Medical image processing apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

In a medical image processing apparatus, in a case where a quality parameter is changed, a medical image in which a user easily perceives a subtle difference in quality is displayed. The medical image processing apparatus of the embodiment includes a first medical image generation section that changes a value of a quality parameter of a medical image serving as a reference by a first change intensity that is predetermined with respect to the quality parameter, and generates a first medical image; a second medical image generation section that changes the value of the quality parameter of the medical image serving as the reference in such a manner that the value of the quality parameter changes by a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, and generates a second medical image; and a switching display section that displays the first medical image and the second medical image in a switched manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in this specification and accompanying drawings relate to medical image processing apparatus and control methods thereof. Background Technology

[0002] In medical image processing devices such as ultrasound diagnostic devices, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, computed tomography (CT) devices, and positron emission tomography (PET) devices, most can adjust the image quality of medical images according to the user's preferences.

[0003] However, there are numerous image quality parameters that control image quality. Users of medical image processing devices need to adjust the values ​​of multiple image quality parameters to achieve optimal image quality, requiring them to repeatedly check the displayed medical image while adjusting these parameters. Although there are various layouts for the screen used for image quality adjustment, typically, for a displayed medical image, the user repeatedly adjusts the image quality or repeatedly selects a thumbnail image from multiple thumbnails with different image quality parameter values ​​that approximates the desired image, thus determining the optimal image quality.

[0004] However, sometimes even when the values ​​of the image quality parameters of a medical image are changed with a predetermined magnitude of change, the changes in the displayed medical image or thumbnail are very minor. In cases where the impact of changing the image quality parameter values ​​on image quality is minimal, the user may not even notice the change. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The medical image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a first medical image generation unit that generates a first medical image by changing the value of a quality parameter of a reference medical image with a first change intensity that is predetermined about the quality parameter; a second medical image generation unit that generates a second medical image by changing the value of the quality parameter of the reference medical image with a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity; and a switching display unit that switches between displaying the first medical image and the second medical image.

[0006] The control method of the medical image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a step of generating a first medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameter of a reference medical image with a first change intensity that is predetermined about the image quality parameter; a step of generating a second medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in such a way that the value of the image quality parameter changes with a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity; and a step of switching between displaying the first medical image and the second medical image. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of the medical image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0008] Figure 2 It means Figure 1 A block diagram of an example of a medical image processing device is shown.

[0009] Figure 3 Yes Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the functions of the control unit of the medical image processing device.

[0010] Figure 4 It means in Figure 1 This is an example of an image quality adjustment setting screen displayed on a medical image processing device.

[0011] Figure 5 It means to Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a flowchart explaining the image quality adjustment and display processing performed by the medical image processing device shown.

[0012] Figure 6 It means through Figure 5 The image shown is an example of how the image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing change over time.

[0013] Figure 7 It means through Figure 5 The image quality adjustment process shown is illustrated in the diagram, which illustrates the changes in a medical image when the value of an edge enhancement filter is changed as an image quality parameter.

[0014] Figure 8 It means and Figure 6 The graph shows an example of how image quality parameters change over time when image quality parameters are reduced.

[0015] Figure 9 It means through Figure 5The figure shown is another example of how the image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing change over time.

[0016] Figure 10 It means through Figure 5 The figure shown is another example of how the image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing change over time.

[0017] Figure 11 It means through Figure 5 The figure shown is another example of how the image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing change over time.

[0018] Figure 12 It means through Figure 5 The figure shown is another example of how the image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing change over time.

[0019] Figure 13 It means through Figure 5 The figure shown is another example of how the image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing change over time.

[0020] Figure 14 It means through Figure 5 The image shown is an example of how the image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing are repeated over time.

[0021] Figure 15 It means through Figure 5 The image shown is an example of how image quality parameters change over time when two image quality parameters are altered.

[0022] Figure 16 It means through Figure 5 The image shown is an example of how image quality parameters change over time when two image quality parameters are altered.

[0023] Figure 17 It means through Figure 5 The image shown illustrates the image quality adjustment process, and is another example of how image quality parameters change over time when two parameters are altered.

[0024] Figure 18 It means through Figure 5 The image shown is an example of how image quality parameters change over time when three image quality parameters are altered.

[0025] Figure 19This diagram illustrates an example of a user selecting a timing parameter for a quality parameter during the time-varying process of the quality adjustment image display processing performed by the medical image processing apparatus of the second embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the medical image processing apparatus will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the following description, constituent elements having substantially the same function and structure will be labeled with the same reference numerals, and will be repeated only where necessary.

[0027] [First Implementation] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of the medical image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. Figure 1 The medical image processing device 100 shown is, for example, composed of an ultrasound diagnostic device. Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 An example of a block diagram of the medical image processing device 100 shown.

[0028] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment is configured with an ultrasound detector 101, an input device 102, a main display screen 103, and a touch command screen (TCS) 104. Furthermore, as... Figure 2 As shown, the medical image processing device 100, in addition to the above, is also configured to include a transceiver unit 201, a B-mode processing unit 202, a Doppler processing unit 203, an image processing unit 204, a memory 205, and a control unit 206.

[0029] The ultrasonic detector 101 is a device (probe) that irradiates an ultrasonic signal onto a subject and detects the ultrasonic signal reflected by the subject. It is formed by an electrically / mechanically reversible conversion element. For example, the ultrasonic detector 101 is composed of a phased array detector with multiple elements arranged in an array at its front end. Thus, the ultrasonic detector 101 converts the supplied pulse drive voltage into an ultrasonic signal and transmits it in the desired direction within the scanning area of ​​the subject, and converts the ultrasonic signal reflected back from the subject into an echo signal with a corresponding voltage.

[0030] Alternatively, the ultrasound detector 101 can be a 1D array detector that scans the subject in two dimensions, or a 3D detector that scans the subject in three dimensions, i.e., a mechanical 4D detector or a 2D array detector. When using a 3D detector, the medical image displayed on the main display screen 103 includes specific tomographic images or multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) displays.

[0031] The transceiver unit 201 includes a trigger generation circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulse generation circuit, which supply drive signals to the ultrasonic detector 101. The pulse generation circuit repeatedly generates rate pulses at a predetermined rate frequency to form the transmitted ultrasonic signal. Furthermore, the delay circuit assigns a delay time to each rate pulse generated by the pulse generation circuit, which is the delay time required for each piezoelectric vibrator to focus the ultrasonic signal generated by the ultrasonic detector 101 into a beam and determine the transmission directionality. Additionally, the trigger generation circuit applies a drive signal (drive pulse) to the ultrasonic detector 101 based on the timing of the rate pulses. That is, the delay circuit arbitrarily adjusts the transmission direction from the piezoelectric vibrator surface by changing the delay time assigned to each rate pulse.

[0032] Furthermore, the transceiver unit 201, in order to execute a predetermined scanning sequence based on the instructions of the control unit 206 (described later), has the function of instantaneously changing the transmission frequency, transmission drive voltage, etc. In particular, the change of the transmission drive voltage is realized by a transmission circuit that can instantaneously switch its value, or by a mechanism that electrically switches multiple power supply units.

[0033] Furthermore, the transceiver unit 201 includes an amplifier circuit, an A / D converter, an adder, etc., which perform various processes on the reflected wave, i.e., the ultrasonic signal, received by the ultrasonic detector 101, and generate reflected wave data. The amplifier circuit amplifies the ultrasonic signal as a reflected wave for each channel and performs gain correction processing. The A / D converter performs A / D conversion on the gain-corrected reflected wave ultrasonic signal to generate digital data and assigns a delay time to this digital data required to determine the receiving directionality. The adder performs addition processing on the digital data generated by the A / D converter and generates reflected wave data. Through the addition processing of the adder, the reflection component from the direction corresponding to the receiving directionality of the reflected wave, i.e., the ultrasonic signal, is enhanced.

[0034] In addition to the method of focusing the ultrasonic signal into a beam as described above, the transceiver unit 201 can also transmit and receive plane waves.

[0035] The B-mode processing unit 202 performs logarithmic amplification, envelope detection processing, and logarithmic compression on the reflected wave data from the transceiver unit 201, and generates B-mode information in which the signal intensity of each of the multiple sampling points is represented as a change in brightness.

[0036] The Doppler processing unit 203 performs color Doppler analysis on the reflected wave data from the transceiver unit 201 and calculates blood flow information, i.e., Doppler information. In color Doppler analysis, ultrasound signals are transmitted and received multiple times along the same scan line. An MTI (Moving Target Indicator) filter is applied to the data train at the same location to suppress signals (clutter signals) originating from stationary or slowly moving tissue, and to extract signals originating from blood flow. Furthermore, in color Doppler analysis, Doppler information such as blood flow velocity, blood flow variance, and blood flow power are inferred from this blood flow signal.

[0037] The image processing unit 204 converts the scanning mode of B-mode information and Doppler information into a scanning mode suitable for display (scanning conversion) and generates an ultrasound diagnostic image as a medical image. Additional information required for ultrasound diagnosis, such as the synthesis or juxtaposition of various image information, information indicating the display position, various information used to assist the operation of the medical image processing device 100 as an ultrasound diagnostic device, and patient information, are also generated along with the ultrasound diagnostic image. Furthermore, the image processing unit 204 reduces the size of the processed medical image and generates a thumbnail image for the touch command screen 104 described later.

[0038] Furthermore, the image processing unit 204 is assumed to include enhancement image processing (not shown). Enhancement image processing can also reduce image noise or speckle, enhance the edges of the boundary between two tissues, and perform coherence enhancement to smooth the image around the boundary. In other words, enhancement image processing can independently apply each image quality parameter of noise reduction, edge enhancement, and coherence enhancement. Details of the adjustment methods for each image quality parameter and the display method of the medical image will be described later. Additionally, the image processing unit 204 can also adjust the image quality of the medical image based on image quality parameters other than those mentioned above, such as noise reduction, edge enhancement, and coherence enhancement.

[0039] The main display screen 103, in cooperation with the image processing unit 204, converts image information from the image processing unit 204 into light information and displays medical images on the screen.

[0040] The memory 205B stores various information described in the description of the image processing unit 204, including B-mode information and Doppler information. Additionally, the memory 205 appropriately stores information related to the trajectory, past trajectories, and the adjustable range of the image quality parameters, which are the results of adjustments to the various image quality parameters described later. This memory 205 constitutes the storage unit in this embodiment.

[0041] The memory 205 can store information in the following ways: temporarily storing real-time information, and storing it long-term as evidence of the real-time information obtained. In addition, the memory 205 also stores various data such as diagnostic information (e.g., patient ID, physician's opinion), diagnostic protocols, and various body markers.

[0042] The control unit 206 is a processor that functions as an information processing device, controlling the overall processing of the medical image processing device 100, which is an ultrasound diagnostic device. Specifically, the control unit 206 controls the processing of the transceiver unit 201, the B-mode processing unit 202, the Doppler processing unit 203, and the image processing unit 204 based on various setting requests, control programs, and data input by the user via the input device 102. Furthermore, the control unit 206 also controls the interface function between the input device 102 and the touch command screen 104.

[0043] The input device 102 is connected to the control unit 206 and has various switches, buttons, trackballs, mice and / or keyboards for acquiring various instructions from the user, region of interest (ROI) setting instructions, various image quality setting instructions, etc. into the medical image processing device 100.

[0044] The touch command screen 104 functions as both a user input device and an output device for providing information and images to the user, thus serving as an input / output device. In addition to outputting user input information to the control unit 206, the touch command screen 104 also obtains thumbnail images, graphics, and other images required for device input from the image processing unit 204. This touch command screen 104 constitutes the display unit in this embodiment.

[0045] The touch command screen 104 can be used in conjunction with a trackball, keyboard, joystick, mouse, and one or more user input devices of the same type known in the art. Additionally, the touch command screen 104 can also be used in conjunction with other screens such as non-touch command screens. Furthermore, two or more user input devices and / or output devices may be provided. For example, the touch command screen 104 may also be configured together with at least one other input device such as a trackball, keyboard, joystick, or mouse.

[0046] Alternatively, the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment can be modified so that the main display screen 103 and the touch command screen 104 are the same device. Furthermore, the main display screen 103, the touch command screen 104, and / or the input device 102 can also be separate devices that can be connected to the medical image processing apparatus 100 via wired or wireless means.

[0047] Alternatively, the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment can be modified so that the B-mode processing unit 202, Doppler processing unit 203, image processing unit 204, memory 205, and / or control unit 206 can be set as a server function in other locations different from these elements.

[0048] Figure 3 This is a functional block diagram illustrating the functions of the control unit 206 of the medical image processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. Figure 3 The functional modules related to the general control of the medical image processing apparatus 100, which are provided in the control unit 206, have been omitted. Instead, examples are shown of the unique functional modules provided by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment. For example... Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the control unit 206 includes a first medical image generation function 206a, a second medical image generation function 206b, a display switching function 206c, and a selection function 206d.

[0049] In this embodiment, the processing functions performed by the first medical image generation function 206a, the second medical image generation function 206b, the display switching function 206c, and the selection function 206d are stored in the memory 205 as programs executable by a computer. The control unit 206 reads the programs from the memory 205 and executes them, thereby realizing the functions corresponding to each program. In other words, the control unit 206, which reads the state of each program, has... Figure 3 The functions shown in the control unit 206. Additionally, in Figure 3 The text describes how the first medical image generation function 206a, the second medical image generation function 206b, the display switching function 206c, and the selection function 206d are implemented through a single control unit 206. However, the control unit 206 can also be constructed by combining multiple independent processors, and these functions can be implemented by each processor executing a program. Furthermore, when implementing various functions such as the first medical image generation function 206a, the second medical image generation function 206b, the display switching function 206c, and the selection function 206d, the image processing unit 204, the memory 205, the input device 102, the main display screen 103, and the touch command screen 104 are appropriately controlled and utilized.

[0050] <Image quality adjustment settings screen> Next, the image quality adjustment setting screen W10, which is displayed in the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment and is used by the user to adjust the image quality of medical images, will be described.

[0051] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates an example of the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 displayed on the touch command screen 104 of the medical image processing apparatus 100 in this embodiment. Specifically, in the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, image quality adjustment processing is performed by the image processing unit 204 under the control of the control unit 206, but the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 can be used as a graphical user interface for performing this image quality adjustment. The selection function 206d in the control unit 206 detects which part of the image quality adjustment setting screen W100 displayed on the touch command screen 104 the user has touched, and inputs the user's selection into the medical image processing apparatus 100.

[0052] In Figure 4 In the example, using the image quality adjustment settings of screen W10, users can change the values ​​of three image quality parameters: noise reduction, edge enhancement, and consistency enhancement. Furthermore, users can adjust various image quality parameters for displaying medical images, not just these three. Figure 4 The image shows the state of the user's selection of three image quality parameters from multiple options: noise reduction, edge enhancement, and consistency enhancement, in order to adjust the image quality.

[0053] In Figure 4 In the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 shown, the first image quality adjustment button 301 to the sixth image quality adjustment button 306 are buttons depicted on the touch command screen 104. In this embodiment, the first image quality adjustment button 301 to the sixth image quality adjustment button 306 are composed of thumbnail images of medical images. These thumbnail images depict multiple output images of different image qualities based on the same medical image data.

[0054] The first image quality adjustment button 301, displayed on the touch command screen 104, is one of the first image quality adjustment buttons 301 to the sixth image quality adjustment button 306. It displays a thumbnail image that has undergone the same image processing as the medical image currently displayed on the main display screen 103. This thumbnail image is a thumbnail of the image quality parameters of the medical image used as a reference, after image processing, and serves as the first image quality adjustment button 301. Furthermore, the medical image that forms the center of the current image quality adjustment is the first image quality adjustment button 301. In this embodiment, the set of values ​​for each image quality parameter used to obtain this image quality is called an "anchor".

[0055] exist Figure 4In the example, three image quality parameters were selected for adjustment: noise reduction, edge enhancement, and consistency enhancement. Therefore, one of each of these parameters was chosen as an anchor point. Thus, an "anchor point" can be understood as a point determined based on the values ​​of these image quality parameters. In this way, a thumbnail image of the first image quality adjustment button 301 is generated based on the user-selected image metric value, i.e., the anchor point.

[0056] The user operates the image quality adjustment setting screen W10, and based on a reference medical image (an anchor point), can increase or decrease the value of each image quality parameter—noise reduction, edge enhancement, and consistency enhancement—by a predetermined value. That is, the intensity of the change is predetermined for each image quality parameter. The user can change the image quality parameters with respect to the predetermined intensity of the change. This intensity of change corresponds to the first intensity of change (first change amplitude) in this embodiment. This first intensity of change varies depending on the type of image quality parameter. In other words, in this embodiment, the first intensity of change is predetermined based on the type of image quality parameter, for example, and stored in memory 205.

[0057] The buttons used to change the value of this image quality parameter are the second image quality adjustment buttons 302 to the sixth image quality adjustment buttons 306. Specifically, the second image quality adjustment button 302, located to the left of the first image quality adjustment button 301, increases or decreases the value of the noise reduction image quality parameter, but is a button for user selection without changing the values ​​of other image quality parameters. The user switches between increasing and decreasing the value of the noise reduction image quality parameter by using toggle buttons 302a and 302b.

[0058] For example, if the user presses the positive (+) toggle button 302a and then presses the second image quality adjustment button 302 to select, the value of the noise reduction image quality parameter in the anchor point increases with a first change intensity, and the increased value becomes the next anchor point. Conversely, if the user presses the negative toggle button 302b and then presses the second image quality adjustment button 302 to select, the value of the noise reduction image quality parameter in the anchor point decreases with a first change intensity, and the decreased value becomes the next anchor point.

[0059] Furthermore, the second image quality adjustment button 302 displays a thumbnail image showing the result of increasing or decreasing the value of the noise reduction image quality parameter by a first change intensity. In other words, if the user presses the positive switch button 302a, the thumbnail image of the second image quality adjustment button 302 switches to a thumbnail image showing the result of increasing the value of the noise reduction image quality parameter by the first change intensity. On the other hand, if the user presses the negative (-) switch button 302b, the thumbnail image of the second image quality adjustment button 302 switches to a thumbnail image showing the result of decreasing the value of the noise reduction image quality parameter by the first change intensity. Therefore, by observing the thumbnail image displayed as the second image quality adjustment button 302, the user can anticipate the result when the image quality parameter of the reference medical image is changed by the first change intensity. Moreover, this allows for more appropriate adjustment of the image quality parameter value. The thumbnail image displayed on the second image quality adjustment button 302 corresponds to the first medical image in this embodiment.

[0060] However, there are also cases where the medical image displayed as a reference on the first image quality adjustment button 301 and the medical image displayed on the second image quality adjustment button 302 are very similar. In such cases, the impact of the user changing the image quality parameter value on the medical image cannot be accurately identified. Therefore, in the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, when displaying the thumbnail image on the second image quality adjustment button 302, the image quality adjustment image display processing described later is performed.

[0061] The third image quality adjustment button 303, located above the first image quality adjustment button 301, is identical to the second image quality adjustment button 302. It increases or decreases the value of the edge enhancement image quality parameter with a first change intensity, but without changing the values ​​of other image quality parameters; this is the button for user selection. The user can switch between increasing and decreasing the value of the edge enhancement image quality parameter using toggle buttons 303a and 303b. The fourth image quality adjustment button 304, located to the right of the first image quality adjustment button 301, increases or decreases the value of the consistency enhancement image quality parameter with a first change intensity, but without changing the values ​​of other image quality parameters; this is the button for user selection. The user can switch between increasing and decreasing the value of the edge enhancement image quality parameter using toggle buttons 304a and 304b.

[0062] The fifth image quality adjustment button 305 is positioned above the second image quality adjustment button 302 and to the left of the third image quality adjustment button 303. This configuration means that the values ​​of the image quality parameters for noise reduction and edge enhancement are changed with a first change intensity. The sixth image quality adjustment button 306 is positioned to the right of the third image quality adjustment button 303 and above the fourth image quality adjustment button 304. This configuration means that the values ​​of the image quality parameters for edge enhancement and consistency enhancement are changed with a first change intensity.

[0063] By selecting the fifth image quality adjustment button 305, the values ​​of the noise reduction image quality parameters can be toggled between increasing and decreasing using the toggle buttons 302a and 302b, and the values ​​of the edge enhancement image quality parameters can be toggled between increasing and decreasing using the toggle buttons 303a and 303b. In other words, the values ​​of the noise reduction and edge enhancement image quality parameters can be adjusted by using a combination of the toggle buttons 302a and 302b and the toggle buttons 303a and 303b.

[0064] Similarly, by selecting the sixth image quality adjustment button 306, the toggle buttons 303a and 303b can be used to switch between increasing or decreasing the value of the edge enhancement image quality parameter, and the toggle buttons 304a and 304b can be used to switch between increasing or decreasing the value of the consistency enhancement image quality parameter. In other words, by using the combination of toggle buttons 303a and 303b and toggle buttons 304a and 304b, the adjustment of the edge enhancement and consistency enhancement image quality parameters can be switched when the sixth image quality adjustment button 306 is selected.

[0065] The thumbnail images displayed on the third to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 303 are also thumbnails generated based on the values ​​of each image quality parameter. By observing these thumbnails, the user can predict the results of changes in the image quality parameter values. Furthermore, this allows for more appropriate adjustments to the image quality parameter values. Therefore, the thumbnail images displayed on these third to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 303 are equivalent to the first medical image in this embodiment.

[0066] Furthermore, similar to the second image quality adjustment button 302, there are also cases where the medical image displayed as a reference on the first image quality adjustment button 301 is very similar to the medical images displayed on the third to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 303. In such cases, the impact of the user changing the image quality parameters on the medical image cannot be accurately identified. Therefore, in the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, when thumbnail images are displayed on the third to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 303 to 306, the image quality adjustment image display processing described later is also performed.

[0067] If the user selects one of the second to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 302, the value of the image quality parameter corresponding to the selected button is set as the new anchor point. A thumbnail image based on the image quality parameter value of the selected button is displayed on the first image quality adjustment button 301. Image processing using the image quality parameter value corresponding to the selected button is performed in the image processing unit 204, and the result is displayed as a medical image on the main display screen 103. In other words, the new anchor point is the set of image quality parameter values ​​for the medical image used as a reference. Furthermore, thumbnail images of the second to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 302 are generated based on the image quality parameter values ​​of the new anchor point and displayed respectively.

[0068] For example, if a user presses the second image quality adjustment button 302 to make a selection, the value of the image quality parameter corresponding to the second image quality adjustment button 302 becomes the value of the image quality parameter serving as the new reference anchor point. As a result, the thumbnail image of the second image quality adjustment button 302 becomes the thumbnail image of the first image quality adjustment button 301, serving as the reference medical image. Furthermore, by setting the new value of the image quality parameter of the first image quality adjustment button 301 as the anchor point, thumbnail images of the second to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 302 are generated and displayed.

[0069] By repeatedly performing this operation in the image quality adjustment settings screen W10, the user eventually obtains the desired medical image quality. Once the desired image quality parameter values ​​are achieved, and the selection of image quality parameter values ​​is complete, the user presses the "End Setting" button ED to select the desired value. This concludes the process of adjusting the image quality parameters of the medical image.

[0070] <Image Quality Adjustment and Display Processing> Next, the image quality adjustment display processing performed in the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0071] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the image quality adjustment and display processing performed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment. Figure 5 The image quality adjustment display processing shown is, for example, implemented by the control unit 206 reading and executing the image quality adjustment display processing program stored in the memory 205. Furthermore, this image quality adjustment display processing is performed to display the thumbnail images of the second to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 302 as medical images.

[0072] Such as Figure 5As shown, in the image display processing for quality adjustment in this embodiment, firstly, the medical image processing device 100 obtains the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image (step S10). Specifically, the first medical image generation function 206a and the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 of the medical image processing device 100 obtain the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image. That is, the first medical image generation function 206a and the second medical image generation function 206b of the control unit 206 obtain the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the medical image displayed on the first image quality adjustment button 301 of the image quality adjustment setting screen W10. The values ​​of these image quality parameters are the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the aforementioned anchor point, and can be stored in the memory 205 or maintained by the control unit 206.

[0073] Next, the medical image processing apparatus 100 changes the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image obtained in step S10 with a first change intensity, which is a predetermined change intensity regarding the image quality parameters, and generates a first medical image (step S12). Specifically, the first medical image generation function 206a in the control unit 206 of the medical image processing apparatus 100 changes the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image with the first change intensity to generate the first medical image.

[0074] Next, the medical image processing apparatus 100 changes the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image by changing the values ​​of the image quality parameters by a second change intensity (second change amplitude) that is greater than the first change intensity, thereby generating a second medical image (step S14). Specifically, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 of the medical image processing apparatus 100 changes the image quality parameters of the reference medical image by changing the values ​​of the image quality parameters by a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, thereby generating a second medical image.

[0075] Next, the medical image processing device 100 switches between displaying the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a in step S12 and the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b in step S14 (step S16). Specifically, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 of the medical image processing device 100 appropriately switches between displaying the first medical image and the second medical image. Thus, the image quality adjustment display processing of this embodiment ends.

[0076] <Change of an image quality parameter> Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the changes in image quality parameters of a medical image displayed after image quality adjustment processing. Figure 6In the diagram, the horizontal axis represents time T, and the vertical axis represents the changed values ​​of image quality parameters. In this embodiment, image quality parameters include, for example, parameters of a filter used for noise reduction, parameters of a filter used for edge enhancement, and parameters of a filter used for consistency enhancement. Figure 6 The image shows a change in one of these image quality parameters.

[0077] Such as Figure 6 As shown, in stage (1) up to time T1, the first medical image generation function 206a and the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 acquire the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image. Furthermore, the first medical image generation function 206a in the control unit 206 generates a first medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameters with a first change intensity, and the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameters with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. In this stage (1), the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 selects and displays the reference medical image.

[0078] Then, during the period from time T1 to time T2, the switching display function 206c displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b. This is stage (2). After time T2, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 displays the first medical image. After time T2 is stage (3). In stage (3), the switching display function 206c displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a after time T2. That is, in this embodiment, the change of the medical image from the value of the reference image quality parameter to the value of the changed image quality parameter is represented by the combination of the first medical image and the second medical image.

[0079] Thus, by displaying a second medical image obtained by changing the image quality parameters of a reference medical image with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity before displaying a first medical image obtained by changing the values ​​of the image quality parameters with a first change intensity, the user can more clearly identify the subtle differences in image quality caused by the change in the image quality parameter values. In other words, since the first medical image is displayed after the second medical image with the enhanced change in image quality parameters is displayed, it is easy to understand how the changed image quality parameters affect the image quality, and the user can easily grasp the change.

[0080] Figure 7 This graph illustrates the changes in a medical image when edge enhancement is altered as a quality parameter through image display processing that adjusts image quality. Figure 4 The thumbnail image displayed in the third image quality adjustment button 303 changes over time. In other words, as Figure 4 The thumbnail image displayed by the third image quality adjustment button 303 is based on Figure 7 of (a) Figure 7 (b) Figure 7 The order of (c) changes over time.

[0081] To be more detailed, Figure 7 (a) shows a medical image used as a reference, illustrating the medical image used in... Figure 6 The medical image shown in stage (1). Figure 7 The medical image of (a) and in Figure 4 The thumbnail image displayed in the first image quality adjustment button 301 is the same as that displayed in other words, the anchor point. Figure 7 (b) shows that in Figure 6 The second medical image shown in stage (2), Figure 7 (c) shows that in Figure 6 The first medical image is displayed in stage (3). It can be seen that the thumbnail image of the third image quality adjustment button 303 changes over time in the order of the medical image as a reference, the second medical image, and the first medical image.

[0082] exist Figure 6 In the example of the image quality parameter change mode shown, the thumbnail image of the third image quality adjustment button 303 initially displays a reference medical image, switches to a second medical image at time T1, and switches to a first medical image at time T2. However, the timing at which this thumbnail image begins to change over time is arbitrary. In other words, it can be arbitrarily set. Figure 6 At what specific time does the change pattern of the image quality parameters shown begin?

[0083] For example, suppose that at a certain moment, the user presses one of the second to sixth image quality adjustment buttons 302 to 306, and the value of the image quality parameter of the medical image used as a reference is changed. At that moment, the switching display function 206c of the control unit 206 switches the thumbnail image of the third image quality adjustment button 303 together with the first image quality adjustment button 301 to a medical image obtained using the new value of the image quality parameter of the medical image used as a reference.

[0084] Furthermore, for example, at time T1 5 seconds later, the switching display function 206c of the control unit 206 switches the thumbnail image of the third image quality adjustment button 303 to the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b. Then, for example, at time T2 three seconds after time T1, the switching display function 206c of the control unit 206 switches the thumbnail image of the third image quality adjustment button 303 to the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a.

[0085] Therefore, it can be seen that the timing of the first medical image generation function 206a generating the first medical image and the timing of the second medical image generation function 206b generating the second medical image are both arbitrary timings; either one can be generated first, or they can be generated simultaneously. In other words, the second medical image generation function 206b only needs to generate the second medical image at any timing before the second medical image is displayed by the switching display function 206c at time T1, and the first medical image generation function 206a only needs to generate the first medical image at any timing before the first medical image is displayed by the switching display function 206c at time T2.

[0086] exist Figure 7 In the example of an edge enhancement filter, the changes over time of the baseline medical image, the second medical image, and the first medical image are illustrated. However, other image quality parameters besides edge enhancement are also processed as follows: Figure 6 The changes over time are shown. Figure 4 In the example of the image quality adjustment settings screen W10, in the thumbnail image displayed as the second image quality adjustment button 302, the parameters of the filter used for noise reduction are... Figure 6 The changes shown are reflected in the thumbnail image displayed as the fourth image quality adjustment button 304, where the parameters of the filter used for consistency are adjusted. Figure 6 The changes shown are as described.

[0087] in addition, Figure 6 The image quality parameter change pattern indicates how the image quality parameters change over time when the user chooses to increase their value, and how they change when the user chooses to decrease their value. Figure 6 The pattern of change becomes a negative one. That is, when users... Figure 4 When using the toggle buttons 302a, 302b, 303a, 303b, 304a, and 304b in the W10 image quality adjustment settings screen and selecting to reduce the value of the image quality parameter, the change of the image quality parameter over time becomes... Figure 8 The changes shown are as described.

[0088] In this case, such as Figure 8As shown, the first medical image generation function 206a generates a first medical image by reducing the value of the image quality parameter with a first change intensity, and the second medical image generation function 206b generates a second medical image by reducing the value of the image quality parameter with a second change intensity. In other words, the second medical image generation function 206b generates a second medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in the same direction as the change direction of the first change intensity with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. Therefore, even if the user chooses to reduce the value of the image quality parameter, the value of the image quality parameter can be changed with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity, making it easy for the user to identify the impact on the image quality of the changed image quality parameter.

[0089] Figure 9 This is another example of how image quality parameters in a medical image displayed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment change over time. Figure 9 In the example shown, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in the same direction as the first change intensity at time T1 with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. Furthermore, from time Ta to time T2, the second medical image generation function 206b gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image towards the image quality parameter of the first medical image, generating a dynamic image. Then, at time T2, the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 becomes the same as the image quality parameter of the first medical image.

[0090] The switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b from time T1 to time T2, and displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a after time T2. Therefore, the second medical image, displayed as a thumbnail on the image quality adjustment setting screen W10, is a static image from time T1 to time Ta, but becomes a dynamic image from time Ta to time T2. In other words, Figure 6 The changes in image quality parameters over time are represented by a static image, but Figure 9 The image quality parameters change over time as a combination of static and dynamic images.

[0091] Even if Figure 9As shown, by changing the value of the image quality parameters, the second medical image generation function 206b can also change the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity, allowing the user to easily identify subtle changes in image quality. Furthermore, from time Ta to time T2, as the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image gradually approaches the value of the image quality parameters of the first medical image, the user can more easily and intuitively understand the extent to which the change in the image quality parameter values ​​affects the image quality.

[0092] Figure 10 This is another example of how image quality parameters in a medical image displayed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment change over time. Figure 10 In the example shown, from time T1 to time Tb, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in the same direction as the change direction of the first change intensity, until it becomes a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity, thus generating a dynamic image of the second medical image. Furthermore, from time Tb to time T2, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image towards the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image, thus generating a dynamic image of the second medical image. Moreover, at time T2, the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 becomes the same as the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image.

[0093] The switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b as a dynamic image from time T1 to time T2, and displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a as a static image after time T2. Therefore, the medical image displayed as a thumbnail in the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 becomes a dynamic image from time T1 to time T2, and a static image after time T2. In other words, Figure 10 The change of image quality parameters over time means that the image becomes a dynamic image from time T1 to time T2, and a static image after time T2.

[0094] Even if Figure 10As shown, by changing the image quality parameters as instructed, the second medical image generation function 206b can also change the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image at a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, allowing the user to easily identify subtle changes in image quality. Furthermore, since the value of the image quality parameters generated by the second medical image gradually approaches the second change intensity from time T1 to time Tb, and the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image gradually approaches the value of the image quality parameters of the first medical image from time Tb to time T2, the user can more easily and intuitively understand the extent to which the change in the image quality parameter values ​​affects the image quality.

[0095] Figure 11 This is another example of how image quality parameters in a medical image displayed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment change over time. Figure 11 In the example shown, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 gradually changes the value of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image from time T1 to time Tc in the opposite direction to the change direction of the first change intensity, thereby generating the second medical image as a dynamic image. Here, if the change intensity of the image quality parameters at this time is set as the third change intensity (third change amplitude), then the magnitude of the third change intensity can be arbitrary.

[0096] Next, from time Tc to time Td, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 gradually changes the value of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image in the same direction as the direction of change of the first change intensity, so that it becomes a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity, thereby generating a dynamic image of the second medical image. Furthermore, from time Td to time T2, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 gradually changes the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image towards the image quality parameters of the first medical image, thereby generating a dynamic image of the second medical image. Moreover, at time T2, the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 becomes the same as the value of the image quality parameters of the first medical image.

[0097] Therefore, the sum of the second and third change intensities constitutes the intensity of the change in the dynamic image of the second medical image's quality parameters. Thus, the greater the third change intensity, the greater the intensity of the change in the dynamic image of the second medical image's quality parameters, and the better the user's visibility.

[0098] The switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b as a dynamic image from time T1 to time T2, and displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a as a static image after time T2. Therefore, the medical image displayed as a thumbnail in the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 becomes a dynamic image from time T1 to time T2, and a static image after time T2. In other words, it means... Figure 11 The image quality parameters change over time from time T1 to time T2, becoming a dynamic image, and after time T2, becoming a static image.

[0099] Even if Figure 11 As shown, by changing the image quality parameters, the second medical image generation function 206b can also change the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity, allowing the user to easily identify subtle changes in image quality. In particular, in Figure 11 In the example, since the image quality parameters of the reference medical image change in the opposite direction to the first change intensity from time T1 to time Tc, and thereafter the image quality parameters of the reference medical image gradually change to the second change intensity, the change intensity of the image quality parameters can be made greater. In other words, in Figure 11 In the example, the updated image quality parameters can be drastically changed to become the sum of the second and third change intensities. Therefore, users can more easily and intuitively understand the impact of the changed image quality parameters on image quality.

[0100] Figure 12 This is another graph illustrating the change over time of image quality parameters in a medical image displayed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment. Figure 12 In the example shown, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 gradually changes the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image from time T1 to time Te, in a direction opposite to the direction of the first change intensity, thereby generating a dynamic image from the second medical image. Figure 11 Similarly, if the intensity of the change in the image quality parameter value at this time is set as the third intensity of change, then the magnitude of this third intensity of change is also similar to... Figure 11 The examples are also of arbitrary size.

[0101] Next, from time Te to time T2, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 gradually changes the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image towards the value of the image quality parameters of the first medical image, generating a dynamic image from the second medical image. Furthermore, at time T2, the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 becomes the same as the value of the image quality parameters of the first medical image. Therefore, the intensity of the change in the value of the image quality parameters from time T1 to time T2 becomes the sum of the first change intensity and the third change intensity, i.e., the second change intensity. That is, the image quality parameters of the medical image whose values ​​are changed change with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. Therefore, the greater the third change intensity, the greater the intensity of change in the dynamic image of the image quality parameters of the second medical image, and the better the user's visibility.

[0102] The switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b as a dynamic image from time T1 to time T2, and displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a as a static image after time T2. Therefore, the medical image displayed as a thumbnail in the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 becomes a dynamic image from time T1 to time T2, and a static image after time T2. In other words, it means... Figure 12 The image quality parameters change over time from time T1 to time T2, becoming a dynamic image, and after time T2, becoming a static image.

[0103] Figure 13 This is another graph illustrating the change over time of image quality parameters in a medical image displayed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment. Figure 13 In the example shown, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 temporarily displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a, then displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b, and then displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a again.

[0104] Specifically, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 displays a reference medical image up to time Tf, and displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a from time Tf to time T1. Then, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b from time T1 to time T2.

[0105] From time T1 to time T2, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 causes the value of the image quality parameter of the displayed medical image to gradually change from the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image to a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity, in the same direction as the change direction of the first change intensity, thereby generating a dynamic image of the second medical image. Furthermore, from time Tg to time T2, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 causes the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image to gradually change towards the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image, thereby generating a dynamic image of the second medical image. Moreover, at time T2, the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 becomes the same as the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image.

[0106] Thus, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 switches the displayed medical images in the order of first medical image, second medical image, and first medical image again. Therefore, after the user confirms the image quality of the changed medical image, they can observe the second medical image with the enhanced image quality parameter, thereby gaining a more detailed understanding of the impact of the changed image quality parameter on the image quality.

[0107] Furthermore, the variation pattern of the image quality parameters of the second medical image displayed between time T1 and time T2 is not limited to... Figure 13 For example, when the display switching function 206c switches the displayed medical images in the order of first medical image, second medical image, and first medical image again, the image quality parameters of the second medical image change in an arbitrary mode.

[0108] Figure 14 This means that the above... Figure 10 The image shows an example of further deformation in the pattern of image quality parameters changing over time. Figure 14 The pattern of how image quality parameters change over time is itself related to Figure 10 The patterns of change over time are the same. However, in Figure 14 In the example, phase (2) and phase (3) are repeated. That is, the thumbnail image displayed as a medical image in the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 is displayed as a dynamic image that is repeated in phase (2) and phase (3) within a specified period.

[0109] Specifically, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 repeats the following process in stages (2) and (3): switching and displaying the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a and the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b. That is, starting from time T1, the switching display function 206c displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b as a thumbnail of the image quality adjustment setting screen W10, and starting from time T2, displays the first medical image generated by the first medical image generation function 206a as a thumbnail of the image quality adjustment setting screen W10. Moreover, when the switching display function 206c returns to the state of time T1 at time Tg, it displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b again, and then repeats this display process.

[0110] In this way, by repeatedly switching between displaying the first and second medical images, users can repeatedly confirm the impact of changes in image quality parameters on image quality, enabling more reliable judgments. In particular, subtle changes that might be missed during a single display switch can be correctly identified through repeated observation.

[0111] In addition, Figure 14 In the example, phases (2) and (3) are repeated, but phases (1), (2), and (3) can also be repeated. In other words, by repeating from phase (1) which displays the medical image as a baseline, it is easier to understand the impact of changes in the image quality parameters on the original medical image.

[0112] In addition, the process of repeating the display of stage (2) and stage (3), or the process of repeating the display of stage (1), stage (2) and stage (3), can also be applied. Figure 6 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 11 , Figure 12 , Figure 13 Other image quality parameters and their time-varying patterns.

[0113] <Changes to multiple image quality parameters> In the image quality adjustment and display processing described above, the number of image quality parameters whose values ​​are changed is one. However, in image quality adjustment and display processing, the number of image quality parameters whose values ​​are changed can also be multiple. For example, in... Figure 4In the image quality adjustment settings screen W10, the first and second medical images, with the values ​​of the edge enhancement image quality parameter changed, form a thumbnail image of the third image quality adjustment button 303. Here, the image quality parameter whose value is changed is edge enhancement. On the other hand, the first and second medical images, with the values ​​of both edge enhancement and noise reduction image quality parameters changed, are displayed as thumbnails of the fifth image quality adjustment button 305.

[0114] Figure 15 This graph illustrates how each image quality parameter changes over time when the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters are changed. It corresponds to the above. Figure 6 The graph shows the pattern of how image quality parameters change over time. Here, for example, the first image quality parameter is the parameter of the edge enhancement filter, and the second image quality parameter is the parameter of the noise reduction filter.

[0115] In Figure 15 In the example shown, the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter change at the same timing. Therefore, in stage (2), the changes in the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter are simultaneously amplified. More specifically, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image by simultaneously changing the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter at time T1. More specifically, the second medical image generation function 206b generates a second medical image by changing the value of the first image quality parameter with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity and by changing the value of the second image quality parameter with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. Thus, a second medical image with enhanced changes in image quality parameters is generated when the values ​​of the two image quality parameters change simultaneously.

[0116] Here, the first change intensity of the value of the first image quality parameter can be the same as or different from the first change intensity of the value of the second image quality parameter. Similarly, the second change intensity of the value of the first image quality parameter can be the same as or different from the second change intensity of the value of the second image quality parameter.

[0117] Additionally, the first medical image generation function 206a generates a first medical image by changing the value of a first image quality parameter by a first change intensity and changing the value of a second image quality parameter by a first change intensity. Then, at time T2, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 switches the displayed medical image from the second medical image to the first medical image.

[0118] In this way, by simultaneously enhancing the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters with a second change intensity, users can more accurately identify the impact on image quality when the values ​​of the two image quality parameters are changed at the same time.

[0119] On the other hand, the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter can also be changed at different timings. Figure 16 This is a graph illustrating an example of how the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters change over time when the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters are varied at different timings. Figure 16 In the example, during the period from time T1 to time Th in stage (2), a second medical image showing the change in the value of the first image quality parameter is displayed, and during the period from time Th to time T2, a second medical image showing the change in the value of the second image quality parameter is displayed.

[0120] More specifically, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image from time T1 to time Th, by changing the value of the first image quality parameter of the reference medical image with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. In this second medical image, the value of the second image quality parameter remains unchanged from the value of the second image quality parameter of the reference medical image. The display switching function 206c selects this second medical image and displays it as a medical image.

[0121] Next, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image from time Th to time T2, by changing the value of the second image quality parameter of the reference medical image with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. In this second medical image, the value of the first image quality parameter of the reference medical image remains unchanged. The display switching function 206c selects this second medical image and displays it as a medical image.

[0122] Additionally, the first medical image generation function 206a generates a first medical image by changing the value of a first image quality parameter by a first change intensity and changing the value of a second image quality parameter by a first change intensity. Then, at time T2, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 switches the displayed medical image from the second medical image to the first medical image.

[0123] Thus, by sequentially increasing the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters with a second change in intensity, the user can separately observe the impact of changes in the values ​​of each image quality parameter on image quality. Specifically, by displaying a second medical image obtained by changing the value of the first image quality parameter using the second medical image generation function 206b, and a second medical image obtained by changing the value of the second image quality parameter using the second medical image generation function 206b, the user can separately determine the impact of changes in the values ​​of each image quality parameter. As a result, the user can more accurately identify the impact on image quality when the values ​​of the two image quality parameters are changed.

[0124] Figure 17This is another example of how the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters change over time when the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters are varied at different timings. Figure 17 In the example, in stage (2), after the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter are changed at different timings, the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter are changed simultaneously to generate a second medical image.

[0125] More specifically, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image from time T1 to time Ti, by changing the value of the first image quality parameter of the reference medical image with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. In this second medical image, the value of the second image quality parameter remains unchanged from the value of the second image quality parameter of the reference medical image. The display switching function 206c selects this second medical image and displays it as a medical image.

[0126] Next, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image from time Ti to time Tj, by changing the value of the second image quality parameter of the reference medical image with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity. In this second medical image, the value of the first image quality parameter remains unchanged from the value of the first image quality parameter of the reference medical image. The display switching function 206c selects the second medical image and displays it as a medical image.

[0127] Next, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 generates a second medical image from time Tj to time T2, wherein the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter of the reference medical image are changed by a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity. The display switching function 206c selects the second medical image and displays it as a medical image.

[0128] Additionally, the first medical image generation function 206a generates a first medical image by changing the value of a first image quality parameter by a first change intensity and changing the value of a second image quality parameter by a first change intensity. Then, at time T2, the switching display function 206c in the control unit 206 switches the displayed medical image from the second medical image to the first medical image.

[0129] Thus, by increasing the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters sequentially with a second intensity change, users can separately observe how changes in the values ​​of each of the two image quality parameters affect image quality. Furthermore, since both the first and second image quality parameters are then increased with the second intensity change, users can also more appropriately understand the impact on image quality when the values ​​of the two image quality parameters change simultaneously.

[0130] Furthermore, when the values ​​of multiple image quality parameters are changed through the first medical image generation function 206a and the second medical image generation function 206b, the number of image quality parameters whose values ​​are changed is arbitrary. In other words, the image quality parameters whose values ​​are changed through the first medical image generation function 206a and the second medical image generation function 206b can also be said to include at least two of the following: a first image quality parameter and a second image quality parameter that is different from the first image quality parameter.

[0131] For example, when the number of image quality parameters whose values ​​are changed through the first medical image generation function 206a and the second medical image generation function 206b is three, Figure 15 The image quality parameters shown can change over time in a way that is as follows: Figure 18 That's how it's expressed. In that... Figure 18 In the example, the first change intensity of the first image quality parameter, the first change intensity of the second image quality parameter, and the first change intensity of the third image quality parameter can be the same or different. Similarly, the second change intensity of the first image quality parameter, the second change intensity of the second image quality parameter, and the second change intensity of the third image quality parameter can be the same or different.

[0132] Furthermore, the second medical image generation function 206b generates a time-varying pattern of the second medical image by varying the values ​​of the first and second image quality parameters, and is not limited to... Figures 15 to 18 The pattern shown can adopt various time-varying patterns. Specifically, in Figures 15 to 18 The example illustrates how the above... Figure 6 The illustrated pattern of image quality parameters changing over time applies to situations with multiple image quality parameters, but it can also... Figures 9 to 13 The image quality parameters shown in the time-varying pattern are applied to Figures 15 to 18 Examples.

[0133] In addition, the display switching function 206c can also repeat the above. Figure 14 The process involves switching between displaying the first medical image and the second medical image as shown. That is, it is also possible to... Figures 15 to 18 The image quality mode changes shown are displayed repeatedly.

[0134] As described above, in the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the second medical image generation function 206b in the control unit 206 changes the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameter in a way that the value of the image quality parameter changes with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity, thereby generating a second medical image with enhanced image quality. Therefore, the user can more accurately identify the impact on image quality when the value of the image quality parameter is changed. Thus, the user can use the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 to observe subtle differences related to image quality and confirm the change in image quality when the value of the image quality parameter is changed.

[0135] [Second Implementation] In addition to the medical image processing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment described above, the medical image processing apparatus 100 of the second embodiment, when displaying the second medical image as a moving image, can select the image quality parameter value of the second medical image at a user-specified timing as the image quality parameter value of the first medical image. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0136] Figure 19 This diagram illustrates an example of how image quality parameters in a medical image displayed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment change over time, corresponding to the first embodiment described above. Figure 14 The diagram. That is, the... Figure 19 The image quality parameters shown repeat over time in a prescribed cycle.

[0137] For example, in Figure 4 When the image quality adjustment settings screen W10 is displayed on the touch command screen 104, it serves as a thumbnail of the third image quality adjustment button 303. The image quality parameters for edge enhancement are displayed repeatedly. Figure 19 The first and second medical images shown change over time. At a desired time, the user can select the image quality parameter value of the first medical image from the value displayed for the second medical image by touching the third image quality adjustment button 303 displayed on the touch command screen 104.

[0138] Since the second medical image, which is a dynamic image, is repeatedly displayed as a thumbnail of the third image quality adjustment button 303, the user can carefully observe the second medical image and, at a time when they believe the edge enhancement level is close to their desired level, touch the thumbnail of the third image quality adjustment button 303. Then, the image quality parameter value of the second medical image at the time of this touch becomes the image quality parameter value of the first medical image, serving as the next anchor point. Therefore, the thumbnail of the first image quality adjustment button 301, which serves as the reference in the image quality adjustment setting screen W10, is switched to the first medical image using the value of that image quality parameter.

[0139] The selection function 206d in the control unit 206 detects which thumbnail image the user touched and at what time. Therefore, this selection function 206d is equivalent to the image quality parameter selection unit in this embodiment. That is, the medical image processing apparatus 100 of the second embodiment additionally includes an image quality parameter selection unit. When the switching display function 206c displays a medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b as a dynamic image, this image quality parameter selection unit selects the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image at the time specified by the user as the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image.

[0140] Furthermore, the pattern of time-varying image quality parameters of the second medical image displayed by the medical image processing apparatus 100 of the second embodiment is not limited to... Figure 19 The pattern shown can be any pattern. For example, based on Figure 9 , Figure 11 , Figure 12 , Figure 13 The image quality parameters change over time as shown in the second medical image generation function 206b generate the second medical image as a dynamic image. When the switching display function 206c displays it repeatedly, the user can use the selection function 206d to set the value of the image quality parameters of the second medical image at any given time to the value of the image quality parameters of the first medical image.

[0141] Furthermore, this embodiment can also be applied when multiple image quality parameters change over time. For example, in the case where the second medical image generation function 206b changes the two image quality parameters of edge enhancement and noise reduction over time and generates the second medical image as a dynamic image, the second medical image is displayed as a dynamic image. Figure 4 The thumbnail image of the fifth image quality adjustment button 305 on the W10 image quality adjustment settings screen.

[0142] Then, while observing the thumbnail image of the fifth image quality adjustment button 305 displayed as the dynamic image, the user touches the thumbnail image of the fifth image quality adjustment button 305 at a time when the thumbnail image of the fifth image quality adjustment button 305 is displayed with the user's desired image quality parameter values. Thus, the values ​​of the two image quality parameters—edge enhancement and noise reduction—of the thumbnail image of the fifth image quality adjustment button 305 at the time of the user's touch are selected as the image quality parameter values ​​of the first medical image, becoming the new anchor point.

[0143] Furthermore, change Figure 4The second to fourth image quality adjustment buttons 302 to 304 in the image quality adjustment settings screen W10, as shown, determine the values ​​of parameters for noise reduction, edge enhancement, and consistency, respectively, but can also be used without setting an anchor point. With the image quality adjustment settings screen W10 designed as described above, the user can, for example, touch the second image quality adjustment button 302 to determine the noise reduction parameter value, and then touch the third image quality adjustment button 303 to determine the edge enhancement parameter value. Alternatively, if the noise reduction and edge enhancement parameters are determined with a single touch, the user only needs to touch the fifth image quality adjustment button 305.

[0144] Furthermore, in the medical image processing apparatus 100 of the second embodiment, the switching display function 206c does not necessarily require repeatedly displaying the second medical image. That is, as used in the first embodiment described above... Figure 10 As explained, the display switching function 206c can also display a medical image only once, following the order of the primary medical image, the second medical image, and the first medical image. However, in this case, the user only has one opportunity to select the image quality parameter value.

[0145] As described above, the medical image processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment allows the user to select the image quality parameters of the second medical image at the time of touch by touching a second medical image that is displayed as a dynamic image, thereby setting the image quality parameters of the first medical image to the values ​​of the second medical image at the touch timing. Therefore, the user can determine the desired image quality parameter values ​​while simultaneously viewing the dynamic image of the second medical image. In particular, since the second medical image enhances the image quality parameters that the user is attempting to adjust, it is possible to achieve the optimal image quality parameter values ​​for the user with fewer operations or in a shorter time.

[0146] [Common variations in all implementation methods] In the first and second embodiments described above, multiple medical images are displayed. Figure 4 The configuration and operation of the medical image processing device 100 have been explained with the use of the image quality adjustment setting screen W10 as a premise. However, when performing the image quality adjustment display processing described above, it is not necessary to use the image quality adjustment setting screen W10. In other words, the screen layout used to display the reference medical image, the second medical image, and the first medical image in sequence is arbitrary. For example, only one medical image can be displayed on the touch command screen 104, and the display switching function 206c can switch the display in the order of the reference medical image, the second medical image, and the first medical image. In this case, the user can observe the effect of changes in the image quality parameter values ​​on the medical image in an image larger than the thumbnail image.

[0147] Furthermore, in the above description of the embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, the example of the user increasing the value of the image quality parameter was used to illustrate the time-varying pattern of the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation function 206b. However, the above description of the embodiments can also be applied when the user decreases the value of the image quality parameter. That is, Figure 6 The pattern shown illustrates how image quality parameters change over time with increasing values, and... Figure 8 The relationship between the time-varying patterns of image quality parameters shown when the values ​​are reduced can be applied to other time-varying patterns of image quality parameters as well.

[0148] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the example described is that the image quality parameters change linearly over time, but this change pattern does not necessarily have to be linear. That is, the change pattern of the image quality parameters can also be a curve such as a parabola or a quadratic function.

[0149] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, a second medical image is generated as a dynamic image to enable the user to recognize the changes in image quality parameters over time, but its display method does not necessarily have to be a dynamic image. For example, the medical image processing device 100 could also, after the second medical image generation function 206b generates multiple static images as the second medical image based on the changes in image quality parameters over time, display switching function 206c displays these multiple static images side by side to enable the user to recognize the changes in image quality parameters over time. For example, Figure 7 As shown, when the image quality parameter is the value of the edge enhancement filter, these... Figure 7 of (a) Figure 7 (b) Figure 7 (c) are displayed side by side on one screen, allowing users to identify the impact of the edge enhancement change on image quality.

[0150] Furthermore, the term "processor" used in the above description may refer to circuits such as CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or programmable logic device (e.g., Simple Programmable Logic Device (SPLD), Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)). A processor performs its function by reading and executing a program stored in a memory circuit. Alternatively, instead of storing the program in a memory circuit, the program may be directly incorporated into the processor's circuitry. In this case, the processor performs its function by reading and executing the program incorporated into the circuitry. Furthermore, a processor is not limited to being a single circuit; multiple independent circuits can be combined to form a single processor to achieve its function. Moreover, multiple components can be integrated into a single processor to achieve its function.

[0151] While several embodiments have been described, these embodiments are provided as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.

Claims

1. A medical image processing device, comprising: The input unit receives an operation from a user to change the value of the image quality parameter of a medical image used as a reference by a first change intensity, wherein the first change intensity is a predetermined change intensity with respect to the image quality parameter. The first medical image generation unit, based on the operation received by the input unit, changes the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameter in a manner that changes the value of the image quality parameter by the first change intensity, and generates the first medical image. The second medical image generation unit changes the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image by changing the values ​​of the image quality parameters by changing the values ​​of the image quality parameters by a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, and generates a second medical image. as well as The display switching unit, after displaying the second medical image before the first medical image, switches from displaying the second medical image to displaying the first medical image.

2. The medical image processing device as described in claim 1, The second medical image generation unit generates the second medical image by changing the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image with a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, in the same direction as the change direction of the first change intensity. After displaying the second medical image for a predetermined time, the switching display unit switches from displaying the second medical image to displaying the first medical image.

3. The medical image processing device as described in claim 1, The second medical image generation unit generates a dynamic image by changing the image quality parameters of the reference medical image in the same direction as the first change direction, with a second change intensity greater than the first change intensity.

4. The medical image processing device as described in claim 1, The second medical image generation unit gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in the same direction as the first change intensity until it becomes a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, and then gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image to generate the second medical image as a dynamic image.

5. The medical image processing device as described in claim 1, After the second medical image generation unit gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in a direction opposite to the direction of change of the first change intensity, it gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in the same direction as the direction of change of the first change intensity until it becomes a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, and then gradually changes it towards the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image, thereby generating the second medical image into a dynamic image.

6. The medical image processing device as described in claim 1, The second medical image generation unit gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image in a direction opposite to the direction of the change in the first change intensity, and then gradually changes the value of the image quality parameter of the first medical image to generate the second medical image as a dynamic image.

7. The medical image processing device as described in claim 1, After displaying the second medical image before the first medical image, the switching display unit repeatedly performs the process of switching from the second medical image to the first medical image for display.

8. The medical image processing device as described in claim 1, The image quality parameters whose values ​​are changed by the first medical image generation unit and the second medical image generation unit include at least two: a first image quality parameter and a second image quality parameter that is different from the first image quality parameter.

9. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 8, The second medical image generation unit generates the second medical image by simultaneously changing the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter.

10. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 8, The second medical image generation unit generates the second medical image by changing the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter at different timings.

11. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 8, The aforementioned switching display section displays the second medical image generated by the second medical image generation unit after changing the value of the first image quality parameter, and the second medical image after changing the value of the second image quality parameter.

12. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 8, The second medical image generation unit generates the second medical image by changing the values ​​of the first image quality parameter and the second image quality parameter at different timings.

13. The medical image processing apparatus as described in any one of claims 3 to 6, It also includes an image quality parameter selection unit. When the switching display unit displays the second medical image generated as a dynamic image by the second medical image generation unit, the image quality parameter selection unit selects the value of the image quality parameter of the second medical image at the time specified by the user as the value of the image quality parameter of the next medical image as a reference.

14. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 1, The first medical image and the second medical image mentioned above are thumbnail images of the medical image used as a reference, reduced in size.

15. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 14, The above thumbnail image is a medical image obtained by changing the image quality parameters of the medical image used as the reference.

16. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 15, It also includes a display unit that displays the aforementioned medical image as a reference and multiple thumbnail images, in which the values ​​of different types of image quality parameters have been changed.

17. The medical image processing apparatus as described in claim 16, The image quality parameter value of the first medical image among the selected thumbnails of the plurality of thumbnails displayed in the aforementioned display unit becomes the new value of the image quality parameter of the medical image used as a reference.

18. A control method for a medical image processing device, comprising: The process of changing the value of the image quality parameter of the medical image used as a reference by the user with a first change intensity, wherein the first change intensity is the intensity of change predetermined with respect to the image quality parameter. The process of changing the value of the image quality parameter of the reference medical image by changing the value of the image quality parameter in a manner that changes the value of the image quality parameter in accordance with the first change intensity, and generating the first medical image, based on the accepted operation. The process of changing the values ​​of the image quality parameters of the reference medical image by changing the values ​​of the aforementioned image quality parameters by changing the values ​​of the aforementioned image quality parameters by a second change intensity that is greater than the first change intensity, and generating a second medical image. as well as The process of switching from displaying the second medical image to displaying the first medical image after displaying the second medical image before the first medical image.

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