JP2010082002A - Medical image search instrument and medical image search system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image search instrument and a medical image search system capable of directly searching a medical image data having predetermined relevance to some medical image data and searching even among a plurality of different instruments. <P>SOLUTION: The medical image search instrument or the medical image search system includes a medical image data location management device 15. When requested from a terminal device to perform search processing with a medical image data identifier relating to the medical image data concerning the medical image data as a search condition, the medical image data location management device 15 performs the search processing, detects instrument identification information relating to the medical image data having relevance to the medical image data, patient information, inspection information, image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and relating information, and transmits the same to the terminal device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image search apparatus and a medical image search system that search medical image data via a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various medical image diagnostic apparatuses for obtaining a three-dimensional medical image by invasively imaging a lesion site of a subject have been developed and applied. As such a medical diagnostic imaging apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, a CT diagnostic imaging apparatus, an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) diagnostic imaging apparatus, etc. are generally used. Collectively. According to these multi-modalities, a high-definition three-dimensional medical image can be obtained in a short time, particularly with the recent development of image processing technology.

  Based on these three-dimensional medical images, image diagnostic techniques that take advantage of the unique features of each modality have been established, and research presentations have been actively made at medical associations in various specialized fields.

  In addition, the created high-accuracy three-dimensional image is stored as medical image data in a storage device so that it can be used at all times, and the necessity of ROI (Region of Interest), which is a region of interest, as a diagnostic result has arisen. In this case, the medical image data of the ROI where the necessity arises can be selected from the storage device.

  By the way, it is a case where a cross-sectional image is displayed again after storing a cross-sectional image as medical image data in the storage device, and the displayed cross-sectional image and the coronal, sagittal, axial, oblique image of the displayed cross-sectional image, When the two images are simultaneously displayed, there is a problem that the correspondence between the images is not known. There is also a problem that coronal, sagittal, axial, and oblique cross-sectional images cannot be arbitrarily selected as display images.

  As a technique for solving these problems, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses the following technique. That is, in Patent Document 1, in an image display device for displaying image information obtained by imaging a subject, cross-sectional image information generation is performed for generating cross-sectional image information to display a cross-sectional image in the image information. Means, reduced image information generating means for generating reduced image information reduced by a predetermined calculation process from a direction different from the generated slice image information, and the slice image information and the reduced image information are simultaneously displayed. An image display device is disclosed that includes simultaneous display means and storage means for storing an image displayed by the simultaneous display means.

According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a cross-sectional image to be displayed, a coronal, sagittal, axial, oblique reduced image corresponding to the displayed cross-sectional image and a position display input to the reduced image are simultaneously stored. By doing so, an image display device that can easily understand at which position each cross-sectional image is a cross-sectional image is provided.
JP 2003-10135 A

  However, even when the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, reference medical image data (medical image data having some relationship with the medical image data) directly from certain medical image data Can't search. Furthermore, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is impossible to search for reference medical image data between different apparatuses.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and generates and uses related information indicating the relationship between medical image data, whereby a medical image having a predetermined relationship with certain medical image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image search device and an image search system that can directly search image data and can perform the search even between a plurality of different devices.

In order to achieve the above object, a medical image search apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A medical image retrieval device connected via a network to a medical image data storage device for storing medical image data,
Device identification information for identifying a device that has acquired and / or transmitted medical image data, a medical image data identifier for identifying medical image data, and patient information, examination information, and image data related to medical image data Information, a reference medical image data identifier that is a medical image data identifier of reference medical image data that is medical image data having a predetermined relevance to the medical image data, and related information that is information indicating the predetermined relevance And a medical image data related information management unit that executes registration processing, update processing, deletion processing, and search processing of information related to the management,
Based on information registered in the medical image data related information management unit, a medical image data related information creation unit that performs a creation process and an update process of the related information;
Comprising
When the medical image data related information management unit is requested to perform a search process on the medical image data by using the medical image data identifier related to the medical image data as a search condition, the medical image data related information management unit executes the search process, and the medical image data Device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifiers, and related information relating to medical image data having a relation to the medical image data are detected and transmitted to the terminal device.

In order to achieve the above object, a medical image search system according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
A medical image data storage device for storing medical image data;
A medical image data display device for displaying the medical image data;
A medical image data location management device for managing the location of the medical image data on a network;
Comprising
The medical image data storage device includes:
Device identification information for identifying a device that has acquired and / or transmitted medical image data, a medical image data identifier for identifying medical image data, and patient information, examination information, and image data related to medical image data Information, a reference medical image data identifier that is a medical image data identifier of reference medical image data that is medical image data having a predetermined relevance to the medical image data, and related information that is information indicating the predetermined relevance And an information acquisition unit for acquiring
The medical image data identifier, the reference medical image data identifier, and the patient information / examination information / image data information associated with the device identification information, and a medical image for which a registration request is issued to the medical image data location management device A data-related information registration request section;
Have
The medical image data display device includes:
Retrieval processing request to the medical image data location management device for device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information related to medical image data related to desired medical image data A medical image data related information search requesting unit that performs the search processing and obtains the search processing result;
When the information acquired by the medical image data related information search request unit is displayed and the information related to the display is selected, the information is based on the device identification information and the reference medical image data identifier included in the selected information. Medical image data display unit for acquiring and displaying medical image data related to the selected information via the network;
Have
The medical image data location management device includes:
Managing the device identification information, the medical image data identifier, the patient information / examination information / image data information, the reference medical image data identifier, and the related information, and registering information related to the management A medical image data related information management unit that executes update processing, deletion processing, and search processing;
Based on information registered in the medical image data related information management unit, a medical image data related information creation unit that executes a creation process and an update process of the related information;
Have
When the medical image data related information management unit is requested to search for the medical image data by using the medical image data identifier related to the medical image data as a search condition, the medical image data related information management unit executes the search process, Detecting device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information related to medical image data related to the medical image data and transmitting them to the medical image data display device It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to directly search medical image data having a predetermined relationship with certain medical image data by generating and using related information indicating the relationship between the medical image data. In addition, it is possible to provide an image search device and an image search system that can perform the search even between a plurality of different devices.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an image search apparatus and an image search system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a medical image search system according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the medical image search system 1 includes a medical image data storage device 11, a medical image data display device 13, and a medical image data location management device 15. Here, each device constituting the medical image search system 1 is connected to the medical image diagnostic devices 17A and 17B via the network 10.

  The medical image data storage device 11 is a device called a so-called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) server, for example, and stores medical image data.

  The medical image data display device 13 is, for example, an image analysis / processing / measurement workstation (Work Station) or a PACS client system (Client System), which conforms to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard. It is a device capable of displaying medical image data.

  The medical image data location management device 15 is a device that performs related information creation processing and management, which will be described later, and executes a search for medical image data.

  The medical image diagnostic devices 17A and 17B are so-called modalities such as a CT apparatus, and are devices for acquiring medical image data required for diagnosis.

  The network 10 is, for example, a network such as 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX / 1000BASE-T based on a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and a LAN laid based on a network standard such as TCP / IP. It is the network of the form which each of these apparatuses connect.

  Here, the medical image data storage device 11, the medical image data display device 13, and the medical image diagnostic devices 17A and 17B perform communication based on the DICOM standard.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the medical image data location management device 15 is configured as an independent device from the medical image data storage device 11 on the medical image search system 1, but the medical image data storage device 11 is configured. Of course, the configuration may be implemented on a computer.

  Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of each device described above will be described.

  The medical image data storage device 11 includes a medical image data related information registration request unit 11a. The medical image data related information registration requesting unit 11a associates a medical image data identifier, which will be described later, a reference medical image data identifier, patient information / examination information / image data information, and transmitting device identification information, and will be described later. A registration request is sent to the image data related information management unit 15a.

  The medical image data identifier is an identifier for uniquely identifying medical image data. The reference medical image data identifier is a medical image data identifier of reference medical image data (medical image data related to the medical image data). The patient information / examination information / image data information includes information indicating a patient related to the medical image data, information indicating an examination, and image information. The transmission device identification information is information for identifying each device on the network 10, and is information for enabling identification of a device that has acquired and transmitted medical image data.

  Here, the medical image data identifier, the reference medical image data identifier, the patient information / examination information / image data information, and the transmission device identification information are stored on the medical image data display device 13 and the medical image data storage device 11. Information extracted and acquired by analyzing medical image data.

  The medical image data display device 13 includes a medical image data related information registration request unit 13a, a medical image data related information search unit 13b, and a medical image data display unit 13c.

  The medical image data related information registration request unit 13a associates a medical image data identifier, a reference medical image data identifier, patient information / examination information / image data information, and transmission apparatus identification information, and will be described later. A registration request is made to the related information management unit 15a.

  The medical image data related information search unit 13b uses the medical image data identifier as a search condition, and from the medical image data related information management unit 15a, transmitting device identification information and patient information of medical image data related to the medical image data identifier. Obtain examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information. The related information is information indicating the relationship between related medical image data, and will be described in detail later.

  In other words, the medical image data related information search unit 13b includes device identification information, patient information / patient information related to medical image data corresponding to the medical image data identifier related to the medical image data identifier of the medical image data to be searched. The examination information / image data information, the reference medical image data identifier, and the related information are acquired from the medical image data related information management unit 15a. Further, the acquired information is displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c, and when the information related to the display is selected by the user, it is based on the device identification information and the reference medical image data identifier included in the selected information. The medical image data related to the selected information is acquired via the network 10 and displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c.

  The medical image data display unit 13c displays the transmission device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information for the currently displayed medical image data. It is acquired by the search unit 13b, and the acquired information is displayed on the display image. Further, when any one of the above information is selected, the medical image data display unit 13c causes the medical image data related information search unit 13b to transmit the transmission device identification information and the reference medical image data included in the information. Based on the identifier, the medical image data is acquired and displayed.

  The medical image data location management device 15 includes a medical image data related information management unit 15a and a medical image data related information creation unit 15b.

  The medical image data related information management unit 15a manages device identification information, medical image data identifiers, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifiers, and related information. This is a management unit that performs registration processing, update processing, deletion processing, and search processing.

  The medical image data related information creation unit 15b is based on the information registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a and uses the medical image data identifier and the reference medical image data identifier as a search condition. 15a is searched, and related information of related medical image data is created and updated based on the examination information and the image data information.

  Hereinafter, a series of processes in the image inspection will be described.

  First, an examination image acquired by performing an examination of an image of a target patient using the medical image diagnostic devices 17 </ b> A and 17 </ b> B is transmitted to the medical image data storage device 11 via the network 10. In the medical image data display device 13, the doctor searches the medical image data storage device 11 for the examination image of the target patient for the purpose of interpretation, diagnosis, explanation, etc., and acquires and displays the examination image. In some cases, an examination image is transmitted from the medical image data storage device 11 to the medical image data display device 13 in advance based on a predetermined transmission rule. For example, it is a transmission rule such that a CT examination image transmitted to the medical image data storage device 11 is necessarily transmitted to the medical image data display device 13.

  By the way, when the inspection image is transmitted / received based on the DICOM standard (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine), it is based on the communication procedure (communication protocol) defined by the DICOM standard and at the same time, according to the data expression defined in the DICOM standard. There is a need.

  That is, in the DICOM standard, the information included in the examination image has a hierarchical structure of patients, examinations, series, and images, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, and easily understands the history of each examination image. It has a logical hierarchical structure that can be done. In addition, since the DICOM standard has a concept of “Unique ID” (also simply abbreviated as “UID”) as a mechanism for uniquely identifying inspections, series, and images, a diagram based on information included in the inspection image is used. As shown in FIG. 2, medical image data can be systematically classified and processed based on a hierarchical structure of patients, examinations, series, and images.

  By using the logical hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 2, the medical image data display device 13 allows the user to perform image selection as follows. That is, first, the medical image data display device 13 displays a patient list, and the user selects a patient from the patient list display, and then the medical image data display device 13 lists the examinations performed on the selected patient. The user selects a desired examination from the examination list display, and then the medical image data display device 13 displays a series list in which the selected examination is performed. The user selects a desired series, and finally, the medical image data display device 13 displays an image list belonging to the selected series, and the user selects a desired image from the image list display.

  Further, as an applied image selection method, for example, the medical image data display device 13 first displays a list of examinations including patient information, and the user refers to the display and selects a patient and an examination at the same time. Examples include a method of selecting an image, a method in which the medical image data display device 13 displays a series and an image together, and a user selects an image by referring to the display. As a search condition, a method in which a user specifies a patient name, patient ID, sex, examination date, and the like, and a series or image is selected from the search results can be considered.

  By the way, by analyzing the information contained in the examination image held in any device, what kind of patient images are stored in that device, when each patient conducted the examination, In what kind of inspection, how many times the image is taken, and the image that is the result of the image, it is possible to know what size and position the image was taken.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the following information (its background) can be grasped by analyzing each medical image data.

(Example 1 of information that can be grasped) Patient A has been examined three times, January 1, 2008, February 1, 2008, and March 1, 2008, respectively.

(Example 2 of information that can be grasped) In the examination conducted on January 1, 2008, the CT examination was performed twice.

(Information example 3 that can be grasped) N and M images were created by the first and second shootings, respectively.

  It should be noted that the information related to the process as described above is not explicitly described in each medical image data, but is information derived by interpretation by the user.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic data structure of medical image data in the DICOM standard. As shown in FIG. 3, the medical image data is configured as a set (series) of data elements. Each data element includes a tag (Tag), a VR (data type: Value Representation), a value length (data length), and a value field (data).

  The tag can be further classified into Group and Element, but has a fixed length. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group in the DICOM standard. Group represents the type (category) of data. On the other hand, Element is a number for uniquely identifying data within the same Group.

  The VR is for storing information indicating a data type, and may be omitted depending on a transfer condition (Transfer Syntax). VR is a fixed length. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of VR.

  The Value Length has a fixed length, and stores the length of data stored in the Value Field. Here, Value Field is an area for storing data itself corresponding to a tag.

  What data elements are included as medical image data is basically determined by the service type (SOP Class UID: Service Object Pair Class: for example, CT Image Storage) defined in the DICOM standard. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating examples of service types.

  Furthermore, the type of each tag is determined for each service type. There are 1, 2, and 3 as types. The tag 1 and the data are indispensable, the tag 2 is at least indispensable, and the tag 3 can omit both the tag and data. As for the above 1 and 2, if the condition is met, a modifier “Conditional” which must set both the tag and the data can be attached. That is, the types in this case are 1C and 2C.

  By the way, with the recent increase in functionality and performance of medical image diagnostic equipment, the number of inspection images to be created is steadily increasing due to a significant reduction in inspection time and improvement in inspection accuracy. For this reason, the medical image data that is the basis of the diagnosis is marked so that it can be treated as medical image data representing the examination, so that image inspection instruction information from the medical staff (hospital information system / order entry system) In many cases, it is possible to refer to the order information).

  However, in this method, the medical image data is not linked. Therefore, when any medical image data is selected and displayed, the reference image of the medical image data cannot be displayed. Therefore, it is troublesome to miss effective medical information or to find necessary medical image data. There is a problem such as In the case of “linking” based on image inspection instruction information, it cannot be used between different medical facilities.

  The image search device and the image search system according to the first embodiment are made in view of such problems, and according to the image search device and the image search system according to the first embodiment, the image search device and the image search system are displayed. Medical image data related to existing medical image data can be easily searched / referenced, and search / reference across medical facilities is also possible.

  Hereinafter, the type of medical image data that is an examination image will be described in detail. Inspection images are classified into three types as follows.

(Inspection image 1) Original image Medical image data created by a medical image diagnostic device.

(Examination image 2) Soft copy of original image Medical image data which is an image created by a medical image diagnostic apparatus and is taken into another apparatus via a network or offline media.

(Inspection Image 3) Derived Image Medical image data newly created by performing image analysis such as 3D or image processing such as fusion based on the original image.

  Hereinafter, the related information will be described in detail. The related information is classified into five types as follows. In the first embodiment, for medical image data for creating / updating related information, the following five types of medical image data stored in the medical image data related information management unit 15a are described. It is determined whether or not the relationship is related information. If any of the related information is related, the medical image data is registered together with the related information as medical image data related to the medical image data stored in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. . The check items for determining the related information will be described in detail later.

(Related information 1) Information indicating duplication (COPY) relation Duplication relation of the same image.

Corresponding check items: “same patient check” + “same examination check” + “same series check” + “same image check” + “same imaging device check”
(Related information 2) Information indicating site-follow-up relationship Relationship related to a series of treatments for a certain disease.

Corresponding check items: “same patient check” + “same part check” + “same imaging position check”
(Related information 3) Information indicating the part-image processing relationship Relationship between images created from the original image.

Corresponding check items: “same patient check” + “same part check” + “creation method check”
(Related information 4) Information indicating the analogy relation 1 Based on the analogy that the image is an important image (the number of registrations).

(Related information 5) Information indicating analogy relation 2 Based on analogy (the number of reference times) that the image is an important image.

  Here, the following items can be listed as check items for determining the related information.

(Check Item 1) Same Patient Check Medical image data is analyzed, and medical image data related information management is performed for items marked with ○ in the “identity comparison presence / absence” column in the patient information identity determination condition example shown in FIG. If all the information matches with the patient information already registered in the unit 15a (in other words, if all items are identical), it is determined that the image data is medical image data obtained by imaging the same patient. .

  It should be noted that other attribute information may be added to the patient information identity determination condition example shown in FIG. 7 for comparison determination. If there is no data for the tag in the medical image data, it is excluded from the comparison target. It doesn't matter.

(Check Item 2) Same Examination Check When the same patient check determines that the patient is the same patient, the medical image data is further analyzed, and the “identical judgment condition example of examination information shown in FIG. If the items marked with ○ in the “sex comparison presence / absence” column are compared with the examination information registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a and all match, the medical image data acquired in the same examination is used. Judge that there is.

  In addition, other attribute information may be added to the example of the examination information identity determination condition shown in FIG. 8 for comparison determination, and if there is no data of the tag in the medical image data, it is excluded from the comparison target. It doesn't matter.

(Check item 3) Same series check When it is determined that the medical image data is obtained in the same examination in the same examination check, the medical image data is further analyzed, and the identity determination of the series information shown in FIG. The items with a circle in the “identity comparison presence / absence” column in the condition example are compared with the series information registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. The medical image data is determined.

  It should be noted that other attribute information may be added to the example of the series information identity determination condition shown in FIG. 9 for comparison determination. If there is no data for the tag in the medical image data, it is excluded from the comparison target. It doesn't matter.

(Check item 4) Same image check When it is determined that there is medical image data acquired in the same series by the same series check, the medical image data is further analyzed, and the image information identity determination condition shown in FIG. In the example, the items with a circle in the “identity comparison presence / absence” column are compared with the image information registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. It is determined that

  It should be noted that other attribute information may be added to the image information identity determination condition example shown in FIG. 10 for comparison determination. If there is no data for the tag in the medical image data, it is excluded from the comparison target. It doesn't matter.

(Check Item 5) Same Imaging Device Check The medical image data is analyzed, and the medical image is checked for the items marked with ○ in the “Identity comparison presence / absence” column in the identity determination condition example of the imaging device information shown in FIG. When all of the image information matches the image capturing device information registered in the data related information management unit 15a, it is determined that the image data is medical image data acquired by the same image capturing device.

  It should be noted that other attribute information may be added and compared to the identity determination condition example of the imaging apparatus information shown in FIG. 11, and if there is no data for the tag in the medical image data, it is excluded from the comparison target. It doesn't matter.

(Check item 6) Identical part check Analyzed medical image data, a predetermined part for an item marked with a circle in the “identity comparison presence / absence” column in the identity determination condition example of the part information shown in FIG. 12A Based on the conversion table (correspondence table between the part code and the part classification code; see FIG. 12B), the part code is converted into the part classification code, and the part registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a after the conversion Compared with the information, if all match, it is determined that the medical image data is obtained by imaging the same part.

  It should be noted that another attribute information may be added to the example of the part information identity determination condition shown in FIG. 12 for comparison determination, and if there is no data for the tag in the medical image data, it is excluded from the comparison target. It doesn't matter.

  By the way, the part code may be defined by the DICOM standard or may be defined for each medical facility. In addition, the part code may be classified very finely, and a code obtained by grouping them into larger classifications is the part classification code. Therefore, for example, by comparing the above-described comparison after converting the site code into the site classification code by using the site conversion table as shown in FIG. 12B, it becomes possible to compare and determine the identity of the site.

(Check Item 7) Same Shooting Position Check Medical image data is analyzed, and medical image data for items marked with a circle in the “identity comparison presence / absence” column in the identity determination condition example of the shooting position information shown in FIG. Compared to the shooting position information registered in the related information management unit 15a, if the Patient_Position and the Patient_Orientation are the same and the spatial distance of the Slice_Location is within a pre-registered allowable range, the same position is used. It is determined that there is medical image data acquired by photographing.

  It should be noted that other attribute information may be added to the example of the imaging position information identity determination condition shown in FIG. 13 for comparison determination. If there is no tag data in the medical image data, it is excluded from the comparison target. It doesn't matter.

(Check Item 8) Creation Method Check Medical image data is analyzed, and Application Name is determined in advance among items marked with ○ in the identity comparison condition example of the creation method information shown in FIG. 14A. When the conversion based on the created creation method conversion table (see FIG. 14B) and the application manufacturer are the same as the creation method information registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a It is determined that the medical image data is created by the same application.

  It should be noted that other attribute information may be added to the identity determination condition example of the creation method information shown in FIG. 14 for comparison determination.

Hereinafter, processing by the medical image search apparatus and the medical image search system according to the first embodiment will be described. The basic processing operations by the medical image search device and the medical image search system according to the first embodiment are roughly classified.
(1) Registration process of information (hereinafter referred to as supplementary information) related to the examination image (medical image data) (2) Related information creation process based on the supplementary information (3) Related information search process, related information display process, The processing is classified into related information selection processing and related image display processing (medical image data related to related information).

  FIG. 15 shows the configuration requirements related to the basic processing operations performed by the medical image search apparatus and the medical image search system according to the first embodiment among the configuration requirements described in the system configuration example shown in FIG. FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a basic hardware configuration example for realizing each device that is each component in the system configuration example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 15. As shown in FIG. 16, each apparatus includes a computer main body 51 such as a personal computer, an input device 53 such as a keyboard and a mouse connected to the computer main body 51, an output device 55 such as a printer, and a display device 57. And an external storage device 59 such as a magnetic disk device and an internal storage device 61 such as a memory.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of each table structure of a database held by the medical image data related information management unit 15a.

<Step 1: Registration process of information (accompanying information) related to examination image (medical image data)>
As described above, the inspection images (medical image data) obtained by the image diagnosis of the patient to be inspected by the medical image diagnostic devices 17A and 17B are transmitted from the medical image diagnostic devices 17A and 17B to the medical image data storage device 11 and the medical image. The data is transmitted to the data display device 13 via the network 10.

  The medical image data display device 13 can acquire medical image data stored in the medical image data storage device 11 via the network 10.

  When receiving the examination image (medical image data), the medical image data storage device 11 checks the incidental information included in the received examination image (medical image data). If there is no problem with the accompanying information, the medical image data storage device 11 saves the examination image (medical image data) in a file and stores it in an image management database that is a database for managing the examination image (medical image data). Extract the necessary incidental information and save it.

  The reason for storing the supplementary information in the image management database in this way is to cope with a check for duplicate registration of the same medical image data and an inquiry of an inspection image from the outside. Here, the check of incidental information can include, for example, a check for grammatical violations in the DICOM standard, a check for the presence of information required by each device, and the like.

  Of course, the above-described storage processing of the supplementary information may be performed not only by the medical image data storage device 11 but also by the medical image data display device 13.

  After the incidental information is stored as described above, the medical image data related information registration request unit 11a is activated. Then, the medical image data related information registration request unit 11a receives the medical image data identifier, the reference medical image data identifier, and the patient information / examination information / image data information related to the medical image data of the examination image as the transmission device identification information. The registration request is made to the medical image data related information management unit 15a.

  For example, each item of Patient_Table shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the patient information. For example, the P_ID of the Patient_Table is automatically issued on the database side before registering the patient information in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. Therefore, a P_ID numbering request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the P_ID of the Patient_Table.

  The inspection information corresponds to the items of Study_Table and Series_Table shown in FIG. The E_ID of the Study_Table and the S_ID of the Series_Table are automatically issued on the database side before the examination information is registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. Therefore, the E_ID or S_ID numbering request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the E_ID or S_ID of the Patient_Table.

  When registering examination information, the patient is searched for in advance on the Patient_Table, and the corresponding P_ID is also set and registered.

  The image data information corresponds to each item of Image_Table shown in FIG. The I_ID of the Image_Table is automatically issued on the database side before the image data information is registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. Therefore, the I_ID numbering request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the I_ID of the Image_Table.

  When registering image data information, the series is previously searched for Series_Table, and the corresponding S_ID is also set and registered.

  The transmission device identification information is each item of Equipment_Table shown in FIG. The D_ID of the Equipment_Table is automatically issued on the database side before registering the device identification information in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. Therefore, a D_ID numbering request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the D_ID of the Equipment_Table.

  When registering the transmitting apparatus identification information, the examination image (medical image data) is searched for in advance in the Image_Table, and the corresponding I_ID is set and registered together. Here, Network_Address and AE_Title of Equipment_Table are not included in the medical image data. Accordingly, the Network_Address (Internet Protocol Address or host name including the domain name) and AE_Title of the apparatus that has received the medical image data are obtained from the apparatus setting information.

  The medical image data identifier corresponds to SOP_Instance_UID in Image_Table.

  The reference medical image data identifier corresponds to Referenced_SOP_Instance_UID in Image_Table.

  Note that the type of the medical image data can be known by referring to the SOP_Class_UID and the Referenced_SOP_Class_UID in the Image_Table (see FIG. 6 described above).

  The communication means described above is performed via a data operation language provided by the relational database management system mounted on the medical image data related information management unit 15a. When the same medical image data is already registered, the value of Registration_Number of Image_Table is incremented to update the record. When Network_Address and AE_Title are different, a new record is registered in Equipment_Table.

<Step 2: Creation of related information based on information (accompanying information) related to examination image (medical image data)>
When the incidental information of the medical image data is registered in the medical image data related information management unit 15a, the medical image data related information creation unit 15b is subsequently activated.

  Note that the trigger function of the relational database management system may be set to Image_Table so that the medical image data related information creation unit 15b is activated when a new record is registered in Image_Table. In addition, the scheduler provided by the OS is set to periodically start the medical image data related information creation unit 15b, a check flag is provided in Image_Table, an unchecked record is searched, and medical image data related Of course, the information creation unit 15b may be activated. Furthermore, it is of course possible to directly activate the medical image data related information creation unit 15b from the medical image data storage device 11 or the medical image data display device 13 side using RSH (remote shell) or the like.

  By the way, the medical image data related information creation unit 15b checks the following five relationships corresponding to the five related information described above.

(Relationship corresponding to related information 1) Duplication (COPY) relationship (Relationship corresponding to related information 2) Site-follow-up relationship (relationship corresponding to related information 3) Site-image processing relationship (related information 4) Corresponding relationship) Analogy relationship 1 (large number of registrations)
(Relationship corresponding to related information 5) Analogy relation 2 (High number of references)
However, since (relationship corresponding to related information 1) has already been checked when the incidental information of medical image data is registered, (relationship corresponding to related information 2) and (related information 3) (Relationship corresponding to).

  (Relationship corresponding to the related information 2) is checked as follows. First, a list of examinations of a patient related to the examination image (medical image data) is acquired, narrowed down to medical image data under the same part examination / series, and the distance at the photographing position with the medical image data extracted by the narrowing down If the calculated distance is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the medical image data is registered in the Relation_Table. That is, a number issuance request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the R_ID of the Relation_Table. When registering related information, the I_ID and D_ID of the medical image data are set, the SOP_Instance_UID of the Image_Table of the medical image data is set in REFERENCE_UID, and “OBSERVED” is set in REFERENCE_TYPE. In UID_TYPE, IMAGE_LEVEL is set and registered.

  (Relationship corresponding to the related information 3) is checked as follows. First, a list of examinations of patients related to the examination image (medical image data) is acquired, narrowed down to examinations of the same part / series, and Image_Type of the medical image data extracted by the narrowing is not “ORIGINAL” DERIVED "is extracted, a creation method converted from the Application Name of the Series_Table is acquired, and the medical image data is registered in the Relation_Table. That is, a number issuance request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the R_ID of the Relation_Table. When registering related information, the I_ID and D_ID of the image are set, and the REF_ENCE_UID is set to IMAGE_Table_SOP_Instance_UID of the medical image data and converted to REFERENCE_TYPE (for example, MIP, MPR, Fusion) , SC, etc.). In UID_TYPE, IMAGE_LEVEL is set and registered.

  In the case of image processing such as fusion, for example, two types of images (CT and PET, CT and MR, etc.) serve as reference images, so that one piece of medical image data contains one or more related information. be registered. In the case of image processing such as 3D, a series of medical image data (for example, all images in a series) becomes a reference image. In that case, the SOP_Instance_UID of the series is set, and SERIES_LEVEL is set in UID_TYPE. set.

  (Relationship corresponding to the related information 4) is checked as follows. First, an examination list of patients related to the examination image (medical image data) is acquired, narrowed down to examinations of the same part / series, and Registration_Number of medical image data extracted by the narrowing down is set to a predetermined value. If it exceeds, the image is registered in the Relation_Table. That is, a number issuance request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the R_ID of the Relation_Table. When registering the related information, the I_ID and D_ID of the image are set, the SOP_Instance_UID of the Image_Table of the medical image data is set in REFERENCE_UID, and “Heuristic” is set in REFERENCE_TYPE. In UID_TYPE, IMAGE_LEVEL is set and registered. This is based on an empirical rule that medical image data that is a basis for diagnosis when viewed from a macro viewpoint is distributed to a plurality of medical facilities and is referred to by medical personnel.

  (Relationship corresponding to the related information 5) is checked as follows. First, a list of patient examinations related to the examination image (medical image data) is acquired, narrowed down to examinations of the same part / series, and the Referenced_Number of the medical image data extracted by the narrowing down is a predetermined value. If it exceeds, the medical image data is registered in the Relation_Table. That is, a number issuance request is made to the database, and the numbering result is set and registered in the R_ID of the Relation_Table. When registering related information, I_ID and D_ID of the image are set, SOP_Instance_UID of Image_Table of the medical image data is set in REFERENCE_UID, and “Heuristic” is set in REFERENCE_TYPE. In UID_TYPE, IMAGE_LEVEL is set and registered. This is based on an empirical rule that medical images that are the basis of diagnosis when viewed from a macro viewpoint are distributed to a plurality of medical facilities and are referred to by medical personnel. Referenced_Number is data that records the number of times of responding as a search result when searching for related information.

<Step 3: Retrieval processing of related information>
In order to display the desired medical image data on the medical image data display device 13, the user activates the medical image data related information search unit 13b. The medical image data related information search unit 13b uses the medical image data identifier as a search condition, and transmits from the medical image data related information management unit 15a the medical image data related to the medical image data corresponding to the medical image data identifier. Device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information are acquired.

  In other words, the medical image data related information search unit 13b makes a search request to the medical image data related information management unit 15a using the SOP_Instance_UID of the displayed medical image data as a search condition, and the search processing result is the search processing result. JOIN of the Patient_Table, the Study_Table, the Series_Table, the Image_Table, the Equipment_Table, the Relationship_Table, and the Relationship_Table of the Patient_Table, the Data_Table, and the Relationship_Table of the Patient_Table. And the Series_Table And Odality, and Series_Date, and SOP_Class_UID of image_table, acquires the SOP_INSTANCE_UID, from the medical image data-related information management unit 15a. Of course, information other than the information described above may be acquired.

  In addition, the search results are sorted in the date order by sorting by Series_Date. Further, the above information of the record in which the SOP_Instance_UID is the same as the SOP_Instance_UID of the Image_Table and the reference_UID of the Relation_Table is acquired as a search result.

  By the way, SOP_Instance_UID of Image_Table has the medical image data as a parent node and the reference medical image data as a child node. In contrast, the Reference_UID of the Relation_Table has the medical image data as a child node and the reference medical image data as a parent node. This identification can be found by comparing the search result SOP_Instance_UID and Reference_UID with the search condition SOP_Instance_UID.

  These communications may be performed via a data operation language provided by a relational database management system installed in the medical image data related information management unit 15a. A request side and a response side are provided, and a SOAP (Simple) is provided. You may implement by communication protocols, such as Object Access Protocol (RPC) and Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

  Hereinafter, the process flow will be described in detail for the request side and the response side.

[Step S3-1] The requesting side designates an address (for example, an IP address or a URL) on the network 10 on which the responding side operates, converts the data tag into a data format determined by the communication protocol, The data is transmitted to the response side according to the communication protocol. Hereinafter, a case where communication is performed in the SOAP format will be described as an example.

  When adopting the SOAP format, basically, a method name, parameter name, parameter data type, and parameter value are transmitted in the SOAP format. Hereinafter, an example is shown concretely.

Method name: Query DICOM Method
Parameter name: SOP_Instance_UID
Parameter data type: String (string type)
Parameter value: 1.2.3.3.4.5.6
[Step S3-2] The response side searches the database of the medical image data related information management unit 15a based on the data tag which is the received data. Then, the response side converts the search result into XML data and sends it back to the request side.

  In the case of the SOAP format, basically, the response data name, the data type of the response data, and the value of the response data are returned in the SOAP format. Hereinafter, an example is shown concretely.

Response data name: SetDICOMMMethod
-Data type of response data: String (string type)
Response data value: <ROOT><RECORD><NETWORD_ADDRESS> 192.1.1.10 </ NETWORD_ADDRESS><AE_TITLE> TOSHIBA_WS1 </ AE_TITLE><REFERENCE_UID> 3.4.5.7. <REFERENCE_TYPE> MPR </ REFERENCE_TYPE><MODELITY> CT </ MODALITY><SERIES_DATE> 2008080301 </ SERIES_DATE></RECORD></ROOT>
[Step S3-3] The request side analyzes the received data (XML), determines whether there is a corresponding record, and acquires a search result from the record based on the determination result.

  Note that SOAP adopts a communication method called Remote Procedure Call (hereinafter abbreviated as RPC), and an RPC client (transmission data creation information inquiry means) sends an RPC server as a transmission data creation information inquiry reply means to the RPC server. To send (call) a request message to retrieve the data tag. The RPC server receives the request message sent from the RPC client, receives the value of the data tag as its parameter from the method name (Query DICOM Method), performs a search using the received data tag as a search condition, and performs the search The result is transmitted as a response message to the RPC client.

<Step 4: Display processing of related information>
The medical image data display device 13 acquires the related information searched by the search processing in step S3, and displays the related information on the medical image data display unit 13C in a menu format. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of this one display screen. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the menu-type related information display 100 is displayed as follows. That is, the reference 100A to the parent node and the reference 100B to the child node are displayed by being separated by a menu boundary line 100C and displayed so as to be distinguished by the direction of the arrow. In addition, as the reference information, an examination date, a modality type, and a relationship type are displayed.

  Here, FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example in which related information is directly displayed on medical image data. Each related information is displayed as a soft button 101. When the user clicks the soft button 101 on the display screen, a related image related to the related information is displayed in a new window. In the example shown in FIG. 19, since many display areas are used to display the incidental information of the medical image data related to the display, the reference to the parent node and the reference to the child node are the triangle icon 101A. It is displayed separately by orientation and color. Further, when the mouse point is moved onto the triangular icon 101A, the examination date, the modality type, and the relationship type are displayed as reference information in a chip help format.

  Of course, the color and size of the menu button may be changed according to the REFERENCE_TYPE of the related information. If there is a lot of related information, the number of the related information to be displayed may be switched, or may be determined in advance. Of course, it may be configured to display up to several pieces of related information first.

  By the way, since the related information is sorted in date order, for example, the first record is medical image data closest to the search date, and the last record is medical image data farthest from the search date. Note that there is an empirical rule that medical image data actually used for diagnosis is mainly medical image data acquired within one year. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 20, the elapsed time since the acquisition of medical image data to be displayed, such as within 1 month, within 3 months, within 6 months, within 12 months, and thereafter, as shown in FIG. Of course, it may be configured to display the information 102 indicating the related information as the related information and switch the display according to the selected elapsed period.

<Step 5: related information selection processing and related image display processing>
When desired related information (related image) is selected by the user in step S4 described above, the medical image data display device 13 uses the NETWORK_ADDRESS and AE_TITLE of the related information, and the Query & Retrieve service class defined by the DICOM standard. Is used to acquire the medical image data of the designated SOP_Instance_UID, and display the medical image data by starting an image display application corresponding to REFERENCE_TYPE of the related information.

  For example, if REFERENCE_TYPE has “MIP”, the image is displayed using an image display application capable of MIP processing. Of course, the medical image data may be directly displayed on the Web browser by using the Web Access service class defined in the DICOM standard. In this case, if the request is converted to the format defined by the Web Access service (WADO: Web Access to DICOM Persistent. Objects) and requested to the computer specified by NETWORK_ADDRESS with the SOP_Instance_UID specified, a general-purpose result is obtained. The medical image data in the medical image data format is transmitted to the medical image data display device 13. The medical image data display device 13 displays the medical image data as a reference on the Web browser.

  With this configuration, medical image data can be shared across multiple devices and facilities, and the most effective reference image can be searched and displayed from each medical image data. It can greatly assist the action.

  In the first embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the case of using in a single medical facility has been described as an example, but it is of course possible to use it among a plurality of medical facilities. As a method, for example, a network technology such as VPN is used to construct a private network between a plurality of medical facilities, and a method of connecting a plurality of medical facilities as if it is a network within one medical facility. , Connect each medical facility to a public network such as the Internet, give a network address that can be accessed from the public network, allow communication from a specific medical facility, so that it can communicate with the devices in the medical facility And a technique in which a reverse proxy server is installed on a public network and communication from the outside is forwarded to a medical facility.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, medical image data having a predetermined relationship with certain medical image data is generated by using and generating related information indicating the relationship between the medical image data. It is possible to provide an image search device and an image search system that can directly search for images, and that can perform the search even among a plurality of different devices.

  In other words, according to the image search device and the image search system according to the first embodiment, the reference medical image data can be directly searched from the desired medical image data, and the above described between a plurality of different devices. It is possible to search for reference medical image data on an arbitrary terminal device by sharing the related information.

  That is, according to the image search device and the image search system according to the first embodiment, medical image data can be shared across a plurality of devices and facilities, and the most effective reference image can be obtained from each medical image data. Can be searched and displayed, which greatly contributes to improving the quality of medical practice.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an image search apparatus and an image search system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that differences from the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment will be described in order to avoid duplication of explanation.

  One of the main differences between the image search device and image search system according to the first embodiment and the image search device and image search system according to the second embodiment is as follows. That is, in the image search device and the image search system according to the second embodiment, when the number of related information extracted by the above-described search processing by the medical image data related information search unit 13b is larger than a predetermined number. Calculates “accuracy information” to be described later based on REFERENCE_TYPE and SERIES_DATE of the related information, and displays the calculated accuracy on the medical image data display unit 13c simultaneously with the related information. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a display example when displaying the display 103 showing the accuracy information and the related information at the same time on the medical image data display unit 13c.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the accuracy information is information displayed as a percentage, and the user can select more appropriate related information with reference to the accuracy information. Specifically, the accuracy information is calculated as follows, for example.

IF INT (SERIES_DATE−TODAY) / 30) <= 12 THEN
Accuracy = 100%-(12-INT (SERIES_DATE-TODAY) / 30) * 5%
ELSE
Accuracy = 40%
ENDIF
IF (REFERENCE_TYPE = “OBSERVED”) THEN
Accuracy = Accuracy ELSE IF (REFERENCE_TYPE = “MIP”) THEN
Accuracy = Accuracy ELSE IF (REFERENCE_TYPE = “MPR”) THEN
Accuracy = Accuracy ELSE IF (REFERENCE_TYPE = “FUSION”) THEN
Accuracy = accuracy ELSE IF (REFERENCE_TYPE = “Heuristic”) THEN
Accuracy = accuracy-10%
ENDIF
Of course, in addition to REFERENCE_TYPE and SERIES_DATE, the accuracy may be calculated by further adding information such as Registration_Number, Referenced_Number, and Modality.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the same effects as the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment, the above-described search processing by the medical image data related information search unit 13b. When the number of pieces of related information extracted in the above is larger than a predetermined number, the user can refer to the accuracy information described above and can narrow down more useful related information and an image search system Can be provided.

[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an image search apparatus and an image search system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that differences from the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment will be described in order to avoid duplication of explanation.

  One of the main differences between the image search device and image search system according to the first embodiment and the image search device and image search system according to the third embodiment is as follows. The image search apparatus and image search system according to the third embodiment have been proposed in view of the limited amount of information that can be displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c. Control what information is displayed.

  That is, related depth information (“positional accuracy” and “temporal distance” described later) is calculated based on the above-described search processing result by the medical image data related information search unit 13b, and the related depth information is referred to. Then, the related information actually displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c is controlled.

  In FIG. 22, the vertical axis indicates “distance at the imaging position between medical image data (target medical image data and reference medical image data) (an amount of deviation of the imaging position; hereinafter referred to as position accuracy)”, and the horizontal axis. It is a figure which shows the graph which took "the time distance from the said search process day to the examination date in reference medical image data". By setting the triangular shape (opening angle of the triangle) shown in the graph in FIG. 22 so as to match the desired display number of related information, the related information is thinned out according to the triangular shape.

Note that “distance D at the imaging position between medical image data (target medical image data and reference medical image data)” on the vertical axis indicates the imaging position (origin) of the two pieces of medical image data, respectively. If O _M and O _N are

It is expressed. The X axis, Y axis, and Z axis can be set arbitrarily.

  Specifically, for example, when the triangular shape 71 shown in FIG. 22 is adopted, the triangular shape 75 is taken within one month from the examination date (acquisition date by imaging), and when the triangular shape 73 is taken, within three months from the examination date. Medical image data within six months from the examination date, within one year from the examination date when taking the triangle 77, and over one year from the examination date when taking the triangle 79, and Medical image data satisfying the “position accuracy” corresponding to each triangle is selected and displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a display example in the case where the display 104 that simultaneously indicates the elapsed time from the examination date and the position accuracy is displayed as related information on the medical image data display unit 13c.

  In other words, for example, when a triangle shape with a large value with respect to the horizontal axis is adopted, thinning is performed so that related information over a wide period is displayed, and a triangle shape with a small value with respect to the horizontal axis is adopted. In this case, the thinning reference becomes loose with respect to the “position accuracy” centering on the selected related information.

  Further, as the triangle area in the graph shown in FIG. 22 is set to be smaller, the related information extracted becomes higher, and as the triangle area is set larger, the extracted related information is less related. Become.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment, the above-described search processing by the medical image data related information search unit 13b. Based on the result, related depth information (“position accuracy” and “temporal distance”) is calculated, and related information displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c is controlled with reference to the related depth information. It is possible to provide an image search apparatus and an image search system.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an image search apparatus and an image search system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that differences from the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment will be described in order to avoid duplication of explanation.

  One of the main differences between the image search device and image search system according to the first embodiment and the image search device and image search system according to the fourth embodiment is as follows. The image search apparatus and the image search system according to the fourth embodiment calculate search request frequency information (information indicating the frequency of the search request) based on the search processing result by the medical image data related information search unit 13b. The related information displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c is controlled based on the search request frequency information.

  Specifically, for example, the search request frequency information is set in three stages of high frequency, medium frequency, and low frequency, and as shown in FIG. 25, high frequency, medium frequency, and low frequency as related information in the medical image data display unit 13c. The search request frequency information display 105 is displayed. Here, the search request frequency information is configured so that the user can select a desired stage, and the related information displayed on the medical image data display unit 13c is switched according to the search request frequency selected by the user.

  In addition, you may comprise so that the range applicable to high frequency, medium frequency, and low frequency can be preset. For example, one time or less may be set to low frequency, 2 times to 5 times or less, medium frequency, 6 times or more high frequency, and the like.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the same effects as those of the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment can be obtained, and the medical image data display unit 13c can be used based on the search request frequency information. It is possible to provide an image search apparatus and an image search system that can control related information displayed on the screen.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an image search device and an image search system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that differences from the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment will be described in order to avoid duplication of explanation.

  One of the main differences between the image search device and image search system according to the first embodiment and the image search device and image search system according to the fifth embodiment is as follows. The image search apparatus and image search system according to the fifth embodiment automatically sets the criteria for the identity determination condition when the number of cases extracted by the search processing by the medical image data related information search unit 13b is 0. The search process is repeated until at least one is extracted.

  Specifically, for example, some reference values are provided in advance as identity determination conditions (for example, 10 pixels, 20 pixels, 50 pixels, etc. for distances), and these reference values are gradually relaxed. . This eliminates the need for the user to change the search condition related to the search process many times.

  The reference value can be dynamically switched by storing the search processing result in the Relation_Table as a reference value and providing the reference value as a search condition.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the same effect as the image search apparatus and the image search system according to the first embodiment can be obtained, and the search conditions related to the search process can be changed by the user many times. Even without this, it is possible to provide an image search device and an image search system in which search processing is repeatedly executed until at least one item is extracted.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on 1st Embodiment thru | or 5th Embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation and application are within the range of the summary of this invention. Of course it is possible.

  Further, the above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the column of the effect of the invention Can be extracted as an invention.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a medical image search system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the logical hierarchical structure of medical image data. The figure which shows an example of the data structure in DICOM specification. The figure which shows the Group example in DICOM specification. The figure which shows the VR example in DICOM specification. The figure which shows the service classification example in a DICOM standard. The figure which shows the example of identity determination conditions of patient information. The figure which shows the identity determination condition example of test | inspection information. The figure which shows the identity determination condition example of series information. The figure which shows the example of identity determination conditions of image information. The figure which shows the identity determination condition example of apparatus information. The figure which shows the identity determination condition example of site | part information. The figure which shows the corresponding | compatible relationship table of a site | part code and a site | part classification code. The figure which shows the identity determination condition example of imaging | photography position information. The figure which shows the example of identity determination conditions of creation method information. The figure which shows an example of the creation method conversion table | surface for converting Application Name. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating extracted configuration requirements related to basic processing operations performed by the medical image search apparatus and the medical image search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, among the configuration requirements described in the system configuration example illustrated in FIG. . The figure which shows the basic hardware structural example of each apparatus which is each structural requirement in the system structural example shown in FIG.1 and FIG.15. The figure which shows each table structure example of the database which the medical image data related information management part 15a hold | maintains. The figure which shows the example of a display screen of related information. The figure which shows the example of a display screen of related information. The figure which shows the example of a display screen of related information. The figure which shows the example of a display screen of related information. The vertical axis indicates “distance (position accuracy) at the imaging position between medical image data (target medical image data and reference medical image data)”, and the horizontal axis indicates “from the search processing date of the reference medical image data to the examination date” The figure which shows the graph which took the "temporal distance of". The figure which shows distance D in the imaging position between medical image data (target medical image data and reference medical image data). The figure which shows the example of a display screen of related information. The figure which shows the example of a display screen of related information.

Explanation of symbols

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Medical image search system, 10 ... Network, 11 ... Medical image data storage apparatus, 11a ... Medical image data related information registration request part, 13 ... Medical image data display apparatus, 13a ... Medical image data related information registration request part, 13b ... medical image data related information search unit, 13c ... medical image data display unit, 15 ... medical image data location management device, 15a ... medical image data related information management unit, 15b ... medical image data related information creation unit, 17A. 17B: Medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 51: Computer main body 53: Input device 55: Output device 57: Display device 59: External storage device 61: Internal storage device

Claims (8)

A medical image retrieval device connected via a network to a medical image data storage device for storing medical image data,
Device identification information for identifying a device that has acquired and / or transmitted medical image data, a medical image data identifier for identifying medical image data, and patient information, examination information, and image data related to medical image data Information, a reference medical image data identifier that is a medical image data identifier of reference medical image data that is medical image data having a predetermined relevance to the medical image data, and related information that is information indicating the predetermined relevance And a medical image data related information management unit that executes registration processing, update processing, deletion processing, and search processing of information related to the management,
Based on information registered in the medical image data related information management unit, a medical image data related information creation unit that performs a creation process and an update process of the related information;
Comprising
When the medical image data related information management unit is requested to perform a search process on the medical image data by using the medical image data identifier related to the medical image data as a search condition, the medical image data related information management unit executes the search process, and the medical image data Medical image search, characterized by detecting device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information related to medical image data having a relation to the terminal device and transmitting the detected information to the terminal device apparatus.   The medical image according to claim 1, further comprising a probability information calculation unit that calculates and presents accuracy information, which is information indicating usefulness of the related information, based on the examination information and the image data information. Search device.   Related to present to the user based on information indicating the amount of imaging position deviation between medical image data and information indicating the time elapsed from the examination date when the medical image data was acquired by the examination until the day of the search process The medical image retrieval apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls selection of information.   The medical image search apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls selection of related information to be presented to the user based on search request frequency information indicating a search request frequency. A medical image data storage device for storing medical image data;
A medical image data display device for displaying the medical image data;
A medical image data location management device for managing the location of the medical image data on a network;
Comprising
The medical image data storage device includes:
Device identification information for identifying a device that has acquired and / or transmitted medical image data, a medical image data identifier for identifying medical image data, and patient information, examination information, and image data related to medical image data Information, a reference medical image data identifier that is a medical image data identifier of reference medical image data that is medical image data having a predetermined relevance to the medical image data, and related information that is information indicating the predetermined relevance And an information acquisition unit for acquiring
The medical image data identifier, the reference medical image data identifier, and the patient information / examination information / image data information associated with the device identification information, and a medical image for which a registration request is issued to the medical image data location management device A data-related information registration request section;
Have
The medical image data display device includes:
Retrieval processing request to the medical image data location management device for device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information related to medical image data related to desired medical image data A medical image data related information search requesting unit that performs the search processing and obtains the search processing result;
When the information acquired by the medical image data related information search request unit is displayed and the information related to the display is selected, the information is based on the device identification information and the reference medical image data identifier included in the selected information. Medical image data display unit for acquiring and displaying medical image data related to the selected information via the network;
Have
The medical image data location management device includes:
Managing the device identification information, the medical image data identifier, the patient information / examination information / image data information, the reference medical image data identifier, and the related information, and registering information related to the management A medical image data related information management unit that executes update processing, deletion processing, and search processing;
Based on information registered in the medical image data related information management unit, a medical image data related information creation unit that executes a creation process and an update process of the related information;
Have
When the medical image data related information management unit is requested to search for the medical image data by using the medical image data identifier related to the medical image data as a search condition, the medical image data related information management unit executes the search process, Detecting device identification information, patient information / examination information / image data information, reference medical image data identifier, and related information related to medical image data related to the medical image data and transmitting them to the medical image data display device Medical image search system characterized by The medical image data display device includes:
The accuracy information calculation unit according to claim 5, further comprising: an accuracy information calculation unit that calculates and presents accuracy information that is information indicating the usefulness of each of the related information based on the inspection information and the image data information. Medical image search system. The medical image data display device includes:
Related to present to the user based on information indicating the amount of imaging position deviation between medical image data and information indicating the time elapsed from the examination date when the medical image data was acquired by the examination until the day of the search process The medical image search system according to claim 5, further comprising a control unit that controls selection of information. The medical image data display device includes:
The medical image search system according to claim 5, further comprising a control unit that controls selection of related information to be presented to the user based on search request frequency information indicating a search request frequency.

Images