X-ray photo-taking system, X-ray photo-taken image display method, and storage medium

• US 6,542,579 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takasawa, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Song, Hoon K.
• Application Number:
  US09/404,837
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 378/165, 378/162, 378/8, 378/4
• US Class Current: 378/165
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0079 Medical imaging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

This invention provides an X-ray photo-taking system, X-ray photo-taken image display method, and storage medium by which an operator can readily understand the position (right, left, or center) of a photo-taking region of an object to be examined, the X-ray irradiation direction, and the photo-taking attitude only by monitoring an X-ray image, and by which text information is narrowed down to patient information and photo-taking information to make these pieces of information easy to see. The system includes an information capture portion for symbolizing the direction of an object to be examined during photo-taking, the photo-taking direction, the position of a photo-taking region, and the photo-taking attitude, a mark embedding portion for embedding a mark in a portion of an image, a display control portion for displaying the X-ray photo-taken image in which the mark is embedded by the mark embedding portion, and a transmission portion for transmitting the X-ray photo-taken image in which the mark is embedded by the mark embedding portion to a network.

Claims

1. A radiographic apparatus for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object; and

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph,

wherein said symbol embedding means inverts the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

information input means for inputting at least one of radiographic conditions, image processing parameters, object information for identifying the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said symbol embedding means inverts the symbol laterally and embeds a laterally inverted symbol.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means represents at least one of a radiographing direction relative to the object, an attitude of the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting means for selecting a radiographing mode; and

relating means for relating the symbol to be obtained by said symbolizing means to the mode selected by said selecting means,

wherein said symbolizing means symbolizes the information on the basis of the mode selected by said selecting means and the relation related by said relating means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

image inverting means for inverting the radiograph in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said symbol embedding means inverts the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in accordance with the inversion of the radiograph by said image inverting means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

image formatting means for performing formatting such that a plurality of radiographs, in each of which a symbol is embedded by said symbol embedding means, are laid out in a predetermined format.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a symbol embedding means is provided for each type of output medium.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

image transmitting means for transmitting a radiograph in which the symbol has been embedded to image output means or an image server.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image output means or the image server is connected via a network.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to radiography of the object can be input by at least one of reading a magnetic card, reading a bar code, receiving the information via a network linked to a hospital information system, and receiving the information via an operation portion.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input information or the set information includes at lease one of a region of the object to be radiographed, a radiographing direction relative to the object, and independently input or preset inversion/non-inversion selection information.

14. A radiographic apparatus for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph; and

inversion/non-inversion determining means for determining whether the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means is to be inverted or not, in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the input information or the set information includes at least one of a region of the object to be radiographed, a radiographing direction relative to the object, and independently input or preset inversion/non-inversion selection information.

16. A radiographic apparatus for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph;

first extracting means for extracting an irradiation field of the radiograph; and

second extracting means for extracting a through region of the radiograph which is where no object exists within a region of the irradiation field,

wherein said symbol embedding means embeds the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in the through region.

17. A radiographic apparatus for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph; and

embedding setting means for setting at least one of a position where the symbol is to be embedded in the radiograph, a shape and size of the symbol, and for determining whether the symbol is to be inverted or not,

wherein said symbol embedding means embeds the symbol based on information set or determined by said embedding setting means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

embedding changing means for changing the information set or as determined by said embedding setting means.

19. A radiographic apparatus for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object, wherein a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means represents at least one of a radiographic direction relative to the object, an attitude of the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed;

symbol embedding means for embedding the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph; and

image formatting means for performing formatting such that a plurality of radiographs, in each of which a symbol is embedded by said symbol embedding means, are laid out in a format in accordance with a combination of symbols to be embedded by said symbol embedding means.

20. An image taking apparatus for acquiring an image of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to image taking of the object; and

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the image,

wherein said symbol embedding means inverts the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

21. A method applied to a radiographic apparatus for acquiring a radiographic image of an object to be examined, comprising:

a symbolizing step of symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object; and

a symbol embedding step of embedding a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in a portion of the radiographic image,

wherein, in said symbol embedding step, the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step is inverted in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising:

an information input step of inputting at least one of radiographic conditions, image processing parameters, object information for identifying the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein said symbol embedding step comprises inverting the symbol laterally and embedding a laterally inverted symbol.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step represents at least one of a radiographing direction relative to the object, an attitude of the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed.

25. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

a selecting step of selecting a radiographing mode; and

a relating step of relating the symbol to be obtained in said symbolizing step to the mode selected in said selecting step,

wherein, in said symbolizing step, the information is symbolized on the basis of the mode selected in said selecting step and the relation related in said relating step.

26. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

an image inverting step of inverting the radiograph in accordance with input information or set information.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the symbol embedding step comprises inverting the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in accordance with the inversion of the radiograph in said image inverting step.

28. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

an image formatting step of performing formatting such that a plurality of radiographs, in each of which a symbol is embedded in said symbol embedding step, are laid out in a predetermined format on the same display medium.

29. A method according to claim 21, wherein the symbol embedding step is provided for each type of output medium.

30. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

an image transmission step of transmitting a radiograph in which the symbol has been embedded to image output means or an image server.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the image output means or the image server is connected via a network.

32. A method according to claim 21, wherein the information pertaining to radiography of the object can be input by at least one of reading a magnetic card, reading a bar code, receiving the information via a network linked to a hospital information system, and receiving the information via an operation portion.

33. A method of acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

a symbolizing step of symbolizing information pertaining to the radiography of the object;

an embedding step of embedding a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in a portion of the radiograph; and

an inversion/non-inversion determination step of determining whether the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step is to be inverted or not, in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

34. A method of acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

a symbolizing step of symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

a symbol embedding step of embedding a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in a portion of the radiograph;

a first extraction step of extracting an irradiation field of the radiograph; and

a second extraction step of extracting a through region of the radiograph which is where no object exists within a region of the irradiation field,

wherein the symbol embedding step comprises embedding the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in the through region.

35. A method of acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

a symbolizing step of symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

a symbol embedding step of embedding a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in a portion of the radiograph; and

an embedding setting step of setting at least one of a position where the symbol is to be embedded in the radiograph, a shape and size of the symbol, and for determining whether the symbol is to be inverted or not,

wherein said symbol embedding step comprises embedding the symbol based on information set or determined in said embedding setting step.

36. A method according to claim 35, further comprising:

an embedding changing step of changing the information set or as determined in said embedding setting step.

37. A method of acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

a symbolizing step of symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object, wherein a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step represents at least one of a radiographing direction relative to the object, an attitude of the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed;

a symbol embedding step of embedding the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in a portion of the radiograph; and

an image formatting step of performing formatting such that a plurality of radiographs, in each of which a symbol is embedded in said symbol embedding step, are laid out in a format in accordance with a combination of symbols to be embedded in said symbol embedding step.

38. An image display method applied to an image taking system for acquiring an image of an object to be examined, comprising:

a symbolizing step of symbolizing information pertaining to image taking of the object, wherein a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step represents at least one of a radiographing direction relative to the object, an attitude of the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed; and

a symbol embedding step of embedding a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step by embedding the symbol in a portion of the image,

wherein, in said symbol embedding step, the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step is inverted in accordance with at least one input information and set information.

39. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a method applied to a radiographic apparatus for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, the method comprising:

a symbolizing step of symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object; and

a symbol embedding step of embedding a symbol obtained in said symbolizing step in a portion of the radiographic image,

wherein, in said symbol embedding step, the symbol obtained in said symbolizing step is inverted in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

40. A radiographic system for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, the system comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object; and

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph,

wherein said symbol embedding means inverts the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

41. A radiographic system for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, the system comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph; and

inversion/non-inversion determining means for determining whether the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means is to be inverted or not, in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.

42. A radiographic system for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph;

first extracting means for extracting an irradiation field of the radiograph; and

second extracting means for extracting a through region of the radiograph which is where no object exists within a region of the irradiation field,

wherein said symbol embedding means embeds the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in the through region.

43. A radiographic system for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object;

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph; and

embedding setting means for setting at least one of a position where the symbol is to be embedded in the radiograph, a shape and a size of the symbol, and for determining whether the symbol is to be inverted or not,

wherein said symbol embedding means embeds the symbol based on information set or determined by said embedding setting means.

44. A radiographic system for acquiring a radiograph of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to radiography of the object, wherein a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means represents at least one of a radiographing direction relative to the object, an attitude of the object, and a region of the object to be radiographed;

symbol embedding means for embedding the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in a portion of the radiograph; and

image formatting means for performing formatting such that a plurality of radiographs, in each of which a symbol is embedded by said symbol embedding means, are laid out in a format in accordance with a combination of symbols to be embedded by said symbol embedding means.

45. An image taking system for acquiring an image of an object to be examined, comprising:

symbolizing means for symbolizing information pertaining to image taking of the object; and

symbol embedding means for embedding a symbol obtained by said symbolizing means by embedding the symbol in a portion of the image,

wherein said symbol embedding means inverts the symbol obtained by said symbolizing means in accordance with at least one of input information and set information.