JP2007117571A - Small-scale diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely associate a captured image with a patient in small-scale medical facilities. <P>SOLUTION: In this small-scale diagnostic system 100, an image generating device 1, the generated captured image data and a temporary ID input in generating an image of the captured image data are associated with each other and transmitted to an information processor 2, the captured image data generated in the image generating device 1 is transmitted to a reference printer 4, and a reference print obtained by printing a captured image on a record medium is output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention shoots a patient who visits to generate photographic image data, displays the photographic image data and provides it for diagnosis, associates the displayed photographic image data with patient information, The present invention relates to a small-scale diagnostic system for storing image data and patient information.

  Conventionally, a technician is photographed by using an image generation device such as a CR (Computed Radiography) device, an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) device, etc., and the obtained image can be provided for diagnosis. 2. Description of the Related Art A diagnostic system that performs image processing such as processing, outputs an image-processed image, and provides it for interpretation by a doctor is known.

Such a diagnostic system is responsible for receiving a patient and issuing a radiography order (acceptance), responsible for actually imaging a patient in a radiographing room and generating a digital image (image data), gradation, etc. Judgment of whether or not the obtained image can be diagnosed, and in some cases, the person in charge of correcting the contrast and density (such as an engineer appointed from a general engineer), and the presence or absence of a disease based on the image (diagnosis) A plurality of persons in charge, such as interpretation staff (doctors), share roles and diagnoses are advanced.
Conventionally, this patient's image has been hard-copied on film for diagnosis. Recently, a filmless system using a viewer system such as PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) has also appeared ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  The locations in charge of each of the above roles are often located in large hospitals such as the reception floor on the first floor and the radiology department in the basement, etc., and within the radiology department, multiple patients, multiple engineers, The scene where multiple imaging devices are used to perform imaging at the same time is stationary, and multiple patients are constantly staying in each process, and the correspondence between the generated images and individual patients may be incorrect. In order to avoid this, an ID is assigned to each work in each process, and association is performed via a network such as RIS (Radiology Information System) / HIS (Hospital Information System) (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3).

  For example, at the 1F reception desk, examination contents (imaging contents) are determined based on the patient's main complaint, and imaging order information is registered together with the patient name. FIG. 11A shows an example of a list registered at the reception desk. The list in FIG. 11A is added at any time and displayed on the 1F reception workstation (hereinafter referred to as WS).

  At the same time, the list in FIG. 11 (a) displays the console in the radiology department on the basement floor via a network such as RIS / HIS (in the radiology department, setting the imaging conditions and RIS / HIS imaging order information). The workstation that will be called the console). In order to increase the efficiency of distributed processing, a plurality of consoles are usually provided, but these are also connected to each other via a network, and a predetermined inspection ID can be selected at any console. In order to prevent duplicate shooting among multiple engineers, a method of notifying that the list is being processed (flashing display, changing color, or beep warning when selecting the same examination, etc.) Used.

  The radiology engineer uses the console close to him / her, selects the examination ID to be photographed from the displayed list, and registers the ID of the CR plate (cassette) to be used (see FIG. 11B). .

  The engineer holds cassettes for the number of shots, moves to the radiographing room, and photographs the patient. Thereafter, the photographed cassette is read by a reader. The reading device reads the cassette ID attached to the inserted cassette, attaches it to the image data, transmits the cassette ID, and finally associates the examination ID (patient ID) with the generated image data. It is done. The generated image data is transmitted to the console where the engineer has selected the examination ID, and displayed on the console. At this stage, the imaging positioning is confirmed. If the positioning is poor, the imaging is performed again, and it is also determined whether or not to apply density and contrast correction and frequency enhancement processing. Thereafter, the image is stored in a server waiting for interpretation (waiting for diagnosis).

An image interpretation doctor extracts and displays an image related to a predetermined patient from an image stored in the image reading waiting server workstation (often a high-definition monitor for the viewer function) and the image interpretation waiting server, and performs image interpretation (diagnosis). Do.
US Pat. No. 5,235,510 JP 2002-159476 A JP 2002-311524 A

  However, according to the investigation and analysis by the inventors of the present application, in the case of a relatively small facility such as a medical practitioner or clinic, the number of image generation devices is small, and the assistant positions the patient and receives a notification of completion of positioning. In many cases, a doctor controls the X-ray exposure switch, or the doctor himself performs all operations including patient positioning.

  Furthermore, the above-mentioned association can be considered in cooperation with a small-scale facility reception computer (Rececon), but it is difficult to perform uniform operation due to differences in the specifications of each device manufacturer. Even if the number of devices is reduced while maintaining the configuration concept in a large-scale facility, it is not optimal for a small-scale facility.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably associate a captured image with a patient in a small-scale medical facility.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
One or more image generation devices provided with an image generation means for imaging a region to be examined of a patient who has visited and generating the captured image data, and temporary storage means for the captured image data generated by the one or more image generation devices The captured image data of one patient is extracted from the captured image data stored in the temporary storage means, and the captured image is displayed on the display means based on the extracted captured image data. A small-scale diagnostic system comprising: an information processing apparatus that stores the captured image and patient information related to the one patient in a storage unit in association with each other.
A printing apparatus that prints and outputs an image on a recording medium based on the image data;
The image generation apparatus includes a control unit that transmits the generated captured image data to the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus when the image generation unit generates the captured image data for the one patient. ,
The printing apparatus prints and outputs the photographed image of the one patient on a recording medium based on the photographed image data transmitted from the image generating apparatus.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
The image generation device is connected to an imaging device that captures the appearance characteristics of the one patient and obtains the appearance image data of the patient, and the control unit of the image generation device uses the imaging device to control the printing device. Transmitting the acquired appearance image data of the one patient and the captured image data of the one patient;
The printing device prints the appearance image and the captured image of the one patient on a recording medium based on the appearance image data of the one patient and the captured image data of the one patient transmitted from the image generation device. And output.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus is connected to an imaging device that captures the appearance characteristics of the one patient and acquires the appearance image data of the patient, and the appearance image data of the one patient acquired by the imaging device and the image generation device On the basis of the photographed image data of the one patient transmitted from, an appearance image and a photographed image of the one patient are printed and output on a recording medium.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image generation apparatus includes an input unit for inputting an image search ID,
The control unit of the image generation apparatus receives the image search ID of the one patient via the input unit, and when the image generation unit generates the captured image data about the one patient, Transmitting image data to the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus in association with the input image search ID;
The temporary storage means temporarily stores the captured image data and the image search ID transmitted from the image generation device in association with each other,
The printing apparatus is characterized in that when printing is performed based on the photographed image data of the one patient, the image search ID is also printed and output on a recording medium.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus, when the doctor associates the captured image data with the patient information of the patient to be imaged, the captured image displayed on the display unit; It is possible to confirm whether there is no mistake or omission of extraction by comparing with a photographed image that is printed in the printing apparatus and brought by the patient. As a result, it is possible to definitely associate the captured image with the patient information even if the patient's imaging progresses simultaneously.

  According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, an appearance image representing an appearance feature that can be visually discriminated such as a face shape and clothes of a patient to be photographed is printed on the recording medium together with the photographed image from the printing apparatus. When the doctor associates the captured image data with the patient information related to the patient to be imaged, whether or not the printed captured image is definitely that patient's is based on the appearance image. After confirmation, the photographed image displayed on the display means and the photographed image printed by the printing apparatus can be compared to confirm whether there are any mistakes or omissions. As a result, it becomes possible to correctly associate the captured image with the patient information more accurately.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image search ID input when generating the captured image data of the patient in the image generating apparatus is printed on the recording medium together with the captured image and is output. It is possible to reduce errors in extracting the captured image data.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a system configuration of a small-scale diagnosis system 100 in the present embodiment. The small-scale diagnosis system 100 is a system provided in a clinic or clinic of a practitioner. As shown in FIG. 1, the image generation apparatuses 1a to 1c, the information processing apparatus 2, the server 3, and the reference printer 4 are connected to a local area network (LAN). It is configured to be connected so that data can be transmitted and received via a communication network N such as an area network.

  The image generation apparatus 1 is a patient's patient such as a CR (Computed Radiography), an FPD (Flat Panel Detector), a CT (Computed Tomography), an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), a mammography apparatus (mammography), or an ultrasound imaging apparatus. This is an apparatus that captures an image of a region to be inspected as a subject, digitally converts the captured image, and generates image data of the captured image (hereinafter referred to as captured image data). In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the image generation device 1a is an ultrasonic imaging device, the image generation device 1b is an endoscope imaging device, and the image generation device 1c is a CR device.

  Here, the CR device 1c performs radiography of the subject using the stimulable phosphor, accumulates the radiation energy transmitted through the subject in the stimulable phosphor, and reads the image accumulated in the stimulable phosphor. This is an apparatus for generating photographed image data. The CR device 1c has a radiation source and a built-in photostimulable phosphor. The CR device 1c includes a type that performs imaging to reading with a single unit and a portable cassette that contains a photostimulable phosphor sheet. There are types to use. In the present embodiment, a cassette type CR device will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the image generation device 1 will be described by taking the CR device 1c as an example.
The cassette-type CR device 1c reads an image from a photographing device 10a having a radiation source and a photostimulable phosphor sheet accommodated in a cassette subjected to radiation photographing in the photographing device 10a to generate photographed image data. It is comprised by the apparatus 10b (refer FIG. 5).

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration example of the reading device 10b.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the reading device 10 b includes a CPU 11, an input unit 12, a communication unit 13, a RAM 14, a storage unit 15, an image generation unit 16, an I / F 17, and the like.

  The CPU 11 reads out a control program stored in the storage unit 15, develops it in a work area formed in the RAM 14, and controls each unit of the reading device 10b according to the control program. Further, the CPU 11 reads out various processing programs including the image generation device 1 side processing program in the patient / image association sequence of FIG. 6 stored in the storage unit 15 according to the control program, and develops them in the work area. In cooperation with the read program, various processes including the image generation apparatus 1 side process in the patient / image association sequence shown in FIG. 6 are executed. CPU11 implement | achieves the control means of an image generation apparatus by performing the image generation apparatus 1 side process in the patient and image matching sequence shown in FIG.

  The input unit 12 includes a numeric keypad and various function keys, and outputs a key press signal as an input signal to the CPU 11.

  The communication unit 13 includes a network interface or the like, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the communication network N.

  The RAM 14 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs, input or output data, parameters, and the like that can be executed by the CPU 11 read from the storage unit 15 in various processes controlled by the CPU 11.

  The storage unit 15 is configured by a non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like, and includes various programs such as a control program executed by the CPU 11, the image generation apparatus 1 side processing program in the patient / image association sequence in FIG. Remember.

  The image generation unit 16 is configured to be able to attach a photographed cassette, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the attached cassette, scanned with excitation light, and stored and stored in the stimulable phosphor sheet. Radiation image information is stimulated to emit light, and photographed image data is generated based on an image signal obtained by photoelectrically reading the stimulated emission light.

  The I / F 17 is an interface for connecting the digital camera 18 as a photographing device and the reading device 10 b and inputting image data and the like from the digital camera 18.

  The ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1a has substantially the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 2, but the function of the image generation unit 16 is different from that of the reading apparatus 10b. In the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1a, the image generation unit 16 includes a probe, and the probe inputs ultrasonic waves to the examination target region of the patient, and captures the captured image data based on the reflection (echo) signal. Generate. Further, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1a includes a display unit that displays an image based on the generated captured image data.

  The endoscope imaging apparatus 1b has substantially the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 2, but the function of the image generation unit 16 is different from that of the reading apparatus 10b. In the endoscope imaging apparatus 1b, the image generation unit 16 includes an electronic endoscope including a lighting unit, an objective optical system, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor). And imaged image data is generated based on an image signal obtained by being imaged by an electronic endoscope inserted into the body cavity of the patient. In addition, the endoscope imaging apparatus 1b includes a display unit that displays an image based on the generated captured image data.

  The information processing device 2 receives the captured image data transmitted from the image generating device 1, performs image processing, displays the image on the display unit for interpretation by the doctor, and associates the received captured image data with the patient information. A PC (Personal Computer) stored in the server 3.

FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration example of the information processing apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 2
A CPU 21, an input unit 22, a display unit 23, a communication unit 24, a RAM 25, and a storage unit 26 are included, and each unit is connected by a bus 27.

  The CPU 21 reads the system program stored in the storage unit 26, develops it in a work area formed in the RAM 25, and controls each unit according to the system program. Further, the CPU 21 reads out various processing programs including the information processing apparatus 2 side processing program in the patient / image association sequence in FIG. 6 stored in the storage unit 26 according to the control program, and develops them in the work area. In cooperation with the read program, various processes including the information processing apparatus 2 side process in the patient / image association sequence in FIG. 6 are executed.

  The input unit 22 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse. A key pressing signal pressed by the keyboard and an operation signal by the mouse Is output to the CPU 21 as an input signal.

  The display unit 23 includes a monitor such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and displays an input instruction, data, and the like from the input unit 22 in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the CPU 21.

  The communication unit 24 is configured by a network interface or the like, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the communication network N.

  The RAM 25 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs, input or output data, parameters, and the like that can be executed by the CPU 21 read from the storage unit 26 in various processes controlled by the CPU 21.

  The storage unit 26 includes an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and the like, and includes a system program executed by the CPU 21 and a processing program on the information processing apparatus 2 side in the patient / image association sequence in FIG. Various processing programs to be performed, various data, and the like are stored. These various programs are stored in the form of readable program codes, and the CPU 21 sequentially executes operations according to the program codes.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 26 includes a temporary storage unit 261 that temporarily stores the image data transmitted from the image generation device 1 and the temporary ID in association with each other.

  The server 3 is a computer including a CPU, an input unit, a display unit, a communication unit, a RAM, a storage unit, and the like, similarly to the information processing apparatus 2 illustrated in FIG. The server 3 includes an image DB (Data Base) 30 as a storage unit, and stores image data input from the information processing apparatus 2 via the communication unit. The image DB 30 may be configured to be included in the information processing apparatus 2.

  The reference printer 4 forms an electrostatic latent image based on the image data transmitted from the image generating apparatus 1 by laser scanning on an ink jet system or a charged photosensitive drum, and develops the latent image with toner. The electrostatic transfer method (hereinafter referred to as the laser method) that employs the so-called Carlson process prints a reflection observation type image on a recording medium such as a paper medium instead of a transmission observation type image such as a film. Printing apparatus. Note that the output recording medium can be processed as general garbage or recycled resource garbage. This embodiment will be described as a laser printer.

  FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration example of the reference printer 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the reference printer 4 includes a CPU 41, an input unit 42, a display unit 43, a communication unit 44, an I / F 45, a RAM 46, a storage unit 47, a recording medium transport unit 48, a printing unit 49, and the like. Each part is connected by a bus 50.

  The CPU 41 reads out a control program stored in the storage unit 47, develops it in a work area formed in the RAM 46, and controls each unit according to the control program. Further, the CPU 41 reads out various processing programs such as the reference printer 4 side processing program in the patient / image association sequence in FIG. 6 stored in the storage unit 47 according to the control program, and is formed in the RAM 46. Various processes including the reference printer 4 side process in the patient / image association sequence of FIG. 6 are executed in cooperation with the program that has been developed and read out in the work area.

  The input unit 42 is configured by, for example, a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 43, receives a touch input from the user on the display screen of the display unit 43, and outputs the input signal to the CPU 41.

  The display unit 43 is configured by a display screen composed of an LCD or the like, and displays information related to the operation of the reference printer 4 and information related to the state of the reference printer 4 on the display screen in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the CPU 41. To do.

  The communication unit 44 is configured by a network interface or the like, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the communication network N.

  The I / F 45 is an interface for connecting an external device and the reference printer 4 and inputting / outputting data.

  The RAM 46 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs, input or output data, parameters, and the like that can be executed by the CPU 41 read from the storage unit 47 in various processes controlled by the CPU 41. The RAM 46 also includes a received image memory 461 that temporarily stores image data received via the communication unit 44 and a page memory 462 that stores data for one page.

The storage unit 47 is configured by a non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like, and includes a control program executed by the CPU 41, various processing programs including the reference printer 4 side processing program in the patient / image association sequence in FIG. Memorize etc.
The storage unit 47 has a setting format storage unit 471. The setting format storage unit 471 stores format information for image allocation.

  The recording medium transport unit 48 includes a paper feed roller, a transport roller, a switching plate for switching the transport path during duplex printing, and the like. The recording medium loaded in the paper feed tray is transported according to the instruction signal input from the CPU 41. Convey along.

  The printing unit 49 prints and outputs an image on a recording medium by a laser method in accordance with an instruction signal input from the CPU 41.

  FIG. 5 shows an arrangement example of each device when the small-scale diagnosis system 100 is applied to a medical facility such as a doctor's office. The information processing apparatus 2 is an apparatus that performs diagnosis by displaying an image taken by a doctor, and is generally arranged on a desk in an examination room. The CR device 1c is disposed in a radiographing room separate from the examination room in order to shield radiation. The endoscope imaging apparatus 1b is arranged in an examination room separate from the examination room for privacy protection. The reference printer 4 is arranged in each room in which the image generating apparatus 1 is placed so that a photographed image can be printed on the spot.

  As described above, when there is a possibility that the image generation apparatus 1 is dispersed in several rooms and simultaneous imaging may occur, the captured image data captured without mistaking other patients and the subject patient. A means for associating with patient information is required. However, like the systems installed in conventional large hospitals, workstations and consoles are arranged in the reception, photographing, and examination rooms, respectively, and registration work for photographing contents (examination contents) at the reception and photographing rooms (inspection) The ID registration operation of the cassette in the room) is rather inefficient and burdensome at medical facilities such as a medical practitioner's clinic, which is small in scale and rarely causes simultaneous imaging.

  Therefore, in the small-scale diagnosis system 100, the patient / image association sequence shown in FIG. 6 is efficient in a small medical facility and even if there is a possibility of simultaneous imaging, Provided is a photographing to medical examination workflow that can definitely associate photographed image data.

  Here, at the reception, provisional IDs are assigned to the patients in the order of reception. This temporary ID is a serial number that is assigned one time each time a patient accepts it. For example, each temporary card for a number exceeding the maximum number of patients stagnating in the facility (clinic or clinic) per day. A temporary ID (e.g., 01 to 30) may be given and this rearrangement card may be handed over to the received patient, or a temporary ID may be given by a ticketing machine installed at the reception. Good. As this embodiment, an example in which a rearrangement card is used will be described as an example. The temporary ID is an image search ID that serves as an image search key when the patient information is extracted in the information processing apparatus 2.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, a patient / image association sequence executed when associating one patient with an image of the patient in the small-scale diagnosis system 100 will be described.
Note that an operator who performs imaging such as a doctor or an imaging engineer is hereinafter referred to as an imaging operator.

  First, the radiographer takes the patient to be imaged in front of the image generation apparatus 1 and displays the image on the organization card provided to the patient to be imaged via the numeric keypad of the input unit 12 in the image generation apparatus 1. The entered temporary ID is input, the patient's examination target part is imaged as a subject, and the captured image data is generated. For example, when the image generation device 1 is the CR device 1c, the provisional ID is input from the numeric keypad of the input unit 12 provided in the reading device 10b, and the photographed image data is set in the reading device 10b. Is generated.

  In the image generation apparatus 1, when the numeric keypad of the input unit 12 is pressed and a temporary ID is input (step S1; YES), the image generation unit 16 generates captured image data according to the operation of the photographer. The input temporary ID and the generated captured image data are associated with each other and transmitted to the information processing apparatus 2 via the communication unit 13 (step S3). When a plurality of images of a single patient are captured under a plurality of imaging conditions, all the generated captured image data is associated with a temporary ID (for example, a temporary ID is attached as incidental information of the captured image data). It is transmitted to the information processing device 2. If the temporary ID is not input in step S1, the image generation unit 16 does not generate captured image data. Further, the end of imaging for the same patient may be detected when there is no imaging operation (attachment of cassette in the case of the reading apparatus 10b) for a predetermined time or more from the previous imaging, or the input unit 12 of the image generating apparatus 1 An end key may be provided to detect the end key.

  In the information processing apparatus 2, when the captured image data and the temporary ID are received from the image generation apparatus 1 via the communication unit 24, the received captured image data and the temporary ID are associated with each other in the temporary storage unit 261. Saved (step S4). Note that in the temporary storage unit 261, not only captured image data of the patient but also captured image data obtained by capturing another patient and image data not yet examined is associated with the temporary ID. Accumulated one after another.

  In the image generation apparatus 1, the print instruction information and the generated captured image data are sequentially transmitted to the reference printer 4 via the communication unit 13 (step S5). Here, in each image generating apparatus 1, the printer is set as a printer used by the reference printer 4 in the same room, and the generated captured image data is transmitted to the reference printer 4 in the same room. The print instruction information includes, for example, information that instructs printing of the apparatus ID of the image generation apparatus 1 and the transmitted captured image data in the setting format stored in the setting format storage unit 471.

  In the reference printer 4, when the captured image data and the print instruction information are received from the image generation device 1 via the communication unit 44, the received captured image data is sequentially stored in the reception memory 461 (step S6). When the image generation apparatus 1 notifies that the transmission of all the photographed image data to be printed has been completed and the communication is cut off, an allocation expansion process for the received photographed image data is executed (step S7). Here, in the reference printer 4, format information for allocating a plurality of images is set in the setting format storage unit 471. This is because, for example, a PC or the like is connected when the reference printer 4 is introduced, and the paper size used for printing, the maximum number of images allocated per sheet, the allocation position according to the image acquisition order, etc. from the PC screen This information is set. Note that in a small medical facility such as a medical practitioner, the direction to be imaged is typically determined for each region to be imaged, and the maximum number of images to be imaged by one unit of imaging is about four. In step S7, when print instruction information and photographic image data are received from the image generation device 1, the photographic image data is read from the reception memory 461 in the order received (image acquisition order). The photographed image data is subjected to scaling processing based on the size and the size of the assigned position of the photographed image set in the setting format storage unit 471, and the position corresponding to the acquisition order based on the photographed image data in the page memory 462. Allocation and development of captured images are performed. The developed data is output to the printing unit 49, printed on the recording medium conveyed by the recording medium conveying unit 48, and output (step S8). Hereinafter, the recording medium on which the captured image is printed is referred to as a reference print.

  FIG. 7A shows an example of a reference print printed out from the reference printer 4 in step S8. As shown in FIG. 7A, the reference print is printed with a reduced image of a captured image captured by the image generation apparatus 1 (a plurality of captured images when a plurality of images are captured). The radiographer can check the reference print to confirm that there is no omission of imaging for the patient, whether the positioning is correct, and the like. This reference print is not used for diagnosis, but for checking the correspondence between the patient and the captured image in the examination room, and for checking the positioning or omission in the imaging room or examination room. Therefore, the captured image data generated by the image generation device 1 is directly transmitted to the reference printer 4 and printed out without passing through the image processing step of the information processing device 2. In addition, when a plurality of images are captured, the images may be printed side by side on a single recording medium as described above, or each captured image may be individually printed on a single recording medium. You may make it print. In step S5, the temporary ID may be transmitted to the reference printer 4 in association with the captured image data, and the temporary ID may be printed together with the captured image (see FIG. 7B). In this case, the allocation position of the temporary ID is set in the setting format storage unit 471 together with the allocation position of the captured image, and in step S7, the font corresponding to the temporary ID is also allocated and printed.

  When the photographing and printing of the reference print are completed, the reference print is given to the patient. The patient moves to the examination room with the reference print and the organization card. By operating the input unit 22 of the information processing apparatus 2, the doctor displays an image search screen on the display unit 23, looks at the temporary ID written on the patient organization card, and inputs the temporary ID via the input unit 22. I do. In the information processing apparatus 2, an image search screen is displayed according to the operation of the input unit 22 by the doctor, and an input of a temporary ID is accepted via the input unit 22. When a temporary ID is input via the input unit 22 on the displayed image search screen (step S9), captured image data corresponding to the input temporary ID is extracted from the temporary storage unit 261 (step S10). Image processing is performed on the extracted captured image data, and a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image is generated (step S11) and displayed on the captured image display screen 231 of the display unit 23 (step S12). ).

  Here, in step S11, the imaged region is determined by analyzing the captured image data (for example, JP-A-11-76141 and JP-A-2001-76141), and the region corresponding to the recognized region is determined. Image processing parameters (for example, gradation conversion curve, frequency enhancement degree, etc.) are read from the storage unit 26, and image processing such as gradation processing, frequency enhancement processing, etc. is performed based on the read image processing parameters. . In addition, for example, in the captured image data generated in the CR device 1c, a blackening process is performed to convert the signal value of the irradiation field region outside the radiation irradiation region to the highest density (lowest luminance). By these image processing, the captured image can be displayed and output as a diagnostically preferable image.

  FIG. 8 shows a display screen example of the captured image display screen 231 displayed on the display unit 23 in step S12. As shown in FIG. 8, the captured image display screen 231 includes image display fields 231a to 231d for displaying a list of extracted images.

  The doctor extracts a photographed image of the patient from the temporary storage unit 261 based on the temporary ID of the organizing card possessed by the patient. Conceivable. Therefore, referring to a reference print possessed by the patient, extraction is performed by comparing the captured image on the reference print with the extracted captured images displayed in the image display fields 231a to 231d of the captured image display screen 231. It can be confirmed whether the captured image is definitely a captured image of the patient or there is no omission of extraction. As shown in FIG. 7B, it is preferable to assign a temporary ID to the reference print because it is possible to prevent an extraction error due to a mistake in arrangement cards.

  When any one of the image display fields 231a to 231d is selected with the mouse or the like on the photographed image display screen 231, the selected image is displayed alone in the life size. Using this single display image, the doctor can observe the details of the image and make an interpretation diagnosis. An image processing adjustment field 231e is provided at the upper right of the screen, and the doctor can adjust the density and contrast by operating the image processing adjustment field 231e with a mouse or the like. In addition, the captured image display screen 231 is provided with a patient information input field 231f for receiving input of patient information such as a patient ID and a patient name associated with the displayed captured image. The doctor inputs patient information from the patient information input field 231f.

  When patient information related to the patient is input from the patient information input field 231f via the input unit 22 (step S13), the input patient information is associated with the captured image data extracted in step S10. The data is transmitted to the server 3 via the communication unit 24 and stored in the image DB 30 (step S14). When the end button 231g of the photographed image display screen 231 is pressed by the input unit 22 to instruct the end (step S15; YES), the image data and temporary ID stored in the server 3 in step S14 are temporarily stored. It is erased from the part 261 (step S16), and this process ends.

  After completion of the doctor's examination, the organizing card is collected at the doctor or the reception desk and reused on the following day.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the captured image data and the temporary ID generated in the image generating device 1 are transmitted to the information processing device 2 in the examination room, and the captured image data and the temporary ID are associated with each other. At the same time, it is stored in the temporary storage unit 261, and the photographed image data generated by the image generation device 1 is transmitted to the reference printer 4, and a reference print in which the photographed image is printed on a recording medium is output. Therefore, the shooter can check the reference print immediately after shooting to confirm that there is no omission in shooting and that the positioning is correct. Also, when associating patient identification information with an image in the examination room, the image of the reference print possessed by the patient is compared with the image extracted as a captured image of the patient from the temporary storage unit 261. It can be confirmed whether the extracted image is definitely a photographed image of the patient or whether there is no omission of extraction.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the second embodiment, a digital camera 18 is connected to the I / F 17 of the reading device 10b.

  Further, the storage unit 15 of the image generation apparatus 1 stores a program for executing the image generation apparatus 1 side processing of the patient / image association sequence shown in FIG. By cooperation with the program, the image generation apparatus 1 side processing of the patient / image association sequence shown in FIG. 9 is realized. The CPU 11 realizes a control unit of the image generation apparatus by executing the process. Further, the storage unit 26 of the information processing device 2 stores a program for executing the information processing device side processing of the patient / image association sequence illustrated in FIG. 9. By cooperation, the information processing apparatus 2 side processing of the patient / image association sequence shown in FIG. 9 is realized. The storage unit 47 of the reference printer 4 stores a program for executing the reference printer 4 side processing of the patient / image association sequence shown in FIG. 9, and the CPU 41 of the reference printer 4 cooperates with the program. By the operation, the reference printer 4 side processing of the patient / image association sequence shown in FIG. 9 is executed.

  In addition, since the system configuration and the configuration of each device in the second embodiment are substantially the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  Hereinafter, the patient / image association sequence in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the radiographer takes the patient to be imaged in front of the image generation apparatus 1 and displays the image on the organization card provided to the patient to be imaged via the numeric keypad of the input unit 12 in the image generation apparatus 1. Next, an image (for example, a face photograph; for example, a facial photograph, which can be visually discriminated by the digital camera 18 prior to imaging of a region to be examined, such as a patient's face shape and clothes), is input. The appearance image is taken. After capturing the patient's appearance image, the image generation apparatus 1 captures the patient's examination target region as a subject and generates captured image data. For example, when the image generation apparatus 1 is the CR apparatus 1c, a temporary ID is input from the numeric keypad of the input unit 12 provided in the reading apparatus 10b, and an external appearance image of the patient is captured by the digital camera 18, and then the captured image is captured. Shooting image data is generated by setting the cassette in the reading device 10b.

  In the image generation apparatus 1, the numeric keypad of the input unit 12 is pressed, a temporary ID is input (step S21; YES), and then the patient's appearance image data captured by the digital camera 18 is input via the I / F 17. Then (step S22), the print instruction information and the appearance image data are transmitted to the reference printer 4 via the communication unit 13 (step S23). Here, in each image generation apparatus 1, it is set as a printer used by the reference printer 4 in the same room, and data from the image generation apparatus 1 is transmitted to the reference printer 4 in the same room. The print instruction information includes, for example, information for instructing printing in the setting format of the apparatus ID of the image generation apparatus 1, the transmitted appearance image data, and the captured image data to be transmitted subsequently. In the reference printer 4, when print instruction information and appearance image data are received from the image generation device 1 via the communication unit 44, the received appearance image data is stored in the reception memory 461 (step S24). .

  Next, in the image generation device 1, when the image generation unit 16 generates the captured image data in accordance with the operation of the photographer (step S25), the input temporary ID and the generated captured image data are associated with each other. And transmitted to the information processing apparatus 2 via the communication unit 13 (step S26). When a plurality of diagnostic images of one patient are captured under a plurality of imaging conditions, all the generated captured image data is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 2 in association with the temporary ID. If there is no temporary ID input in step S21, control is performed so that the image generation unit 16 does not generate captured image data.

  In the information processing apparatus 2, when the captured image data and the temporary ID are received from the image generation apparatus 1 via the communication unit 24, the received captured image data and the temporary ID are associated with each other in the temporary storage unit 261. Stored (step S27). Note that in the temporary storage unit 261, not only captured image data of the patient but also captured image data obtained by capturing another patient and not yet examined is associated with a temporary ID. It is accumulated one after another in the state.

  When the transmission of the captured image data to the information processing device 2 is completed, in the image generation device 1, the captured image data generated by the image generation unit 16 is sequentially transmitted to the reference printer 4 via the communication unit 13 ( Step S28).

  In the reference printer 4, when the captured image data is received from the image generating device 1 via the communication unit 44, the received captured image data is sequentially stored in the reception memory 461 (step S29). When the transmission of the captured image data to be printed is notified from the image generating apparatus 1 and the communication is cut off, the process of allocating and developing the appearance image data and the captured image data received earlier is executed (step S30). ). Here, in the reference printer 4, format information for assigning an appearance image and a plurality of captured images is set in the setting format storage unit 471. This is because, for example, a PC or the like is connected when the reference printer 4 is introduced, and the paper size used for printing, the maximum number of photographed images to be assigned per sheet, and the allocation position according to the image acquisition order from the PC screen Etc. are set. Note that in a small medical facility such as a medical practitioner, the direction to be imaged is typically determined for each region to be imaged, and the maximum number of images to be imaged by one unit of imaging is about four. In step S29, when print instruction information, appearance image data, and photographed image data are received from the image generation apparatus 1, the appearance image data and photographed image data are received from the reception memory 461 in the order received (image acquisition order). The image data is subjected to scaling processing on the basis of the size of the image data read and set in the setting format storage unit 471, and the position corresponding to the acquisition order in the page memory 462. An image is assigned to and developed on the screen. The developed data is output to the printing unit 49 and printed on the recording medium (step S31).

  FIG. 10A shows an example of a reference print printed out from the reference printer 4 in step S31. As shown in FIG. 10, on the reference print, a photographed patient appearance image and a reduced image of a diagnostic image photographed by the image generation apparatus 1 (a plurality of images when a plurality of photographs are photographed) are printed. . The radiographer can check the reference print to confirm that there is no omission of imaging for the patient, whether the positioning is correct, and the like. This reference print is not used for diagnosis, but for checking the correspondence between the patient and the captured image in the examination room, and for checking the positioning or omission in the imaging room or examination room. Therefore, the captured image data generated by the image generation device 1 is directly transmitted to the reference printer 4 and printed out without passing through the image processing step of the information processing device 2. When a plurality of images are taken, they may be printed side by side on a single recording medium as described above, or each taken image may be printed individually. . Further, in step S23, the temporary ID is transmitted to the reference printer 4 in association with the appearance image data or in step S28, and the temporary ID is printed together with the image on the reference print. (See FIG. 10B). In this case, a temporary ID assignment position is set in the setting format storage unit 471 together with an image assignment position, and in step S30, a font corresponding to the temporary ID is also assigned and printed.

  When the photographing and printing of the reference print are completed, the reference print is given to the patient. The patient moves to the examination room with the reference print and the organization card. By operating the input unit 22 of the information processing apparatus 2, the doctor displays an image search screen on the display unit 23, looks at the temporary ID written on the patient organization card, and inputs the temporary ID via the input unit 22. I do. In the information processing apparatus 2, an image search screen is displayed according to the operation of the input unit 22 by the doctor, and an input of a temporary ID is accepted via the input unit 22. When a temporary ID is input via the input unit 22 on the displayed image search screen (step S32), captured image data corresponding to the input temporary ID is extracted from the temporary storage unit 261 (step S33). Image processing is performed on the extracted captured image data, and a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image is generated (step S34) and displayed on the captured image display screen 231 of the display unit 23 (step S35). ).

  The doctor extracts a photographed image of the patient from the temporary storage unit 261 based on the temporary ID of the organizing card possessed by the patient. Conceivable. In addition, there is a possibility that the reference print is mixed up. Therefore, by making the patient possess a reference print containing the appearance image of the patient as shown in FIG. 10 and comparing the appearance print image of the patient and the reference print, the reference print possessed by the patient is definitely the patient's reference print. In addition, after confirming that the image is an image, the image is extracted by comparing the captured image on the reference print with the extracted captured images displayed in the image display fields 231a to 231d of the captured image display screen 231. It is possible to confirm whether the captured image is definitely an image of a patient being examined or whether there is no omission of extraction.

  When patient information related to the patient is input from the patient information input field 231f via the input unit 22 (step S36), the input patient information is associated with the captured image data extracted in step S33. The data is transmitted to the server 3 via the communication unit 24 and stored in the image DB 30 (step S37). When an end is instructed by pressing the end button on the photographed image display screen 231 by the input unit 22 (step S38; YES), the image data and temporary ID stored in the server 3 in step S37 are stored in the temporary storage unit. It is deleted from H.261 (step S39), and this process ends.

  After completion of the doctor's examination, the organizing card is collected at the doctor or the reception desk and reused on the following day.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the patient's appearance image is also printed on the reference print. Therefore, in associating patient identification information with the captured image in the examination room, However, after confirming whether the reference print is definitely for the patient, the image of the reference print possessed by the patient and the captured image extracted as the patient image from the temporary storage unit 261 are obtained. By comparison, it can be confirmed whether the extracted captured image is definitely the captured image of the patient or whether there is no omission of extraction.

  In addition, the description content in the said embodiment is a suitable example of the small-scale diagnosis system 100 which concerns on this invention, and is not limited to this.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the reference printer 4 is installed in each room has been described as an example. However, when the photographer is alone, the reference printer to be installed is used. 4 may be a single unit.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the digital camera 18 has been described as an example in which the digital camera 18 is connected to the image generation apparatus 1, but may be connected to the reference printer 4. When a digital camera is connected to the reference printer 4, the appearance image is first printed on a recording medium based on the appearance image data obtained by photographing the appearance image of the patient with the digital camera. Under control, the printed recording medium may be transported for backside printing, and the captured image may be printed on the backside of the recording medium based on the captured image data transmitted from the image generating apparatus 1.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the photographing operator gives a reference print to the patient, and the patient himself / herself submits it to a doctor. When the appearance image is printed on the reference print at the same time, it is preferable that the photographer deliver the reference print to the doctor, so that the loss of the reference print during the movement of the patient to the examination room can be avoided. Further, in a facility where the number of captured images per day is small, the number of images existing in the temporary storage unit 261 until the association with the patient is small, so that all the information stored in the temporary storage unit 261 is stored in the information processing apparatus 2. A method may be adopted in which thumbnail images of photographed images can be displayed on the display unit 23 and a doctor extracts (selects) photographed images printed on a reference print from the displayed thumbnail images. Further, if the reference print takes the output form of FIG. 10A, the patient is specified based on the appearance image, and the captured image of the target patient is extracted from the temporary storage unit 261 based on the captured image of the reference print. It is preferable that the patient can be associated with the photographed image without fail, and the system configuration that eliminates the input of the temporary ID in the image generation apparatus is possible.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each device constituting the small-scale diagnosis system 100 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure showing the whole small-scale diagnostic system 100 composition concerning the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the image generation apparatus 1 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the information processing apparatus 2 of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a reference printer 4 in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of each apparatus at the time of applying the small-scale diagnosis system 100 in medical facilities, such as a doctor's office. It is a flowchart which shows the patient and image matching sequence performed in the small scale diagnosis system 100 of FIG. 1 in 1st Embodiment. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a reference print printed out from the reference printer 4 in step S8 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a temporary ID together with a photographed image on the reference print in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example at the time of printing and outputting. It is a figure which shows an example of the picked-up image display screen 231 displayed on the display part 23 in FIG.6 S12. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a patient / image association sequence executed in the small-scale diagnosis system 100 of FIG. 1 in the second embodiment. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of a reference print printed out from the reference printer 4 in step S31 of FIG. 9, and FIG. 10B is an illustration together with an appearance image and a photographed image on the reference print of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing and outputting a temporary ID. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the list registered in the reception desk in the conventional diagnostic system, (b) is an example which the radiology engineer registered in the list shown in (a) in the conventional diagnostic system. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Small-scale diagnosis system 1 Image generation apparatus 2 Information processing apparatus 3 Server 4 Reference printer 11, 21, 41 CPU
12, 22, 42 Input unit 13, 24, 44 Communication unit 14, 25, 46 RAM
15, 26, 47 Storage unit 16 Image generation unit 17, 45 I / F
23, 43 Display unit 18 Digital camera 48 Recording medium transport unit 49 Printing unit 19, 27, 50 Bus

Claims (4)

One or more image generation devices provided with an image generation means for imaging a region to be examined of a patient who has visited and generating the captured image data, and temporary storage means for the captured image data generated by the one or more image generation devices The captured image data of one patient is extracted from the captured image data stored in the temporary storage means, and the captured image is displayed on the display means based on the extracted captured image data. A small-scale diagnostic system comprising: an information processing apparatus that stores the captured image and patient information related to the one patient in a storage unit in association with each other.
A printing apparatus that prints and outputs an image on a recording medium based on the image data;
The image generation apparatus includes a control unit that transmits the generated captured image data to the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus when the image generation unit generates the captured image data for the one patient. ,
The printing apparatus prints and outputs a photographed image of the one patient on a recording medium based on the photographed image data transmitted from the image generating apparatus. The image generation device is connected to an imaging device that captures the appearance characteristics of the one patient and obtains the appearance image data of the patient, and the control unit of the image generation device uses the imaging device to control the printing device. Transmitting the acquired appearance image data of the one patient and the captured image data of the one patient;
The printing device prints the appearance image and the captured image of the one patient on a recording medium based on the appearance image data of the one patient and the captured image data of the one patient transmitted from the image generation device. The small-scale diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the small-scale diagnosis system is output.   The printing apparatus is connected to an imaging device that captures the appearance characteristics of the one patient and acquires the appearance image data of the patient, and the appearance image data of the one patient acquired by the imaging device and the image generation device 2. The small-scale diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein an external appearance image and a captured image of the one patient are printed on a recording medium based on the captured image data of the one patient transmitted from the small-scale diagnostic system. . The image generation apparatus includes an input unit for inputting an image search ID,
The control unit of the image generation apparatus receives the image search ID of the one patient via the input unit, and when the image generation unit generates the captured image data about the one patient, Transmitting image data to the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus in association with the input image search ID;
The temporary storage means temporarily stores the captured image data and the image search ID transmitted from the image generation device in association with each other,
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus prints and outputs the image search ID on a recording medium when printing is performed based on the captured image data of the one patient. The small-scale diagnostic system according to one item.

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