JP2002117137A - Examination system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To expand the effective utilization range of a medical information database by improving efficiency in the determination and entry of an examination parameter on an examination device and improving efficiency in the retrieval of medical information in the case of diagnosis based on the examined result. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a message exchange means for exchanging messages hierarchized by plural tag names through a network, a computer or preparing keyword from the tag name or the like of the message, retrieving data stored in a data storing means and acquiring the examination parameter and patient information to be used for the examination device and a computer for disclosing the examination parameter and the patient information by a data disclosing means and the examination device acquires the disclosed examination parameter and patient information by a data acquiring means and saves them in a data storage means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a medical information system,
In particular, it relates to an examination support and a diagnosis support system using a database of medical information data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Efforts have been made to exchange medical information data among a plurality of medical institutions. In order to exchange data correctly, it is necessary to take measures such as making the databases of all the institutions the same, but it is virtually impossible to rewrite a huge amount of medical information data. Therefore, XML (Extensive Markup), one of the base languages for describing Internet-related data,
Language) based standard formats for document exchange have been proposed.

According to this proposal, data is converted into the above-mentioned standard format at the time of transmission, and data in the standard format is converted into the data format adopted by the system of each institution at the time of reception. Sex can be maintained. As such a standard format, HL7 (Health Level 7) of the American HL7 Association is well-known, and since version 3.0, X has been adopted for international standardization.
We are considering how to deal with ML.

As a base language for expressing Internet-related data, HTML (Hyper Text Markup L) is used.
anguage) is widely adopted, but XML allows you to define the name of the tag (element name) that indicates the content of the data yourself, so it is possible to express general data as well as Internet pages, It is employed in both human-viewed documents and computer-understandable data.

[0005] A second advantage of describing data using XML is that the XML document itself functions as a database. If XML tags are used, a structural search can be performed, and a database shared by medical institutions in the region can be realized.

An example of a database of medical information data using a standard format based on XML is described in Document 1 (Document 1: Object-oriented medical information database with MML interface, 19th publication).
Proceedings of the Alliance for Medical Informatics, pp. 804-805 (19
99)). Here, the MML (Medical Markup Lan)
guage) is one of the standards considered by the Electronic Medical Record Study Group of the Japan Society for Medical Information Science to exchange medical data between different medical institutions.

Focusing on the medical record capability of the MML, implementation experiments of a database system that can store patient information for a long term and can be used jointly by a plurality of institutions have been conducted. In the above system, patient information sent from different hospitals is classified into patient units and registered in a database in chronological order.
In the recorded data, the purpose of MML instance generation, instance logger, diagnosis history, allergy information, lifestyle habits, sample test results, image diagnosis results, and prescriptions are included so that medical history can be grasped efficiently. You can follow in sequence. Medical history and data can be displayed on the Web browser screen of the client.

[0008]

However, since the database according to the prior art is basically an electronic medical record database for storing patient information, the range in which data is actively utilized has been limited. For example, in the database system described in Document 1, allergy information, lifestyle, and the like are included in the patient information. If the test parameters reflect such patient-specific allergy information or test parameters used in past tests,
Improvement of inspection efficiency can be expected.

In addition, in the above-described prior art, in order to reflect patient information and the like in examination parameters, an examination technician must determine examination parameters while checking a paper document at the time of examination, which is inefficient. was there. Furthermore, when there is no means for automatically inputting the test parameters obtained from the database to the test apparatus, or when searching for patient information such as test results at the time of diagnosis, search conditions such as a test ID must be input each time. However, there was a problem that the efficiency was poor.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a computer in an examination system according to the present invention is provided with a data retrieval unit for retrieving examination parameters and patient information over a network using a Web system, And an examination parameter publishing means for publishing the examination parameters and the patient information, and the examination apparatus has an examination parameter acquiring means for acquiring the examination parameters and the patient information by using a Web system.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a computer in the examination system according to the present invention includes a data retrieval unit for retrieving examination parameters and patient information over a network using a Web system, and an examination parameter storage unit of the examination apparatus. Second, it is necessary to have an examination parameter transfer unit for transferring the examination parameters and the patient information.
The feature of.

In the inspection system according to the present invention, there is provided a message exchange means for exchanging messages hierarchized by a plurality of tag names, wherein the data search means uses a tag name included in the message and the tag name. A third feature is that data search is performed using a character string representing the specified content as a keyword.

Further, the inspection apparatus in the inspection system of the present invention has an inspection data transfer unit and an inspection parameter transfer unit for storing inspection data or inspection parameters in a data storage unit on a network.
The feature of.

The inspection apparatus in the inspection system of the present invention performs an inspection specified by a message created by a computer, and converts a tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name. A fifth feature is to have a data search means for searching the test data and the diagnosis support data as keywords and a display means for displaying the test data and the diagnosis support data.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 and 102 are computers, 103 is an inspection device, 104 and 105 are data storage means, 106, 107 and 108 are message exchange means, 109, 110 and 111 are data search means, and 112, 113 and 114 are inspection parameters. Search means, 115 is data disclosure means, 116 is inspection parameter disclosure means, 117 is data storage means, 118 is inspection parameter storage means, 119 is data acquisition means, 120
Is an inspection parameter acquisition unit.

In the inspection system according to the present invention, the computers 101 and 102, the inspection device 103, and the data storage units 104 and 105 are connected to each other via a network.
06 and the data search means 109, and the computer 102 includes the message exchange means 107, the data search means 1
10. It has data disclosure means 115.

The inspection device 103 includes a message exchange unit 10
8, a data search unit 111, a data storage unit 117, and a data acquisition unit 119. The data searched by the data search means 109 to 111 are, for example, inspection parameters, and the inspection parameters are searched by the inspection parameter search means 112 to 114, each of which is a part of the data search means 109 to 111.

The data published by the data publishing unit 115 is, for example, an inspection parameter, and the inspection parameter is published by an inspection parameter publishing unit 116 which is a part of the data publishing unit.

The data stored in the data storage means 117 is, for example, an inspection parameter, and the inspection parameter is stored by an inspection parameter storage means 118 which is a part of the data storage means.

The data obtained by the data obtaining means 119 is, for example, an inspection parameter, and the inspection parameter is obtained by the inspection parameter obtaining means 120 which is a part of the data obtaining means.

The data storage means 104 and 105 are not necessarily located inside the facility, and the computers 101 and 102 and the inspection device 103 can access data storage means outside the facility via the Internet.

The computers 101 and 102 and the inspection device 103 exchange messages with each other via a network. The message is a message hierarchized by a plurality of tag names.
6, 107, 108. Computer 1
01 transmits a message having a specific tag name and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name to the computer 102 using the message exchange means 106.
As an example of the above message, there is an inspection request message and the like.

Here, the data search means 109 to 111, the data disclosure means 112, and the data acquisition means 114
Is a Web system, for example, a data publishing unit 11
2 is a Web server, data search means 109 to 11
1 and the data acquisition unit 114 function as a Web browser.

When the computer 102 receives the message, the computer 102 uses the specific tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name as keywords to store the data stored in the data storage unit 104. To obtain the inspection parameters used in the inspection apparatus 103. Computer 10 at the same time
2 searches the data stored in the data storage unit 105 by using the specific tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name as keywords, Obtain patient information for the patient to receive it. Further, the computer 102 publishes the examination parameters acquired from the data storage unit 104 and the patient information acquired from the data storage unit 105 by a data publishing unit 112.

The examination apparatus 103 acquires the published examination parameters and patient information by the data acquiring means 114 and stores the acquired information in the data storage means 113. At this time, the data acquisition unit 114 is a Web browser, and requests the data disclosure unit 112 (Web server) to transfer the disclosure page of the examination parameters and the patient information. In response to the request, the data publishing means 112 transmits the URL (Uniform Res
response message including ource Location).

[0026] In the public page, the examination parameters and patient information are disclosed in a text format or a table format, or a URL for downloading to the data storage means 113 of the examination apparatus 103 is indicated. Alternatively, the data disclosure unit 112 is an FTP site, and the data acquisition unit 114 transfers the examination parameters and the patient information from the FTP site to the data storage unit 113.

Computer 101 and inspection device 103
Also, the data stored in the data storage units 104 and 105 can be searched using the data search units 109 and 111, respectively. The search includes a search using a specific tag name and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name included in the messages exchanged by the message exchange units 106 to 108 as keywords.

FIG. 2 shows a system configuration example of an inspection system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 201 and 202 are computers, 203 is an inspection device, 204
And 205 are data storage means, 206, 207, 20
8 is a message exchange means, 209, 210, 211 are data search means, 211, 213, 214 are test parameter search means, 215 is data transfer means, 216 is test parameter transfer means, 217 is data storage means, 218 is test parameter It is storage means.

In the inspection system according to the present embodiment, the computers 201 and 202, the inspection device 203, and the data storage means 204 and 205 are connected to each other via a network, and the computer 201 has a message exchange means 206 and a data search means 209. And computer 2
02 is a message exchange means 207, a data search means 21
0, data transfer means 215.

The inspection device 203 is provided with the message exchanging means 20.
8. It has a data search means 211 and a data storage means 217. The data searched by the data search units 209 to 211 are, for example, inspection parameters, and the inspection parameters are searched by the inspection parameter search units 212 to 214, which are part of the data search units 209 to 211, respectively.

The data transferred by the data transfer unit 215 is, for example, an inspection parameter, and the inspection parameter is made public by an inspection parameter transfer unit 216 which is a part of the data transfer unit.

The data stored in the data storage means 217 is, for example, an inspection parameter, and the inspection parameter is stored by an inspection parameter storage means 218 which is a part of the data storage means.

The data storage means 204 and 205 are not necessarily located inside the facility, and the computers 201 and 202 and the inspection device 203 can access data storage means outside the facility via the Internet.

The computers 201 and 202 and the inspection device 203 exchange messages with each other via a network. The message is a message hierarchized by a plurality of tag names.
6,207,208. Computer 2
01 transmits a message having a specific tag name and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name to the computer 202 using the message exchange means 206. As an example of the above message, there is an inspection request message and the like.

Here, the data search means 209 to 211 and the data transfer means 215 are Web systems. For example, the data transfer means 215 is a Web server.
The data search means 209 to 211 function as a Web browser.

When the computer 202 receives the message, the computer 202 uses the specific tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name as keywords to store the data stored in the data storage unit 204. Is performed, and the inspection parameters used in the inspection device 203 are obtained. Computer 20 at the same time
2 searches the data stored in the data storage unit 205 using the specific tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name as keywords, Obtain patient information for the patient to receive it. Also, the computer 202
The examination parameters obtained from the data storage means 204 and the patient information obtained from the data storage means 205 are transferred by the data transfer means 215 to the examination apparatus 203.
To the data storage means 217.

The data transfer means 215 transfers the examination parameters and the patient information in a text format or a table format using a protocol such as FTP. Or
The data transfer means 215 can transfer the examination parameters and the patient information by sending an electronic mail having the examination parameters and the patient information as an attached file to the data storage means 217.

Computer 201 and inspection device 203
Also, the data stored in the data storage units 204 and 205 can be searched using the data search units 209 and 211, respectively.

In the above search, the message exchange means 206
And 208 included in the messages exchanged by
The search includes a keyword using a specific tag name and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name.

As a specific embodiment of the present inspection system,
This section describes the procedure from a doctor's request for examination to consultation, to the diagnosis after examination, with reference to the examination results. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes an in-hospital server computer; 302, a client computer; 303, an examination apparatus; 304, an in-hospital database;
Is a storage medium, 307 (thin line) is a private network, 30
8 (thick line) is the Internet.

In this embodiment, the computer 101 or 201 shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
02 acts as the server computer 301. 1 and 2, the data storage means 104,
105, 204, and 205 are shown as the in-hospital database 304 or the out-of-hospital database 305 in FIG.

The server computer 301 manages a patient management system, an examination management system, a medical accounting system, and the like. In some cases, an independent server computer manages each system. For example, when a doctor makes an examination request or creates an electronic medical record in the consultation room, notifies the patient management system of the patient's visit at the re-examination reception desk, or requests the medical accounting system to calculate medical expenses at the calculation contact In the case, the client computer 302
Access each system from.

In the case of the client computer in the examination room, the doctor operates the We
b Browse the homepage in the hospital from the browser. Access to each system from the home page is permitted only to specific users based on user authentication information such as a login name and a password. If the entered user authentication information matches the content registered in advance, the inspection system permits the user to access.

The server computer 301 inquires user information from the user authentication information. For example, when a doctor issues a test request, the name of the requesting doctor is automatically described on the test request screen. In addition, the access permission range may differ for each user depending on the processing contents, such as writing to an electronic medical record. Therefore, the user information includes the access permission range for each system.

The client computer 302 not only obtains desired information from the hospital database 304 via the local network 307, but also
Also, the user can access the out-of-hospital database 305 or out-of-hospital Web site via the server 8. In this case, it is necessary to newly input user authentication information as needed.

The examination device 303 is also connected to the network, and can acquire information from the in-hospital database 304, the out-of-hospital database 305, and the out-of-hospital Web site, similarly to the client computer 302.

In the above configuration, the laboratory technician and the radiologist can access the server computer 301, the in-hospital database 304, and the out-of-hospital database 305 from the Web browser of the inspection apparatus 303, and thus, as will be described later, request for an inspection request or an Acquisition and registration of inspection data can be easily performed.

The messages exchanged by the message exchange means (106 to 108 in FIG. 1 and 206 to 208 in FIG. 2) provided in the server computer or the like are described in, for example, an XML format. Examples of the message exchange include an examination request issued by a doctor from a consultation room, a patient visit notification issued from a re-examination reception window, a request for calculation of medical expenses issued from a calculation window, and the like.

In the above message, for example, there is a “patient basic information” tag under the “patient” tag, and a “patient name” tag under the “patient basic information” tag.
It has a tree structure hierarchized by a plurality of tag names. In order to smoothly exchange messages between a plurality of computers and inspection devices, the tag names and the tree structure of the tags are unified throughout the system.

The in-hospital database 304 and the out-of-hospital database 305 also store information structured using tag names unified throughout the system, thereby facilitating information retrieval in the databases 304 and 305.

In XML, a document type definition (DTD) is used to define a document structure hierarchized by the plurality of tag names. The DTD declares not only the document element represented by the tag and the hierarchical structure of the document element, but also declares an attribute, which is additional information of the document element. By using a common DTD for the entire system, the tag names and the tree structure of the tags can be unified. In addition, by storing an XML document whose document structure is defined by the common DTD in the storage medium 306, the storage medium 306 can be used as a message exchange means between the plurality of computers and inspection apparatuses.

The method of creating a message depends on the application of each system such as a patient management system, a medical accounting system, and a dispensing system. If you value versatility,
A method is conceivable in which a tag name is selected in the browser of the tree view, and the content to be stored is written below the selected tag name. On the other hand, if operability is emphasized, a method of inputting necessary items from a graphical input screen specialized for each system and converting to a XML format using a tag name unified in the entire system can be considered.

The procedure for issuing an inspection request message using the latter method will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an inspection request acceptance screen using a Web browser. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a patient basic information display unit, 402 denotes a processing menu selection unit, and 403 denotes an examination item selection unit. To execute each processing menu, basic information of the target patient is required. Therefore, a doctor or nurse reads the patient ID recorded on the IC card using a card reader or the like, or reads the patient ID using a keyboard or the like. By inputting, the patient basic information is referred to the patient management system based on the patient ID.

When the basic patient information is obtained from the patient management system, the basic patient information is displayed on the basic patient information display unit 401. The doctor or nurse can confirm the patient by referring to the patient basic information. When “inspection request” is selected from the processing menu selection unit 402, an inspection item selection unit 403 is displayed.

Hereinafter, a case where MRI is selected as an inspection item will be described as an example. When an MRI is selected from the examination item selection unit 403, an examination room reservation screen as shown in FIG. 5 is called. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes an examination room reservation status display unit, 502 denotes a reserved time zone display unit, and 503 denotes a display month change unit. The examination room reservation status display section 501 displays the reservation status for a certain period. The example of FIG. 5 shows a display example of the reservation status for one month. By clicking the display month change unit 503, the reservation status of the previous month or the next month can be displayed.

The time zone that has already been reserved is indicated by a reserved time zone display section 502 indicated by hatching in FIG. To specify an examination date and time on the examination room reservation status display section 501, for example, a clickable time zone is clicked.
The examination request screen shown in FIG. 6 is called by the above click, so that the doctor continues to input specific examination request contents.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes an inspection request condition setting section; 602, a pre-inspection comment entry section; and 603, an inspection reservation button. The time zone specified in the inspection room reservation status display section is set in the designated portion of the examination reservation date and time, but fine adjustment can also be performed on this screen.

The inspection site, whether or not a contrast agent is used, and other inspection request conditions are input to the inspection request condition setting unit 601.
In the pre-examination comment entry section 602, the doctor enters the reason for the examination and special instructions as necessary. After inputting the inspection request conditions, clicking the inspection reservation button 603 causes
The inspection request converted into the XML document is distributed to the inspection management system.

At this time, the name of the doctor in charge is automatically written in the examination request as described above. The conversion to the XML document complies with the tagging rules used in the system embodying the present invention. For example, if the system uses HL7 as a message exchange protocol, English is used for the tagging. Regardless of which rule is used, the input items on the inspection request screen shown in FIG. 6 must have contents that do not contradict the tagging rules of the above rule.

When the examination management system receives the examination request converted into the XML document, the examination management system obtains examination parameters and patient information from the tag name according to the tagging rule and a character string representing the contents designated by the tag name. Automatically create search keywords to search for.

The above-mentioned inspection parameters are inspection parameters that have been used to inspect a specific part with a specific modality. In the database to be searched, data created in accordance with the tagging rules used in the system embodying the present invention in the same manner as the inspection request is stored in the form of an XML document. By storing data in accordance with a certain tagging rule in this way, data can be searched efficiently.

For example, in order to search for the inspection parameters, tag names representing “inspection item”, “inspection site”, “age”, “gender”, etc. may be used as search keywords. For example, in the above-described examination management system, the “inspection item” is “MRI”, the “inspection site” is “pelvis”, and “age” is “3”.
Information that satisfies the condition that “0s” and “sex” are “female” is searched. If no information that satisfies all of the above conditions is found, the number of keywords is reduced and a search is performed again. Priorities may be set in advance for tag names that are search keyword candidates, and may be excluded from search keywords in ascending order of priority. For example, in the above example, if priorities are given in the order of “test item”, “test part”, “sex”, and “age”, a search is performed again without the condition that “age” is “30s”.

The format of the inspection parameters obtained as a result of the search is, for example, a format conforming to the DICOM standard. DICOM is the American Society of Radiology (ACR: Am
erican College of Radiology and North American Electronic Equipment Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
A standard for medical imaging and communications developed by the Association (NEMA) in the United States (NEMA) in 1993.

The conventional image medical treatment system centered on film has problems such as shortage of film storage space and loss of film. However, in the DICOM standard, a plurality of digital images are stored on a network or an image storage medium. By connecting devices and enabling the exchange of patient image examination information and the transmission of image data, it not only solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional image medical treatment system, but also realizes digital image processing, computer diagnostic support, and the like. It is expected to provide a new medical care system.

Some of the plurality of digital imaging devices include:
Different image generators, such as CT, MRI, ultrasound imaging, nuclear medicine imaging, etc., are included. In the field of medical imaging, there is a possibility that a large number of images from the different image generators are generated for one patient,
Deals with information structured with multiple or single information entities. The information entity is a unit of information, in which a detailed structure called an attribute is further defined. The above attributes are
Related items are put together as a module to constitute the information entity.

For example, in the case of the MR image module, M
Contains attributes specific to the R image. Examples of attributes specific to the MR image include an image type, a scanning sequence,
Scan options, MR acquisition type, repetition time, echo time, echo train length, image frequency, magnetic field strength,
There are inter-slice intervals, number of phase encoding steps, pixel bandwidth, nominal RR interval, receive coil, transmit coil, acquisition matrix, phase encoding direction, flip angle, time resolution, etc. In other words, the above attributes are nothing but inspection parameters used when capturing an MR image.

Since DICOM itself is obtained by structuring an image series consisting of a plurality of images for each patient and each examination, it also includes data elements corresponding to image data. The attributes corresponding to the above inspection parameters are extracted and used. Since each attribute has a unique identifier composed of a pair of numbers, an arbitrary inspection parameter can be designated by the unique identifier.

In the present embodiment, the attribute of the MR image module has been described as an example. However, by giving the above-mentioned unique identifier corresponding to the inspection parameter to be referred to in advance to the attribute of the module of an arbitrary modality, The necessary parameters can be obtained. Further, the database to be searched is not limited to the inspection parameter database, but may be an inspection data database. Further, in the search for the proven inspection parameters, there may be a case where only the URL of the inspection parameter exists in the database to be searched, instead of the entity of the inspection parameter.

In the above search, the inspection device (103, 20
3, 303), the above-mentioned URL is referred to by the Web browser, and the file of the target inspection parameter is downloaded. In general, inspection devices (103, 203, 303)
Since the format of the inspection parameters used in the above does not necessarily match the file format of the inspection parameters obtained from the database, the inspection system according to the present invention includes an inspection parameter format of the format used in the inspection device. A means to convert is needed.

Conversely, when the inspection data and inspection parameters acquired by the inspection apparatus are stored in a database,
Since it is desirable to save the data in the file format of the database, a means for converting the file format used in the inspection device to the file format of the database is also required.

The means for converting the file format is provided in the inspection apparatus itself, or is provided in another server computer or client computer. In the latter case, the inspection device acquires the inspection parameters after the file format conversion.

On the other hand, the patient information is physical information such as drug allergy and the state of pregnancy, and information relating to past examinations, which should be noted when examining the particular site using the particular modality. , Is information specific to the patient for whom the examination request is made.

The above-mentioned information on the past inspection means that if the same inspection has been performed in the past,
This is information on proven inspection parameters and the like.

The physical information and the information on the past examination are converted into an XML document in the same format as the examination request.
Since the information is stored in the patient information database, the tag name included in the examination request and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name can be searched as keywords. For example, in order to search for the patient information, a tag name indicating “allergy”, “pregnancy” or the like may be a search keyword along with the patient's ID number. In this case, the inspection management system receives the content specified by the tag name as a search result.

To search for information on past examinations, tag names representing “examination”, “examination item”, “examination site”, “examination result”, etc., together with the patient ID number are used as search keywords. Might be. If you want to obtain past inspection parameters,
Inspection data in DICOM format may be obtained. In this case, a desired inspection parameter can be obtained by extracting an attribute corresponding to the inspection parameter from the inspection data in the DICOM format.

Each attribute included in the DICOM file is
Since it has a unique identifier composed of a pair of numbers, an arbitrary inspection parameter can be specified by the unique identifier.

As in the above embodiment, the inspection apparatus (103, 103)
203, 303) does not always match the file format of the inspection parameters obtained from the database, so that the inspection system according to the present invention may use the format of the format used by the inspection apparatus as necessary. There is provided means for converting into a format of the inspection parameter. The means for converting the file format is included in the inspection apparatus itself, or is included in another server computer or client computer. In the latter case, the inspection device acquires the inspection parameters after the file format conversion.

In the case of the present embodiment, the database to be searched is not limited to the database of patient information, but may be the database of test data. Alternatively, a DICOM format image file or the D
When the URL of the image file in the ICOM format is stored, patient medical information such as pregnancy status, medical alerts such as drug allergy, contrast agent hypersensitivity, and additional medical history of the patient are obtained from the attributes of the patient medical module of the DICOM image. May be obtained. Also in this case, since each attribute of the patient medical module included in the DICOM format file has a unique identifier composed of a pair of numbers, any patient medical information can be designated by the unique identifier.

In the above embodiment, the flow until the examination management system obtains examination parameters to be used in the examination and patient information based on the examination request converted into the XML document has been described.

Since the examination apparatus has a function as a Web browser, the examination apparatus acquires the examination parameters and the patient information by using a protocol such as HTTP or FTP and stores the acquired examination parameters and the patient information in the data storage means. Above Web
The flow of acquiring the examination parameters and the patient information by the browser will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a display example of a recommended inspection parameter selection screen in an inspection apparatus using a Web browser. FIG.
Reference numeral 701 denotes an examination date / time display unit, and 702 denotes a patient selection unit.

In order to search and select a desired inspection parameter on the recommended inspection parameter selection screen, a date and time range in which an inspection is performed is input in an inspection date / time display unit 701. The default value of the examination date / time display unit 701 is, for example, the current date / time. However, since the input unit of the time of the examination date display unit 701 inputs a start time and an end time, a list of examinations scheduled between the start time and the end time is displayed on the patient selection unit 702. Can be.

The technician selects an examination parameter of the patient to be examined from the list of examination parameters displayed on the patient selection section 702 based on patient identification information such as a patient ID and a patient name. Alternatively, the Web server of the Web system automatically selects examination parameters of the patient to be examined. In this case, the Web server selects the examination parameters based on the patient ID of the patient to be examined. The patient ID is obtained by reading patient information recorded on the patient's IC card with a card reader or the like, or by inputting data from a keyboard.

When the examination parameters of the patient to be examined are selected by the above procedure, a display screen of recommended examination parameters is called. FIG. 8 shows a display example of the recommended inspection parameter display screen. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 801 denotes an examination parameter display unit, and reference numerals 802 and 803 denote patient information display units. Here, a case where an MR image is photographed will be described as an example.

In a general MR examination, in order to emphasize the contrast between a lesion site and normal tissue, imaging is often performed while changing measurement methods such as a measurement method and an imaging section in several ways. In some cases, a contrast agent is used. Even in imaging using the same parameters, the contrast characteristics between the lesion site and normal tissue differ depending on the disease or site. Therefore, the examination parameters effective for extracting the lesion site differ depending on the disease or site.

When the above test is the first test, it is considered that imaging using general test parameters effective for diagnosing a disease will be attempted. Inspection parameter display section 8
01 indicates a series of general inspection parameters to be used in the inspection. The recommended inspection parameter display screen is a Web browser, and the inspection parameter display unit 8
By designating each inspection parameter indicated by 01 by clicking or the like, the inspection parameter can be stored in the data storage means of the inspection apparatus.

As described in the above embodiment, the inspection parameters shown in the inspection parameter display section 801 are not always in a format usable by the inspection apparatus. Therefore, the inspection management system converts the inspection parameter designated by the click or the like into a format usable by the inspection device, and transfers it to the data storage unit.

Further, since the characteristics of the contrast between the lesion site and the normal tissue vary from individual to individual, the above general examination parameters are not always effective. In such a case, it is difficult to know what inspection parameters are effective without actually taking an image. However, if there is experience in performing a similar inspection in the past, there is a possibility that the inspection parameters that were valid in the past inspection become valid again. Therefore, the examination parameters that were valid in the past examination are also displayed on the examination parameter display unit 801, and the patient information display unit 802 clearly indicates that the examination parameters were effective in the past. In this case, the patient information display unit 802 is a link to a past test result.

For example, when there is an allergy to a contrast agent or the like used in the examination or a hypersensitivity of the contrast agent, it is desirable to take a measure such as using an alternative medicine or adjusting the amount of the medicine. Therefore, the inspection parameter display unit 8
When indicating a test parameter using a drug at 01, the patient information display unit 803 clearly indicates that the patient has some kind of pre-existing disease. In this case, the patient information display section 80
Reference numeral 3 is a link to the patient's history information.

The technician determines the patient information 8 based on the recommended examination parameters stored in the data storage means.
Inspection parameters actually used are determined with reference to 02,803. Since the recommended inspection parameters have been converted into a format that can be used by the inspection device, each parameter value can be changed on the device.

After obtaining the test data using the test parameters determined by the above procedure, the test technician stores the test data in the data storage means on the network. The data storage means is, for example, the in-hospital database 304 or the out-of-hospital database 305 in FIG.

The inspection device can select inspection data to be stored in the data storage means using a Web browser. FIG. 9 shows an example of the stored inspection data selection screen.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 901 denotes an inspection basic information display unit, 902 denotes an inspection data selection unit, 903 denotes a selected file display unit, and 904 denotes an inspection data save button.

The examination basic information 901 displays the above-mentioned patient basic information, examination date, examination ID, and the like. Prior to the examination, the patient basic information is read by an IC card or a keyboard input of the patient. Inspection I above
Other examination basic information such as D is obtained from the examination management system managed by the server computer 301 based on the patient basic information.

The inspection data selection unit 902 displays basic inspection condition information, file names, and the like, such as the method of measuring the inspection data obtained in the above inspection and the use of a contrast agent.
An inspection technician determines inspection data to be stored based on the inspection condition information and the like, and clicks a file name or the like of the inspection data to be stored on the inspection data selection unit 902.

The selected file display section 903 displays the name of the selected file. When there are a plurality of inspection data to be saved, the selection of the inspection data can be performed for a plurality of inspection data. In this case, the selected file name display portion 903 displays the selected plurality of inspection data. Is indicated.

When the inspection data is to be stored, by clicking the data selection button 904, the inspection data of the file name displayed on the selected file name display section 903 is stored in the data storage means. When the file format of the inspection data is a file format unique to the inspection device, it is desirable to convert the inspection data into a standard file format such as a DICOM format before storing the data in the data storage unit. When the inspection data is stored as a DICOM file, the inspection parameters are also included as attributes in the DICOM file.

Instead of a DICOM file, for example, G
When storing inspection data in a file format such as IF (Graphics Interchange Format),
Save inspection parameters separately. In the case of the inspection parameters, it is desirable to convert the inspection parameters into a standard file format like the inspection data. Therefore, the inspection parameters are converted into a DICOM file and stored.

The inspection technician not only stores the inspection data in the data storage means, but also calls the inspection report creation application on the Web browser of the inspection apparatus,
Create an inspection report. FIG. 10 shows an example of the inspection report creation screen.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes an inspection technician name display section, 1002 denotes an inspection report comment entry section, 10
03 is an inspection data reference, 1004 is an inspection report transmission button.

When the inspection technician accesses the inspection management system or the like from the Web browser of the inspection apparatus, input of user authentication information such as a login name and a password is required. Since the server computer 301 makes an inquiry for user information based on the user authentication information,
The name of the laboratory technician is automatically written in the laboratory technician name display section 1001.

In the inspection report comment entry section 1002, comments such as findings that can be read from the inspection data are entered. The test data reference unit 1003 is a place where the test data is cited in the comment, and is a link to the test data. By clicking the test data reference section 1003, the test data stored in the data storage means can be referred to.
After the entry of the inspection report is completed, by clicking the inspection report transmission button 1004, the inspection report converted into the XML document is stored in the data storage unit.

One example of the data storage means in which the test report is stored is a database of patient information. When a doctor makes a diagnosis based on the result of the test, the test report is called from the database of patient information. Another example of the data storage means in which the test report is stored is a test data database. When diagnosing another patient having a similar disease, the test report database is used as reference information from the test data database. Call.

The test report, which is the XML document, complies with the tagging rules used in the system embodying the present invention. Therefore, when a doctor makes a diagnosis while referring to test data, the patient who has performed the test has It is called from the data storage means such as the patient information database as a keyword using patient information such as a patient ID and an examination ID. If necessary, a past examination report or examination data of the patient is called from the data storage means such as the patient information database.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an inspection result reference screen according to the present invention. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1101 denotes a processing menu selection unit; 1102, a comment display unit before inspection; 1103, an inspection selection unit.

To execute each processing menu, basic information of a target patient is required. Therefore, a doctor or a nurse can use a card reader or the like to record a patient ID recorded on an IC card or the like.
By reading D or inputting the patient ID using a keyboard or the like, the patient management system is queried for basic patient information based on the patient ID. The doctor or nurse can confirm the patient by referring to the patient basic information.

When “inspection result” is selected from the processing menu selection section 1101, the pre-inspection comment display section 110
2. The examination selection unit 1103 is displayed. The pre-inspection comment display section 1102 displays the contents entered in the pre-inspection comment entry field on the inspection request screen when the inspection is requested. The doctor selects a test result to be referred from the list of test results displayed on the test selection unit 1103 based on test result identification information such as a test ID, a test date, and a test item.

When the test result to be referred to is selected, for example, the test report shown in FIG. 10 is called. Refer to the test data quoted in the above comment and use it as reference information for diagnosis. The test data can be referred by clicking the test data reference unit 1003.

At the time of the above-mentioned diagnosis, information other than the above-mentioned test report may include, as information other than the above-mentioned test reports, past tests of other patients having the same disease stored in in-hospital or out-of-hospital databases, and academic information related to the above-mentioned disease. Search for reference information.

When “diagnosis support” is selected from the processing menu selection section 1101 of the Web browser, a diagnosis support information search screen is called. FIG. 12 shows an example of a diagnosis support information search screen according to the present invention. In FIG.
01 is a search keyword input section, 1202 is a search button,
Reference numeral 1203 denotes a past inspection reference unit, and 1204 denotes a reference information reference unit.

A search keyword input unit 1201 includes a tag name indicating “test item” and “test site” included in the test report, which is the XML document, and a character string indicating the content specified by the tag name. Is displayed as a default value. The keyword may be input directly from the keyboard by a doctor. By clicking a search button 1202 after inputting the search keyword, the search of the past test data and the reference information is performed using the keyword, and the past test reference unit 1203 and the reference information reference unit 1204 are referred to by the past. The search results are displayed.

The search condition in the search is that both the tag name input to the search keyword input unit 1201 and the character string representing the content specified by the tag name match. The past examination reference unit 1203 displays a URL indicating a location on the network of an examination that satisfies the search condition among past examinations stored in the data storage unit in the form of an XML document.

By clicking the URL, the user can refer to the inspection report and inspection data of the past inspection,
It can be displayed on a Web browser.

Similarly, the reference information reference unit 1204 stores X
Among the reference information stored in the data storage unit in the form of the ML document, a URL indicating a location on the network of the reference information satisfying the search condition is displayed.

By clicking the above URL, the above reference information can be referred to and displayed on a Web browser. By storing the XML document such as the inspection parameter described in the above embodiment in the storage medium 306,
Using the storage medium 306, messages can be exchanged among a plurality of computers and inspection apparatuses.

The XML document is an XML document having a document structure defined based on the DTD, and the document structure complies with the tagging rules used in the system embodying the present invention. When the XML document is used, the DTD defining the document structure is necessary. However, since the DTD is common to the entire system, the DTD is stored in a storage means of a computer included in the system or a database. DTD can be used. Alternatively, the DTD may be stored together with the XML document in the storage medium 306.

In the above embodiments, the case where an MR image is photographed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the MR image photographing, and all examinations such as CT, ultrasonic image photographing, biochemical examination, and the like can be performed. It is applicable when performing.

[0119]

According to the present invention, according to the present invention, a computer
Search for test parameters and patient information using the system,
A test apparatus on a network acquires the test parameters and patient information using a Web system, or the computer transfers the test parameters and patient information to a test parameter storage unit of the test apparatus. To reflect patient information etc.
The first problem of the prior art is that the inspection technician must determine the inspection parameters while checking the paper document, and there is no means for automatically inputting the inspection parameters obtained from the database to the inspection device. The second problem of the prior art can be solved.

Further, the inspection system according to the present invention has message exchange means for exchanging messages hierarchized by a plurality of tag names, and the inspection device in the inspection system according to the present invention uses the above-mentioned message created by a computer. The inspection apparatus for performing the specified inspection, wherein the computer in the inspection system according to the present invention uses the tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name as keywords to perform inspection data of the inspection. And data display means for searching for diagnosis support data and display means for displaying the test data and the diagnosis support data, so that when searching for patient information such as test results at the time of diagnosis, search conditions such as a test ID are input each time. The third problem of the prior art that must be performed can be solved.

According to the present invention, the first to third problems of the prior art can be solved, and the efficiency of inspection can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an inspection system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an inspection support and diagnosis support system by the inspection system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an inspection request reception screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an examination room reservation screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an inspection request screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a recommended inspection parameter selection screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a recommended inspection parameter display screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a stored inspection data selection screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an inspection report creation screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an inspection result reference screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a diagnosis support information search screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... computer, 102 ... computer, 103
... Inspection device, 104 ... Data storage means, 105 ... Data storage means, 106 ... Message exchange means, 107 ... Message exchange means, 108 ... Message exchange means, 109
... Data search means, 110 ... Data search means, 111 ...
Data search means, 112 ... inspection parameter search means, 1
13 ... inspection parameter search means, 114 ... inspection parameter search means, 115 ... data disclosure means, 116 ... inspection parameter disclosure means, 117 ... data storage means, 118 ...
Inspection parameter storage means, 119 ... data acquisition means, 1
20: inspection parameter acquisition means, 201: computer, 202: computer, 203: inspection apparatus, 204
... data storage means, 205 ... data storage means, 206 ...
Message exchange means, 207 message exchange means, 2
08: message exchange means, 209: data search means,
210: data search means, 211: data search means, 2
12 ... inspection parameter search means, 213 ... inspection parameter search means, 214 ... inspection parameter search means, 215
... data transfer means, 216 ... inspection parameter transfer means,
217: data storage means, 218: examination parameter storage means, 301: in-hospital server computer, 302 ...
Client computer, 303 ... Inspection device, 304
... in-hospital database, 305 ... out-hospital database, 30
6: storage medium, 307: local network, 308: Internet.

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An inspection system having a plurality of computers and an inspection apparatus interconnected by a network, said computer comprising: a data search means for searching for inspection parameters on the network; An inspection parameter publishing unit that publishes a parameter, wherein the inspection apparatus has an inspection parameter acquisition unit that acquires an inspection parameter published on the network. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data search means is data search means for searching for patient information on a network, and said examination parameter publishing means is examination parameter publishing means for publishing said patient information together with said examination parameters. The inspection system according to claim 1, which performs the inspection. 3. The inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said data search means, said inspection parameter obtaining means, and said inspection parameter disclosing means are we.
The inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inspection system is a b system. 4. In an inspection system having a plurality of computers and an inspection device interconnected by a network, the inspection device has inspection parameter storage means for storing inspection parameters, and the computer stores the inspection parameters on the network. An inspection system comprising: a data search unit for searching; and an inspection parameter transfer unit for transferring the inspection parameter to the inspection parameter storage unit via a network. 5. The data search means is a data search means for searching for patient information on a network, and the examination parameter transfer means is an examination parameter registration means for transferring the medical information of the patient together with the examination parameters. The inspection system according to claim 4, characterized in that: 6. The inspection system according to claim 4, wherein said data search means and said inspection parameter transfer means are web systems. 7. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of computers and the inspection apparatus interconnected by said network have message exchange means for exchanging messages hierarchized by a plurality of tag names. Inspection system according to any of the above. 8. The data search means is a data search means for searching for the inspection parameter using a specific tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name as a keyword. The inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein 9. The data search means is a data search means for searching the patient information using a specific tag name included in the message and a character string representing the content specified by the tag name as keywords. The inspection system according to any one of claims 2, 3, 5, and 6, wherein: 10. The inspection system according to claim 2, wherein said parameter publishing means is inspection parameter publishing means for publishing a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of said inspection parameter. 11. The method according to claim 11, wherein the parameter acquisition unit or the parameter transfer unit is an FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
l) or HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
7. The inspection system according to claim 3, wherein the inspection system is a parameter acquisition unit or a parameter transfer unit that acquires or transfers the parameter according to (ol). 12. The inspection parameter is DICOM (Digi).
2. The file is a file of a format (tal Imaging and Communications in Medicine).
The inspection system according to any one of the preceding claims. 13. An inspection system having a plurality of computers and an inspection device interconnected by a network, wherein the inspection device transfers inspection data or a URL of the inspection data to a data storage device on the network. An inspection system comprising: 14. An inspection system having a plurality of computers and an inspection apparatus interconnected by a network, wherein the inspection apparatus stores an inspection parameter or a URL of the inspection parameter in a data storage means on the network.
An inspection system, comprising: an inspection parameter transfer unit that transfers an inspection parameter. 15. The inspection system according to claim 13, wherein the inspection data or the inspection parameter is a DICOM format file. 16. An inspection system comprising a plurality of computers and an inspection device interconnected by a network, wherein the plurality of computers and the inspection device comprise a message exchange means for exchanging messages hierarchized by a plurality of tag names. The testing device is a testing device that performs a test specified by the message on a patient specified by the message created by one of the plurality of computers, and the other one of the computers is the message The test data of the test specified by the message or the URL of the test data and the data stored in the data storage means on the network are used as keywords, using the tag name included in the tag and the character string representing the content specified by the tag name as a keyword. Diagnosis support data or the above diagnosis support Inspection system characterized by comprising: a data retrieval means for retrieving the URL of the data, and display means for displaying the test data and the diagnostic support data. 17. The examination system is hierarchized by the plurality of tag names together with the examination parameters retrieved by the retrieval means, the patient information, or the examination parameters transferred from the examination device to the data storage means. DTD (Do
The inspection system according to claim 8, further comprising a storage medium for storing a cument type definition.