Patent ID: 8913078

Claim:
A diagnosis assisting system, comprising: volume data storage means, for storing a plurality of sets of volume data, obtained by imaging at least one subject on different imaging dates/times, in a predetermined storage device, correlated with subject identifying data and imaging date/time data; volume data selecting means, for selecting at least two sets of volume data correlated with subject identifying data that represents a specified subject, from among the sets of volume data stored in the storage device; image generating means, for generating a plurality of images for observation in different observation formats that represent the specified subject for each set of volume data selected by the volume data selecting means, for generating a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to each of the images for observation, and for correlating the images for observation, the thumbnail images, and the imaging date/time data of the set of volume data corresponding thereto; image window control means, for arranging a plurality of image windows, each of the plurality of image windows configured to be separately switchable between an active state and an inactive state, on a screen, and for controlling the switching from the active state and the inactive state; and display control means, for selecting images for observation which are correlated with imaging date/time data that represent a specified imaging date/time from among the images for observation generated by the image generating means, for displaying the selected images for observation in the image windows, for selecting thumbnail images having the same observation format as that of the image for observation which is displayed in the active image window from among the thumbnail images generated by the image generating means, and for displaying the selected thumbnail images within the active image window, wherein active and inactive windows of the plurality of windows are shown simultaneously, and the image window control means controls the active window, and each of the plurality of windows is correlated with a corresponding set of thumbnail images stored in memory, said set of thumbnails corresponding to an observation format for each respective image window of the plurality of windows, and only the set of thumbnails corresponding to a window among the plurality of windows set to the active state is displayed, and windows having the inactive state display a medical image according to respective observation format, without its respective corresponding set of thumbnails.