JPH05108733A - Data management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a data management device in which processing efficiency with respect to the specification and the retrieval of desired picture data can be improved by reducing the number of data bases by managing concentrically information related to a large quantity of the picture data stored in plural storage devices by a small number of the data bases. CONSTITUTION:This data management device is characterized by being provided with plural storage devices 1a, 1b to store a large quantity of the picture data, a means to input the information for specifying the desired picture data from among all the picture data stored in the storage devices 1a, 1b, and the data base 2 to specify the storage device 1a or the storage device 1b in which the desired picture data is stored on the basis of this information, and read out the desired picture data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data management device for managing a large number of image data obtained by various modalities and distributed and stored in a plurality of storage devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there are many kinds of medical image (hereinafter referred to as "image") data obtained by a medical image acquisition apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. Medical image archiving / communication system (Picture Archivin
g and Communication System for Medical applicatino
n; PACS) has come into use. This PAC
S is a storage device that stores various types of image data, a database that includes various directories / tables for specifying desired image data from the various types of image data, and is arranged on the user side. Enter the display purpose,
It comprises a workstation for displaying image data that matches the display purpose and a communication device for transmitting and receiving the image data. Here, the image data is composed of image information representing an image and incidental information such as a patient name incidental to the image information, and items forming various directories / tables include information extracted from the incidental information and accumulation. Address information or the like indicating the position is written.

Since the storage device may be added as the number of image data increases, a distributed type is usually adopted. Further, since the database is provided corresponding to each of the distributed and arranged storage devices, the number of the storage devices needs to be distributed and the number of storage devices depends on the number of storage devices. In each database, only the information about the image data stored in the corresponding storage device is managed. That is, in one database, information necessary for searching the image data stored in the corresponding one storage device is managed as a directory / table.

Here, the case of specifying certain image data, for example, image data A will be described. When the search information regarding the image data A is input from the user facing the workstation, whether the image data matching the search information exists in the directory / table stored in the first database. , And if it does not exist, the directory in the next database /
Do the same for the table. This operation is sequentially performed for all databases, and the image data A is read from the storage device.

[0005]

As described above, a high-performance and expensive distributed database is necessary depending on the number of storage devices distributed, and one database searches for one database. The maximum search processing capacity of each database cannot be fully utilized because it is for the image data stored in the storage device, and it is necessary to specify and search the desired image data for each of multiple databases. However, there is a drawback that the processing efficiency is poor.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to centrally manage information relating to a large number of image data stored in a plurality of storage devices with a small number of databases, thereby reducing the number of databases to obtain desired image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data management device capable of improving the processing efficiency related to the identification and search of.

[0007]

A data management apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of storage means for storing a large number of image data, a means for inputting an image display purpose,

An image data corresponding to the above-mentioned purpose is specified by using the information, and the image data corresponding to the object is specified. And a means for specifying from.

[0009]

According to the present invention, information relating to a large number of image data stored in a plurality of storage devices is centrally managed by a small number of databases, so that the image display purpose input from the input means can be met. It is possible to easily specify the image data and the storage device in which the image data is stored.

[0010]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a data management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This data management apparatus includes first and second X-ray CT apparatuses 4a and 4b and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 4c as modalities, and first and second accumulations for accumulating image data obtained from these modalities. Device 1a, 1b
A database 2 in which information relating to image data stored in the storage devices 1a and 1b is managed, and a display purpose for an observer to specify desired image data, and the desired image data is stored. The workstations 3a to 3g to be displayed are respectively connected to the LAN 5 via a LAN interface (not shown).

The storage device 1a stores only image data for internal medicine, and the storage device 1b stores image data for surgery, for example. The determination of this department is made by the photographer inputting the department that requested the image capturing at the time of capturing the image. The image data includes image information such as gradation of pixels directly related to image display, a patient identification number (hereinafter referred to as “patient ID”) and an examination identification number (hereinafter referred to as “examination ID”) related to the image information. ), Request department, imaging part,
It consists of additional information such as modality name and shooting method. Here, the examination ID is an identification number provided as a unit of a plurality of image data collected by a certain modality for a certain patient at the same time. Therefore, the image data specified by the inspection ID may be plural. Storage device 1a,
1b is a database 2 which will be described later and stores certain specific image data.
It is output based on the address information indicating the storage position of the image data transmitted from. The output image data is transmitted to the designated workstation and displayed.

The database 2 is provided with the image interpretation doctor assignment table shown in Table 1, the uninterpreted image inspection table shown in Table 2, and the table of the examination IDs and image addresses shown in Table 3. When the image display purpose is input from the workstation, the image data matching the image display purpose is specified by using Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3 in this order, and a storage device in which the image data is stored, for example, The storage device 1a is specified, and the address information instructing the output of the image data is output to the specified storage device 1a. In this case, the "interpretation doctor name" is input as the image display purpose.

[0014]

[Table 1]

The above-mentioned Table 1 is a table in which the image interpretation doctor is associated with the data type (modality in charge) of the image interpretation doctor. There are three types of data in this case: an image obtained by an X-ray CT apparatus, an image obtained by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and an image obtained by an ultrasonic apparatus. For example, it indicates that the image interpretation doctor A is in charge of image interpretation of an image obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus. This image interpretation doctor assignment table is preset at the time of system installation and is stored in the database 2. Of course, the number can be updated when the number of interpreting doctors increases or decreases, or when the assignment of the interpreting doctors changes. For example, when the image interpretation doctor name A is input from the workstation 3a, first, according to Table 1, the image data matching the display purpose is limited to only the X-ray CT image.

[0016]

[Table 2]

The above Table 2 is an uninterpreted image inspection table in which the inspection ID and the patient ID relating to the image data of uninterpreted images are associated with all the image data accumulated in the accumulators 1a and 1b. Since this uninterpreted inspection table is a table related to uninterpreted image data, the inspection ID of the image data for which image interpretation has been completed is deleted from the uninterpreted image inspection table at any time after completion of image interpretation, and when new image data is collected. Is newly added with the inspection ID of the image data. In this case, the examination ID consists of a modality name and a two-digit number. The examination ID is an identification name that identifies at least one image data collected for a certain patient at the same time as described above. The image data to be read from the storage device is limited to the image data obtained by the X-ray CT device in Table 1, and further, the examination ID and the patient ID of the uninterpreted X-ray CT image are limited by Table 2.

[0018]

[Table 3]

In Table 3 above, an examination ID for each patient ID and at least one image data corresponding to the examination ID are accumulated for all the image data accumulated in the accumulators 1a and 1b. A device ID that identifies the storage device that is
9 is a table in which address information of image data regarding inspection IDs is associated with each other. The image data to be read from the storage device is specified by this table 3, and the address information of the image data is sent to the storage device in which the image data is stored. Here, the image ID is a number given to each piece of image data when there are a plurality of pieces of image data specified by the inspection ID as described above.
For example, the examination ID indicates that CT01 has two pieces of image data, and the image ID number is the same examination I.
It increases according to the number of image data related to D. This Table 3 shows the examination ID of the unread image identified in Table 2 and the image data to be referred when reading the image data of the examination ID of the unread image, that is, the already read image of the patient with the examination ID of the unread image. The purpose is to specify the examination ID and to search at which storage device and at which address position the image data relating to the unexamined examination ID and the already-examined examination ID are stored. The obtained address information is sent to the storage device in which those image data are stored. For example, the examination IDs of the image data obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus with the patient ID of 0001 are CT01, CT54, and CT73, and the image data of these examination IDs are all stored in the storage apparatus with the apparatus ID of 1. Then, the address information regarding CT01, CT54, and CT73 is sent to the storage device whose device ID is "1".

The workstations 3a to 3g are provided at a plurality of observation locations. For example, workstations 3a and 3b are provided in the internal medicine room, and workstations 3c to 3d are provided in the surgical room. In addition, workstations 3e to 3g are provided in the image reading room. The workstations 3a to 3g include an input device such as a keyboard (not shown) for inputting a doctor's name such as a doctor's name, and a display device (not shown) for displaying image data read from the storage device based on the doctor's name. have. However, the name of the image interpreting doctor may be entered by using an optical reader for the bar code written on the identification card.
The image interpretation doctor name input from the input device is transmitted to the database 2 via the LAN 5. Modalities 4a-4c are
The collected image and the supplementary information about the image are transmitted to one of the storage devices 1a and 1b via the LAN 5 according to the requesting department. Next, the operation of the data management apparatus according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

First, of the modalities 4a to 4c, image data consisting of image information and incidental information obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus 4a, for example, is transmitted to one of the storage apparatuses 1a and 1b. When this image data is for internal medicine, for example, it is transmitted to the storage device 1a. The storage device 1a stores the image data, extracts the patient ID, the examination ID, and the address information from the incidental information of the image data and transmits them to the database 2.

In the database 2, the patient ID, the examination ID, and the address information transmitted from the storage device 1a and the information on which storage device these information are stored,
That is, the device ID is associated with the correspondence table shown in Table 3, and the patient ID and examination ID are further associated with the uninterpreted examination table shown in Table 2. As described above, the storage of the image data in the storage device is completed, and further the registration of various information in the correspondence table of the database is completed.

Next, an operation of calling desired image data from the storage devices 1a and 1b and displaying it on a workstation, for example, the workstation 3g, which the radiogram interpreter faces is described. However, it is assumed that the image interpretation doctor is in charge of image interpretation of an image obtained by the X-ray CT apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "CT image"). First, the image interpretation doctor A inputs his image interpretation doctor name A from the input device of the workstation 3g. This interpretation doctor name A is sent to the database 2, and the database 2 uses the correspondence table of Table 1 to obtain information that this interpretation doctor is in charge of interpretation of CT images. Next, the database 2 uses the uninterpreted image inspection table of Table 2 for the uninterpreted CT
Get the inspection ID of the image. In this case, CT73, CT74
Is. Furthermore, patient ID of these CT73, CT74,
That is, 0001 and 0002 are obtained. Next, from the correspondence table shown in Table 3, this patient ID, namely 0001,000,000
Examination ID of all CT images for 2 ie patient I
CT01, CT54, and CT73 for D; 0001
However, regarding patient ID; 0002, CT11 and CT74
Is obtained. Examination ID; CT01, CT54, and CT11
Although the image has already been read, examination ID; CT7
3. When the CT 74 is read, it is read again for reference. And CT01, CT54, CT73,
The correspondence table shown in Table 3 is used to check in which storage device each of the CT11 and CT74 image data is stored. In this case, all are stored in the storage device 1a. Therefore, examination ID; CT01, CT54, CT7
The address information of each of CT3, CT11, and CT74 is transmitted to the storage device 1a.

In the storage device 1a, the transmitted inspection I
D; CT01, CT54, CT73, CT11, CT7
4 Based on the respective address information, each image data is transmitted to the workstation 3g, and the workstation 3g stores the image data in a memory (not shown), and the incidental information included in the image data is added to the workstation. A list is displayed on a 3 g display device. Interpreter A is 1 in the supplementary information displayed in the list.
Is displayed on the display device or another display device. Various kinds of methods can be used for displaying the additional information and the image information.

As described above, according to this embodiment, information about all image data stored in a plurality of storage devices is centrally managed by a small number of databases, so that the maximum processing capacity of the databases can be sufficiently achieved. In addition to being able to be utilized, it is not necessary to sequentially perform switching of a plurality of databases at the time of specifying image data, and it is possible to carry out all at once, and the specifying processing efficiency can be improved.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Figure 2
Shows the configuration of the data management apparatus according to the present embodiment.
Here, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the workstations for internal medicine 3a, 3b are connected to a storage device 1a for storing image data for internal medicine via a LAN 5b, and the workstations for surgery 3c, 3d are connected via a LAN 5c. , Is connected to a storage device 1b that stores surgical image data. This is because the image data displayed on the internal workstations 3a and 3b is always internal image data, the internal image data is always stored on the storage device 1a, and the image data displayed on the surgical workstations 3c and 3d is It is always surgical image data, and surgical image data is always stored in the storage device 1.
stored in b, ie workstation for internal medicine 3
The range to be searched by the instructions from a and 3b is the storage device 1a.
The image data stored in the storage device 1b has no problem, and the range to be searched by the instructions from the surgical workstations 3c and 3d is limited to the image data stored in the storage device 1b. It is constructed by focusing on the fact that it does not exist. As a result, the workstations 3a and 3b, or the workstations 3c and 3d may be associated with only one of the storage devices 1a and 1b, and all the image data stored in both the storage devices 1a and 1b may be stored. Naturally, the processing efficiency is better than the case of target. However, interpretation workstations 3e, 3
The search targets for the search instructions from f and 3g are all the image data stored in both storage devices 1a and 1b as in the case of the first embodiment.

Each of the storage devices according to this embodiment has the directories / tables shown in Tables 4, 5, and 6. However, the image data managed by these directories / tables is targeted for the image data stored in the storage device, does not include the image data stored in another storage device, and is stored in another storage device. There is a directory / table for the image data stored in the storage device. When an image reading start instruction is issued from the medical or surgical workstation 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, Tables 4, 5 and 6 are read from the storage device and these tables are transmitted to each workstation. Was
The image data to be read out is specified based on these Table 4, Table 5, and Table 6.

[0029]

[Table 4]

Table 4 above shows the storage device 1a or 1
9 is a correspondence table in which an examination ID of unread image data among a plurality of image data stored in b and a patient ID of the unread image data are associated with each other. The examination IDs shown in Table 4 are deleted every time the examination IDs are read from the storage device 1a, as in Table 2, and the modalities 4a, 4
Each time image data is collected in b and 4c, it is added as a new examination ID. The same applies to the storage device 1b.

[0031]

[Table 5]

Table 5 above shows the patient ID and the storage device 1a.
4 is a correspondence table with inspection IDs related to a plurality of image data stored in. Unlike Table 4, Table 5 may be added as a new examination ID each time image data is collected by each modality 4a, 4b, 4c, but is not deleted. The same applies to the storage device 1b.

[0033]

[Table 6]

In Table 6 above, the inspection ID for the plurality of image data stored in the storage device 1a and the image I for identifying each of the plurality of image data for the same inspection ID are shown.
6 is a table in which D is associated with address information indicating storage positions of a plurality of image data stored in the storage device 1a. The same applies to the storage device 1b. In the database 2, as in the previous embodiment, Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3
Is provided.

The operation of the data management apparatus according to this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. Similar to the previous embodiment, when the image data is collected in each modality 4a, 4b, 4c, the image data is stored in one of the storage devices 1a, 1b, and various information is further stored in each correspondence table of the database. register. Here, in the storage devices 1a and 1b, at the same time as the storage of the image data,
The correspondence table shown in is updated.

Next, information for specifying desired image data is input from the workstations 3a to 3g, and the desired image data is read from the storage device and displayed. Here, when the desired image data is specified using the interpretation workstations 3e, 3f, 3g, the database 2 is used as in the previous embodiment. However, internal or surgical workstations 3a, 3b, 3c, 3
When the desired image data is specified by using d, unlike the previous embodiment, the storage device 1 is used without using the database 2.
This is carried out using Table 4, Table 5 and Table 6 existing in a and 1b. First, when an image data display instruction is issued from the internal medicine work station 3a, the image data to be read out is specified by the table 4, the table 5 and the table 6 of the storage device 1a which is uniquely associated with the internal medicine work station 3a. To do. In the storage device 1a, the patient ID of the examination ID of unread image, in this case, 0001, 0002 is obtained from Table 4, and then the patient ID 0001, 000
Get all study IDs for 2. In this case CT01,
CT54, CT73, CT11, and CT74. Next, using Table 6, examination IDs; CT01, CT54, C
The address information of the image data storage device 1a regarding T73, CT11, and CT74 is obtained, the image data is read based on the address information, and the image data is stored in the memory (not shown) of the internal medicine workstation 3a. In this case, there are two types of image data regarding the examination ID; CT01. The method of displaying on the workstation 3a for internal medicine is the same as in the previous embodiment, and various methods can be adopted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment as well, the search information relating to all the image data stored in the plurality of storage devices can be centrally managed by a small number of databases, so that one database can be managed. Since the search target is the image data stored in multiple storage devices, the maximum search processing capacity of the database can be fully utilized, and when searching for image data It is not necessary to sequentially search, and a reading instruction can be immediately given to the storage device that stores the image data, and the search processing efficiency can be improved. Also, by directly connecting the medical or surgical workstation to the medical or surgical storage device, the search target of the image data from the medical or surgical workstation is limited to the image data in each storage device. Therefore, the search processing efficiency can be further improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the image data collected by each modality is first transmitted to the storage device, and the information required by the database directory / table is transmitted from the storage device to the database. The image data may be transmitted to the database, the directory / table in the database may be obtained, and the image data may be transmitted from the database to the storage device. Alternatively, each modality may store the image data in the storage device and the directory in the database. / The information required by the table may be directly transmitted.
Further, in the above embodiment, the databases are provided outside the plurality of storage devices, but one of the storage devices may be provided with a database for all the image data stored in the plurality of storage devices. Good. Furthermore, the directory / table of the database is not limited to the directory / table of the format as in the above embodiment, and may be set arbitrarily.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of databases can be reduced by centrally managing information regarding all image data stored in a plurality of storage devices with a small number of databases. Thus, it is possible to provide a data management device capable of improving the processing efficiency regarding the specification and search of desired image data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data management device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data management device according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b ... Storage device, 2 ... Database, 3a-3g
... workstations, 4a to 4c ... image collecting devices, 5
... LAN.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of accumulating means for accumulating a large number of image data, a means for inputting an image display purpose, and information about the large number of image data, wherein the image data corresponding to the purpose is stored as the information. A data management device, comprising: a storage unit which is specified by using the storage unit and which further specifies a storage unit in which the image data is stored from the plurality of storage units.