Method and device for displaying image and ct system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to an image display method, an image display device, and a CT (Computed Tomography) device. More specifically, the present invention provides an image display method, an image display device, and a CT that can easily grasp the state of the inside of an object in the depth direction. Regarding the device.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state in which a patient K with a needle N inserted in the body is photographed with a conventional CT device. As shown in FIG. 15 (a), patient K is photographed on two slice planes SA and SB adjacent to each other in the body axis direction, and tomographic images GA and GB are generated as shown in FIG. 15 (b). .. Then, as shown in (c) of FIG. 15, the composite image GM'generated by averaging the CT values of the tomographic images GA and GB is displayed in gray scale. In the composite image GM', the image A of the needle N in the tomographic image GA and the image M'of the needle N in which the image B of the needle N in the tomographic image GB is combined are displayed.

【0003】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the above composite image GM', it is difficult to know the state of the patient K in the depth direction (body axis direction), so it is difficult to correctly grasp the insertion direction and the insertion state of the needle N from the image M'of the needle N. There is a problem. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image display method, an image display device, and a CT device that can easily grasp the state of the inside of an object in the depth direction.

【0004】

[Means for solving problems]

From the first aspect, the present invention generates a composite image of a plurality of adjacent tomographic images or a plurality of overlapping tomographic images, displays the composite image on the screen in grayscale, and displays a region in the composite image. Of these, an image display method characterized by coloring a region having a large difference in pixel values between the tomographic images is provided. In the above configuration, it is preferable that the colors to be colored differ according to the magnitude relationship of the pixel values of each tomographic image. In the image display method from the first viewpoint, of the regions in the composite image displayed in grayscale, the regions having a large difference in pixel values between the tomographic images are colored, so that the slice plane corresponding to each tomographic image is colored. It is possible to easily grasp the state in the depth direction of the portion corresponding to the high pixel value existing over the plurality of slice planes while changing the position within (in the direction inclined with respect to the slice plane). In particular, when the colors to be colored are different according to the magnitude relationship of the pixel values of each tomographic image, the slice surface through which the high pixel value corresponding portion passes can be easily identified from the display color, so that the high pixel value corresponding portion It is possible to accurately grasp the traveling direction and traveling state of.

【0005】

From the second aspect, in the image display method having the above configuration, the present invention sets the saturation of the colored region in the composite image according to the difference in pixel values between the tomographic images or the pixel values of the tomographic images. Provided is an image display method characterized by changing. In the image display method from the second viewpoint, the saturation of the colored region in the composite image is changed according to the difference in the pixel values between the tomographic images or the pixel values of the tomographic images, so that the height in each slice plane is high. It is possible to reflect the situation of the portion corresponding to the pixel value in the density of the display color, and it becomes easy to intuitively grasp the state of the portion corresponding to the high pixel value in the depth direction.

【0006】

From the third viewpoint, the present invention comprises a composite image generation means for generating a composite image of a plurality of adjacent tomographic images or a plurality of overlapping tomographic images, and a composite image for displaying the composite image on a screen in gray scale. Provided is an image display device including a display means and a composite image coloring means for coloring a region having a large difference in pixel values between the tomographic images among the regions in the composite image. In the image display device based on the third viewpoint, the image display method based on the first viewpoint can be suitably carried out, and while changing the position in the slice plane corresponding to each tomographic image (direction inclined with respect to the slice plane). It is possible to easily grasp the state in the depth direction of the portion corresponding to the high pixel value existing over a plurality of slice planes.

【0007】

From the fourth aspect, in the image display device having the above configuration, the present invention changes the saturation of the colored region in the composite image according to the difference in the pixel values between the faults or the pixel values of the tom images. It is possible to provide an image display device characterized by having a saturation adjusting means. In the image display device from the fourth viewpoint, the image display method from the second viewpoint can be preferably implemented, and the situation of the portion corresponding to the high pixel value in each slice plane can be reflected in the density of the display color. This makes it possible to intuitively grasp the state of the portion corresponding to the high pixel value in the depth direction.

【0008】

From the fifth aspect, the present invention generates a tomographic image generation means for photographing a subject on adjacent slice planes or overlapping slice planes to generate a plurality of tomographic images, and a composite image of the plurality of tomographic images. A composite image generation means for displaying the composite image, a composite image display means for displaying the composite image on the screen in gray scale, and a composite for coloring a region having a large difference in CT values between the tomographic images in the composite image. Provided is a CT apparatus characterized in that it is provided with an image coloring means. In the above configuration, it is preferable that the colors to be colored differ according to the magnitude relationship of the CT values of each tomographic image. In the CT apparatus according to the fifth aspect, among the regions in the composite image displayed in grayscale, the regions having a large difference in CT values between the tomographic images are colored, so that the slice planes corresponding to the tomographic images are colored. It is possible to easily grasp the state in the depth direction of the portion corresponding to the high CT value existing over a plurality of slice surfaces (in the direction inclined with respect to the slice surface) while changing the position in. In particular, when the colors to be colored are different according to the magnitude relationship of the CT values of each tomographic image, the slice surface through which the high CT value corresponding portion passes can be easily identified from the display color, so that the high CT value corresponding portion can be easily identified. It is possible to accurately grasp the traveling direction and traveling condition of the vehicle.

【0009】

From the sixth aspect, in the CT apparatus having the above configuration, the present invention changes the saturation of the colored region in the composite image according to the difference in CT values between the tomographic images or the CT value of each tomographic image. Provided is a CT apparatus characterized in that it is provided with a saturation adjusting means. In the CT apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the saturation of the colored region in the composite image is changed according to the difference in the CT value between the tomographic images or the CT value of each tomographic image, so that the high CT in each slice plane is changed. It becomes possible to reflect the situation of the value corresponding portion in the density of the display color, and it becomes easy to intuitively grasp the state of the high CT value corresponding portion in the depth direction.

【0010】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments of the invention shown in the figure. It should be noted that this does not limit the present invention. -First embodiment- FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a CT apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The CT device 100 includes a scanner device 1, a processing device 2, a display device 3, and an input device 4. The scanner device 1 simultaneously scans patient K on two slice planes (dual slices) adjacent to each other in the body axis direction, and collects scan data. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 21 were narrowed down by the collimator 22 to the flat A-side X-ray beam IA and the B-side X-ray beam IB, and passed through the patient K. Each X-ray beam is detected by the detector array 23 consisting of the A-side detector row 23A and the B-side detector row 23B, and the scan data corresponding to the slice planes SA and SB is collected. The processing device 2 includes a data acquisition unit 2a that acquires scan data from the scanner device 1, an image reconstruction unit 2b that performs image reconstruction processing using the scan data to generate a tomographic image, and each tomographic image. The composite image generation unit 2c that generates a composite image by averaging the CT values (which may be pixel values obtained by window processing the CT values) and the CT value between the tomographic images in the region in the composite image. It includes a composite image coloring unit 2d that colors a region having a large difference in CT values (for example, a region having a difference in CT values of 1000 or more). The display device 3 displays the composite image generated by the composite image generation unit 2c on a gray scale (monochrome), or displays the composite image colored by the composite image coloring unit 2d. It also displays each tomographic image and various information. The input device 4 receives information input by the operator.

【0011】

Next, the operation of the CT device 100 will be described. For convenience of explanation, a needle N is inserted into the body of patient K in order to perform CT fluorography. Further, when the tomographic image of the slice plane SA is GA and the tomographic image of the slice plane SB is GB, the composite image coloring portion 2d is the CT value of the tomographic image GA in the region in the composite image >> fault. The area of the CT value of the image GB (hereinafter, the area satisfying condition 1) is colored "blue", and the CT value of the tomographic image GA << the area of the CT value of the tomographic image GB (hereinafter, the area satisfying condition 2) is ". It shall be colored "red". (1) As shown in (a) of Fig. 3, just before the tip of the needle N enters the slice plane SA, tomographic images GA and GB are generated as shown in (b) and (c) of Fig. 3. Will be done. There are no regions with extremely different CT values. Therefore, as shown in (d) of FIG. 3, the composite image GM is displayed only in gray scale. (2) As shown in (a) of FIG. 4, when the tip of the needle N enters the slice plane SA, an image A of the needle N is generated in the tomographic image GA as shown in (b) of FIG. Will be done. The CT value in the area of image A of needle N is extremely large (for example, 2000 or more). As shown in (c) of FIG. 4, the tomographic image GB does not include the image of the needle N. The image A of the needle N is a region satisfying the above condition 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4D, the image M1 of the needle N that has entered the slice surface SA in the region in the composite image GM is displayed in blue. (3) As shown in (a) of FIG. 5, when the tip of the needle N enters the slice surface SB, as shown in (b) of FIG. 5, the portion penetrating the slice surface SA in the tomographic image GA. There is an image A'of the needle N of. Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), there is an image B of the needle N in the portion of the tomographic image GB that has entered the slice plane SB. The image A'of the needle N is the region satisfying the above condition 1, and the image B of the needle N is the region satisfying the above condition 2. Therefore, as shown in (d) of FIG. 5, in the region in the composite image GM, the image M1'of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SA is displayed in "blue", and the needle N entering the slice surface SB is displayed. Image M2 is displayed in "red".

【0012】

According to the above CT apparatus 100, among the regions in the composite image displayed in grayscale, the region of the CT value of the tomographic image GA >> the CT value of the tomographic image GB is colored "blue", and the area of the tomographic image GA is colored. CT value << Since the area of the CT value of the tomographic image GB is colored "red", the needle N inserted into the body of patient K can be displayed in different colors for each slice surface SA and SB, and the needle N can be displayed. It is possible to easily grasp the insertion direction and the insertion status of. In addition, by moving the slice surface in the body axis direction while observing the composite image GM and stopping when the tip of the image of the needle N is displayed in red, the slice surface SA is accurately aligned with the tip of the needle N. (By stopping when the tip of the image of the needle N is displayed in blue, the slice surface SB can be accurately aligned with the tip of the needle N).

【0013】

-Second embodiment- As shown in FIG. 6, in the CT apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, patient K is scanned by three slice planes SA, SB, and SC adjacent to each other in the body axis direction, and a tomography corresponding to each slice plane is performed. Generate images GA, GB, GC. In addition, among the regions in the composite image obtained by averaging the CT values of each tomographic image GA, GB, and GC, the CT value of the tomographic image GA >> the CT value of the tomographic image GB and the CT value of the tomographic image GA >> the CT of the tomographic image GC The value area (hereinafter, the area that satisfies condition 3) is colored "blue", and the CT value of the tomographic image GB >> the CT value of the tomographic image GA and the CT value of the tomographic image GB >> the CT value area of the tomographic image GC ( Below, the area that satisfies condition 4 is colored "green", and the area of CT value of tomographic image GC >> CT value of tomographic image GA and CT value of tomographic image GC >> CT value of tomographic image GB (hereinafter, condition 5) The area that satisfies) is colored "red".

【0014】

(1) As shown in (a) of FIG. 7, when the tip of the needle N enters the slice plane SA, the image of the needle N (not shown) in the tomographic image GA becomes a region satisfying the above condition 3. Become. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the image M1 of the needle N that has entered the slice surface SA in the region in the composite image GM is displayed in blue. (2) As shown in (a) of FIG. 8, when the tip of the needle N enters the slice plane SB, the image of the needle N in the tomographic image GA becomes a region satisfying the above condition 3, and the tomographic image GB The image of the needle N inside is the region that satisfies the above condition 4. Therefore, as shown in (b) of FIG. 8, in the region in the composite image GM, the image M1'of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SA is displayed in "blue", and the needle N entering the slice surface SB is displayed. Image M2 is displayed in "green". (3) As shown in (a) of FIG. 9, when the tip of the needle N enters the slice plane SC, the image of the needle N in the tomographic image GA becomes a region satisfying the above condition 3, and the tomographic image GB The image of the needle N inside is a region satisfying the above condition 4, and the image of the needle N in the tomographic image GC is a region satisfying the above condition 5. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the image M1'of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SA is displayed in "blue" in the region in the composite image GM, and the image of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SB is displayed. M2'is displayed in "green", and the image M3 of the needle N in the slice surface SC is displayed in "red".

【0015】

According to the above CT device, the needle N inserted into the body of the patient K is displayed in three colors (blue, green, red) for each slice surface SA, SB, and SC. The insertion direction and insertion status can be grasped more easily.

【0016】

In the second embodiment, the composite image was generated using the tomographic images GA, GB, and GC corresponding to the three slice planes SA, SB, and SC, but the tomographic images taken with four or more slice planes were used. May be used to generate a composite image. In this case, it is preferable to color the region in the composite image where the difference in pixel values between the tomographic images is large with a different color for each tomographic image.

【0017】

-Third embodiment- FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a CT apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The CT device 300 includes a scanner device 1a, a processing device 20, a display device 3, and an input device 4. As shown in FIG. 11, the scanner device 1a simultaneously scans patient K on two slice planes (dual slices) adjacent to the body axis and having an overlapping portion V, and collects scan data. The processing device 20 includes a data acquisition unit 2a that acquires scan data from the scanner device 1, an image reconstruction unit 2b that performs image reconstruction processing using the scan data to generate a tomographic image, and each tomographic image. The composite image generation unit 2c that generates a composite image by averaging the CT values, the composite image coloring unit 2d that colors the region in the composite image where the difference in CT values between the tomographic images is large, and the above. It includes a saturation adjustment unit 2e that changes the saturation of the colored region in the composite image according to the difference in the CT values of each tom image (or the CT value of each tom image).

【0018】

Next, the operation of the CT device 300 will be described. However, under the same conditions as in the first embodiment (conditions 1 and 2), the composite image coloring portion 2d includes the CT value of the tomographic image GA of the slice surface SA and the CT value of the tomographic image GA in the composite image. It is assumed that the region where the difference in CT values of the tomographic image GB of the slice surface SB is large is colored. (1) As shown in (a) of FIG. 12, when the tip of the needle N enters the slice plane SA, the image of the needle N (not shown) in the tomographic image GA becomes a region satisfying the above condition 1. Become. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the image M1 of the needle N that has entered the slice surface SA in the region in the composite image GM is displayed in blue. However, immediately after the tip of the needle N enters the slice surface SA, the occupation ratio of the needle N to the slice surface SA is relatively small, so the CT values of the tomographic images GA and GB in the region of the image of the needle N The difference (or CT value of the tomographic image GA) is relatively small and is displayed in "pale blue". As the needle N is inserted deeper, the proportion of the needle N in the slice surface SA becomes relatively large, and the saturation of "blue" increases (displays darker). (2) As shown in (a) of FIG. 13, when the tip of the needle N enters the overlapping portion V, the image of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SA other than the overlapping portion V satisfies the above condition 1. It becomes an area. Further, in the overlap portion V, the CT value of the needle N becomes equal in the tomographic image GA and the tomographic image GB. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the image M1'of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SA other than the overlapping portion V in the region in the composite image GM is displayed in "dark blue", and the above. The image M2 of the needle N in the overlap part V is displayed on the clay scale. (3) As shown in (a) of FIG. 14, when the tip of the needle N enters the slice surface SB, the region where the image of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SA other than the overlapping portion V satisfies the above condition 1. It becomes. Further, in the overlap portion V, the CT value of the needle N becomes equal in the tomographic image GA and the tomographic image GB. Further, the image of the needle N entering the slice surface SB other than the overlap portion V is a region satisfying the above condition 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14 (b), the image M1'of the needle N penetrating the slice surface SA other than the overlapping portion V in the region in the composite image GM is displayed in "dark blue", and the above. The image M2'of the needle N penetrating the overlapping part V is displayed on a clay scale, and the image M3 of the needle N entering the slice surface SB other than the overlapping part V is "red" with a darkness corresponding to the insertion depth. Is displayed. However, the closer to the tip of the needle N, the smaller the diameter and the occupancy ratio of the slice surface SB gradually becomes smaller. Therefore, the tip side of the image M3 of the needle N is displayed lightly and the base end side is displayed dark. To.

【0019】

According to the above CT device 300, the saturation of the colored region in the composite image is changed according to the difference between the CT values of the tomographic images GA and GB or the CT values of the tomographic images GA and GB. The depth of the display color can be changed according to the insertion depth, etc., making it easier to intuitively grasp the insertion direction and insertion status of the needle N.

【0020】

The above embodiment may be changed as follows. (1) A composite image represented only in grayscale and a composite image in which a region having a large difference in CT values between tomographic images is colored may be displayed alternately at regular intervals (for example, every second). In this case, the observer can grasp the situation inside the patient K from the former composite image, and can appropriately grasp the needle insertion direction and the like from the latter composite image. (2) Display a composite image represented only in grayscale, or display a composite image in which a region with a large difference in CT values between tomographic images is colored, or both images are alternately displayed as in (1) above. The display may be switched according to the instruction of the operator. In this case, an image suitable for image interpretation can be arbitrarily selected, and the diagnostic efficiency can be further improved. (3) Even if the width of the collimator (22 in FIG. 1) is changed to change the slice thickness, the saturation may be adjusted so that the hue of the colored region in the composite image is not affected. In this case, it is possible to prevent the impression received from the image from changing depending on the width of the slice thickness.

【0021】

[Effect of the invention]

According to the image display method, the image display device, and the CT device of the present invention, the state of the high pixel value equivalent portion (or the high CT value equivalent portion) inside the object in the depth direction can be easily grasped. It is possible to correctly recognize the insertion direction and insertion state of an insert (for example, a needle) inserted inside an object. In particular, it is useful for a multi-slice type CT apparatus capable of simultaneously capturing tomographic images of a plurality of adjacent or overlapping slice planes.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram which shows the CT apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is explanatory drawing which shows the imaging state by the CT apparatus of FIG.

[Fig. 3]

In the first embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state just before the needle enters a slice plane SA, the tomographic image, and the composite image.

[Fig. 4]

In the first embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the needle entered the slice plane SA, the tomographic image, and the composite image.

[Fig. 5]

In the first embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the needle entered the slice plane SB, the tomographic image, and the composite image.

[Fig. 6]

It is explanatory drawing which shows the slice plane of the CT apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 7]

In the second embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the needle entered the slice plane SA, and the composite image.

[Fig. 8]

In the second embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the needle entered the slice plane SB, and the composite image.

[Fig. 9]

In the second embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the needle entered the slice plane SC, and the composite image.

[Fig. 10]

It is a block diagram which shows the CT apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 11]

It is explanatory drawing which shows the slice plane in the CT apparatus of FIG.

[Fig. 12]

In the third embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the needle entered the slice plane SA, and the composite image.

[Fig. 13]

In the third embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the needle is in the overlap part and the composite image.

[Fig. 14]

In the third embodiment, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state just before the needle enters a slice plane SB, and the composite image.

[Fig. 15]

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the imaging state, a tomographic image, and a composite image by a conventional CT apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

100,300 CT device 1 Scanner device 2 Processing equipment 2a Data acquisition department 2b Image reconstruction section 2c Composite image generator 2d composite image coloring part 2e Saturation adjustment section 3 Display device 4 Input device K patient