JP2004167266A - Method and apparatus for supporting coordinated medical examination - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for supporting coordinated medical examinations which can prevent a medical examination mistake. <P>SOLUTION: The coordinated medical examination support method is carried out by each operator in a different point retrieving and referring to the same treatment information from prepared portable storage media (21-1, 21-2), and in the coordinated medical examination support method, after preliminarily storing the same treatment information in storage means (12-1, 12-2) of respective medical examination termini (11-1, 11-2), a particular medical examination terminal transmits access information which specifies treatment information to be displayed to other medical examination terminal by a transmission medium 18. The other medical examination terminal retrieves the same treatment information from the storage means of the other medical examination termini based on the access information and displays it on a display unit (13-1, 13-2). Thereby, the same treatment information can be displayed automatically and correctly by the operation of a specified operator. The mistake of treatment information to be displayed, arising between a transmitting source and a transmitting destination can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooperative medical treatment support method and apparatus for performing medical treatment while referring to the same medical information displayed on a display terminal used by each of operators (doctors, technicians, etc.) at two or more different points.

  As an example of a conventional cooperative medical care support method and apparatus, “Monthly New Medical Service”, Vol. 21, no. 1, pages 112-115 (1994), the same as doctors at multiple medical institutions, aiming to eliminate shortage of specialists, improve the quality of medical treatment by cooperation between hospitals, and eliminate uneven distribution such as concentration and depopulation of medical care. There is a description of an example of a teleconference in which an electronic conference is performed by transmitting a medical image of an electronic conference. A medical image has an enormous data amount of several megabytes to several tens of megabytes per image, and in many cases, a plurality of images are handled simultaneously for one patient. The transmission of medical images takes a lot of time, requires a large transmission fee, and has a problem that the number of patients who can be treated per day is limited. Therefore, images used for diagnosis are stored in a portable storage medium (such as a magneto-optical disk). ) And transport or mail it to a medical institution in advance. Each doctor operates a terminal used by each doctor to search and display the same image from a portable storage medium and hold a diagnostic meeting. Was.

"New monthly medical care", Vol. 21, no. 1, pages 112 to 115 (1994)

  In the above-mentioned conventional technology, there is a possibility that a doctor mistakes the terminal operation and displays a different image, that is, a so-called wrong image is generated. In medical images, there are very many similar images such as images taken in routine (routine procedures) and follow-up observations, and it is difficult to find mistaking images during a diagnostic meeting, which is remarkable in performing accurate and reliable medical treatment. It was a serious problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cooperative medical treatment support method and apparatus that can solve such problems in the conventional technology and prevent medical malpractice that is an important problem in clinical application.

  In order to achieve the above object, the cooperation medical care support method and apparatus according to the present invention are configured such that each operator at two or more different points can use the same portable storage medium prepared in advance at each terminal to use the same. This is a cooperative medical care support method that reads and displays medical information, and after storing the same medical information in advance in a portable storage medium of each terminal, one terminal transmits access information specifying the medical information to be displayed to another terminal. The other terminal reads out the same medical information from the portable storage medium of the other terminal based on the access information and displays the same.

  Further, the present invention is a cooperative medical support apparatus in which display terminals for reading and displaying the same medical information from a portable storage medium are arranged at two or more different points, and stores medical information of a patient at a first point. A first storage device and a first display terminal for reading and displaying medical information from the first storage device are arranged, and stored in the first storage device at a second location different from the first location. A second storage device for storing the medical information, and a second display terminal for reading and displaying the medical information from the second storage device, between the first point and the second point, There is also a feature in a cooperative medical support apparatus in which a data transmission unit for transmitting access information for specifying medical information to be displayed on the first display terminal to the second display terminal is provided.

  In the cooperative medical treatment support method and apparatus according to the present invention, a certain terminal reads and displays the same medical information based on access information from another terminal. Rather than individual operators (doctors) operating the terminal, the same medical information (medical image) can be displayed automatically and accurately by the operation of a certain operator, and the medical information generated between the operators can be collected. It is possible to prevent mistakes and prevent malpractice.

  In the present embodiment, a certain medical terminal reads out and displays the same medical information based on access information from another medical terminal, so that individual operators do not operate the medical terminal, but operate by one person. The same medical information can be displayed automatically and accurately by the user, preventing misunderstanding of the displayed medical information between the transmission source and the transmission destination, and the remarkable effect of preventing medical errors, which are important issues in clinical application. is there.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cooperative medical care support apparatus according to the present invention.
The medical terminal 11-1 used when a doctor performs medical treatment displays a storage device 12-1 for storing medical information of a patient and information read from the storage device 12-1 on the screen. And a display device 13-1. The storage device 12-1 uses a portable storage medium 21-1, which will be described later in detail. The display device 13-1 uses a display such as a CRT or a liquid crystal. Such medical terminals are prepared at two or more points (11-1, 11-2,..., 11-N in the figure), and medical treatment is performed by a plurality of doctors. The data transmission medium 18 for transmitting information between the medical care terminals is, for example, various cables or wireless in the case of indoors, and a normal telephone line, ISDN line, or wireless line by a communication satellite in a remote place.

  The portable storage medium 21-1 stores medical information used for medical support. It can be attached to and detached from the storage device 12-1. For example, the portable storage medium 21-1 is detached from the storage device 12-1, and can be mounted on another storage means (for example, 12-2) to read and write. Specifically, a portable storage medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magnetic disk whose medium can be exchanged by a cartridge, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, and a removable magnetic disk are used. As specific examples, “Medical Medicine and Computer”, Vol. 5, no. 5, page 12 to page 21 (1993). According to this standard, the stored medical information cannot be read out without a device compliant with the standard or a predetermined keyword.

  The medical treatment information handled in the present embodiment is information necessary for medical treatment of the examinee, and includes, for example, the health condition and family history of the examinee, past illnesses, the results of medical interviews and various tests, medical chart entries, and the like. In this embodiment, such information is handled in the form of character codes and image data.

  Next, an example of a medical procedure performed by the cooperative medical support apparatus of FIG. 1 will be specifically described. In order to simplify the description, a case will be described in which two doctors (doctor A and doctor B) use each medical terminal (medical terminal 11-1 and medical terminal 11-2). In addition, a magneto-optical disk is used as a portable storage medium.

  In the device of the present embodiment, a certain medical terminal reads out and displays the same medical information based on access information from another medical terminal, and individual operators do not operate the terminal. The same medical information can be automatically and accurately displayed on each display device by the operation of the operator.

  First, using the portable storage media (21-1, 21-2), the storage devices (12-1, 12-2) of both medical terminals (111-1, 11-2) are used for medical support. Stores medical information. For example, two magneto-optical disks storing the same medical information are prepared and transported or mailed to two doctors in advance. Each doctor sets the sent magneto-optical disk in the storage device of the medical care terminal.

  As another example, Doctor A is the attending physician of the patient, Doctor B is a specialist of another medical institution referred by Doctor A, and Doctor A gives the patient a referral letter and a magneto-optical disk storing the medical information. The examinee passes the letter of introduction and the magneto-optical disk to the doctor B. That is, the examinee carries the magneto-optical disk.

Next, the doctor A instructs the medical care terminal 11-1 to display specific medical care information. The identification of the medical treatment information is performed based on, for example, the patient name, date and time, and the type of information (such as a biochemical test result or a radiographic image). The medical terminal 11-1 that has received the instruction performs the following two processes (1) and (2).
(1) The designated medical information is read from the portable storage medium 21-1 of the storage device 12-1 and displayed on the display device 13-1.
(2) The access information is transmitted to another medical terminal 11-2 using the data transmission medium 18. Here, the access information is information for specifying medical information to be displayed, and is information for specifying medical information to be read from the storage device. For example, it may be a patient name, date and time, type of information or identifier, or a path name or file name indicating a storage position on the storage device. Alternatively, a common identification number may be assigned to each medical information in advance between the two magneto-optical disks, and this identification number may be used as the access information. Finally, the medical care terminal 11-2 reads the same medical care information from the portable storage medium 21-2 of the storage device 12-2 based on the transmitted access information, and displays the same on the display device 13-2. In this way, the doctor B can observe the same medical information as the doctor A.

  As described above, the same medical information can be automatically and accurately displayed on each display device by the operation of a certain operator, and it is possible to prevent misunderstanding of the displayed medical information occurring at the transmission source and the transmission destination, It is possible to prevent malpractice which is an important problem in clinical application.

  In the present embodiment, an example of the medical procedure in which the same medical information is displayed on the medical terminal 11-2 according to the instruction of the doctor A of the medical terminal 11-1 has been described. The same medical care information can be displayed on the medical care terminal 11-1 according to the instruction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example of the medical procedure using the two medical terminals (11-1 and 11-2) has been described. However, the access information is transmitted to the multiple medical terminals, and the display information is displayed on the multiple medical terminals. It is displayed on the device, and medical treatment support by a plurality of doctors is possible.

  Further, in this embodiment, after the contents of the portable storage medium are once copied to a storage device such as a magnetic disk which can be accessed at high speed, the medical information can be searched and displayed to increase the speed. Further, in the present embodiment, a result of performing an operation (for example, when dealing with an image, a sum of all pixel values, a profile, and the like) other than those described above can be used together as the access information. By using the calculation results together, it is possible to observe the same medical information based on the medical information itself, and even if there is a different medical information with the same identifier or file name, the difference in the medical information can be determined and the medical information can be specified. Can be more accurate.

  In this embodiment, information that cannot be directly visualized as medical information (for example, projection data used for image reconstruction in computer tomography, magnetic resonance signal data used for image reconstruction in magnetic resonance imaging, and the like) ) Can be handled. In this case, a device for visualization (for example, an image reconstruction device that generates a tomographic image from projection data) can be prepared in each medical terminal and the same medical information can be displayed.

A feature of the present invention is that, when displaying the same medical information, the same medical information is automatically and accurately displayed by an instruction of a certain operator, instead of being displayed by individual operators, Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
(Second embodiment)
New medical information can be generated by performing some editing processing on the medical information handled by the medical terminal. Conventionally, this new medical information (that is, the result of editing and processing) has been transmitted to each medical terminal via a data transmission medium or the like, and then observed by a plurality of doctors. In this conventional method, a display waiting time due to a transmission bottleneck is a problem.

  In the present embodiment, editing processing is performed at each medical terminal and the editing processing result is quickly displayed, and an editing processing device is prepared at each medical terminal, and one medical terminal has editing processing information from another medical terminal. And perform the same editing and processing based on. As a result, a transmission bottleneck in transmitting the edited result to another terminal is eliminated, and the edited result can be displayed quickly.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the cooperative medical care support apparatus according to the present invention. The editing processing means (51-1, 51-2) performs editing processing on the medical care information. As a specific example, a time series graph of an inspection result is created, a shape operation (enlargement, reduction, cutout, etc.) of an inspection image, a density operation (gradation change, filter processing), and the like are performed.

  Next, an example of a medical procedure performed by the cooperative medical support apparatus of FIG. 2 will be specifically described. Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, two doctors (doctor A and doctor B) use the respective medical terminals (11-1, 11-2), and the medical information of the examinee is It is assumed that the information is stored in the storage device 12-1 of the medical care terminal 11-1 in advance. The medical treatment information is a chest radiograph.

First, according to the procedure of the first embodiment, the same medical information (chest radiograph) is displayed on each display device (13-1, 13-2) of both medical terminals (11-1, 11-2). Display so that the two doctors can see the same image. Next, the doctor A determines that high-frequency emphasis filter processing is necessary to clarify the focus shadow, and instructs the medical care terminal 11-1 to do so. This instruction is performed, for example, by setting a processing area or selecting processing contents. The medical care terminal 11-1 performs the following two processes (1) and (2).
(1) High-frequency emphasis filter processing is performed using the editing / processing device 51-1 and the result is displayed on the display device 13-1.
(2) The editing and processing information is transmitted to another medical terminal 11-2 using the data transmission medium 18. Here, the editing processing information is information for specifying the content of the editing processing, and may be, for example, setting of a processing area or selection of processing instructed by the doctor A to the medical care terminal 11-1, or editing of these. Information expressed in a format that can be easily used in the processing device may be used.

  Finally, the medical care terminal 11-2 performs the same high-frequency emphasizing filter processing based on the editing processing information transmitted using the editing processing apparatus 51-2, and displays the result on the display device 13-2. Doctor B can observe the same editing and processing result as Doctor A.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent editing instructions from being erroneously performed at the transmission source and the transmission destination, thereby enabling accurate and reliable medical treatment and preventing medical care errors. In addition, since the data transmission medium transmits only the edited and processed information, the transmission fee can be significantly reduced, and leakage of the medical treatment information to a third party can be prevented. In this embodiment, it goes without saying that the same operation processing as in the first embodiment is possible.
(Third embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the problem that the editing processing cannot be performed when the function for realizing the editing processing does not exist in the medical terminal receiving the editing processing information is not considered. An algorithm transmission device that transmits an editing processing algorithm, which is a processing method, is provided to perform the same editing processing.

  Specific examples of the editing and processing algorithm include a program such as C or FORTRAN describing a processing procedure, an execution code obtained by compiling the program, or a script language for controlling an application program prepared in advance. Specifications such as data input / output and parameter transfer are defined in advance or described in the algorithm.

  The algorithm transmission device is provided in each medical terminal. Among the editing functions of the editing and processing device, the function of transmitting an algorithm is prepared in advance in the form of an editing and processing algorithm in an algorithm transmission device. When transmission is required, the data is transmitted to the algorithm transmission device of another medical terminal via a data transmission medium. In addition, it has a function of converting the data into a form usable by the editing and processing device of the medical care terminal as needed. For example, in the case of the program itself, the program is compiled and converted into executable code.

  Next, an example of a medical procedure using the algorithm transmission device will be specifically described. In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, two doctors (doctor A and doctor B) use each medical care terminal. Further, this is an example of a case where the doctor A has performed the high-frequency emphasis filter processing on the chest radiograph, but the medical terminal of the doctor B does not have the function of the high-frequency emphasis filter processing. First, the algorithm transmission device of the doctor A's medical terminal transmits an editing algorithm corresponding to the high-frequency emphasis filter processing to the algorithm transmission device of the doctor B's medical terminal. Next, the algorithm transmission device of the doctor B's medical terminal converts the received editing algorithm into a form usable by the editing device, and then passes it to the editing device. Finally, the editing processing device performs editing processing based on the received editing processing algorithm, that is, high-frequency emphasis filter processing, and displays the result on a display device. In this way, doctor B can observe the same editing and processing result as doctor A.

In the present embodiment, the doctor at the transmission destination can also observe the processing result of the editing and processing function that is not provided in the medical care terminal used, and perform accurate and reliable medical care. Also, instead of always transmitting the algorithm of the editing and processing function that is not present in the medical terminal at the transmission destination, it may be timely determined whether or not to perform transmission in consideration of the frequency of use and the algorithm transmission time.
(Fourth embodiment)
In the cooperative medical support apparatus described in the first embodiment, one medical terminal does not consider the state of another medical terminal (for example, the execution state of each device configuring the medical terminal, the presence or absence of a failure, and the like). . For this reason, it is difficult to perform an appropriate response according to the state of the other medical terminal, but in the present embodiment, the state of the other medical terminal is grasped.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the cooperative medical care support apparatus according to the present embodiment. The state grasping devices 71-1 and 71-2 grasp the states of other medical terminals. The state to be grasped is the execution state of each device constituting the medical care terminal, the presence or absence of a failure, and the like. Specifically, there are a storage state of medical information in a storage device, a processing state in an editing and processing device, a display state in a display device, and the like.

  As an operation example of the state grasping device, for example, when the medical treatment terminal 11-1 grasps the state of the medical treatment terminal 11-2, the state grasping device 71-1 causes the state grasping device 71-2 to grasp the state at the time when the grasping is required. There is an operation in which the status grasping device 71-2 makes a request and responds to the status grasping device 71-1 of the result of the status grasp for the request. Alternatively, there is a method in which a state to be grasped is set in advance, and when a state set by the medical care terminal 11-2 occurs, the state grasping device 71-2 notifies the state grasping device 71-1 of the fact.

  Next, an example of a medical procedure performed by the cooperative medical support apparatus of FIG. 3 will be specifically described. The medical procedure of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment except for the part relating to the state grasping device. Hereinafter, a procedure for operating the state grasping device will be described on the assumption that medical information cannot be read out from the storage device 11-2 for some reason. Note that, as in the first embodiment, it is assumed that two doctors (doctor A and doctor B) use the respective medical terminals (medical terminals 11-1 and 11-2) to provide medical support.

  The storage device 12-2 attempts to read the same medical information based on the access information of the medical information specified by the doctor A to the medical terminal 11-1. As a result, it is recognized that reading is impossible, and this state is transmitted to the state grasping device 71-2. The state grasping device 71-2 uses the data transmission medium 18 to notify the state grasping device 71-1 of the unreadable state. As a result, the medical care terminal 11-1 performs a process for reading out. For example, the designated medical information is transmitted using the data transmission medium 18. The medical care terminal 11-2 displays the transmitted medical care information and can avoid this obstacle.

In the present embodiment, for example, when the medical information cannot be read by another medical terminal, it is possible to take appropriate measures according to the state of the other medical terminal, such as transferring the data by a data transmission medium. A high system can be built.
(Fifth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a state display device is provided in each of the display devices (13-1, 13-2) in FIG. 3, and the result of grasping by the state grasping device in the fourth embodiment is displayed on a screen.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a display screen 81 according to the present embodiment. The display screen 81 includes a window frame 82 for displaying medical information, a display area 83 for medical information, and a status display area 84. Next, an example of a screen display when a doctor reads medical care information will be described.

  First, when the doctor instructs the medical care terminal to display specific medical information, the medical information is displayed in the display area 84. At this time, the window frame 82 is displayed in red. This red color indicates that the display is being executed on another medical terminal. In addition, the status display area 84 displays a display that is being executed with characters, figures, and the like. At the same time, the state grasping device of the medical care terminal collects the display states of the other medical care terminals and transmits them to the state display device. When the status display device confirms the completion of the display, it displays the window frame 82 in blue. This blue color indicates completion of display on another medical terminal. Further, the completion of execution is displayed in the state display area 84 by characters, figures, or the like. Alternatively, execution completion is indicated by displaying nothing in the status display area 84.

In the present embodiment, medical treatment can be performed while grasping the state of the other medical treatment terminals. For example, problems such as inconsistent discussion due to incomplete display of the other party can be solved, and accurate and reliable medical treatment can be performed. The display of the status display device of the present embodiment may be any display as long as it is visually identifiable by the operator, and a dialog display for displaying a message in a new window, another expression method such as sound, or a combination thereof may be used. You may.
(Sixth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, based on the result grasped by the state grasping device, a synchronizing device for synchronizing the display timing of the medical care information with another medical care terminal is provided, and the display timing between the terminals caused by a line state or a difference in performance of the terminals is provided. Deviation is reduced.

  For example, when the doctor A and the doctor B observe the movement of the heart valve with different medical terminals, when the doctor A asks the doctor B "is the movement at this time unnatural", the display timing is different. "At this time," doctor B cannot observe the same image as doctor A, so such conversation (question) cannot be performed at all. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to match the display timing with a resolution sufficiently higher than one cycle of the heartbeat.

  In the present embodiment, a synchronizing device is provided in each of the display devices (13-1, 13-2) in FIG. 3, and the display timing of the medical care information is changed based on the grasping result of the state grasping device in the fourth embodiment. Synchronize with the display on the medical terminal.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a processing procedure of the synchronization device according to the present embodiment. First, medical information to be displayed on the display device is prepared in the form of display data (91). For example, a display buffer is provided as a temporary storage area for display data. The medical information read out from the storage unit is converted into a display data format as necessary, and then stored in a display buffer. Next, the process waits for completion of the process (91) for preparing display data at another medical terminal (92). This processing is performed by grasping the state of the display device (synchronizing device) of another medical terminal by the state grasping device. For example, the completion of storage in the display buffer is grasped. Finally, when the preparation of another medical terminal is completed, the prepared display data is displayed on the screen and visualized (93). For example, the contents stored in the display buffer are displayed on the screen.

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to solve problems such as disagreement due to different medical information being observed, thereby enabling accurate and reliable medical treatment. Further, in this embodiment, an example in which a display buffer is used as an example of the synchronization device has been described. However, as another example, a function of a window map / unmap in a window system using a bitmap display may be used. Good. The map is a window visualization, and the unmap is a window invisible state. The medical information is written in the window in the unmapped state (corresponding to 91 in FIG. 5), and is brought into the mapped state when the preparation is completed (corresponding to 93 in FIG. 5).

  Further, in this embodiment, display data to be displayed at 91 in FIG. 5 is prepared, but the display data may be medical information itself, data at an intermediate stage of conversion from medical information to display data, or the like. However, it is desirable that the time required for display does not greatly fluctuate.

In this embodiment, between the medical terminals, display data was prepared after confirming the completion of preparation of display data, and then synchronized. However, a device for monitoring a shift in display timing is provided, and a display timing is set in advance in consideration of the shift. May be adjusted and synchronized. As a deviation monitoring device, for example, in a state where synchronization is not performed, a waiting time from when a request for displaying an image to another medical terminal is received until a response of display completion is received from another medical terminal is measured and used. Not only the display timing but also other processing such as processing timing of editing processing may be synchronized. When a high-speed terminal and a low-speed terminal coexist, the high-speed terminal can reduce the continuous occupation time and improve the response at the time of parallel processing.
(Seventh embodiment)
In the case of displaying a moving image, if the display timings of all display images (frames) are synchronized as in the sixth embodiment, the number of display images per unit time (number of frames) decreases due to processing overhead, and May be less smooth.

  In the present embodiment, the synchronization device of each medical terminal has a synchronization control device that changes the synchronization method according to the type of medical information to be displayed and synchronizes the display timing, and reduces the overhead of the synchronization process. The display device has a function of displaying a moving image in synchronization with a clock (for example, using a crystal oscillator or the like) prepared in advance (moving image display function). The moving image display function is necessary to accurately display a moving image regardless of the presence or absence of cooperation.

  FIG. 6 summarizes a control example of a synchronization method in the synchronization control device. In the present embodiment, three types of images, that is, a still image, a time-series image, and a moving image, are handled as medical information to be displayed. A still image is a general image that does not change over time. The time-series image and the moving image are a set of still images captured at appropriate time intervals. However, at the time of display, it is important to display moving images at the same time interval as when shooting, and it is important to sequentially display all images as time-series images. When the display at the same time interval as that at the time of photographing cannot be made in time due to a limitation of hardware or the like, the moving image display function described above performs adjustment by appropriately thinning out images. As an example of the moving image, there is an image in which the state of the interview of the examinee is recorded, or an intraoperative real-time imaging result obtained by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Examples of a time-series image include an angiographic imaging result using a contrast agent, a heartbeat synchronous imaging result, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6, since the display timing of the still image and the time-series image is synchronized with respect to all the images to be displayed, it is possible to reduce the deviation of the display timing between the terminals. As a result, for example, in the case where the flow of the contrast agent is repeatedly observed / reproduced and the stenosis site is determined, it is possible to solve a problem such that the medical information being observed is different and controversy arises. The moving image synchronizes the display timing of the first image (that is, at the start of displaying a moving image). The second and subsequent images are displayed in synchronization with the clock of each display device by the moving image display function. The deviation of the clock of the display device is slight (for example, the same accuracy as that of the crystal oscillator), and the deviation of the display timing between the terminals can be reduced.

  According to the present embodiment, in the time-series image, it is possible to prevent discrepancies in the medical care information due to the display timing deviation, and in the moving image, the display timing deviation can be reduced, and the display can be performed with the same smoothness as when synchronization is not performed. As a result, an optimal display that balances image quality and display timing can be performed according to the type of medical information to be displayed. Further, the number of times of synchronization of the display timing can be reduced, and the transmission load of the data transmission medium can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the display timing of the moving image is synchronized at the start of the display of the moving image. However, the moving image may be synchronized at an appropriate interval during the display of the moving image depending on the accuracy of the clock. In the present embodiment, the display timing of the still image and the time-series image is synchronized with respect to all the images to be displayed, but the line state and the performance difference between the medical care terminals are small, the deviation is small, and the conference proceeds. If there is no problem in the above, synchronization may not be performed or synchronization may be performed at appropriate intervals. Further, in the present embodiment, a device for monitoring the shift of the display timing may be provided, and the selection of synchronization / non-synchronization, the setting of the synchronization interval, and the like may be dynamically changed according to the size of the shift. . As a deviation monitoring device, for example, in a state where synchronization is not performed, a waiting time from a request for image display to another medical terminal to a display completion response from another medical terminal is measured and used. .

Further, in the present embodiment, when a time-series image or a moving image is repeatedly reproduced / still displayed, information representing a still image (frame) as access information at the time of stationary is displayed on another medical terminal via a data transmission medium. And another medical terminal may display an image of the same frame based on the access information. Even when the display timings are different due to clock accuracy, unexpected failure, and the like, the same medical information is displayed at the transmission source and the transmission destination when the display is stationary.
(Eighth embodiment)
When treating an image as medical information, it is necessary to read a very minute change in density. For this reason, even if the optimal image processing is performed by a certain medical terminal, it is extremely difficult to perform cooperative medical treatment, such as not being able to obtain a clear effect due to the effects of individual differences and individual differences with other medical terminals. Problems arise.

  In this embodiment, each medical terminal is provided with a correction device for correcting a difference in characteristics of the display device of each medical terminal, and an optimal image is obtained by individual differences in display devices such as CRTs and liquid crystals and individual differences in visual characteristics. It avoids the problem of different treatments and enables accurate and reliable medical treatment.

  The correction device corrects concentration distortion and geometric distortion. Specifically, for example, the former is performed using γ correction, and the latter is performed using affine transformation. The details are described in "Industrial Image Processing" by Shoji Ejiri, Shokodo (1988), pp. 24 to 27. The determination of the parameters used for the correction (the γ value, the affine coefficient, etc.) is performed, for example, by displaying a correction image as shown in FIG. The γ value is determined so that the darkest part to the bright part can be displayed continuously by the density distortion correction image 101 in which the density value continuously changes. Based on the geometric distortion correction image 102 in which the straight lines are arranged in a grid pattern, the affine coefficient is determined so that each line becomes a vertical or horizontal straight line. Such correction is performed before the start of medical treatment or at an appropriate frequency.

In the present embodiment, only the concentration distortion or only the geometric distortion may be corrected. Further, the correction timing may be different. For example, the geometric distortion is performed as necessary, for example, when the installation location of the medical terminal is changed, and the density distortion is performed before the medical treatment starts. Also, the correction parameters are prepared in advance for each observer, and are changed according to the observer, or the correction image is transmitted by a data transmission medium, or is stored in a portable storage means in advance, and is always the same. A correction image may be used.
(Ninth embodiment)
At a conference, a small misunderstanding among physicians can lead to serious accidents. For this reason, accurate medical communication is extremely important and essential in the medical field.

  In the medical terminal of this embodiment, a moving image photographing device for photographing the situation of the operator and a moving image display device for displaying the condition of the operator photographed by another medical terminal are provided, and the expression of the other party is directly confirmed at the conference. It enables discussions while proceeding with accurate communication and prevents malpractice.

  As the moving image photographing device, for example, a television camera is used. For example, the moving image display device generates a new window on a screen that displays medical information, and displays the captured image in this window. For display, it is necessary to transmit the imaging result between the medical terminals. For example, the transmission is performed by providing a line capable of directly transmitting the video signal of the video camera or using a data transmission medium. . In the latter case, a CODEC or compression / decompression means for mutually converting between a video signal (analog information) and image data (digital information) is used as necessary.

  FIG. 8 is an example of the display screen of the medical care terminal according to the present embodiment, and shows a display screen 111-1 of the display device of the transmission source medical terminal and a display screen 111-2 of the display device of the transmission destination medical terminal. It is. On the display screen, windows 113-1 and 113-2 for displaying medical information are provided, respectively, windows 114-1 and 114-2 for displaying the status of the operator of the medical terminal. Is displayed on the window 114-1 and the operator of the medical care terminal on the display screen 111-1 is displayed on the window 114-2 by the moving image display device. The image to be photographed and displayed is, for example, the face of the operator. You can directly grasp the other person's expression and proceed with the discussion while confirming the intention of the other person.

  In this embodiment, the display may be prioritized between the display of the medical care information and the display of the status of the operator. For example, when displaying the medical information, transmission of the medical information and processing of the display device may be prioritized, and the medical information may be observed as soon as possible. The display of the operator's status is performed by reducing the image quality or the number of frames or suspending the display as necessary. When transmitting the photographing result of the operator by the data transmission medium, the transmission amount may be reduced (the image quality or the number of frames may be reduced) or the transmission may be temporarily stopped depending on the load of the data transmission medium.

The editing and processing device, the status grasping device, the status display device, the synchronization device, the moving image display device, the correction device, and the like in the cooperative medical support devices described in the first to ninth embodiments described above are dedicated to the processing contents of each device. It is realized by a device configured by combining a logical operation element and a storage element so as to perform processing.
(Tenth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, for example, the editing and processing device, the status grasping device, the status display device, the synchronization device, the moving image display device, the correction device, and the like in the cooperative medical care support device described in the first to ninth embodiments described above, And a general-purpose data processing such as a personal computer or a workstation, and a processing device that performs various controls.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of the cooperative medical care support apparatus according to the present embodiment. For example, a first medical care terminal 11-1 is provided at a clinic on a remote island, and a second medical care terminal 11 is provided at a regional core hospital or the like. -2 is arranged. The medical care terminal has the function of the medical care terminal described in the first to ninth embodiments.

  , 11-N are storage devices 125-1, 125-2, ... that store the medical information of the examinee, and a display terminal 124 that reads and displays the medical information from the storage devices. -1, 124-2,... The storage device includes fixed storage devices 141-1, 141-2,... And portable storage devices 21-1, 21-2,. The fixed storage device is, for example, a fixed magnetic disk device or a disk array device. The example of the portable storage medium has been described in the first embodiment.

  Display terminals 124-1, 124-2,... Which read the medical information from the storage device and perform data processing and various controls, and display devices 131-1, 131-2,. .., 13-2,. The photographing of the situation of the operator of the medical care terminal is performed by a moving image photographing device 151-1, 151-2,..., For example, by a video camera. A photographing result by the moving image photographing device 151-1 is displayed on the display 114-2.

FIG. 10 shows a processing procedure in the present embodiment. After the portable storage medium is stored in the storage device at the medical terminal (200), the content to be processed at the medical terminal is selected (205). The contents processed by the medical care terminal are the contents of each processing described in the first to ninth embodiments. That is, in addition to the step (250) of displaying the status of the operator, one of the steps of display (210), editing (220), and state display: control (230) and correction (240) is selected, and each processing is performed. . The display step (210) includes a step of transmitting access information (212) and a step of displaying medical information (214). The editing step (220) includes a step of selecting editing information of the editing processing information (221) and the editing processing algorithm information (222). A transmission step (224) of the editing processing information and a transmission step of the editing processing algorithm information ( After the execution of (225), a step (226) of performing editing processing is executed. State display: In the control step (230), a step (234) for grasping the situation, a step (234) for displaying the state of the medical care terminal, and a step (236) for synchronizing the display are executed. In the correction step (240), a step (245) of correcting the display screen is executed, and in a step (250) of displaying the situation of the operator, a step (255) of displaying the situation of the operator of the medical care terminal is executed. .

  Although the description in each of the above embodiments has mainly been given of an example in which two doctors cooperate with each other using two medical terminals, the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, it is also effective when doctors cooperate in performing medical treatment. Individual operators do not operate the medical terminal individually, but automatically and accurately by the operation of one specific operator. The same medical information is displayed on the display screen, and medical treatment is performed based on the same medical information.

The figure explaining the 1st Example of the cooperation medical treatment support apparatus by this invention. The figure explaining the 2nd Example of the cooperation medical treatment support apparatus by this invention. The figure explaining the 4th Example of the cooperation medical treatment support apparatus by this invention. The figure which shows an example of the display screen in 5th Example of the cooperation medical treatment support apparatus by this invention. The figure which shows an example of the processing procedure of the synchronous device in the 6th Example of the cooperation medical assistance apparatus by this invention. The figure which shows an example of control of the synchronous method in the synchronous control apparatus in the 7th Example of the cooperation medical assistance apparatus by this invention. The figure which shows an example of the image for a correction used by the correction apparatus in the 8th Example of the cooperation medical assistance apparatus by this invention. The figure which shows an example of the display screen in the 9th Example of the cooperation medical assistance apparatus by this invention. The figure explaining the 9th Example of the cooperation medical treatment support apparatus by the present invention. The figure explaining the procedure of the process in the 9th Example of the cooperation medical treatment support apparatus by this invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

, 11-N ... medical terminal, 12-1, 12-2, ..., 12-N ... storage means, 13-1, 13-2, ..., 13-N ... display device , 18 ... data transmission medium, 21-1, 21-2, ..., 21-N ... portable storage means, 51-1, 51-2, ..., 51-N ... editing / processing means, 71-1, 71- 2, ..., 71-N ... state grasping device, 81 ... display screen, 82 ... window frame for displaying medical information, 83 ... medical information display area, 84 ... state display area, 101 ... density distortion correction image, 102: image for correcting geometric distortion; 111-1, display screen of the medical terminal at the transmission source; 111-2: display screen of the medical terminal at the transmission destination; 113-1, 113-2: windows for displaying medical information; 114-1, 114-2... Windows for displaying the status of the operator of the other terminal; 24-1, 124-2: display terminals, 125-1, 125-2: storage devices, 131-1, 131-2: processing devices, 141-1, 141-2: fixed storage devices, 151-1, 151-2: Moving image photographing device.

Claims (12)

  A collaborative medical support method in which the same medical information is read and displayed from a portable storage medium prepared in advance at each terminal at a plurality of points, and the same medical information is previously stored in the portable storage medium of each terminal. Storing the medical information, transmitting the access information specifying the medical information to be displayed at the terminal at a predetermined point to another terminal at a point different from the predetermined point, and Reading and displaying the same medical information from a portable storage medium of the terminal based on the information.   2. The cooperative medical treatment support method according to claim 1, wherein each terminal has a step of performing editing processing on medical information, and the predetermined terminal transmits editing processing information designating editing processing on the medical information to the other terminal. A step of performing the same edit processing as the edit processing performed by the predetermined terminal on the basis of the edit processing information at the other terminal.   The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined terminal has a step of transmitting an editing algorithm for performing the editing process to the other terminal, wherein the other terminal is configured based on the editing algorithm. And a step of performing the same editing processing as the editing processing performed by the predetermined terminal.   4. The cooperative medical support method according to claim 1, wherein each terminal includes a step of grasping a processing state of the other terminal.   5. The cooperative medical support method according to claim 4, wherein each terminal includes a step of displaying the grasped processing state on a display screen.   6. The cooperative medical care support method according to claim 4, wherein each terminal has a step of synchronizing a timing of displaying the medical care information with the other terminal based on the grasped processing state. Cooperative medical treatment support method.   7. The cooperative medical support method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of changing the synchronization of the timing at which the medical information is displayed at each of the terminals according to the type of the medical information.   8. The cooperative medical support method according to claim 1, wherein each terminal includes a step of correcting a difference in characteristics of a display screen displaying the medical information in each of the terminals.   9. The cooperative medical treatment support method according to claim 1, wherein each terminal includes a step of displaying, on a display screen, a situation of an operator photographed by the other terminal.   2. The cooperative medical treatment support method according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium is a magneto-optical disk.   A cooperative medical care support apparatus in which display terminals for reading and displaying the same medical information from a portable storage medium are arranged at a plurality of points, and a first storage device in which the medical information is stored at a first point. A first display terminal that reads and displays the medical information from the first storage device, and stores the medical information stored in the first storage device at a second location different from the first location. A second storage device for storing information and a second display terminal for reading and displaying medical information from the second storage device are arranged, and between the first point and the second point, A cooperative medical support apparatus, wherein a data transmission unit for transmitting access information specifying the medical information displayed on the first display terminal to the second display terminal is arranged. 12. The cooperative medical support apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and second storage devices are magneto-optical disk storage devices.

Images