JP2014183963A - Medical image distribution device, and medical image distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately distribute a plurality of medical images to portable terminals.SOLUTION: A medical image distribution device comprises an image storage part, a group information storage part, a LUT (Look-Up Table) storage part. In the image storage part, an image series consisting of medical images 70a to 70f is stored. Portable terminals 40a, 40b are grouped into a first group and stored in the group information storage part. An LUT storage part stores a first LUT in which allocations of medical images to be distributed to the portable terminals 40a, 40b in the first group are defined. When the image series consisting of medical images 70a to 70f is distributed to the portable terminals 40a, 40b in the first group, the medical image distribution device distributes the medical images 70a to 70c to the portable terminal 40a based on the first LUT and distributes the medical images 70d to 70f to the portable terminal 40b. Since a plurality of medical images is distributed to a plurality of portable terminals in a distributed manner, quick distribution can be carried out.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image distribution apparatus that distributes a plurality of medical images to a mobile terminal, and a medical image distribution system.

  In the medical field, multiple medical images related to each other (for example, a series of tomographic images obtained by CT examination) are managed in units of image series, and medical images are observed in units of series at the time of diagnosis. Has been done. In addition, there is an image series in which such an image series is distributed to a portable terminal so that a medical image can be viewed outside a medical facility (see Patent Document 1 below).

JP2012-050625A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a problem that smooth browsing cannot be performed because the image series is distributed to one mobile terminal. In other words, medical images are becoming higher in definition, the amount of data per sheet is larger, and the total amount of data of one image series is also larger in proportion thereto. In general, a mobile terminal has a lower processing capacity than a stationary terminal, and the total data amount of one image series is too large to be handled by one mobile terminal. For this reason, even if the image series is distributed to one mobile terminal, smooth browsing cannot be performed.

  Further, in image diagnosis such as image interpretation, there are cases where images are browsed while comparing image series of the same examination with different examination dates, as in the case of follow-up observation. In such a case, a plurality of image series are handled by one mobile terminal, which is particularly problematic.

  Moreover, since the display of a portable terminal has a small screen size, it is difficult to display a plurality of images in parallel. In image diagnosis, since a plurality of medical images in an image series or a plurality of medical images in another image series are often viewed while being compared, there is a particular problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medical image distribution apparatus and a medical image distribution system that allow easy browsing of medical images using a mobile terminal.

  In order to achieve the above object, a medical image distribution apparatus according to the present invention is a terminal composed of a plurality of portable terminals in a medical image distribution apparatus that distributes an image series composed of a plurality of medical images related to each other to a portable terminal. Group information representing a group, a group information storage unit for storing group information in which a correspondence relationship between a group ID of a terminal group and terminal IDs of a plurality of mobile terminals belonging to the terminal group, and distribution of image series to the terminal group A distribution request receiving unit that receives a request and a medical image distribution unit that distributes and distributes a plurality of medical images included in an image series to a plurality of mobile terminals belonging to a terminal group.

  An allocation method storage unit that stores an allocation method that defines how to allocate and distribute a plurality of medical images included in an image series to each mobile terminal in a terminal group, and the medical image distribution unit includes: A plurality of medical images may be assigned to each mobile terminal according to the assignment method.

  The allocation method may include a medical image allocation amount to each mobile terminal.

  The assignment method may include image specifying information for specifying a medical image to be assigned to each mobile terminal in the image series.

  The plurality of medical images may be a plurality of tomographic images obtained by tomography, and the image series may be a tomographic image series in which a plurality of tomographic images are arranged in the order of slice positions.

  The image specifying information may be defined according to the order of slice positions.

  When distributing an image series to a terminal group, an instruction information distribution unit is provided that distributes an arrangement order instruction information that indicates an arrangement order in which a plurality of portable terminals belonging to the terminal group should be arranged by indicating a terminal ID. May be.

  The arrangement order may be either an overlapping arrangement in which a plurality of portable terminals are stacked or a parallel arrangement in which a plurality of portable terminals are arranged in parallel.

  The image specifying information may be defined by associating the order of the slice positions with the arrangement order.

  When the arrangement order of the plurality of portable terminals is changed from the first arrangement order, which is the arrangement order designated by the instruction information distribution unit, to the second arrangement order, a change notification indicating that the arrangement order has been changed is sent to the portable terminal. May include a change notification receiving unit that receives the image information and a first information update unit that updates the image specifying information based on the change notification.

  The plurality of mobile terminals are provided with sensors for detecting changes in the relative positional relationship between the mobile terminals, and the change notification may be a detection signal output by the sensors.

  You may provide the 2nd information update part which receives and updates the update request with respect to at least one of group information and an allocation method.

  The group information storage unit may be capable of storing a plurality of group information corresponding to a plurality of terminal groups.

  The medical image distribution system of the present invention is a medical image distribution system including a plurality of portable terminals and a medical image distribution apparatus that distributes an image series including a plurality of medical images related to each other to the plurality of portable terminals. The medical image distribution device is group information representing a terminal group composed of a plurality of mobile terminals, and group information in which the correspondence between the group ID of the terminal group and the terminal IDs of the plurality of mobile terminals belonging to the terminal group is recorded. A group information storage unit that stores information, a distribution request reception unit that receives a distribution request of an image series for a terminal group, and a plurality of medical images included in the image series distributed to a plurality of portable terminals that belong to the terminal group And a medical image distribution unit for distribution.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of medical images constituting an image series are distributed and distributed to a plurality of portable terminals, smooth browsing is possible.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a medical image delivery system. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a medical image delivery apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the image series which consists of a some medical image is memorize | stored in the medical image memory | storage part. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a portable terminal is divided into groups and memorize | stored in the group information storage part. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the LUT for every group which prescribed | regulated allocation of the medical image delivered to each portable terminal in a group is memorize | stored in the LUT memory | storage part. It is function explanatory drawing of CPU of a medical image delivery apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows GUI for distribution requests. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a some medical image is distributed and distributed. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a some medical image is distributed and distributed. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a some medical image is distributed and distributed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of LUT which prescribed | regulated the arrangement | sequence order and slice position of a portable terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the rearrangement instruction | indication screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the arrangement | sequence order of a portable terminal and the slice position respond | correspond. It is explanatory drawing which shows LUT whose terminal ID column is a blank column. It is explanatory drawing which shows an initial position set screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an arrangement | positioning change screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow by which the arrangement | sequence order of a portable terminal is detected.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the medical image distribution system 10 includes a medical image distribution device 20 and mobile terminals 40a, 40b, and 40c connected to the medical image distribution device 20 via a communication network 30 such as the Internet. Is done.

  The medical image distribution device 20 is installed in, for example, a medical facility, stores medical images acquired by various examinations (for example, CT examination, MRI examination, etc.) performed in the medical facility, and the mobile terminals 40a to 40c. The medical image is distributed to the mobile terminals 40a to 40c based on the distribution request transmitted from any of the above.

  The portable terminals 40 a to 40 c are tablet-type or notebook-type computers, smartphones, and the like, and are carried by a user (such as a doctor) who uses the medical image distribution system 10. The mobile terminals 40 a to 40 c have a communication function for communicating with the medical image distribution device 20, and transmit a distribution request to the medical image distribution device 20. The mobile terminals 40a to 40c include a display 41 that displays medical images distributed from the medical image distribution device 20 and various screens such as a GUI described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medical image distribution apparatus 20 is based on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation, and a control program such as an operating system or an application program (AP for causing the computer to function as the medical image distribution apparatus 20). ) 50 is installed.

  The medical image distribution apparatus 20 includes a storage device 52, a memory 54, a CPU 56, and a communication I / F 58, which are connected via a data bus 60. The storage device 52 is a hard disk drive, for example, and stores a control program. The memory 54 is a work memory for the CPU 56 to execute processing. The CPU 56 centrally controls each part of the computer by loading the control program into the memory 54 and executing processing according to the control program. The communication I / F 58 includes a network interface that performs transmission control with the communication network 30, and the medical image distribution apparatus 20 communicates with the mobile terminals 40 a to 40 c via the communication I / F 58 and the communication network 30. .

  The storage device 52 is provided with a medical image storage unit 62, a group information storage unit 64, a lookup table (LUT) storage unit 66, and an AP storage unit 68 that stores the AP 50 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the medical image storage unit 62 is provided with a folder 69 for the patient A, and six medical images 70 a to 70 f are stored in the folder 69. The medical images 70a to 70f are, for example, an image series composed of a series of tomographic images taken by CT examination or MRI examination, and the medical images 70a to 70f are arranged in order according to the slice position or the like.

  For example, in the case of a tomographic image obtained by slicing the tomographic image along the body axis (axis extending from the top of the head toward the toes) of the patient as the subject, the slice position is determined in the body axis direction from the top of the head toward the toes. Indicates the position. In this case, for example, the tomographic image series is arranged in order so that the tomographic image at the top of the head is located at the beginning of the slice position and the tomographic image at the tip of the foot is at the end of the slice position. In addition, the slice position is, for example, a tomographic image sliced along an axis perpendicular to the patient's body axis that is the subject (an axis from the abdomen to the back), from the abdomen to the back. Indicates the position in the axial direction. In this case, for example, the tomographic image series is arranged in order so that the tomographic image of the abdomen is positioned at the beginning of the slice position and the tomographic image of the back is positioned at the end of the slice position.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the group information storage unit 64 is group information representing a terminal group composed of a plurality of portable terminals, and includes a group ID of the terminal group and terminal IDs of the plurality of portable terminals belonging to the terminal group. The group information in which the correspondence relationship is recorded is stored. In the present embodiment, the terminal ID of the portable terminal 40a is “A”, the terminal ID of the portable terminal 40b is “B”, the terminal ID of the portable terminal is “C”, and the group ID is “1”. Portable terminals 40a and 40b are registered in one group 72a, and portable terminals 40a to 40c are registered in a second group 72b having a group ID “2”.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the LUT storage unit 66 stores an allocation method that defines how to allocate and distribute a plurality of medical images included in an image series to each mobile terminal in the terminal group. A method storage unit. In this embodiment, the allocation method is stored in the form of a look-up table (LUT) composed of a first LUT 74a and a second LUT 74b. In the following, an example in which the ratio of medical images to be allocated is defined by the LUT will be described. However, since the allocated amount of medical images to be allocated may be defined in the LUT, the number of medical images to be allocated by the LUT is described. May be defined.

  The first LUT 74a is assigned to each of the mobile terminals 40a and 40b when distributing a plurality of medical images to the mobile terminals 40a (terminal ID = A) and 40b (terminal ID = B) of the first group 72a (distribution). In this embodiment, the first half of the medical image is assigned to the mobile terminal 40a, and the rear half of the medical image is assigned to the mobile terminal 40b. In the first LUT 74a, information such as “first half” and “rear half” is defined by the arrangement order of medical images such as slice positions of medical images, and image specifying information for specifying medical images to be distributed. It is.

  On the other hand, when the second LUT 74b delivers a plurality of medical images to the portable terminals 40a (terminal ID = A), 40b (terminal ID = B), and 40c (terminal ID = C) of the second group 72b, In this embodiment, the first 1/3 medical image is assigned to the portable terminal 40a, and the central 1/3 medical image is assigned to the medical image assigned to each of the terminals 40a to 40c. The content is assigned to the portable terminal 40b and the rear one-third medical image is assigned to the portable terminal 40c. In the second LUT 74b, information such as “1/3 at the top”, “1/3 at the center”, and “1/3 at the rear” is defined by the arrangement order of the medical images such as the slice position of the medical image, This is image specifying information for specifying a medical image to be distributed.

  In the AP storage unit 68, image distribution software is stored as the AP 50 described above. The image distribution software is a program for causing a computer to execute a function for receiving a distribution request for a medical image transmitted from a portable terminal and a function for distributing a medical image to a portable terminal based on the distribution request. The CPU 56 loads the image distribution software into the memory 54 and executes processing according to the image distribution software, thereby comprehensively controlling each part of the computer.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the image distribution software is activated, the CPU 56 functions as a distribution request reception unit 76 and a medical image distribution unit 78 in cooperation with the memory 54 and the communication I / F 58.

  The distribution request receiving unit 76 performs a distribution request receiving process for receiving a medical image distribution request transmitted from the mobile terminals 40a to 40c. When making a distribution request, for example, one of the mobile terminals 40 a to 40 c is operated to access a medical image distribution site published by the medical image distribution apparatus 20 via the communication network 30. Then, a tag such as image distribution is selected from the menu of this site. As a result, the distribution request receiving unit 76 operates and starts a distribution request receiving process.

  As shown in FIG. 7, with the start of the distribution request receiving process, the distribution request receiving unit 76 performs an operation for giving an operation instruction to the medical image distribution device 20 on the display 41 of the mobile terminal that has accessed the medical image distribution site. A distribution request GUI (graphical user interface) 80 which is a screen is displayed. It is possible to access the medical image distribution site and make a medical image distribution request, which will be described later, from any of the mobile terminals 40a to 40c.

  In FIG. 7, an image series selection field 80a and a distribution destination group selection field 80b are displayed on the distribution request GUI 80. In the image series selection field 80a, a list of medical images stored in the medical image storage unit 62 is displayed in units of image series, and an image series to be requested for distribution can be designated. In the present embodiment, since only one image series consisting of the medical images 70a to 70f is stored in the medical image storage unit 62, this image series is displayed in the image series selection field 80a and designated as an image series to be requested for distribution. it can.

  In the delivery destination group selection field 80b, a list of groups stored in the group information storage unit 64 is displayed, and to which group the medical image is delivered can be designated. In the present embodiment, since the first group 72a and the second group 72b are stored in the group information storage unit 64, these two groups 72a and 72b are displayed in the delivery destination group selection field 80b, and medical images Can be specified as the delivery destination of.

  When the mobile terminal making the distribution request is the mobile terminal 40c, only the second group 72b including the mobile terminal 40c that is the distribution request source may be displayed in the distribution destination group selection field 80b (the distribution request source mobile terminal). Only the group including the terminal may be designated as the delivery destination). Of course, a group that does not include the distribution request source mobile terminal may be designated as a distribution destination. Further, the distribution request source is not limited to the portable terminal, and for example, a distribution request may be made by accessing the medical image distribution site from a terminal other than the portable terminal such as an installed personal computer.

  When the distribution request tag 80c is selected after specifying the image series to be distributed and the distribution destination group, the image series specified in the image series selection column 80a is specified in the distribution group selection column 80b. A distribution request for distribution to the group is transmitted to the distribution request receiving unit 76. The distribution request receiving unit 76 receives the distribution request and transmits a distribution instruction based on the distribution request to the medical image distribution unit 78.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the medical image distribution unit 78 performs a medical image distribution process in which a medical image is distributed in response to an input of a distribution instruction from the distribution request reception unit 76. In the medical image distribution process, the medical image distribution unit 78 distributes an image series (in this embodiment, an image series composed of medical images 70a to 70f) and a group of distribution destinations (in this embodiment, the first in the present embodiment). 1 (any one of the first and second groups 72a and 72b) is specified (determined), and the LUT corresponding to the distribution destination group from the LUT storage unit 66 (in this embodiment, one of the first and second LUTs 74a and 74b) Is read. Then, according to the read LUT, a plurality of medical images are distributed and distributed to the mobile terminals of the distribution destination group.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the distribution destination group is the first group 72a, the medical images 70a, 70b, and 70c are distributed to the mobile terminal 40a according to the first LUT 74a, and the medical images 70d, 70e, and 70f are performed. Is distributed to the mobile terminal 40b. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when the distribution destination group is the second group 72b, the medical images 70a and 70b are distributed to the portable terminal 40a and the medical images 70c and 70d are distributed to the portable terminal 40b according to the second LUT 74b. The medical images 70e and 70f are distributed to the mobile terminal 40c.

  As described above, since the medical image distribution system 10 distributes and distributes a plurality of medical images to a plurality of mobile terminals in the same group, the processing load per mobile terminal is reduced and a plurality of medical images are distributed. Images can be delivered quickly. Moreover, since the processing load at the time of browsing is also distributed, smooth browsing is possible. Furthermore, since the display of a mobile terminal has a small screen size, it is difficult to display a plurality of medical images in parallel. However, medical images can be displayed by distributing medical images to a plurality of mobile terminals and displaying them on each display. It is easy to compare images.

  In the present invention, since a plurality of medical images may be distributed and distributed to a plurality of portable terminals, the detailed configuration is not limited to the above embodiment and can be changed as appropriate. For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a plurality of medical images are distributed and distributed to two or three mobile terminals. However, a plurality of medical images are provided to four mobile terminals. May be distributed and distributed.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an image series including six medical images is distributed has been described. However, an image series including two to five medical images or an image series including seven or more medical images is used. You may distribute.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, only one image series is stored in the medical image distribution device, and an example in which this image series is distributed and distributed to a plurality of portable terminals has been described. The image series may be stored in an image distribution apparatus and an image series selected from the plurality of image series may be distributed and distributed to a plurality of portable terminals.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which distributes one image series with respect to one group, you may distribute several image series with respect to one group. As an example of distributing a plurality of image series, for example, there are cases where a plurality of image series of the same examination with different examination dates are delivered, as in the case of follow-up observation. In this case, since it is preferable that a plurality of image series can be browsed in a comparative manner, it is preferable that a separate image series is distributed to each mobile terminal in the terminal group.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which delivers the tomographic image image | photographed by CT test | inspection or MRI test | inspection as a medical image, this invention is not limited by the kind of medical image to deliver. The present invention can also be widely applied to a medical image distribution system that distributes medical images taken by examinations other than CT examinations and MRI examinations.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the mobile terminals are grouped in advance has been described. However, the user may be able to set the mobile terminal group or change the group. In this case, for example, the mobile device grouping is set by accessing the medical image distribution site that the medical image distribution device has released on the communication network from the user's mobile terminal and selecting a setting change tag. GUI is displayed, and by operating the mobile terminal according to the GUI, a new group is created and a new mobile terminal is registered here, a new mobile terminal is added to the existing group, What is necessary is just to enable it to set (register) or change information in the group information storage unit, such as deleting mobile terminals included in the group.

  Similarly, the user may set or change the LUT (setting or changing information in the LUT storage unit). In this case, the LUT can be set or changed according to the GUI for setting or changing the LUT by accessing the medical image distribution site from the user's mobile terminal or the like, as in the case where the user sets or changes the group. You can do it. When setting or changing group information and LUTs in this way, the CPU of the medical image distribution apparatus functions as a second information update unit that receives and updates an update request for at least one of the group information and the allocation method. To do.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment is an example in which an image series assignment method is determined in consideration of the arrangement order of a plurality of portable terminals. When browsing a medical image using a plurality of portable terminals, for example, it is conceivable to use a plurality of portable terminals in a superposed arrangement state on a table. For example, when two mobile terminals are arranged in a superimposed manner, they are arranged in the order of top and bottom. When the image series is a tomographic image series in the body axis direction, for example, in the tomographic image series, the first half of the slice position including the head is on the upper mobile terminal, and the second half of the slice position including the foot is on the lower side. It is easier to view a medical image if the arrangement order of the mobile terminals and the slice position of the tomographic image series correspond to each other such as being distributed to the mobile terminals.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the arrangement order of the mobile terminals is associated with the slice positions of the tomographic image series will be described. In the following, an example in which an image series is distributed to the first group 72a will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the second embodiment, an LUT 90 that is used when distributing an image series to the first group 72a is provided. The LUT 90 defines an allocation method as image specifying information by associating slice positions with the arrangement order. In the LUT 90, it is assumed that the arrangement order of the mobile terminals 40a is up and the arrangement order of the mobile terminals 40b is down, and the medical image of the first half of the image series is assigned to the upper mobile terminals 40a, The content of the medical image in the rear half of the image series is assigned to the lower mobile terminal 40b.

  In the second embodiment, since it is assumed that the arrangement order of the portable terminals 40a is higher and the arrangement order of the portable terminals 40b is lower, when an image series or group to be distributed is specified (see FIG. 7). The rearrangement instruction screen 100 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display 41 of the portable terminal 40a. The rearrangement instruction screen 100 instructs the user to superimpose the portable terminals 40a and 40b so that the terminal ID of the portable terminal 40a is “A” and the portable terminal 40a is on the top. is there. Similarly, on the display 41 of the portable terminal 40b, the terminal ID of the portable terminal 40b is “B”, and the user is instructed to superimpose the portable terminals 40a and 40b so that the portable terminal 40b is on the lower side. A rearrangement instruction screen (not shown) to be displayed is displayed.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the arrangement order of the image series is determined in consideration of the arrangement order of the plurality of mobile terminals, and the user rearranges the mobile terminals so that the expected arrangement order is obtained. I made it. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 13, the medical images 70a to 70c are distributed to the upper mobile terminal 40a, the medical images 70d to 70f are distributed to the lower mobile terminal 40b, the arrangement order of the mobile terminals, and the tomographic image series Corresponds to the slice position.

  As described above, the medical image distribution apparatus side instructs the mobile terminal (user) side to rearrange the mobile terminals, thereby associating the arrangement order of the mobile terminals with the slice positions of the tomographic image series. The arrangement order of the portable terminals is notified from the portable terminal (user) side to the medical image distribution apparatus side, and the notified arrangement order and the slice position of the tomographic image series are determined on the medical image distribution apparatus side. You may make it correspond.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the arrangement order of portable terminals is notified from the portable terminal (user) side to the medical image distribution apparatus side, and the notified arrangement order is associated with the slice position of the tomographic image series on the medical image distribution apparatus side. Give an explanation. In the following, an example in which an image series is distributed to the first group 72a will be described.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, an LUT 110 in which the terminal ID column is blank is provided, and when the image series or group to be distributed is specified (see FIG. 7), the arrangement order of the portable terminals is also the portable terminal. It is made to specify by operating. In specifying the arrangement order, for example, one of the two types of mobile terminals 40a, 40b is selected (designated) to be superimposed. In the medical image distribution apparatus, when the arrangement order is designated, the contents of the LUT 110 are updated according to the arrangement order (the terminal ID is input in the terminal ID column). Thereby, for example, when the portable terminal 40a is designated as “up”, the LUT 110 is updated to the same content as the LUT 90 shown in FIG. 11, and the arrangement order of the portable terminals corresponds to the slice position of the tomographic image series (FIG. 13). In addition, since it is not possible to arrange the mobile terminals in the intended order when the user cannot identify the terminal ID of the mobile terminal, when specifying the arrangement order, each mobile terminal may display its own terminal ID. preferable.

[Third Embodiment]
The third embodiment is an example in which the arrangement order of a plurality of portable terminals is taken into consideration and the arrangement order and slice positions of the tomographic image series are associated with each other, and the arrangement order of the portable terminals is automatically detected. It is. In the following description, an example in which an image series is distributed to the first group 73a will be described.

  In this case, the above-described LUT 110 (see FIG. 14) is provided, and the initial position setting screen 120 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display 41 of the portable terminal 40a. The initial position set screen 120 notifies that the terminal ID of the portable terminal 40a is “A”, and the portable terminals 40a and 40b are designated in advance as preparation for detecting the arrangement order of the portable terminals 40a and 40b. It is instructed to arrange in the order of arrangement (in this example, the arrangement is a parallel arrangement arranged in parallel on a horizontal table, in which the mobile terminal 40a is on the left and the mobile terminal 40b is on the right). Similarly, an initial position setting screen (not shown) is also displayed on the portable terminal 40b.

  After the mobile terminals 40a and 40b are arranged according to the initial position setting screen 120 (set to the initial position), when the completion tag 122 is selected in either of the mobile terminals 40a and 40c, an arrangement change screen 140 shown in FIG. 16 is displayed. The The arrangement change screen 140 instructs the rearrangement of the portable terminals 40a and 40bc to the desired arrangement order in the superposed arrangement.

  As shown in FIG. 17, in synchronization with the display of the arrangement change screen 140, the mobile terminals 40 a and 40 b detect the built-in movement detection sensors (the movement direction and the movement amount of the mobile terminals 40 a and 40 b, respectively). For example, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, an electronic compass, or a combination of a plurality of these sensors) 140 is operated, and monitoring of the moving direction and moving amount from the initial position is started. And with selection of the arrangement | positioning change completion tag 132, portable terminal 40a, 40b transmits the movement information which shows the movement direction and movement amount from an initial position with respect to a medical image delivery apparatus.

  Upon receipt of this information, the medical image distribution apparatus determines the current arrangement order of the mobile terminals 40a and 40b (which is the upper order) based on the position change (movement direction and movement amount) from the initial position of each of the mobile terminals 40a and 40b. ) Is detected. When the arrangement order is detected, the medical image distribution apparatus updates the contents of the LUT 110 according to the arrangement order (inputs the terminal ID in the terminal ID column. Thereby, for example, when the portable terminal 40a is detected as the top 11, the LUT 110 is updated to the same contents as the LUT 90 shown in Fig. 11. Thus, in the third embodiment, the arrangement order and the slice position of the tomographic image series are considered in consideration of the arrangement order of a plurality of portable terminals. And the arrangement order of the mobile terminals is automatically detected.

  In order to detect the arrangement order of the mobile terminals, a camera built in the mobile terminal may be used, an image captured by the camera may be analyzed, and the arrangement order may be detected based on the captured images. In this case, for example, when the mobile terminal is set to the above-described initial position (see FIG. 15), shooting of the moving image by the camera is started, and the moving amount and moving direction are determined by comparing the images between the frames of the moving image. It is conceivable that the relative positional relationship between the mobile terminals is detected depending on how other mobile terminals are captured by the camera.

  Of course, the detection of the arrangement order using the camera and the detection of the arrangement order using the movement detection sensor described above may be used together to complement each other and improve the detection accuracy. In addition, for example, in a portable terminal having an inter-terminal communication function such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), the distance between terminals can be detected from the response time when the inter-terminal communication is performed. The distance may be used to improve the accuracy of detection of the relative arrangement order by the above-described movement detection sensor or camera.

  In the second and third embodiments described above, when an image group is distributed to the first group, the arrangement order corresponds to the slice position of the tomographic image series in consideration of the arrangement order of a plurality of portable terminals. In the example described above, when distributing the image group to the second group, the arrangement order and the slice position of the tomographic image series are handled in the same way in consideration of the arrangement order of a plurality of portable terminals. It can also be made.

  In the second and third embodiments described above, an example in which the arrangement order and the slice position of the tomographic image series are associated with each other in consideration of the arrangement order of the mobile terminals arranged in a superimposed manner is the same. In consideration of the arrangement order of the mobile terminals arranged in parallel by the method, the arrangement order can correspond to the slice position of the tomographic image series.

  Furthermore, in the second and third embodiments described above, when the user changes the arrangement order of the portable terminals (see FIG. 12), when the user designates the arrangement order of the portable terminals, or on the medical image distribution apparatus side. In the case where the arrangement order is automatically detected (see FIGS. 15 and 16), an example will be described in which the LUT 110 (see FIG. 14) in which the terminal ID field is blank is used and the blanks are filled based on the arrangement order of the mobile terminals. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, two types of LUTs, that is, an LUT 90 shown in FIG. 11 and an LUT (not shown) in which the positions of the terminal IDs “A” and “B” are exchanged are provided in advance. Of these LUTs, an LUT suitable for the arrangement order of the mobile terminals may be used.

  As shown in the above embodiment, the present invention naturally extends to a program form and further to a storage medium for storing the program.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Medical image delivery system 20 Medical image delivery apparatus 30 Communication network 40a-40c Portable terminal 50 AP
52 Storage Device 54 Memory 56 CPU
62 Image storage unit 64 Group information storage unit 66 LUT storage unit 70a to 70f Medical image 72a, 72b Group 74a, 74b, 90, 110 LUT
76 Distribution Request Reception Unit 78 Medical Image Distribution Unit 140 Movement Detection Sensor

Claims (14)

In a medical image distribution apparatus that distributes an image series composed of a plurality of medical images related to each other to a mobile terminal,
Group information that represents a terminal group composed of a plurality of mobile terminals, and stores group information that records a correspondence relationship between a group ID of the terminal group and terminal IDs of a plurality of mobile terminals belonging to the terminal group A storage unit;
A distribution request receiving unit that receives a distribution request of the image series for the terminal group;
A medical image distribution apparatus comprising: a medical image distribution unit that distributes and distributes a plurality of medical images included in the image series to a plurality of portable terminals belonging to the terminal group. An allocation method storage unit that stores an allocation method that defines how to allocate and distribute a plurality of medical images included in the image series to each mobile terminal in the terminal group;
The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image distribution unit allocates the plurality of medical images to the mobile terminals according to the allocation method.   The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the allocation method includes an allocation amount of a medical image to each mobile terminal.   The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the assignment method includes image specifying information for specifying the medical image to be assigned to each mobile terminal in the image series. The plurality of medical images are a plurality of tomographic images obtained by tomography,
The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image series is a tomographic image series in which the plurality of tomographic images are arranged in the order of slice positions.   The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image specifying information is defined according to an order of the slice positions.   An instruction to deliver arrangement order instruction information indicating the arrangement order in which the plurality of mobile terminals belonging to the terminal group should be arranged when the image series is distributed to the terminal group by indicating the terminal ID The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an information distribution unit.   The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the arrangement order is any one of a superposition arrangement in which the plurality of portable terminals are stacked or a parallel arrangement in which the plurality of portable terminals are arranged in parallel. .   The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image specifying information is defined by associating the order of the slice positions with the arrangement order. When the arrangement order of the plurality of mobile terminals is changed to the second arrangement order from the first arrangement order which is the arrangement order instructed by the instruction information distribution unit, a change notification indicating that the arrangement order has been changed is issued. A change notification receiving unit received from the mobile terminal;
The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a first information update unit that updates the image specifying information based on the change notification. The plurality of mobile terminals are provided with sensors for detecting changes in relative positional relationship between the mobile terminals,
The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the change notification is a detection signal output from the sensor.   The medical image distribution according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a second information update unit that receives and updates an update request for at least one of the group information and the allocation method. apparatus.   The medical image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the group information storage unit is capable of storing a plurality of group information corresponding to the plurality of terminal groups. In a medical image distribution system comprising a plurality of portable terminals and a medical image distribution apparatus that distributes an image series consisting of a plurality of medical images related to each other to the plurality of portable terminals,
The medical image distribution device includes:
Group information that represents a terminal group composed of a plurality of mobile terminals, and stores group information that records a correspondence relationship between a group ID of the terminal group and terminal IDs of a plurality of mobile terminals belonging to the terminal group A storage unit;
A distribution request receiving unit that receives a distribution request of the image series for the terminal group;
A medical image distribution system comprising: a medical image distribution unit that distributes and distributes a plurality of medical images included in the image series to a plurality of portable terminals belonging to the terminal group.

Images