JP2006320488A - Medical image processing apparatus and information protection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image processing apparatus which displays a medical image after performing appropriate mask processing to protect information even if information which should be kept confidential is embedded in the pixel of the medical image. <P>SOLUTION: This medical image processing apparatus has modality equipment which outputs medical image information comprising a medical image photographed for diagnosing a patient and the patient's personal information, etc., added to the medical image and a means to generate a masked image to hide the patient's information, etc., displayed. By storing the medical image information and masked image data in a server, by observing the medical image information by displaying the medical image information retrieved from the server, and by displaying the image by covering arbitrary information area, such as the privacy information, with the masked image as necessary, it prevents information which should be kept confidential from being displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus in the medical field, and particularly displays information to be protected such as personal information that can identify a patient when a medical image is displayed on a display device or printed out by a printer device. The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus and an information protection system that are concealed to improve security.

  Conventionally, various modality devices such as an X-ray CT device, an MRI device (magnetic resonance imaging device), and an ultrasound device have been used as a medical diagnostic device, and pixel data of a medical image acquired by the diagnostic device is used as a patient. Medical information such as name and patient ID number that can be used to identify individual patients is embedded together, and medical image information for each individual is sent to the medical image server via the network, stored, and read from the medical image server Diagnosis is performed while observing image information. Further, such medical image information may be used in cases such as education / research or academic conference presentation. If the original medical image information is displayed as it is, the privacy information is also displayed as it is.

   Patent Document 1 discloses that when a doctor obtains a medical diagnostic image of a patient via a network and displays it on a display, the user ID and password are used for authentication, and the registered user ID and password are registered. A security protection method is described in which access to medical image data is permitted only when is input.

However, if the incidental information of the medical image contains information that should be protected, such as personal information of the patient, it may be necessary to conceal that information from the viewpoint of privacy protection. Specifically, the personal information portion is deleted or replaced with other information, but the work for concealment is complicated.
JP 2004-89312A

  In the conventional method, when the personal information embedded in the pixel data of the medical image is concealed, it is necessary to correct and process the pixel data itself of the original image, which requires complicated work.

  The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus which displays a medical image by performing an appropriate mask process to protect personal information and the like even if information to be protected is embedded in pixel data of the medical image, and The purpose is to provide an information protection system.

  The image information processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a modality device that outputs medical image information in which additional information is added to a medical image obtained by imaging a subject for diagnosis of a patient; and the additional information portion Generating a mask image for hiding the display of the image; storing means for storing the medical image information and mask image data; and outputting an image based on the medical image information read from the storage means and the mask image data A medical image observing apparatus that has a visual output means and outputs the mask image superimposed on an arbitrary information portion to be concealed among the incidental information included in the medical image information output to the visual output means; It is characterized by having.

  An information protection system according to claim 11 of the present invention is an information protection system for processing medical image information supplied from a modality device and concealing and outputting a part of the medical image information. The medical image information includes medical image data obtained by imaging a subject for diagnosis of a patient and additional information added thereto; mask image data generated to hide display of the additional information portion; Storage means for storing the medical image information data from the modality device; and visual output means for reading the data stored in the storage means and outputting an image based on the medical image information data and the mask image data. And a medical image observing means for outputting the mask image superimposed on an arbitrary information portion to be concealed among the auxiliary information included in the medical image information. That.

  According to the present invention, when information to be protected, such as patient personal information, is embedded in medical image information, the original medical image is not processed and processed according to the purpose and level (strength) of protection. By providing an appropriate mask process and displaying it, it is possible to provide a medical image processing apparatus and an information protection system that prevent leakage of personal information and the like.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a medical image processing apparatus and an information protection system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following example, a case where medical image information is displayed on the display of the medical image observation apparatus will be described. However, in the case where the medical image information is printed out on a film or other medium using a printer device. Even if it exists, it is possible to apply the same method.

 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the medical image processing apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a modality apparatus 10 is a medical diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus (magnetic resonance imaging apparatus), or an ultrasonic apparatus. A medical diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus or an MRI apparatus is a LAN. It is connected to the medical image server 30 via a network 20 such as (Local Area Network).

  A medical image observation apparatus 40 can be connected to the network 20. The medical image observation apparatus 40 is operated by a doctor and includes an image terminal 41 for observing and diagnosing medical images. The image terminal 41 displays a medical image and creates a diagnostic report while visually observing it. For example, a PC (Personal Computer) is used.

  The modality device 10 generates medical image information 11 as shown in FIG. 2, and the medical image information 11 includes captured medical image 12 and incidental information to be protected in the pixel data of the medical image. Embedded.

  The accompanying information includes information that needs to be concealed, such as patient personal information and hospital information. Hereinafter, the patient personal information 13 (hereinafter referred to as privacy information 13) is information that needs to be concealed. A representative explanation will be given. The privacy information 13 includes, for example, a patient ID number (PID), patient name, date of birth (DOB), sex, date of examination (imaging) (DOS), and the like.

  In addition, the modality device 10 generates mask data to mask the privacy information 13 embedded in the medical image information 11 generated by itself, and displays a mask image 14 as shown in FIG. Since the modality device 10 knows in which position on the generated medical image information 11 the privacy information 13 is embedded, mask data for hiding such information is automatically provided or from the user (doctor). It can be generated by the instruction.

  The medical image information 11 generated in this way is sent to and stored in the medical image server 30 via the network 20. Further, mask data for masking the privacy information 13 generated by the modality device 10 is also sent to the medical image server 30 via the network 20 and stored.

  On the other hand, when the doctor refers to the medical image, the medical image observation apparatus 40 acquires the medical image information 11 and the mask data from the medical image server 30 and uses them as the visual output means (display) of the image terminal 41. Overlay and display (overlay display).

  In this case, in the privacy information 13, which information such as the patient ID number (PID), patient name, date of birth (DOB), sex, date of examination (DOS), etc. is selected by the operation of the doctor. can do. FIG. 4 shows an example of an overlay display, showing an example in which the patient ID number (PID), the patient name, and the date of examination (DOS) are hidden by the mask image 14.

  Next, the structure of the mask data is shown in FIG. The mask data includes link information to the corresponding medical image and supplementary information indicating the type of the mask data, and is composed of “mask data main body” and “mask data supplementary information”.

  The format of the “mask data body” is a vector graphic composed of a combination of rectangular vertex coordinates (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) and (x3, y3) and (x4, y4) as shown in FIG. A format or a bitmap format as shown in FIG. 7 can be selected, and information indicating the format is set in the attribute of “mask data format” in the “mask data supplementary information”. Usually, the vector graphic format requires a smaller data size than the bitmap format, but when displaying the mask data, it is necessary to generate a mask pattern based on the rectangular vertex coordinates. The bitmap format is an image that is handled as a collection of dots (points), and is easy to handle because the data format is simple.

  On the other hand, the “mask data supplementary information” includes attributes of “mask target”, “reference series sequence”, and “reference image sequence” in addition to the above “mask data format”.

  The “mask data format” is for determining whether the mask data body is the vector graphic format of FIG. 6 or the bitmap format of FIG. 7. In the case of the vector graphic format, “VECTOR” is set. In the case of the bitmap format, “BITMAP” is set.

  “Mask object” indicates which personal information is to be masked by the mask data, and one defined value or a combination of a plurality of values is set. For example, “PNAME” is set when the patient name is masked, and “PID” is set when the patient ID is masked. In addition, when the mask data masks both the patient name and the patient ID, “PNAME / PID” in which the value defined for each is connected with “/” is set in the mask target attribute. The

  The “reference series sequence” includes zero or more “series UIDs”. The UID is a unique ID, the series represents a group of a plurality of images, and the series UID is an ID that uniquely identifies the series. It is assumed that all images belong to one of the groups, and the image collateral information always includes the series UID. When a value is set in the “reference series sequence”, images including the same series UID in the auxiliary information, that is, all images belonging to the corresponding group are masked by the mask data.

  The “reference image sequence” includes zero or more “image UIDs”. The image UID is an ID for uniquely identifying the image, and it is assumed that the image UID is always included in the incidental information of all images. When a value is set in the “reference image sequence”, an image having the same image UID in the auxiliary information is a mask target by the mask data.

  8 and 9 show an example of the medical image information generated by the modality device 10. The two images belong to the same group, the same series UID is included in the incidental information, and the case where the image UIDs are different is illustrated.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the mask data generated by the modality device 10 and shows the contents of the mask data. The mask data shown in FIG. 10 is applied to all images in the vector graphic format (VECTOR) and includes only the patient name (PNAME) as the mask target and includes the series UID “1.2.392.200036.9116.123” in the accompanying information. . In this example, the images in FIGS. 8 and 9 are both mask application targets. When medical image information is displayed on the image observation apparatus 40 and mask processing is applied, the images are displayed as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, respectively. .

  On the other hand, FIG. 13 shows another example of mask data generated by the modality device 10. The mask data in FIG. 13 is in bitmap format (BITMAP), and includes both the patient name (PNAME) and the patient ID (PID) as mask targets, and includes the image UID “1.2.392.200036.9116.123.456” in the incidental information. Applies only to images. In this example, only the image of FIG. 8 with the matching image UID is the mask application target, and when the mask processing is applied when the image is displayed on the image observation apparatus 40, the image is displayed as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of another embodiment of the medical image processing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 15, the modality device 10 is connected to a medical image server 30 via a network 20 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Further, a medical image observation apparatus 50 is connected to the network 20. The medical image observation apparatus 50 includes an image terminal 51 and an operation unit such as a mouse 52. The image terminal 51 has a display unit for displaying a medical image, and for example, a PC (Personal Computer) is used.

  The modality device 10 generates medical image information 11 as in FIG. 2, and the medical image information 11 includes the captured medical image 12 and the individual patient to be protected in the pixel data of the medical image. Information 13 (hereinafter referred to as privacy information 13) is embedded. The medical image information 11 generated in this way is sent to and stored in the medical image server 30 via the network 20.

  In this embodiment, mask data is generated on the medical image observation apparatus 50. The medical image observation apparatus 50 acquires the medical image information 11 stored in the medical image server 30 via the network 20, and acquires the acquired medical image information 11. Mask data is created based on medical image information.

  First, at the time when the medical image information 11 is acquired from the medical image server 30 and displayed on the image terminal 51, mask data has not been generated yet. Therefore, when the original medical image information 11 is displayed as it is, the privacy information 13 embedded in the pixel data of the image is also displayed as it is. Therefore, assuming that the image information is used for education / research or conference presentation, the doctor creates mask data on the medical image observation apparatus 50 for hiding the privacy information 13 of the patient.

  In this case, the target medical image information 11 is displayed on the display of the image terminal device 51, a mask image is formed using the mouse 52, the size and position of the rectangle are adjusted, and the information to be hidden is displayed. Mask image 14 is formed so as to be positioned. A plurality of mask data can be created for one image. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a mask image 141 for masking a patient name (PNAME) and a patient ID (PID) As shown in FIG. 17, a mask image 142 for masking the date of birth (DOB) and sex (SEX) can be created. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18, a mask image 143 for masking the date (DOS) when the inspection (imaging) was performed can be created.

  Then, a “mask data format” and a “mask target” are designated, and the mask data is stored in the designated format together with appropriate supplementary information. Further, the mask data generated in this way is then sent to the medical image server 30 via the network 20 and stored.

  Next, processing related to acquisition and display of mask data stored in the medical image server 30 will be described. For example, suppose that the user (doctor) wants to hide the patient's privacy information 13 when showing images to the trainee for the purpose of guidance and education. When the user (doctor) uses the image terminal 51 in the medical image observation apparatus 50 and designates mask processing according to the level of privacy protection, appropriate mask data can be acquired from the medical image server 30, and the display of the image terminal 51 is displayed. The mask images (141 to 143) based on the acquired mask data are superimposed on the privacy information 13 and displayed.

  For example, if you want to mask only the patient name (PNAME) and the patient ID (PID), specify "PNAME / PID" as the "mask target" and extract the "image UID" from the incidental information of the image to which the mask is applied Then, the medical image server 30 is accessed and searched using them as keywords, and as a result, mask data as shown in FIG. 16 is acquired.

  As a result, the mask image 141 is superimposed on the display of the image terminal 51 and displayed as shown in FIG. When it is desired to mask the date of birth (DOB) and sex, “DOB / SEX” is designated as the mask target, and mask data as shown in FIG. 17 can be acquired. Furthermore, when it is desired to mask the inspection date (DOS), “DOS” is designated as the mask target, and mask data as shown in FIG. 18 can be acquired. When all the mask data of FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 are applied, the display shown in FIG. 19 is obtained, and all of the privacy information 13 is masked.

  In addition, in the information protection system of the present invention, it is possible to create a predetermined mask image while confirming on the display device of the medical image observation device 50 in addition to a plurality of mask image data created in advance by the modality device 10. Yes, when one mask image data is generated in common corresponding to a plurality of medical images, or when a plurality of mask image data is generated corresponding to a selected image among a plurality of medical images. is there.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the image terminal device 51 constitutes a mask data generation means, and also constitutes a means for acquiring mask data from the medical image server 30 and has undergone mask processing based on the mask data. It constitutes display means for displaying image information.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when information to be protected such as patient personal information is embedded in medical image information, the purpose and level (intensity) of protection can be obtained without processing the original medical image. Accordingly, it is possible to display with appropriate mask processing depending on the information, and to prevent leakage of privacy information and the like.

 The present invention is not limited to the above description, and various embodiments can be considered without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, although an example in which patient privacy information is masked as information that needs to be concealed has been described, additional information that needs to be concealed, such as hospital information, may be masked. Further, the example in which the medical image information is displayed on the display has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention can also be applied to a case where printing is performed by a printer device.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a medical image processing apparatus of the present invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the medical image information displayed in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the mask image displayed in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the state by which the mask image was overlay-displayed on the medical image information displayed in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the mask data structure used in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the mask data main body used in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the mask data main body used in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining an example of the medical image data displayed in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the other example of the medical image data displayed in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the mask data supplementary information used in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display when an image is displayed using the mask data supplementary information of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a display when an image is displayed using the mask data supplementary information of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the other example of mask data supplementary information used in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display when displaying an image using the mask data supplementary information of FIG. The whole block diagram explaining 2nd Embodiment of the medical image processing apparatus of this invention. Explanatory drawing explaining an example of the mask data in 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the other example of the mask data in 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the further another example of the mask data in 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the state by which the mask image was overlay-displayed on the medical image information displayed in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Modality apparatus 11 ... Medical image information 12 ... Medical image 13 ... Privacy information 14 ... Mask image 20 ... Network 30 ... Medical image server 40, 50 ... Medical image observation apparatus 41, 51 ... Image terminal device

Claims (20)

A modality device that outputs medical image information in which additional information is added to a medical image obtained by imaging a subject for diagnosis of a patient; and
Means for generating a mask image for hiding the display of the incidental information portion;
Storage means for storing the medical image information and mask image data;
Visible output means capable of outputting an image based on the medical image information read from the storage means and the mask image data, and concealed among the incidental information included in the medical image information output to the visual output means A medical image processing apparatus comprising: a medical image observing apparatus that outputs the mask image superimposed on an arbitrary information portion desired.   The said visual output means is a display, The said medical image information can be displayed, The said mask image is superimposed and displayed on the information part to conceal among said incidental information, The display is characterized by the above-mentioned. Medical image processing apparatus.   The said visual output means is a printer device, the medical image information can be printed out, and the mask image is superimposed on an information portion to be concealed in the incidental information and printed out. The medical image processing apparatus according to 1.   2. The medical image according to claim 1, wherein the mask image data is stored in a vector graphic format represented by a combination of rectangular vertex coordinates or in a bitmap format, and has link information to a corresponding medical image. Image processing device.   The medical image information is composed of a group of a plurality of medical images related to an individual patient, the supplementary information is commonly used for a plurality of medical images, and the mask image is added to each medical image in the group. 2. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the incidental information, an arbitrary information portion to be concealed is masked in common.   The medical image information is composed of a group of a plurality of medical images related to an individual patient, the medical image can be identified by an image unique ID, and the mask image is designated by specifying the image unique ID. 2. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the incidental information added to each medical image identified by the ID, any information portion to be concealed is masked in common.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a medical image server connected to the modality apparatus and the medical image observation apparatus.   The means for generating the mask image is provided in the modality device, generates a mask image corresponding to a position where the auxiliary information is displayed based on the auxiliary information, and sends the mask image data to the medical image server. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the medical image processing apparatus is stored.   The means for generating the mask image is provided in the medical image observation apparatus, generates a mask image corresponding to a position where the auxiliary information is displayed based on the auxiliary information, and generates a mask image on the medical image server. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data is stored.    The said incidental information contains a patient's privacy information, The means to produce | generate the said mask image produces | generates the mask image for concealing the arbitrary parts to conceal among the said privacy information. Medical image processing apparatus. An information protection system for processing medical image information supplied from a modality device and concealing and outputting a part of the medical image information,
The medical image information includes medical image data obtained by imaging a subject for diagnosis of a patient and accompanying information added thereto,
Mask image data generated to conceal the display of the incidental information portion, and storage means for storing the medical image information data from the modality device;
Arbitrary information to be concealed among the incidental information included in the medical image information, having visual output means capable of reading out the data stored in the storage means and outputting the image based on the medical image information data and the mask image data An information protection system comprising: a medical image observation unit configured to output the mask image superimposed on a portion thereof.   12. The visual output means is a display device, and is capable of displaying the medical image information, and displays the mask image superimposed on an information portion to be concealed in the incidental information. Information protection system.   The said visual output means is a printer device, the medical image information can be printed out, and the mask image is superimposed on an information portion to be concealed in the incidental information and printed out. 11. The information protection system according to 11.   The medical image information is composed of a group of a plurality of medical images related to an individual patient, the supplementary information is commonly used for a plurality of medical images, and the mask image is added to each medical image in the group. 12. The information protection system according to claim 11, wherein, in the incidental information, an arbitrary information portion to be concealed is masked in common.   The medical image information is composed of a group of a plurality of medical images related to an individual patient, the medical image can be identified by an image unique ID, and the mask image is designated by specifying the image unique ID. 12. The information protection system according to claim 11, wherein any information portion desired to be concealed is masked in common among the incidental information added to each medical image identified by the ID.   12. The information protection system according to claim 11, wherein the mask image is generated corresponding to a position where the supplementary information is displayed based on the supplementary information, and the mask image data is stored in the storage unit.   The mask image data is stored in a vector graphic format represented by a combination of rectangular vertex coordinates or a bitmap format, and has link information to a corresponding medical image and information indicating the type of mask data. The information protection system according to claim 11.   In addition to a plurality of mask data prepared in advance, a predetermined mask image is created while checking on the display device of the medical image observation means, and one mask image data corresponds to a plurality of medical images. 13. The information protection system according to claim 12, wherein the information protection system is generated in common.   In addition to a plurality of mask data prepared in advance, a predetermined mask image is created while checking on the display device of the medical image observation means, and the mask image data includes a plurality of mask image data among a plurality of medical images. 13. The information protection system according to claim 12, wherein the information protection system is generated corresponding to the selected image.    12. The information protection system according to claim 11, wherein the incidental information includes privacy information of a patient, and the mask image is an image that hides an arbitrary portion to be concealed in the privacy information.

Images