JP2012179367A - Data management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data management system that enables storage and management of collected data comprising raw data and incidental information consisting of a plurality of items, in data management equipment, and also transmission of suitable collected data to a medical image diagnosing device that requests the collected data for image reconstruction.SOLUTION: This system includes the medical image diagnosing device 2 that collects information inside a subject and performs reconstruction of an image after it judges whether the collected data can be reconstructed by itself, prior to the reconstruction of the image on the basis of the collected data, and the data management equipment 3 that conducts storage and management of the collected data transmitted from the medical image diagnosing device 2 and also transmits the collected data to the medical image diagnosing device requesting the collected data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a data management system capable of storing and retrieving data obtained by collecting information inside a subject necessary for a medical image diagnostic apparatus to reconstruct an image.

  Current medical image diagnostic apparatuses include, for example, X-ray diagnostic apparatuses, CT (computed tomography) apparatuses, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatuses, gamma cameras, and PET (positron-emission tomography). Various medical image diagnostic apparatuses exist, and useful images are provided to doctors as clinical information. In particular, in recent years, in addition to advances in medical diagnostic imaging devices, the internal structure of the human body can be imaged more accurately and in various ways by improving image processing technology, speeding up computer operations, and improving resolution. It is possible.

  However, along with this, the capacity of the collected image information itself (hereinafter referred to as “raw data”) becomes enormous. Furthermore, considering that the medical image diagnostic apparatus also stores information such as information on the subject, it is possible that the capacity of the storage means included in the medical image diagnostic apparatus is insufficient. Therefore, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, this raw data is not stored in the medical image diagnostic apparatus, but is stored by providing a separate data management apparatus.

  In addition, it is necessary to perform image processing in order to reconstruct an image from raw data, but this image processing requires many processes. As a countermeasure against this, for example, the above-described data management apparatus previously reconstructs an image, and transmits the reconstructed image to a medical image diagnostic apparatus (patent). Reference 2).

JP 2004-180785 A JP 2006-110071 A

  Certainly, as described in Patent Document 1, the method of storing raw data in a data management device different from the medical image diagnostic device is to reduce the storage capacity of the medical image diagnostic device until other functions fail. It is excellent in that it does not fill up.

  However, when the medical image diagnosis apparatus reconstructs an image, when the raw data is transmitted from the data management apparatus, raw data that cannot be reconstructed by the medical image diagnosis apparatus is transmitted. It is done. When such reconfigurable raw data is received and reconfiguration processing is performed based on this raw data, for example, it becomes a state such as a hang-up, which not only hinders the work of the medical institution, This may cause a failure of the medical diagnostic imaging apparatus.

  In addition, as described in Patent Literature 2, when an image is reconstructed in a data management apparatus and the image is transmitted to a medical image diagnostic apparatus, an image unintended by a doctor or the like who uses the medical image diagnostic apparatus is displayed. There is a possibility of being sent. Even if an unintended image is transmitted, it is not useful for examinations and medical examinations, and the medical treatment is delayed, such as having to request an appropriate image again. This is due to the fact that there are a plurality of methods for reconstructing an image, and it is necessary to give an appropriate reconstruction instruction when reconstructing an image.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to store and manage collected data including raw data and auxiliary information including a plurality of items in a data management apparatus, It is an object of the present invention to provide a data management system capable of transmitting collected data suitable for a medical image diagnostic apparatus that has requested collected data for configuration.

  The first feature according to the embodiment of the present invention is collection data that can be reconstructed by the data management system before collecting information inside the subject and reconstructing an image based on the collected data. A medical image diagnostic apparatus that reconstructs an image after determining whether it exists, and stores and manages collected data transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus, and transmits collected data to the medical image diagnostic apparatus that requests the collected data And a data management device.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a data management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the medical image diagnostic apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the data management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow from imaging | photography to storage of collection data in embodiment of this invention. It is the table | surface which showed an example of the incidental information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing data exchange between the medical image diagnostic apparatus and the data management apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing data exchange between the medical image diagnostic apparatus and the data management apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows exchange of data with the medical image diagnostic apparatus and data management apparatus which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the data management system 1. In the data management system 1, a medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 and a data management apparatus 3 are connected to a network 4.

  The medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 is an apparatus that is in a medical institution and collects information inside a subject for the purpose of examining and treating the subject as a patient. Examples of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 include an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a CT apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described above. In FIG. 1, three medical image diagnostic apparatuses 2 are connected to the network 4, but the number of medical image diagnostic apparatuses 2 may be singular or plural.

  The data management device 3 stores and manages collected data including raw data and incidental information collected by the medical image diagnostic device 2. The number of data management apparatuses 3 connected to the network 4 may be singular or plural.

  The network 4 is a network connected to exchange collected data between the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 and the data management apparatus 3, and is, for example, the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). In addition, the standard of collected data transmitted / received via the network 4 may be any standard such as DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2. In the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 2c, and an input / output interface 2d are connected via a bus 2e. Input / output interface 2d is connected to input means 2f, display means 2g, communication control means 2h, storage means 2i, removable disk 2j, and drive part control means 2k, and drive part control means 2k. Thus, each drive unit 21 of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 is controlled.

  The CPU 2a reads out and executes a boot program for starting the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 from the ROM 2b based on an input signal from the input unit 2f, and reads out various operating systems stored in the storage unit 2i. The CPU 2a controls various devices based on input signals from an external device not shown in FIG. 2 via the input means 2f and the input / output interface 2d. Further, the CPU 2a reads out the program and data stored in the RAM 2c, the storage means 2i, etc., loads them into the RAM 2c, and reconstructs an image, calculates or processes data based on the program command read out from the RAM 2c , A processing device that implements a series of processing.

  The input unit 2f is configured by an input device such as a keyboard and a dial through which an operator of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 inputs various operations. The input unit 2f generates an input signal based on the operation of the operator and passes through the bus 2e. It is transmitted to the CPU 2a. The display means 2g is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is a means for receiving an output signal from the CPU 2a via the bus 2e and displaying the processing result of the CPU 2a, for example.

  The communication control unit 2h is a unit such as a LAN card or a modem, and is a unit that enables the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 to be connected to a communication network 4 such as the Internet or a LAN. Data transmitted / received to / from the communication network 4 via the communication control means 2h is transmitted / received to / from the CPU 2a via the input / output interface 2d and the bus 2e as input signals or output signals.

  The storage means 2i is composed of a semiconductor or a magnetic disk, and stores programs and data executed by the CPU 2a. In addition, device information unique to the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2, patient information of the subject, software information indicating various conditions for reconstructing an image, and the like are also stored.

  The removable disk 2j is an optical disk or a flexible disk, and signals read / written by the disk drive are transmitted / received to / from the CPU 2a via the input / output interface 2d and the bus 2e.

  The image reconstruction process in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not particularly described below, but is stored in the storage unit 2i or removable based on various conditions set by a doctor or the like. The image reconstruction program stored in the disk 2j is read and executed by the CPU 2a of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the data management device 3 includes a receiving unit 3 a that receives collected data transmitted from the medical image diagnostic device 2, and a request screening unit 3 b that selects requests transmitted from the medical image diagnostic device 2. Additional information extraction means 3c for extracting only incidental information from the collected data transmitted, database 3d for storing the extracted additional information, storage means 3e for storing the collected data, and medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 Request determination means 3f for determining a request, search means 3g for searching for appropriate collection data based on the request, list creation means 3h for creating a list of searched collection data, and data to medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 It is comprised from the transmission means 3i which transmits.

  Hereinafter, the operation of each means in the data management apparatus 3 will be described with reference to drawings (FIGS. 4 to 7) such as flowcharts showing exchange of data with the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2. FIG.

  There are two types of requests (data) transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 to the data management apparatus 3 depending on the scene. One is a collection data storage request transmitted to the data management apparatus 3 in order for the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 to collect information inside the subject and store and manage the collected data obtained thereby. The other is a collected data acquisition request for requesting the data management device 3 to transmit collected data necessary for the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 to reconstruct an image based on the collected data.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow in which the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 images a subject and requests the data management apparatus 3 to store and manage the collected data.

  First, the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 collects information inside the subject (ST1). In this flowchart, “imaging” is described as an aspect of collecting the internal information of the subject. When this imaging is performed, raw data is acquired (ST2), and incidental information such as patient information is added to the raw data (ST3). In this way, a so-called index is added to the raw data, and the data is stored and managed in the data management device 3 and then serves as a mark for performing a search according to a request from the medical image diagnostic device 2.

  As an example of the incidental information, information as shown in the table of FIG. 5 can be given. Here, the incidental information is roughly divided into three categories, for example, “patient information”, “apparatus information”, and “soft information”. “Patient information” is, for example, the name of the subject, the patient ID, the imaged part, and the like. The “apparatus information” includes, for example, the manufacturer name and model name of the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 that has performed imaging, for example, the diameter of the gantry for a CT apparatus. The “software information” is information representing various conditions when collecting the internal information of the subject, for example, the number of detector columns, the scanning method, the imaging conditions, the image reconstruction conditions, and the like. Note that the categories and items listed here can be arbitrarily selected as to the selection or the category into which the items are placed.

  In the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2, a request (collected data storage request) that the collected data is stored (saved and stored) by adding incidental information to the raw data obtained by collecting information inside the subject to obtain collected data. ) And transmitted to the data management device 3 (ST4).

  The data management apparatus 3 that has received the request transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 (ST5) first sorts whether the request is a collection data storage request or a collection data acquisition request in the request selection unit 3b. (ST6). Here, since the collected data with the collected data storage request has been sent, this collected data is sent to the incidental information extracting means 3c.

  The incidental information extracting means 3c extracts only incidental information from the collected data sent (ST7). When searching based on a data acquisition request from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2, considering that it takes time if the search means 3g performs a search while including raw data with a large data capacity, only the incidental information is obtained. Extracted and stored in the database 3d (ST8). However, since the data management apparatus 3 is an apparatus for storing the collected data transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 in the first place, only the incidental information is extracted by the incidental information extracting means 3c, but the raw data and the incidental information are extracted. The collected data consisting of is stored in the storage means 3e (ST8).

  In this way, the collected data collected by the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 is stored and managed in the data management apparatus 3.

  Next, the operation of each means in the data management device 3 and the exchange of data with the medical image diagnostic device 2 when the medical image diagnostic device 2 reconstructs an image for diagnosis and treatment based on the collected data will be described. To do.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing data exchange between the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 and the data management apparatus 3 when an image to be reconstructed has already been specified in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2.

  First, on the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 side, a doctor or the like inputs conditions of image data (acquired data) to be reconstructed using the input means 2f (ST21). The conditions referred to here are, for example, patient information such as the patient name and imaging region shown in FIG. Of course, device information, software information, and the like can be set in detail. When the acquired data condition is input, the acquired data condition with the data acquisition request is transmitted to the data management device 3 via the communication control means 2h and the network 4 (ST22).

  In the data management apparatus 3, the receiving means 3a receives the condition of the acquired data transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 (ST23), and the request selection means 3b selects what request is transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2. (ST24). Here, as described above, the request selection means 3b determines that the request is a data acquisition request because it is a request for transmission of information for the purpose of acquiring the collected data necessary to reconstruct the image. Further, a request is sent to the request determination means 3f.

  In the request determination unit 3f, whether the data acquisition request transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 is a data acquisition request for requesting the already specified collection data, or the collected data that matches the conditions input by the doctor or the like. It is determined whether it is a data inquiry request for inquiring about existence. Here, since the image to be reconstructed has already been specified, the request determination unit 3f determines that it is a data acquisition request.

  The determination result is sent to the search means 3g, and the search means 3g accesses the storage means 3e to search the collected data that matches the conditions of the acquired data (ST25). In the search means 3g, it is determined whether or not the condition of the acquired data matches each item stored as incidental information in the collected data, and the corresponding collected data is extracted and acquired (ST26). The extracted collected data is transmitted to the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 via the transmission means 3i (ST27).

  The medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 receives collected data necessary for image reconstruction (ST28), and reconstructs a medical image from the raw data of the collected data using an image reconstruction engine (ST29).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow when the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 requests the data management apparatus 3 to transmit collected data without specifying an image to be reconstructed. In this case, since the conditions for requesting the collected data to the data management apparatus 3 are often not input in detail, in many cases there are a plurality of collected data retrieved and extracted by the data management apparatus 3. It becomes.

  A doctor or the like inputs conditions of collected data (acquired data) desired to be reconstructed in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 (ST41). When the acquisition data condition is input, the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 transmits the acquisition data condition with the data acquisition request to the data management apparatus 3 via the communication control unit 2h and the network 4 (ST42).

  The data management apparatus 3 receives the condition of the acquired data transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 (ST43), and selects the request transmitted by the request selection means 3b (ST44). Here, it is determined that this is a data acquisition request, and this request is further sent to the request determination means 3f. Since only the acquired data condition is transmitted, the request determination unit 3f inquires about what collected data is stored as the collected data that matches the specified acquired data condition in the data management device 3. It is determined that this is a request (data inquiry request), and the determination result is sent to the search means 3g.

  The search means 3g inquires the database 3d for the presence / absence of collected data that matches the condition of the acquired data (ST45), and extracts all corresponding collected data (ST46). However, as described above, in the situation described here, conditions for requesting collected data to the data management device 3 are not input in detail, for example, only patient information is input. It is thought that there are many. In particular, for example, when only an imaging region is input as a condition, the collected data is enormous.

  Therefore, whether or not the extracted collected data is collected data that can be reconstructed in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 that has transmitted the data inquiry request is determined by the search means 3g based on the accompanying information (ST47). Based on this determination, it is further determined whether it is necessary to create a list. As described above, if the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 determines whether or not the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 can reconfigure the information, the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 becomes in a hang-up state or the like as described above. This is because it may cause troubles in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2.

  If none of the extracted collected data matches the incidental information (N in ST47), these collected data are data that cannot be reconstructed in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 that has transmitted the data inquiry request. A list of extracted collected data is not created (ST48). Here, after the list is not created, it is not described in the flowchart, but after this, for example, the list is not transmitted to the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2, or the list is not created although the list is not transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to take measures such as informing the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2.

  If the extracted collected data includes collected data that can be reconstructed in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 that has transmitted the data inquiry request, a list of the collected data is created, and medical image diagnosis is performed. It transmits to the apparatus 2 (ST49, ST50). Since the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 already inquired by the search means 3g determines whether or not the corresponding collected data can be reconstructed, even if these collected data are transmitted to the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2, a hang-up or the like occurs. The situation does not happen. In addition, the collected data is not transmitted suddenly, but the created list is transmitted in advance, so that the amount of data to be transmitted can be reduced, and the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 further selects collected data necessary for image reconstruction. be able to.

  The medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 receives the list created according to the data inquiry request transmitted by the data management apparatus 3 (ST51), and selects necessary collection data from the list (ST52). This selection can be performed, for example, by checking the corresponding collected data or inverting the display. After the selection is made, a data acquisition request for the selected collected data is transmitted to the data management device 3 (ST53).

  In the data management apparatus 3, the data acquisition request transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 is received by the reception means 3a (ST54), and is selected by the request selection means 3b (ST55). Here, since the request is for the purpose of acquiring specific collection data necessary for reconstructing the image, the request selection unit 3b determines that the request is a data acquisition request, and further sends the request determination unit 3f to the request determination unit 3f. Send a request.

  The request determination means 3f further sends the transmitted data acquisition request to the search means 3g, and the search means 3g accesses the storage means 3e to search the collected data (ST56). The retrieval unit 3g extracts and acquires the collection data in which the incidental information of the designated collection data matches the incidental information in the collection data stored in the storage unit 3e (ST57). Since the list is created based on the database 3d in which only the supplementary information is stored, the collected data is searched from the storage means 3e using the supplementary information as a mark. The extracted collected data is transmitted to the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 via the transmission means 3i (ST58).

  The medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 receives collected data necessary for image reconstruction (ST59), and reconstructs a medical image from the raw data of the collected data (ST60).

  In this way, the collected data is managed by the data management apparatus, and only the collected data that can be reconstructed by the medical image diagnostic apparatus that requests acquisition of the collected data is selected from the collected data stored in the storage means. By transmitting the data, it is possible to provide a data management system capable of preventing troubles in business using the medical image diagnostic apparatus.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the same components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components is omitted because it is duplicated.

  In the data management system according to the second embodiment, the medical image diagnostic apparatus that performs image reconstruction, not the data management apparatus, performs the operation of selecting collected data that can be reconstructed by the medical image diagnostic apparatus. There are features.

  That is, in the second embodiment, the flow until the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 selects an image to be reconstructed and performs reconstruction is as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 8, the first embodiment is performed from the input of the acquired data condition in the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 to the extraction of all collected data that matches the acquired data condition in the search means 3 g of the data management apparatus 3. This is the same as described in the embodiment (ST41 to ST46).

  Here, a list is created based on the incidental information of the extracted collected data (ST71). However, the medical image diagnosis apparatus 2 that has transmitted the data inquiry request before creating the list does not check whether image reconstruction can be performed (see step 47 in FIG. 7), and the collected collection Display all data in a list. The list created in this way is transmitted to the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 (ST72).

  The medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 that has received the list transmitted from the data management apparatus 3 (ST73) selects the collected data necessary for image reconstruction from the collected data listed in the transmitted list (ST74). . However, when selecting the collected data here, whether or not the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 can reconstruct an image with reference to items such as device information included in the incidental information of the collected data is used. To be judged. When selecting the collected data, for example, when receiving the list, this determination may be made in advance and the fact that the corresponding collected data cannot be selected may be displayed, or the selection may be made when a doctor or the like selects the collected data. You may make it alert | report that it is not possible. A data acquisition request for the collected data selected in this way is transmitted to the data management device 3 (ST75).

  Thereafter, based on the transmitted data acquisition request, the data management device 3 retrieves and extracts the corresponding collected data, and transmits it to the medical image diagnostic device 2. The medical image diagnostic device 2 uses the transmitted collected data as a basis. The flow for reconstructing an image is as described above (ST54 to ST60).

  In this way, the collected data is managed by the data management device, and the image reconstruction is performed before the medical image diagnostic device performs image reconstruction in advance based on the collected data list retrieved based on the request from the medical image diagnostic device. Data management capable of selecting the configurable acquired data and performing image reconstruction based on the acquired data that cannot be reconstructed to prevent the medical image diagnostic apparatus 2 from being damaged. A system can be provided.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data management system 2 Medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 3 Data management apparatus 4 Network

Claims (6)

A medical image diagnostic apparatus that collects information inside the subject and reconstructs the image after determining whether the data is reconfigurable before reconstructing the image based on the collected data;
A data management device that stores and manages the collected data transmitted from the medical image diagnostic device, and transmits the collected data to the medical image diagnostic device that requests the collected data;
A data management system comprising:   2. The data according to claim 1, wherein the collected data transmitted from the medical image diagnostic apparatus includes raw data that is data collected from the inside of a subject and incidental information attached to the raw data. Management system.   The data management device includes additional information extraction means for extracting only the auxiliary information from the collected data, a database for storing the auxiliary information extracted by the auxiliary information extraction means, and storage means for storing the collected data. Search means for searching for the collected data from the database or the storage means based on a collection data acquisition request from the medical image diagnostic apparatus; and list creation means for listing the collected data searched by the search means; The data management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising:   The medical device for which the retrieval unit has issued the collected data acquisition request based on at least one of the number of detector columns, the scanning method, the imaging condition, and the image reconstruction condition among the incidental information. The data management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image diagnosis apparatus determines whether or not an image can be reconstructed.   The medical image diagnostic apparatus selects the collected data necessary for image reconstruction based on the list of collected data collected in the data management apparatus, and the data of the collected data selected for the data management apparatus 5. The data management system according to claim 1, wherein an acquisition request is transmitted. When the medical image diagnostic apparatus selects the collected data necessary for image reconstruction based on the list of collected data, the medical image diagnostic apparatus displays that fact for the collected data that cannot be reconstructed by the medical image diagnostic apparatus. 6. The data management system according to claim 1, wherein the data management system is a data management system.

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