JP3046451B2 - Medical information database system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical information database system most suitable for searching and registering a database of medical information including medical images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a database search system provided with a character information database and an image information database, conventionally, a search request item for a database is first sent to a character information database, and the character information database replaces the search request item with character information. After allocating the search to the image information search, the character information search is performed in the character information database, and the image information search is performed by sending a search request item from the character information database to the image information database, and the image information database The search result of the image information was sent to the character information database and then to the terminal.

Specifically, in the conventional search system shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a search terminal 1-i is replaced with one of search terminals 1-1, 1-2,..., 1-n. At this time, the database search instruction transmitting unit 51 of the search terminal device 1-i transmits the search instruction data in which items necessary for searching the database are input via the communication line to the terminal communication unit 71 of the character information database search device 7. To send to. The communication terminal unit 71 divides the search instruction data sent via the communication line into character information search instruction data and image information search instruction data, and passes one of the character information search instruction data to the character information search unit 72. Instruct each search. Since the character information database unit 74 stores various character information, the character information search unit 72 searches the character information of the character information data database unit 74 based on the character information search instruction data received from the terminal communication unit 71. Then, the character information indicating the search result is passed to the terminal communication unit 71.

On the other hand, an image information search instruction transmitting unit 73 sends out the image information search instruction data received from the terminal communication unit 71 to the image information search instruction receiving unit 81 of the image database search device 8 via a communication line. Image information search instruction section 8
1 receives the image information search instruction data transmitted via the communication line and passes it to the image information search unit 82.
Since the image information database unit 83 stores various image information, the image information search unit 82 retrieves the image information of the image information database unit 83 based on the image information search instruction data received by the image information search instruction reception unit 81. A search is performed, and image information indicating the search result is passed to the image information transmitting unit 84. The image information transmitting unit 84 transmits image information indicating the search result searched by the image information searching unit 82 to the image information receiving unit 75 of the character database search device 7 via a communication line. The image information receiving unit 75 receives the image information indicating the search result transmitted via the communication line, and
Pass to 1.

[0005] The terminal communication unit 71 includes a search terminal device 1-i.
The image information indicating the search result received from the character information search unit 72 via the communication line connected to the terminal is input to the character information search result reception unit 52 and the image information of the search terminal 1-i that have received the search instruction data. It is sent to the search result receiving unit 53.

[0006]

Generally, image information is larger than character information in each case. According to the prior art, in order to hold search results from an image database,
There is a disadvantage that a large-capacity storage medium is required for the character information database. Particularly, in a medical database for storing and retrieving a large number of images, since the amount of image information is overwhelmingly larger than that of character image information, the drawbacks of the conventional technology have been remarkable.

Further, in the prior art, since the character information database issues a search request for the image database, there is a disadvantage that the load on the character information database is large.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks, and does not require a large-capacity storage medium for the character information database to hold search results from the image information database, and does not increase the load on the character information database. The purpose is to provide a database system.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a character information database for storing collateral information as character information, and an image information database for storing medical image information associated with the collateral information. And a terminal for inputting a common search key to the database and displaying a search result via a network, the medical information database system connecting the terminal with the image information according to the input search key. The gist of the present invention is to provide means for creating a search command for a database and a search command for the character information database, and transmitting these commands to a corresponding database.

Further, according to the present invention, the terminal includes an image information receiving and storing means for receiving and storing a search result from the image information database, and a character information receiving and storing means for receiving and storing the search result from the character information database. The invention further comprises means.

Further, the present invention provides a character information database for storing collateral information as character information, an image information database for storing medical image information associated with the collateral information, and input of a common search key for the database. And a medical information database system that connects a terminal for displaying search results via a network,
The gist is that the image information database includes means for transmitting a search command for the character information database created according to the input search key to the character information database.

Still further, the invention is characterized in that the image information database further includes character information receiving and storing means for receiving and storing a search result from the character information database.

According to the present invention, there is provided an input means for inputting supplementary information which is character information and medical image information associated with the supplementary information, a character information database for storing the supplementary information, and storing the medical image information. In the medical information database system that connects an image information database to be performed via a network, the input unit transmits the input supplementary information to the character information database and the input medical image information to the image information database. The point is to do.

According to the present invention, there is provided an input means for inputting supplementary information which is character information and medical image information associated with the supplementary information, a character information database for storing the supplementary information, and storing the medical image information. In a medical information database system for connecting an image information database to be performed via a network, the image information database receives the additional information and the medical image information from the input unit, and converts the received additional information to the character information database. The gist is to transmit to.

[0015]

As described above, according to the medical information database system of the present invention, a terminal for inputting a common search key to the character information database and the image information database and displaying a search result is operated in accordance with the input search key. Means for creating a search command for the image information database and a search command for the character information database, and transmitting these commands to the corresponding database, so that the character information database makes a search request to another image information database. , The load on the character information database side is reduced. as a result,
If several requests are concentrated in the database, the response time will be apparently shorter. According to the medical information database system of the present invention, an image information database for storing medical image information associated with supplementary information which is character information is created according to a common search key with the input character information database. The search command sent to the character information database is transmitted to the character information database. For example, in a system in which one character information database and a plurality of image information databases exist, one character information database is used for other image information. The load is distributed more than when a search request is issued to the database. As a result, if several requests are concentrated in the database, the response time will be apparently shorter.

Further, according to the medical information database system of the present invention, the input means for inputting supplementary information which is character information and medical image information associated with the supplementary information is provided.
Since the input additional information is transmitted to a character information database that stores the additional information, and the input medical image information is transmitted to an image information database that stores the medical image information, for example, one character information database is transmitted. The load is distributed more than when a registration request is made to another image information database. As a result, if several requests are concentrated in the database, the response time will be apparently shorter.
Further, according to the medical information database system of the present invention, an image information database that stores medical image information associated with supplementary information that is character information is input from the input unit that inputs the supplementary information and the medical image information. Since the additional information is received and transmitted to the character information database, for example, in a system in which one character information database and a plurality of image information databases exist, one character information database is connected to another image information database. The load is distributed more than in the case where the registration request is made. As a result, if several requests are concentrated in the database, the response time will be apparently shorter.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example of a system to which the medical information database system of the present invention is applied will be specifically described with reference to Embodiments 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a medical database search system based on the medical information database system of the present invention. A plurality of search terminal devices (communication terminal devices) 1-1,. -K,
.., 1-n, communication network 2, character information database 3, and a plurality of image information databases 4-1.
, 4-m are shown. FIG. 2 shows an example of a display format displayed on the image display device 9 of the search terminal device 1-i, and two image displays 91 and 9 are shown.
1 'and the character display 92 are shown.

In the system shown in FIG. 1, for example, patient information and examination information are stored as character information in a character information database, and medical images are stored in an image information database. Then, the character information and the image information are retrieved from the retrieval terminal device 1-i, and displayed on the retrieval terminal device 1-i in a format as shown in FIG. 2, for example. Hereinafter, an embodiment of a medical database search system according to the present invention will be described using the system configuration of FIG. 1 as an example.

<Embodiment 1> In this embodiment, an information distribution means is provided in an image information database. FIG. 3 is a block chart showing an embodiment of the medical database search system according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the medical database search system has a search terminal 1- having the configuration shown in FIG.
i, character information database 3, image information database 4
-J and a registration terminal device 1-k. Then, the command used in the search in this embodiment is sent from the search terminal device 1-i to the image database 4-j, and the image information database 4-j receives a search request for character information and a search request for image information. Sorted out,
Search request for text information is text information database 3
The search request for the image information is sent to the image information database 4-j. Similarly, a command used at the time of registration is sent from the registration terminal device 1-k to the image information database 4-j, and is divided into registration of character information and registration of image information in the image information database 4-j. The registration request for the character information is sent to the character information database 3, and the registration request for the image information is sent to the image information database 4-j.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of these search terminals 1-i.
FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the character information database 3 and FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the image information database 4-j.
FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of -k.

First, an operation for performing a search will be described. Hereafter, Doctor B moves on chest 27 on August 27, 1991.
An example is described in which an image of an examination of a patient A (patient ID; 12345) that has undergone a line examination is retrieved and displayed on a terminal device.

(1-1-1) Search transmission command Doctor B inputs data necessary for search from search terminal 1-j (see FIGS. 18 and 19).

Search target Patient information Examination history of the patient Examination information of a certain examination All images related to one examination Retrieval key Patient ID = “12345” Examination date = 1991.08.27 These inputs are for the retrieval in FIG. The data is input by the database search instruction input unit 11 of the terminal device 1-i. The database search instruction input unit 11 transfers the received data to the database search request processing unit 12.

The database search request processing unit 12 creates a command from the received data and sends it to the search instruction sending unit 13 for transmission to the image information database 4-j.
When creating a command, for example, a correspondence table between search data and search keys required for the search data as shown in FIG. 11 is referred to. The following commands are created.

Patient information search command Search target Patient information search key Patient ID = "12345" Exam history search report command Search target Exam history search key Patient ID = "12345" Exam information search report command Search target Exam information Search key Patient ID = "12345" Date of examination = August 27, 1991 Image search command Search target All images related to one examination Search key Patient ID = "12345" Date of examination = August 27, 1991 (1-1-2) In the image information database Distribution of image information 4-
The search instruction receiving unit 41 of j passes the command to the database search request distribution unit 42. Then, the database search request distribution unit 42 determines which command is sent to which command using the correspondence table between the transmitted command and the command transmission destination as shown in FIG. The distribution method described in this example is a method in which one command is issued to one search target, and the destination of the command is determined. On the other hand, when a plurality of commands are generated for one search target and the command destination database is different for each command, the command can be distributed in the same manner as described above. For example, when searching for images,
FIG. 13 shows an example of a list required for sorting when image display information is searched from the character information database and image data is searched from the image database 45. In the case of this example, the patient information search command, the examination history search command, and the examination information search command are sent to the image information search unit 43.
At this time, four commands are sent at once to respond to the search request of the doctor B, indicating that the search result is currently waiting to return. For example, necessary information is written in a command processing status confirmation table as shown in FIG. 16 so that it can be referenced from the database search result processing unit 54. Commands for the character information database 3 are sent from the main memory 84 via the network interface 81 via the communication network (see FIG. 20).

(1-1-3) Retrieval of Image Information In the image information database 4-k, the command transmitted from the database retrieval request distribution unit 42 is converted into a command to be transmitted to the image information database 45.
5 is searched for necessary data (see FIG. 22). For example, the command used in the image information database 45 is S
As a syntax similar to QL, the sent command is converted as follows.

Inspection information search command Image search command Search target All images related to one inspection select * from
image Search key Patient ID = "12345" where pat-id
= "12345" Date of examination = 1991.08.27 and exam-date = "1991.0
8.27 "After obtaining the search result in this way, the result is returned to the image information search unit 43. The image information search unit 43 returns the result to the database search result processing unit 49.

(1-1-4) Search for Character Information In the character information database 3, the image information database 4
-J to the character information search instruction receiving unit 3
Pick up at 2. Since all of the commands search data in the character information database 39, there is no need to perform sorting in the character information database 39. The character information search instruction receiving unit 32 sends the received command to the character information search unit 31. The character information search unit 31 converts the received command into a command to be sent to the character information database 39, and searches the character information database 39 for necessary data (see FIG. 21). For example, a command used in the character information database 39 is converted into an SQL sentence and the sent command is converted as follows.

Patient information search command Search target Patient information select * from patient search key Patient ID = "12345" where pat-id = "12345" Exam history search command Search target Exam history select exam-id, exam-date, and search Key Patient ID = "12345" from examination where pat-id = "12345" Examination Information Search Command Examination Target Examination Information select * from examination Search Key Patient ID = "12345" where pat-id = "12345" and Examination Date = 1991.08.27 exam-date = 1991.08.27 The search result thus obtained is returned to the character information search unit 31. The character information search result transmission unit 33 sends the search result to the search command transmission source. Search results are in main memory 1
04 via the network via the network interface 101.

(1-1-5) Reception of Search Result As described above, the search result sent from the image information search unit 43 of the image information database 4-j is directly passed to the database search result processing unit 49, and the character information database 3 is received by the character information search result receiving unit 50 and passed to the database search result processing unit 49.
At this time, the search result of the character information database 3 is stored in the main memory 104, and the search result of the image information database is an image.
The database search result processing unit 49 refers to the command processing status check table as shown in FIG. 16 to check which command is a response to the search result and whether all search results for a series of commands are complete. . If at least one response has not been returned, wait until a response is returned. After all the search results have been collected, the search result transmitting unit 48 sends the search result receiving unit 17 of the search terminal device 1-i.
The search result is sent to (see FIG. 23).

(1-1-6) Display of Search Results The search result receiving unit 17 of the search terminal device 1-i that has received the search results from the image information database 4-j processes the received search results into a database search result process. Hand over to section 16. The database search result processing unit 16 sends the character information of the search result to the character information search result output unit 14 and sends the image information to the image information search result output unit 15 so as to be displayed according to the user's request. The character information search result output unit 14 arranges and displays character information according to a predetermined format, for example. Similarly, the image information search result output unit 15 also arranges and displays image information according to a predetermined format (see FIG. 24). FIG. 17 shows an example of the display.

FIGS. 18 to 25 are flowcharts of the search by the above-described search terminal. FIGS. 18 and 19 are flowcharts when the search terminal transmits a search instruction, and FIG. 20 is a flowchart when the search is performed in the image information database. , FIG. 2
1 is a flowchart for searching the character information database,
FIG. 22 is a flowchart when the image information database is searched, FIG. 23 is a flowchart when the search result of the image information database is received, and FIG. 24 is a flowchart when the search terminal receives the search result.

Next, as an example at the time of registration, the registration-like terminal 1-k
Shows an example in which an X-ray image is registered from. At this time, the registration terminal 1-k may be a dedicated terminal developed exclusively for database registration, or may be, for example, an inspection device (X in this example).
Image generating device such as a line device).

(1-2-1) Transmission of Registration Command An image for registration in the registration terminal 1-k is prepared.
When an image is composed of supplementary information (patient information, examination information, image information) and an image, the registration terminal 1-k inputs supplementary information, which is character information, from the registered character information input unit 65 and registers the image. It is input from the image information input unit 66. At this time, the character information is stored in the main memory 84 and the image information is stored in the image memory 82. The input data is passed to the database registration request processing unit 63. The database registration request processing section 63 creates a registration command and sends it to the registration instruction sending section 61 for sending to the image information database (FIGS. 27 and 28). An example of a registration command in this case is shown below.

[0036] (1-2-2) Distribution in Image Information Database The registration instruction transmitted from the registration terminal 1-k is received by the image information registration instruction receiving unit 47 of the image information database 4-j, and the database registration request distribution unit Passed to 46. The database registration request distribution unit 46 has a distribution correspondence table as shown in FIG. 25, in which registration data and registration destinations are associated with each other. In the case of registration in the image information database 4-j according to the table, image information registration To the character information database 3, and in the case of registration in the character information database 3, a character information registration instruction transmitting unit 52
Send to In the case of the example of FIG. 25, the patient information registration command and the examination information registration command are sent to the character information registration instruction transmitting unit 52, and the image information command is sent to the image information registration unit 44. At this time, three commands are sent at a time to register one image, and it indicates that it is currently waiting for a registration result to be returned. The information is written so that the information can be referred to from the database registration result processing unit 54.
Commands for the character information database 3 are sent from the main memory 104 via the network via the network interface 101 (FIG. 29).

(1-2-3) Registration of Image Information The image information registration unit 44 of the image information database 4-j converts the received command into a command to be sent to the image information database 45, and registers the data in the image database. . For example, the command used in the image information database 45 is SQL-like, and the transmitted command is converted as follows.

Image registration command Registration data Image insert into image values (image data) After registration in this way, the result is sent directly to the database registration result processing unit 54 (FIG. 31).

(1-2-4) Registration of Character Information In the character information database 3, the character information registration instruction receiving unit 36 receives a command sent from the image information database. Since all of these commands register data in the character information database 3, there is no need to perform sorting in the character information database 3. The character information registration instruction receiving unit 36 sends the received command to the character information registration unit 35. The character information registration unit 35 converts the received command into a command to be sent to the character information database 39 and registers the data in the character information database 39. For example, the command used in the character information database 39 is SQL, and the transmitted command is converted as follows.

Patient information registration command Registration data 1 Patient name = A insert into prtient Registration data 2 Patient ID = “12345” values (“12345”, A,...) Registration data 3 ・ ・ Test information registration command Registration data 1 Patient ID = 10-2561 insert into examination Registration data 2 Inspection date = 1991.08.27 values (10-2561, 1991.08.17, X-ray, ...) Registration data 3 Inspection device name = X-ray Registration data 4 ・ ・ In this way When the registration is completed, the result is sent to the character information registration unit 35. The character information registration unit 35 passes the result to the character information registration result transmission unit 37, and the character information registration result transmission unit 37 returns the result to the image information database 4-j. The registration result is transmitted from the main memory 104 via the network 2 via the network interface 101 (FIG. 31).

(1-2-5) Reception of Registration Result The registration result sent from the character database described above is received by the character information registration result receiving unit 53. The registration result of the image information database is directly sent to the database registration result processing unit 5
Passed to 4. The registration result received by the character information registration result receiving unit 53 is passed to the database registration result processing unit 54. The database registration result processing unit 54 refers to the command processing status check table to check which command the registration result is a response to, and check whether all registration results for a series of commands are complete. If at least one response has not been returned, wait until a response is returned.
After all the registration results are obtained, the registration result is passed to the registration result transmitting unit 55 in order to return the result to the registration terminal 1-k. The registration result transmitting unit 55 sends the registration result to the registration terminal 1-k (FIG. 33).

(1-2-6) Display of Registration Result Upon receiving the registration result from the image information database 4-j, the registration result receiving unit 62 passes the registration result to the database registration result processing unit 64. The database registration result processing unit 64 is a registration result display output unit 67 for displaying the registration result.
(FIG. 32). 27 to 33 are flowcharts of registration by the above-described registration terminal. FIGS. 27 and 28 are flowcharts when a registration instruction of the registration terminal is transmitted.
Is a flowchart at the time of transmitting a registration instruction of the image information database, FIG. 30 is a flowchart at the time of registration of the character information database, FIG. 31 is a flowchart at the time of registration of the image information database, FIG. FIG. 33 is a flowchart when the registration terminal device receives the registration result.

<Embodiment 2> In this embodiment, the information distribution means is provided in the terminal device. FIG. 4 is a block chart showing an embodiment of the medical database search system according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the medical database search system has a search terminal 1- having the configuration shown in FIG.
i, a character information database 3, an image information database 4, and a registration terminal device 1-k. In the present embodiment, the command used at the time of the search is divided into a search request for the character information and a search request for the image information by the search terminal device 1-i. A search request for information is sent to the image information database 4-j.
Similarly, the command used at the time of registration is distributed to registration of character information and registration of image information by the registration terminal device 1-k. Is sent to the image information database.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of these search terminals, FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the character information database, FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the image information database, and FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the registration terminal.

First, the operation for performing a search will be described. Hereafter, Doctor B moves on chest 27 on August 27, 1991.
An example will be described in which an image of an examination of a patient A (patient ID; 12345) that has undergone a line examination is retrieved and displayed on a terminal device.

(2-1-1) Search transmission command Doctor B inputs data necessary for search from search terminal 1-i.

Retrieval target Patient information Examination history of the patient Examination information of a certain examination All images related to one examination Search key Patient ID = “12345” Examination date = 1991.08.27 These inputs are for the search in FIG. The data is input by the database search instruction input unit 21 of the terminal device 1-i. The database search instruction input unit 21 transfers the received data to the database search request distribution unit 22.

In the database search request distribution unit 22,
For example, as shown in FIG. 14, there is provided a correspondence table of data to be searched, a search key required at that time, and a database for sending a search instruction, and it is checked whether the passed data is sufficient. If it is sufficient, a search command is created from the passed data, a search command for the character information database 3 is sent to the character information search instruction transmission unit 23, and a search command for the image information database 4-j is an image information search instruction transmission Send to section 24.

The distribution method described in this example is a method of issuing one command to one search target, and the destination of the command is determined. On the other hand, when a plurality of commands are generated for one search target and the command destination database is different for each command, the command can be distributed in the same manner as described above. For example, FIG. 15 shows an example of a list necessary for sorting when searching for images from the character information database 3 for image display information and searching for image data from the image database 4-j. In this example, the patient information search command, the examination history search command, and the examination information search command are sent to the character information search instruction transmission unit 23, and the image search command is sent to the image information search instruction transmission unit 24. At this time, four commands are sent at a time to respond to the search request of the doctor B, and the command processing status confirmation table shown in FIG. The necessary information is written so that it can be referred to from the database search result processing unit 27. The command is sent from the main memory 84 via the network interface 81 via the communication network (FIG. 34).

There are the following search commands.

Patient information search command Search target Patient information search key Patient ID = "12345" Test history search report command Search target Exam history search key Patient ID = "12345" Test information search report command Search target Test information search key Patient ID = "12345" Date of examination = August 27, 1991 Image search command Search target All images related to one examination Search key Patient ID = "12345" Date of examination = August 27, 1991 (2-1-2) Search for character information In the character information database 3, the command transmitted from the search terminal device 1-i is received by the character information search instruction receiving unit 32 '. Since all of these commands search data in the character information database 3, there is no need to perform sorting in the character information database 3. The character information search instruction receiving unit 32 'converts the received command into the character information search unit 3'.
Send to 1 '. The character information search unit 31 'converts the received command into a command to be sent to the character information database 39, and searches the character information database 39 for necessary data (FIG. 35). For example, a command used in the character information database 39 is converted into an SQL sentence and the sent command is converted as follows.

Patient information search command Before conversion After conversion Search target Patient information select * from patient Search key Patient ID = "12345" where pat-id = "12345" Examination history search command Search target Examination history select exam-id, exam- date, mod Search key Patient ID = "12345" from examination where pat-id = "12345" Patient information search command Search target Exam information select * from examination Search key Patient ID = "12345" where pat-id = "12345" and Examination date = 1991.08.27 exam-date = 1991.08.27 The search result thus obtained is returned to the character information search unit 31 ′. The character information search result transmission unit 33 'sends the search result to the search command transmission source. The search result is transmitted from the main memory 84 via the network via the network interface 81.

(2-1-3) Retrieval of Image Information In the image information database 4-j, the command transmitted from the retrieval terminal 1-i is received by the image information retrieval instruction receiving section 41 '.

Since all of the commands search data in the image information database 4-j, there is no need to perform sorting in the image information database 4-j. The image information search instruction receiving section 41 'sends the received command to the image information search section 43'. The image information search unit 43 'converts the received command into a command to be sent to the image information database 45, and searches the image information database 45 for necessary data (FIG. 36). For example, the command used in the image information database 45 has the same syntax as SQL and converts the sent command as follows.

Test information search command Search target All images related to one test select * from
image Search key Patient ID = "12345" where pat-id
= "12345" and examination date = 1991.08.27 exam-date = 1991.08.27 After obtaining the search result in this way, the result is returned to the image information search unit 43 '. Image information inspection result transmitting section 48 '
Returns search results to the search command sender.

(2-1-4) Reception of Search Results As described above, the search results sent from the database are:
The search result of the character information database 3 is received by the character information search result receiving unit 25, and the search result of the image information database 4-j is received by the image information search result receiving unit 26.
The search results received by the respective receiving units are stored in the main memory 84, and the search results of the image information database 4-j are images, and thus are stored in the image memory 82. The database search result processing unit 27 refers to a command processing status confirmation table as shown in FIG. 26 to check which command is a response to the search result and whether all search results for a series of commands are complete. . If at least one response has not been returned, wait until a response is returned. After all the search results are prepared, the character information of the search result is sent to the character information search result output unit 28 and the image information is sent to the image information search result output unit 29 so as to be displayed according to the user's request. Character information search result output unit 28
Then, for example, character information is arranged and displayed according to a predetermined format. Similarly, the image information search result output unit 29 also arranges and displays image information according to a predetermined format (FIG. 37). FIG. 17 shows an example of the display.

FIGS. 34 to 37 are flowcharts of the search by the above-described search terminal. FIG. 34 is a flowchart when the search terminal transmits a search instruction. FIG. 35 is a flow chart when the character information database 3 is searched. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for searching the image information database 4-j, and FIG.
7 is a flowchart at the time of receiving the search result of the image information database 3.

Next, as an example of registration, the registration terminal 1-k
5 shows an example in which a CT image is registered. At this time, the registration terminal 1-k may be a dedicated terminal developed exclusively for database registration, or may be, for example, an image generation device such as an inspection device.

(2-2-1) Registration Command Transmission An image for registration is prepared in the registration terminal 1-k.
When an image is composed of supplementary information (patient information, examination information, image information) and an image, the registration terminal 1-k inputs supplementary information, which is character information, from the registered character information input unit 70 and registers the image. It is input from the image information input unit 71. At this time, the character information is stored in the main memory 84 and the image information is stored in the image memory 82. The input data is passed to the database registration request distribution unit 72.

In the database registration request distribution unit 72,
It has a distribution correspondence table in which registration data and registration destinations are associated with each other as shown in FIG. 25, and it is determined which database should register the passed data according to the table. Then, a registration command is created and sent to the character information registration instruction transmitting unit 73 in the case of registration in the character information database 3, and to the image information registration instruction transmitting unit 74 in the case of registration in the image information database 4-j (FIG. 38). ). An example of the created registration command is shown below.

[0062] In the case of the example of FIG. 25, the patient information registration command and the examination information registration command are sent to the character information registration instruction transmission unit 73, and the image registration command is sent to the image information registration unit 74. At this time, three commands are sent at once to register one image, indicating that the registration result is currently being returned. For example, the command processing confirmation table shown in FIG. The information is written so that it can be referred to from the database registration result processing unit 77 (FIG. 3).
9).

Commands for the character information database 3 are sent from the main memory 84 via the network via the network interface 81.

(2-2-2) Registering Character Information In the character information database, a command sent from the registration terminal is received by the character information registration instruction receiving unit. Since all of these commands register data in the character information database, there is no need to perform sorting in the character information database. The character information registration instruction section sends the received command to the character information registration section.

The character information registration unit converts the received command into a command to be sent to the character information database, and registers the data in the character information database. For example, the command used in the character information database is SQL, and the transmitted command is converted as follows.

Patient information registration command Registration data 1 Patient name = A insert into patient Registration data 2 Patient ID = “12345” values (“12345”, A,...) Registration data 3 ・ ・ ・ Examination information registration command Registration data 1 Inspection ID = 10-2561 insert into examination Registration data 2 Inspection date = 1991.08.27 values (10-2561, 1991.08.27, CT,…) Registration data 3 Inspection device name = CT Registration data 4 ... When done and finished, the result is sent to the character information registration unit. The character information registration unit passes the result to the character information registration result transmission unit, and the character information registration result transmission unit returns the registration result to the registration command transmission source. The registration result is sent from the main memory via the network via the network interface.

(2-2-3) Registration of Image Information In the image information database 4-j, the registration terminal device 1-
The command transmitted from i is received by the image information registration instruction receiving unit 47 '. Since all of these commands register data in the image information database 4-j, there is no need to perform sorting in the image information database 4-j.
The image information registration instruction receiving section 47 'sends the received command to the image information registration section 44'. The character information registration unit 44 'converts the received command into a command to be sent to the image information database 45, and registers the data in the image information database 45 (FIG. 40). For example, image information database 4
The command used in step 5 is SQL, and the transmitted command is converted as follows.

Image registration command Registration data Image insert into image values (image data) After registration is performed in this manner, the result is sent to the image information registration unit 44 '. The image information registration unit 44 'passes the result to the image information registration result transmission unit 55', and the image information registration result transmission unit 55 'returns the registration result to the registration command transmission source. The registration result is transmitted from the main memory 84 via the network via the network interface 81.

(2-2-4) Receipt of Registration Result As described above, the registration result sent from the database is:
The registration result of the character information database 3 is received by the character information registration result receiving unit 75, and the registration result of the image information database 4-j is received by the image information registration result receiving unit 76.
The registration result received by each receiving unit is passed to the database registration result processing unit 77.

The database registration result processing section 77 refers to the command processing status check table to check which command the registration result is a response to, and whether all the registration results for a series of commands are complete.
If at least one response has not been returned, wait until a response is returned. After all the registration results are prepared, the registration results are sent to the registration result display output unit 78 to display the registration results (FIG. 41).

FIGS. 38 to 41 are flowcharts of registration by the above-described registration terminal. FIG. 38 is a flowchart when a registration instruction of the registration terminal is transmitted. FIG. 39 is a flowchart when a character information database is registered. FIG. 41 is a flowchart when registering the image information database, and FIG. 41 is a flowchart when receiving the registration result of the image information database.

In the above example, the registration terminal device 1-k and the search terminal device 1-i are different devices. However, one terminal device having both functions, for example, an image work device It may be a station.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made.

[0074]

As described above, according to the medical information database system of the present invention, the terminal or the image information database distributes the search request to the character information database and the image information database. Since there is no need to take the extra action of issuing a search request to and receiving search results,
The character information database does not need to have a large-capacity storage medium to hold the image of the search result, and the configuration is simplified.

In a system having one character information database and a plurality of image information databases,
The load is distributed more than in the case where search distribution and search requests to other image information databases are made in one character information database. As a result, if several requests are concentrated in the database, the response time will be apparently shorter.

According to the medical information database system of the present invention, the input means or the image information database
Since the registration request to the character information database and the image information database is distributed, the character information database
Since there is no need to perform an extra operation of issuing a registration request to the image information database and receiving the registration result, the character information database does not need to have a large-capacity storage medium to hold the image of the registration result and has a configuration. Be simple.

In a system having one character information database and a plurality of image information databases,
The load is distributed more than when the distribution of registration and the registration request to another image information database are made in one character information database. As a result, if several requests are concentrated in the database, the response time will be apparently shorter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration to which a medical information database system based on the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display format displayed on an image display device of a communication terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a medical database search system to which the medical information database system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a block flowchart of a second embodiment of a medical database search system to which the medical information database system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control flow of a conventional database search system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a search terminal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a character information database.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image information database.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a registration terminal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional character information database.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence table between search data and search keys.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example (1) of a distribution correspondence table.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example (2) of a distribution correspondence table.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example (3) of a distribution correspondence table.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example (4) of a distribution correspondence table.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a command processing status confirmation table.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a search result.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart when a search terminal transmits a search instruction.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart when the search terminal transmits a search instruction.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart at the time of distribution in the image information database.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart at the time of searching a character information database.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart at the time of searching an image information database.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart when a search result of the image information database is received.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart when a search terminal receives a search result.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a distribution correspondence table.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a command processing status confirmation table.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart when a registration terminal transmits a registration instruction.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart when a registration terminal transmits a registration instruction.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart at the time of transmitting a registration instruction of the image information database.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart when registering a character information database.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart at the time of registration of an image information database.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart when a registration result of the image information database is received.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart when a registration terminal device receives a registration result.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart when a search terminal transmits a search instruction in the second embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart at the time of searching a character information database in the second embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for searching an image information database in the second embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart at the time of receiving a search result of the image information database in the second embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart at the time of transmitting a registration instruction of the registration terminal in the second embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart at the time of registration of a character information database in the second embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart at the time of registration of an image information database in the second embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart at the time of receiving a registration result of the image information database in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-i Search terminal device (terminal device) 1-k Registration terminal device (terminal device) 2 Communication network 3 Character information database 4 Image information database 41 Search instruction receiving unit 21 Database search instruction input unit 22, 42 Search request distribution Unit (information distributing means) 23 character information search instruction transmitting unit 24 image information search instruction transmitting unit 25 character information search result receiving unit 26 image information search result receiving unit 28, 29 information search result output unit 43 image information searching unit 44 image information Registration unit 46 Registration request distribution unit 47 Registration instruction receiving unit 48 Search result transmitting unit 50 Character information search instruction transmitting unit 51 Character information search result receiving unit 52 Character information registration instruction transmitting unit 53 Character information registration result receiving unit 55 Registration result transmitting unit 70 Registered character information input section 71 Registered image information input section 72 Registration request distribution section 73 Character information registration instruction transmitting unit 74 Image information registration instruction transmitting unit 75 Character information registration result receiving unit 76 Image information registration result receiving unit 78 Registration result output unit

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A character information database for storing collateral information as character information, an image information database for storing medical image information associated with the collateral information, and a common search key input to the database and a search result In a medical information database system for connecting a terminal for display via a network, the terminal creates a search command for the image information database and a search command for the character information database according to the input search key. And a means for transmitting these commands to a corresponding database. 2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal receives and stores a search result from the image information database, and a character information reception and storage unit receives and stores the search result from the character information database. The medical information database system according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A character information database for storing collateral information as character information, an image information database for storing medical image information associated with the collateral information, and input of a common search key to the database and generation of a search result. In a medical information database system that connects a terminal that performs display via a network, the image information database transmits a search command for the character information database created according to the input search key to the character information database. A medical information database system, comprising: 4. The medical information database system according to claim 3, wherein said image information database further comprises character information reception storage means for receiving and storing a search result from said character information database. . 5. An input means for inputting supplementary information as character information and medical image information associated with the supplementary information,
In a medical information database system connecting a character information database for storing the supplementary information and an image information database for storing the medical image information via a network, the input unit converts the input supplementary information into the character information. A medical information database system, wherein the input medical image information is transmitted to an image information database. 6. An input means for inputting supplementary information which is character information and medical image information associated with the supplementary information,
In a medical information database system that connects a character information database that stores the incidental information and an image information database that stores the medical image information via a network, the image information database stores the incidental information and the medical image information. A medical information database system, wherein the medical information database system receives the incidental information from the input means and transmits the incidental information to the character information database.