JP2008054806A - Diagnostic imaging assisting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a diagnostic imaging assisting apparatus which protects patient information sufficiently without hindering effective diagnostic reading and medical examination by storing patient information or information added to a film within a storage medium on the film while preventing them from being imaged on the film and also by making the information accesible during diagnostic reading or medical examination. <P>SOLUTION: The diagnostic imaging assisting apparatus comprises an illumination means 1l and a panel 13. The illumination means holds on its front surface a film F having a storage medium C storing a developed image to be diagnosed, information of the developed image and patient information, and illuminates the film F from the back of the film. The panel is arranged on the front surface of the illumination means 1l, and displays the image information and the patient information stored in the storage medium C. In addition, an image can be drawn on the panel in alignment with a transmitted image seen on the film F held on the front surface of the illumination means 1l. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image diagnosis support apparatus used when diagnosing a patient based on an image printed on a film.

  Conventionally, X-ray diagnostic equipment, CT (Computed Tomography), ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, magnetic resonance diagnostic equipment, and medical diagnostic equipment such as gamma cameras and PET (Positron-Emission Tomography) The acquired image information is printed on a film using an imager, and interpretation is performed based on an image printed on the film to diagnose a patient.

  For example, when a picture of a breast is taken by an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, it is printed on a transmissive film by an imager. Interpretation doctors, medical doctors, laboratory technicians, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “doctors” as appropriate) perform interpretation or medical examination by holding the film over a device that illuminates from behind the film, that is, Schaukasten. The film may be additionally filled with handwritten information using the margin, such as filling in medical information and specifying an area of interest.

Further, referring to past images of the same patient is also performed, an invention relating to a medical image diagnosis support apparatus capable of performing this reference more efficiently is presented in Patent Document 1 below. That is, according to the present invention, just by attaching the film to be diagnosed to the illuminator, the past image of the patient is displayed next to the film on the display panel with the illumination of the illuminator as the backlight. The search operation for the past image to be performed can be made more efficient, the eye movement between the film and the past image is less, and the film and the past image are displayed at the same brightness, so that the fatigue of the interpretation doctor can be reduced. It is said that.
JP 7-275209 A

  However, personal information (hereinafter referred to as “patient information”) such as the name and patient ID of the patient who holds the imaged affected area is included in the film used in the medical image diagnosis support apparatus presented in Patent Document 1. Printed with the affected area. When this film is held over the shaukasten, not only the affected area but also the patient information can be clearly seen by a third party. Moreover, the affected part and patient information printed by holding a film over a light source can be read even if there is no shaw casten.

  In light of the recent establishment of the Personal Information Protection Law and the existence of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the United States, care must be taken to protect patient information even in hospitals. The object extends to X-ray films and the like. As noted above, patient information is often printed on the film to identify which patient's affected area it has developed, such as when the film is held over a Schaukasten. Personal information may be leaked if left unattended, misplaced, or lost.

  Further, the contents developed on the film including the contents added to the film and displayed on the film become less readable due to dirt or the like with time, which may lead to a decrease in diagnostic ability.

  On the other hand, if the patient information is not copied onto the film in order to prevent the leakage of personal information, it will be difficult to identify the patient who has the affected area developed on the film, and this will cause serious patient misunderstandings. It can also cause problems.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to store patient information and information added to the film in a storage medium on the film, thereby storing the information on the film. Although it is not copied, by providing access to such information during interpretation and examination, sufficient patient information can be protected without hindering efficient interpretation and examination. It is to provide an image diagnosis support apparatus that enables the above.

  A feature according to the embodiment of the present invention is that in the diagnostic imaging support apparatus, a developed image to be diagnosed, a film including a storage medium in which information on the developed image and patient information are stored are held on the front surface. Illuminating means for illuminating from the back of the film, and a film that is installed on the front of the illuminating means, displays image information and patient information stored in a storage medium, and is held on the front of the illuminating means that appears transparent A panel capable of writing an image in accordance with the image.

  According to the present invention, patient information and information added to the film are stored in a storage medium on the film so that the information is not copied on the film. By making it possible to access this information, it is possible to provide an image diagnosis support apparatus that can sufficiently protect patient information without hindering efficient interpretation and diagnosis. Further, since the image information is stored in the storage medium, it is possible to easily print even when the film is reprinted.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing that an image diagnosis support apparatus (Shawkasten) 1 is connected to a network 2 to constitute an image diagnosis system in a hospital. In this diagnostic imaging system, in addition to the diagnostic imaging support apparatus (Shawkasten) 1, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus for imaging an affected part of a patient, a medical diagnostic apparatus 3 showing a CT apparatus, and a transparent film from the captured image information. An imager 4 for printing an image and an image server 5 for storing the image information are connected to the network 2.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the diagnostic imaging support apparatus 1 is a so-called Saucusten (hereinafter, the diagnostic imaging support apparatus 1 will be referred to as “Shearcasten 1”). The shaukasten 1 is an illuminator for holding the film on the front surface, which is a light emitting surface, and projecting an image of an affected area developed on the film by applying illumination from the back surface of the film. Therefore, the film here is a transparent film.

  The network 2 is a communication network extended in a hospital, and is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network). Further, it may be a network having a specific communication standard such as DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine).

  In FIG. 1, one each of the Schaukasten 1, the imager 4 and the image server 5 are connected to the network 2 and the medical diagnostic apparatus 3 is connected to the network 2. It does not matter.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the whole of the shaukasten 1. The shaucus sten 1 has a light source (not shown in FIG. 2) inside the housing 10, and the light emitting surface 11 emits light by illuminating the light emitting surface 11 made of a transparent material from the inside. An upper portion of the housing 10 is provided with a holding portion 12 extending from left to right. When the film F is sandwiched between the holding portions 12, the image G developed on the film F is separated from the light emitting surface 11 behind. It is projected clearly by light. The position where the film F is sandwiched may be any position of the holding unit 12, but if the positioning with the panel 13 described later is performed, the holding unit is placed at a specific position on the light emitting surface 11. 12 is desirable. In addition, in FIG. 2, although the figure of the movable stand type | mold shaukasten is shown, this invention can be applied also to what kind of shaukasten regardless of the shape, such as a wall hanging type | mold.

  The film F used in the embodiment of the present invention is a transparent film as described above, and an image G is printed on the central portion of the film F as shown in FIG. When the film F is exposed to light from the back, the light is transmitted through the film F and an image G is projected. Further, the patient information having the affected part photographed on the film F is stored in the storage medium C shown in FIG. The patient information is not printed on the film F in this way, but is stored in the storage medium C, thereby preventing personal information from being revealed to anyone who has seen the film F. In addition to the patient information, the storage medium C also stores information on the image G developed on the film F and information on additional images described on the panel 13 described later. As the storage medium C, for example, an IC chip including a storage element and an antenna can be used. Further, the storage medium C may be provided in any area other than the area where the image G of the affected area is printed on the film F.

  Further, at the center of each side of the film F, for example, a calibration having a shape of “+” is provided. This position is provided because it has the least influence on the information of the image G. The alignment between the panel 13 and the film F is performed using this calibration as will be described later.

  A panel 13 is provided on the front surface of the light emitting surface 11 of the shaucus ten 1 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the panel 13 is represented by a dotted line, and is provided at a position that covers a part of the light emitting surface 11 according to the size of the film F. However, the size of the panel 13 can be arbitrarily determined. For example, the entire area of the front surface of the light emitting surface 11 may be covered.

  The panel 13 is a so-called touch panel, and detects the contact position by detecting the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the part in contact with the panel 13. The panel 13 is transparent, and a doctor or a patient (hereinafter referred to as “observer” as appropriate) can see the image G of the film F sandwiched between the holding portions 12 through the panel 13. For this reason, for example, characters and arrows can be written on the panel 13 while viewing the film F through the panel 13.

  Also, patient information and the like stored in the storage medium C are read in accordance with the mounting position of the storage medium C provided on the film F, and the image information described on the panel 13 is stored in the storage medium C. A memory reader / writer 14 is provided. The memory reader / writer 14 exchanges information with the storage medium C in a non-contact manner. The memory reader / writer 14 may be provided at any position on the panel 13 as long as information can be exchanged with the storage medium C of the film F.

  The positional relationship between the panel 13, the film F, and the housing 10 of the shaw sten 1 is as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a view of the shaukasten 1 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the right side. That is, the film F is fixed at a position where it comes into contact with the light emitting surface 11 by being sandwiched between the holding portions 12. The panel 13 is positioned on the front surface of the film F, and the storage medium C and the memory reader / writer 14 face each other. Accordingly, the observer sees the image G on the film F projected by the light from the light emitting surface 11 through the transparent panel 13.

  The panel 13 used in the embodiment of the present invention is positioned on the front surface of the light emitting surface 11 so as to cover a part of the light emitting surface 11 from the upper part of the shaucus ten 1. However, as long as the panel 13 is positioned on the front surface of the light emitting surface 11, the panel 13 may be raised from the lower part of the shaukasten 1 or slid from the lateral direction. Does not matter. Moreover, the space | interval of the panel 13 and the film F can be set arbitrarily.

  5 is connected to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1c, and an input / output interface 1d via a bus 1e. An input unit 1f, a display unit 1g, a communication control unit 1h, a storage unit 1i, an authority determination unit 1j, a drive unit control unit 1k, and an illumination unit 1l are connected to the input / output interface 1d. . The drive unit control means 1k controls the drive of the drive unit provided to arrange the panel 13 on the front surface of the light emitting surface 11, for example. Moreover, the illumination means 11 becomes a light source of the light emitting surface 11 shown in FIG. Further, the panel 13 and the memory reader / writer 14 are also connected via the input / output interface 1d.

  The CPU 1a reads out and executes a boot program for starting the shaucus ten 1 from the ROM 1b based on an input signal from the input unit 1f, and reads out various operating systems stored in the storage unit 1i. Further, the CPU 1a controls various devices based on an input signal from an external device not shown in FIG. 5 via the input means 1f or the input / output interface 1d, or is stored in the RAM 1c, the storage means 1i, or the like. The program and data are read out and loaded into the RAM 1c, and a series of processing such as alignment of the panel 13 and the film F and calculation or processing of data is realized based on the program command read out from the RAM 1c. Is a processing device.

  The input means 1f is composed of input devices such as keys and switches for inputting various operations by a doctor or the like who uses the shaucus sten 1. Sent to. In the embodiment of the present invention, an input means such as a keyboard is not particularly provided, but it can be appropriately connected to the shaw sten 1 as necessary. The display means 1g is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is a means for receiving, for example, an output signal from the memory reader / writer 14 via the bus 1e and displaying patient information read from the storage medium C of the film F by the memory reader / writer 14. . In the embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 1g is separately provided in the shaw casten 1. However, it is also possible to display the patient information on the panel 13 by providing the panel 13 with the function of the display unit 1g. is there.

  The communication control unit 1h is a unit such as a LAN card or a modem, and is a unit that enables the connection of the SHOUKUSTEN 1 to a communication network such as the network 2 or the Internet. Data transmitted / received to / from the network 2 or the like via the communication control unit 1h is transmitted / received as an input signal or an output signal to / from the CPU 1a via the input / output interface 1d and the bus 1e.

  The storage means 1i is composed of a semiconductor or a magnetic disk, and stores programs and data executed by the CPU 1a. The authority determination unit 1j receives the ID signal of the doctor or the like input from the input unit 1f, and the doctor or the like who observes the film F views the patient information regarding the film F sandwiched between the holding portions 12 of the shaucusten 1. It is determined whether or not it has the authority to

  In the storage means 1i of the shaw casten 1 in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the position for the processing of aligning the positions of the panel 13 and the film F and the image information written on the panel 13 correspond to the position of the film F. A program and data are stored for performing the alignment process. In addition, the alignment unit 30 is mounted on the shaucus ten 1 by the CPU 1a of the shaucus ten 1 reading and executing an alignment program or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the alignment unit 30 includes a reception unit 31, a reading unit 32, a handwriting position information determination unit 33, a position correction unit 34, and a transmission unit 35. The operation of each of these means will be described below with reference to a flowchart showing the flow of interpretation using the shaw casten 1 shown in FIG. As a premise, the image G is printed on the film F as follows. That is, the image information of the patient photographed by the medical diagnostic device 3 is sent to the imager 4 via the network 2. The imager 4 reconstructs an image from the transmitted image information and prints it on the film F.

  When the film F printed by the imager 4 is viewed using the shaucus ten 1, first, the film F needs to be sandwiched between the holding portions 12 of the shaucus ten 1 by a doctor or the like. As described above, the image F of the affected part is printed on the film F, and the storage medium C is provided in an area that does not cover the print area.

  When the film F is sandwiched between the holding portions 12, the panel 13 moves to the front surface of the light emitting surface 11 of the shaucusten 1 (ST1), and the film F and the panel 13 are aligned (ST2). On the panel 13, for example, patient information in the storage medium C is displayed, and handwritten image information is additionally written such as surrounding the region of interest in the image G on the film F with an arrow or a circle. If the position of the image added on 13 and the position of the image G on the film F are misaligned, a misdiagnosis may occur. On the other hand, the panel and film are usually different in size. Therefore, the position of the added image with respect to the image G on the film F will be shifted unless alignment is performed between the panel and the film using coordinates or the like.

  Specifically, as an example of the alignment method, after the panel 13 is installed on the front surface of the light emitting surface 11, a specific position of the panel 13 is first pushed by a doctor or the like. This specific position is a position when the above-described calibration is provided through the panel 13 and is provided in advance in the film F. The specific position information input from the panel 13 is received by the receiving means 31. On the other hand, the position information of the calibration of the film F is stored in the storage medium C of the film F, and this information is also input to the receiving means 31 via the memory reader / writer 14. The specific position information on the panel 13 and the position information of the calibration of the film F are sent from the receiving means 31 to the position correcting means 34. In this position correcting means 34, the positional relationship of the panel 13 with respect to the position of the film F is grasped, and the correction value is stored. This correction value is composed of two values respectively representing the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. When calibration is performed using a plurality of “+” marks, the average value is used as the correction value. By doing so, the positional relationship between the panel 13 and the film F is determined. When this positional relationship is finalized, the arrow and handwritten information stored in the storage medium C are displayed with their positions corrected according to the correction values.

  When the alignment between the panel 13 and the film F is completed, when displaying the patient information in the storage medium C, it is determined whether or not a doctor or the like who views the film F has a viewing authority (ST3). The doctor or the like uses the input unit 1f to input his / her ID, for example, and the input signal is transmitted to the authority determination unit 1j to determine whether the patient information and the added image information can be viewed. Is done.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the authority determining means 1j is provided in the shaucus ten 1, but if it is not provided in the shaucus ten 1, the authority provided outside via the communication control means 1h. The determination means may determine whether there is authority.

  If there is no authority (N in ST4), patient information that is one of the most unsuitable information among personal information cannot be disclosed to an unauthorized third party. In this case, although the image G of the affected part printed on the film F can be seen, it is impossible to specify a patient having this affected part, so that interpretation or medical examination cannot be performed. By doing so, personal information such as patient information can be prevented from being unnecessarily disclosed to a third party.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the doctor has authority (Y in ST4), the memory reader / writer 14 acquires patient information from the storage medium C of the film F (ST5), and the acquired patient information is displayed on the panel. 13 is displayed (ST6).

  Patient information is displayed on the panel 13, and the affected part printed on the film F can be seen by receiving light from the light emitting surface 11 through the panel 13. The doctor or the like interprets or examines the patient while observing the affected area, and notes or notes the points of interest or marks. In other words, it is not written directly on the film F, but actually written on the panel 13, but doctors etc. are looking at the film F through the panel 13, so that it is written directly on the film F. Looks like you are.

  The image information added to the panel 13 is detected by the reading means 32 via the receiving means 31 (ST7). As a method for detecting the image information, a known technique such as a resistive film method can be used.

  The position information of the image additionally recorded on the detected panel 13 is specified by the handwriting position information specifying means 33 (ST8). Then, it is specified together with which position in the image G printed on the film F the added image is applied (ST9). In other words, the information of the additionally recorded image is reflected on the film F, but if the position of the image G and the additionally recorded image information is shifted at that time, it may lead to a misdiagnosis. For this reason, since the correction value relating to the positional relationship between the film F and the panel 13 is stored in the position correcting means 34, the image G of the actual film F of the image additionally written on the panel 13 based on this correction value. Specify the position on the top.

  When the position of the added image is specified on the image G of the film F, all the image information including the information of the image added to the panel 13 is transmitted to the memory reader / writer 14 via the transmission means 35, Further, it is stored in the storage medium C of the film F (ST10).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the observation of the film F using the shaucus ten 1 is finished (ST11). When the observation is repeated thereafter, the image information on the panel 13 is displayed as it is, and further written image information is detected by the reading means 32 (ST7), and the procedure so far is repeated.

  The storage medium C may store an image added on the original image G in an overlapping manner. Further, separately from the original image G, it is stored for each added image, and when the image G on the film F is viewed in the future, the added images are displayed on the image G in order. Also good. Further, the added image in the storage medium C may be selectively displayed on the panel 13 as display or non-display. In this case, a list of images added to the storage medium C is stored together with the image information, and for example, the contents of this list can be displayed on the display means 1g.

  On the other hand, when the observation is terminated (N in ST11), the power of the shaucusten 1 is turned off and the observation is terminated. Whether or not the panel 13 is returned to the original storage position can be arbitrarily set.

  In addition, the image information stored in the storage medium C before the end of the observation can be transferred to the image server and stored using, for example, an image transfer instruction unit (button). Thus, if it preserve | saves at an image server, all the patient's image information can be managed collectively, without worrying about the storage capacity of the storage medium C. FIG. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide, for example, an image print instruction means (button) for instructing the imager 4 to print the film again including the image information added. In this way, it is possible to keep the latest film on which image information that has been additionally written is printed.

  In this way, patient information and information added to the film are stored in a storage medium on the film so that the information is not directly added or copied on the film. By making such information accessible, it is possible to provide an image diagnosis support apparatus that can sufficiently protect patient information without hindering efficient interpretation and diagnosis.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. For example, the film F used in the embodiment of the present invention is provided with the storage medium C, and the film F arranged on the shelf is searched using the antenna of the storage medium C. May be. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

It is a network block diagram which shows the connection to the network of the diagnostic imaging apparatus (Shawkasten) in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire diagnostic imaging apparatus (Shaw Kasten) in an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the film in embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the diagnostic imaging apparatus (Shawkasten) in embodiment of this invention from the side. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the diagnostic imaging apparatus (Shawkasten) in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the position alignment means in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the image interpretation procedure using an image diagnosis assistance apparatus (Shawkasten).

Explanation of symbols

1 Image diagnosis support device (Shawkasten)
10 Housing 13 Panel 14 Memory Reader / Writer C Storage Medium F Film

Claims (7)

An illuminating means for holding a film including a developed image to be diagnosed, a storage medium storing information on the developed image and patient information on the front, and applying illumination from the back of the film;
The image information and the patient information which are installed on the front surface of the illumination means and stored in the storage medium are displayed, and an image is displayed in accordance with the image of the film held on the front surface of the illumination means which is seen through. A panel where you can write,
An image diagnosis support apparatus comprising:   The said panel is equipped with the memory reader / writer which reads the information memorize | stored in the said storage medium of the said film, and writes the information of the image written in the said panel on the said storage medium. Image diagnosis support device.   The image diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium and the memory reader / writer can read and write information without contact.   The image diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the panel has a size that can cover at least one of the films.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising authority determining means for determining whether an observer of the film has authority to view information stored in the storage medium. The image diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1.   6. An image transfer instruction means for transferring image information written on the panel stored in the storage medium to an image server for storing image information of the film. The image diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1.   7. An image print instructing unit for instructing an imager to print on a film anew including information on an image written on the panel stored in the storage medium. The diagnostic imaging support apparatus according to any one of the above.

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