JP2005084921A - Medical diagnosis support system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a radiologist to quickly and reliably recognize an addition of medical images of an emergency patient to an image reading list. <P>SOLUTION: When medical images of an emergency patient are added to an image reading list, a management server 40 sends to an image reading apparatus 20 the image reading list with the emergency patient and a command to display an emergency icon 25a for alerting a radiologist to an immediate image reading of the medical images of the emergency patient. The image reading apparatus 20 displays the emergency icon 25a in response to the command, and displays the image reading list with the emergency patient at the screen center. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical diagnosis support system for performing diagnosis support using a medical image such as a radiographic image.

  Conventionally, a system for transferring, storing, and displaying digitized medical image data called a medical PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System) has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In medical PACS, medical image data acquired by various modalities (including a digitizer for converting a medical image taken on a film into digital data) and image attribute information (for example, examination information) associated with each medical image data , Image accompanying information, interpretation report, etc.) are stored in a database together with an interpretation list representing medical images to be interpreted (that is, uninterpreted images) for sharing. Here, examples of the inspection data and the image-accompanying data are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.

  The medical PACS includes an image interpretation device that allows an interpreting doctor to browse the interpretation list and interpret a medical image in the interpretation list.

In addition, when a medical image of an emergency patient is added to the interpretation list, the interpretation doctor needs to interpret this image immediately and make a diagnosis. In such a case, for example, it is disclosed in Patent Document 2. As described above, medical images of emergency patients are sequentially listed from the top of the interpretation list, or an interpretation list dedicated to medical images of emergency patients is displayed as disclosed in Patent Document 3. The technique of making it is devised.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-12352 JP-A-5-81354 JP-A-7-175874

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3 have the following problems. That is, even if a medical image of an emergency patient is added to the interpretation list, in the case of Patent Document 2, the top of the interpretation list is displayed by scrolling the screen, or in the case of Patent Document 3, the medical image of the emergency patient is displayed. Unless an operation such as displaying an image interpretation list is performed, it is difficult for an image interpretation doctor to recognize that a medical image of an emergency patient has been added to the image interpretation list. For this reason, there is a possibility that an unexpected situation such as a delay in interpretation work for an emergency patient may occur in spite of a momentary dispute.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a medical diagnosis support system that allows an interpretation doctor to quickly and reliably recognize that a medical image of an emergency patient has been added to an interpretation list.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1
A management server for managing medical images;
In a medical diagnosis support system comprising: an interpretation list for the medical image; and one or more image interpretation devices that acquire and display a medical image instructed for interpretation from the interpretation list from the management server;
The management server
When a medical image of an emergency patient is input, this fact is notified to the plurality of image interpretation devices,
The image interpretation device comprises:
The fact that a medical image of an emergency patient has been input is displayed in response to a notification from the image interpretation apparatus.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1,
The management server
When the medical image of the emergency patient is input, this fact is transmitted to the image interpretation device together with the interpretation list related to the emergency patient,
The image interpretation device comprises:
When the notification from the image interpretation device and the interpretation list relating to the emergency patient are received, it is preferable to display that the medical image of the emergency patient has been input and to display the contents of the interpretation list.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 3, in the invention according to claim 1,
The management server
In response to a request for transmitting an interpretation list relating to an emergency patient transmitted from the image interpretation apparatus, the interpretation list is transmitted to the image interpretation apparatus,
The image interpretation device comprises:
In response to the input instruction, the transmission request for the interpretation list related to the emergency patient is transmitted to the management server, and the interpretation list related to the emergency patient transmitted from the management server in response to the transmission request is received, It is preferable to display the contents of the list.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 2 or 3, as in the invention according to claim 4,
The image interpretation device comprises:
It is preferable to insert the interpretation list relating to the emergency patient received from the management server next to the list item relating to the patient currently being interpreted.

Furthermore, as in the invention according to claim 5, in the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The image interpretation device comprises:
It is preferable to display the interpretation list relating to the emergency patient received from the management server with a predetermined mark indicating that it is a medical image of the emergency patient.

Furthermore, as in the invention according to claim 6, in the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
The image interpretation device comprises:
The interpretation list relating to the emergency patient received from the management server is preferably displayed blinking and / or using a color different from other interpretation lists.

  Therefore, no matter what screen is displayed by the interpretation doctor, since the fact that the medical image of the emergency patient has been input is displayed, the interpretation doctor can quickly and reliably recognize this fact, It becomes possible to start immediately. In addition, the interpretation list of the emergency patient is automatically displayed in the approximate center of the display screen (further, by adding a predetermined mark indicating that the emergency patient is a medical image, blinking, or using a color different from other interpretation lists). Since it is displayed, the interpretation doctor can save the trouble of scrolling the screen and can avoid the situation where the interpretation list of the emergency patient is missed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the medical diagnosis support system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The medical diagnosis support system 100 is for performing diagnosis support using a medical image such as a radiographic image based on a medical PACS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a medical diagnosis support system 100 includes a modality 10, an image interpretation device 20 for interpreting medical images, a database 30, a management server 40, and the like via a network 60 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The inspection order system 50 is connected to each other and connected to the management server 40. Note that the number of components of the medical diagnosis support system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is not limited to that illustrated, and can be arbitrarily set. In particular, a plurality of image interpretation devices 20 may be provided.

  The modality 10 creates medical image data, and transmits it to the management server 40 together with image associated data (see image associated data B shown in FIG. 7 as an example) related to the medical image data. Such medical image data and image-accompanying data are stored in the image database 30a of the database 30 based on control by the management server 40 and used for diagnosis.

  Each medical image data is accompanied by image associated data. For example, the image-accompanying data is recorded in the header of each medical image data (or as other independent data different from the medical image data). Medical image data is managed collectively for each examination number.

  The modality 10 includes a film digitizer 10a, an angiography apparatus 10b, a CT (Computed Tomography) scanner apparatus 10c, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus 10d, a nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus 10e, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 10f, an electronic endoscope apparatus 10g, It consists of CR (Computed Radiography) 10h and the like. In particular, the film digitizer 10a is a device that reads a taken medical image with a scanner or the like and converts it into digital data.

  The image interpretation apparatus 20 displays the contents of the interpretation list stored in the interpretation list database 30c of the database 30 transmitted from the management server 40 (particularly, the list contents corresponding to medical image data for which an interpretation report has not been created). At the same time, the medical images stored in the image database 30a of the database 30 are read and displayed via the management server 40 (see FIG. 2).

  Here, the interpretation list indicates various types of medical image data created by the modality 10, and medical image data that has been interpreted (that is, an interpretation report has been created) and that have not yet been interpreted (that is, Medical image data for which an interpretation report has not been created).

  The database 30 is a storage unit that stores various data such as medical images created by the modality 10 in a readable / writable manner. An image database 30a for storing various medical image data, an interpretation report database 30b for storing interpretation report data created by an interpretation doctor, and an interpretation list database 30c for storing the interpretation list are provided. The database 30 is managed by the management server 40, but a dedicated management server may be provided.

  When receiving the medical image data from the modality 10, the management server 40 stores the medical image data in the image database 30a and transmits the contents of the interpretation list stored in the interpretation list database 30c from the examination order system 50. The medical image data is changed based on the contents of the examination data related to the medical image data (see examination data A shown in FIG. 6 as an example) (that is, the received medical image is added to the interpretation list).

  The examination order system 50 transmits examination data indicating the examination details of each patient acquired from RIS (Radiorogy Information System) / HIS (Hospital Information System) to the management server 40. The management server 40 performs various data management (including management of interpretation report data) by associating medical image data with image attribute information (examination data, image-accompanying data, etc.).

  Next, the configuration of the image interpretation apparatus 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image interpretation apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, an input unit 24, a display unit 25, and a communication unit 26, which are mutually connected by a bus 27. Connected to.

  The control unit 21 comprehensively controls the image interpretation apparatus 20 by executing various programs stored in the ROM 22.

  When receiving the interpretation list from the management server 40, the control unit 21 stores the interpretation list in the RAM 23 and, based on the contents of the interpretation list, for example, FIG. An interpretation list screen 251 (or an interpretation list screen 252) for designating an interpretation image as shown in FIG. 5) is displayed on the display device of the display unit 25.

  The ROM 22 stores the various programs and various data necessary for executing the programs. The ROM 22 may be configured to include a recording medium (not shown) in which various programs and various data are stored in advance. This recording medium is a non-volatile memory that is fixedly or detachably provided on the ROM 22 and is configured by a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

  The RAM 23 temporarily stores the various programs so as to be executable and also has a function as a buffering memory.

  The input unit 24 includes various pointing devices such as a mouse and a touch panel, a keyboard including cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like (all not shown). The input instruction signal is output to the control unit 21.

  The display unit 25 includes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and displays the contents of various display data according to display control signals from the control unit 21. In particular, the display unit 25 displays an interpretation list screen 251 (or an interpretation list screen 251) for designating an interpretation image as shown in FIG. 4 (or FIG. 5), for example.

  The communication unit 26 is configured by a LAN board, a router, a TA (Terminal Adapter), or the like (all not shown), and performs communication performed between the modality 10, the image interpretation device 20, and the database 30 via the network 60. The communication performed with the inspection order system 50 is controlled.

Next, the operation of the medical diagnosis support system 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the management server 40 receives the examination data of the emergency patient and the medical image data (including the image associated data) relating to the emergency patient from each of the examination order system 50 and the modality 10 (step S10), the emergency patient The contents of the interpretation list stored in the interpretation list database 30c are updated based on the inspection data and the image-accompanying data.

  Next, the management server 40 displays an interpretation list related to the emergency patient and an instruction to display an emergency icon for warning the interpretation doctor that the medical image of the emergency patient is to be interpreted immediately. It transmits to the image interpretation apparatus 20 (step S11).

  After step S11, when the image interpretation apparatus 20 receives an instruction to display the interpretation list and the emergency icon relating to the emergency patient from the management server 40, as shown in FIG. 4 (or FIG. 5), for example, In the list screen 251 (or the interpretation list screen 252), an emergency icon 25a is displayed, and the interpretation list of the emergency patient is updated in addition to the interpretation list received in advance from the management server 40 and stored in the RAM 23, The contents of the updated interpretation list are displayed (step S12). Here, like the general warning message (for example, an icon for notifying an incoming mail) of the computer system of the image interpretation apparatus 20, the emergency icon 25a is a predetermined screen regardless of what display screen is displayed. It shall be displayed at the position.

  In this case, the left end part (reference numerals 25e to 25g in the figure) of the display part of each list item related to the emergency patient shown in each of the reference numerals 25b to 25d in the figure indicates that the list item relates to the emergency patient. Each icon (referred to as an emergency patient list item icon) is displayed. This makes it clear at a glance which list item being displayed relates to an emergency patient.

As for the display of the updated interpretation list, the currently displayed screen is scrolled when the emergency icon 25a is clicked, and the emergency patient's interpretation list is displayed in the approximate center of the screen (or the currently interpreted interpretation list). It is inserted and displayed next to the interpretation list item relating to the patient.). This eliminates the need to scroll the screen and search for the emergency patient interpretation list, so that the interpretation doctor can quickly and reliably start the interpretation of the medical image of the emergency patient.
4 is displayed by a selection input button (“previous page” or “next page”) indicated by a reference numeral 25h in FIG. 4 (or reference numerals 25k and 25l in FIG. 5). Is clicked with the mouse, the list item on the previous page or the next page of the currently displayed interpretation list item is displayed.
Furthermore, when the emergency icon 25a is clicked with the mouse regardless of which page (that is, which item in the interpretation list) is currently displayed, the interpretation list item of the emergency patient is the top of the interpretation list item currently displayed. Inserted (sorted) (or displayed at the top of the entire interpretation list. In addition, the method of automatically switching the screen without clicking the icon is also considered, but the interpretation doctor's thought (pathological diagnosis act) It will be interrupted each time, which is undesirable in the interpretation workflow.

The display of the updated interpretation list may be executed when the emergency icon 25a is clicked with the mouse.
Here, on the interpretation list screen 251, three items of the emergency patient interpretation list indicated by reference numerals 25b to 25d in the figure are displayed in parallel (that is, equivalently) mixed with the other interpretation list items. On the interpretation list screen 252, three items of the emergency patient interpretation list indicated by reference numerals 25b to 25d in the figure are displayed in a display area 25j different from the display areas of other interpretation lists. Either of the interpretation list screens 251 and 252 may be displayed.

  In addition, it is preferable that the three items of the emergency patient interpretation list indicated by reference numerals 25b to 25d in the figure are displayed so as to blink and / or displayed using a color different from that of other interpretation lists. . This makes it easier for the interpretation doctor to recognize the interpretation list of the emergency patient.

  Further, after step S12, the image interpretation apparatus 20 manages a download request for medical image data of the emergency patient when the emergency icon 25a is clicked with the mouse (or automatically after the processing of step S12 is completed). It transmits to the server 40 (step S13). Further, when there are a plurality of items in the interpretation list of the emergency patient, a specific item is designated by the interpretation doctor with the mouse (the designated item is displayed in shades or discolored). Further, when the emergency icon 25 a is clicked with the mouse, the download request is transmitted to the management server 40.

  After step S13, the management server 40 reads the medical image data requested to be downloaded from the image interpretation apparatus 20 from the database 30 and transmits it to the image interpretation apparatus 20 (step S14). In this case, the management server 40 may transmit the download request to the database 30 and transmit the medical image data directly from the database 30 to the image interpretation apparatus 20.

  After step S14, the image interpretation apparatus 20 displays the medical image data of the emergency patient received from the management server 40 (or database 30) on the display screen of the display unit 25 (step S15).

  As described above, when the medical image of the emergency patient is added to the interpretation list, the management server 40 promptly causes the image interpretation apparatus 20 to interpret the interpretation list of the emergency patient and the medical image of the emergency patient. An instruction to display the first aid icon 25a is sent to warn the interpretation doctor to do so. The image interpretation apparatus 20 displays the emergency icon 25a in response to the instruction, and displays the interpretation list of the emergency patient on the current screen by clicking the emergency icon 25a.

  Accordingly, since the emergency icon 25a is displayed regardless of what screen is displayed by the interpretation doctor, the interpretation doctor can quickly and surely recognize that the medical image of the emergency patient has been added to the interpretation list. Interpretation work can be started immediately. In addition, since the interpretation list of the emergency patient is displayed, it is possible for the interpretation doctor to save the trouble of scrolling the screen and avoid the situation where the interpretation list of the emergency patient is missed.

  The description in the present embodiment shows an example of the medical diagnosis support system according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the medical diagnosis support system 100 in the present embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the medical diagnosis assistance system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the structure of the image interpretation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the medical diagnosis assistance system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the interpretation list displayed on the display part of the image interpretation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display screen of the interpretation list displayed on the display part of the image interpretation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the test | inspection data used by the medical diagnosis assistance system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the image accompanying data used by the medical diagnosis assistance system to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

10 Modality 10a Film digitizer 10b Angiography apparatus 10c CT scanner apparatus 10d MRI apparatus 10e Nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus 10f Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 10g Electronic endoscope apparatus 10h CR
20 Image interpretation device 21 Control unit 22 ROM
23 RAM
24 Input unit 25 Display unit 25a First aid icon 26 Communication unit 27 Bus 30 Database 30a Image database 30b Interpretation report database 30c Interpretation list database 40 Management server 50 Inspection order system 60 Network 100 Medical diagnosis support system 251 and 252 Interpretation image designation screen

Claims (6)

A management server for managing medical images;
In a medical diagnosis support system comprising: an interpretation list for the medical image; and one or more image interpretation devices that acquire and display a medical image instructed for interpretation from the interpretation list from the management server;
The management server
When a medical image of an emergency patient is input, this fact is notified to the plurality of image interpretation devices,
The image interpretation device comprises:
A medical diagnosis support system that displays that a medical image of an emergency patient has been input in response to a notification from the image interpretation apparatus. The management server
When the medical image of the emergency patient is input, this fact is transmitted to the image interpretation device together with the interpretation list related to the emergency patient,
The image interpretation device comprises:
2. When receiving a notification from the image interpretation device and an interpretation list relating to the emergency patient, the fact that a medical image of the emergency patient has been input is displayed and the contents of the interpretation list are displayed. The medical diagnosis support system described in 1. The management server
In response to a request for transmitting an interpretation list relating to an emergency patient transmitted from the image interpretation apparatus, the interpretation list is transmitted to the image interpretation apparatus,
The image interpretation device comprises:
In response to the input instruction, the transmission request for the interpretation list related to the emergency patient is transmitted to the management server, and the interpretation list related to the emergency patient transmitted from the management server in response to the transmission request is received, The medical diagnosis support system according to claim 1, wherein the contents of the list are displayed. The image interpretation device comprises:
The medical diagnosis support system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the interpretation list relating to the emergency patient received from the management server is inserted next to the list item relating to the patient currently being interpreted. The image interpretation device comprises:
5. The interpretation list relating to the emergency patient received from the management server is displayed with a predetermined mark indicating that it is a medical image of the emergency patient. The medical diagnosis support system described. The image interpretation device comprises:
The interpretation list relating to the emergency patient received from the management server is displayed by blinking and / or using a color different from that of other interpretation lists. The medical diagnosis support system according to Item.

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