the CRT monitor 43a. Depending on the photographing state and the reading state, as shown in FIG. 4A, the central axis Cc and the CRT of the whole image read by the reading device 30 and displayed on the CRT monitor 43a are displayed.
The monitor 43a may have an inclination (inclination of the display image) θ1 with respect to the central axis Cb of the rectangular display range B of the monitor 43a. When the image is output, as shown in FIG. 4B, the inclination is also generated between the central axis Cc of the image output to the image output medium such as a film and the central axis Cd of the rectangular output range D of the image output medium. Image inclination) θ4, which may hinder image interpretation. On the other hand, the QA-WS 40 of the first embodiment includes a rotation angle designating means 81 and an image rotating means so as to have a function of correcting the inclination θ4 of the output image (substantially equivalent to the inclination θ1 of the display image). 85 are provided.

The operator sets the center axis Cc of the image (the entire image or the image of the region of interest A) displayed on the CRT monitor 43a and the rectangular display range B on the CRT monitor 43a.
A rotation angle θ2 (substantially the same as −θ1) that makes the inclination θ1 of the display image, which is the inclination with respect to the center axis Cb, substantially zero is input using the rotation angle designation means 81. The rotation angle designation unit 81 inputs information on the designated rotation angle θ2 to the image rotation unit 85. The image rotation unit 85 uses the center P of the region of interest A as a fulcrum of the rotation process and specifies the rotation angle θ2
Is performed on the region-of-interest image data S2 by affine transformation or the like, and the region-of-interest image data S3 after the rotation process is input to the scaling unit 45b of the scaling unit 45.

If necessary, a trimming process may be performed to remove an unnecessary area, or a centering process may be performed so that the image after the rotation process is centered on the image output medium. When the affine transformation is used, not only the rotation processing but also the trimming processing and the centering processing are reflected in the affine transformation coefficients, so that the rotation processing, the trimming processing, and the centering processing can be performed collectively.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the rotation processing of the first embodiment, and shows an image (A) of the region of interest before the rotation processing.
And the image (B) of the region of interest after the rotation processing. As an example of the image, an image in which an arrow-shaped figure is formed along the center axis Cc of the image is used. The region-of-interest image data S3 after the rotation processing is data in which the main scanning direction is x 'and the sub-scanning direction is y', and the central axis Cc of the image and the central axis Cd of the image output medium can be made substantially coincident. .

Here, in the rotation processing, in order to make the size of the image after the rotation processing equal to the image size before the processing, as shown in FIG. While the part m is discarded, a value (for example, a value that becomes black or gray) that does not hinder image interpretation is assigned to the non-image area n that is insufficient as the image after the rotation processing. Hereinafter, m, n
Collectively, it is called the excess or deficiency part of the data.

The region-of-interest image data S3 after the rotation processing is displayed on the CRT monitor 43 as indicated by a dotted line A in FIG.
It is preferable that the image after the rotation processing is input and input so that the image after the rotation processing is overlapped and displayed with the whole image and the fulcrum of rotation so that the image after the rotation processing can be checked.

The output size information J2 relating to the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the selection unit 48 (based on an operator's instruction) is also input to the scaling factor calculating means 45a of the scaling unit 45. Calculation means 45a
Is based on the size of the region of interest A calculated from the position data PD and the output size information J2, to make the image of the designated region of interest A approximately the same size as the maximum output size of the selected image output medium. Is calculated.
The information on the size of the designated region of interest A is input from the region of interest designating unit 43 to the scaling factor calculating unit 45a, and the scaling factor J3 is determined based on the input information on the size of the region of interest A and the output size information J2. May be calculated.

The scaling means 45b performs scaling processing on the region-of-interest image data S3 after the rotation processing with the calculated scaling factor J3 to generate scaled image data S4. S4 is input to the image processing means 47.

The image processing means 60 includes a scaling factor calculating means 45.
The image processing means 60 inputs the scaling factor J3 of the scaling process in the scaling means 45b to the input scaled image data S4.
Generates image data S5 by performing image processing such as gradation processing and frequency processing so that image reading performance of an image output to an image output medium can be improved in accordance with the image processing medium. S5 is input to the output means 49.

The output unit 49 outputs the output size information J2 input from the selection unit 48 to the image recording device 60 or the image diagnostic device 70 installed near the QA-WS 40 as additional information of the processed image data S5. Together with the output size information J2 and the processed image data S5 on the network 9
0 and output.

As a result, the image of the region of interest A that has been subjected to the scaling process based on the calculated scaling factor J3 and the image processing according to the scaling factor J3 is placed on the film selected by the operator. Output size (full size)
Hard copy output with approximately the same size as.

Also, since the image of the region of interest A can be tilted by the rotation angle θ2 specified by the operator, by specifying an appropriate rotation angle, the center axis Cc of the image and the output range of the image output medium can be obtained. And the center axis Cd of the image can be matched, and even if the image is tilted due to the shooting state or the reading state, the image output on the film or the like is not tilted, so that the image reading is not hindered. You can do so.

Further, since the image of the designated region of interest A is output in the same size (full size) as the maximum output size of the image output medium selected by the operator, the size of the designated region of interest A is selected. Regardless of the combination with the size of the film or the like, no useless area or image dropout occurs. For example, when the B4 size is selected as the output film, and a region of interest A having a desired size different from the B4 size is designated on the entire image acquired in the half cut size, the region of interest after the rotation process is performed. Since the image of A is subjected to the scaling process so that the size of the image becomes approximately the B4 size, the image is output, so that there is no non-image region on the output film, and one of the images of the region of interest A after the rotation process. There is no missing part.

When the size of the designated region of interest A is smaller than the size of the selected film or the like, the image of the region of interest A is enlarged to a film or the like and output in substantially full size. An additional effect of increasing the size of the image and improving the diagnostic ability can also be obtained.

The image of the region of interest A is subjected to image processing capable of improving the reading performance of the image output to the image output medium in accordance with the magnification of the magnification processing, and this image processing is performed. Since the image of the region of interest A is output to the image output medium, for example, a frequency emphasizing process is performed so as to correct image blur that may occur with the enlarging process, without reducing the diagnostic performance. A scaling process can be performed.

The QA-WS 40 as the medical image output device of the present invention includes a scaling unit 45 and an image processing unit 4.
7 need not always be provided.

By using affine transformation as rotation processing, rotation processing and scaling processing can be performed simultaneously.

The provision of the scaling unit 45 is not limited to the arrangement in which the image rotation means 85 is arranged before the scaling unit 45 as in the first embodiment.
The image rotation means 85 may be arranged at the subsequent stage of the fifth step. In the latter case, the processing speed of the rotation process is affected by the image size after the scaling process.

Further, without providing the region-of-interest image generation means 44, the whole image may be subjected to a rotation process and output as an image.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A second embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 6 shows the second
It is a block diagram showing the functional composition of QA-WS40 of an embodiment. In FIG. 6, the same elements as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted unless otherwise required. The same applies to other embodiments described later.

In the QA-WS 40 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), an extra portion m of the image is cut off during the rotation process, while an insufficient portion n interferes with interpretation. A value that does not come (for example, a value that becomes black or gray) is assigned, whereas the QA-WS of the second embodiment is assigned.
40 differs in that the image of the region of interest A is obtained by cutting out a part of the entire image even after the rotation processing.

FIG. 7 shows a region of interest A in the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between the display range and a display range B of a CRT monitor 43a. In the second embodiment, in addition to the standard setting in which the center axis Ca of the region of interest A is parallel to the center axis Cb of the display range B as shown in FIG. Rotation angle -θ2 input when the rotation angle θ2 is input by the rotation angle specifying means 81 after the specification based on
, The center axis Ca of the region of interest A can be rotated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, in the QA-WS 40 of the second embodiment, the rotation angle designating means 8
The information relating to the rotation angle θ2 designated by 1 is also input to the region of interest designation means 43.

After specifying the pixel position on the entire image of the outline of the region of interest A specified by the operator, the region of interest specifying means 43 rotates the position data PD by the rotation angle θ2 specified by the operator. New position data PD2 is obtained, and the obtained position data PD2 is input to the region-of-interest image generation unit 44 and the scaling ratio calculation unit 45a of the scaling unit 45, and the rotated region of interest AA
Is displayed on the CRT monitor 43a. The angle formed between the center axis Caa of the rotated area of interest AA and the center axis Cb of the display range B is θ2.

It should be noted that the configuration may be such that the size and position can be further adjusted after rotating the region of interest A. In this case, the adjusted position data PD2 is input to the region-of-interest image generation unit 44 and the scaling ratio calculation unit 45a of the scaling unit 45.

The region-of-interest image generating means 44 generates the region-of-interest image data S2 carrying the image of the region of interest AA in the whole image data S1 based on the rotated position data PD2.
Is extracted. The data extracted here is at least
The region of interest AA rotated by the specified rotation angle θ2
And the data of the rectangular area A1 including the area of interest AA as shown by the dotted line in FIG.

The image rotation means 85 performs a rotation process using affine transformation or the like on the region-of-interest image data S2 by the designated rotation angle θ2 using the center P of the region of interest AA as a fulcrum of the rotation process. The scaling processing unit 4 converts the rotation-processed region-of-interest image data S3 that carries the image of the region of interest AA.
5 is input to the scaling means 45b.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the rotation processing according to the second embodiment, and shows an image (A) of a region of interest before the rotation processing.
And the image (B) of the region of interest after the rotation processing. As an example of the image, an image in which an arrow-shaped figure is formed along the center axis Cc of the image is used. The region-of-interest image data S3 after the rotation processing is data in which the main scanning direction is x 'and the sub-scanning direction is y', and the central axis Cc of the image and the central axis Cd of the image output medium can be made substantially coincident. .

Here, when the size of the image of the region of interest AA after the rotation process is set to be the same as the image size of the region of interest AA before the process, the region of interest image data after the rotation process is used in the first embodiment. Although an excess or deficiency portion of data has occurred in S3, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8B, it is possible to obtain the region of interest image data S3 in which the region of interest AA is represented without excess or deficiency. .

As described above, the QA-WS40 of the second embodiment
In, since the image of the region of interest can be generated by cutting out a part of the entire image, even if the inclination is adjusted, as shown in FIG. 5B in the first embodiment,
The non-image area n does not occur.

Since the data other than the region of interest AA is not necessary in the subsequent processing of the image rotating means 85, the image rotating means 85 only converts the data of the region of interest AA in the data after the rotation processing. You only need to extract it. In view of this point, it is also possible to configure so as to extract the data of the region of interest AA after rotating the entire image by θ2.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A third embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 9 shows the third
It is a block diagram showing the functional composition of QA-WS40 of an embodiment.

The QA-WS 40 according to the third embodiment includes the first
Further, a display image inclination detecting means 82 is provided in place of the rotation angle specifying means 81 in the second embodiment.
In the QA-WS 40 of the first and second embodiments, the operator specifies the rotation angle θ2 so as to correct the tilt θ1 of the display image. However, the QA-WS 40 of the third embodiment is Is the inclination θ1 of the display image
Can be specified in consideration of the central region Caa of the specified region of interest AA.
And that the rotation process is performed by automatically detecting the inclination θ2 between the display range B and the central axis Cb of the display range B.

The region-of-interest designation means 43 of the third embodiment comprises:
As shown in FIG. 7 of the second embodiment, the apparatus is configured such that the area of interest AA can be designated with an inclination θ2 between the central axis Caa of the area of interest AA and the central axis Cb of the display range B. The designated region of interest is used as the slope specifying information indicating the above.

The region of interest AA having the inclination θ2 as described above
Is specified as in the second embodiment described above.
It is preferable to use a method of designating a rotation angle after designating a rectangular region without tilt, or dragging and rotating a displayed rectangular region without tilt. Alternatively, one side of a rectangle is defined by instructing by inclining two points, and the one side is translated in a direction orthogonal to the one side to form the other side, and a rectangle connecting the vertices of the two sides is formed. The region may be set as the region of interest. Of course, other methods may be adopted.

The region-of-interest designating unit 43 specifies the pixel position of the outline of the designated region of interest AA on the entire image, and converts the position data PD2 of the region of interest AA into the region-of-interest image generating unit 44, It is input to the scaling factor calculation unit 45a and the display image inclination detection unit 82 of the unit 45.

The display image inclination detecting means 82 determines the designated region of interest AA based on the input position data PD2.
(Inclination angle) θ2 between the central axis Caa of the display range B and the central axis Cb of the display range B is obtained, and the obtained inclination angle θ2 is the inclination θ1 between the central axis Cc of the image and the central axis Cb of the display range B. Information (for example, an affine transformation coefficient) about a rotation angle θ3 (substantially the same as θ2) that makes the tilt angle θ1 substantially zero is input to the image rotation unit 85.

The region-of-interest image generation means 44 extracts region-of-interest image data S2 carrying an image of the region of interest AA from the entire image data S1 based on the position data PD2 of the region of interest AA specified by tilting. . Similarly to the second embodiment, the extracted data only needs to include at least all the data of the region of interest AA rotated by the rotation angle θ3.

The image rotator 85 uses the center P of the region of interest AA as a fulcrum of the rotation process and applies a rotation angle θ3 corresponding to the inclination θ2 obtained by the display image inclination detector 82 to the region of interest image data S2. A rotation process using an affine transformation or the like is performed, and the rotated region-of-interest image data S3 carrying the image of the region of interest AA is input to the scaling unit 45b of the scaling unit 45.

Thus, as in the case of FIG. 8B of the second embodiment, the region of interest AA is displayed without excess and deficiency, and the central axis Cc of the image and the central axis Cd of the image output medium substantially coincide with each other. The area image data S3 can be obtained.

That is, in the QA-WS 40 of the third embodiment, the region of interest AA is adjusted according to the inclination θ1 of the display image.
Is automatically specified, the inclination (inclination angle) θ2 between the central axis Caa of the region of interest AA and the central axis Cb of the display range B is automatically obtained, and the obtained inclination angle θ2 is displayed as the central axis Cc of the image. It is assumed that the range B is the inclination θ1 with respect to the center axis Cb, and the region of interest AA is the rotation angle θ3 that makes the inclination angle θ1 substantially zero.
By tilting and outputting the image, even if the image is tilted due to a shooting state or a reading state, the image output on a film or the like is not tilted so as not to hinder image reading. can do.

Further, it is difficult to instantaneously determine the tilt angle of the image, and it is practically difficult to specify the rotation angle to be corrected by a numerical value, whereas the QA-WS4 of the third embodiment is difficult.
0, the CRT monitor 43 as an image display medium
The rotation angle to be corrected can be substantially specified while checking the image displayed in a, and the processing is facilitated by the fact that it is not necessary to determine the rotation angle to be corrected by a numerical value.

As described in the first embodiment, the center axis Cb of the display range B of the CRT monitor 43a and the center axis Cd of the output range D of the image output medium correspond to each other.
The central axis Cb of the display range B of the T monitor 43a, the central axis Cc of the image displayed on the CRT monitor 43a, and the inclination (the inclination of the displayed image) θ1 are the values of the image on the image output medium when the present invention is not implemented. It is equivalent to the inclination (inclination of the output image) θ4 between the central axis Cc and the central axis Cd of the rectangular output range D of the image output medium, but there is a deviation Δθ in this relationship, and the inclination θ1 of the display image and the inclination of the output image When θ4 is not equivalent, the rotation angle θ3 is set to θ2 ± Δθ, and the deviation Δθ
Is corrected. At this time, the sign of ± is selected according to the direction of the deviation.

Next, QA- as the image output device of the present invention will be described.
A fourth embodiment of the WS 40 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the QA-WS 40 according to the fourth embodiment.

The QA-WS 40 of the fourth embodiment has a third
Instead of the display image inclination detecting means 82 in the embodiment, an output image inclination detecting means 83 for automatically detecting the inclination θ4 of the central axis Cc of the image with respect to the central axis Cd of the rectangular output range D of the image output medium is provided. . In the QA-WS 40 according to the third embodiment, after the region of interest AA is designated by tilting it in accordance with the inclination θ1 of the display image, the center axis Caa of the designated region of interest AA and the center axis Cb of the display range B are designated.
The tilt angle θ2 of the display image is calculated by the display image tilt detection means 82 so that an image in which the tilt θ1 of the display image is corrected is output to a film or the like. However, the QA-WS 40 of the fourth embodiment The difference is that the tilt θ1 of the display image is directly detected from the central axis Cc of the image without specifying the area AA, and the rotation processing is performed.

As described in the first embodiment, the center axis Cb of the display range b of the CRT monitor 43a corresponds to the center axis Cd of the output range D of the image output medium, and the rectangular output of the image output medium is output. The inclination θ4 of the center axis Cc of the image with respect to the center axis Cd of the range D is the inclination between the center axis Cb of the display range b of the CRT monitor 43a and the center axis Cc of the image displayed on the CRT monitor 43a. Slope θ
It is equivalent to 1.

In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, the central axis Ca of the region of interest A is
In addition to the standard setting for parallelizing with the central axis Cb, the region of interest A is equivalent to the inclination θ1 detected by the output image inclination detecting means 83 after designation based on the standard setting.
Can be rotated. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, the QA-WS of the fourth embodiment
40, information on the inclination θ1 detected by the output image inclination detection means 83 (rotation angle θ3 corresponding to θ1).
Is input to the region-of-interest designation means 43.

The output image inclination detecting means 83 determines the distance between the central axis Cb of the display range b of the CRT monitor 43a and the central axis Cc of the image displayed on the CRT monitor 43a based on the input whole image data S1. The inclination θ1 (substantially the same as θ4) of the display image, which is the inclination, is obtained, and the obtained inclination θ1 is obtained.
Rotation angle θ3 that makes the angle substantially zero (substantially the same as -θ1)
(For example, affine transformation coefficients) is input to the image rotation unit 85.

Here, when obtaining (automatically detecting) the inclination θ1 of the display image, for example, as shown in FIG.
By performing thoracic vertebrae edge detection processing and thoracic vertebrae contour line extraction processing by Hough transform to determine the centerline of the thoracic vertebral contour line, the centerline of the thoracic vertebral contour line is used as the centerline of the subject, and image analysis is performed to determine the skeleton portion of the subject. It is preferable to use a method of determining the center line of the subject and using the determined center line as the center axis of the image.

As shown in FIG. 12, for an image photographed using a rectangular irradiation field stop, for example, JP-A-61-39039 and JP-A-63-259538.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-260, a method of extracting the contour of the irradiation field by performing the irradiation field contour extraction processing, and using the center line of the rectangular area surrounded by the contour as the center axis of the image may be used. . If the region surrounded by the extracted contour is not a rectangle, the center axis of the circumscribed rectangle or the inscribed rectangle of the region surrounded by the contour may be set as the center axis of the image.

After specifying the pixel position on the entire image of the outline of the region of interest A specified by the operator, the region-of-interest specifying unit 43 sets the position data by the amount of the inclination θ1 detected by the output image inclination detection unit 83. New position data PD2 obtained by rotating the PD is obtained, and the obtained position data PD2 is input to the region-of-interest image generation unit 44 and the magnification change unit 45a of the magnification processing unit 45, and the rotated region of interest AA is obtained. It is displayed on the CRT monitor 43a.
The angle between the central axis Caa of the rotated region of interest AA and the central axis Cb of the display range B is θ1.

It is to be noted that the size and the position may be further adjusted after the region of interest A is rotated. In this case, the adjusted position data PD2 is input to the region-of-interest image generation unit 44 and the scaling ratio calculation unit 45a of the scaling unit 45.

The region-of-interest image generation means 44 generates the region-of-interest image data S2 carrying the image of the region of interest AA in the entire image data S1 based on the rotated position data PD2.
Is extracted. As in the second and third embodiments, the extracted data only needs to include at least all the data of the region of interest AA rotated by the inclination θ1.

The image rotator 85 uses the center P of the region of interest AA as a fulcrum of the rotation process and applies a rotation angle θ3 corresponding to the inclination θ1 obtained by the output image inclination detector 83 to the region of interest image data S2. A rotation process using an affine transformation or the like is performed, and the rotated region-of-interest image data S3 carrying the image of the region of interest AA is input to the scaling unit 45b of the scaling unit 45.

As a result, similarly to the third embodiment, the region of interest AA is displayed without excess and deficiency, and the center axis C of the image is displayed.
It is possible to obtain region-of-interest image data S3 that makes c substantially coincide with the center axis Cd of the image output medium.

That is, in the QA-WS 40 of the fourth embodiment, the central axis Cc of the image and the central axis Cb of the display range B are set.
(Tilt angle) θ1 is automatically obtained, and the obtained tilt θ1 is assumed to be equivalent to the tilt θ4 of the central axis Cc of the image with respect to the central axis Cd of the rectangular output range D of the image output medium.
By tilting and outputting the image of the region of interest AA by the rotation angle θ3 that makes the tilt angle θ1 substantially zero, even if the image is tilted due to a shooting state or a reading state, the image output to a film or the like can be obtained. By not having an inclination, it is possible to prevent trouble in image interpretation.

Further, since the inclination (inclination angle) θ1 between the central axis Cc of the image and the central axis Cb of the display range B is automatically determined, the correction can be performed without displaying the image on the CRT monitor 43a. The rotation angle to be performed can be substantially specified.

As in the third embodiment, when the inclination θ1 of the display image is not equivalent to the inclination θ4 of the output image,
The rotation angle θ3 is set to −θ1 ± Δθ, and the deviation Δθ is corrected. At this time, the sign of ± is selected according to the direction of the deviation.

Although the QA-WS 40, which is one mode of the medical image output apparatus of the present invention, and the respective embodiments of the operation thereof have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, in the third embodiment, the inclination specifying information is designated by setting the rectangular region of interest in accordance with the inclination of the image.
As shown in the figure, the tilt specifying information is specified by specifying the four vertices of the rectangular area to be trimmed using a pointing device such as a mouse according to the tilt of the image, and the trimming position is determined from the coordinates of the four vertices. It is also possible to calculate an affine transformation coefficient carrying the rotation angle for correcting the image inclination and to perform image rotation processing using the obtained affine transformation coefficient.

Note that the periphery of the output image in the rectangular area designated for trimming may be further trimmed so as not to have an extra area, or the circumscribed rectangle of the skew-corrected image or a larger area may be used as the image range. An extra area may be filled with a black level.

Further, in the third embodiment, a rectangular region of interest is specified as a method of specifying the tilt specifying information indicating the tilt between the reference axis of the display range and the reference axis of the medical image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, two points are designated according to the inclination of the image using a pointing device such as a mouse, and the designated 2
The coordinates of the point can be used as the slope specifying information. In this case, the inclination angle can be calculated from the angle between the straight line (dotted line in the figure) connecting the two designated points and the reference axis of the display range of the image display medium.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14B, a straight line X is displayed on the image in advance in accordance with the reference axis of the display range, and the image is adjusted to the inclination of the image using a mouse or the like. By rotating the straight line X (in the tilt direction), the tilt specifying information can be designated.

Further, in the third embodiment, the user specifies the rectangular region of interest in accordance with the inclination of the image while viewing the image. The present invention is not limited to the method of designating based on the characteristic portion. For example, a characteristic portion included in a medical image may be extracted, and a region of interest may be automatically designated according to the extracted characteristic portion. Since the region of interest and the irradiation field are tilted according to the tilt of the image, the automatically set region of interest also corresponds to the tilt of the image. After the automatic setting, the same processing as in the third embodiment is performed. Thus, the inclination of the image can be corrected. Note that this aspect is similar to the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment.
It can also be considered as a combination of the embodiments.

In this case, “characteristic part included in medical image”
For example, an irradiation field, a subject, or an outline of a site of interest in the subject can be used.

In extracting a characteristic portion included in a medical image, for example, JP-A-61-39039 or JP-A-6-39039
The contour of the irradiation field as the characteristic portion is extracted by using the irradiation field recognition method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-259538, and a rectangular region of interest is automatically designated based on the extracted contour of the irradiation field. After that, the region of interest specified by the operator in the above-described second method is replaced with the automatically specified region of interest, and the second method may be applied below.

A method for recognizing a breast region as a subject as disclosed in JP-A-4-8351
JP-A-8-294479, a method for detecting an abnormal shadow of a breast as a site of interest of a subject,
Alternatively, JP-A-63-257879 and JP-A-1-21
Extracting a characteristic portion using a divided photographing pattern recognition method disclosed in No. 2065, automatically specifying a rectangular region of interest based on the extracted characteristic portion, and then applying the same method as described above. Can also.

Each of the above embodiments incorporates the image rotation function of the present invention into one embodiment of the medical image output apparatus proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-184934. It is also possible to incorporate the image rotation function of the present invention into another embodiment proposed in US Pat. Further, the present invention is not limited to the one described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-184934, and can be incorporated in another device.

In each of the above embodiments, the image of the region of interest that has been subjected to the rotation processing is output. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be output.

At this time, the periphery of the skew-corrected image may be trimmed (for example, in such a manner that the irradiation field is removed), and the output may be output after performing centering adjustment. Alternatively, a circumscribed rectangle of the image whose inclination has been corrected or a region larger than the circumscribed rectangle may be set as an output image region, and an extra region where image data cannot be obtained may be filled in with a black level (low luminance) and output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating QA, which is an embodiment of a medical image output apparatus according to the present invention.
-Block diagram showing a configuration of a medical network system including a first embodiment of WS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a region of interest and a display range of a CRT monitor according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an output range of an image output medium and a central axis;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the central axis of the entire image and the central axis of the display range of the CRT monitor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a rotation process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between a region of interest and a display range of a CRT monitor in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a rotation process according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a QA-WS according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a method for automatically detecting the inclination of an image.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a method for automatically detecting the inclination of an image.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a method of designating the inclination specifying information.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show another example of a method of specifying the inclination specifying information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 imaging device 20 patient identification information input device 30 reading device 40 QA-WS (one mode of medical image output device) 41 overall image memory 42 area designation frame generation means 43 region of interest designation means 43a CRT monitor 43b mouse 43c keyboard 43d feature points Extraction unit 44 Region of interest image generation unit 45 Scaling processing unit 45a Scaling ratio calculation unit 45b Scaling unit 45c First scaling unit 45d Second scaling unit 46 Scaling ratio designation unit 47 Image processing unit 48 Selection unit 48a Size calculation unit 48b selection unit 49 output unit 50 file server 60 image recording device 70 image diagnosis device 81 rotation angle designation unit 82 display image inclination detection unit 83 output image inclination detection unit 85 image rotation unit 90 network

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Okubo Takeshi 798- Address, Miyagidai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa F-Term (in reference) 4C093 AA01 AA28 CA21 FF12 FF28 5B057 AA08 BA03 CA12 CA16 CB12 CB16 CD03 CD20 DA07 DA16 DB02 DC08 DC13 DC16

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, wherein a rotation angle for rotation processing on the medical image is specified, and the specified rotation is specified. A medical image output method, comprising: performing the rotation processing on the medical image by an amount corresponding to the angle; and outputting the medical image subjected to the rotation processing to the image output medium. 2. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, wherein the medical image is displayed on an image display medium having a rectangular display range. On the medium, the inclination specifying information indicating the inclination between the reference axis of the display range and the reference axis of the medical image is specified. Based on the specified inclination specifying information, the reference axis of the display range and the medical image Automatically detecting a tilt with respect to a reference axis, performing a rotation process on the image of the region of interest based on the automatically detected tilt so that the tilt becomes substantially zero; A medical image output method, comprising: outputting an image of a region to the image output medium. 3. The medical image output method according to claim 2, wherein the tilt specifying information is a rectangular region of interest specified for a medical image displayed on the image display medium. 4. A medical image output method for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, wherein an inclination of a reference axis of the medical image with respect to a reference axis of the rectangular output range is automatically detected. And performing rotation processing on the medical image based on the automatically detected inclination so that the inclination becomes substantially zero, and outputting the rotated medical image to the image output medium. A medical image output method comprising: 5. A medical image output device for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, comprising: a rotation angle designating unit for designating a rotation angle for a rotation process on the medical image; Image rotation means for performing the rotation processing on the medical image by the designated rotation angle, and output means for outputting the medical image subjected to the rotation processing to the image output medium. Characteristic medical image output device. 6. A medical image output device for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, comprising: an image display medium having a rectangular display range and displaying the medical image; Tilt specifying information specifying means for specifying tilt specifying information representing a tilt between a reference axis of the display range and a reference axis of the medical image on the image display medium; and displaying the display based on the specified tilt specifying information. Display image inclination detection means for automatically detecting the inclination between the reference axis of the range and the reference axis of the medical image; and based on the automatically detected inclination, the image of the region of interest so that the inclination becomes substantially zero. A medical image output apparatus, comprising: image rotation means for performing rotation processing on the image data; and output means for outputting an image of the region of interest on which the rotation processing has been performed to the image output medium. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the inclination specifying information specifying unit specifies a rectangular region of interest for the medical image displayed on the image display medium.
The medical image output apparatus according to the above. 8. A medical image output apparatus for outputting an acquired medical image to an image output medium having a rectangular output range, wherein the inclination of the reference axis of the medical image with respect to the reference axis of the rectangular output range is automatically detected. Output image inclination detecting means, and image rotation means for performing rotation processing on the medical image based on the automatically detected inclination so that the inclination becomes substantially zero. Output means for outputting an image to the image output medium.