JP5468343B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of providing assistance to an operator.

  The advantage of ultrasonic diagnostic imaging is that it is possible to observe the state of the body in a non-invasive and real-time manner, and many patients can be examined on a day trip. Due to this advantage, the number of patients per day undergoing ultrasonography continues to show an increasing trend in recent years.

  In conventional ultrasonic diagnosis, a doctor gives an inspection instruction (inspection order information) specifying an inspection site or the like to an inspection engineer. The examination order information from the doctor is presented as a printed matter (including a handwritten chart) or electronic information via a network (such as an electronic chart), and the examination engineer performs an examination based on the instruction and reports the examination result. This report of inspection results also uses printed materials or electronic medical records, etc., but the inspection report is written after the inspection is completed, and the inspection items performed on the electronic medical records and image data of the inspection results are attached and the inspection is requested. Work to return to the doctor.

  In addition, the inspection order information sent from the doctor to the laboratory technician includes instructions on the patient's examination site, but the detailed examination contents and procedures according to the examination site are usually considered by the laboratory technician himself. Yes. Therefore, even for the same inspection, the time required for the inspection and the details of the inspection vary depending on the skill and discretion of the inspection engineer who performs the inspection. As described above, the ultrasonic image inspection involves many parts related to the hands of the inspection engineer in the operation of the ultrasonic probe, the inspection is not homogenized, and there is a problem in analyzing the inspection result.

  With the improvement of the performance of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, the parts to be inspected have become diversified, and laboratory technicians who are requested to be examined by doctors in each field perform inspections of various examination parts of many patients every day. I am in charge.

  Since it is necessary to create a report for each patient, generally, when the examination of the patient is completed, the results of the examination are compiled, and the report or examination chart is prepared and sent to the doctor. Take steps to move to inspection. However, if inspection and reporting are performed in such a procedure, the following problems will occur.

(1) After the examination is completed, for example, if an examination omission is found after the patient has returned home, a re-examination will be required at a later date.
(2) Since the report is created after the end of the inspection, the time loss from one inspection to the start of the next inspection becomes large.
In addition, because the test site covers a wide range of specialized fields, it takes time for the engineer to become skilled in all tests, and for the smooth progress of the test, the doctor must designate a skilled test engineer individually. I can't. Furthermore, since the number of skilled laboratory technicians is limited, the following problems occur.
(3) There is a possibility that the quality of the examination differs for each laboratory technician and the result of the examination may change.
(4) Due to the time constraints and physical strength limitations of skilled laboratory technicians, the education of inexperienced laboratory technicians is not sufficient, and appropriate and sufficient advice cannot be given when performing operations.

  In particular, as a solution regarding (1) and (2), an ultrasonic examination of a plurality of examination modes for the patient based on an examination instruction supplied from a doctor in charge so that an examination omission for examination order information can be confirmed at an early stage. There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates and outputs examination history data together with image data when sequentially performing (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-280640 A

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1, examination history data such as examination time, image collection mode, measurement method, application, and the like is created in conjunction with the acquired image. Therefore, inspection omission can be prevented and the inspection can be made more efficient. As a result, the above problems (1) and (2) can be substantially solved. However, like the problems (3) and (4), there is a problem that the inhomogeneity of the inspection caused by the experience and skill of the inspection engineer cannot be solved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can provide appropriate and sufficient advice to an unskilled operator, and is a homogeneous inspection that does not depend on the experience or skill of the operator. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of reducing the time required for preparing an inspection report and improving the efficiency of inspection and reporting as a whole.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a test order information receiving unit that receives test order information of a subject via a network, and the test order information received by the test order information receiving unit are analyzed and necessary for the test. an inspection list creating unit for outputting an inspection items and the inspection site, the test demonstrates the operation method suitable to the test method support unit from the previous SL inspection site and the inspection item is output from the examination list creation unit, the subject An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave toward an imaging target, a transmission / reception unit that drives the ultrasonic probe to transmit an ultrasonic wave, and receives a reflected signal from the subject, and An image data generation unit that generates a subject internal image from a reception signal obtained by the transmission / reception unit, the subject internal image generated by the image data generation unit, and the examination method A display unit援部displays a manifest operation method, the test course of the tests from the examination order information, an inspection report unit for reporting over the network, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by having provide.

  According to the present invention, appropriate and sufficient advice can be given even to an unskilled operator, a homogeneous inspection that does not depend on the operator's experience and skill can be realized, and the preparation time of an inspection report can be shortened. Inspection and reporting can be made more efficient as a whole.

1 is a functional block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of operation and a process of the ultrasound diagnosing device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the test | inspection order information screen of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a list shape screen, (b) is a two-dimensional shape screen, and (c) is a three-dimensional shape screen. It is an example of a display of examination support of an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment concerning one embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a display example for the upper carotid artery, and (b) is a display example for the lower limb cross section.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 transmits an ultrasonic wave to an object 101 and transmits an ultrasonic wave by driving the ultrasonic probe 102 and transmits an echo signal of the object 101. A transmission / reception unit 103 for receiving, a scan converter unit 104 for converting tomographic image data or Doppler image data of the examination site from the received echo signal into display image data, a memory unit 105 for storing display image data, and display image data A display unit 106 for displaying, an operation panel unit 107 for operating the apparatus, and a control unit 108 for controlling each unit so as to function as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  In addition, the control unit 108 electronically receives examination order information, such as an external network such as a hospital information system (HIS) network 109, and a network I / F (data transmission / reception from the HIS network 109). Interface) section 110, CPU section 111 for controlling the entire ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 100, and inspection order information receiving section for storing inspection order information received from HIS network 109 via network I / F 110 and analyzing the contents thereof 112, an examination list creation unit 113 that displays a list of parts and examination items to be examined on the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 100 based on examination order information, and an examination part image corresponding to the examination part or examination item Inspection part display control unit 114 to be controlled, and inspection part Are composed of an inspection protocol database (DB) unit 115 in which inspection items, inspection procedures, and inspection methods defined in the above are described, and a region probe image database (DB) unit 116 in which region images and probe images corresponding to the inspection region are stored Is done.

  The examination protocol DB unit 115 stores and saves examination items, examination procedures corresponding to the examination items, determination criteria for examination results, and the like for each organ or organ to be examined or for each examination form. .

  In the part probe image DB unit 116, information on specific operation of the ultrasonic probe 102 corresponding to each classification of the form and size of the applicable ultrasonic probe 102 and the scanning method for the part to be examined. Is stored and saved. This accumulated and stored information includes past acquired data as a reference case for each case or each part.

  The examination list creation unit 113 searches the examination protocol DB unit 115 for the examination item of the part to be examined, and acquires the body mark image to be examined from the part probe image DB unit 116 as necessary. Thereafter, the examination list is displayed on the display unit 106 via the examination site display control unit 114.

  The examination part display control unit 114 performs control for causing the display unit 106 to display information acquired from the examination protocol DB part 115 and the part probe image DB part 116 via the control CPU part 111.

  FIG. 2 shows the operation and processing procedure of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, a description will be given of the case where the presence / absence of the examination order information is confirmed, and if there is, the ultrasonic examination of the subject and the acquisition of the examination data based on this.

  First, in step S201, it is confirmed whether there is inspection order information received from the HIS network 109 via the network I / F 110. If there is no inspection order information sent via the external network (S201: No), the inspection engineer who is the operator can check the operation from the TCS (Touch Command Screen) installed on the operation panel unit 107 or the display unit 106. The patient information of the sample 101 is input (S202). Then, the examination order information of the subject 101 to be examined is input to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (S203). When the examination order information is input, the examination list creation unit 113 creates an item list of further divided examination parts. The inspection item list is automatically created by searching the inspection protocol DB unit 115 (S204).

  On the other hand, when the test order information comes in via the external network (S201: Yes), the test order information receiving unit 112 reads the subject information and the test order information from the received test order information data, and stores the information. The data is sent to the examination list creation unit 113. When the examination order information is input, the examination list creation unit 113 creates a further subdivided examination item list. For example, when an examination site such as the cervix is designated by the doctor in charge, the examination list creation unit 113 searches the examination protocol DB unit 115 for examination items subdivided such as the upper carotid artery, the lower carotid artery, and the left and right carotid arteries. Get by. Further, in order to display the body mark image corresponding to the examination site, the site probe image DB unit 116 is searched to obtain a desired body mark image, and the result is transmitted to the examination site display unit 114, thereby displaying the display unit 106. Details of the inspection order information are displayed at (S205).

  3 is an example of a display screen of examination order information displayed on the display unit 106. FIG. 3A is a list shape screen, FIG. 3B is a two-dimensional shape screen, and FIG. Each example of a dimension shape screen is shown. For example, in FIG. 3A, the patient ID and the name of the doctor in charge are shown at the top of the list, and the detailed item 31 of the examination site and the additional instruction 32 from the doctor in charge are described on the left side of the list.

  In FIG. 3B, in addition to the list of FIG. 3A, a two-dimensional body mark 33 acquired from the part probe image DB unit 116 is additionally displayed. Further, switches indicating the progress of the examination, here check boxes 34a to 34f, are displayed for each examination region. The check boxes 34a to 34f indicate, for example, the examination parts to be examined this time in white display of 34a and 34b, and the examination parts not to be examined this time in gray display of 34c to 34f.

  The determination of whether or not to perform an examination this time is automatically determined from the received examination order information, and can be changed at the discretion of the examination engineer, for example, from the menu of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100. By clicking one of the check boxes 34a to 34f corresponding to the inspection item 31 to be started, the inspection of the inspection region corresponding to the check box is started. At the end of the inspection, check boxes 34a and 34b to be inspected are checked. Alternatively, a check mark is automatically added in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100. Thereby, it can be confirmed that the examination of the examination site is completed. In order to indicate that the inspection is being performed, for example, the check box can be displayed in a different color such as blue, so that the inspection can be easily recognized.

  In FIG. 3C, an examination site by a three-dimensional image is shown. Thus, by displaying the internal blood vessels and the like, the examination site can be easily recognized. Further, buttons (or toggle buttons) 36a and 36b are displayed here as switches indicating the inspection state.

  In this button display, the inspection state such as during inspection, completion of inspection, inspection target part, inspection non-target part, etc. is displayed in a different color or a combination of button-shaped unevenness state. Note that the display example shown in FIG. 3 can be modified by various combinations.

  When displaying a two-dimensional or three-dimensional body mark as shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, a part image described in the examination order information is retrieved from the part probe image DB unit 116. It is acquired and displayed on the screen of the display unit 106.

  As described above, for example, in FIG. 3B, the ultrasound image examination of the upper left carotid artery is started by clicking the check box 34a for the examination site displayed on the display unit 106 (S206). A display example of examination support displayed on the display unit 106 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a display example for the upper carotid artery, and FIG. 4B shows a display example for the lower limb cross section.

  If the inspection engineer is not yet proficient in the inspection and is not confident in the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the display of the operation method is selected (S207: Yes).

  Then, a detailed inspection operation method, procedure, or inspection position or probe handling method for the inspection target part clicked on the check box is displayed. That is, the probe image 41 is read from the part probe image DB unit 116, and the probe image 41 is superimposed on the image of FIG. 3C, and an image 42 as shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the screen of the display unit 106. (S208).

  Since the probe images 41 are superimposed and displayed in this way, the laboratory technician who performs the operation clearly sees what kind of probe should be used from what angle and in what direction with respect to the neck. Understandable.

  Here, another specific example of the operation method display will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, when inspecting the venous blood vessel of the lower limb, the height position of the venous blood vessel inspection of the lower limb, the venous running direction, and the contact mounting direction of the ultrasonic probe 102 are indicated by an illustration. The degree of pressing when performing the milking operation is instructed by the image 43 showing the ultrasonic probe 102. This instruction displays, for example, a three-stage instruction from “weak” to “strong” for the pressurization condition. In this case, the display color of the probe image 43 can be changed to, for example, green, yellow, and red, or the size of the probe image 43 can be displayed as small, medium, or large to indicate to the operator. The information displayed here provides educational support for inexperienced laboratory technicians by displaying not only an image showing the operation method, but also a description of the examination site and examples of ultrasound images to be examined. It may be possible to master the ultrasonic examination. The display of the operation method also has a meaning of indicating a standard operation method to an inspection engineer who is skilled in operation, and as a result, has an advantage that leads to a homogeneous diagnosis.

  Ultrasound image data acquired with the same examination items in the past may be accumulated and stored in advance in association with the examination protocol DB unit 115 and the part probe image DB unit 116, and these may be configured as a past case database. In addition, if examination image data of the same test acquired in the past of the subject is also saved, the past image of the same subject may give the operator more suggestions for probe position operation. The significance of doing is high.

  If it is not necessary to display the operation method such as a skilled inspection engineer, the process advances from No in step S207 to step S209, and step S208 is skipped.

  In step S209, when the target inspection item is completed, as shown in FIG. 3B, by checking in the check item check boxes 34a and 34b, it is input that the inspection for the inspection item is completed. To do. This inspection end input may be automatically performed when the inspection is completed in accordance with a designated procedure.

  Further, in step S210, it is determined whether all items instructed to be inspected have been completed and all switches have been checked, that is, whether or not the inspection has been completed. If not (S210: No), that is, if there is a “remaining inspection”, the process returns to step S206 to perform an incomplete inspection. When the inspection results of all the inspection items that have been instructed are obtained (S210: Yes), the loop processing for performing the inspection ends.

  In the next step S211, for example, the display unit 106 indicates that a check mark is displayed in the check boxes 34a and 34b as to whether an important part to be performed in the carotid artery examination as shown in FIG. Check on the display screen. If necessary, this is printed out as a record of inspection completion. As a result, the inspection engineer who has performed the inspection has an effect of confirming the inspection omission in the inspection, and becomes a report created by the inspection engineer at the end of the inspection.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, when the check box 34b is not checked, a warning that all inspections are not completed can be displayed on the screen of the display unit 106 at the time of printing. is there.

  Finally, in step S212, the examination completion report is submitted via the HIS network 109 to the doctor requesting the examination. In the description of the above embodiment, the case where there are two inspection items has been described. However, it is possible to perform the same for three or more inspection items.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, even when an inspection request has a large number of inspection items, the entire inspection item list is organized to indicate the inspection site, the type of probe, and the contact with the test object. Since the method is illustrated with illustrations and the like, the inspection method can be unified, and an unskilled inspection engineer can perform and maintain a high-quality ultrasonic inspection.

  In addition, because it has a switch that can confirm the end of the inspection for each inspection item, it is possible to prevent inspection omissions and eliminate the complexity of creating a report after the inspection, making the entire inspection and reporting work more efficient. Can be

  Furthermore, the operation procedure of the ultrasonic inspection and the information transmission such as the reception of the inspection order information and the transmission of the inspection report are processed in cooperation through the network, so that it can be carried out quickly and accurately.

  Therefore, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to guarantee a uniform inspection content regardless of the field of experience or years of experience of the inspection engineer's inspection work, and further shorten the inspection report creation time and increase the number of inspections. Can be planned.

  In step S212 of the above embodiment, a report that has been inspected is submitted via the HIS network. However, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to submit this report. In the above embodiment, the inspection order information is obtained through the HIS network. However, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to obtain inspection order information using the HIS network. Furthermore, in the present invention, the inspection order information does not necessarily have to be obtained via a network.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. As long as the technical idea of the present invention is used, these modified examples are also included in the present invention.

100: ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
101 ... Subject,
102 ... ultrasonic probe,
103 ... transmission / reception unit,
104 ... scan converter section,
105: Memory unit,
106 ... display section,
107 ... operation panel section,
108 ... control unit,
109 ... HIS network,
110: Network interface,
111... Control CPU unit,
112 ... Inspection order information receiving unit,
113 ... Examination list creation part,
114 ... examination site display control unit,
115 ... inspection protocol database (DB) section,
116... Site probe image database (DB) section.

Claims (6)

A test order information receiving unit for receiving test order information of a subject via a network ;
Analyzing the examination order information received by the examination order information receiving unit, and outputting an examination part and examination items necessary for the examination,
And demonstrates inspection method support unit an operation method suitable for the inspection before Symbol inspection site and the inspection item is output from the examination list creation unit,
An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves toward the imaging target in the subject; and
A transmitter / receiver for driving the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves and receiving a reflected signal from the subject;
An image data generation unit that generates a subject internal image from a reception signal obtained by the transmission / reception unit;
A display unit for displaying the object internal image generated by the image data generation unit and the operation method specified by the examination method support unit;
An inspection report unit for reporting the inspection progress of the inspection item with respect to the inspection order information via a network;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: Wherein the display unit, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that superimpose the illustration of the operation procedures and the subject within the image. The examination list creation unit is a database capable of searching for detailed examination items from examination sites described in the examination order information;
A database capable of searching for a body mark image in which an examination part and an examination item are associated;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: The inspection method support unit includes a database that can search for the type of probe to be used, the operation direction of the probe, the degree of pressurization of the probe, and the inspection procedure associated with the inspection item;
A database capable of searching for tomographic images, tomographic schematic diagrams, or past tomographic images of the subject itself, in which the examination region and examination items are associated;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the inspection report unit is provided with a switch that displays an inspection progress corresponding to the inspection item. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the examination report unit is configured to allow an operator to input to a switch that displays the examination progress.