JP2006263065A - Image management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique to manage a medical image which particularly disperses the accesses to two or more medical image recording apparatuses which record the medical images. <P>SOLUTION: The medical image management system to manage the two or more medical images received from a medical diagnosis apparatus is equipped with two or more recording means which can record the two or more medical images, a group setting means to group the two or more medical images into unit groups on the basis of the annexed information of the medical images, and a writing means to write the two or more medical images in one recording means by the group. Also, the medical image management system to manage the medical images is equipped with the two or more recording means to record the medical images, the group setting means to group the two or more medical images into the unit groups on the basis of the annexed information of the medical images, and a control means which selects the recording means to be the origin of the redistribution of the medical images and the recording means to be the destination of the redistribution of the medical images and executes the control over the recording means to move the medical images stored by the recording means of the origin of the redistribution to the recording means to be the destination of the redistribution by the group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing medical images, and more particularly to a technique for distributing access to a plurality of devices that store medical images.

  In recent years, systemization in hospitals has progressed in recent years, and various systems have been operating in hospitals. For example, a medical image storage device (PACS) or a radiation information system (RIS) that stores medical images is connected to a network, and a computer terminal on the network is used to communicate with the medical image storage device or the radiation information system. Medical images, examination status information, and examination order information are transmitted and received.

  For example, modalities such as an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an X-ray apparatus having a communication function and a computer function also participate in this network. Using the communication function and the computer function, acquired medical images and medical device examination status information The inspection order information for the medical device can be directly communicated with the medical image storage device and the radiation information system.

  The image management system is a system that manages a medical image received from a modality for creating a medical image, and stores the medical image so that the created medical image can be displayed on a client terminal via a network.

  In recent years, filmless medical images have progressed, and medical images that must be managed by an image management system are rapidly increasing. With the rapid increase in medical images, access for acquiring medical images from client terminals has also increased rapidly, increasing the load on the image management system.

  Therefore, in order to distribute the load of the image management system, a technique for virtualizing a medical image storage device that stores medical images has been provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This technology makes it possible to construct a system that can withstand a load by virtualizing by combining responses of a plurality of medical image storage devices, ensuring system scalability, and adding more devices.

  In addition, in order to distribute the load of the image management system, a technique for efficiently using a storage area has been provided (for example, see Patent Document 2). This technique secures a free capacity by increasing or decreasing the storage area for storing performance data or deleting the existing performance data according to the free capacity of the storage area in which the performance data can be stored.

JP 2004-54721 A JP 2004-234557 A

  By the way, in the image management system, a plurality of medical image storage devices are arranged, but there are cases where the medical image storage destination is biased. In particular, when a medical image storage device is newly added, the bias is remarkable. In a state where the medical image storage destination is biased, access to the medical image storage device from the client terminal is also biased. In such an image management system, the load is concentrated on the storage destination of medical images that are stored in a biased manner, so that the load is not distributed and the processing efficiency of the image management system is reduced.

  In addition, a plurality of medical images are created by a single examination of the modality, and the plurality of medical images are often referred to at the time of interpretation. In a conventional medical image management system, a plurality of medical image storage devices are stored in units of medical images, and a plurality of medical images taken by a single examination of a modality are stored in a plurality of medical image storage devices. It may be memorized separately. When acquiring a plurality of medical images created by a modality examination for interpretation by a client terminal, it is necessary to access a plurality of medical image storage devices, and a plurality of client terminals can simultaneously access the medical image storage device. When a plurality of medical images are accessed for acquisition, a plurality of client terminals access individual medical image storage devices at the same time, load is not distributed, and the processing efficiency of the image management system decreases.

  In Patent Document 1, it is possible to increase the number of medical image storage devices, but it is not possible to eliminate the state in which medical images are biased in the medical image storage device. Further, it is impossible to avoid a situation where a plurality of medical image storage devices must be accessed in order to acquire a plurality of related medical images necessary for interpretation.

  In Patent Document 2, although the storage efficiency of each medical image storage device can be improved, the efficiency of the storage area based on the relationship between the medical image storage devices cannot be solved. It is not possible to avoid a situation in which a plurality of medical image storage devices must be accessed in order to obtain a necessary plurality of related medical images.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention relates to a technique for managing medical images, and in particular, a technique for distributing access to a plurality of medical image storage devices that store medical images. It is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a medical image management system for managing a plurality of medical images received from a medical diagnostic apparatus, and a plurality of storage means capable of storing the plurality of medical images. And group setting means for grouping the plurality of medical images into groups based on the supplementary information attached to the medical images, and writing for writing the plurality of grouped medical images into the same storage means in group units And means.

  A distribution ratio calculation that calculates a storage destination information acquisition unit that acquires a ratio of the free areas of the plurality of storage units and a ratio corresponding to a ratio of the ratios of the free areas as a distribution ratio for distributing the medical image to each storage unit. And the writing means may distribute and write the medical images grouped in each storage means according to the distribution ratio in units of groups (corresponding to the invention according to claim 2). .

  The storage destination information acquisition unit may further acquire abnormal state information of the storage unit, and the distribution ratio calculation unit may set the distribution ratio to the storage unit that acquired the abnormal state information to 0. This corresponds to the invention described in 3).

  A plurality of reading means for reading out medical images corresponding to the plurality of storage means; and the distribution ratio calculating means weights a ratio corresponding to a ratio of the ratios of the empty areas based on the performance of the plurality of reading means. To calculate the distribution ratio (corresponding to the invention described in claim 4).

  The group unit may be an examination unit in which medical images having the same patient ID and examination ID are included in the same group as the accompanying information (corresponding to the invention according to claim 5).

    In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 6 is a medical image management system for managing medical images, based on a plurality of storage means for storing medical images and auxiliary information attached to the medical images, A group setting unit for grouping a plurality of medical images into groups, a storage unit as a redistribution source of medical images, and a storage unit as a redistribution destination are selected, and the storage unit of the redistribution source stores them. And a control unit that controls the storage unit to move the medical image to the storage unit as a redistribution destination in group units.

  Based on the storage destination information acquisition means for acquiring the storage area capacity and the use area capacity of the plurality of storage means, and the free area of the plurality of storage means based on the storage area capacity and the use area capacity A distribution amount calculating means for calculating a redistribution amount for equalizing the ratio, wherein the control means is configured to store a storage means as a redistribution source and a redistribution destination of a medical image based on the distribution amount. The storage unit may be controlled to select the unit and move the grouped medical images stored in the redistribution source storage unit to the redistribution destination storage unit in groups (claim). This corresponds to the invention described in item 7).

  The control unit acquires the examination date information of the medical image stored in the storage unit as the redistribution source for each group when selecting the storage unit as the redistribution destination, and a plurality of the same examination date information acquired. Different storage means may be selected as group redistribution destinations (corresponding to the invention described in claim 8).

  Depending on a medical image management system that manages a plurality of medical images received from the medical diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, based on a plurality of storage means capable of storing the plurality of medical images and auxiliary information attached to the medical images, Group setting means for grouping a plurality of medical images into groups, and writing means for writing the plurality of medical images into the same storage means in groups.

  Further, depending on the medical image management system for managing medical images of the present invention, a group for grouping a plurality of medical images into groups based on a plurality of storage means for storing the medical images and supplementary information attached to the medical images Select the setting means, the storage means that is the redistribution source of the medical image, and the storage means that is the redistribution destination, and move the medical image stored in the storage means of the redistribution source to the storage means that is the redistribution destination in groups. And control means for performing control on the storage means.

  Thereby, medical images of the same group can be stored in the same storage means, and accesses from a plurality of client terminals that desire medical images of different groups are distributed to the respective storage means, thereby improving processing efficiency.

  Further, a storage destination information acquisition unit that acquires a ratio of free areas of the plurality of storage units, and a distribution that calculates a ratio corresponding to a ratio of the ratios of the free areas as a distribution ratio for distributing medical images to the storage units A ratio calculating unit, and the writing unit distributes and writes the medical image in groups in each storage unit according to the distribution ratio, thereby facilitating distribution of access to each storage unit and improving processing efficiency. improves.

  Based on the storage destination information acquisition means for acquiring the storage area capacity and the use area capacity of the plurality of storage means, and the free area of the plurality of storage means based on the storage area capacity and the use area capacity A distribution amount calculating means for calculating a redistribution amount for equalizing the ratio, wherein the control means is configured to store a storage means as a redistribution source and a redistribution destination of a medical image based on the distribution amount. By selecting the means and controlling the storage means to move the medical image stored in the redistribution source storage means to the redistribution destination storage means in groups, access is distributed to each storage means. It becomes easy and processing efficiency improves.

  Preferred embodiments of an image management system and an image management apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image management system S is a so-called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), and connects the image management apparatus 1 and a plurality of medical image storage apparatuses 3, 3. The image management device 1 and the medical image storage device 3 are computers having a communication function.

  The image management apparatus 1 is loaded with a program for managing medical images. In addition, in order to manage medical images, an image database 2 that stores medical image information for specifying medical images and storage position information for specifying storage positions of medical images in pairs is provided.

  The medical image storage device 3 directly connected to the network N is a network attached storage (NAS), is a file server that stores medical images, and stores storage means for storing medical images, for example, medical images. A reading means including a reading CPU is provided. The medical image storage device 3 connected to the network N via a storage area network (SAN) SAN is managed by a server (not shown) arranged in the same network and is connected to a single NAS from a user terminal. And a file server that similarly stores medical images.

  When the image management system S functions as a PACS, a signal for requesting acquisition of a medical image including medical image information is transmitted to the image management system S from the client terminal 4 connected to the network N. When receiving the medical image acquisition request signal, the image management apparatus 1 extracts the storage position information paired with the corresponding medical image information from the image database 2 using the medical image information as a search key. The extracted storage destination information is transmitted to the client terminal 4. The medical image storage device 3 corresponding to the storage location indicated by the storage location information transmits the requested medical image to the client terminal 4 that has accessed according to the storage location information transmitted by the image management device 1.

  The medical images managed by the image management system S are received from modalities 5, 5,. The modality 5 is a medical diagnostic apparatus that observes the inside of the subject and creates a medical image that is an image in the subject from the obtained data, and includes a computer having a communication function. For example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for observing the inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves, an X-ray apparatus for observing the inside of a subject with X-rays, and generating a magnetic field and an electromagnetic wave to receive radio waves generated from, for example, hydrogen nuclei in the subject This is an MRI apparatus.

  In the image management system S of this embodiment, the medical image created by the modality 5 is distributed from the image management device 1 to the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... In a predetermined group unit, and the image database 2 is updated. . Further, the medical images stored in the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... Are redistributed to the other medical image storage devices 3, 3,. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image management apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the image management apparatus 1 includes a processing unit 1A, a main storage unit 1B, an external storage unit 1C, and a transmission / reception unit 1D. The processing unit 1A is a so-called CPU, performs calculations according to a program, and controls the peripheral units 1B, 1C, and 1D. The main storage unit 1B is a RAM such as a semiconductor memory, for example. As a work area of the processing unit 1A, a program, a calculation result by calculation of the processing unit 1A, or data is expanded. The transmission / reception unit 1D is a network adapter such as a LAN or a modem, and transmits / receives data to / from a device connected to the network N.

  The external storage unit 1 </ b> C is a so-called HDD, stores a program for realizing a computer as the image management apparatus 1, and an image database 2, and temporarily stores medical images received from the modality 5.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image management apparatus 1. The processing unit 1A performs an operation according to a program stored in the external storage unit 1C and controls the peripheral units 1B, 1C, and 1D, so that the image management apparatus 1 includes an image storage unit 110 and an image storage unit 110 as shown in FIG. A distribution unit 120 and a redistribution control unit 130 are provided.

  The image storage unit 110 temporarily stores the medical image received from the modality 5. The distribution unit 120 groups the temporarily stored medical images for each medical image taken by the same examination, and distributes the medical images to the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. The redistribution control unit 130 performs control to redistribute the medical images stored in the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... To the other medical image storage devices 3, 3,. In addition, the distribution unit 120 and the redistribution control unit 130 control the image database 2 to create or change a record in which the medical image information of the distributed or redistributed medical image and the new storage destination information are paired. Do.

  The distribution unit 120 performs processing each time a medical image is received from the modality 5. The redistribution control unit 130 has a process start timing set in advance, and starts the process when the process start timing comes. The processing start timing is set according to the date and time such as night. Further, the processing start timing may be that a new medical image storage device 3 is added.

  The distribution unit 120 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the function of the distribution unit 120 in further detail. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the distribution unit 120 includes a group setting unit 121, a storage destination information acquisition unit 122, a distribution ratio calculation unit 123, a writing unit 124, and a database update unit 125.

  The group setting unit 121 divides medical images stored in the image storage unit 110 into groups, and loads them in the distribution processing queue in groups. In the grouping, it is preferable that medical images that are highly likely to be referred to at the same time when interpretation is made into the same group. For example, medical images obtained by photographing the same patient in the same examination, that is, medical images photographed in the same examination are registered in the same group.

  When the medical image is created by the modality 5, incidental information according to the DICOM standard is attached. The accompanying information is information related to a medical image to be attached. The incidental information includes patient ID, examination ID, series ID, image number, slice thickness information, imaging region information, and the like based on the DICOM standard.

  The group setting unit 121 groups medical images stored in the image storage unit 110, for example, in units of examinations. In this case, the group setting unit 121 registers medical images having the same patient ID and examination ID in the same group. In addition, you may register to a group by patient unit or series unit.

  The storage destination information acquisition unit 122 acquires the ratio of the free areas of the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,... As storage destination information.

  The distribution ratio calculation unit 123 acquires a distribution ratio. The distribution ratio is obtained by calculating the ratio of the free area ratio of the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,. Furthermore, the ratio of each empty area may be divided by the ratio of the minimum empty area, and the ratio values may be arranged at the same magnification so that the ratio value becomes an integer.

  The writing unit 124 refers to the processing queue, reads all the medical images registered in the group to be distributed from the image storage unit 110, and writes them in the same medical image storage device 3 in units of groups. The writing destination writes the number of units proportional to the distribution ratio of the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,... In each medical image storage device 3, 3, 3,. As the writing order, an order in which the number of consecutive writings in which a plurality of groups of medical images are continuously written in the same medical image storage device 3 is minimized is selected.

  The medical image storage device 3 may be in an abnormal state such as a failure during writing. In this case, when the medical image storage device 3 is set to the write-through method and the writing completion signal does not reach the writing unit 124, all the medical images of the group that could not be written to the medical image storage device 3 that is the next writing destination are displayed. Just write. It is desirable that the distribution ratio of the medical image storage device 3 in the abnormal state is 0 thereafter.

  The database updating unit 125 instructs the image database 2 to create a record in which the medical image information of the distributed medical image and the storage position information are paired by using SQL (Structured Query Language) or the like.

  The distribution processing operation of the medical image management apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. First, when a medical image is received from modalities 5, 5,..., The received medical image is temporarily stored in the external storage unit 1C (S11). When the medical image is stored, predetermined additional information attached to the stored medical image is read (S12). In this embodiment, in order to group medical images in units of examinations, patient IDs and examination IDs are read as predetermined supplementary information. The supplementary information of the stored medical images is sequentially read out, medical images having the same predetermined supplementary information are registered in the same group, and are loaded in the processing queue in units of groups (S13).

  When distributing the groups loaded in the processing queue, first, the ratio of the empty areas of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... Is acquired as storage destination information via the network N (S14). The ratio of the empty area ratio of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... Is calculated from the acquired ratio of each empty area, and is set as a distribution ratio (S15).

  All of the medical images registered in the group loaded in the processing queue are acquired from the external storage unit 1C (S16), and the distribution order is determined according to the distribution ratio (S17). In accordance with the distribution order, the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... To be written are determined, and all of the read medical images are written in the determined medical image storage devices 3, 3,.

  A record in which the medical image information of the written medical image and the storage position information are paired is created in the image database (S19). The processing from S12 to S18 is repeated until all the stored medical images are distributed, and the series of processing ends.

  FIG. 6 is a specific example of distribution processing by the medical image management apparatus 1. FIG. 6A is a specific example of a medical image stored in the external storage unit 1C. For example, medical images A to J are temporarily stored in the medical image management apparatus 1. In the incidental information of the medical images A and B, the patient ID is “Patient A” and the examination ID is “Study A”. In the incidental information of the medical images C and D, the patient ID is “Patient A” and the examination ID is “Study B”. In the incidental information of the medical images E and F, the patient ID is “PatientB” and the examination ID is “StudyC”. In the incidental information of the medical images G and H, the patient ID is “PatientC” and the examination ID is “StudyD”. In the incidental information of the medical images I and J, the patient ID is “PatientD” and the examination ID is “StudyA”.

  FIG. 6B is a specific example of grouping. In the medical image management apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when medical images are grouped by examination unit, the medical images having the same patient ID and examination ID are registered in the same group with reference to the accompanying information. In FIG. 6B, the medical images A and B having the patient ID “Patient A” and the examination ID “Study A” are registered in one group K, the patient ID is “Patient A”, and the examination ID is “Study B”. Medical images C and D are registered in one group L, medical images E and F whose patient ID is “PatientB” and examination ID is “StudyC” are registered in one group M, and patient ID is “PatientC”. The medical images G and H whose examination ID is “StudyD” are registered in one group P, and the medical images I and J whose patient ID is “PatientD” and whose examination ID is “StudyA” are assigned to one group Q. A total of five types of groups are created, and each group is loaded into a processing queue.

  FIG. 6C is a specific example of the medical image storage device 3 and shows storage areas of the medical image storage devices 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c that are the medical image storage device 3. In FIG. 6C, the medical image storage devices 3a, 3b, and 3c have storage areas of 1 GB (gigabyte), 1 GB, and 2 GB, respectively, and are used at 750 MB (megabyte), 750 MB, and 500 MB, respectively. For convenience of explanation, the size of the storage area is as described above. However, the medical image storage apparatuses 3a, 3b, and 3c may be provided with a terabyte-size storage area.

  The medical image management apparatus 1 inquires each of the medical image storage apparatuses 3a, 3b, and 3c about the ratio of the free area via the network N, and acquires 25%, 25%, and 75% as the ratio of the empty area, respectively. Since the medical image storage device 3a: medical image storage device 3b: medical image storage device 3c = 25: 25: 75, which is the ratio of the ratio of the empty areas, the medical image storage device 3a: medical image storage device 3b: medical use is determined as a distribution ratio. Image storage device 3c = 1: 1: 3 is obtained.

  The group name to be processed is acquired from the processing queue, all the medical images registered in the group are read from the external storage unit 1C, and distributed to the same medical image storage device. The five types of groups are divided into one group for the medical image storage device 3a, one group for the medical image storage device 3b, and three groups for the medical image storage device 3c according to the distribution ratio with respect to the medical image storage devices 3a, 3b, and 3c. Distributed. As the distribution order, an order having the smallest unit number of groups to be continuously written in the same place is selected. [1] Medical image storage device 3c → [2] Medical image storage device 3a → [3] Medical image storage device 3c → [4] Medical image storage device 3b → [5] Medical image storage device 3c.

  As described above, according to the medical image management system S and the image management apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, medical images having the same predetermined incidental information are divided into the same group and distributed to the same medical image storage device 3 in units of groups. When the client terminal 4 acquires a medical image of a predetermined group, all the medical images of the group can be acquired only by accessing the single medical image storage device 3. Therefore, access to the image management system S from a plurality of client terminals 4 is often access to separate medical image storage devices 3, 3,..., And the processing efficiency of the image management system S is improved. To do.

  Further, according to the medical image management system S and the image management apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the ratio of the empty area of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. The medical image is distributed to the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. When the distribution ratio is calculated at predetermined time intervals and distribution according to the distribution ratio is performed, the ratio of the empty areas in the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. Therefore, the bias of access from the client terminal 2 to the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... Is eliminated, and the processing efficiency of the image management system S is improved.

  The grouping of medical images may be based on communications received from modality 5. The modality 5 transmits a signal indicating the end of communication in addition to the medical image. In this case, the transmission / reception unit 1D monitors data communication from the modality 5 and detects a signal indicating the end of data communication. When the transmission / reception unit 1D detects the end of data communication, the group setting unit 121 registers the medical image received during data communication in the same group. Further, the group setting unit 121 includes a reception monitoring unit (not shown), monitors reception from the modality 5, and registers the medical images received so far in the same group when reception stops for a certain period of time. Good.

  The storage destination information to be acquired includes the ratio of the empty area, the name of the CPU as the reading means of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,..., And the abnormal state of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. Also good. When the presence of failure is acquired, the distribution ratio calculation unit 123 sets the distribution ratio of the medical image storage device 3 that has transmitted the abnormality presence signal to 0.

  Further, the date and time of participation in the network N of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... Can be acquired as storage destination information. The participation date / time information may be stored in the medical image management apparatus 1 or may be stored in the medical image storage device 3, and the storage destination information acquisition unit 122 stores the information on the participation date / time. Get from. If the participation date information is before the predetermined period, the distribution ratio calculation unit 123 sets the distribution ratio of the medical image storage device 3 that has joined the network N before the predetermined time period to 0. That is, the medical image distribution to the medical image storage device 3 having a certain age is not performed.

  When acquiring the CPU names of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,..., The distribution ratio calculation unit 123 includes a weighting table 123a in which the CPU name 11 and the weighting coefficient 12 illustrated in FIG. . The weighting coefficient 12 is set so as to be a value proportional to the performance of the CPU corresponding to the CPU name 11.

  The distribution ratio calculation unit 123 acquires the weighting coefficient 12 corresponding to each medical image storage device 3, 3,... From the weighting table 123a according to the acquired CPU name 11, and the medical image storage device 3, 3,. After dividing each value of the ratio of the free space ratio by the minimum free space ratio, multiplying each ratio value to be an integer, and multiplying by the obtained weighting factor, the distribution ratio is obtain.

  When the distribution ratio obtained by multiplying the weighting coefficient 12 corresponding to the CPU name 11 is obtained, the ratio of the free areas in the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. The ratio is inversely proportional to the performance of Therefore, the image storage devices 3, 3,... Store medical images in proportion to the CPU performance, and access is requested from the client terminal 2 by that amount, but the access amount is proportional to the CPU performance. Therefore, the processing efficiency of the image management system S is further improved.

  Further, one writing to the medical image storage device 3 is performed as one group, and a plurality of groups of medical images are continuously written to the same medical image storage device 3 until the writing amount exceeds the limit value. It may be. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another form of the writing unit 124. The writing unit 124 compares the limit value and the write amount with the limit value holding unit 124a that holds the limit value of the write amount to be written at once, the count unit 124b that counts a single write amount, and the like. A comparison unit 124c.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the writing process by the writing unit 124 according to another embodiment. First, in the image management apparatus 1, when writing of a medical image is started (S201), the writing amount is sequentially counted (S202). When the write amount exceeds the limit value compared to the counted write amount and the limit value (S203, Yes), the writing of the group of medical images currently being written is completed (S204, Yes), and then temporarily stored. If there is still a medical image (S205, No), the writing destination medical image storage device 3 is changed according to the distribution ratio (S206), and writing of the next medical image group is started (S207).

  When the writing amount remains below the limit value (S203, No), writing of the group of currently written medical images is completed (S208, Yes), and there are still temporarily stored medical images (S209, No) ) The writing of the next group of medical images is started without changing the writing destination medical image storage device 3 (S210).

  The processing from S22 to S30 is repeated until all the medical images temporarily stored are written. When all the medical images are written (S205, No or S209, No), the series of processing ends.

  Next, the redistribution control unit 130 of the medical image management apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the redistribution control unit 130, the processing unit 1A performs an operation according to a program stored in the external storage unit 1C and controls the peripheral units 1B, 1C, and 1D, whereby the group setting unit 131 and the storage destination information acquisition unit 132 are obtained. A distribution amount calculation unit 133, a redistribution instruction unit 134, and a database update unit 135.

  The group setting unit 131 searches the image database 2 and associates the medical images stored in the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. The grouping by examination unit searches the patient ID and examination ID stored in each record of the image database 2 and gives the same group name to records having the same patient ID and examination ID.

  The storage destination information acquisition unit 132 acquires the storage area capacity value and the use area capacity value of the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,... As storage destination information.

  The redistribution amount calculation unit 133 calculates the total data capacity of medical images to be redistributed to the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,. To calculate the redistribution amount, first, the capacity ratio of the storage areas of the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,... Acquired as a capacity ratio. Further, the capacity value of each used area is added to obtain the total capacity value of the used area, and the total capacity value is evenly distributed according to the storage capacity ratio and stored in each medical image storage device 3, 3,. Get the value. The capacity value of the used area is subtracted from the stored capacity value, and the difference is obtained as the redistribution amount. When the redistribution amount is a negative number, it is the amount to be redistributed, and when the redistribution amount is a positive number, it is the amount to be redistributed.

  The redistribution instructing unit 134 redistributes, redistributes, and redistributes medical images so that the used areas of the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,... Specify a group of medical images to be performed. When there are a plurality of groups of medical images with the same examination date, the distribution destination is instructed so that the groups of medical images with the same examination date are stored in different medical image storage devices 3.

  Specifically, the data capacity value of the medical image stored in the medical image storage device 3 in which the redistribution amount is a negative number is extracted from the image database 2 in units of groups, and the data capacity value in units of groups is obtained.

  Furthermore, the data capacity value of each group included in each group is sequentially added, and each time the addition is performed, the redistribution amount becomes a positive number and is compared with the redistribution amount of the medical image storage device 3 to be redistributed. Each time the addition is performed, the absolute value of the redistribution amount of the medical image storage device 3 to be redistributed is compared.

  When the added value exceeds the redistributed amount of the medical image storage device 3 to be redistributed, the group having the data capacity value of the group unit added to the added value up to that time is transferred to the medical image storage device 3 to be redistributed. It is determined as a distribution target to be distributed. Further, when the added value exceeds the absolute value of the redistribution amount of the medical image storage device 3 to be redistributed, the group having the data capacity value of the group unit added to the added value is redistributed. The distribution target to be distributed to the device 3 is determined.

  The redistribution instructing unit 134 acquires the inspection date and time of the group having the data capacity value to be added to the added value from the image database 2 before adding the data capacity value in units of groups, and stores it in the main storage unit 1B. If there is no same examination date and time, the examination date and time are expanded in the main storage unit 1B, and addition of the data capacity value is continued. If the same examination date and time has already been developed in the main storage unit 1B, the group is excluded from the determination of the distribution destination to the same medical image storage device 3.

  In the redistribution instruction, the medical image storage device 3 that moves the medical image, the image movement command that is a control command for moving the medical image to the other medical image storage devices 3, 3,. The previous storage destination information and information for specifying the medical image to be moved, for example, the storage position information are transmitted.

  When transmitting a redistribution instruction, it is desirable to check in advance whether the client terminal 4 has accessed the image management system S. The medical image management apparatus 1 records the log-in and log-off history of the client terminal 4 to the image management system S. If the log-in record exists but the log-off record does not exist, the client terminal 4 is accessing the image management system S. Therefore, the redistribution instruction is suspended for a predetermined time, and when the log-off record is detected. The redistribution instruction may be transmitted.

  The database update unit 135 sends the medical image information and the storage position information of the redistributed medical image to the image database 2 using SQL or the like, and instructs to change the record.

  The operation of the redistribution process of the medical image management apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. First, the capacity value of the storage area and the capacity value of the use area of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... Are acquired via the network N (S31). From the acquired capacity value of each storage area, the ratio of the capacity values of the storage areas of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,... Is calculated to obtain the storage capacity ratio (S32). Further, the capacity value of each used area acquired is added to obtain the total capacity value of the used area, and the total capacity is distributed according to the storage capacity ratio and stored in each of the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. The value is acquired, and the capacity value of the used area is subtracted from the capacity value to be stored to obtain the redistribution amount (S33).

  Next, referring to the image database, medical images having the same patient ID and examination ID are grouped and associated with the group (S34).

  Next, after the redistribution, use the same area of the medical image storage devices 3, 3, 3,..., And if there are multiple groups of medical images with the same examination date, use the same examination. The medical image redistribution source, the redistribution destination, and the medical image group to be redistributed are determined so that the groups of the medical images on the date are distributed to different distribution destinations (S35).

  When the redistribution destination is determined, the storage destination information of all medical images associated with the group to be moved is read from the image database (S36), and an image movement command is sent to the medical image storage devices 3, 3,. The storage destination information of the determined redistribution destination is transmitted (S37). At the same time, the moved medical image is searched from the image database, the storage destination information is rewritten (S38), and the series of processing ends.

  The medical image storage devices 3, 3,... That have received the image movement command correspond to the information specifying the redistribution destination for the medical image stored in the storage location corresponding to the storage destination information according to the command. The data is transmitted to the medical image storage device 3 and redistributed. In the case of redistribution, it is desirable to check whether the medical image to be redistributed is accessed from the client terminal 4. When the medical image storage device 3, 3,... Acquires access information of a medical image to be redistributed and indicates that the access information is accessed within a predetermined time such as within 10 minutes from the current time The medical image redistribution processing may be suspended for a predetermined time, and access information may be acquired again and redistribution may be performed if access is not made within the predetermined time.

  12 and 13 are specific examples of redistribution processing by the medical image management apparatus 1. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining processing for determining the redistribution amount. As shown in FIG. 12, the medical image storage devices 3a, 3b, and 3c, which are the medical image storage device 3, have storage areas of 1 GB, 1 GB, and 2 GB, respectively. Before redistribution, this storage area is used by 400 MB, 400 MB, and 1 GB, respectively. For convenience of explanation, the size of the storage area is as described above. However, the medical image storage apparatuses 3a, 3b, and 3c may be provided with a terabyte-size storage area.

  The image management apparatus 1 uses the medical image storage devices 3a, 3b, and 3c as the storage area capacity value and the use area capacity value as the storage area capacity “1 GB” and the use area capacity “400 MB”. ”, The storage area capacity“ 1 GB ”and the used area capacity“ 400 MB ”are obtained from the medical image storage device 3 b, and the storage area capacity“ 2 GB ”and the used area capacity“ 1.2 GB ”are obtained from the medical image storage apparatus 3 c. .

  When the capacity value of the storage area is acquired, the ratio of the acquired capacity values of the storage area is calculated to obtain medical image storage device 3a: medical image storage device 3b: medical image storage device 3c = 1: 1: 2. . Further, when the capacity value of the used area is acquired, the total capacity “2.0 GB” is acquired by summing the acquired capacity values of the used area.

  According to the acquired ratio of the storage area capacities, the total capacity is evenly distributed, the capacity value “500 MB” stored in the medical image storage device 3 a, the capacity value “500 MB” stored in the medical image storage device 3 b, and the medical image storage device The capacity value “1.0 GB” to be stored in 3c is acquired. The capacity value stored in each of the medical image storage devices 3a, 3b, and 3c is an amount in which the ratio of the use area of each of the medical image storage devices 3a, 3b, and 3c becomes the same rate.

  The capacity value of the used area is subtracted from the stored capacity value, the redistribution amount “100 MB” corresponding to the medical image storage device 3 a, the redistribution amount “100 MB” corresponding to the medical image storage device 3 b, and the medical image storage device The redistribution amount “−200 MB” is acquired corresponding to 3c. Medical image storage corresponding to “100 MB” using the medical image storage device 3 c corresponding to “−200 MB” which is a negative number as a distribution source in order to equalize the ratio of the used area of each medical image storage device 3 a, 3 b, 3 c It is determined that “100 MB” is distributed using the device 3 a as the distribution destination, and “100 MB” is distributed using the medical image storage device 3 b corresponding to “100 MB” as the distribution destination.

  FIG. 13 shows an image database 2 provided in the medical image management apparatus 1. The image database 2 stores information on an examination date 13, a patient ID 14, an examination ID 15, a data capacity 16, and a storage location 17 in pairs for each record. In order to determine a medical image to be distributed, the image management apparatus 1 extracts a record having a storage position 17 indicating the medical image storage device 3c that is a distribution source from the image database 2. In FIG. 13, the storage location 17 starting with “address 3c...” Is the storage destination of the medical image storage device 3c. 1 to 6, and 20000 and 20001 are extracted.

  Further, the image management apparatus 1 refers to the patient ID 14 and the examination ID 15 of the extracted record, attaches the same group name 18 to the records having the same patient ID 14 and the examination ID 15, and associates them with the same group. In FIG. 1 and 2, record no. 3 and 4, record no. 5 and 6, record no. 20000 and 20001 have the same patient ID 14 and examination ID 15, and “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” are assigned as the same group name 18, respectively.

  Next, medical images to be distributed to the medical image storage device 3a and the medical image storage device 3b are determined. First, the data capacity value of medical images in the same group is extracted from the data capacity 16 and added to the data capacity value in units of groups. In FIG. 13, the group name “1” is 50 GB, the group name “2” is 52 MB, the group name “3” is 50 MB, and the group name “1” is 50 MB.

  In order to determine a group of medical images to be distributed to the medical image storage device 3a, data capacity values in units of groups are sequentially added until “100 MB” to be distributed to the medical image storage device 3a is exceeded.

  Before the addition, the examination date 13 of each group is extracted. Since the group names “1” and “2” are the same examination date and time, the group name “2” is excluded from the distribution destination and the group name “3”. Is added to the data capacity value of the group name “1”.

  In FIG. 13, when the data capacity value of the group name “3” is added to the data capacity value of the group name “1”, “100 MB” is reached, and the group name “1” and the group name “3” are stored in the image. Decide to distribute to the device 3a. Similarly, in FIG. 13, when the data capacity value of the group name “3” is added to the data capacity value of the group name “2”, “100 MB” is reached, and the group name “2” and the group name “4” are reached. Is distributed to the image storage device 3b.

  The image management apparatus 1 reads the value of the storage position 17 of the medical image associated with the group names “1” and “3”, and stores the image move command and the medical image as the distribution destination in the medical image storage device 3c. The storage position information of the apparatus 3a and the read storage position 17 are transmitted to redistribute the medical image. Further, the image management apparatus 1 reads the value of the medical image storage position 17 associated with the group names “2” and “4”, and sends the image movement command and the medical destination that is the distribution destination to the medical image storage apparatus 3c. The storage position information of the image storage device 3b and the read storage position 17 are transmitted to redistribute the medical image.

  The image management apparatus 1 performs a redistribution process on the image database 2 by rewriting the storage location information of the medical image storage position 17 associated with the moved group name “1 to 4” with the redistributed storage destination information. finish.

  Similarly, in the redistribution, the failure state and the CPU name can be acquired as the storage destination information, and the ratio of the free area may be set according to the failure state and the CPU performance.

  Further, in this distribution and redistribution, the medical image may be deleted even when a free area increases in the medical image management apparatuses 3, 3,.

  As described above, according to the image management system or the image management apparatus of this embodiment, medical images can be stored equally in a plurality of medical image storage devices, and access from a client terminal is distributed to each medical image storage device. , Processing efficiency is improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image management system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the program data storage means with which the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment is provided. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the distribution function of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows distribution operation | movement of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the distribution process of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the weighting table with which the image management apparatus concerning this embodiment is provided. It is a functional block diagram explaining the other form of the writing part with which the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment is provided. It is a flowchart figure explaining operation | movement in the other form of the writing part with which the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment is provided. It is a functional block diagram which shows the redistribution function of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the redistribution operation | movement of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the specific example of redistribution amount acquisition in the redistribution process of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the image database in the redistribution process of the image management apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image management apparatus 1A Processing part 1B Main storage part 1C External storage part 1D Transmission / reception part 110 Image storage part 120 Distribution part 121 Group setting part 122 Storage destination information acquisition part 123 Distribution ratio calculation part 123a Weighting table 124 Writing part 124a Limit value Holding unit 124b Count unit 124c Comparison unit 125 Database update unit 130 Redistribution control unit 131 Group setting unit 132 Storage destination information acquisition unit 133 Distribution amount calculation unit 134 Redistribution instruction unit 135 Database update unit 2 Image database 3 Medical image storage device 4 Client terminal 5 Modality S Image management system N Network

Claims (8)

A medical image management system for managing a plurality of medical images received from a medical diagnostic apparatus,
A plurality of storage means capable of storing the plurality of medical images;
Group setting means for grouping the plurality of medical images into groups based on the accompanying information attached to the medical images;
Writing means for writing a plurality of grouped medical images in the same storage means in units of groups;
Providing
A medical image management system characterized by Storage destination information acquisition means for acquiring the percentage of free space in the plurality of storage means;
A distribution ratio calculating means for calculating a ratio of the ratio of each empty area as a distribution ratio for distributing the medical image to each storage means;
Further comprising
The writing means distributes and writes the medical images grouped in each storage means according to the distribution ratio in groups;
The medical image management system according to claim 1. The storage destination information acquisition unit further acquires abnormal state information of the storage unit,
The distribution ratio calculating means sets the distribution ratio to the storage means that acquired the abnormal state information to be 0;
The medical image management system according to claim 2. A plurality of reading means for reading medical images corresponding to the plurality of storage means;
The distribution ratio calculating means weights a ratio corresponding to the ratio of the ratios of the free areas based on the performance of the plurality of reading means, and calculates the distribution ratio;
The medical image management system according to claim 2. The group unit is an examination unit in which medical images having the same patient ID and examination ID as the accompanying information are grouped together.
The medical image management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A medical image management system for managing medical images,
A plurality of storage means for storing medical images;
Group setting means for grouping a plurality of medical images into groups based on the accompanying information attached to the medical images;
Select the storage means to be the redistribution source of medical images and the storage means to be the redistribution destination, and move the grouped medical images stored in the storage means of the redistribution source to the storage means to be the redistribution destination in groups. Control means for performing control on the storage means;
Providing
A medical image management system characterized by Storage destination information acquisition means for acquiring a storage area capacity and a use area capacity of the plurality of storage means;
A distribution amount calculating means for calculating a redistribution amount for equalizing the ratio of the free areas of the plurality of storage means based on the capacity of the storage area and the capacity of the used area;
Further comprising
The control means selects, based on the distribution amount, a storage means as a redistribution source of medical images and a storage means as a redistribution destination, and stores the grouped medical images stored in the storage means of the redistribution source. Performing control for the storage means to be moved to a storage means as a redistribution destination in group units,
The medical image management system according to claim 6. The control unit acquires the examination date information of the medical image stored in the storage unit as the redistribution source for each group when selecting the storage unit as the redistribution destination, and a plurality of the same examination date information acquired. Select different storage means for the group redistribution destination,
The medical image management system according to claim 6.

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