JP4744837B2 - Medical image inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image inspection apparatus for examining (maintaining) a medical image generated by a medical image inspection apparatus.

  In order to actually use an image captured by a medical device for diagnosis, it is necessary to perform image processing such as image rotation, correction of incidental information, gamma processing, and series editing. In order to collectively perform these processes (image detection processes) before diagnosis, a medical image inspection apparatus (image detection apparatus) is used. The image inspection process is performed after the image is captured and before being stored in the image server.

  In the flow of data between each device from when an inspection image is captured by the modality to when it is stored in the image server, the inspection image captured by the modality is transmitted to the imaging device, and the imaging device is sent to the technician. Submit an image request. The engineer who has received the image inspection request performs image inspection processing on the target inspection image, and then the image inspection inspection image is transmitted to the image server.

When an image inspection apparatus is used, an image inspection process must be performed after an image is captured and stored in an image server. For this reason, it may take more time than necessary due to waiting for image detection before starting diagnosis such as inspection that does not require image inspection or inspection that requires urgent diagnosis.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-171386

  An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image inspection apparatus that facilitates a series of operations from examination to diagnosis.

A medical image inspection apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a means for inputting a medical image file, an image storage means for storing the input image file, and an undetected list storage for storing an undetected list. Means for performing image processing for image inspection in accordance with an operator instruction for an arbitrary image file on the unexamined list, and whether or not the input image file satisfies the image omission condition. Means for determining based on incidental information and determining that the input image file is registered in the unexamined image list and that the image file subjected to image processing for the image detection and the image omission condition are satisfied Means for controlling the unexamined list storage means for substantially erasing the processed image file from the unexamined list, the image file subjected to image processing for the image and the image And means for controlling said image storing means in order to transmit the image file is determined to substantially satisfy the external device, image files that have undergone image processing for the image examination is an image examination already An image file attached with a flag indicating that the inspection omission condition is satisfied is transmitted to the external apparatus, and a flag indicating omission of inspection is attached to the image file and transmitted to the external apparatus .

  According to the present invention, a series of operations from inspection to diagnosis is facilitated even in an emergency or when imaging is unnecessary.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The medical image inspection apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment is an electronic device such as a LAN or a WAN for a plurality of types of modalities 1 serving as image generation apparatuses, a radiation department information management system (RIS) 20, and an image server 2. Connected via communication line. Modality 1 includes X-ray diagnostic equipment, X-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging equipment (MRI), ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, gamma camera, SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), PET (positron emission tomography) ) Is exemplified. The radiation department information management system 20 is a system that efficiently promotes the work of the radiation department, and generates and accepts inspection orders, records and transmits inspection accounting information, and other consumables inventory management such as films. In charge of a wide variety of processing. A plurality of image interpretation devices (image viewers) 21 are connected to the image server 2 via electronic communication lines such as LAN and WAN. The image server 2 stores a plurality of image files and provides the image files in response to a request from the image interpretation device 21.

  In principle, the medical image inspection apparatus 3 is generated in the modality 1 and enters the image server 2, that is, before the image file can be provided to the image interpretation apparatus 21 at any time, the density (gradation) of the image file is reflected in the image. Patient information such as patient's name, identification number, gender, address, etc. and examination information such as examination type and device type, as well as maintenance of images such as the orientation of the patient, imprint of left and right marks, film orientation (front and back) Is arranged between the modality 1 and the image server 2 in order to maintain them as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the communication unit 5 of the medical image examination apparatus 3 is connected to the modality 1, the radiation department information management system 20, and the image server 2 via the interface 4 directly or via an electronic communication line. Connected. The medical image inspection apparatus 3 includes a control unit 6, an image storage unit 7, an image management unit 8, an emergency condition determination unit 9, a display unit 10, an image detection omission condition determination unit 11, an image together with the communication unit 5 and the interface 4. A processing unit (image detection processing unit) 12, an undetected list management unit 13, an undetected list storage unit 14, a condition setting support unit 15, and an input device 16 are provided. The image storage unit 7 is provided for storing image files under the management of the image management unit 8. The emergency condition determination unit 9 is provided to determine whether the image file satisfies the emergency condition based on the incidental information. The imaging omission condition determination unit 11 is provided to determine whether the image file satisfies the omission condition, based on incidental information. The condition setting support unit 15 is provided to assist the operator in setting the emergency condition and the imaging omission condition by operating the mouse or keyboard of the input device 16.

  The unexamined list storage unit 14 is provided for storing an unexamined list under the management of the unexamined list management unit 13. Although details will be described later, the unexamined image list management unit 13 registers the input image file in the unexamined image list. This unexamined list is displayed on the display unit 10 together with an appropriate message in order to urge the technician for image verification. An image file designated from the displayed unexamined list is displayed on the display unit 10, and image processing (image processing) is performed in the image processing unit 12 in accordance with the operation of the input device 16 by the image technician.

  The unexamined list management unit 13 substantially deletes the image file that has undergone image processing for image inspection from the unexamined list. Note that the fact that an image file that has already been examined is substantially deleted from the unexamined list may be to delete the data entity from the unexamined list or leave the data entity in the unexamined list. For example, a process for setting an imaged flag for distinguishing between unexamined and already imaged and not appearing in the unexamined list may be performed.

  In addition, the unexamined list management unit 13 substantially erases the image file determined by the unexamined condition determination unit 11 to satisfy the unexamined condition from the unexamined list. It should be noted that substantially erasing an image file determined to satisfy the inspection omission condition from the unexamined list may be to delete the data entity from the unexamined list, or to the unexamined list. May be, for example, a process for setting an already-examined flag and not appearing in the unexamined list for identifying omission of omission while leaving the data entity.

  Further, the unexamined image list management unit 13 waits until image processing for image detection is performed for deletion from the unexamined list of the image file determined to satisfy the emergency condition by the emergency condition determination unit 9. In other words, the unexamined image list management unit 13 maintains the image file determined to satisfy the urgent condition while being registered in the unexamined image list until it is subjected to the image inspection process. The unexamined image list management unit 13 sets an emergency flag for an image file determined to satisfy the emergency condition, and distinguishes it from other files on the unexamined image list.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a condition setting screen provided on the display unit 10 by the condition setting support unit 15. The condition setting screen is divided into an imaging omission condition setting area and an emergency condition setting area. The image-exclusion condition setting area is classified into a modality category, an accompanying information category, a device category, and an image type category. The device classification can be replaced with an AE title classification as an identifier for specifying the other party in DICOM communication. In this case, a plurality of AE titles may be associated with the same apparatus. In this case, for example, a station name (Station Name) indicating an installation location can be specified.

  A plurality of corresponding condition items are listed together with check boxes in each category, and the checked items are set as the imaging omission conditions. Within a category, multiple condition items can be set, and logical sums are applied to them. That is, for example, when both CT and MRI are checked, image inspection is omitted regardless of whether the image file is an image derived from CT or an image derived from MRI. On the other hand, a logical product is applied between the sections. That is, for example, when the CT and the image pitch (representing the reconstruction slice pitch, not the scan slice pitch) with different sections are checked, the image file is an image derived from CT, and the image pitch is the specified thickness (mm When the following conditions are satisfied, the image file is omitted from the image inspection.

  In the emergency condition setting area, three items, a comment tag as image supplementary information, a private tag as image supplementary information, and order information from the RIS (radiation department system) 20 are listed together with check boxes. Initially, all items of comment tag, private tag, and order information are checked. In this case, any one of the comment tag, private tag, and order information indicates “emergency”. If it is attached, it shall be treated as an emergency as satisfying the emergency conditions. When any item of the comment tag, the private tag, and the order information is unchecked for some reason, the item is excluded from a target for determining whether or not an emergency code is attached.

  FIG. 4 shows an operation procedure of the medical image inspection apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment. First, when an image file is generated in a certain modality 1, the image file is input to the medical image inspection apparatus 3 via the interface 4 and the communication unit 5 (S11), and an image is controlled under the control of the image management unit 8. It is stored in the storage unit 7 (S12). At the same time, the identification number assigned to the input image file by the unexamined list management unit 13 is registered in the unexamined list in the unexamined list storage unit 14 (S13). The emergency condition determination unit 9 determines whether or not the image file satisfies the emergency condition based on the incidental information of the image file or the order information acquired from the RIS 20 (S14). When the urgent condition is not satisfied, the image detection omission condition determination unit 11 determines whether or not the image file satisfies the image omission condition based on the incidental information of the image file (S15). When the image inspection omission conditions are not satisfied, the undetected list management unit 13 waits for reception of an image detection completion signal for the image file from the image processing unit 12 or the control unit 6 (S16). When the image completion signal is received, that is, when the image file inspection is completed, the identification number of the image file is deleted from the undetected list in the undetected list storage unit 14 (S17). As described above, the identification number of the image file may be deleted from the unexamined list, and the unexamined and unexamined are identified while leaving the identification number in the unexamined list. For example, an image detection flag may be set and not appear in the undetected list. When the image detection is completed, the image management unit 8 attaches an image detection flag to the image file that has undergone the image detection process, and transmits the image file to the image server 2 via the communication unit 5 and the interface 4 (S18). Instead of transmitting the image file that has undergone the image processing, an image processing data file that defines the content of the image processing may be transmitted together with the original image file. Typically, the image management unit 8 substantially deletes the image file from the image storage unit 7 together with transmission to the image server 2.

  Returning to S <b> 14, the emergency condition determination unit 9 determines that the image file satisfies the emergency condition based on the order information acquired from the comment tag, private tag, and RIS 20 attached to the image file, that is, acquired from the comment tag, private tag, and RIS 20. When it is determined that at least one of the ordered information is attached with a code indicating an emergency, as shown in the procedure in FIG. The file is immediately transmitted to the image server 2 via the communication unit 5 and the interface 4 with an urgent flag attached (S19). As a result, the waiting time due to the image inspection process can be eliminated in an emergency, and an image file can be immediately placed on the image server 2 to generate a state that can be taken out from the image interpretation device 21 at any time.

  Note that, together with the transmission of the image file to the image server 2, the image management unit 8 does not delete the original image file that has not undergone the image inspection process from the image storage unit 7, and the original image file that has not undergone the image inspection process. The image file is maintained as recorded in the image storage unit 7. Further, the unexamined list management unit 13 registers the identification number of the image file determined to satisfy the emergency condition by the emergency condition determination unit 9 without deleting it from the unexamined list in the unexamined list storage unit 14. To keep. Thereby, even if it is an urgent image file, until the image detection is completed (S16), an image inspection request can be transmitted to the image technician. When the image detection is completed, the image file is deleted from the undetected list and transmitted to the image server 2 with the image detection completed flag in S17 and S18 as usual. The image server 2 holds both the unexamined original image file attached with the urgent flag and the imaged image file attached with the detected flag.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, after an unexamined image file was sent to the image server 2 in an emergency, the undetected image in the image server 2 was subjected to an image detection process at the time of diagnosis by a doctor. In this case, the image file that has been imaged by the doctor is stored in the image server 2, and the image file that has been imaged by the doctor is sent to the image inspection device 3, and the image storage unit 7 stores the image file that has been imaged by the doctor. Stored with the flag to represent. The image storage unit 7 typically stores both an image file that has been imaged by a doctor and an image file that has not been imaged.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when it is determined in S15 that the image detection omission condition determination unit 11 satisfies the image omission condition, the unexamined list management unit 13 stores the unexamined list storage unit 14. The identification number of the image file is deleted from the unexamined list (S20). As described above, the identification number of the image file may be deleted from the unexamined list, and the unexamined and unexamined are identified while leaving the identification number in the unexamined list. For example, an image detection flag may be set and not appear in the undetected list.

  In addition, the image management unit 8 deletes the identification number of the image file from the unexamined list, and the image management unit 8 attaches an image omission flag to the image file to be omitted from the image via the communication unit 5 and the interface 4. It transmits to the server 2 (S21). Typically, the image management unit 8 substantially deletes the image file to be omitted from the image storage unit 7 together with the transmission to the image server 2.

  In this way, by deleting the image file determined to satisfy the image omission conditions from the unexamined list, the image engineer performs the image inspection process even though the image analysis process is essentially unnecessary. It is possible to eliminate the useless work that is performed. In addition, although the image processing is essentially unnecessary, it is not sent to the image server 2 until the image processing is received, so that the situation in which the image interpretation work is delayed is eliminated, and the image can be immediately read. Can be generated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when urgent diagnosis is necessary, the image can be postponed, and the image file can be placed on the server and immediately taken out for diagnosis. A series of operations can be facilitated. At this time, since the state registered in the unexamined list is maintained, it is possible to prevent omission of the image detection. In addition, when the image processing is essentially unnecessary, the image processing can be omitted, and the workload of the image technician can be reduced.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the image server 23 can be equipped with the above-described image detection function. When the image inspection process is performed, after the image inspection process is performed, there are two inspection images that have already been imaged and are not imaged in the image server 23. An image inspection flag is provided to distinguish between the two. After that, when the inspection process is performed and changes are made to the inspection image, select whether to save both of the inspections that have already been detected or to overwrite one of them, and save the inspection result To do.

  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 figure which shows an example of the connection environment of the medical image inspection apparatus by embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the medical image inspection apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the condition setting screen by the condition setting assistance part of FIG. The figure which shows the operation | movement procedure by this embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement between apparatuses at the time of emergency by this embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement between apparatuses when an image is imaged by the image interpretation apparatus side in the emergency by this embodiment. The figure which shows the image server equipped with the medical image examination function as a modification of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Modality, 2 ... Image server, 3 ... Medical image inspection apparatus, 4 ... Interface, 5 ... Communication apparatus, 6 ... Control part, 7 ... Image storage part, 8 ... Image management part, 9 ... Emergency condition determination part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Display part, 11 ... Examination omission condition determination part, 12 ... Image processing part, 13 ... Unexamined list management part, 14 ... Unexamined list storage part, 15 ... Condition setting assistance part, 16 ... Input device.

Claims (11)

Means for inputting a medical image file;
Image storage means for storing the input image file;
Unexamined list storage means for storing an unexamined list;
Means for performing image processing for image inspection according to an operator instruction for an arbitrary image file on the unexamined list;
Means for determining whether or not the input image file satisfies the inspection omission condition based on incidental information;
The input image file is registered in the unexamined list, and the image file subjected to the image processing for the image detection and the image file determined to satisfy the image omission condition are stored in the unexamined list. Means for controlling said unexamined list storage means for substantially erasing from;
Means for controlling the image storage means to transmit an image file subjected to image processing for image inspection and an image file determined to satisfy the image omission conditions to an external device;
The image file that has undergone the image processing for the image inspection is accompanied by a flag indicating that the image has been detected and is transmitted to the external device,
An image file that is determined to satisfy the image omission condition is attached to a flag indicating omission of the image and transmitted to the external apparatus. Means for inputting a medical image file;
Image storage means for storing the input image file;
Unexamined list storage means for storing an unexamined list;
Means for performing image processing for image inspection according to an operator instruction for an arbitrary image file on the unexamined list;
Means for determining whether the input image file satisfies an emergency condition based on incidental information;
It is determined that the input image file is registered in the unexamined list, the image file that has undergone image processing for the image is substantially deleted from the unexamined list, and the emergency condition is satisfied. Means for controlling the unexamined list storage means to maintain the image file in the unexamined list until the image file is subjected to image processing for the examination;
The image file subjected to the image processing for the image inspection is transmitted to an external device, and the image file is transmitted to the external device while the image file determined to satisfy the emergency condition is held in the image storage unit. Means for controlling the storage means,
The image file that has undergone the image processing for the image inspection is accompanied by a flag indicating that the image has been detected and is transmitted to the external device,
An image file determined to satisfy the urgent condition is attached with a flag indicating urgent and transmitted to the external device.   The medical image inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying the unexamined list in order to promote the image inspection.   2. The medical image detection according to claim 1, further comprising: means for displaying a setting screen for the examination omission conditions; and operating means for setting the imaging omission conditions by operating the setting screen. Image device.   3. The medical image imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: means for displaying the emergency condition setting screen; and operation means for operating the setting screen to set the emergency condition.   2. The medical image inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image file that has undergone image processing for image inspection and an image file that is determined to satisfy the inspection omission conditions are deleted from the storage unit.   The medical image inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image file that has undergone image processing for image inspection is deleted from the storage unit.   The means for controlling the unexamined image list storage means is a flag that indicates that the image processing has been performed by the processing means or has been detected in the image file that has been determined by the determination means to satisfy the inspection omission conditions. 3. A flag representing that omission of detection is attached, and processing is performed so that an image file attached with a flag indicating completion of image detection or a flag indicating omission of image detection is not included in the image detection list. The medical image inspection apparatus described.   The means for controlling the unexamined list storage means attaches a flag indicating emergency to the image file determined to satisfy the emergency condition by the determination means, and the image file with the flag indicating emergency is attached to the image file. 3. The medical image inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the medical image inspection apparatus is distinguished from an image file not attached with a flag indicating the emergency on an image inspection list. In a medical image system in which an image generation device, a radiation department information management system, and an image server are connected to a medical image inspection device via an electronic communication line.
The medical image inspection apparatus comprises:
Means for inputting a medical image file from the image generating device;
Image storage means for storing the input image file;
Unexamined list storage means for storing an unexamined list;
Means for performing image processing for image inspection according to an operator instruction for an arbitrary image file on the unexamined list;
Means for determining whether or not the input image file satisfies the inspection omission condition based on incidental information;
The input image file is registered in the unexamined list, and the image file subjected to the image processing for the image detection and the image file determined to satisfy the image omission condition are stored in the unexamined list. Means for controlling said unexamined list storage means for substantially erasing from;
Means for controlling the image storage means to transmit the image file subjected to the image processing for the image inspection and the image file determined to satisfy the inspection omission condition to the image server,
The image file that has undergone the image processing for the image inspection is accompanied by a flag indicating that the image has been detected and is transmitted to the external device,
The medical image system, wherein an image file determined to satisfy the imaging omission condition is transmitted with a flag indicating omission of omission to the external apparatus . In a medical image system in which an image generation device, a radiation department information management system, and an image server are connected to a medical image inspection device via an electronic communication line.
The medical image inspection apparatus comprises:
Means for inputting a medical image file from the image generating device;
Image storage means for storing the input image file;
Unexamined list storage means for storing an unexamined list;
Means for performing image processing for image inspection according to an operator instruction for an arbitrary image file on the unexamined list;
Means for determining whether the input image file satisfies an emergency condition based on incidental information;
It is determined that the input image file is registered in the unexamined list, the image file that has undergone image processing for the image is substantially deleted from the unexamined list, and the emergency condition is satisfied. Means for controlling the unexamined list storage means to maintain the image file in the unexamined list until the image file is subjected to image processing for the examination;
Transmitting the image file subjected to the image processing for the image inspection to the image server, and transmitting the image file determined to satisfy the emergency condition to the image server while being held in the image storage unit. Means for controlling the image storage means,
The image file that has undergone the image processing for the image inspection is accompanied by a flag indicating that the image has been detected and is transmitted to the external device,
The medical image system, wherein an image file determined to satisfy the imaging omission condition is transmitted with a flag indicating omission of omission to the external apparatus .

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