JP2009189659A - Medical image diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exclude the influence of non-registration application installed by a third person without previous notice. <P>SOLUTION: An application retrieval part 15 retrieves a desired application among the respective kinds of applications, based on a selection signal supplied from an input part 20, which are kept in an application keeping part 13, and preserves the application in a performance application storage part 16. An application starting part 17 starts the desired application. An application start authenticating part 18 supplies an event signal with respect to the desired application which is started, and authenticates the desired application as the non-registration application when a response signal to the event signal is not supplied from the desired application within a prescribed time. Then, the application starting part 17 forcibly stops the start of the desired application, based on the authentication result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to a medical image diagnostic apparatus having a function of controlling whether or not software operating on the apparatus is operable.

  Medical image diagnosis using an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, X-ray CT apparatus, MRI apparatus, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, etc. has made rapid progress in recent years and has become indispensable in today's medical care.

  Medical image diagnostic apparatuses have been conventionally developed for the purpose of collecting two-dimensional image data on a subject. However, with the recent development of data processing techniques and diagnostic techniques, various image data collection methods and processing methods have been developed. Furthermore, various measurements based on the obtained image data can be performed easily and accurately. For example, 2D image data or 3D image data collected from a subject is generally used for area measurement and volume measurement in the heart chamber, and for cardiac function measurement such as cardiac output based on these temporal changes. Widely used in medical diagnosis.

  In order to perform various types of processing / measurement using such image data, the apparatus provider provides dedicated software such as an application program (hereinafter referred to as an application) that enables such processing / measurement before delivery. Medical image diagnostics equipped with the latest processing / measurement functions by installing in advance on the medical image diagnostic apparatus of the hospital, and additionally installing applications that have been timely improved or newly developed according to clinical needs in the medical image diagnostic apparatus after delivery. We provide equipment.

  Software such as applications that operate inside the above-described medical image diagnostic apparatus is usually developed / created using general-purpose basic technology on general-purpose basic software (OS: Operating System). When such general-purpose basic software is used, an application created by a third party other than the device provider (hereinafter referred to as an unregistered application) is installed in the medical image diagnostic device without the device provider. It becomes possible. When a non-registered application installed by a third party is activated and operated, an application installed in advance by the apparatus provider (hereinafter referred to as a registered application) operates in cooperation with the non-registered application. As a result, there is a risk of destruction of the registered application or leakage of various information not disclosed to the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to automatically start or operate the software when the software installed without permission from the device provider of the medical image diagnostic apparatus is started. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image diagnostic apparatus capable of easily eliminating the influence on various kinds of software registered in advance in the apparatus by blocking the operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention collects image data of a subject and performs data processing based on the image data based on an application installed in advance. In the diagnostic imaging apparatus, application storage means for storing a registered application registered by the apparatus provider and a non-registered application installed by a third party, and the registered application and the non-registered application stored in the application storage means Application searching means for searching for a desired application from among the above, application starting means for starting the searched desired application, and a registered application for the started desired application Comprises an application activation authentication means for authenticating the unregistered application, the application activation means is characterized in that to continue or stop the start of the desired application based on the authentication result of the application activation authentication means.

  According to the present invention, when the software installed without permission from the device provider of the medical image diagnostic apparatus is activated, the activation or operation of the software can be easily prevented. For this reason, the influence on various kinds of software registered in advance in the medical image diagnostic apparatus is eliminated, and malfunction or the like can be prevented in advance.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The application search unit in the medical image diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment described below searches for a desired application from various applications stored in advance in the application storage unit based on a selection signal supplied from the input unit, and stores an execution application. The application activation unit starts activation of the desired application stored in the execution application storage unit. On the other hand, the application activation authentication unit supplies an event signal formed in a predetermined format to a desired application that has been activated, and if a response signal to the event signal is not supplied from the desired application within a predetermined time, the application activation authentication unit The application authenticates that it is an unregistered application installed without permission by a third party. The application activation unit stops activation of the desired application based on the authentication result and deletes the desired application from the execution application storage unit.

(Device configuration)
The configuration of the medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the medical image diagnostic apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of an image data generation unit provided in the medical image diagnostic apparatus.

  In the following embodiments, an image data generation unit capable of generating X-ray image data will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, X-ray CT image data, ultrasonic image data, MRI images An image data generation unit that generates image data such as data may be used.

  A medical image diagnostic apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 registers an image data generation unit 11 that generates X-ray image data for a subject, and data processing such as image processing and various measurements for the obtained image data. Various registration applications installed by the image data processing unit 12 and the provider of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 100 or the software provider registered in advance (hereinafter collectively referred to as the apparatus provider). Corresponding to the application storage unit 13 that stores non-registered applications installed by third parties such as unregistered users and various applications (registered applications and non-registered applications) stored in the application storage unit 13 Startup configuration file that stores startup configuration files And an application search unit 15 for searching for a desired application from various applications stored in the application storage unit 13 based on an application selection signal supplied from an input unit 20 described later. Yes.

  The medical image diagnostic apparatus 100 also includes an execution application storage unit 16 that stores an application searched by the application search unit 15, an application activation unit 17 that activates an application stored in the execution application storage unit 16, and an application activation unit. The application activation authenticating unit 18 that authenticates the application activated by 17, the X-ray image data generated / processed by the image data generating unit 11 and the image data processing unit 12, and stored in the activation setting file storage unit 14. A display unit 19 for displaying an icon (application icon) corresponding to the file name of the startup setting file is provided. Furthermore, input of subject information, setting of image data generation / display conditions, selection of an application, application An input unit 20 for inputting an instruction signal for installation, input of various command signals, and the like, and an external interface (external IF) 21 for storing an application supplied via the network 22 or a storage medium (not shown) in the application storage unit 13 A system control unit 23 that controls the above-described units included in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 100 is provided.

  Then, the image data generation unit 11 that generates X-ray image data passes through the subject 150 and an X-ray generation unit 111 that irradiates the subject 150 with X-rays, as shown in FIG. An X-ray detection unit 112 that detects X-rays two-dimensionally and generates X-ray projection data based on the detection data; a support arm (not shown) that holds the X-ray generation unit 111 and the X-ray detection unit 112; A top plate 113 on which the subject 150 is placed, a moving mechanism unit (not shown) that moves the support arm and the top plate 113 in a predetermined direction, and projection data storage that generates X-ray image data based on the X-ray projection data. Part 114.

  The X-ray generator 111 includes an X-ray tube 117 that irradiates the subject 150 with X-rays, a high voltage generator 116 that generates a high voltage necessary for X-ray irradiation in the X-ray tube 117, and an X-ray (not shown). And a line diaphragm. The X-ray tube 117 is a vacuum tube that generates X-rays, and accelerates electrons emitted from a cathode (filament) by a high voltage to collide with a tungsten anode to generate X-rays. On the other hand, the X-ray diaphragm is positioned between the X-ray tube 117 and the subject 150 and has a function of narrowing the X-ray beam irradiated from the X-ray tube 117 to a predetermined irradiation field size.

  The X-ray detector 112 converts the X-ray transmitted through the subject 150 into electric charges and stores them, and a gate driver (not shown) for reading out the electric charges stored in the flat detector 118 as X-ray signals. And a projection data generation unit 119 that generates X-ray projection data from the read charges. Then, the projection data generation unit 119 converts a charge read from the flat detector 118 into a voltage, a multi-channel charge / voltage converter, and an A / A that converts the output of the charge / voltage converter into a digital signal. A D-converter and a parallel-serial converter (both not shown) for converting X-ray projection data output in parallel from a multi-channel A / D converter into a serial signal are provided.

  On the other hand, the projection data storage unit 114 includes a storage circuit (not shown), and sequentially stores the X-ray projection data supplied from the projection data generation unit 119 in time series in the storage circuit to obtain two-dimensional X-ray image data. Generate.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the image data processing unit 12 includes an arithmetic circuit and a storage circuit (not shown), and X-ray image data supplied from the projection data storage unit 114 of the image data generation unit 11 is temporarily stored in the storage circuit. Saved. On the other hand, the arithmetic circuit performs image processing such as contour enhancement on the X-ray image data read from the storage circuit, arithmetic processing for generating DSA image data, three-dimensional image data, and the like, and various measurements. As necessary.

  On the other hand, in the application storage unit 13, an application registered in advance during the manufacturing process of the apparatus, an application newly installed by the apparatus provider (registered application), or a third party installed via the external IF 21. Application (unregistered application) is stored in a predetermined storage area. However, a program that generates a response signal corresponding to the event signal supplied from the application activation authentication unit 18 within a predetermined time is incorporated in the above-described registration application.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows an application stored in the application storage unit 13. For example, the addresses “0000121” to “0000124” of the storage area included in the application storage unit 13 are set by the device provider. Installed registered applications “AA” to “DD” are stored, and an unregistered application “EX” installed by a third party is stored at an address “0000125”.

  Next, the activation setting file storage unit 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 stores activation setting files corresponding to registered applications and non-registered applications stored in a predetermined storage area of the application storage unit 13. FIG. 4 schematically shows a specific example of the activation setting file stored in the activation setting file storage unit 14. For example, the activation setting file is a registered application stored in the application storage unit 13. Information on the file names “FAA” to “FDD” and the file name “FEX” corresponding to each of “AA” to “DD” and the unregistered application “EX”, and the address “of the storage area where these applications are stored” 0000121 "to" 0000124 "and address" 0000125 ".

  Referring back to FIG. 1 again, the application search unit 15 stores the activation stored in the activation setting file storage unit 14 based on a selection signal of an application (hereinafter referred to as a desired application) supplied from the input unit 20. The file name corresponding to the desired application and the address information of the application storage unit 13 storing the desired application are searched from the setting file, and the desired application stored in the application storage unit 13 is searched based on the address information. Search for. The retrieved desired application is read out and stored in the execution application storage unit 16.

  The application activation unit 17 supplies a desired application search end signal supplied from the application search unit 15 to the application activation authentication unit 18 and starts activation of the desired application stored in the execution application storage unit 16.

  On the other hand, the application activation authentication unit 18 has a function of performing application activation authentication according to a preset procedure, and is formed in a predetermined format based on the above-described search end signal supplied from the application activation unit 17, for example. The event signal is supplied to the desired application in the execution application storage unit 16 that has been started. Then, activation authentication for the desired application is performed depending on whether a response signal to the event signal is supplied within a predetermined time from the execution application storage unit 16 having the desired application.

  For example, when it is authenticated that the desired application is a registered application by receiving a response signal from the execution application storage unit 16 within a predetermined time, the application activation unit 17 that has received the authentication result from the application activation authentication unit 18 The activation of the desired application stored in the execution application storage unit 16 is continued, and image processing and various measurements are performed on the X-ray image data based on the desired application.

  On the other hand, when the response signal from the execution application storage unit 16 is not received within a predetermined time and the desired application is authenticated as an unregistered application, the application activation unit 17 that has received the authentication result from the application activation authentication unit 18 The activation of the desired application stored in the execution application storage unit 16 is stopped and the desired application is deleted from the execution application storage unit 16.

  Next, the display unit 19 includes a display data generation unit and a monitor (not shown), a function for displaying the X-ray image data generated / processed by the image data generation unit 11 and the image data processing unit 12, and an activation setting file storage A function of displaying a plurality of application icons corresponding to the file names of the startup setting files stored in the unit 14.

  FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the application icon displayed on the monitor of the display unit 19. For example, information on the file names “FAA” to “FEX” of the activation setting file shown in FIG. The display data generation unit of the display unit 19 received from the file storage unit 14 generates display data in which application icons “AAA” to “AEX” are arranged based on these pieces of information, and displays the display data on the monitor.

  Further, the display data generation unit converts the X-ray image data supplied from the image data generation unit 11 or the image data processing unit 12 into a predetermined format, and further adds display information generated by adding subject information and the like. Display on the monitor.

  Next, the input unit 20 includes an input device such as a keyboard, a trackball, a mouse, a selection button, and an input button on the operation panel and a display panel, and a plurality of application icons displayed on the display unit 19 (see FIG. 5). An application selection unit 201 that selects a desired application by selecting an application icon corresponding to the desired application from the above, and an instruction signal for installing the application via the network 22 or storage medium connected to the external IF 21 An instruction signal input unit 202 for inputting is provided. Also, input of subject information, setting of image data generation / display conditions, and input of various command signals, etc. are performed using the above-described display panel and input device.

  The system control unit 23 includes a CPU and a storage circuit (not shown), and the above-described various information input / set by the input unit 20 is stored in the storage circuit. The CPU controls each unit of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 100 based on the above-described input information, setting information, and selection information, and generates and displays image data, data processing by a registration application, and further, a third party The unregistered application installed by the above is stopped and deleted from the execution application storage unit 16.

(Procedure for starting / stopping and deleting unregistered applications)
Next, a procedure for starting and stopping and deleting an unregistered application installed in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 100 by a third party will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case will be described in which activation authentication is performed on a desired application selected from a plurality of applications including a non-registered application installed by a third party.

  Prior to the collection of X-ray image data, the operator of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 100, which is a third party, installs a non-registered application (for example, a non-registered application EX) in the instruction signal input unit 202 provided in the input unit 20. An instruction signal for input is input. Upon receiving this instruction signal, the system control unit 23 stores the non-registered application EX supplied via the network 22 or storage medium connected to the external IF 21 in a predetermined storage area of the application storage unit 13, and The file name “FEX” corresponding to the unregistered application EX and the address information “0000125” of the predetermined storage area are stored in the activation setting file of the activation setting file storage unit 14.

  That is, in the application storage unit 13, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, registered applications “AA” to “DD” newly installed by the registered application and the device provider registered in the manufacturing process of the device, The non-registered application “EX” installed by the third party is stored in a predetermined storage area, and the above-described registered applications “AA” to “DD” are stored in the activation setting file storage unit 14 as shown in FIG. File names “FAA” to “FDD” corresponding to the file name “FEX” corresponding to the unregistered application “EX” and address information “0000121” to “000021” of the storage area in the application storage unit 13 in which these applications are stored. "0000124" and "0000125" are stored That (Step S1 in FIG. 6).

  At this time, each of the applications “AA” to “EX” formed based on the information of the file names “FAA” to “FEX” of the startup setting file supplied from the startup setting file storage unit 14 is displayed on the display unit 19. The application icons “AAA” to “AEX” corresponding to are displayed in a list (step S2 in FIG. 6).

  When the storage of the registered application registered by the device provider and the non-registered application installed by the third party and the display of application icons corresponding to these applications are completed, the operator of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 100 can After inputting sample information, setting image data generation / display conditions, placing the subject on the top 113, etc., an imaging start command is input from the input unit 20. Then, generation of X-ray image data is started by supplying this command signal to the system control unit 23.

  When generating the X-ray image data, the high voltage generator 116 of the image data generation unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 receives the imaging start command signal supplied from the input unit 20 via the system control unit 23, and has already been generated. A high voltage is applied to the X-ray tube 117 based on the set X-ray irradiation conditions of the image data generation conditions, and the subject 150 is irradiated with X-rays. Then, the X-ray transmitted through the subject 150 is detected by the flat detector 118 of the X-ray detection unit 112 provided behind the subject 150.

  The electric charges generated according to the X-ray dose irradiated to each of the two-dimensional detection elements provided in the flat detector 118 are sequentially read out by an output pulse of a gate driver (not shown). The projection data generation unit 119 performs time-series X-ray projection data by performing charge / voltage conversion, A / D conversion, parallel / serial conversion, and the like on the charge read by the gate driver, The obtained X-ray projection data is sequentially stored in the projection data storage unit 114 to generate X-ray image data. (Step S3 in FIG. 6).

  When the generation of the X-ray image data is completed, the operator performs a predetermined data processing (that is, image processing and various measurements on the X-ray image data) on the obtained X-ray image data. The application icon corresponding to the desired application is selected from the plurality of application icons displayed on the 19 monitors using the application selection unit 201 of the input unit 20 (step S4 in FIG. 6).

  On the other hand, the application search unit 15 selects the file name corresponding to the desired application from the activation setting file stored in the activation setting file storage unit 14 based on the selection signal supplied from the application selection unit 201 and the desired application. The stored address information of the application storage unit 13 is searched, and a desired application stored in the application storage unit 13 is searched based on the address information. Then, the retrieved desired application is read out and stored in the execution application storage unit 16 (step S5 in FIG. 6).

  Next, the application activation unit 17 supplies the desired application search end signal supplied from the application search unit 15 to the application activation authentication unit 18 and starts activation of the desired application stored in the execution application storage unit 16 ( Step S6 in FIG.

  On the other hand, the application activation authentication unit 18 supplies an event signal formed in a predetermined format to a desired application stored in the execution application storage unit 16 based on the search end signal supplied from the application activation unit 17. Then, activation authentication for the desired application is performed depending on whether or not a response signal to the event signal is supplied from the desired application in the execution application storage unit 16 within a predetermined time (step S7 in FIG. 6).

  When the response signal from the execution application storage unit 16 is received within a predetermined time in the above-described step S7 (that is, when the desired application is authenticated as a registered application installed by the apparatus provider), application activation The unit 17 continuously starts the desired application in the execution application storage unit 16, and performs data processing and various measurements based on the desired application (step S8 in FIG. 6).

  On the other hand, when a response signal to the event signal is not supplied from the execution application storage unit 16 within a predetermined time (that is, when the desired application is authenticated as a non-registered application installed by a third party), the application The activation unit 17 stops activation of the desired application stored in the execution application storage unit 16 and deletes the desired application from the execution application storage unit 16 (step S9 in FIG. 6).

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when a non-registered application installed without permission from the device provider of the medical image diagnostic apparatus is started, it is possible to easily prevent the non-registered application from starting or operating. it can. For this reason, the influence on the registered application installed in advance by the device provider is eliminated, and it is possible to prevent malfunction and leakage of undisclosed information.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the registration application installed by the apparatus provider is preinstalled with a program that generates a response signal corresponding to the event signal supplied from the application activation authentication unit within a predetermined time, Since the registration application is authenticated based on the response signal, the authentication can be performed easily and reliably.

  Furthermore, since the unregistered application that has not been authenticated is not only stopped but also forcibly deleted from the execution application storage unit, the registered application registered in advance by the device provider is destroyed by a third party. Risk is greatly reduced.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example, It can change and implement. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the application for the purpose of image processing and various measurements on the X-ray image data has been described.

  In addition, when the application activation authentication unit 18 authenticates that the desired application is a non-registered application, the desired application may be deleted from the execution application storage unit 16 and the application storage unit 13. According to this method, since the non-registered application installed by the third party is completely deleted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 100, the risk that the registered application is destroyed by the non-registered application can be further reduced.

  On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the image data generation unit 11 that enables generation of X-ray image data has been described. However, an image that generates image data such as X-ray CT image data, ultrasonic image data, and MRI image data is described. It may be a data generation unit.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a medical image diagnostic apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the specific structure of the image data generation part with which the medical image diagnostic apparatus of the Example is provided. The figure which shows typically the application currently stored in the application storage part of the Example. The figure which shows typically the specific example of the starting setting file stored in the starting setting file storage part of the Example. The figure which shows the specific example of the application icon displayed on the display part of the Example. The flowchart which shows the procedure of starting stop and deletion of a non-registration application in the Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Image data generation part 111 ... X-ray generation part 112 ... X-ray detection part 113 ... Top plate 114 ... Projection data storage part 116 ... High voltage generator 117 ... X-ray tube 118 ... Planar detector 119 ... Projection data generation part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Image data processing part 13 ... Application storage part 14 ... Start setting file storage part 15 ... Application search part 16 ... Execution application memory | storage part 17 ... Application start part 18 ... Application start authentication part 19 ... Display part 20 ... Input part 201 ... Application selection unit 202 ... instruction signal input unit 21 ... external interface (external IF)
22 ... Network 23 ... System control unit 100 ... Medical image diagnostic apparatus

Claims (6)

In a medical image diagnostic apparatus that collects image data of a subject and performs data processing based on the image data based on a preinstalled application,
Application storage means for storing a registered application registered by the device provider and a non-registered application installed by a third party;
Application search means for searching for a desired application from the registered application and the non-registered application stored in the application storage means;
Application activation means for activating the searched desired application;
Application activation authentication means for authenticating a registered application or an unregistered application with respect to the activated desired application,
The medical image diagnosis apparatus, wherein the application activation unit continues or stops activation of the desired application based on an authentication result of the application activation authentication unit.   The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application activation unit stops activation of the desired application when the desired application is recognized as a non-registered application by the application activation authentication unit.   An execution application storage unit that stores the desired application searched by the application search unit, and the application activation unit stores the execution application storage when the application activation authentication unit recognizes the desired application as a non-registered application. 2. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein activation of the desired application stored in the means is stopped and the desired application is deleted from the execution application storage means.   The application activation authorizing unit authorizes the desired application as a non-registered application when a response signal to the event signal supplied to the desired application activated by the application activation unit is not obtained within a predetermined time. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.   Display means for displaying a plurality of application icons corresponding to each of the registered application and the non-registered application stored in the application storage means, and selecting the registered application and the non-display by selecting the application icon displayed on the display means The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an application selection unit that selects the desired application from among registered applications.   Image data processing means for performing data processing on the basis of the image data, and the application activation authorization means has a response signal to an event signal supplied to the desired application activated by the application activation means within a predetermined time 2. The medical application according to claim 1, wherein if desired, the desired application is certified as a registered application, and the image data processing means performs the data processing based on the desired application certified as a registered application. Diagnostic imaging device.

Images