JP4625667B2 - Contrast agent injector and diagnostic system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a contrast agent injector that administers a contrast agent to a subject, a medical diagnostic device that diagnoses the subject using the contrast agent administered by the contrast agent injector, and these contrast agent injector and medical diagnostic device. Relates to a diagnostic system including

A medical diagnostic apparatus in which a contrast medium injector administers a contrast medium based on a contrast condition transferred from a medical diagnostic apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP2002-177252

  However, the actual contrast conditions may be changed by the technician of the contrast agent injector. For this reason, the contrast conditions managed by the medical diagnostic apparatus may differ from the actual contrast conditions. Therefore, it is necessary for the engineer to manage the contrast conditions, which is a burden on the engineer. In addition, since it is necessary to notify the doctor of the imaging conditions, the engineer must also perform the work for this, and the burden on the engineer also increases in this respect.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable automatic notification of information regarding the administration of a contrast agent to the other medical imaging apparatus side. It is in.

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides an administration unit that administers a contrast medium to a subject, and generation that generates image data including contrast information regarding the administration of the contrast medium performed by the administration unit. And a transfer means for transferring the DICOM file to a medical imaging apparatus using the DICOM protocol. The imaging means includes: a means for creating a DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) file including the image data; An agent injector was constructed.

  In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect of the present invention is a diagnostic system comprising a contrast medium injector and a medical diagnostic apparatus, the contrast medium injector comprising: an administration means for administering a contrast medium to a subject; and the administration Means for generating image data including contrast information relating to administration of the contrast agent made by the means, means for creating a DICOM file including the image data, and using an image transfer protocol for the DICOM file to a medical diagnostic apparatus And means for receiving the DICOM file transferred from the contrast agent injector, and means for adding information indicating the model of the medical diagnostic apparatus to the DICOM file. And with.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically notify information regarding the administration of a contrast medium to the other medical imaging apparatus.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the diagnostic system according to the first embodiment.
This diagnostic system is configured by connecting a contrast medium injector 100, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200, a HIS / RIS 300, and a PACS 400 via a network 500.

  The contrast agent injector 100 administers the contrast agent to the subject to be diagnosed by the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 captures an image for diagnosing the subject using the contrast medium. The HIS / RIS 300 is a hospital information system or a radiology information management system. The HIS / RIS 300 manages the schedule of examinations by the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200. PACS 400 is a medical image archiving and communication system. The PACS 400 stores medical images taken by the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 or the like. PACS 400 conforms to the DICOM standard.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the contrast medium injector 100 and the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200.
The contrast medium injector 100 includes an injection mechanism unit 101, an operation unit 102, a communication unit 103, a memory 104, and a control unit 105.

  The injection mechanism unit 101 includes a mechanism for injecting a contrast medium into a subject. This mechanism includes a power source capable of changing various conditions such as injection volume, injection speed, or injection pressure. As a general power source, a pump that changes air pressure or hydraulic pressure, a motor, or the like can be considered.

  The operation unit 102 inputs information regarding contrast medium administration such as patient information, examination type, and injection plan that are instructed by an operation by an engineer.

  The communication unit 103 communicates with the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200, the HIS / RIS 300, or the PACS 400 via the network 500. The communication unit 103 has a function of transmitting and receiving a DICOM file according to the DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) standard.

  The memory 104 stores information input by the operation unit 102 and information received by the communication unit 103.

  The control unit 105 controls the injection mechanism unit 101 to execute the injection of the contrast agent according to the contrast condition indicated by the information stored in the memory 104. Further, the control unit 105 has a function of generating image data including contrast information regarding administration of a contrast agent and a function of creating a DICOM file including the image data. The control unit 105 includes a CPU and realizes the above functions by software processing.

  The X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 includes an X-ray generation system 201, a detection system 202, a C arm 203, an X-ray generation system interface 204, a detection system interface 205, a C arm interface 206, an image memory 207, a control unit 208, a communication unit 209, An input device interface 210, a video signal converter 211, an input device 212, and a display 213 are provided.

  The X-ray generation system 201 includes a high voltage generation device, an X-ray tube, and an X-ray diaphragm device. The high voltage generator supplies a high voltage to the X-ray tube. The X-ray tube generates X-rays by accelerating electrons with a high voltage from a high-voltage generator and colliding them with a target. The generated X-ray is exposed to the subject. The X-ray diaphragm is provided between the X-ray tube and the subject, and narrows the X-ray beam exposed from the X-ray focal point of the X-ray tube to a desired image receiving size.

  The detection system 202 may be an X-ray flat panel detector having a relatively thin thickness and a flat detection surface. I. (Image intensifier) and an optical system. An X-ray flat panel detector detects X-ray signals by generating electron holes by applying X-rays transmitted through a subject to a photoelectric film, accumulating them in a semiconductor switch, and reading them out as electrical signals. is there. In addition, I.I. I. Converts X-ray information transmitted through the subject into optical information on the input fluorescent screen, and generates high-intensity optical images by colliding photoelectrons generated based on the optical information with the output fluorescent screen. To do.

  The C arm 203 includes an arm portion having a C shape and a drive unit that drives the arm portion. The arm unit holds the X-ray generation system 201 and the detection system 202. An X-ray tube or the like is provided at one end of the arm portion, and an X-ray detector is provided at the other end, both of which are fixedly held in an opposing arrangement via the subject. The arm unit is slidable and enables acquisition of an X-ray image at an arbitrary optical axis angle.

  The X-ray generation system interface (X-ray generation system IF) 204 transfers a control signal from the control unit 208 for X-ray generation to the X-ray generation system 201.

  The detection system interface (detection system IF) 205 receives the fluoroscopic image data from the detection system 202 and transfers it to the control unit 208 or the image memory 207. The detection system interface 205 transfers a control signal from the control unit 208 to the detection system 202.

  The C arm interface (C arm IF) 206 transfers a control signal from the control unit 208 for driving the C arm 203 to the drive unit of the C arm 203.

  The image memory 207 receives the digital fluoroscopic image data from the detection system interface 205 and stores it for each frame or a plurality of X-ray diagnostic image data taken separately.

  The control unit 208 performs control relating to collection of X-ray fluoroscopic image data and control relating to image processing of the collected image data. The control unit 208 includes a CPU, and realizes the above functions by software processing.

  The communication unit 209 communicates with the contrast medium injector 100, the HIS / RIS 300, or the PACS 400 via the network 500.

  The input device interface (input device IF) 210 converts an input signal from the input device 212 into a bit string and transfers it to each control unit or the like.

  The video signal converter 211 converts the signal sequence of the input X-ray fluoroscopic image data into a raster signal sequence in a video format.

  The input device 212 includes a keyboard, various switches, a mouse, and the like, and inputs various instructions from an engineer.

  The display 213 displays the reconstructed fluoroscopic image data generated by the video signal conversion unit 211.

Next, the operation of the diagnostic system according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit 105. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of information related to contrast, imaging, and image observation.

  When performing imaging with contrast medium administration, an engineer uses patient information (patient ID, name, age, weight, height, etc.), examination type and injection plan (infusion) based on information managed by the HIS / RIS. The amount, the injection rate, etc.) are input to the contrast medium injector 100 by operating the operation unit 102, for example. Therefore, in step Sa1, the control unit 105 acquires the patient information, examination type, and injection plan that are input as described above. The control unit 105 stores the acquired information in the memory 104.

  In step Sa2, the control unit 105 waits for an instruction to start injection. For example, if the engineer operates the operation unit 102 to instruct the start of injection, or if an imaging / injection start synchronization signal is given from the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200, the control unit 105 proceeds from step Sa2 to step Sa3. .

  In step Sa3, the control unit 105 drives the injection mechanism unit 101 so as to inject the contrast medium into the subject according to the injection plan. When the injection of the contrast agent is completed, the control unit 105 proceeds from step Sa3 to step Sa4.

  In step Sa4, the control unit 105 generates a bitmap image representing the patient information and examination type stored in the memory 104 and the injection record indicating the condition in which the contrast medium is actually injected in step Sa3. The injection record includes, for example, the injection date and time, the injection amount, the injection speed, and the injection pressure. The bitmap image shows patient information, examination type and injection record as characters, graphs, illustrations, photographs and the like. Each information is generally considered to be represented in a bitmap image as a character string representing it. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the bitmap image generated in this way.

  However, if the injection amount, the injection speed, etc. are changed during one injection of the contrast agent, it is effective to represent a graph showing the change. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the bitmap image generated in this way.

  In step Sa5, the control unit 105 creates a DICOM file including the image data indicating the bitmap image. In step Sa6, the control unit 105 causes the communication unit 103 to transmit the DICOM file to the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200. The communication unit 103 transmits the above DICOM file using the DICOM protocol.

  The X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 images a subject using the contrast medium injected by the contrast medium injector 100 to obtain a diagnostic image. The operation of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 related to imaging may be the same as that of a conventional similar apparatus. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 transmits a DICOM file including the above-described diagnostic image and accompanying information indicating imaging conditions and the like to the PACS 400. Further, the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 transmits the DICOM file received from the contrast medium injector 100 to the PACS 400.

  Note that the DICOM file including the bitmap image indicating the contrast information may be directly transferred from the contrast medium injector 100 to the PACS 400.

  The PACS 400 stores the DICOM file received from the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200. In response to a request from the doctor, information included in each DICOM file is presented. The doctor can access the PACS 400 and check the diagnostic image and imaging conditions as usual. Furthermore, the injection record can be confirmed by visually observing the bitmap image.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the contrast medium injector 100 uses the medical image apparatus such as the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 or the PACS 400 to display contrast information including an injection record indicating the conditions under which the contrast medium is actually injected. Can be sent to. Since the contrast information is transferred by a DICOM file including a bitmap image representing the contrast information, the medical image apparatus on the receiving side only needs to comply with the DICOM standard and is highly versatile.

(Second Embodiment)
The diagnostic system in the second embodiment is the same as the diagnostic system in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as a block configuration. Further, the contrast medium injector 100 and the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 in the second embodiment are the same as the contrast medium injector 100 and the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The diagnostic system in the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the function realized by the control unit 105 and the control unit 208 by software processing.

  The control unit 105 controls the injection mechanism unit 101 to execute the injection of the contrast agent according to the contrast condition indicated by the information stored in the memory 104. Further, the control unit 105 has a function of generating image data including contrast information related to the administration of the contrast agent, and a function of updating the DICOM file transmitted from the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 so as to include the image data. Prepare.

  The control unit 208 performs control relating to collection of X-ray fluoroscopic image data and control relating to image processing of the collected image data. Further, the control unit 208 includes a DICOM file transmitted from the contrast medium injector 100 so as to include model imaging information indicating at least one of the model, imaging start time, imaging end time, and imaging condition information of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200. The function to update is provided.

Next, the operation of the diagnostic system of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of the control unit 105 and the control unit 208. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the flow of information related to contrast, imaging, and image observation.

  In the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 when performing imaging with contrast medium administration, in step Sc1, the control unit 208 creates a DICOM file including patient information based on information managed by the HIS / RIS. In step Sc2, the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 causes the communication unit 209 to transmit the DICOM file to the contrast agent injector 100.

  In contrast agent injector 100, in step Sb1, control unit 105 causes communication unit 103 to receive the DICOM file transmitted from X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 as described above. In step Sb2, the control unit 105 extracts patient information from the received DICOM file. The control unit 105 stores the extracted patient information in the memory 104.

  On the other hand, the engineer inputs the examination type and the injection plan to the contrast medium injector 100 by operating the operation unit 102 based on the information managed by the HIS / RIS, for example. Therefore, in step Sb3, the control unit 105 acquires the examination type and the injection plan that are input as described above. The control unit 105 stores the acquired information in the memory 104.

  In step Sb4, the control unit 105 waits for an instruction to start injection. For example, if the engineer operates the operation unit 102 to instruct the start of injection, or if an imaging / injection start synchronization signal is given from the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200, the control unit 105 proceeds from step Sb4 to step Sb5. .

  In step Sb5, the control unit 105 drives the injection mechanism unit 101 so as to inject the contrast medium into the subject according to the injection plan. When the injection of the contrast agent is completed, the control unit 105 proceeds from step Sb5 to step Sb6.

  In step Sb6, the control unit 105 sets the first bitmap image representing the patient information and examination type stored in the memory 104 and the injection record indicating the condition in which the contrast agent is actually injected in step Sb5. It produces | generates similarly to embodiment of this.

  In step Sb7, the control unit 105 updates the DICOM file received in step Sb1 so as to include the image data indicating the above bitmap image. In step Sb8, the control unit 105 causes the communication unit 103 to transmit the updated DICOM file to the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200. The communication unit 103 transmits the above DICOM file using the DICOM protocol.

  The X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 images a subject using the contrast medium injected by the contrast medium injector 100 to obtain a diagnostic image. The operation of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 related to imaging may be the same as that of a conventional similar apparatus. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 transmits a DICOM file including the above-described diagnostic image and accompanying information indicating imaging conditions and the like to the PACS 400.

  In the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200, in step Sc3, the control unit 208 causes the communication unit 209 to receive the DICOM file transmitted from the contrast medium injector 100 as described above. In step Sc4, the control unit 208 updates the DICOM file to include model shooting information. The model imaging information is information indicating at least one of the model of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200, the time at which imaging for obtaining a diagnostic image is started, the time at which the imaging is completed, and the conditions for the imaging. In step Sc5, the control unit 208 causes the communication unit 209 to transmit the updated DICOM file to the PACS 400.

  Note that the DICOM file including the bitmap image indicating the contrast information may be directly transferred from the contrast medium injector 100 to the PACS 400.

  Thus, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, the model of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 that has performed imaging can also be confirmed.

This embodiment can be variously modified as follows.
The bitmap image may be configured to include individual bits of binary data representing patient information, examination type, and infusion record, respectively, in a bitmap format or a portion thereof.
Inclusion of model information in the DICOM file by the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 can also be performed in the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the DICOM file transferred from the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 to the contrast medium injector 100 may be an empty file that does not include substantial information such as patient information, or may include information other than patient information. May be.
Instead of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200, other types of medical diagnostic apparatuses such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus can be applied.
The format of the data file and the image transfer protocol may be a thing that does not conform to the DICOM standard.

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

The block diagram which shows the structure of the diagnostic system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the contrast agent injector 100 and the X-ray diagnostic apparatus 200 in FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part 105 in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of the information which concerns on the contrast, imaging | photography, and image observation in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a bitmap image. The figure which shows an example of a bitmap image. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part 105 and the control part 208 in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of the information which concerns on the imaging, imaging | photography, and image observation in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Contrast agent injector, 200 ... X-ray diagnostic apparatus, 300 ... HIS / RIS, 400 ... PACS, 500 ... Network, 101 ... Injection mechanism part, 102 ... Operation part, 103 ... Communication part, 104 ... Memory, 105 ... Control , 201 ... X-ray generation system, 202 ... detection system, 203 ... C-arm, 204 ... X-ray generation system interface, 205 ... detection system interface, 206 ... C-arm interface, 207 ... image memory, 208 ... control unit, 209 ... Communication unit, 210 ... Input device interface, 211 ... Video signal conversion unit, 212 ... Input device, 213 ... Display.

Claims (5)

An administration means for administering a contrast agent to a subject;
Generating means for generating image data including contrast information relating to administration of the contrast agent made by the administration means;
Creating means for creating a DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) file including the image data;
A contrast medium injector comprising transfer means for transferring the DICOM file to a medical image apparatus using a DICOM protocol.   The contrast medium injector according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates image data indicating a bitmap image representing the contrast information. It said generating means, a contrast agent injector according to claim 1, characterized in that to generate the image data including the binary data representing the contrast information in the bitmap image format. Means for obtaining a DICOM file transferred from the medical image device;
The contrast medium injector according to claim 1 , wherein the creation unit creates a DICOM file including the image data by adding the image data to the acquired DICOM file. A diagnostic system comprising a contrast agent injector and a medical diagnostic device,
The contrast medium injector
An administration means for administering a contrast agent to a subject;
Means for generating image data including contrast information relating to administration of the contrast agent made by the administration means;
Means for creating a DICOM file including the image data;
Means for transferring the DICOM file to a medical diagnostic apparatus using an image transfer protocol,
The medical diagnostic apparatus comprises:
Means for receiving the DICOM file transferred from the contrast agent injector;
A diagnostic system comprising: means for adding information indicating at least one of a model, a photographing start time, a photographing end time, and photographing condition information of the medical diagnostic apparatus to the DICOM file.

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