JP2002312483A - Image management system and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately manage a diagnostic image without storing an unnecessary image or erasing a necessary image by overwriting. SOLUTION: An image file server 10C utilizes a time for generating image specifying supplemental information and recording it together with an image when storing the image in a hard disk or other recording media. When the image temporarily recorded is recorded, it is re-recorded after the supplementary information is changed. When re-recorded, it is stored by overwriting on the original image or as another image. When it is recorded as another image than the original image, information showing a relationship with the original image is added thereto.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image management system and an image management method for managing image data via a network, and more particularly to a CT (Computed Tomograph).
y) Equipment, MR (Magnetic Resonance) equipment, CR (Com
The present invention relates to an image management system and an image management method for managing, via a network, diagnostic image data output from various medical diagnostic image capturing apparatuses such as putted Radiography apparatuses.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to an image management system and an image management method for storing and managing diagnostic image data transferred via a network, and more particularly, to an image management system that has been generated, confirmed, and interpreted in the course of medical treatment and diagnosis. Clarify the relationship between each image file in the diagnostic image file that changes the status sequentially to completed, so that unnecessary images are not stored or necessary images are deleted by overwriting. The present invention relates to an image management system and an image management method for appropriately managing.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of information processing technology in recent years, general-purpose computer systems having high functions and powerful computing capabilities have been widely spread to various research institutions, offices in companies, and ordinary households. . Also, the field of application of computers has expanded, and not only computer data but also various media data such as images (including both still images and moving images) and audio have been treated as digitized files on computers. It has become

For example, in the field of medical and diagnostic techniques, CT
(Computed Tomography) device, MR (Magnetic Resona)
Diagnosis of pathological conditions is performed based on fluoroscopic images or cross-sectional images of the inside of a patient taken by various modality devices such as a device and a CR (Computed Radiography) device.

Conventionally, a diagnostic image obtained by imaging the inside of a patient by a modality device of this type has only been printed out directly on a photosensitive film by an image output device arranged near the modality device. Therefore, the management of diagnostic images thereafter is nothing less than the classification and arrangement of physical media such as film, and the movement, distribution, and sharing of diagnostic images is an inefficient operation that requires manual intervention.

[0006] On the other hand, recently, a diagnostic image picked up on a modality apparatus has been computerized by a reader and managed on a computer as an image file. In addition, by connecting the modality devices in the hospital and each computer handled by doctors and nurses via a network laid in the hospital, medical and diagnostic information such as diagnostic images and medical records can be transparently transmitted over the network space. Can be handled in a good condition. That is, it has become possible to transfer diagnostic images to remote terminal devices, share medical / medical information between terminal devices, and perform collaborative diagnostic actions on a network.

For example, a diagnostic image file photographed on a modality device and confirmed by a radiologist is temporarily stored in an image storage server on a network. In such a case, a doctor who needs a diagnostic image accesses the image storage server, obtains the diagnostic image on a terminal at his / her desk (or examination room), and transfers the diagnostic image along with the diagnostic result to the image storage server. By doing so, the diagnostic data of many patients can be managed collectively in the hospital. By extracting the diagnostic image from the image storage server at a later date, the doctor can compare and display the diagnostic image with the latest captured image to determine the healing status in a time-series manner. Medical records such as diagnostic images and diagnostic results are required or recommended by medical institutions for a certain period of time.

Further, by disposing a print server on a network, an expensive printer for film printing can be shared among a plurality of modality devices. That is, a technician or doctor transfers an image file captured on the modality device or an image file stored in the image storage server to a remote print server and prints the image file.
Can be out.

[0009] An image viewing workstation (WS), that is, an image viewer, which is different from the modality device, can be installed on the network. The physician can “read” or diagnose a diagnostic image captured by the modality device on the image viewer. For interpretation, the image processing conditions applied to the diagnostic image may be changed or corrected by a doctor.

[0010] In a hospital (especially a large general hospital, etc.), a number of modality devices are installed as a source of diagnostic images. That is, an image of the affected part or the whole body of the recipient is taken, and the taken image is further confirmed, and the image data is discharged to the image storage server every moment. In addition, the doctor retrieves the diagnostic image data from the image storage server via the network, performs "interpretation", that is, diagnoses, and stores the image data in the image storage server as an image file with a diagnosis result. On the image storage server, a huge number of image files that a plurality of file operators (doctors, radiologists, etc.) operate without permission are stored.

The image storage server generally has a huge hard disk device, and can temporarily store a huge number of image files sent from a modality device or a computer handled by a doctor. . However, as a result of endless medical practice, the total capacity of the image files to be stored as medical records exceeds the storage capacity of the hard disk device at a relatively early timing.

For this reason, in order to keep the medical record permanently, the image file temporarily stored on the hard disk device is transferred to a DVD (Digital Versatile Diode).
sc) or MO (Magneto-Optical disc) or other removable media. Although the storage capacity of a single removable medium is of course limited, the image file can be stored almost indefinitely by exchanging and refilling the medium loaded in the media drive.

By the way, a doctor can interpret, ie, make a diagnosis by outputting a diagnostic image photographed by the modality apparatus on a high-resolution CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display connected to an image viewer. For image reading, image reading conditions and image processing conditions applied to a diagnostic image on the image viewer may be changed.

A reversible case in which an original image before image processing can be reproduced from an image after image processing by storing image processing parameters, such as a change in gray level, in image processing conditions. There is an irreversible process in which the original image cannot be reproduced due to a process involving a change in the pixel value itself, such as a normalization process. (In the normalization process, an image signal in a desired range required for reproducing and observing a diagnostic image is extracted, and standardized to occupy a predetermined signal range to obtain a standardized image signal. Performing image processing such as spatial frequency processing on this standardized image signal, and reproduces and outputs a visible image based on the standardized image signal after image processing. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-2877 already assigned to
No. 8 and JP-A-2-14377. )

As described above, medical records such as diagnostic images and diagnostic results are obliged to be kept or recommended for a certain period of time at medical institutions. If a diagnostic image that has been subjected to image processing by image reading is overwritten and stored as it is, a situation occurs in which a diagnostic image before image reading cannot be reproduced anymore when the image processing conditions are irreversible. This means the loss of medical records, which is undesirable for a healthcare provider.

On the other hand, if the image files in each diagnosis / interpretation process are sequentially stored, there is no danger of losing the diagnostic image file itself. However, a huge number of image files are accumulated, so that the relationship between the initially stored image and the re-stored pixel brain becomes unclear or unnecessary images are stored, thereby wasting storage capacity. become. Also, if each diagnostic image derived from the same imaging result is saved to another removable disk, the location of the desired image file becomes unknown, and the deceased or lost image file is lost. It is virtually the same as having done it.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a CT system.
(Computed Tomography) device, MR (Magnetic Resona)
It is an object of the present invention to provide an excellent image management system and an excellent image management method capable of managing, via a network, diagnostic image data output from various medical diagnostic image capturing apparatuses such as a device and a CR (Computed Radiography) device.

A further object of the present invention is to clarify the relationship between each image file in a diagnostic image file whose status is sequentially changed to completed, confirmed, and interpreted in the course of medical / diagnosis, and to eliminate unnecessary It is an object of the present invention to provide an excellent image management system and an excellent image management method that can appropriately manage so that a necessary image is not stored or overwritten and a necessary image is not erased.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and is an image management system or method for managing an image file. A recording unit or a step of recording an image file together with supplementary information, and a re-recording control unit or a step of controlling a re-recording operation of the image file once recorded in the recording unit or the step, the re-recording control unit or The step is an image management system or method, wherein the additional information is changed and the image file is re-recorded.

The re-recording control means or step can selectively perform any one of a recording mode of overwriting an image file once recorded on an original image or recording as another image.

That is, the re-recording control means or step performs overwriting on the original image when the supplementary information changed with respect to the once recorded image file is an irreversible change in image processing conditions. If the information is an irreversible change in image processing conditions, recording is performed as another image.

According to the image management system or method of the present invention, when re-recording an image, the original image file can be overwritten as it is, or can be used as another image file, according to the changed image processing conditions. Whether to save or not can be automatically selected in accordance with image processing conditions changed by confirmation by a radiological technician or interpretation by a doctor. Therefore, the diagnostic images can be managed properly so that unnecessary images are not stored or necessary images are not erased by overwriting.

Further, when the image file once recorded is recorded as another image, the re-recording control means or step adds information indicating a relationship with the original image to the supplementary information.

Therefore, when the image file is taken out again later, the new image file and the original image file can be read seamlessly.

The re-recording control means or the step, when changing the image processing condition or the additional information of the image to which the information indicating that the interpretation has been completed, changes the additional information after rewriting before the rewriting. Is stored in an area different from the additional information.

Therefore, it is possible to easily track the history in which the diagnostic images whose status is sequentially changed are changed.

[0027] Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are:
It will become apparent from the following more detailed description based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration example of a network system for sharing a medical / diagnosis image file among a plurality of terminals.

On the network system, medical / diagnostic images captured by a plurality of modality devices 50A, 50B,.
0B... Each modality device and each workstation that handles diagnostic images electronically is typically connected to the network by a network interface card (NIC: not shown).

In FIG. 1, a network is a LAN (Loca) laid locally, for example, in a single hospital.
l Area Network). The LAN may be composed of a single LAN segment 20 or a plurality of LAN segments interconnected via a router (or gateway) 30. Alternatively, the network may be a wide area network such as a WAN (Wide Area Network) configured by connecting LANs of remote hospitals via a dedicated line or the like, or an Internet / intranet.

An MR for magnetic resonance is provided on the network.
(Magnetic Resonance) device 50A, RI device 50B,
US device 50C, D for digital subtraction angiography
SA device 50D, CT for computer tomography
(Computed Tomography) device 50E, CR (Computed Radiography) device 5 for computer radiography
A plurality of modality devices serving as medical image sources such as OF, and other workstations 10A and 10B
... are connected.

Normally, each of the modality devices 50 is provided in a dedicated diagnostic room (not shown) in the hospital. In addition, a dedicated technician (radiologist, etc.) is disposed in each modality device 50. Do the work.

The computer system indicated by reference numeral 10B operates as a print server. For example, two film printers are locally connected to the print server 10B via an adapter card (not shown). The print server 10B performs a format process (including a layout process on a film of a predetermined size) and an image enlargement or reduction process on the image data transferred from each of the modality devices 50 on the network. Also, the print server 10B
The diagnostic image is converted into a tone suitable for image interpretation and diagnosis, and then output by a printer.

An output printer for medical diagnostic images is generally
This is a type of printer that forms an image on a photosensitive film instead of plain paper. The use of a film as an output medium is based on the fact that the film has a much higher resolution (particularly a larger dynamic range) than plain paper, and that the affected part can be accurately observed or read based on the output image.

Another workstation (WS) indicated by reference numeral 10C operates as a file server and includes a large-capacity storage device for storing a huge amount of diagnostic image files.

Another workstation (WS) indicated by reference numeral 10A operates as an image viewer. This image viewer 10A is operated by a doctor, for example, to extract a plurality of past diagnostic images from the file server 10B, and to confirm the progress of recovery or the evolution of medical conditions on a display screen. A screen and a high-resolution CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display are provided. The description about the interpretation by the doctor, that is, the diagnosis result, is stored in the image file server 10C together with the diagnostic image file.

Each workstation 1 on the network
0 and the modality devices 50 are transparently connected according to a predetermined communication protocol. For example, in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference standard model, the physical layer and the data link layer of the network are Ethernet (registered trademark), and the transport layer and the network layer are TCP / IP (Transmission C
ontrol Protocol / Internet Protocol). Further, for the upper layers above the session layer, each medical product maker prepares a dedicated protocol.

One of the representative examples of the upper layer protocol in the industry is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communic).
ation for Machine). DICOM is an industry standard that specifies the transfer of images and other medical information from computer to computer, and enables digital communication between diagnostic and therapeutic devices from different manufacturers.

According to the network system for medical images as shown in FIG. 1, all the medical diagnostic data obtained in the hospital is computerized, so that the diagnostic data can be exchanged between a plurality of terminal devices on the network. Move ・
It can be transferred / distributed and shared. That is, diagnostic data obtained in one diagnostic room can be browsed in another diagnostic room (or a diagnostic room of a remote hospital). In addition, the past diagnostic images are appropriately stored in the file server 1.
By extracting from 0C, the progress of recovery and the evolution of the disease state can be confirmed. Further, computer resources such as an expensive film printer for outputting images captured by the modality devices 50 and images retrieved from the file server 10C may be shared between a plurality of modality devices and workstations. it can.

According to the network configuration shown in FIG. 1, the diagnostic image is digitized, that is, computerized,
It can be managed and shared on the network to adapt to the diagnosis. FIG. 2 schematically shows a functional block configuration for managing a computerized diagnostic image in a network system for medical images. The system shown in the figure includes a radiology information system (RIS), a CR system related management information management layer, and a CR system.

The radiology information system manages diagnostic images and other information handled in a radiology department installed in a hospital, for example, in the same department. In general, the radiology department includes one or more modality devices including a CR, and each modality device is provided in a dedicated imaging room (not shown).

The CR system related information management layer constructs a database composed of the RIS information and the CR system information, and manages the process from generation of a diagnostic image to diagnosis in the CR system via this database, and the radiology department. It notifies the information system of the status of the inspection execution status.

The CR system for exchanging data with the CR system-related information management layer includes a modality device, an image display subsystem, an image storage subsystem, and a hard copy subsystem. The image display subsystem is realized by an image viewer 10A, the image storage subsystem is realized by an image file server 10C, and the hard copy subsystem is realized by a print server 10B and a printer.

The modality apparatus includes an examination registration section, an image generation section, and an image confirmation delivery section, and has a function from registration of imaging information based on an examination request to image generation to image confirmation / delivery / inspection end notification. Inclusive.

The radiology information system is a medical information system (HI) that comprehensively manages medical information in a hospital.
It has an interface with S), receives examination requests in the radiology department, and provides feedback on examination results.

The CR system related information management layer acquires the examination work list from the radiology information system and registers the examination information in the modality device.

The modality apparatus performs an examination, that is, generates a diagnostic image of a patient, according to the registered examination information, and notifies the CR system related information management layer of the end of the examination by the radiologist. Confirmed diagnostic images on the modality device are sent via the network.
The data is transferred to an image display subsystem, a hard copy subsystem, or the like.

The CR system related information management layer notifies the radiology information system of the progress of the examination in response to the examination completion notice from the modality apparatus. Also, CR
When the system-related information management layer acquires the examination end image list from the radiology information system, it creates a diagnosable image list and sends it to the image display subsystem.

In the image display subsystem, a diagnosis, that is, interpretation of a diagnosis image is performed by a doctor based on a list of images that can be diagnosed. The image display subsystem is C
The image reading end image notification is returned to the R system related information management layer, and the image reading end notification is returned to the radiology information system. The interpreted diagnostic image is transferred to an image storage subsystem, a hard copy subsystem, and the like via a network.

In the image display subsystem, a report on a diagnosis result is generated and stored by a doctor. The image reference subsystem refers to the diagnosis result in the image display subsystem and the diagnostic image stored in the image storage subsystem, and integrates these information into the electronic medical record sent from the medical information system.

FIG. 3 shows a network for medical images.
The flow of diagnostic image files handled on the system
It is schematically shown in accordance with the flow of the diagnostic work.

The technician who handles the modality apparatus takes an image of the affected part or the whole body of the patient using the radiation emitted from the radiation source, reads the captured image with a reader, and obtains a digitally generated “generated image”.

Next, the technician confirms the image by displaying it on a screen on an image confirming device to determine whether or not the generated image is of a quality enough to withstand a doctor's diagnosis. Image confirmation work is one QA
(Quality Assure). The radiation source, the image reading device, and the image confirmation device constitute a modality device.

In the QA process, the technician adjusts the image processing parameters such as the density adjustment of the photographed image. However, if the image cannot be obtained enough to withstand the doctor's diagnosis, re-imaging may be performed. The diagnostic image that has passed the QA is also referred to as a “confirmed diagnostic image”.

The image processing parameters that can be set at the user level, such as a radiologist or a physician, include GP (gradation processing) parameters, RP (frequency processing) parameters,
It is roughly divided into a DRC (dynamic range compression processing) parameter and a TAS (linear tomographic obstacle shadow removal processing) parameter. For details of each image processing parameter,
These are summarized below.

[0057]

[Table 1]

[0058]

[Table 2]

[0059]

[Table 3]

[0060]

[Table 4]

The “generated diagnostic image” or “confirmed diagnostic image” processed by the radiologist may be stored on, for example, a local disk of the modality apparatus or transferred to the image file server 10C. You may keep it there. The confirmed diagnostic images are stored in the image file server 10.
Stored in C once. The confirmed diagnosis image is, in other words, an image for diagnosis, and the access right is given to the doctor and the nurse who prepares the diagnosis image for the doctor. When these diagnostic images are stored as files, generally, time information is added, and the images can be specified by the time.

A doctor takes in a diagnostic image of a predetermined patient on a workstation operating as, for example, a diagnostic image viewer 10A, displays it on a screen, and performs image reading, that is, diagnosis. At the time of image interpretation, the image processing parameters of the diagnostic image may be changed (for example, adjustment of the contrast). A diagnostic image that has been interpreted by a doctor is referred to as a "diagnosed diagnostic image".
Also called. The details of the diagnosis performed by the doctor and the image processing parameters applied to the diagnostic image are important medical records, and are stored in the image file server 10C together with the interpreted diagnostic image.

Generation, confirmation, and diagnosis of a diagnostic image as shown in FIG.
In each process of image interpretation, various supplementary information such as information of a patient who has been photographed, examination dates and examination contents are sequentially added to the diagnostic image. These supplementary information is important as a medical record together with a diagnostic image.

In the present embodiment, the diagnostic image file is
By describing the information in a structured manner as shown in (1), the supplementary information can be handled simultaneously with the diagnostic image. As shown in the figure, the diagnostic image file includes a patient field, an examination field, a series field, and an image field.

In the patient field, personal information such as a patient's name, identification number, gender, date of birth, etc. for identifying the patient and identifying the type of the diagnostic image is written.

In the examination field, the examination date and time when the image was taken, the imaging method (simple internal chest imaging, etc.) are written.

In the series field, a series date and time when the affected part is continuously photographed, such as the front and side surfaces of the chest, are written. In the present embodiment, as described later,
In the series field, image processing conditions such as diagnostic image rewriting conditions are written.

In this embodiment, for a diagnostic image that has been read by a doctor, information indicating that fact is written in this series field. Further, when the image processing condition or the supplementary information of the image to which the information indicating that the interpretation has been added is changed, the supplementary information after the rewriting is stored in a different area from the supplementary information before the rewriting. It has become. As a result, it is possible to easily track the history in which the diagnostic images whose status is sequentially changed are changed.

One image file can include one frame or more image data. Image processing parameters (for example, image direction) applied to each image data may be stored by being attached to the image data. Further, tag information indicating “interpreted” may be attached to image data that has been interpreted by a doctor.

In the network system according to the present embodiment, the image file server 10C stores a diagnostic image on a hard disk in response to a request from a client, or automatically stores the diagnostic image on a removable medium. By storing the image permanently, it is possible to reduce the danger of unintentionally losing the image and the labor of the operator involved in recording. The client referred to here is a modality apparatus that generates a diagnostic image or a technician who is an operator of the modality apparatus, an image viewer, or a doctor who performs image interpretation while applying image processing parameters to a diagnostic image on the viewer.

The diagnostic image temporarily or permanently stored in the image file server 10C is read out by the image viewer 10A operated by a doctor, and interpretation, that is, diagnosis is performed. During the image reading process, image reading conditions and image processing conditions applied to the diagnostic image may be changed.

The image processing conditions include a reversible case where the original image before the image processing can be reproduced from the image after the image processing by storing the image processing parameters, such as a change in the gradation value. However, there is an irreversible process such as a normalization process in which the original image cannot be reproduced due to a process involving a change in the pixel value itself (described above).

The radiologist or doctor takes out the diagnostic image stored in the image file server 10C, changes the diagnostic information attached to the image, changes the image processing conditions and the image itself, and sends it to the image file server 10C again. Store. If such operations are repeatedly performed, the relationship between the initially stored image and the image stored again tends to be unclear. As a result, there is a danger that unnecessary images are stored and storage capacity is wasted, or necessary images are erased by overwriting.

In particular, if the re-stored image has been subjected to irreversible conversion such as normalization processing, the original image lost by overwriting cannot be reproduced. This means the loss of medical records, which is undesirable for a healthcare provider.

Therefore, the network according to the present embodiment
In the system, when the image file server 10C stores the image once stored again, the image file server 10C saves the image in a format having no problem when reusing the image later.

The image file server 1 according to the present embodiment
When storing the image on a hard disk or other recording medium, the OC generates additional information for specifying the image using time (or other unique information) and records the additional information together with the image. The supplementary information is stored in the series field in the diagnostic image file structure shown in FIG. Then, when recording the image once recorded, the supplementary information is changed and then re-recorded. As the form of the re-recording, the following three methods are prepared.

(1) Overwrite the original image file. (2) Record as an image file different from the original image file, and add information indicating the relationship with the original image file. (3) The choice of overwriting the original image file or recording it as another image file is determined according to the type of the changed information.

For example, when a radiologist or a doctor reads a diagnostic image from the image file server 10C and operates it, image reading conditions and image processing conditions applied to the diagnostic image are changed. The image processing conditions include a reversible case in which the original image before image processing can be reproduced from the image after image processing by storing the image processing parameters, such as changing the grayscale value. Some processes are irreversible, such as processing, in which the original image cannot be reproduced due to processing involving a change in the pixel value itself.

The image file server 1 according to the present embodiment
According to 0C, according to the changed image processing conditions and the like,
When re-recording an image, it is possible to automatically select whether to overwrite the original image file as it is or to save it as another image file. When saving as another image file, information indicating the relationship with the original image file is added and recorded. Therefore, at a later date,
When the image file is taken out again, the new image file and the original image file can be read seamlessly.

FIG. 5 shows a computer system 10 that can operate as an image file server 10C.
2 schematically shows the hardware configuration of the first embodiment. An example of the computer system 10 is a PC / AT (P
a workstation (WS) or a personal computer (PC) corresponding to a personal computer / advanced technology compatible machine or its successor; Hereinafter, each unit of the computer system 10 will be described.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, which is a main controller of the system 10C, executes various applications under the control of an operating system (OS). CPU11
Can execute, for example, a file server application for managing a diagnostic image file according to the present embodiment.

As shown, the CPU 11 is interconnected with other devices (to be described later) by a bus 17. Bus 1
Each device on 7 is assigned a unique memory address or I / O address, and the CPU 11 can access each device connected to the bus by designating the address. The bus 17 is a common signal transmission path including an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus, and one example is a PCI (Peripheral Compo
nent Interconnect) bus.

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 12
It is a volatile storage device used to store a program code to be executed by the CPU 11 and temporarily store work data being executed. ROM (Read O
An nly Memory (Nly Memory) 13 is a non-volatile storage device for permanently storing program codes and data, and is, for example, a basic input / output system (BIOS) or a power on self test program (POST). Diagnostic programs) are stored.

The display interface 14
This is a peripheral device for actually processing a drawing command issued by the CPU 11. Display interface 14
Is once written in, for example, a frame buffer (not shown) and then output to the display device 21 on the screen. As the display device 21, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display or the like can be used.

The input device interface 15 is a device for connecting user input devices such as the keyboard 22 and the mouse 23 to the system 10.

[0086] The network interface 17
According to a predetermined communication protocol such as Ethernet, the system 10 can be connected to a network (not shown) such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Network interface 15 generally comprises
It is provided in the form of a LAN adapter card and is used by mounting a PCI bus slot on a motherboard (not shown).

On a LAN, a plurality of hosts (computers) are connected in a transparent state, and a distributed computing environment is constructed. A part of the host operates as a router, and further realizes interconnection with another external network such as a LAN or the Internet. For example, a diagnostic image generated by a modality device is moved / distributed between the devices via a network.

The external device interface 16 is a device for connecting external devices such as a hard disk drive (HDD) 24 and a media drive 25 to the system 10C. The external device interface 16 is, for example, IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) or SCS
It conforms to interface standards such as I (Small Computer System Interface).

The HDD 24 is an external storage device on which a magnetic disk as a storage carrier is fixedly mounted (well-known).
It is superior to other external storage devices in terms of storage capacity and data transfer speed. Placing a software program on the HDD 24 in an executable state is called "installing" the program in the system. Usually, HDD24
Operating system to be executed by the processor 11
System program codes, application programs, device drivers, and the like are stored in a nonvolatile manner. For example, the server application according to the present embodiment is installed on the HDD 24. In the image file server 10C, the HDD 24 is used as a temporary storage destination of a diagnostic image file sent from an external device such as a modality device or an image viewer.

The media drive 25 stores a CD (C
ompact Disc), MO (Magneto-Optical disc), DV
This is a device for loading a removable medium such as D (Digital Versatile Disc) and accessing the data recording surface. Removable media mainly backs up software programs and data files as computer-readable data, and moves them between multiple systems (sales, distribution,
(Including distribution).

In the image file server 10C,
The removable medium is used as a permanent storage destination of the diagnostic image file. Although the storage capacity of one removable medium is finite, the media drive 2
By exchanging media on 5, nearly infinite storage capacity is provided to system 10C.

Next, the image file server 10C
FIG. 6 illustrates an automatic storage process of image information performed between the external device such as the modality device 50 and the image viewer 10A, and an automatic storage function of an interpreted diagnostic image.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The storage location of the diagnostic image file, that is, the image file server 10C as an image storage device, is interconnected via a network to each modality device 50... As an image generation device and the image viewer 10A as an image display device. ing.

The modality device 50 includes a reader that captures a diagnostic image obtained by radiation, and a confirmation delivery device that confirms the diagnostic image and transmits the diagnostic image to the network. The modality device 50 is operated by a technician (radiologist) specializing in the device, and performs imaging, re-imaging, and confirmation processing of a diagnostic image. The confirmed diagnostic image is transferred to the image file server 10C, and is temporarily stored on a hard disk or permanently stored on a removable disk. Also, the confirmed diagnostic image may be directly transferred to the image viewer 10A without passing through the image file server 10C.

[0095] The image viewer 10A is operated by a doctor who interprets diagnostic images, that is, performs diagnosis, and writes diagnostic contents and results to a diagnostic image file. The diagnostic image viewed by the image viewer 10A may be sent directly from the modality device 40, or may be an image file
There is a case where the temporarily stored data is sent from the server 10C.

The image file server 10C provides a hard disk and a removable medium as storage locations for diagnostic image files. The hard disk is mainly used to temporarily store a diagnostic image file transferred from the modality device 50, the image viewer 10A, or the like, and to manage a database. On the other hand, the removable medium is used for permanent storage of a diagnostic image file, data saving, and the like.

The diagnostic image temporarily or permanently stored in the image file server 10C is read out by the image viewer 10A operated by a doctor, and interpretation, that is, diagnosis is performed. In the course of image interpretation, image processing conditions applied to a diagnostic image may be changed.

The image processing conditions include a reversible case where the original image before the image processing can be reproduced from the image after the image processing by storing the image processing parameters such as a change in the gray value. However, there is an irreversible process such as a normalization process in which the original image cannot be reproduced due to a process involving a change in the pixel value itself (described above). If a diagnostic image that has been subjected to image processing by image reading is overwritten and stored in the image file server 10C as it is, a situation occurs in which the diagnostic image before image reading can no longer be reproduced if the image processing conditions are irreversible. I do.

In the illustrated example, the confirmed diagnostic image has been subjected to image processing in accordance with the image processing condition A. When the diagnostic image is interpreted on the image viewer 10A, the image processing condition A ′ is applied, and an interpreted diagnostic image changed from the original confirmed diagnostic image is generated. The image file server 10C according to the present embodiment generates additional information for specifying an image using time (or other unique information) when storing the image on a hard disk or other recording medium. And record it with the image.

The supplementary information is stored in the series field in the diagnostic image file structure shown in FIG. Then, when recording the image once recorded, the supplementary information is changed and then re-recorded. Further, when the image processing condition or the supplementary information of the image to which the information indicating that the interpretation has been added is changed, the supplementary information after the rewriting is stored in a different area from the supplementary information before the rewriting. It has become. As a result, it is possible to easily track the history in which the diagnostic images whose status is sequentially changed are changed.

In the present embodiment, the following three methods are prepared for re-recording an image file. That is,

(1) Overwrite the original image file. (2) Record as an image file different from the original image file, and add information indicating the relationship with the original image file. (3) The choice of overwriting the original image file or recording it as another image file is determined according to the type of the changed information.

The image file server 1 according to the present embodiment
0C indicates whether to overwrite the original image file as it is or to save it as another image file when re-recording the image in accordance with image processing conditions changed by confirmation by a radiologist or image interpretation by a doctor. Can be selected automatically. As a result, the diagnostic images can be managed properly so that unnecessary images are not stored or necessary images are deleted by overwriting.

Further, when saving as another image file, the image file server 10C according to the present embodiment adds and records information indicating the relationship with the original image file. This information can be stored in the series field in the diagnostic image file structure shown in FIG. Therefore, when the image file is taken out again later, the new image file and the original image file can be read seamlessly.

The image irreversibly changed from the original image due to the change of the processing parameters is stored on the image file server 10C as an image different from the original image. The diagnostic image is properly managed by avoiding the conflict of the above. That is, medical records are not lost, and medical service operations are enhanced.

When the image processing condition or the supplementary information of the image to which the information indicating that the interpretation has been added is changed, the supplementary information after rewriting is placed in a different area from the supplementary information before rewriting. Since the diagnostic image whose status is to be changed is changed, the history of the change of the diagnostic image can be easily tracked.

When recording the read diagnostic image again, the image viewer 10A, which is the transfer source of the image file, sends an instruction to the diagnostic image file as to whether to overwrite the original image or save it as another image. You may do it. In contrast, the image file server 10
The C side may determine the storage location of the new image in response to the instruction from the file transfer source.
Alternatively, the storage location may be automatically determined according to the image processing conditions.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for re-recording a diagnostic image file on the image file server 10C.

The image file server 10C transfers the image file from the external device such as the image viewer 10A via the network in response to the read request of the image file once recorded.

Then, the image file server 10C
When re-recording of the read image file is requested, an image file and an instruction regarding re-recording are received from the request source device (step S1).

The image file server 10C interprets the instruction regarding re-recording and determines whether the instruction is to overwrite the original image or to save it as another image (step S2).

When the instruction to overwrite the original image is given, the overwriting is executed (step S3). At this time, a diagnosis date / time and a diagnostic image rewriting condition (image processing condition, etc.) are written in a series field (see FIG. 4) on the data structure of the diagnostic image file.

On the other hand, if it is instructed to save as another image, the saving as another image is executed (step S4). At this time, a series field (see FIG. 4) on the data structure of the diagnostic image file includes:
A diagnosis date / time and a condition for rewriting a diagnostic image (image processing condition, etc.) are written.

In the series field of the different image, information indicating the relationship with the original image is added (step S5). By writing such additional information, the original image file can be read seamlessly from the new image file when the image file is taken out again later.

For a diagnostic image that has been interpreted by a doctor, information indicating that fact is written in the series field. Further, when the image processing condition or the supplementary information of the image to which the information indicating that the interpretation has been added is changed, the supplementary information after the rewriting is stored in a different area from the supplementary information before the rewriting. It has become. As a result, it is possible to easily track the history in which the diagnostic images whose status is sequentially changed are changed.

FIG. 8 shows the image file server 1
Another example of a processing procedure for re-recording a diagnostic image file on 0C is shown in the form of a flowchart.

The image file server 10C transfers the corresponding image file via the network in response to a read request for the image file once recorded from an external device such as the image viewer 10A.

When a request is made to re-record the read image file, the image file server 10C receives the image file from the requesting device (step S11).

Then, the image file server 10C
The changed contents of the image processing conditions applied to the read image file are checked (step S12).

If it is determined that the change in the image processing conditions is reversible, such as a change in the grayscale value, and that the original image can be reproduced, the original image is overwritten and saved. (Step S13). At this time, a diagnosis date / time and a diagnostic image rewriting condition (image processing condition, etc.) are written in a series field (see FIG. 4) on the data structure of the diagnostic image file.

By overwriting and saving the original image in this way, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary useless storage of unnecessary images and save the storage capacity of the image file server 10C.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the changes in the image processing conditions are irreversible and the original image cannot be reproduced, as in the case where the normalization processing is performed, the original image is not reproduced. Is saved as another image instead of overwriting (step S14). At this time, a diagnosis date / time and a diagnostic image rewriting condition (image processing condition, etc.) are written in a series field (see FIG. 4) on the data structure of the diagnostic image file.

In the series field of the separate image, information indicating the relationship with the original image is added (step S15). By writing such additional information, the original image file can be read seamlessly from the new image file when the image file is taken out again later.

For a diagnostic image that has been read by a doctor, information indicating that fact is written in the series field. Further, when the image processing condition or the supplementary information of the image to which the information indicating that the interpretation has been added is changed, the supplementary information after the rewriting is stored in a different area from the supplementary information before the rewriting. It has become. As a result, it is possible to easily track the history in which the diagnostic images whose status is sequentially changed are changed.

[Supplement] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example, and should not be construed as limiting. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the claims described at the beginning should be considered.

[0126]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
CT (Computed Tomography) equipment, MR (Magnetic Re
It is possible to provide an excellent image management system and an excellent image management method capable of managing, via a network, diagnostic image data output from various medical diagnostic image capturing apparatuses such as a sonance apparatus and a CR (Computed Radiography) apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, the relationship between the image files in the diagnostic image file, whose status is sequentially changed to completed, confirmed, and interpreted in the course of medical / diagnosis, is clarified and unnecessary. It is possible to provide an excellent image management system and an excellent image management method that can properly manage so that a necessary image is not stored or a necessary image is not erased by overwriting.

According to the image management system and the image management method according to the present invention, when an image once recorded is read out and re-recorded, whether to overwrite the original image file or to record it as another image file The selection can be determined according to the type of the changed information.

For example, when a radiologist or a doctor reads and operates a diagnostic image, image reading conditions and image processing conditions applied to the diagnostic image are changed. The image processing conditions include reversible cases where the original image can be reproduced, such as simple gray value changes, and irreversible cases where the original image cannot be reproduced due to changes in processing parameters, such as normalization processing There are things. According to the image management system and method according to the present invention, when re-recording an image, whether to overwrite the original image file as it is or to save it as another image file according to the changed image processing conditions and the like Can be automatically selected. When saving as another image file, information indicating the relationship with the original image file is added and recorded. Therefore, when the image file is taken out again later, the original image file can be read seamlessly from the new image file.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a network system for sharing a medical / diagnosis image file among a plurality of terminals.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of a diagnostic image file handled on a network system for medical images according to a flow of medical / diagnostic work.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of a diagnostic image file handled on a network system for medical images according to a flow of medical / diagnostic work.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a diagnostic image file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of an image file server 10C.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an automatic storage process of image information performed between an image file server 10C and an external device such as a modality device 50 or an image viewer 10A, and an automatic storage function of an interpreted diagnostic image. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for re-recording a diagnostic image file on the image file server 10C.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example of a processing procedure for re-recording a diagnostic image file on the image file server 10C.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Workstation 11 ... CPU 12 ... RAM 13 ... ROM 14 ... Display interface 15 ... Input device interface 16 ... External device interface 17 ... Network interface 18 ... Bus 20 ... LAN 21 ... Display 22 ... Keyboard 23 ... Mouse 24 ... HDD 25: Media drive 30: Router 50: Modality device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G06T 1/00 200 A61B 5/05 390 F term (reference) 4C093 AA26 CA35 FH03 FH04 FH06 FH07 FH09 GA05 4C096 AA18 AB50 AD16 DE03 DE06 DE08 DE09 5B050 AA02 BA03 BA10 CA05 CA08 DA10 GA07 GA08 5B082 EA04 GA04 GA05

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image management system for managing an image file, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving an image file; a recording unit for recording the image file together with supplementary information; An image management system, comprising: re-recording control means for controlling an operation; wherein the re-recording control means changes incidental information and re-records an image file. 2. The image management system according to claim 1, wherein said re-recording control means can select a re-recording mode of the image file once recorded. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said re-recording control means selectively performs a recording mode of overwriting an image file once recorded on an original image or recording as another image. Image management system. 4. The re-recording control means, when recording an image file once recorded as another image, adds information indicating a relationship with the original image to the supplementary information. The image management system according to 1. 5. The re-recording control means selectively performs either overwriting on an original image or recording as a separate image in accordance with the type of supplementary information that has been changed for an image file once recorded. The image management system according to claim 1. 6. The re-recording control means performs overwriting on an original image when the supplementary information changed for an image file once recorded is an irreversible change in image processing conditions. 2. The image management system according to claim 1, wherein when an irreversible image processing condition is changed, recording is performed as another image. 7. The re-recording control means, when changing image processing conditions or additional information of an image to which information indicating that image reading has been added, changes the additional information after rewriting to the additional information before rewriting. 2. The image management system according to claim 1, wherein the information is stored in an area different from the information. 8. An image management method for managing an image file, comprising: a receiving step of receiving an image file; a recording step of recording the image file together with supplementary information; A re-recording control step of controlling a recording operation, wherein in the re-recording control step, additional information is changed and the image file is re-recorded. 9. The image management method according to claim 8, wherein in the re-recording control step, a re-recording mode of the image file once recorded can be selected. 10. The image management method according to claim 8, wherein in the re-recording control step, either overwriting of the image file once recorded on the original image or recording as another image is selectively performed. Method. 11. In the re-recording control step, when recording an image file once recorded as another image,
9. The image management method according to claim 8, wherein information indicating a relationship with the original image is added to the supplementary information. 12. The re-recording control step according to claim 1, wherein either overwriting on the original image or recording as another image is selectively performed in accordance with the type of supplementary information changed with respect to the image file once recorded. The image management method according to claim 8, wherein: 13. In the re-recording control step, if the supplementary information changed with respect to the image file once recorded is an irreversible change in image processing conditions, overwriting the original image is performed, and the changed supplementary information is 9. The image management method according to claim 8, wherein when the irreversible image processing condition is changed, recording is performed as another image. 14. In the re-recording control step, when the image processing condition or the supplementary information of the image to which the information indicating that the interpretation has been completed is changed, the supplementary information after rewriting is replaced with the supplementary information before rewriting. Store it in a separate area from the information,
9. The image management method according to claim 8, wherein: