JP2011067475A - Medical image display device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent image reading from being disturbed by reducing the amount of attached information to be displayed, while clarifying which kind of incidental information is being displayed. <P>SOLUTION: The control part 41 of an image viewer terminal 40 sets item name display propriety information 452, based on an operation signal from an operation part 42 obtained by a user setting operation, in cooperation with an image viewer program 451. The control part 41 controls display propriety whether only a value is displayed in a display part 43 or both an item name and the value are displayed with respect to one or a plurality of items concerning a medical image, based on the set item name display propriety information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image display device and a program.

  In a medical facility such as a hospital or clinic, a patient is photographed using a medical image photographing device (modality) such as a breast image photographing device (mammography), and a medical image (medical image data) is generated. Then, incidental information including patient information, examination information and the like is added to the medical image, and DICOM image data compliant with the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standard is generated. DICOM is a standard for communication and storage format of medical images, and intercompatibility between different medical devices is ensured by complying with this standard.

  The generated DICOM image data is transmitted to a medical image management system (medical image management apparatus) called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), and is stored and managed (registered in PACS) in this PACS. Then, the image interpretation doctor browses medical images and supplementary information based on these DICOM image data at an image viewer terminal or the like.

  By the way, when displaying the supplementary information on the image viewer terminal, it is impossible to determine what information is about the information with the same value expression such as the name of the person and the date, and there is a risk that the patient or examination is mistaken. Therefore, in addition to the “value” of the information itself, it is necessary to display a set of “item names” indicating what information it is, and to clarify what additional information is displayed.

  For example, by displaying the incidental information of an image in the form of “item name: value”, it is possible to provide information without misunderstanding (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-194704 A

  However, when the value of the incidental information is displayed together with the item name, it is clear what information each represents, but the information display area on the screen is large, and interpretation may be hindered. In particular, in breast image diagnosis (mammography diagnosis) in which radiogram interpretation is performed in a dark room, if the amount of characters is large, the entire screen feels dazzling, and therefore it is desired to reduce the display area of incidental information as much as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of information of auxiliary information to be displayed while clarifying which auxiliary information is being displayed. It is to prevent obstruction of interpretation.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1
A medical image display device that displays, along with a medical image, item names and values of one or more items related to the medical image on a screen,
Storage means for storing item name display availability information indicating whether to display only the value on the screen or to display both the item name and the value for the item;
Based on the item name display availability information, control means for controlling the display availability of the item name of each item,
Is provided.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
A first operation means for accepting an operation for setting the item name display availability information;
The control means sets the item name display availability information based on an operation signal from the first operation means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
The control means includes
The item name display availability information to be applied is determined based on the incidental information attached to the medical image and the application condition information included in the item name display availability information, and the item name display availability information is determined based on the determined item name display availability information. Controls whether to display the item name of each item.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A second operation means for accepting an operation for switching the display state of the item name and value of one or more items relating to the medical image on the screen;
The control means switches the display state based on an operation signal from the second operation means.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4,
One of the display states is a state in which control of whether or not to display the item name of each item based on the item name display enable / disable information is performed by the control unit.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5,
One of the display states is a state in which both the item names and values are displayed on the screen for all the items by the control means.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
One of the display states is a state in which only values for all the items are displayed on the screen by the control means.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
One of the display states is a state in which both the item name and the value are not displayed on the screen for all the items by the control means.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The medical image is a breast image.

The program according to claim 10 is:
A computer that displays on the screen the item names and values of one or more items related to the medical image together with the medical image,
Storage means for storing item name display availability information indicating whether to display only the value on the screen or to display both the item name and the value for the item,
Control means for controlling whether or not to display the item name of each item based on the item name display availability information;
To function as.

  According to the first and tenth aspects of the present invention, the control means determines whether to display only the value on the screen or both the item name and the value for one or a plurality of items related to the medical image. Whether to display the item name of each item is controlled based on the item name display enable / disable information shown.

  Therefore, while clarifying which supplementary information is displayed, it is possible to reduce the amount of supplementary information to be displayed and to prevent interpretation.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the item name display availability information is set by the user performing an operation for setting the item name display availability information in the first operation means.

  Therefore, only the value that can be identified by the user only by the value can be displayed, so that the display area of the incidental information can be reduced as much as possible.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to perform optimal display according to the type of medical image.

  According to the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth aspects of the invention, the display state desired by the user can be set according to the situation.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to further prevent the interpretation from being disturbed.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a medical image system. It is a data block diagram of DICOM image data. It is a block diagram of an image viewer terminal. It is a data block diagram of item name display availability information. It is a flowchart of an item name display availability information setting process. It is an example of a setting of item name display availability information. It is a flowchart of a medical image display process. It is a screen example of an interpretation screen. It is a screen example of an interpretation screen. It is a screen example of an interpretation screen.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the medical image display apparatus of the present invention is applied to the image viewer terminal 40 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[System configuration of medical imaging system]
First, an outline of the medical image system 100 having the image viewer terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the medical image system 100. According to FIG. 1, the medical image system 100 includes an RIS 10, a modality 20, a PACS 30, and an image viewer terminal 40. Each of the above devices is connected to be able to perform data communication via a communication network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The RIS 10 performs information management such as medical appointment reservation, diagnosis result report, results management, and material inventory management in the radiology department. The RIS 10 transmits imaging order information generated in an electronic medical chart system (not shown) to the modality 20.

  The modality 20 is a medical image photographing device that photographs a patient in accordance with the photographing order information received from the RIS 10 and generates image data (medical image data) of a medical image. Further, the modality 20 generates incidental information related to the image data based on the photographing order information. The modality 20 appends the supplementary information to the image data (hereinafter referred to as actual image data), generates DICOM image data in accordance with the DICOM standard, and transmits the DICOM image data to the PACS 30. As the modality 20, a CR apparatus (mammography apparatus (mammography)) is mainly applicable, but an imaging apparatus (medical image imaging apparatus) that captures various types of medical images, such as a CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus. May be applied.

  FIG. 2 shows a data configuration diagram of DICOM image data generated by the modality 20. As described above, DICOM image data is composed of incidental information and actual image data. The incidental information includes patient information, examination information, series information, and image identification information.

  The patient information is information about the patient such as patient ID, patient name, sex, date of birth, address, occupation, and the like. The inspection information is information relating to the inspection such as an inspection ID for identifying the inspection, an inspection name, an inspection date and time, a reception number, an inspection purpose, and inspection contents. The series information is information on a series (unit) of a series of medical images for each modality generated in one examination, such as a series number, modality, procedure, imaging region, imaging direction, and imaging technician name. The image identification information is information related to a medical image such as an SOP instance UID that identifies an image, an image number, and an image size.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the PACS 30 is a database system that stores and manages DICOM image data generated in the modality 20 and performs search and data analysis. The PACS 30 accumulates and stores the DICOM image data in, for example, a relational database based on incidental information included in the DICOM image data received from the modality 20. Then, the PACS 30 searches the DICOM image data using the patient ID, examination ID, and the like designated in accordance with an operation instruction from the image interpretation doctor or the like as a search key, and outputs it to the image viewer terminal 40 or the imager. When the PACS 30 receives a DICOM image data acquisition request including a search key such as a patient ID and an examination ID from an external device, the PACS 30 searches for DICOM image data corresponding to the acquisition request and provides (transmits) it to the external device.

  The image viewer terminal 40 has a viewer function for displaying a medical image, and is a terminal used for interpretation by an interpreting doctor or the like. The image viewer terminal 40 transmits a DICOM image data acquisition request to the PACS 30 and acquires DICOM image data corresponding to the acquisition request from the PACS 30. Then, the image viewer terminal 40 displays the acquired DICOM image data.

[Functional configuration of image viewer terminal]
FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the image viewer terminal 40.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image viewer terminal 40 includes a control unit 41, an operation unit 42, a display unit 43, a communication unit 44, and a storage unit 45, and each unit is connected by a bus 46.

  The control unit 41 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and comprehensively controls the processing operation of each unit of the image viewer terminal 40. Specifically, the CPU reads various processing programs stored in the storage unit 45 in accordance with an operation signal input from the operation unit 42 or an instruction signal received by the communication unit 44, and is formed in the RAM. The work area is expanded and various processes are performed in cooperation with the program.

  The operation unit 42 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse. The control unit 42 controls operation signals input by keyboard operation or mouse operation. 41 is output.

  The display unit 43 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various screens based on display data input from the control unit 41.

  The communication unit 44 includes a LAN (Local Area Network) adapter, a router, a TA (Terminal Adapter), and the like, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device such as the PACS 30 connected via the communication network N.

  The storage unit 45 is composed of a hard disk or the like, and stores a control program, parameters and files necessary for executing the program.

  The storage unit 45 also stores an image viewer program 451 that is a program for displaying DICOM image data. The control unit 41 performs medical image display processing and item name display availability information setting processing in cooperation with the image viewer program 451. The medical image display process is a process in which the control unit 41 displays a medical image and item names and values of one or more items related to the medical image on the screen based on the DICOM image data. Details of the medical image display process and the item name display availability information setting process will be described later.

  The storage unit 45 also stores item name display availability information 452 used in the medical image display process. The item name display availability information 452 is information indicating whether only a value is displayed on the screen or both an item name and a value are displayed for each item relating to a medical image in the medical image display process.

  FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the item name display availability information 452.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the item name display availability information 452 includes one or a plurality of data objects (item name display availability information object) including items “application condition information” and “value only display item”.

  The item “application condition information” is information indicating an application condition of the item name display availability information 452. Details will be described later.

  The item “value-only display item” is a list indicating items for displaying only values among items related to medical images. Details will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when receiving the DICOM image data from the PACS 30 via the communication unit 44, the control unit 41 performs a medical image display process. The image interpretation doctor interprets an image by referring to the medical image and the accompanying information (item names and values of one or more items related to the medical image) displayed on the display unit 43. The control unit 41 ends the medical image display process based on the operation signal from the operation unit 42 by the operation of the interpretation doctor.

[Item name display availability information setting process]
Next, item name display availability information setting processing performed by the control unit 41 of the image viewer terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user performs an operation for setting the item name display availability information 452 on the operation unit 42. And the control part 41 receives the operation signal from the operation part 42 (step S1).

  Next, the control unit 41 sets item name display availability information 452 based on this operation signal (step S2). The process ends here.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of item name display availability information 452 that is actually set. Here, the item name display availability information 452 corresponding to one display pattern for displaying the item name becomes one item name display availability information object.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the item name display availability information object d1, “application condition information” indicates that the value of “modality” included in the series information of the incidental information of DICOM image data is “CR”. Yes. The “value only display item” is “modality”, “part”, and “WW / WC”.

  In the item name display availability object d2, the “applicable condition information” includes “CR” as the value of “modality” included in the series information of the incidental information of the DICOM image data, and “shooting” included in the series information. The value of “part” is “BREAST”. The “value only display item” is “modality”, “part”, “tube voltage”, “exposure amount”, “anode target material”, “filter material”, “breast thickness”, “compression pressure”, and “WW / WC”. Yes.

  In step S <b> 2 of FIG. 5, the control unit 41 generates, deletes, or changes the content of the item name display availability information object.

[Medical image display processing]
Next, medical image display processing performed by the control unit 41 of the image viewer terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIG. This medical image display processing is executed when the interpretation doctor performs interpretation.

  The user performs an operation to set the item name display state on the operation unit 42 of the image viewer terminal 40. Here, the item name display state is a display state of incidental information. The item name display status includes “display all”, “hide all”, and “hide only specific items”.

  Here, “all display” is a state in which item names and values are displayed for all items to be displayed regarding the medical image together with the medical image.

  Further, “all non-display” is a state in which only values are displayed for all items to be displayed with respect to the medical image together with the medical image.

  Further, “non-display of only specific items” is a state in which only a value is displayed for a specific item based on the item name display availability information object together with the medical image.

  The control unit 41 sets the item name display state based on the operation signal from the operation unit 42 (step S101). Note that the control unit 41 may set the item name display state to “non-display of specific items only” or the like by default regardless of the operation signal from the operation unit 42.

  The interpretation doctor performs a user operation to acquire DICOM image data to be interpreted from the PACS 30 on the operation unit 42 of the image viewer terminal 40. Then, the image viewer terminal 40 transmits a DICOM image acquisition request to the PACS 30 and receives DICOM image data corresponding to the acquisition request from the PACS 30.

  The control unit 41 acquires DICOM image data via the communication unit 44 (step S102).

  Based on the incidental information included in the acquired DICOM image data and the item name display availability information 452 stored in the storage unit 45, the control unit 41 uses the item name display availability information object to be applied to the medical image display process. Is determined (step S103).

  Specifically, the application condition information included in the plurality of item name display availability information objects (item name display availability information 452) stored in the storage unit 45 is read. Here, with reference to FIG. 6, it is assumed that two item name display availability information objects d 1 and d 2 are stored in the storage unit 45. Then, the control unit 41 reads the value of the item “modality” and the value of the item “imaging region” from the series information of the incidental information included in the acquired DICOM image data. Then, the control unit 41 determines whether each read application condition information matches the read supplementary information, and determines an item name display availability information object including the matched application condition information as an object to be applied. To do.

  Here, when the value of the item “modality” in the acquired DICOM image data is “CR” and the value of the item “imaging part” is “BRAST”, the control unit 41 sets the items “modality” and “imaging” of the application condition information. The item name display availability information object d2 in which both of the “parts” match is determined as an object to be applied.

  Next, the control part 41 displays a medical image on the display part 43 based on the real image data contained in the acquired DICOM image data (step S104).

  Then, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the item name display state set in step S101 is “all display” (step S105).

  When the item name display state is “all display” (step S105; YES), the control unit 41 causes the display unit 43 to display both item names and values for all items to be displayed regarding the medical image. (Step S106). Then, the control unit 41 determines whether or not there is a request for switching the item name display state based on the operation signal from the operation unit 42 (step S110).

  On the other hand, when the item name display state is not “all display” (step S105; NO), the control unit 41 determines whether or not the item name display state is “all non-display” (step S107).

  When the item name display state is “all non-display” (step S107; YES), the control unit 41 causes the display unit 43 to display only values for all items to be displayed regarding the medical image (step S108). ). Then, the control unit 41 determines whether or not there is a request for switching the item name display state based on the operation signal from the operation unit 42 (step S110).

  On the other hand, when the item name display state is not “all non-display” (step S107; NO), that is, when the item name display state is “non-display only specific item” (step S107; NO), the control unit 41 Based on the item name display enable / disable information object determined in step S103, only a value is displayed on the display unit 43 for a specific item related to the medical image (step S109).

  Specifically, when applying the item name display availability information object d2, the control unit 41 includes the items “modality”, “part”, “tube voltage”, “exposure amount”, “anode target material”, “filter material”, and “breast thickness”. Only the value is displayed on the display unit 43 for “compression pressure” and “WW / WC”, and the item name and value are displayed for other items to be displayed.

  When the process of step S109 ends, the control unit 41 determines whether there is a request for switching the item name display state based on the operation signal from the operation unit 42 (step S110).

  When there is a switching request (step S110; YES), the control unit 41 switches to an item name display state (“all display”, “all non-display”, “non-display of specific items only”) according to the request (step S111). And the control part 41 returns to the process of step S105.

  On the other hand, when there is no switching request | requirement (step S110; NO), the control part 41 determines whether the operation signal to complete | finish the interpretation from the operation part 42 by user operation was input (step S112).

  When the operation signal to end the interpretation is not input (step S112; NO), the control unit 41 returns to the process of step S110. On the other hand, when an operation signal for ending the interpretation is input (step S112; YES), the control unit 41 ends the process.

[Screen example]
8 to 10 are screen examples of screens displayed on the display unit 43 by the medical image display process executed by the control unit 41. FIG. FIG. 8 is a screen example when the item name display state is “all display”. FIG. 9 is an example of a screen when the item name display state is “only specific items are not displayed”. FIG. 10 is an example of a screen when the item name display state is “only specific items are hidden” and an item name display availability information object different from the item name display availability information object of FIG. 9 is applied. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the item name display state is “all display”, the display unit 43 displays the medical image and the item names and values of all the items to be displayed regarding the medical image. . That is, the items to be displayed are “patient ID”, “patient name”, “birth date”, “examination ID”, “reading doctor”, “examination date”, “modality”, “part”, “series number”, “image number”, “tube voltage”. The item names and values of “exposure amount”, “breast thickness”, “compression pressure”, and “WW / WC” are displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the item name display state is “hide only specific items”, the display unit 43 has only a value for a specific item related to the medical image based on the item name availability information object. Is displayed. Here, the items constituting the “value only display item” of the item name availability information object are “modality”, “part”, “tube voltage”, “exposure dose”, “breast thickness”, “compression pressure”, and “WW / WC”. .

  In FIG. 10, as in FIG. 9, the display unit 43 displays only values for specific items related to medical images based on the item name availability information object. Here, the items constituting the “value only display item” of the item name availability information object are “examination ID” “interpretation doctor” “examination date” “modality” “part” “tube voltage” “exposure dose” “breast thickness” “Pressure pressure” and “WW / WC”.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 41 of the image viewer terminal 40 sets the item name display availability information 452 based on the operation signal from the operation unit 42 by the user's setting operation. Based on the set item name display availability information 452, the control unit 41 displays only a value on the display unit 43 for one or a plurality of items related to the medical image, or displays both the item name and the value. Controls whether or not to display.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, only the value is displayed for the item that can be determined only by the value of the user, and both the value and the item name are displayed for the item that cannot be determined only by the value of the user. Can be displayed. Specifically, the screens of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 have fewer character information of the accompanying information than the screen of FIG.

  Therefore, while clarifying which supplementary information is displayed, the information amount of the supplementary information to be displayed can be reduced, the information display area on the screen can be reduced, and the interpretation can be prevented from being disturbed. Further, in mammography diagnosis in which interpretation is performed in a dark room, the user can be prevented from feeling the entire screen dazzling.

  The storage unit 45 of the image viewer terminal 40 stores one or a plurality of item name display availability information objects. The control unit 41 determines the item name display availability information object to be applied based on the incidental information included in the acquired DICOM image data and the application condition information included in the item name display availability information object.

  Therefore, optimal display can be performed according to the type of medical image.

  Further, the control unit 41 switches the item name display state (“all display”, “all non-display”, “non-display of specific items only”) based on an operation signal from the operation unit 42 by a user setting operation.

  Therefore, the display state desired by the user can be set according to the situation.

  The description in the present embodiment is an example of a medical image display apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the system and each device can be changed as appropriate.

  Note that “non-display” may be added to the item name display state. “Non-display” is a state in which only a medical image is displayed.

  In this embodiment, an example in which a hard disk is used as a computer-readable medium storing a program is disclosed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. As other computer-readable media, a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and the like can be applied. Also, a carrier wave can be applied as a medium for providing program data via a communication line.

10 RIS
20 modalities 30 PACS
40 Image viewer terminal 41 Control unit 42 Operation unit 43 Display unit 44 Communication unit 45 Storage unit 46 Bus 100 Medical image system 451 Image viewer program 452 Item name display availability information N Communication network

Claims (10)

A medical image display device that displays, along with a medical image, item names and values of one or more items related to the medical image on a screen,
Storage means for storing item name display availability information indicating whether to display only the value on the screen or to display both the item name and the value for the item;
Based on the item name display availability information, control means for controlling the display availability of the item name of each item,
A medical image display device comprising: A first operation means for accepting an operation for setting the item name display availability information;
The control means sets the item name display availability information based on an operation signal from the first operation means.
The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1. The control means includes
Based on the supplementary information attached to the medical image and the application condition information included in the item name display enable / disable information, the item name display enable / disable information to be applied is determined, and based on the determined item name display enable / disable information, Controls whether to display the item name of each item,
The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A second operation means for accepting an operation for switching the display state of the item name and value of one or more items relating to the medical image on the screen;
The control means switches the display state based on an operation signal from the second operation means.
The medical image display apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3. One of the display states is a state in which display control of the item name of each item based on the item name display enable / disable information is performed by the control unit.
The medical image display apparatus according to claim 4. One of the display states is a state in which both the item name and the value are displayed on the screen for all the items by the control means.
The medical image display apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. One of the display states is a state in which only values for all the items are displayed on the screen by the control means.
The medical image display apparatus as described in any one of Claims 4-6. One of the display states is a state in which both the item name and the value are not displayed on the screen for all the items by the control means.
The medical image display apparatus as described in any one of Claims 4-7. The medical image is a breast image;
The medical image display apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-8. A computer that displays on the screen the item names and values of one or more items related to the medical image together with the medical image,
Storage means for storing item name display availability information indicating whether to display only the value on the screen or to display both the item name and the value for the item,
Control means for controlling whether or not to display the item name of each item based on the item name display availability information;
Program to function as.