Image understanding aiding system, image position matching apparatus, and image output device

1. An image understanding aiding system, comprising an image position matching apparatus and an image output device,

the image position matching apparatus operating such that:

the image position matching apparatus receives a plurality of original images of objects, which original images are successively sent from a modality for forming the original images,

the image position matching apparatus performs position matching processing on two original images among the received original images, which two original images are the original images of a pair of objects to be compared with each other and have been recorded at an identical period, in cases where the two original images are to be outputted such that the two original images are located in a line, the position matching processing comprising translation of at least either one of the two original images in a direction normal to the direction along which the two original images are located in a line, such that positions of reference areas in the two original images, which positions are taken with respect to the normal direction, align with each other, and

the image position matching apparatus supplies information, which represents a translation quantity for aligning the positions of the reference areas in the two original images with each other, and the two original images into the image output device,

the image output device operating such that:

the image output device aligns the positions of the reference areas in the two original images with each other in accordance with the information, which represents the translation quantity, and the two original images, the information and the two original images having been received from the image position matching apparatus, and

the image output device outputs the two aligned images, whose reference areas have been aligned with each other, such that the two aligned images are located in a line.

2. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 1 wherein the image position matching apparatus selectively supplies a set of the information, which represents the translation quantity, and the two original images, and/or a set of position matching-processed images, which have been obtained from the position matching processing, into the image output device in accordance with a request of the image output device,

the image output device aligns the positions of the reference areas in the two original images with each other in accordance with the set of the information, which represents the translation quantity, and the two original images, or in accordance with the set of the position matching-processed images, the set of the information and the two original images or the set of the position matching-processed images having been received from the image position matching apparatus, and

the image output device outputs the two aligned images, whose reference areas have been aligned with each other, such that the two aligned images are located in a line.

3. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 1 wherein the position matching processing performed by the image position matching apparatus comprises automatic position matching processing, in which the reference area in at least either one of the two original images is detected, and in which the processing for aligning the position of the detected reference area is performed automatically.

4. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 2 wherein the position matching processing performed by the image position matching apparatus comprises automatic position matching processing, in which the reference area in at least either one of the two original images is detected, and in which the processing for aligning the position of the detected reference area is performed automatically.

5. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 3 wherein the position matching processing performed by the image position matching apparatus further comprises correction processing for manually correcting the result of the automatic position matching processing.

6. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 4 wherein the position matching processing performed by the image position matching apparatus further comprises correction processing for manually correcting the result of the automatic position matching processing.

7. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 1 wherein the image position matching apparatus constitutes part of a quality assurance workstation for receiving the plurality of the original images of the objects, which original images are successively sent from the modality for forming the original images, and performing normalization processing, image quality checking, or the like, on the received original images.

8. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 1 wherein the pair of the objects to be compared with each other are right and left breasts of a female, and each of the reference areas in the two original images is a pattern of a nipple, which is an end point of breastry glands.

9. An image position matching apparatus, comprising:

i) receiving means for receiving a plurality of original images of objects, which original images are successively sent from a modality for forming the original images,

ii) position matching processing means for performing position matching processing on two original images among the received original images, which two original images are the original images of a pair of objects to be compared with each other and have been recorded at an identical period, in cases where the two original images are to be outputted such that the two original images are located in a line, the position matching processing comprising translation of at least either one of the two original images in a direction normal to the direction along which the two original images are located in a line, such that positions of reference areas in the two original images, which positions are taken with respect to the normal direction, align with each other,

the position matching processing means forming information, which represents a translation quantity for aligning the positions of the reference areas in the two original images with each other, with the position matching processing, and

iii) supplying means for supplying the information, which represents the translation quantity for aligning the positions of the reference areas in the two original images with each other, and the two original images into a predetermined external device.

10. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the position matching processing means forms the information, which represents the translation quantity, and position matching-processed images, which have been obtained from the position matching processing, and

the supplying means selectively supplies a set of the information, which represents the translation quantity, and the two original images, and/or a set of the position matching-processed images into the external device in accordance with a request of the external device.

11. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the position matching processing means selectively forms the information, which represents the translation quantity, and/or position matching-processed images, which have been obtained from the position matching processing, in accordance with a request of the external device, and

the supplying means supplies a set of the information, which represents the translation quantity, and the two original images, and/or a set of the position matching-processed images into the external device.

12. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the position matching processing means comprises an automatic position matching processing section, in which the reference area in at least either one of the two original images is detected, and in which the processing for aligning the position of the detected reference area is performed automatically.

13. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the position matching processing means comprises an automatic position matching processing section, in which the reference area in at least either one of the two original images is detected, and in which the processing for aligning the position of the detected reference area is performed automatically.

14. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the position matching processing means comprises an automatic position matching processing section, in which the reference area in at least either one of the two original images is detected, and in which the processing for aligning the position of the detected reference area is performed automatically.

15. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the position matching processing means further comprises a correction processing section for manually correcting the result of the automatic position matching processing performed by the automatic position matching processing section.

16. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the position matching processing means further comprises a correction processing section for manually correcting the result of the automatic position matching processing performed by the automatic position matching processing section.

17. An image position matching apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein the position matching processing means further comprises a correction processing section for manually correcting the result of the automatic position matching processing performed by the automatic position matching processing section.

18. An image output device, comprising:

i) position adjusting means, which is associated with an image position matching apparatus,

the image position matching apparatus operating such that:

the image position matching apparatus receives a plurality of original images of objects, which original images are successively sent from a modality for forming the original images, and

the image position matching apparatus performs position matching processing on two original images among the received original images, which two original images are the original images of a pair of objects to be compared with each other and have been recorded at an identical period, in cases where the two original images are to be outputted such that the two original images are located in a line, the position matching processing comprising translation of at least either one of the two original images in a direction normal to the direction along which the two original images are located in a line, such that positions of reference areas in the two original images, which positions are taken with respect to the normal direction, align with each other,

the position adjusting means receiving information, which represents a translation quantity for aligning the positions of the reference areas in the two original images with each other, and the two original images from the image position matching apparatus,

the position adjusting means adjusting an output position of at least either one of the two original images in accordance with the information, which represents the translation quantity, and the two original images, the information and the two original images having been received from the image position matching apparatus, such that the positions of the reference areas in the two original images align with each other, and

ii) output means for outputting the two aligned images, which have been obtained from the adjustment of the output position, such that the two aligned images are located in a line.

19. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the reference areas in the two original images feature areas of the object patterns in the format of one of outer shape feature areas, image density feature areas, or luminance feature areas.

20. An image understanding aiding system as defined in claim 1 , wherein images recorded at said identical period are recorded at one time of examination.