Control program, medical image display control device and medical image display system

Abstract

To reduce the time and effort of a user when a medical image of another subject is displayed in a mode where the medical image of the other subject is not displayed.SOLUTION: There is provided a control program for causing a computer of a medical image display control device 2 that performs display control of a medical image to execute processing. The control program causes the computer to execute: the first processing of switching a display control mode of itself to the first mode of permitting display of a first image I1 together with a second image I2 being a medical image of a second subject different from a first subject when displaying the first image being the medical image of the first subject or the second mode of not permitting display of the second image I2 when displaying the first image I1, and the second processing of displaying the second image I2 under a prescribed condition or displaying the second image I2 by switching to the first mode when receiving an operation of displaying the second image I2 in the second mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control program, a medical image display control device, and a medical image display system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, devices for displaying or controlling the display of medical images have been known that have a mode in which, when displaying the medical image of one subject, the medical images of other subjects can also be displayed, and a mode in which, when displaying the medical image of one subject, the medical images of other subjects are not displayed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a medical image display device in which, when a patient fixation button is pressed, a patient to be displayed is set and a patient fixation mode is entered in which only related information and medical image information corresponding to the patient to be displayed is displayed, and when a reset button is pressed, the patient fixation mode is released. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-148973 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional medical image display devices such as those described in Patent Document 1 above could not display medical images of other subjects under any circumstances when they were in a mode in which medical images of one subject were displayed without displaying medical images of other subjects. For this reason, when interpreting images using a conventional medical image display device, if the device is in a mode that does not display medical images of other subjects and a doctor suddenly wants to compare the medical images of another subject, the doctor must first switch the display control mode to a mode that allows the other subjects to be displayed together (after canceling the patient fixation mode), and then perform the operation to display the medical images of the other subjects, which is time-consuming.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to reduce the user's effort when medical images of other subjects are to be displayed in a mode in which medical images of other subjects are not displayed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a control program according to the present invention comprises: The computer of a medical image display control device that controls the display of medical images is caused to execute the following: The computer, The display control mode of the device is a first mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, or a second mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, Except under certain conditions a first process of switching to a second mode in which display of the second image is not permitted; a second process of displaying the second image under the predetermined condition when an operation to display the second image is received in the second mode, or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Run 、 The second treatment In , the predetermined condition as , the first image is not displayed. R conditions in the case of The second image is displayed on the display device. The control program according to the present invention also includes: The computer of a medical image display control device that controls the display of medical images is caused to execute the following: The computer, The display control mode of the device is a first mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, or a second mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, Except under certain conditions a first process of switching to a second mode in which display of the second image is not permitted; a second process of displaying the second image under the predetermined condition when an operation to display the second image is received in the second mode, or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Run 、 The second treatment In , the predetermined condition as , a time-limited display R conditions in the case of The second image is displayed together with the first image.

[0007] The medical image display control device according to the present invention comprises: A display control system for medical images, The display control mode of the device is a first mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, or a second mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, Except under certain conditions a first means for switching to a second mode in which display of the second image is not permitted; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with 、 the second means In , the predetermined condition as , the first image is not displayed. R conditions in the case of The second image is displayed on the display device. Further, the medical image display control device according to the present invention comprises: A display control system for medical images, The display control mode of the device is a first mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, or a second mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, Except under certain conditions a first means for switching to a second mode in which display of the second image is not permitted; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with 、 the second means In , the predetermined condition as , a time-limited display R conditions in the case of The second image is displayed together with the first image.

[0008] The medical image display system according to the present invention comprises: A display control system for medical images, a storage means for storing image data of the medical image; a display means for displaying the medical image; The display control mode of the device is a first mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, or a second mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, Except under certain conditions a first means for switching to a second mode in which display of the second image is not permitted; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with 、 the second means In , the predetermined condition as , the first image is not displayed. R conditions in the case of The second image is displayed on the display device. Further, the medical image display system according to the present invention comprises: A display control system for medical images, a storage means for storing image data of the medical image; a display means for displaying the medical image; The display control mode of the device is a first mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, or a second mode that allows a second image, which is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, to be displayed together with a first image, which is a medical image of a first subject, Except under certain conditions a first means for switching to a second mode in which display of the second image is not permitted; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with 、 the second means In , the predetermined condition as , a time-limited display R conditions in the case of The second image is displayed together with the first image. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the user's effort when a medical image of another subject is to be displayed in a mode in which medical images of other subjects are not displayed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a medical image display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a medical image display control device included in the medical image display system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the system. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the system. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the system. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the transition of the screen displayed by the system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0012] <1. Overview of medical image display systems> First, an overview of a medical image display system (hereinafter, referred to as a system 100) according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system 100 .

[0013] [1-1. General configuration of medical image display system] The system 100 is for displaying medical images. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes a picture archiving and communication system (hereinafter referred to as PACS1) and a medical image display control device (hereinafter referred to as display control device 2). The system 100 according to this embodiment further includes a modality 3. The devices 1 to 3 are capable of communicating with each other via, for example, a communication network N (such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet).

[0014] The system 100 may be capable of communicating with a Hospital Information System (HIS), a Radiology Information System (RIS), and the like, which are not shown.

[0015] (Modality) The modality 3 captures an image of a subject (a region of a subject to be diagnosed) and generates digital data (hereinafter referred to as image data) of an image (medical image) of the subject. The modality 3 includes, for example, a flat panel detector (FPD) device, a computed tomography (CT) device, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, an ultrasonic diagnostic device, and the like.

[0016] The modality 3 according to this embodiment is capable of generating not only still medical images by capturing still images, but also moving medical images by capturing moving images. Here, "moving image" refers to an image in which a plurality of still images are displayed in rapid succession, allowing the viewer to perceive the objects depicted in the image as continuously moving. In the present invention, video shooting includes dynamic shooting, and video includes dynamic images. Dynamic imaging refers to obtaining multiple frames by repeatedly irradiating a subject with pulsed radiation (e.g., X-rays) at a predetermined frame rate (pulse irradiation), or by continuously irradiating a low dose of radiation for a predetermined imaging time (continuous irradiation). Dynamic images refer to a series of frames obtained by dynamic imaging. Such dynamic images make it possible to capture changes over time in a subject (for example, a moving diagnostic target area such as the lungs or heart).

[0017] Additionally, Modality 3 complies with the DICOM standard and generates image data in DICOM file format. Image data in the DICOM file format has an image portion and a header portion. The image section contains actual data of a medical image. In the header section, various additional information is written. The additional information is information that is added to the medical image.

[0018] The supplementary information according to this embodiment includes subject information, examination information, series information, image information, GSPS (Grayscale Softcopy Presentation State) information, overlay information, and the like. The subject information includes, for example, the subject ID, the subject's name, date of birth, age, sex, height, weight, and the like. The examination information includes, for example, an examination ID, an examination date, an examination time, an examination description, the number of series, the number of images, and the like. The series information includes, for example, the modality used, the imaging region, the imaging method (for example, the imaging direction (slice direction), the presence or absence of contrast agent), the series description, laterality, the series number, the number of images, and the AE title. Image information includes, for example, image number, subject direction, image type, pixel structure, vertical width, horizontal width, tube voltage, mA, tube current, pixel spacing, slice thickness, slice position, frame number, number of frames, TR, TE, WW / WC, etc.

[0019] The modality 3 may be provided with a console (not shown) for setting various imaging conditions and controlling the operation of each part of the modality 3 . The modality 3 may be configured to be installed in an imaging room, or may be configured to be mobile (as a medical cart).

[0020] (Image archiving and communication system) PACS1 stores medical images acquired from modality 3. That is, the PACS 1 according to this embodiment serves as a storage means. PACS1 consists of a PC, dedicated equipment, etc. The PACS 1 according to this embodiment stores image data of a plurality of medical images together with corresponding examination information in the form of a database. The PACS 1 may be configured to generate thumbnails of corresponding medical images based on image data of the stored medical images.

[0021] (Medical image display control device) The display control device 2 controls the display of medical images acquired from the PACS 1. The display control device 2 is configured by a PC on which a dedicated program is installed, a dedicated device, and the like. The display control device 2 according to this embodiment includes a display unit. The display control device 2 according to this embodiment is configured to display medical images on a display unit. That is, the display control device 2 according to this embodiment is also a display device (display means).

[0022] The display control device 2 may be configured to display medical images acquired directly from the modality 3 (without going through the PACS 1). The display control device 2 will be described in detail later.

[0023] [1-2. Diagnosis procedure using an image display system] Diagnosis using the system 100 configured in this manner is performed in the following manner. First, when a user photographs a subject using modality 3, modality 3 generates image data of a medical image showing the subject and transmits it to PACS 1. When the PACS 1 acquires image data from the modality 3, it stores the acquired image data. Furthermore, when the PACS 1 receives a signal requesting image data from the display control device 2 or the like, it transmits the corresponding image data to the display control device 2. When the display control device 2 acquires image data from the PACS 1, it displays a medical image based on the acquired image data. A doctor interprets the medical images displayed on the display control device 2 and diagnoses the subject.

[0024] 1-3. Modified Example of Image Display System So far, we have described a system 100 equipped with a PACS 1, a display control device 2, and a modality 3. However, if at least one of the PACS 1 and the modality 3 has a display unit, at least some of the functions of the display control device 2 may be provided by at least one of the PACS 1 and the modality 3. In that case, the system 100 does not need to include the display control device 2. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the PACS 1 may be provided by at least one of the display control device 2 and the modality 3. In that case, the system 100 may not include the PACS1.

[0025] The system 100 may also include an analysis device for analyzing medical images (particularly dynamic images). In this case, the PACS 1 may be configured to store the analysis images acquired from the analysis device. In this case, the display control device 2 may be configured to control the display of the analysis image acquired from the PACS 1 or the analysis device.

[0026] <2. Details of the image display control device> Next, the display control device 2 included in the system 100 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the display control device 2, FIGS. 3 to 5 are image diagrams showing examples of screens displayed by the display control device 2, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing transitions of the screens displayed by the display control device 2.

[0027] [2-1. Configuration of image display control device] The display control device 2 includes a control unit 21 and a communication unit 22, for example, as shown in FIG. The display control device 2 according to this embodiment further includes a storage unit 23, the display unit 24 described above, and an operation unit 25. The units 21 to 25 are electrically connected by a bus or the like.

[0028] The control unit 21 is composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like. The ROM stores various programs executed by the CPU and parameters required to execute the programs. The CPU reads out various programs stored in the ROM, loads them into the RAM, executes various processes in accordance with the loaded programs, and centrally controls the operations of the various parts of the display control device 2. The ROM may be rewritable (program updateable).

[0029] The communication unit 22 is composed of a communication module and the like. The communication unit 22 transmits and receives various signals and various data to and from other devices (PACS 1, modality 3, analysis device, etc.) connected via the communication network N by wire or wirelessly.

[0030] The storage unit 23 is configured by a non-volatile memory, a hard disk, or the like. The storage unit 23 stores image data of medical images.

[0031] The display unit 24 is configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or the like. The display unit 24 displays a medical image or the like in accordance with the image signal received from the control unit 21 .

[0032] The operation unit 25 is composed of a keyboard (cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, etc.), a pointing device (mouse, etc.), a touch panel laminated on the surface of the display unit 24, etc. The operation unit 25 outputs a control signal to the control unit 21 in response to an operation performed by the user.

[0033] So far, we have described the display control device 2 equipped with a display unit 24 and an operation unit 25, but the display control device 2 may not be equipped with the display unit 24 and may output image signals via the communication unit 22 to another device (such as a dedicated monitor, PACS3, or analysis device) provided separately from the display control device 2 (performing display control to display medical images on another device). In addition, the display control device 2 may not have an operation unit 25, and may be configured to receive control signals via the communication unit 22 from other devices (dedicated input devices, PACS3, analysis devices, etc.) provided separately from the display control device 2.

[0034] [2-2. Operation of medical image display control device] The control unit 21 of the display control device 2 configured as above operates as follows.

[0035] For example, when a predetermined condition is met, the control unit 21 executes a medical image display process based on a control program stored in the storage unit 23. The specified conditions include, for example, the power of the display control device 2 being turned on, image data being acquired from another device, a specified control signal being received from another device, and a specified start operation being performed on the operation unit 25.

[0036] (Display control mode setting) In the medical image display process according to this embodiment, the control unit 21 first executes a setting process. In this setting process, the control unit 21 sets the default display control mode. The display control modes according to this embodiment include a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a mode in which medical images are displayed according to a predetermined display rule. The first mode according to this embodiment is a mode in which, when the first image I1 is displayed, the second image I2 is permitted to be displayed together. The first image I1 is a medical image of a first subject. The second image I2 is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject.

[0037] The second mode is a mode in which medical images are displayed according to display rules different from those in the first mode. The second mode according to this embodiment is a mode in which, when the first image I1 is displayed, the display of the second image I2 is not permitted.

[0038] The display control modes may include modes different from the first mode and the second mode.

[0039] (Display of image reading screen, etc.) After setting the default display control mode, the control unit 21 executes the screen display process. In this screen display process, the control unit 21 causes the display unit 24 to display the image interpretation screen S1. The image interpretation screen S1 is a screen for displaying medical images. The image interpretation screen S1 according to this embodiment has a medical image display area R1 and an operation button display area R2, as shown in FIG.

[0040] The medical image display region R1 is a display region for medical images. The medical image display region R1 according to this embodiment can be divided into a plurality of small regions, and one medical image can be displayed in each small region. When the display control mode is the first mode and the medical image display area R1 is divided into multiple small areas, one of the multiple small areas becomes the display area for the second image I2, and the rest become the display area for the first image I1. On the other hand, when the display control mode is the second mode and the medical image display area R1 is divided into multiple small areas, all of the multiple small areas become the display area for the first image I1, or one of the multiple small areas becomes an area that does not display the medical image, and the rest become the display area for the first image I1.

[0041] Although FIG. 3 illustrates the medical image display region R1 having four small regions, the medical image display region R1 may be divided into two, three, five or more regions. Furthermore, the medical image display region R1 may be configured so that the number of divisions changes depending on the number of medical images to be displayed. Furthermore, when the medical image display region R1 is divided into a plurality of small regions, two or more of the small regions may be used as the display region for the second image I2. Furthermore, the medical image display region R1 may display only one medical image (not divided into small regions).

[0042] The operation button display area R2 is a display area for various operation buttons B. That is, the operation buttons B according to this embodiment are displayed together with the image interpretation screen S1. The operation button display area R2 according to this embodiment is provided below the medical image display area R1. That is, the operation button B according to this embodiment is displayed in an area adjacent to the medical image display area on the image interpretation screen S1. The operation button B according to this embodiment can be indirectly operated by the user via the operation unit 25 (mouse, touch panel, etc.). The display control device 2 may be provided with a physical switch, button, or the like in place of the operation button B near the display unit 24.

[0043] Furthermore, in the screen display process according to this embodiment, the control unit 21 causes the display unit 24 to display the selection screen S2 when a predetermined display start condition is met. The display start conditions include, for example, that the image interpretation screen S1 has been displayed, that a predetermined display start operation has been performed, and so on. The selection screen S2 is a screen for displaying a list of information (subject ID, name, date of birth, sex, examination date, examination content, medical image series, etc.) corresponding to one or more medical images. The selection screen S2 according to this embodiment is displayed in a separate window from the image interpretation screen S1. Furthermore, the selection screen S2 according to this embodiment is configured to display one or more thumbnails T corresponding to the one or more medical images.

[0044] The control unit 21 may be configured to display an image interpretation screen having a display area for a list of information about the subject, without displaying the selection screen S2. Furthermore, if the medical image to be displayed has already been selected by another device and the display unit 24 is configured to display only the medical image (without displaying operation button B, etc.), it is sufficient to execute the image display process described below, and the control unit 21 may not execute this screen display process.

[0045] (Requesting and obtaining medical image data) If a predetermined display start condition is met while the image interpretation screen S1 is being displayed, the control unit 21 executes the requested process. Display start conditions include, for example, a selection operation being performed on any of the list of information displayed on the selection screen S2, or a selection operation (drag and drop, click, touch, etc.) being performed on the thumbnail T displayed on the selection screen S2. In this request process, the control unit 21 requests the PACS 1 via the communication unit 22 to send image data of the selected medical image. Upon receiving the request for image data, the PACS 1 transmits the image data of the requested medical image to the display control device 2. As a result, the control unit 21 can acquire the image data.

[0046] In this request process, the control unit 21 may request image data from a device other than the PACS 1 (obtain image data from another device). Alternatively, the PACS 1 may be configured to accept the selection of medical images, in which case the execution of this request process is not necessary.

[0047] (Displaying medical images) After acquiring the image data of the medical image, the control unit 21 executes an image display process (second process). In this image display process, the control unit 21 causes the display unit 24 to display a medical image based on image data acquired from the PACS 3 . In the image display process according to this embodiment, the control unit 21 displays a medical image in the medical image display region R1 of the image interpretation screen S1.

[0048] When the display control mode is the first mode and the medical image display area R1 is divided into multiple small areas, the control unit 21 displays the selected first image I1 in a specified small area among the multiple small areas (for example, the area to which the thumbnail T is dragged, etc.), as shown in Figure 4, for example. Furthermore, when an operation to display the second image I2 is performed while the first image I1 is being displayed, the control unit 21 displays the second image I2 in the remaining small areas of the plurality of small areas. On the other hand, when the display control mode is the second mode, the control unit 21 displays only the selected first image I1 in the medical image display region R1 (small region), as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

[0049] Furthermore, in the image display process according to this embodiment, the control unit 21 displays supplementary information in a blank area in the medical image where no subject is shown. This additional information includes subject information, which allows the user to easily identify whether the displayed medical image is the first image I1 or the second image I2.

[0050] (Switching display control modes) If the operation button B is operated during the execution of the image display process, a mode switching process is executed. In this mode switching process, the control unit 21 switches its own display control mode to the first mode or the second mode. If the display control mode up until that point was the first mode, the control unit 21 switches the display control mode to the second mode. On the other hand, if the display control mode up until that point was the second mode, the control unit 21 switches the display control mode to the first mode. The control unit 21 according to the present embodiment serves as a first means by executing the above-mentioned mode switching process (first process).

[0051] In this mode switching process, the control unit 21 may change the display mode (color, shape, characters inside, etc.) of the operation button B according to the display control mode after switching. In this way, the user can easily know whether the current display control mode is the first mode or the second mode.

[0052] (Displaying Medical Images: continued) When an operation to display the second image is accepted in the second mode, the control unit 21 further executes a process at the time of acceptance during the image display process being executed. In this reception process, the control unit 21 displays the second image I2 under predetermined conditions. The operation of displaying the second image I2 according to this embodiment is a display operation performed on the thumbnail T of the second image I2. Display operations include drag and drop, clicking, touching, and the like. In addition, the specified conditions include, for example, hiding the first image I1, or displaying it on another reading screen overlaid on the reading screen S1 on which the first image I1 is displayed (obscuring the first image), etc.

[0053] Specifically, in the second mode, if the first image I1 is displayed on the reading screen S1, as shown in the upper part of Figure 6, when the control unit 21 receives an operation to display the second image I2 (the thumbnail T of the second image I2 is dragged and dropped, etc.), the control unit 21 displays only the second image I2, replacing the first image I1 that was displayed before the switch, as shown in the lower part of Figure 6. By doing so, even if the display control mode is the second mode (while maintaining the display rule that does not permit the display of the second image I2 when the first image I1 is displayed), the second image I2 can be displayed.

[0054] On the other hand, when the second image I2 is displayed on the reading screen S1 in the second mode and an operation to display the first image I1 is received, the control unit 21 hides the second image I2 and displays only the first image I1.

[0055] In this second process, the control unit 21 may be configured to display the second image together with the first image on the condition that the display is time-limited. The time-limited display includes, for example, a display that continues until the next operation is performed, a display that continues until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of display, and the like. In this way, it is possible to temporarily achieve a state similar to that of switching to the first mode without the need to operate the operation button. In addition, in the reception process, the control unit 21 may switch to the first mode and display the second image I2. Furthermore, when a predetermined disallowance operation is performed, the control unit 21 may be configured not to execute the reception process even if it receives an operation to display the second image in the second process.

[0056] The control unit 21 according to the present embodiment serves as a second means by executing the image display process (second process) described above.

[0057] <3. Effects> As described above, the control program according to this embodiment causes the control unit 21 (computer) of the display control device 2 to execute a first process of switching its own display control mode to the first mode or the second mode, and a second process of displaying the second image I2 under predetermined conditions when an operation to display the second image I2 is received in the second mode. This means that even if the doctor suddenly wants to compare the second image I2 (medical image of another subject) when the display control device 2 is in the second mode, there is no need to first switch the display control mode and then switch to the first mode. Therefore, the control program, the display control device 2 that stores this control program in the memory unit 22, or the system 100 that is equipped with this display control device 2 (display means) can reduce the user's effort when the second image I2 (medical image of another subject) is to be displayed in the second mode (a mode in which medical images of other subjects are not displayed).

[0058] <4. Modifications> It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0059] For example, in the above description, examples have been disclosed in which a hard disk or a semiconductor nonvolatile memory is used as a computer-readable medium for the control program according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Other computer-readable media may also be portable recording media such as a CD-ROM. Furthermore, a carrier wave may also be used as a medium for providing the data of the control program according to the present invention via a communication line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100 Medical Image Display System 1. Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) 2 Medical image display control device 21 Control section 22 Memory section 23 Communications Department 24 Display S1 reading screen R1 medical image display area I1 first image I2 Second Image R2 operation button display area B Operation buttons S2 selection screen T Thumbnail 25 Control section 3 Modalities N Communication Network

Claims

1. A control program to be executed by a computer of a medical image display control device that controls the display of medical images, The computer, a first process of switching its own display control mode to a first mode that allows, when displaying a first image that is a medical image of a first subject, to also display a second image that is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, or to a second mode that does not allow, when displaying the first image, to display the second image except under predetermined conditions; a second process of displaying the second image under the predetermined condition when an operation to display the second image is received in the second mode, or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Execute a control program for displaying the second image when the predetermined condition in the second process is a condition for not displaying the first image;

2. A control program to be executed by a computer of a medical image display control device that controls the display of medical images, The computer, a first process of switching its own display control mode to a first mode that allows, when displaying a first image that is a medical image of a first subject, to also display a second image that is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, or to a second mode that does not allow, when displaying the first image, to display the second image except under predetermined conditions; a second process of displaying the second image under the predetermined condition when an operation to display the second image is received in the second mode, or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Execute A control program characterized in that, in the second processing, when the predetermined condition is a condition for time-limited display, the second image is displayed together with the first image.

3. 3. The control program according to claim 1, wherein the operation for displaying the second image is a display operation performed on a thumbnail of the second image.

4. 4. The control program according to claim 3, wherein the display operation performed on the thumbnail of the second image is a drag-and-drop or a click.

5. A medical image display control device that controls the display of medical images, a first means for switching its own display control mode to a first mode that allows, when a first image that is a medical image of a first subject is displayed, to simultaneously display a second image that is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, or to a second mode that does not allow, when the first image is displayed, to display the second image except under a predetermined condition; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with The medical image display control device, characterized in that the second means displays the second image when the predetermined condition is a condition that prevents the first image from being displayed.

6. A medical image display control device that controls the display of medical images, a first means for switching its own display control mode to a first mode that allows, when a first image that is a medical image of a first subject is displayed, to simultaneously display a second image that is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, or to a second mode that does not allow, when the first image is displayed, to display the second image except under a predetermined condition; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with The medical image display control device is characterized in that the second means displays the second image together with the first image when the predetermined condition is a condition for time-limited display.

7. 7. The medical image display control device according to claim 5, wherein the operation to display the second image is an operation performed on a thumbnail of the second image.

8. 8. The medical image display control device according to claim 7, wherein the operation performed on the thumbnail of the second image is drag and drop or click.

9. A medical image display system that controls the display of medical images, a storage means for storing image data of the medical image; a display means for displaying the medical image; a first means for switching its own display control mode to a first mode that allows, when a first image that is a medical image of a first subject is displayed, to simultaneously display a second image that is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, or to a second mode that does not allow, when the first image is displayed, to display the second image except under a predetermined condition; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with The medical image display system is characterized in that the second means displays the second image when the predetermined condition is a condition that prevents the first image from being displayed.

10. A medical image display system that controls the display of medical images, a storage means for storing image data of the medical image; a display means for displaying the medical image; a first means for switching its own display control mode to a first mode that allows, when a first image that is a medical image of a first subject is displayed, to simultaneously display a second image that is a medical image of a second subject different from the first subject, or to a second mode that does not allow, when the first image is displayed, to display the second image except under a predetermined condition; a second means for, when receiving an operation to display the second image in the second mode, displaying the second image under the predetermined condition or switching to the first mode and displaying the second image; Equipped with A medical image display system, characterized in that the second means displays the second image together with the first image when the predetermined condition is a condition for time-limited display.

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