Medical image processing device, method, and program

Abstract

The present invention provides a medical image processing apparatus, method and program that may present a user with information of the position and classified class of an area of interest detected from time-series medical images, in an easy-to-understand manner and in a manner not disturbing the user's observation. In this medical image processing apparatus including a processor, the processor sequentially obtains time-series medical images, and sequentially displays the obtained medical images on a display unit. The processor also performs processes of obtaining information about the position of an area of interest in the medical images on the basis of the obtained medical images and classifying the area of interest as one of a plurality of classes, and superimposes class information indicating the classified class on a position on the area of interest in the medical images displayed on the display unit. The processor also changes the relative position of the superimposed class information for the area of interest according to the time elapsed since the area of interest was recognized.

Claims

1. In a medical image processing device equipped with a processor, The aforementioned processor, Medical image acquisition processing that sequentially acquires medical images in time series, A first display control that sequentially displays the medical images on the display unit, A process to recognize information regarding the location of a region of interest within a medical image based on the medical images acquired sequentially, A process of classifying the region of interest into one of several classes based on the medical images acquired sequentially, A second display control is performed to superimpose the class information indicating the classified class onto the location of the area of ​​interest in the medical image displayed on the display unit. The second display control modifies the relative position of the class information with respect to the superimposed area of ​​interest, changing its position within the medical image from a position superimposed on the area of ​​interest to a position outside the area of ​​interest, according to the elapsed time since the area of ​​interest was recognized. Medical image processing equipment.

2. The second display control fixes the relative position of the class information indicating one or more specific classes among the plurality of classes with respect to the area of ​​interest. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The second display control changes the manner of the change according to the classified class when changing the relative position of the class information according to the elapsed time. A medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The second display control changes the relative position of the class information according to the elapsed time, and also changes the display format of the class information to another display format. A medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The class information includes at least one of the following: text information, markers, and graphics that indicate the classified class. A medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The second display control causes the display unit to display emphasis information that highlights the area of ​​interest, and fixes the relative position of the emphasis information with respect to the area of ​​interest. A medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The aforementioned processor performs a reception process to receive a freeze command from the user operation unit. When the first display control receives the freeze instruction, it performs a process to switch the sequential display of the medical images on the display unit to a fixed display of a single medical image. The second display control fixes the relative position of the class information with respect to the area of ​​interest during the period when the display is switched to the fixed display. A medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The aforementioned medical image is an ultrasound image. A medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Steps include sequentially acquiring medical images in chronological order, A first display control step in which the medical images are sequentially displayed on the display unit, The steps include: recognizing information regarding the location of a region of interest within a medical image based on the medical images acquired sequentially; The steps include classifying the region of interest into one of several classes based on the medical images acquired sequentially, The second display control step includes superimposing the class information indicating the classified class onto the location of the area of ​​interest in the medical image displayed on the display unit, The processor executes the processing for each step. The second display control step involves changing the relative position of the class information with respect to the superimposed area of ​​interest, from a position within the medical image superimposed on the area of ​​interest to a position outside the area of ​​interest, according to the elapsed time since the area of ​​interest was recognized. Medical image processing methods.

10. The second display control step fixes the relative position of the class information indicating one or more specific classes among the plurality of classes with respect to the area of ​​interest. The medical image processing method according to claim 9.

11. The second display control step changes the manner of the change according to the classified class when changing the relative position of the class information according to the elapsed time. The medical image processing method according to claim 9 or 10.

12. The second display control step changes the relative position of the class information according to the elapsed time, and also changes the display format of the class information to another display format. A medical image processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

13. The class information includes at least one of the following: text information, markers, and graphics that indicate the classified class. A medical image processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 12.

14. The second display control step involves causing the display unit to display emphasis information that highlights the area of ​​interest, and fixing the relative position of the emphasis information with respect to the area of ​​interest. A medical image processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 13.

15. This includes a step of receiving a freeze command from the user control unit, The first display control step, upon receiving the freeze instruction, switches the sequential display of the medical images on the display unit to a fixed display of a single medical image. The second display control step fixes the relative position of the class information with respect to the area of ​​interest during the period when the display is switched to the fixed display. A medical image processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 14.

16. The aforementioned medical image is an ultrasound image. A medical image processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 15.

17. A medical image processing program that causes the processor to perform the processing of each step in the medical image processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 16.

18. A non-temporary and computer-readable recording medium on which the program described in claim 17 is recorded.

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