KR100393020B1 - Ultrasonic diagnostic system generating the same image as that of the source system and remote diagnostic method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic system that enables the remote image system to recover the same data as the original image information source.

Ultrasonic imaging systems require specialized training for excellent diagnostic tools or imaging to provide visual information for the diagnosis of various diseases, and in particular, it is difficult to accurately decipher where local fat or medical staff are not equipped.

The present invention enables to output the image information captured by the ultrasound to another image monitor, so that there is no distortion of the image when the information is transmitted so that accurate data can be delivered to a specialist without damaging the information captured by the ultrasound imaging system. In order to store the image information, the geometric information of the image is stored together. Therefore, after the image information data is transmitted, the specialist who wants to read the image information is restored by the geometric information when reading, thereby providing the image information having the correct length or area to ensure the accuracy of the reading.

Description

Ultrasonic diagnostic system generating the same image as that of the source system and remote diagnostic method}

The present invention relates to an ultrasound image diagnosis system capable of restoring the same image information as the source image information by a remote image restoration system.

Ultrasound diagnosis system is used in various ways because it can visually observe inside the human body when diagnosing various diseases. However, the accurate diagnosis of the degree of the disease by decoding the ultrasound image is possible only by a specialist in the field. Moreover, in the case of serious diseases, a great deal of judgment is required for the treatment according to the diseases. It is not a problem if specialists with such professional judgments are scattered throughout the country, but most of them are concentrated in large cities, and in some cases, they are needed in areas where specialists in a particular field are difficult to reach. Judgment is demanded by transmitting the data information to the urgent transportation means such as courier service. In recent years, the development of a communication means called the Internet transmits these information by e-mail, or more developed, by transmitting the image information itself in real time to judge directly by viewing the screen remotely.

Among them, the most advanced real-time image diagnosis method is recognized as suitable. However, if the image data captured by the diagnostic means such as ultrasound is transmitted by the communication means, when the restored image information is restored, the exact information of the lesion area (for example, shape, depth, and measurement boundary plane) is seen even if the original image is still seen. , Pixel size, etc.) are distorted and transmitted. Therefore, when judging based on the transmitted image information, the size, depth, etc. of a lesion may be wrongly determined. For example, a cancerous part or a rupture of a blood vessel can not be accurately judged, and sometimes a fatal misjudge is caused to a patient.

In order to solve such a disadvantage in the past, a computer or the like can be connected to a type of ultrasonic device by a LAN, and transmitted or stored using a special protocol (eg, DICOM). This is not possible to transmit to the outside or there is a disadvantage that can not be seen offline. In addition, since installation and maintenance requires a considerable cost, it is almost impossible to use in small hospitals such as clinics. Therefore, the only way to send remotely is to print out the printer or send it off-line as a file.

The present invention provides generalized information such as Internet e-mail, which is common to a remote doctor directly from an ultrasound diagnosis system by means of a communication means installed on the ultrasound apparatus itself and image information data including clinical information taken by an image diagnosis system such as ultrasound. It is to be delivered by communication means. The received image information data or clinical data is used to restore the original information as it is by geometric information when restoring the image information. By restoring the same as in the professional diagnosis there is no mistake.

1 is a view showing the overall configuration of the present invention,

2 is a configuration diagram of a user interface of the present invention;

3 is an exemplary diagram of a video data information structure of the present invention;

4 is a flow chart for retrieving and outputting image data information of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: image signal processing unit 130: user interface 140: communication interface

150: server IMG: video data GI: geometric information

200: data processing storage unit 250: ultrasonic image processing unit

In general, the ultrasonic diagnostic system controls the digital ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to a user's command through the control panel 20 in the main CPU 10, and the transmitter 30 has N arrays in the form of an array to form an ultrasonic image. Transmit pulses are applied to the ultrasonic transducer, and the receiver 40 receives signals reflected from the object (human body) from the transducer, thereby providing ultra-short amplification, time gain compensation, and anti-aliasing. In order to maximize the resolution of the ultrasound image, the reception focusing unit 50 performs dynamic focusing of the output signals from the reception unit 40 with respect to all image points, and the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60. Performs various signal processing in the high frequency and baseband required to obtain various images from the signal focused from the reception focusing unit, and scans with a CF (color flow) processor 70 Butter 80 receives the output signal from the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 to implement a two-dimensional CF image and B-mode image, the Doppler processor 90 is the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 and C / ECG (continuous wave / ElectorCadioGram) outputs the spectral Doppler waveform by receiving the output signal from the unit 95 and the image / audio signal processing unit 100 outputs from the CF processor 70, the scan converter 80 and the doppler processor 90. Is configured to signal-process an image / audio signal or the like and output a signal to a recording unit 15 for screen / speaker or recording.

In the above-described ultrasonic image diagnosis system, image data is stored in the recording unit 15 by various storage devices, and this data signal has no problem when outputted from its own system, but images may be identical when outputted by other systems. Depending on the type of system, the shape, depth, measurement boundary, pixel size, and color bit information of the transducer appearing in the image can be reproduced with slight differences.

The present invention allows the main CPU 10 to control the digital ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to a user's command through the control panel 20, and the transmitter 30 has N arrays of ultrasonic transducers having an array to form an ultrasound image. The transmitter 40 applies a transmission pulse to the receiver, and the receiver 40 receives signals reflected from the object (human body) from the conversion element and filters for ultra-short amplification, time gain compensation, and anti-aliasing. In order to maximize the resolution of the ultrasound image, the reception focusing unit 50 dynamically focuses the output signals from the reception unit 40 on all image points, and the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 performs the reception focusing unit. Performs various signal processing at high frequency and baseband required to obtain various images from the focused signal from the CF, and the CF (color flow) processor 70 and the scan converter 80 are ultrasonic echo Receiving the output signal from the receiver 60 to implement a two-dimensional CF image and B-mode image, the Doppler processor 90 of the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 and CW / ECG (Continous Wave / Elector Cadio Gram) unit 95 The spectral Doppler waveform is applied to the output signal, and the image / audio signal processing unit 100 processes the image / audio signal output from the CF processor 70, the scan converter 80, and the Doppler processor 90. In the ultrasonic image processing system configured to output a signal to the screen / speaker output device (M) or the recording unit 15 for recording,

By installing a separate operation key on the control panel, when storing the ultrasound image information, it saves the geometric information about the image together with the general image data.

Ultrasonic image information and geometric information are transmitted in real time by a remote computer connected by a wired or wireless communication line, and the present invention relates to a new ultrasonic diagnostic system that is configured to be directly observed with a remote monitor or to download and view stored image data through an internet connection from a remote site.

Specifically, the data information processed by the image signal processing unit 100 is used by the ultrasonic data processing program 115 of the present invention to separate the geometric information GI together with the image data IMG and the header or footer side of the image data. Ultrasonic image processing unit 250 attached to,

Data processing storage unit 200 for storing the processed ultrasound image in a database (DB) by a database management system (DBMS),

Communication interface unit 140 to be contacted by the user interface 130 and the wired and wireless communication network (Net) for the data processing storage unit,

The present invention relates to a new ultrasonic image processing system including a server 150 that controls transmission and reception for transmission and reception of image information for a remote user connected to the communication interface unit 140.

The user interface 130 connected to the ultrasonic image processing system of the present invention by a wired or wireless communication network includes a general central processing unit (CPU), a ROM storing basic hardware information, a temporary memory storage device (RAM), and an OS program 160. , An image signal processing device 170 such as a video card, an input device 180 such as a keyboard or a mouse, a storage device 190 such as a hard disk for storing a large amount of information and programs, and an output device such as a monitor or a printer ( 195) and a communication device 185, such as a modem, is built in, and the data of the image data IMG and the geometric information GI transmitted by the server 150 is stored in the database of the storage device 190 ( DB), which is stored by DBMS, and allows the CPU to read the stored data to construct and output image data (IMG) based on the stored geometric information (GI). Stage 210 has been built-in user interface 130 is built. In the present invention, the geometric information (GI) refers to data for image configuration such as the shape, depth, measurement boundary, pixel size, color bit information, etc. of the probe among data measured from the initial ultrasonic imaging apparatus. Therefore, by recording these geometric information together in the header or footer portion of the image data (IMG), data is stored as a single piece of information, and the ultrasonic image processing means 210 installed when the information is transmitted to the remote user interface 130. Image data (IMG) is reproduced by a general graphic program playback process, but image size, boundary of important lesions, pixel size, and color are reproduced in the same way as the original based on the information of geometric information (GI). It is. Apart from this information, reports such as measurement date and patient history can be sent together.

In the present invention, the server 150 has a built-in server to meet the needs of the user 130 by telnet (mail), mail, FTP, as well as the requirements of the general worldwide web browser, C on request of the above means CGI server (CGI) for executing data retrieval and authentication according to server's request to be able to operate according to programs composed by various CGI languages such as Perl, pHp, VB, Java, Javascript, etc. as well as C ++. It is built.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the image data IMG inputted by the ultrasonic imaging system is provided with the geometric information GI in the header part or the footer part. When the data is restored, the original photographing structure can be reproduced as it is.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a diagnostic method that enables the sharing of data and real-time retrieval, storage, and diagnosis by wired / wireless communication lines between an ultrasonic image processing system and a remote user by the ultrasonic image processing system. .

Specifically, in addition to the one-way transfer of the stored data to the user by a wired or wireless communication network (Net), the access step 500 is connected to the user 130 by using a public communication network using the Internet network,

An output step 600 for outputting document data of a form form for inputting an input screen of information such as an ID or a password for a user by a web server on the server 150;

When the user's ID or password is entered and submitted, the user calls the CGI program 220 produced in C ++, Perl, ASP, php, etc., and the server recognizes that the requested document is a CGI program and executes it as programmed. Authentication step 700 to determine whether or not the normal user by searching in the stored user database by the operation of the DBMS according to the database connection command of the data transferred to the variable,

List output step 800 for outputting a list of data on the database to select the desired data in the user interface if the normal user,

When the user selects and submits certain data, the image data (IMG) and geometric information (GI) are output from the selected database and returned to the server 150 (900).

The server 150 transmits the returned image data and the geometric information to the user interface 130 (1000),

The CPU of the user interface 130 stores the transmitted data in the database DB in the storage device 190 by the DBMS, and reads the image information from the database DB by the ultrasonic image processing means 210. The present invention provides a remote diagnosis method comprising an image output step 1100 configured to output the image data IMG based on the geometric information GI and output the image data IMG to the output device 195.

In the present invention, the remote diagnosis method may be operated by the CGI request from the user interface 130 as described above. However, when the remote diagnosis is connected to each other by a dedicated line that guarantees a sufficient transmission speed, the remote diagnosis method may be applied to the ultrasonic image processing system from the ultrasonic image processing system. The data is transmitted in real time through the direct communication interface and output to the user interface.

In the present invention, in addition to playing the transmitted image data (IMG) and geometric information (GI), the ultrasonic image processing means 210 installed in the remote user interface 130 also has a method of storing these information by database. Provided, the user can extract the desired information from the classified and stored database to be used at any time.

The ultrasonic image processing system of the present invention is an image signal (IMG) transmitted from a measurement site when a user who is familiar with a certain method, even a non-professional user, transmits an ultrasonic image using a public communication network in a remote place that lacks a specialist. Not only the shape, depth, measurement boundary, pixel size, and color bit information of various transducers are transmitted together, but also reproduced as an image by a constant ultrasonic image processing means 210, which is the same as that taken directly by the patient. Information will be available to specialists. In addition, the information is stored in a database rather than a real-time transmission of the image, but the storage state retains the information of the original, so that even if the playback is repeated, there is no risk that the specialist will interfere with the diagnosis or misjudge. .

Claims (4)

The main CPU 10 controls the digital ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to a user's command through the control panel 20, and the transmitter 30 transmits pulses to N ultrasonic transducers having an array in order to form an ultrasonic image. The receiver 40 receives the signals reflected from the object (human body) from the conversion element and performs filters for ultra-short amplification, time gain compensation, and anti-aliasing. In order to maximize the resolution of the ultrasound image, the reception focusing unit 50 dynamically focuses the output signals from the reception unit 40 with respect to all image points, and the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 is focused from the reception focusing unit. Various signal processing is performed at high frequency and baseband required to obtain various images from the signal. The CF (color flow) processor 70 and the scan converter 80 output the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60. 2D CF image and B-mode image are implemented by receiving the output signal, and the Doppler processor 90 receives the output signals of the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 and the CW / ECG (Continous Wave / ElectorCadioGram) unit 95. The spectral Doppler waveform is implemented and the image / audio signal processing unit 100 processes the image / audio signal output from the CF processor 70, the scan converter 80, and the Doppler processor 90 to output the screen / speaker. In the ultrasonic image processing system configured to output a signal to the device M or the recording unit 15 for recording, Data information processed by the image / audio signal processing unit 100 is transferred to the header or footer side of the image data along with the image data IMG by the ultrasonic data processing program 115 of the present invention. Ultrasonic image processing unit 250 to attach, Data processing storage unit 200 for storing the processed ultrasound image in the database (DB) by the DBMS (database management system) (120), Communication interface unit 140 for making contact with the user interface 130 to the data processing storage by a wired or wireless communication network (Net), Server 150 for controlling the transmission and reception for the transmission and reception of the image information for the user of the remote location connected to the communication interface unit 140, Central processing unit (CPU), ROM for storing basic hardware information, temporary memory storage (RAM), OS program 160, video signal processing unit 170 such as a video card, input device such as keyboard or mouse ( 180), the storage device 190 such as a hard disk for storing a large amount of information and programs, an output device 195 such as a monitor or a printer, and a communication device 185 such as a modem, the built-in server, Data stored by the DBMS in the database (DB) of the storage device 190, the data consisting of the image data (IMG) and the geometric information (GI) delivered by the 150, and the stored data to be read by the CPU Ultrasonic image processing system comprising a user interface (130) with an ultrasonic image processing means 210 for constructing and outputting the image data (IMG) based on the information of the metric information (GI). The method of claim 1, The user interface 130, which is connected to the ultrasonic image processing system by a wired or wireless communication network, includes a general central processing unit (CPU), a ROM for storing basic hardware information, a temporary memory storage device (RAM), an OS program 160, and a video card. Image signal processing device 170, such as an input device 180, such as a keyboard or mouse, storage device 190, such as a hard disk for storing a large amount of information and programs, output device 195, such as a monitor or printer, In addition, a built-in communication device 185 such as a modem and the like, the ultrasonic image processing processing to read the image data (IMG) and the geometric information (GI) from the information transmitted from the ultrasonic image processing system to output in a specified form Ultrasonic image processing system, characterized in that the means 210 is built. The main CPU 10 controls the digital ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to a user's command through the control panel 20, and the transmitter 30 transmits pulses to N ultrasonic transducers having an array in order to form an ultrasonic image. The receiver 40 receives the signals reflected from the object (human body) from the conversion element and performs filters for ultra-short amplification, time gain compensation, and anti-aliasing. In order to maximize the resolution of the ultrasound image, the reception focusing unit 50 dynamically focuses the output signals from the reception unit 40 with respect to all image points, and the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 is focused from the reception focusing unit. Various signal processing is performed at high frequency and baseband required to obtain various images from the signal. The CF (color flow) processor 70 and the scan converter 80 output the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60. 2D CF image and B-mode image are implemented by receiving the output signal, and the Doppler processor 90 receives the output signals of the ultrasonic echo processing unit 60 and the CW / ECG (Continous Wave / ElectorCadioGram) unit 95. The spectral Doppler waveform is implemented and the image / audio signal processing unit 100 processes the image / audio signal output from the CF processor 70, the scan converter 80, and the Doppler processor 90 to output the screen / speaker. In addition to the data stored by the ultrasonic image processing system configured to output a signal to the apparatus M or the recording unit 15 for recording, the user 130 is transmitted to the public network in a unilateral manner. A connection step 500 for accessing using an internet network, An output step 600 for outputting document data of a form form for inputting an input screen of information such as an ID or a password for a user by a web server on the server 150; When the user's ID or password is entered and submitted and the user calls the CGI program 220, the server recognizes that the requested document is a CGI program and executes it as programmed to execute the program according to the database connection command among the data transferred to the variable. Authentication step 700 to determine whether or not the normal user by searching in the stored user database by the operation of the DBMS, List output step 800 for outputting a list of data on the database to select the desired data in the user interface if the normal user, When the user selects and submits certain data, the image data (IMG) and geometric information (GI) are output from the selected database and returned to the server 150 (900). The server 150 transmits the returned image data and the geometric information to the user interface 130 by a wired / wireless communication network (1000), The CPU of the user interface 130 stores the transmitted data in the database DB in the storage device 190 by the DBMS, and reads the image information from the database DB by the ultrasonic image processing means 210. And an image output step (1100) configured to output the image data (IMG) based on the geometric information (GI) and output the image data (IMG) to the output device (195). The method of claim 3, wherein In the remote diagnosis method, data by the ultrasound image processing unit of the ultrasound image processing system is transmitted in real time through the direct communication interface 140 by the CGI request from the user interface 130 to the storage device 190 of the user interface 130. The image data IMG, which is stored and transmitted at the same time, is reproduced by the ultrasonic image processing unit 210 based on the geometric information GI to output the same image information as the original measurement source of the ultrasonic measurement system in real time. Remote diagnosis method by ultrasonic system.