JP2006304895A - Medical image transfer device, method of transferring image used in the medical image transfer device, and image transfer control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transfer device (a gateway) for accurately and speedily transmitting/receiving information between a plurality of subject information processing terminals and a medical image processor (a modality). <P>SOLUTION: IP addresses of MWM servers 1, ..., 1 are previously registered in the gateway 2, and patient information is obtained and saved from the MWM servers via a LAN 5 by using the IP addresses. Then, applicable patient information is transmitted to the modality 3 based on the request for transmitting the patient information from the modality 3. After that, image information including the patient information from the modality 3 is received and transferred to an image server 4. If the modality 3 is moved from an examination room A to an examination room B and set there, the operation can be performed without changing setting or operation on the modality 3 side. Accordingly, information can be accurately and speedily transmitted/received between the MWM servers 1, ..., 1 and the modality 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image transfer apparatus, an image transfer method and an image transfer control program used in the medical image transfer apparatus, and in particular, one medical image processing apparatus (modality) for a plurality of information processing terminals for a subject. The present invention relates to a medical image transfer apparatus suitable for use in performing various processes, an image transfer method used in the medical image transfer apparatus, and an image transfer control program.

  The hospital information system (hereinafter also referred to as “HIS”) has been developed from medical fee processing and is used as a business management system in many medical institutions. In the current HIS, in addition to business management, in order to expand to a system that is useful for medical examinations of examinees, information such as examination data obtained by the HIS is brought online and converted to electronic medical records. ing. For this reason, for example, manufacturers of modalities such as ultrasonic inspection apparatuses, endoscopic inspection apparatuses, and X-ray inspection apparatuses also use DICOM (Digital), which is a standard medical image standard for exchanging information by connecting to computers of other companies. By adopting “Imaging Imaging in Medicine”, it is possible to acquire information on the subject by connecting the computer to the modality. The inspected person information is sent from the HIS to an inspected person information processing terminal such as an MWM (Modality Worklist Management) server, and necessary inspector information is sent from the MWM server in response to an inquiry from each modality. It has become. The inspected person information processing terminal is composed of, for example, a personal computer and creates inspected person information (for example, inspected person ID, inspected person name, date of birth, gender, etc.) regarding the inspected person. And record.

  In this type of HIS, a single MWM server records a large number of inspector information such as an inspector for ultrasonic examination, an inspector for endoscopy, and an inspector for X-ray examination. ing. For this reason, for example, when it is attempted to acquire inspector information from one MWM server by one ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus among a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, another ultrasonic wave is transmitted to this one MWM server. Since the inspected person information of the inspected person in the inspection may also be stored, all of the inspected person information of the other inspected persons in the ultrasonic inspection are captured. The inspector information of one inspector is selected from the inspector information captured here, and the inspection is performed, but when there are a large number of inspectors, the selection of the inspector is selected. Mistakes can occur. Therefore, in each hospital, a personal computer that serves as an MWM server is placed for each modality or examination room, and only the inspector information of one inspector is created and transmitted to the modality. Is trying to eliminate. As described above, conventionally, a system in which inspector information from one MWM server is acquired by a modality is almost established. At present, there is no appropriate prior art document information related to the above-described conventional technology.

However, the conventional hospital information system has the following problems.
That is, when a modality is connected to an MWM server in a certain laboratory A and then moved to another laboratory B, the MWM server in each room does not move. B) MWM server is used. In this case, the MWM server in laboratory A and the MWM server in laboratory B have different IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. There is a problem that the same modality cannot be connected. For this reason, when connecting a modality to a different MWM server, it is necessary to change the IP address setting on the modality side, or manually input necessary data or change the operation. There is a problem that occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. Information transmission / reception between a plurality of inspected person information processing terminals and a medical image processing apparatus (modality) is performed accurately and quickly, and the inspected person is mistaken. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image transfer apparatus that does not generate such a problem.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 relates to a medical image transfer apparatus, and a plurality of inspected person information processing terminals for creating and recording inspected person information about the inspected person, and the inspected object Provided in a hospital information system having a medical image processing device that acquires image information including at least a captured image at the time of examination for a person and performs a predetermined process, and an image server for storing the image information, The medical image processing apparatus obtains each inspected person information from the inspected person processing terminal, and obtains corresponding inspected person information based on the inspected person information transmission request for each inspected person from the medical image processing apparatus. The image information to which the subject information is added is received from the medical image processing apparatus and transferred to the image server.

  A second aspect of the present invention relates to the medical image transfer apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of inspected person information processing terminals are connected via a communication line and have network addresses corresponding to the communication line, respectively. The medical image transfer apparatus is configured to pre-register the network addresses of the plurality of inspected person information processing terminals and use the network addresses from the inspected person information processing terminals via the communication line. The inspected person information is acquired, and the corresponding inspected person information is transmitted to the medical image processing apparatus based on the inspected person information transmission request from the medical image processing apparatus. It is characterized by.

  A third aspect of the invention relates to the medical image transfer apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein each network address of the plurality of information processing terminals to be inspected is registered in advance, and each of the to-be-inspected using each of the network addresses. A connection confirmation unit for confirming whether or not a person information processing terminal is connected to the communication line, and transmitting a request for obtaining information on the person to be inspected to the information processing terminal for the person whose connection is confirmed by the connection confirmation unit The inspected person information acquisition requesting unit, and the inspected person information acquisition request unit from the inspected person information acquisition terminal to which the inspected person information acquisition request has been transmitted, the inspected person information via the communication line. Corresponding from the inspected person information acquired by the inspected person information acquiring unit based on the inspected person information acquiring part to be acquired and the inspected person information transmission request for each inspected person from the medical image processing apparatus You An inspected person information transmitting unit for selecting inspected person information and transmitting it to the medical image processing apparatus; an image receiving unit for receiving the image information to which the inspected person information is added from the medical image processing apparatus; The image receiving unit includes an image transmitting unit that transmits the image information received by the image receiving unit to the image server.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medical image transfer apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of inspected person information processing terminals, the medical image processing apparatus and the image server, and the medical image transfer apparatus include a medical image standard DICOM. (Digital Imaging COMmmunications in Medicine).

  The invention according to claim 5 relates to an image transfer method, and a plurality of inspected person information processing terminals for creating and recording inspected person information related to the inspected person who has been inspected, and during the inspecting for the inspected person A medical image transfer apparatus provided in a hospital information system having a medical image processing apparatus that acquires image information including at least a captured image and performs a predetermined process, and an image server for storing the image information, The medical image transfer apparatus corresponds to the inspected person information transmission request for each inspected person from the medical image processing apparatus while acquiring the inspected person information from the plurality of inspected person information processing terminals. While inspecting person information is transmitted to the medical image processing apparatus, the image information to which the inspecting person information is added is received from the medical image processing apparatus and transferred to the image server. .

  A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to the image transfer method according to the fifth aspect, wherein the plurality of inspected person information processing terminals are connected via a communication line, and a network address corresponding to the communication line is assigned. The medical image transfer apparatus registers the network addresses of a plurality of the subject information processing terminals in advance, and uses the network addresses from the subject information processing terminals via the communication line. The inspected person information is acquired, and the corresponding inspected person information is transmitted to the medical image processing apparatus based on the inspected person information transmission request from the medical image processing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 7 relates to an image transfer control program, and causes a computer to control the medical image transfer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the medical image transfer apparatus acquires each subject information from a plurality of subject information processing terminals and responds to the subject information transmission request for each subject from the medical image processing device. Based on this, the corresponding inspected person information is transmitted to the medical image processing apparatus, while the image information with the inspected person information added is received from the medical image processing apparatus and transferred to the image server. Therefore, information can be transmitted and received between each patient information processing terminal and the medical image processing apparatus accurately and quickly, and the patient is inspected due to misunderstanding of the patient information or movement of the medical image processing apparatus. Information can no longer be taken in, and the waiting time of the subject can be shortened.

  In addition, the network address of each inspected person information processing terminal is registered in advance in the medical image transfer apparatus, and inspected person information is acquired from each inspected person information processing terminal using the same network address via a communication line. The corresponding inspected person information is transmitted to the medical image processing apparatus based on the inspected person information transmission request from the medical image processing apparatus. Thereafter, the image information to which the subject information is added from the medical image processing apparatus is received and transferred to the image server. As a result, information is transmitted and received between each patient information processing terminal and the medical image processing apparatus accurately and quickly. This makes it possible to reduce the waiting time of the examinee and to set and operate the medical image processing apparatus even if the medical image processing apparatus is moved from one examination room to another. Operation can be performed without changing

  A medical image processing apparatus that registers in advance each network address of a plurality of information processing terminals to be inspected, obtains information on the inspected person from each information processing terminal for each inspecting person via the communication line, using each network address A medical image transfer device is provided that transmits relevant subject information to the medical image processing device based on the subject information transmission request from the patient.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a hospital information system provided with a medical image transfer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the hospital information system of this example includes MWM (Modality Worklist Management) servers 1,..., 1, a gateway (medical image transfer apparatus) 2, a modality 3, an image server 4, and a LAN ( Local area network) 5. The MWM server 1,..., 1 is composed of, for example, a personal computer, and creates patient information (for example, patient ID, patient name, date of birth, gender, etc.) regarding the patient (inspected person) who was examined. Record. In particular, in this embodiment, the MWM servers 1,..., 1 are connected via a LAN 5 constructed in a hospital, for example, and given a network address (for example, an IP address) corresponding to the LAN 5 respectively. Yes.

  The modality 3 is a medical image processing apparatus that obtains image information including at least a captured image at the time of examination of a patient and performs a predetermined process. For example, an ultrasonic examination apparatus, an endoscopic examination apparatus, an X-ray examination apparatus, and the like It is. The image server 4 is composed of a frame memory, for example, and stores image information processed by the modality 3. The gateway 2 acquires each patient information from the MWM servers 1,..., 1 and transmits the corresponding patient information to the modality 3 based on the patient information transmission request for each patient from the modality 3. The image information to which the patient information is added is received and transferred to the image server 4. In particular, in this embodiment, the gateway 2 registers the network addresses (IP addresses) of the MWM servers 1,..., 1 in advance, and uses the network addresses from the MWM servers 1,. The patient information is acquired and the corresponding patient information is transmitted to the modality 3 based on the patient information transmission request from the modality 3. These MWM servers 1,..., 1, gateway 2, modality 3, and image server 4 are configured in conformity with the medical imaging standard DICOM (Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the gateway 2 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the gateway 2 includes a work list request unit 11, a connection confirmation unit 12, a work list acquisition unit 13, a work list transmission unit 14, an image reception unit 15, and an image transmission unit 16. And a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 17 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 18. The connection confirmation unit 12 registers the IP addresses of the MWM servers 1,..., 1 in the IP address registration unit 12 a in advance, and the MWM servers 1,. Check if it exists. The work list request unit 11 transmits a patient information acquisition request to the MWM servers 1,..., 1 whose connection has been confirmed by the connection confirmation unit 12.

  The work list acquisition unit 13 acquires patient information via the LAN 5 from the MWM servers 1,..., 1 to which the patient information acquisition request is transmitted from the work list request unit 11, and stores it in the memory 13a. Based on the patient information transmission request for each patient from the modality 3, the worklist transmission unit 14 selects corresponding patient information from the patient information acquired by the worklist acquisition unit 13 and transmits the selected patient information to the modality 3. The image receiving unit 15 receives image information to which patient information is added from the modality 3. The image transmission unit 16 transmits the image information received by the image reception unit 15 to the image server 4. The CPU 17 controls the entire gateway 2, and a ROM (read only memory) 18 stores an image transfer control program for operating the CPU 17.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the gateway 2 of the hospital information system of FIG.
With reference to this figure, the processing content of the image transfer method used for the gateway 2 of this example is demonstrated.
First, the gateway 2 and the modality 3 are installed in the examination room A. The gateway 2 is connected to the LAN 5, and the modality 3 is connected to the gateway 2. In this gateway 2, the IP addresses of the MWM servers 1,..., 1 are registered in advance, and patient information is acquired from the MWM servers 1,. Based on the patient information transmission request from the modality 3, the corresponding patient information is transmitted to the modality 3. Thereafter, image information to which patient information is added from the modality 3 is received and transferred to the image server 4.

  That is, the IP addresses of the MWM servers 1,..., 1 are registered in advance in the IP address registration unit 12 a of the connection confirmation unit 12. Then, the connection confirmation unit 12 confirms whether the MWM servers 1,..., 1 are connected to the LAN 5 using each IP address. A patient information acquisition request is transmitted from the work list request unit 11 to the MWM servers 1,... The patient information is transmitted from the MWM server 1,..., 1 that has transmitted the patient information acquisition request by the work list request unit 11 to the work list acquisition unit 13 via the LAN 5, and is stored in the memory 13a (step S1). . If there is no patient information, the acquisition is repeated. A patient information transmission request for each patient is transmitted from the modality 3 to the work list transmission unit 14 (step S2). In this case, a patient ID is attached to the patient information transmission request. This patient information transmission request is repeatedly transmitted. In the work list transmission unit 14, patient information corresponding to the patient ID is selected from the patient information acquired by the work list acquisition unit 13, and is transmitted to the modality 3 by serial communication, for example (step S3).

  On the other hand, in the modality 3, image information is acquired for the examination for the patient, and the patient information is added to the image information. The image information to which the patient information is added is transmitted to the image receiving unit 15 by serial communication, for example. The image receiving unit 15 receives image information to which patient information is added from the modality 3 (step S4). Then, the image information received by the image receiving unit 15 is transmitted to the image server 4 and stored by the image transmitting unit 16 (step S5). Thereafter, when the modality 3 is moved and installed in the examination room B, the modality 3 is connected to the gateway 2 via the LAN 5 and the same processing is performed. However, transmission / reception of information between the modality 3 and the gateway 2 is performed via the LAN 5.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the IP addresses of the MWM servers 1,..., 1 are registered in advance in the gateway 2, and the patients are transmitted from the MWM servers 1,. Information is acquired and stored, and corresponding patient information is transmitted to the modality 3 based on a patient information transmission request from the modality 3. Thereafter, image information to which patient information is added from the modality 3 is received and transferred to the image server 4. Thereby, transmission / reception of information between the MWM servers 1,..., 1 and the modality 3 is performed accurately and quickly, and patient information is not mistaken and patient information cannot be captured due to movement of the modality 3. Reduced waiting time. Even if the modality 3 is moved from the examination room A to the examination room B, the operation is performed without changing the setting and operation on the modality 3 side.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiment, and even if there is a design change without departing from the gist of the present invention, Included in the invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, when the modality 3 is moved and installed in the examination room B, the modality 3 is connected to the gateway 2 via the LAN 5, but the gateway 2 and the modality 3 are connected to the examination room B. The gateway 2 may be connected to the LAN 5 and the modality 3 may be connected to the gateway 2 as in the above embodiment. In this case, the gateway 2 may be built in the modality 3. In the above embodiment, the person to be inspected is a patient.

  The present invention can be applied generally to a case where various processes are performed on a plurality of inspected person information processing terminals using a single medical image processing apparatus (modality).

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of the hospital information system provided with the medical image transfer apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the gateway 2 in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the gateway 2 of the hospital information system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, ..., 1 MWM (Modality Worklist Management) server (inspector information processing terminal)
2 Gateway (Medical image transfer device)
3 Modality (medical image processing device)
4 Image server 5 LAN (local area network, communication line)
11 Worklist request section (inspector information transmission request section, part of medical image transfer device)
12 Connection confirmation unit (part of medical image transfer device)
13 Worklist acquisition unit (examinee information acquisition unit, part of medical image transfer device)
14 Worklist transmitter (inspector information transmitter, part of medical image transfer device)
15 Image receiver (part of medical image transfer device)
16 Image transmission unit (part of medical image transfer device)
17 CPU (central processing unit, part of medical image transfer unit)
18 ROM (read-only memory, part of medical image transfer device)

Claims (7)

A plurality of inspected person information processing terminals for creating and recording inspector information relating to the inspected person, and a medical image for obtaining image information including at least a photographed image at the time of inspection for the inspected person and performing a predetermined process Provided in a hospital information system having a processing device and an image server for storing the image information,
Obtaining each inspected person information from a plurality of the inspected person processing terminals and using the inspected person information corresponding to the inspected person information for each inspected person from the medical image processing apparatus. A medical image transfer apparatus configured to receive the image information to which the subject information is added from the medical image processing apparatus and transfer the image information to the image server while transmitting to the image processing apparatus . The plurality of inspected person information processing terminals are connected via a communication line and given a network address corresponding to the communication line,
The medical image transfer device
Pre-registering each network address of the plurality of inspected person information processing terminals, using the each network address to obtain the inspected person information from each of the inspected person information processing terminals via the communication line, 2. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the medical subject image processing apparatus is configured to transmit the relevant subject information to the medical image processing apparatus based on the subject information transmission request from the medical image processing apparatus. Image transfer device. Connection confirmation for pre-registering each network address of a plurality of the information processing terminals to be inspected and confirming whether each information processing terminal to be inspected is connected to the communication line by using each network address And
An inspected person information acquisition request part for transmitting an inspected person information acquisition request to the inspected person information processing terminal whose connection is confirmed by the connection confirmation part;
An inspected person information acquisition unit that acquires the inspected person information from the inspected person information processing terminal from which the inspected person information acquisition request has been transmitted by the inspected person information acquisition request part;
Based on the inspector information transmission request for each inspector from the medical image processing apparatus, the corresponding inspector information is selected from the inspector information acquired by the inspector information acquisition unit, An inspected person information transmitting unit for transmitting to the medical image processing apparatus;
An image receiving unit for receiving the image information to which the subject information is added from the medical image processing apparatus;
3. The medical image transfer apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an image transmission unit that transmits the image information received by the image reception unit to the image server. The plurality of examinee information processing terminals, the medical image processing device and the image server, and the medical image transfer device,
The medical image transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image transfer apparatus is configured in conformity with a medical imaging standard DICOM (Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine). A plurality of inspector information processing terminals for creating and recording inspector information related to the inspected person, and acquiring image information including at least a photographed image at the time of inspection for the inspected person A medical image transfer device is provided in a hospital information system having a medical image processing device for processing and an image server for storing the image information;
The medical image transfer apparatus obtains the inspected person information from a plurality of the inspected person information processing terminals and corresponds to the inspected person information transmission request for each inspected person from the medical image processing apparatus. Inspected image information is transmitted to the medical image processing apparatus, and the image information to which the inspected person information is added is received from the medical image processing apparatus and transferred to the image server. Transfer method. The plurality of inspected person information processing terminals are connected via a communication line and given a network address corresponding to the communication line,
The medical image transfer device is
Pre-registering each network address of the plurality of inspected person information processing terminals, using the each network address to obtain the inspected person information from each of the inspected person information processing terminals via the communication line, 6. The image transfer method according to claim 5, wherein said subject information is transmitted to said medical image processing device based on said subject information transmission request from said medical image processing device.   An image transfer control program for causing a computer to control the medical image transfer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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