Medical image display device

Abstract

The adjustment value holding unit (14) holds the adjustment value selected for displaying medical image data on the medical image display device at a specified image quality. The image attribute detection unit (15) detects the attributes of the medical image data. The determination unit (16) determines whether the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit (14) is consistent with the adjustment value corresponding to the attributes detected by the image attribute detection unit (15). When the determination unit (16) determines that the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit (14) is not consistent with the adjustment value corresponding to the attributes detected by the image attribute detection unit (15), the notification unit (17) visually or audibly notifies that the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit (14) is not consistent with the adjustment value suitable for the medical image to be displayed on the medical image display device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medical image display device. Background Art

[0002] At the medical site, sometimes medical images such as image data based on chest X-rays (X-ray photographs) and image data of mammography are displayed on a medical image display device, and a doctor observes the medical images to diagnose a patient (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Usually, various medical images are stored in a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) server. A workstation reads the medical images through the PACS server, and the medical image display device displays the medical images on a display unit.

[0003] The medical image display device is not necessarily divided into an image display device dedicated to displaying mammography images and an image display device dedicated to displaying chest X-ray images. Therefore, sometimes a single medical image display device displays mammography images on the display unit, or sometimes displays chest X-ray images on the display unit.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-57592;

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-19815. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The adjustment values of a medical image display device for displaying with an image quality suitable for mammography images are different from the adjustment values of a medical image display device for displaying with an image quality suitable for chest X-ray images. For example, if the medical image display device is set to display a chest X-ray image in a state of an image quality suitable for displaying mammography images, it is possible that a doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis.

[0009] Mammography images and chest X-ray images are monochrome images, while endoscope images and ultrasonic diagnostic images are color images. The medical image display device includes a display unit (color panel) capable of displaying color images. The adjustment values suitable for the image quality when displaying a monochrome image on the color panel are different from the adjustment values suitable for the image quality when displaying a color image on the color panel. For example, if the medical image display device is set to display a monochrome image on the medical image display device in a state of an image quality suitable for displaying a color image, it is possible that a doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis.

[0010] As described above, when the adjustment value set in the medical image display device is not an adjustment value suitable for the medical image to be displayed, the displayed image quality is not optimal, and it is possible that a doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis. Therefore, a medical image display device that can avoid the inconsistency between the adjustment value set in the medical image display device and the adjustment value suitable for the medical image to be displayed is desired.

[0011] An object of one or more embodiments is to provide a medical image display device that can avoid the inconsistency between the adjustment value set in the medical image display device and the adjustment value suitable for the medical image to be displayed.

[0012] According to one aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a medical image display device including: an adjustment value holding unit that holds an adjustment value selected to display medical image data with a predetermined image quality on the medical image display device; an image attribute detection unit that detects an attribute of the medical image data; a determination unit that determines whether the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit is consistent with an adjustment value corresponding to the attribute detected by the image attribute detection unit; and a notification unit that, when it is determined by the determination unit that the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit is inconsistent with the adjustment value corresponding to the attribute detected by the image attribute detection unit, visually or auditorily notifies that the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit is inconsistent with the adjustment value suitable for the medical image to be displayed on the medical image display device.

[0013] The medical image display device according to one or more embodiments can avoid the inconsistency between the adjustment value set in the medical image display device and the adjustment value suitable for the medical image to be displayed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a medical image display device according to a first embodiment;

[0015] Figure 2 shows Figure 1 an example of a table of adjustment values of the image quality stored in the adjustment value storage unit;

[0016] Figure 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the gray-scale characteristics of DICOM GSDF and gamma 2.2;

[0017] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the medical image display device according to the first embodiment;

[0018] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a medical image display device according to a second embodiment;

[0019] Figure 6 is a table showing an example of the adjustment value of the image quality stored in the adjustment value storage unit. Figure 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a medical image display device according to each embodiment will be described.

[0021] <First Embodiment>

[0022] In Figure 1 , medical image data read by a workstation (not shown) through a PACS server is provided to an image attribute detection unit 15 and a display unit 20.

[0023] Adjustment values are stored in an adjustment value storage unit 13, and the adjustment values are used to adjust the image quality when various medical images are displayed on the display unit 20. The adjustment value storage unit 13 is, for example, a ROM (Read-Only Memory). As Figure 2 shown, the adjustment value is a combination of a grayscale characteristic and a maximum brightness, and three adjustment values, for example, adjustment values 1 to 3, are stored in the adjustment value storage unit 13. The adjustment value 1 is an adjustment value for a mammography image, the adjustment value 2 is an adjustment value for a chest X-ray image, and the adjustment value 3 is an adjustment value for a color image. When the liquid crystal panel 23 is a monochromatic panel, the adjustment value 3 is not required.

[0024] Figure 2 The DICOM GSDF shown means a grayscale characteristic using a grayscale standard display function (GSDF: Grayscale Standard Display Function) conforming to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard. Figure 2 The gamma 2.2 shown means a grayscale characteristic having a gamma value of 2.2. If the medical image data is 8 bits (8 bit), the DICOM GSDF and gamma 2.2 have a grayscale characteristic representing the Figure 3 input / output characteristics shown.

[0025] Return Figure 1, operators such as doctors and nurses operate the operation unit 11 to select an adjustment value corresponding to the medical image to be displayed on the display unit 20. Multiple adjustment values can also be alternately switched by operating the operation unit 11, or a menu for selecting an adjustment value can be displayed on the display unit 20 by operating the operation unit 11 to select any adjustment value. When an operation for selecting an adjustment value is performed through the operation unit 11, the adjustment value setting unit 12 reads the selected adjustment value through the adjustment value storage unit 13 and holds it in the adjustment value holding unit 14. The adjustment value holding unit 14 is, for example, a non-volatile memory.

[0026] The display unit 20 includes a gamma correction unit 21, a brightness adjustment unit 22, a liquid crystal panel 23, and a backlight 24. The gamma correction unit 21 performs gamma correction on the input medical image data according to the Figure 3 shown gray-scale characteristics and provides it to the liquid crystal panel 23. The brightness adjustment unit 22 controls the brightness of the backlight 24 to adjust the maximum brightness of the medical image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 23. The maximum brightness of the medical image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 23 is determined by the brightness of the backlight 24.

[0027] For example, if the operator selects adjustment value 1 and the adjustment value 1 is held by the adjustment value holding unit 14, the gamma correction unit 21 performs gamma correction on the input medical image data so that it becomes the gray-scale characteristics of DICOM GSDF. The brightness adjustment unit 22 controls the brightness of the backlight 24 so that the maximum brightness becomes 500 cd / m 2 .

[0028] The image attribute detection unit 15 detects the attribute indicating the type of medical image by analyzing the tags (DICOM tags) attached to the medical image data. By analyzing the tags by the image attribute detection unit 15, it is detected whether the medical image data is a mammogram or a chest X-ray image.

[0029] Specifically explaining the DICOM tags, in the DICOM tag (0008, 0060), the type of the device (modality, medical device) that generated the image, the so-called medical device code (modality code), is stored. The medical device code is represented by two-character letters. For example, MG represents mammography. If the medical device code described in the DICOM tag (0008, 0060) is MG, it can be detected that the device that generated the medical image data is a mammography machine and the medical image data is a mammogram.

[0030] The image attribute detection unit 15 can also combine the information of the DICOM tag (0008, 0060) and other tags to detect the attributes of the medical image data.

[0031] The determination unit 16 determines whether the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit 14 is the adjustment value corresponding to the attribute detected by the image attribute detection unit 15. The determination unit 16 provides the determination result to the notification unit 17. That the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit 14 is not the adjustment value corresponding to the attribute detected by the image attribute detection unit 15 means that the image quality set for the medical image display device is inconsistent with the image quality suitable for the medical image to be displayed on the display unit 20.

[0032] Therefore, when the determination result of the determination unit 16 indicates inconsistency, the notification unit 17 visually or audibly notifies the user of the medical image display device that the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit 14 is not suitable for the image quality of the medical image to be displayed on the display unit 20. The notification unit 17 can be a warning light such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), or a speaker. The notification unit 17 can, when the medical image data is the image data of a chest X-ray image and adjustment value 1 is selected, notify "Please adjust the maximum brightness to 350 cd / m 2 ", or can also notify "Please select adjustment value 1".

[0033] The user who receives the notification from the notification unit 17 can operate the operation unit 11 to select an appropriate adjustment value corresponding to the medical image to be displayed on the display unit 20. Thus, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to avoid the inconsistency between the image quality set for the medical image display device and the image quality suitable for the medical image to be displayed on the medical image display device.

[0034] As Figure 4 shown, it is also possible to make the OSD (On Screen Display) overlay unit 27 provided in the display unit 20 serve as the notification unit 17. When the determination result of the determination unit 16 indicates inconsistency, the OSD overlay unit 27 overlays text information or image information indicating that the adjustment value is inappropriate on the gamma-corrected medical image data output by the gamma correction unit 21, and provides it to the liquid crystal panel 23.

[0035] The user can recognize that the adjustment value is inappropriate based on the text information or image information overlaid on the medical image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 23, and thus select an appropriate adjustment value.

[0036] <Second Embodiment>

[0037] Figure 5 As shown, the purpose of the second embodiment is to adjust to a more appropriate image quality according to the brightness of the ambient light of the medical image display device. In Figure 5 this, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts as Figure 1 those, and the description thereof may be omitted sometimes.

[0038] As Figure 6 shown, in the adjustment value storage unit 13, for example, three adjustment values of adjustment values 1 to 3 are stored as adjustment values that can be recognized by operators such as doctors and nurses. In the second embodiment, each of the adjustment values 1 to 3 is composed of two adjustment values, one suitable for when the surroundings are bright and the other suitable for when the surroundings are dark.

[0039] The adjustment value 1 for mammography images includes an adjustment value 1A suitable for when the surroundings are bright and an adjustment value 1B suitable for when the surroundings are dark. The adjustment value 2 for chest X-ray images includes an adjustment value 2A suitable for when the surroundings are bright and an adjustment value 2B suitable for when the surroundings are dark. The adjustment value 3 for color images includes an adjustment value 3A suitable for when the surroundings are bright and an adjustment value 3B suitable for when the surroundings are dark.

[0040] When the surroundings are bright and dark means that when the brightness of the surroundings is above a specified brightness, it is the former, and when it is less than the specified brightness, it is the latter. In the Figure 6 example shown, the maximum brightness is made different when the surroundings are bright and dark. It is also possible to divide the brightness of the surroundings into three or more stages and make the maximum brightness different in three or more stages. Although any one of the adjustment values 1 to 3 can be selected as the adjustment value, the adjustment values 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B cannot be directly selected.

[0041] In the Figure 5 surroundings, the ambient light sensor 18 detects whether the brightness of the surroundings is above the specified brightness or less than the specified brightness. The operator operates the operation unit 11 and selects any one of the adjustment values 1 to 3 corresponding to the medical image to be displayed on the display unit 20. The adjustment value setting unit 12 selects an adjustment value according to the brightness detected by the ambient light sensor 18 corresponding to the selected value by the operator. The adjustment value setting unit 12 reads the selected adjustment value from the adjustment value storage unit 13 and holds it in the adjustment value holding unit 14.

[0042] When the operator selects the adjustment value 1, the adjustment value holding unit 14 holds the adjustment value 1A or 1B. When the operator selects the adjustment value 2, the adjustment value holding unit 14 holds the adjustment value 2A or 2B. When the operator selects the adjustment value 3, the adjustment value holding unit 14 holds the adjustment value 3A or 3B.

[0043] According to the second embodiment, it is possible to adjust to a more appropriate image quality according to the brightness of the ambient light of the medical image display device. It is also possible to configure a medical image display device that combines the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The display unit 20 is not limited to the structure including the liquid crystal panel 23, and may also be a structure including an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel. In this case, the backlight 24 is not required, and the brightness adjustment unit 22 adjusts the maximum brightness when the organic EL panel emits light.

[0045] In Figure 1 or Figure 5 it is also possible to configure the adjustment value setting unit 12, the image attribute detection unit 15, and the determination unit 16 with a microcomputer or a microprocessor. A part of the medical image display device may also be configured by software (computer program). The distinction between hardware and software is arbitrary. Furthermore, a part of the functions of the medical image display device can also be realized by a computer device connected to the medical image display device.

[0046] This application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-148151 filed with the Japan Patent Office on September 3, 2020, and incorporates all of its disclosure herein by reference.

Claims

1. A medical image display device, comprising: An adjustment value holding unit that holds an adjustment value, which is selected to display medical image data with a specified image quality on the medical image display device; An image attribute detection unit that detects the attributes of the medical image data; A determination unit that determines whether the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit is consistent with the adjustment value corresponding to the attribute detected by the image attribute detection unit; And A notification unit that, when the determination unit determines that the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit is not consistent with the adjustment value corresponding to the attribute detected by the image attribute detection unit, visually or audibly notifies the user of the medical image display device that the adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit is not consistent with the adjustment value suitable for the medical image to be displayed on the medical image display device, and the adjustment value corresponding to the attribute.

2. The medical image display device according to claim 1, wherein The adjustment value at least includes a specified gray scale characteristic and a maximum brightness, The medical image display device further includes an adjustment value storage unit that stores a plurality of different adjustment values associated with attributes, An adjustment value corresponding to the attribute detected by the image attribute detection unit is selected from the adjustment values stored in the adjustment value storage unit.

3. The medical image display device according to claim 2, wherein The adjustment value held by the adjustment value holding unit is an adjustment value selected from the plurality of adjustment values stored in the adjustment value storage unit.

4. The medical image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The attribute is used to represent the type of the medical image.

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