JP2000316816A - Medical system and image information control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily acquire medical image data by outputting a retrieval result of image information after receiving a retrieval request of an image display device, and transferring an image acquisition request to image servers based on image server information after receiving the image acquisition request of the image display device. SOLUTION: The memory section 2 of an image information control device 1 stores image information and image server information as a database, and the image information collecting means 31 of a controller 3 collects the image information of medical image data from image servers SV1-SVn and stores the image information in the memory section 2 together with image server information. An image information retrieving means 32 retrieves the image information of the memory section 2 after receiving the retrieval request of an image display device V and transmits a retrieval result to the image display device V. An image acquisition requiring means 33 transfers an image acquisition request to desired image servers SV1-SVn based on the image server information of the memory section 2 after receiving the image acquisition request from the image display device V.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medical system and an image information management apparatus capable of easily acquiring image information of medical image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, DICOM (Digi
In accordance with the “Tal Imaging and Communications in Medicine” standard, numbers, patient information, and the like are stored in image servers as medical image data instead of films such as X-rays. Such a device is described in, for example, “Medical Image Server ImageARQS”, Yokogawa Technical Report, Vo
l. 40 No. 3 (1996) pp. 123-126
(ImageARQS is a registered trademark of Yokogawa Electric Corporation). The DICOM standard is for connecting various devices via a network across the boundaries of manufacturers and models, and is a standard for mutually exchanging various medical images and their accompanying information.

[0003] Such an apparatus is shown in FIG. 4 and is described below. In the figure, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus GZ1, an MR (magnetic resonance) apparatus GZ2, and an X-ray apparatus GZ3 are medical imaging apparatuses connected to a network L, and medical image data as a result of imaging are registered in a medical image data. The medical image data is stored in the image server SV, which is a storage device, by adding image information such as a photographing date.
The image display device V is connected to the network L, calls and displays medical image data corresponding to a name or the like from the image server SV.

[0004] The operation of such a device will be described below.
CT device GZ1, MR device GZ2, X-ray device GZ
3 images a patient, attaches image information such as a name to medical image data, and sends the image
Stored in V. When the photographing is completed, the doctor uses the image display device V to connect the image server SV via the network L.
A list of medical image data is displayed. Then, the doctor selects from the list, and according to this instruction, the image display device V
Calls medical image data from the image server SV via the network L and displays the medical image data. The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the medical image data.

[0005]

In such a system, when the number of image servers is increased due to an increase in the amount of stored images, the addition of a medical photographing device, or the like, when medical image data is displayed, a necessary medical image is displayed. The doctor has to determine which image server stores the image data and designate the image server.

In addition, when it is not known in which image server the necessary medical image data is stored, it is necessary to check all the image servers one by one.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize a medical system and an image information management device capable of easily acquiring medical image data.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a medical system provided with at least two or more image servers for storing medical image data, a medical image data retrieval request and an image acquisition request are output, and the retrieval result is displayed. And an image display device for displaying medical image data, and image information of the medical image data of the image server and image server information indicating a storage location of the medical image data are collected, and a search request for the image display device is received. An image information management device that outputs a search result of image information, receives an image acquisition request of the image display device, and transfers the image acquisition request to the image server based on the image server information. It is.

Further, the present invention provides a medical system provided with at least two or more image servers for storing medical image data, outputs a medical image data search request and an image acquisition request, displays a search result, and displays medical image data. Receiving a search request for the image display device, outputting a search request for each medical image server, receiving a search result from the medical image server, and indicating a storage location of the medical image data. An image information management device that holds image server information, outputs a search result to the image display device, receives an image acquisition request from the image display device, and transfers the image acquisition request to the image server based on the image server information. It is characterized by having.

The present invention is an image information management device for managing image information of medical image data stored in at least two or more image servers, and a storage unit for storing at least the image information of the medical image data; Image information collecting means for collecting image information of medical image data from the image server and storing the image information in the storage unit.

Further, the present invention is an image information management apparatus for managing image information of medical image data stored in at least two or more image servers, wherein the image information management apparatus receives a search request from an external device and searches for each of the image servers. An image information search unit for outputting a request and transmitting a search result from the image server to an external device is provided.

In addition, the present invention is an image information management device for managing image information of medical image data stored in at least two or more image servers, and receives a search request from an external device, The image processing apparatus further includes an image information search unit that outputs a search request to the image server based on the storage information of the image data and transmits a search result from the image server to an external device.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, image servers SV1 to SVn
Is connected to the network L and stores medical image data from a medical imaging device (not shown). Then, the image servers SV1 to SVn output image information and medical image data of medical image data in response to a search request or an image acquisition request based on the DICOM standard.

The image display device V is connected to the network L, outputs a medical image data search request and an image acquisition request according to the DICOM standard, and displays the received search result and the medical image data.

The image information management device 1 is connected to the network L, collects the image information of the medical image data of the image servers SV1 to SVn and the image server information indicating the storage location of the medical image data. Upon receiving a search request,
A search result of the image information is output, and in response to the image acquisition request of the image display device V, the image acquisition request is transferred to a desired image server SV1 to SVn based on the image server information.

The image information management device 1 includes a storage unit 2
And a control unit 3. The storage unit 2 stores the image information and the image server information as a database. Control unit 3
Is provided with an image information collection unit 31, an image information search unit 32, and an image acquisition request transfer unit 33. The image information collecting means 31 collects image information of medical image data from the image servers SV1 to SVn, and stores it in the storage unit 2 together with the image server information. Upon receiving the search request of the image display device V, the image information search means 32 searches the storage unit 2 for image information, and transmits the search result to the image display device V. The image acquisition request unit 33 receives the image acquisition request from the image display device V, and transfers the image acquisition request to a desired image server SV1 to SVn based on the image server information in the storage unit 2.

The operation of such a device will be described below.
The image information collecting unit 31 of the image information management device 1 periodically transmits, for example, at a predetermined time every day, the image server S
For each of V1 to SVn, a search request according to the DICOM standard is output on the condition of a shooting date that has not been collected yet. The image servers SV1 to SVn output search results to the image information management device 1. Upon receiving the search result, the image information collecting means 31 stores the search result (image information) and the image server information in the storage unit 2.

A doctor inputs search conditions for medical image data, for example, a name and the like to the image display device V, and instructs a search. The image display device V outputs a search request based on a name or the like to the image information management device 1. In response to the search request, the image information search unit 32 of the image information management device 1 searches the image information in the storage unit 2 and outputs the search result to the image display device V. The image display device V that has received the search result displays the search result.

When the doctor selects a desired medical image from the search results and instructs the image display device V, the image display device V acquires an image of medical image data using a unique key (defined by the DICOM standard). The request is output to the image information management device 1. In response to the image acquisition request, the image acquisition request transfer means 33 uses the unique key to store in the storage unit 2.
To obtain image server information. Based on the image server information, the image acquisition request transfer unit 33 outputs an image acquisition request using a unique key to a desired image server SV1 to SVn. The image server SV1 receiving this image acquisition request
To SVn output the medical image data corresponding to the unique key to the image display device V.

Here, the image servers SV1 to SVn that output the medical image data transmit a pending response (information such as success or failure of transmission) to the image acquisition request transfer unit 33 of the image information management device 1. . The image acquisition request transfer unit 33 transmits a pending response to the image display device V.

Then, the image display device V receives the pending response and the medical image data, and displays the medical image data.

As described above, the image information collecting means 31 collects the image information of all the image servers SV1 to SVn in advance, and the image information searching means 32 receives the search request from the image display device V and collects the image information. The image information is searched, and the search result is output to the image display device V. Further, in response to the image acquisition request of the image display device V, the image acquisition request transfer unit 33
An image acquisition request is transferred based on the image server information.
This eliminates the need for the doctor to recognize which image server SV1 to SVn the medical image data is on. That is, medical image data can be easily acquired.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and the image information collecting means 31 does not collect all the image information, but collects some of the main image information (for example, the patient's name, , The type of image photographing device) and store it in the storage unit 2. In this way, the amount of storage in the storage unit 2 can be reduced, and the number of search targets can be reduced, and search can be performed at high speed.

Another embodiment will be described below.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment. Here, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 1, an image information management device 4 is connected to a network L, receives a search request for an image display device V, searches for image information of medical image data of the image servers SV1 to SVn, and displays the search result as an image. The image is output to the display device V, and upon receiving the image acquisition request of the image display device V, the image server SV
Transfer the image acquisition request to 1 to SVn.

The image information management device 4 has a storage unit 5 and a control unit 6. The storage unit 5 stores a search result and image server information indicating a storage location of medical image data of the search result. The control unit 6 is provided with an image information search unit 61 and an image acquisition request transfer unit 62. The image information search means 61 receives the search request of the image display device V, outputs a search request for each of the image servers SV1 to SVn, and stores the search results of the image servers SV1 to SVn in the storage unit 5 together with the image server information. Then, the search result is transmitted to the image display device V. The image acquisition request transfer unit 62 includes the image display device V
And transfers the image acquisition request to the desired image server SV1 to SVn based on the image server information in the storage unit 5.

The operation of such an apparatus will be described below.
The doctor displays medical image data search conditions on the image display device V,
For example, the user inputs a name or the like and instructs a search. The image display device V outputs a search request based on a name or the like to the image information management device 4. In response to the search request, the image information management device 4
Of the image server SV1 to SVn
Outputs a search request every time. Image servers SV1 to SVn
Outputs the search result to the image information management device 4. In response to the search result, the image information search means 61 stores the search result and the image server information that has obtained the search result in the storage unit 5,
The search result is output to the image display device V. The image display device V that has received the search result displays the search result.

When the doctor selects a desired medical image from the search result and instructs the image display device V, the image display device V acquires an image of medical image data using a unique key (defined by the DICOM standard). The request is output to the image information management device 4. In response to the image acquisition request, the image acquisition request transfer unit 62 uses the unique key to
To obtain image server information. Based on the image server information, the image acquisition request transfer unit 62 outputs an image acquisition request using a unique key to a desired image server SV1 to SVn. The image server SV1 receiving this image acquisition request
SVn output the medical image data to the image display device V using the unique key.

Here, similarly to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the image servers SV1 to SVn which output medical image data transmit a pending response to the image acquisition request transfer means 62 of the image information management apparatus 4. . The image acquisition request transfer unit 62 transmits a pending response to the image display device V.

Then, the image display device V receives the pending response and the medical image data, and displays the medical image data.

As described above, the image information search means 61 receives the search request from the image display device V and receives the search request from the image server SV.
The image information of the medical image data of 1 to SVn is searched, and the search result is output to the image display device V. Further, upon receiving an image acquisition request from the image display device V, the image acquisition request transfer means 62
Transfers an image acquisition request based on the image server information of the search result. This eliminates the need for the doctor to recognize which image server SV1 to SVn the medical image data is on. That is, medical image data can be easily acquired.

Although the configuration in which the image information search means 61 outputs a search request to all the image servers SV1 to SVn has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. When the medical image data stored in the image servers SV1 to SVn is determined according to the imaging date and the type of the medical imaging apparatus, the image information search unit 61 stores the medical image data storage condition information of the image servers SV1 to SVn. (Shooting Date or Type of Medical Imaging Apparatus) Based on Desired Image Server SV1 to SV
n may be transferred to the image acquisition request. According to this configuration, if the image information is searched based on the storage condition information, it is not necessary to search all the image servers SV1 to SVn, and the search time can be reduced.

The image information search means 61 is provided in the storage unit 5
Although the configuration for storing the search result has been described above, the present invention can be implemented by storing at least only the image server information of the search result.

The image acquisition request transfer means 62 has been described to transfer the image acquisition request based on the image server information in the storage unit 5. However, the image servers SV1 to SVn are searched by the unique key, It may be configured to transfer the acquisition request.

The image information of medical image data defined by the DICOM standard describes patient information such as name and age, the type of medical imaging apparatus, examination information, and the like. Therefore, the image information collected from the image servers SV1 to SVn can be used for finding. That is, the configuration is as shown in FIG. Here, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the figure, database access means 3
Reference numeral 4 is provided in the control unit 3 and accesses a database of image information in the storage unit 2 to perform reading and writing. Finding terminal S
Is connected to the network L and exchanges data with the database access means 34 of the image information management device 1.

The operation of such an apparatus will be described below.
The doctor inputs a search condition, a patient's name, and the like to the finding terminal S, and instructs a search. The finding terminal S outputs a search request based on a name or the like to the image information management device 1. In response to the search request, the database access unit 34 of the image information management device 1 searches the database of the storage unit 2, outputs the search result to the finding terminal S, and the finding terminal S displays the search result.

Then, the doctor inputs findings to the finding terminal S. The findings at this time may be not only findings on medical images, but also findings at the time of medical examination. Finding terminal S
The findings and the like are transmitted to the image information management device 1. This finding and the like are stored in the database access unit 3 of the image information management apparatus 1.
4 is stored in the database of the storage unit 2.

Further, in the accounting system, the storage unit 2
The medical expenses can be calculated by obtaining the image information from the database. In other words, the accounting system accesses the database access unit 34 and, based on the patient's name and the like,
Information such as the type and number of images is acquired, and the medical treatment cost is calculated.

As described above, since the image information collecting means 31 collects the image information from the image servers SV1 to SVn and stores it in the storage unit 2 as a database, the external device such as the finding terminal S or the accounting system can collect the image information. Easy to use.
That is, it can be used not only for displaying images on the image display device V, but also for various information processing. Further, the external device does not need to recognize which image server SV1 to SVn is being used.

In this embodiment, the image information is stored in the storage unit 2.
Has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which image information is simply stored in the storage unit 2 is also included.

When the image information is used by the finding terminal S or the accounting system, the image server information is not required.

The configuration in which the image information collected by the image information collecting means 31 in advance is used by the external device has been described. However, the external device obtains the image information by using the image information searching means 61 shown in FIG. A configuration may be used.

[0045]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the first, second, and fifth aspects, since the image information management device collects the image information of all the image servers and the image server information in advance, the doctor can recognize which image server the medical image data is in. You don't have to. That is, medical image data can be easily acquired.

According to the third to fifth aspects, the image information management device receives the search request from the image display device, searches the image information of the medical image data of the image server, and outputs the search result to the image display device. I do. Further, in response to the image acquisition request from the image display device, the image information management device transfers the image acquisition request to the image server. This eliminates the need for the doctor to recognize which image server has the medical image data.
That is, medical image data can be easily acquired.

According to the sixth to eighth and twelfth aspects, the image information collecting means collects the image information of all the image servers in advance, so that the external device can easily use the image information. That is, it can be used for various information processing. Further, the external device does not need to recognize which image server is being used.

According to the ninth aspect, the image information collecting means includes:
Since part of the image information is collected, the storage capacity can be reduced and the search time for the image information can be shortened.

According to the tenth, eleventh and eighteenth aspects, the image information collecting means collects the image server information together with the image information. There is no need to know which image server the data is on. That is, medical image data can be easily acquired.

According to the thirteenth and fifteenth aspects, the image information retrieval means collects the image information, so that the external device can easily use the image information. That is, the image information can be used for various information processing. Further, the external device does not need to recognize which image server is being used.

According to the fourteenth aspect, the image information search means searches the image server for the image information.
The doctor does not need to know which image server has the medical image data. That is, medical image data can be easily acquired.

According to the sixteenth and seventeenth aspects, since the image information search means searches the image information of the image server based on the storage condition information, it is not necessary to search all the image servers, and the search time is reduced. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional medical system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Finding terminal SV1 to SVn Image server V Image display device 1, 4 Image information management device 2, 5 Storage unit 31 Image information collection unit 32, 61 Image information search unit 33, 62 Image acquisition request transfer unit 34 Database access unit

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. At least 2 for storing medical image data
In the medical system provided with the above image server, a medical image data search request and an image acquisition request are output,
An image display device for displaying a search result and displaying medical image data; and collecting image information of medical image data of the image server and image server information indicating a storage location of the medical image data, and searching for the image display device. Receiving a request, outputting a search result of the image information, receiving an image acquisition request of the image display device, and transmitting an image acquisition request to the image server based on the image server information. Characterized medical system. 2. An image information management device comprising: a storage unit for storing image information of medical image data and image server information; collecting image information of medical image data from an image server; and storing the image information in the storage unit together with the image server information. An image information collecting means for storing, an image information searching means for searching for image information in the storage unit in response to a search request for the image display device, and transmitting a search result to the image display device; 2. The medical system according to claim 1, further comprising an image acquisition request transfer unit that transfers an image acquisition request to a desired image server based on image server information in the storage unit. 3. At least 2 for storing medical image data
In the medical system provided with the above image server, a medical image data search request and an image acquisition request are output,
An image display device for displaying a search result and displaying medical image data; receiving a search request for the image display device, searching for image information of the medical image data of the image server, and outputting the search result to the image display device An image information management device that receives an image acquisition request from the image display device and transfers the image acquisition request to the image server. 4. An image information management device, comprising: a storage unit for storing image server information indicating a storage location of medical image data of a search result; and a search request to an image server in response to a search request of the image display device. An image information search unit that transmits a search result from the image server to the image display device and stores the image server information of the search result in the storage unit; and an image server in the storage unit that receives an image acquisition request from the image display device. 4. The medical system according to claim 3, further comprising image acquisition request transfer means for transferring an image acquisition request to a desired image server based on the information. 5. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the medical system is configured according to the DICOM standard. 6. An image information management device for managing image information of medical image data stored in at least two or more image servers, comprising: a storage unit that stores at least image information of the medical image data; An image information management device, comprising: image information collection means for collecting image information of medical image data and storing the image information in the storage unit. 7. The image information management device according to claim 6, wherein the storage unit is configured by a database. 8. An image information retrieving means for retrieving image information in a storage unit in response to a retrieval request from an external device and transmitting a retrieval result to the external device.
Described image information management device. 9. The image information management device according to claim 6, wherein the image information collection unit collects a part of the image information. 10. The image information collecting means stores image server information indicating a storage location of medical image data in a storage unit when the image information is collected.
Described image information management device. 11. An image acquisition request transfer means for receiving an image acquisition request from an external device and transferring an image acquisition request to a desired image server based on image server information in a storage unit. Item 11. The image information management device according to Item 10. 12. The image information management apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising database access means for accessing a database in response to an access request from an external device. 13. An image information management device for managing image information of medical image data stored in at least two or more image servers, wherein the image information management device receives a search request from an external device and outputs a search request for each of the image servers. An image information management apparatus comprising: an image information search unit configured to transmit a search result from an image server to an external device. 14. An image information management device which manages image information of medical image data stored by at least two or more image servers, wherein the storage unit stores image server information indicating a storage location of medical image data as a search result. Receiving a search request of the image display device, outputting a search request for each image server, transmitting a search result from the image server to the image display device, and storing image server information of the search result in the storage unit. An image information search unit, and an image acquisition request transfer unit that receives an image acquisition request from the image display device and transfers an image acquisition request to a desired image server based on image server information in the storage unit. Characteristic image information management device. 15. An image information management device that manages image information of medical image data stored in at least two or more image servers, the storage information of medical image data of the image server being received in response to a search request of an external device. An image information management device, comprising: an image information search unit that outputs a search request to an image server based on a search request, and transmits a search result from the image server to an external device. 16. An image information management apparatus for managing image information of medical image data stored in at least two or more image servers, wherein the storage unit stores image server information indicating a storage location of medical image data as a search result. Receiving a search request of the image display device, outputting a search request to the image server based on the storage condition information of the medical image data of the image server, and transmitting a search result from the image server to the image display device. An image information search unit for storing image server information of a search result in the storage unit; receiving an image obtainment request from the image display device; obtaining an image to a desired image server based on the image server information in the storage unit; An image information management device, comprising: an image acquisition request transfer unit that transfers a request. 17. The image information management apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the storage condition information is a photographing date of the medical image data or a type of the medical photographing apparatus that generates the medical image data. 18. The image information management device according to claim 6, wherein the image information management device is configured according to the DICOM standard.