JP5495523B2 - Medical communication device setting system and medical communication device setting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical communication device setting system and a medical communication device setting method for a medical communication device connected to a communication network.

  In recent years, medical diagnosis apparatuses installed in a medical institution are connected to a communication network to share information acquired in one medical diagnosis apparatus and to effectively use common information. In particular, various management systems such as a hospital information management system (HIS), a radiation department information management system (RIS), and a medical image management system (PACS: Picture Archiving Communication System) are installed in medical institutions. By being constructed, such information handling methods are increasingly being used.

  Here, the medical diagnostic apparatus includes, for example, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a CT (computed tomography) apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus (MRI), a gamma camera, and a PET ( positron-emission tomography) and diagnostic workstations.

  By the way, when information is exchanged between a plurality of medical diagnostic apparatuses connected to these communication networks, communication setting information related to the medical diagnostic apparatus to be communicated is set up within the own apparatus so that they can communicate with each other. It needs to be done. However, the communication setting information must be set for each medical diagnostic apparatus. As the number of medical diagnostic apparatuses connected to the communication network increases, the work becomes complicated and becomes a huge amount. Further, an error occurs during the input operation, and an operation delay or the like due to the error is also caused.

  Therefore, in order to eliminate the complexity of these setting operations, in a network system including a network device and an authentication device, the network device is provided with storage means, transmission means, and determination means, and the authentication device is provided with storage means and transmission means. A network system is disclosed (see Patent Document 1 below).

  Further, in the medical field, each computer device connected to be communicable stores a user interface including an operation unit and a display unit, and authentication information and account information including authority information that defines a range to be operated. A storage unit, an authentication unit that authenticates an interface operator based on authentication information, and new account information that is input from the user interface of one of the computer devices and is stored in the information storage unit in the information storage unit of each other computer device A medical system has been proposed that includes a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data between computer devices for storage (see Patent Document 2 below).

According to the inventions disclosed in these two patent documents, it is possible to easily set authentication information and authority information of each user even when using a large number of network devices in either invention. .
JP 2006-85641 A JP 2007-97744 A

  However, in the inventions disclosed in any of the above-mentioned patent documents, it is assumed that each device (authentication server, network device, or computer device) is connected to a communication network and can communicate with each other. It only shows how to deal with the access authority for each device. That is, it is unclear whether the invention is effective when setting conditions for performing communication between devices on the communication network.

  In particular, when connecting a new device to the communication network, it is necessary to individually set communication setting information with an existing device connected to the communication network, resulting in troublesome work. It is not intended to solve this point.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to reliably set communication setting information with a device that desires communication on a communication network, although it is a simpler operation. A medical communication device setting system and a medical communication device setting method that can be performed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the medical communication device setting system, the first medical communication device that performs communication via the communication network and the communication that is connected to the communication network and is set for each medical communication device. A communication management server that collectively manages setting information for a plurality of medical communication devices including an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a CT apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a diagnostic workstation, and a communication management server via a communication network The first medical communication device or the second medical communication device that communicates with the communication management server, and the communication management server receives the second medical communication device from the second medical communication device. When information related to the setting of communication setting information is acquired, an identifier is generated that gives version information to the communication setting information by generating an identifier related to the communication setting information. Equipped with a stage.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the medical communication device setting method, the step of connecting the second medical communication device to the communication network and the communication setting information related to the second medical communication device are connected to the communication network. Transmitting to a communication management server that collectively manages communication setting information related to a plurality of medical communication devices including an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a CT apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a diagnostic workstation, and the communication management server receives The communication setting information from the second medical communication device is newly registered or updated and registered, and the communication management server generates an identifier for the communication setting information that has been set and registered, so that version information is added to the communication setting information. And a first medical communication device connected to the communication network accesses the communication management server. The step of acquiring the version information related to the communication setting information about the second medical communication device, and the first medical communication device, when it is determined that the acquired version information is new or updated version information, Requesting communication setting information corresponding to the version information acquired from the communication management server, and using the version information acquired based on the request, the first medical communication device and the second medical communication device, Communicating with each other.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a medical communication device setting system and a medical communication device setting method capable of surely setting communication setting information with a device that desires communication on a communication network, although it is a simpler operation. Can be provided.

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

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the medical communication device setting system S. The medical communication device setting system S is connected to the first medical communication device 1 that performs communication via the communication network N and communication management that manages communication setting information that is connected to the communication network N and is set for each medical communication device. The second medical communication that sets its own communication setting information to the server 2 and the communication management server 2 via the communication network N and communicates with the first medical communication device 1 or the communication management server 2. Device 3 is provided. In the following, the “medical communication device” is a medical diagnostic apparatus having functions capable of communicating with each other via the communication network N. For example, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, CT apparatus, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, magnetic resonance diagnosis This includes equipment, gamma cameras, PET, and diagnostic workstations.

  In addition, the “first medical communication device” and the “second medical communication device” must be medical communication devices connected to the communication network N. Is a medical communication device that is newly connected to the communication network N and requires setting of new communication setting information, or a medical communication device that is connected to the communication network N but updates the communication setting information so far Is shown. On the other hand, the “first medical communication device” is a generic name of existing medical communication devices that are originally connected to the communication network N and do not need to be updated particularly regarding the setting of communication setting information.

  In the medical communication device setting system S shown in FIG. 1, three first medical communication devices 1 are shown in the communication network N (first medical communication devices 1a to 1c). Any number of the first medical communication devices 1 may be connected. Similarly, any number of the second medical communication devices 3 can be connected to the communication network N.

  Furthermore, examples of the communication network N include a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet. The communication standard used in this communication network may be any standard such as DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the communication management server 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The communication management server may be any of the medical communication devices described above, but in the embodiment of the present invention, an explanation will be given below by taking an information terminal such as a so-called personal computer as an example.

  In the communication management server 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 2c, and an input / output interface 2d are connected via a bus 2e. An input unit 2f, a display unit 2g, a communication control unit 2h, a storage unit 2i, a removable disk 2j, and a drive unit control unit 2k are connected to the input / output interface 2d. The drive unit control means 2k performs drive control of the drive unit 21 such as a drive for the removable disk 2j. Furthermore, the identifier generating means 2m is also connected via the input / output interface 2d.

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

  The input unit 2f is configured by an input device such as a keyboard and a dial for an operator (for example, a doctor or a laboratory technician) of the communication management server 2 to input various operations. An input signal is input based on the operation of the operator. It is created and transmitted to the CPU 2a via the bus 2e. In addition, the communication management server 2 is provided with a dedicated operation panel as well as a keyboard and the like, and an operation on the operation screen can be performed via an input device on the operation panel. The display means 2g is a liquid crystal display, for example. The display means 2g receives an output signal from the CPU 2a via the bus 2e and displays a processing result of the CPU 2a.

  The communication control unit 2h is a unit such as a LAN card or a modem, and is a unit that enables the communication management server 2 to be connected to a communication network such as the Internet or a LAN. Data transmitted / received to / from the communication network via the communication control means 2h is transmitted / received to / from the CPU 2a via the input / output interface 2d and the bus 2e as an input signal or output signal.

  The storage means 2i is composed of a semiconductor or a magnetic disk, and stores programs and data executed by the CPU 2a.

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

  As will be described later, the identifier generation unit 2m generates an identifier for communication setting information transmitted from the medical communication device, and generates version information related to the communication setting information. In the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the identifier generation unit 2m is installed in the communication management server 2 will be described below, but an identifier generation program stored in the storage unit 2i or the removable disk 2j Version information can also be generated by using it. In this case, the identifier generation means is installed in the communication management server 2 by reading and executing the programs stored in the CPU 2a.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of generation of version information for communication setting information related to the second medical communication device connected to the communication network N to the start of communication between the first and second medical communication devices in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow. Hereinafter, the flow from the creation of version information to the start of communication between the first and second medical communication devices will be described using this flowchart.

  First, the second medical communication device is connected to the communication network N (ST1). As for “connection” here, not only the meaning of connecting the medical communication device to the communication network N via the communication cable but also the communication setting information of the medical communication device is set in the communication management server 2 In order to do so, it also means connecting via a medical communication device setting means provided in the medical communication device.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the second medical communication device 3. Here, the internal configuration will be described by taking the second medical communication device as an example, but as described above, the first medical communication device and the second medical communication device are divided according to the presence or absence of setting of communication setting information. Accordingly, the internal configuration of the first medical communication device is the same as the internal configuration of the second medical communication device shown in FIG.

  The internal configuration of the second medical communication device 3 is substantially the same as the internal configuration of the communication management server 2 shown in FIG. The difference is that not the identifier generating unit 2m but the medical communication device setting unit 3m is provided.

  The medical communication device setting unit 3m newly connects the second medical communication device 3 to the communication network N and performs communication with the first medical communication device 1 already connected to the communication network N. It functions as a means used when setting communication setting information. Furthermore, it functions as a setting unit for updating (adding, correcting, or deleting) information related to communication setting information about the second medical communication device 3 stored in the storage unit 2 i in the communication management server 2. The operator newly registers or updates the communication setting information of the second medical communication device using the medical communication device setting means 3m. Here, the “medical communication device setting means” is described on the assumption that it is in the second medical communication device 3, but it may be provided in the communication management server 2.

  For example, when the second medical communication device is a new device and is connected to the communication network N for the first time, the operator first registers the network information of the device (ST2). FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 3g of the second medical communication device 3 when using the medical communication device setting unit 3m when registering network information.

  The screen example of FIG. 5 shows a list of devices that can be connected on the communication network N of the system constructed in the medical institution as described above. When a new medical communication device is connected to the communication network N, the operator depresses an “add” button, and a registration screen as shown in the screen example of FIG. 6 appears. Therefore, input necessary items such as “IP Address” and “HOST NAME”.

  On the other hand, when the existing medical communication device updates the communication setting information, after selecting the registered “host name”, the “edit” button shown at the lower right of the screen example in FIG. Press down to move to the edit screen and enter the necessary items.

  By the way, the communication setting information registered for medical communication devices to communicate with other medical communication devices on the communication network N includes “device identification information”, “use service information”, and “provided service information”. Three pieces of information are included. The “apparatus identification information” is identification information for specifying the medical communication device on the communication network N as shown in the screen example of FIG. The “device identification information” includes, for example, “IP Address”, “HOST NAME”, and the like as shown in FIG.

  “Used service information” indicates information on a service that the medical communication device wants to use among various provided services of other medical communication devices connected to the communication network N. For example, when an image storage server is connected to the communication network N, the information indicates that it is desired to store a photographed image in the image storage server. The “provided service information” indicates information regarding the role of the medical communication device on the communication network N, that is, the service that the medical communication device can provide to other medical communication devices. When the second medical communication device 3 is, for example, an examination reservation device, it is possible to provide a service such as providing the examination reservation information for the entered examination reservation to other medical communication devices. It is information to show.

  The screen example of FIG. 6 includes buttons for registering “use service information” and “provide service information”, which are “use service” and “provide service”, respectively. When these buttons are pressed down to change the screen, for example, a screen example as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display means 3g. The screen example shown in FIG. 7 is a screen example for inputting “use service information”. By inputting into predetermined items shown on the screen, it becomes possible to input information regarding the corresponding service. The input information is transmitted from the second medical communication device to the communication management server 2 and stored in the “device identification information table”, “use service information table”, and “provided service information table” in the storage unit 2i, respectively. Registered (stored).

  When the communication management server 2 receives the communication setting information from the second medical communication device, it is stored in the storage unit 2i as described above, and the version information of the communication setting information received by the identifier generation unit 2m is called It is created (ST3). This version information creation is performed according to the following flow (see the flowchart shown in FIG. 8). In the embodiment of the present invention, version information is created for each of “device identification information”, “utilization service information”, and “provided service information”. In the following, “device identification information” is taken as an example. Give an explanation.

  First, target information (herein, “apparatus identification information”) stored in the storage means 2i is extracted (ST21). Specifically, the identifier generation unit 2m reads “device identification information” from the device identification information table in the storage unit 2i as information that can be processed in the medical communication device, and stores it in the object. Then, serialization is performed on the stored object (ST22).

  “Serialization” refers to serially transmitting a plurality of parallel data. Specifically, this means that the three pieces of information on the storage means 2i are converted so that they can be transmitted and received between the medical communication devices via the communication network N. In the embodiment of the present invention, the target information extracted in step 21 is converted into the XML format. As the serialization method, various methods already disclosed can be employed in addition to the method employed in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Based on the converted information, a hash value is calculated using a hash function (ST23). The hash function used uses an existing function, and any hash function may be used as long as the same effect is obtained.

  Note that the hash value is obtained using a hash function here because the hash value has a fixed length (although it differs depending on the algorithm), and therefore, any information can be obtained without considering the size of the original information. This is because the amount of information can be converted to the same information amount. By converting the communication setting information of the medical communication device into such a hash value, the comparison in the first medical communication device 1 described later can be facilitated.

  On the other hand, the identifier generating unit 2m already stores information on the second medical communication device that has transmitted the device identification information in the storage unit 2i based on the received device identification information from the second medical communication device. It is searched whether it is not (ST24). If each piece of information is already stored in the storage means 2i (YES in ST24), for example, the version information that has already been assigned so that “version 1.0” is set to “version 1.1”. The variable is updated (ST25). If each information related to the second medical communication device is not stored in the storage unit 2i (NO in ST24), a new version information variable is added (ST26).

  The calculated hash value is added to the newly assigned or updated version information variable (ST27). Then, it is checked whether or not hash values have been calculated for all of “device identification information”, “use service information”, and “provided service information” (ST28). Return and calculate the hash value again. On the other hand, when the hash values are calculated for all the information, the communication setting transmitted from the second medical communication device includes the version information variable and the hash values related to the three information added to the variable. The version information related to the information is registered in the file for the corresponding second medical communication device in the storage means 2i (ST29).

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for convenience showing only the hash value portion of the created version information. FIG. 9 shows, from the left, hash values for “device identification information”, hash values for “used service information”, and hash values for “provided service information”. A variable of version information (not shown) is attached to this, and it is an identifier indicating communication setting information (new or updated) from the second medical communication device.

  An identifier representing the communication setting information of the second medical communication device created through such processing is stored in the storage means 2 i of the communication management server 2. The stored identifier is always an identifier indicating the latest information. Although not shown above, when the latest identifier is stored, an identifier representing information related to the existing communication setting information is deleted or overwritten and disappears.

  Next, a case where the first medical communication device opens a communication line with the second medical communication device will be described. As described above, in order to perform communication between medical communication devices via the communication network N, both sides must recognize the other communication setting information. In the embodiment of the present invention, all the information related to the communication setting information of the medical communication device is stored in the storage means 2i of the communication management server 2, so that the communication line is connected to the second medical communication device. When opening, the first medical communication device 1 first makes an inquiry to the communication management server 2 for confirmation regarding information related to communication setting information of the second medical communication device to be communicated (ST4). In addition, the interval of the inquiry which the 1st medical communication apparatus 1 performs to the communication management server 2 can be set arbitrarily. For example, at start-up or at predetermined time intervals.

  Receiving the inquiry, the communication management server 2 searches the storage unit 2i for version information about the medical communication device for which the inquiry is made (ST5). The retrieved version information is returned to the first medical communication device 1 that issued the inquiry from the communication management server 2 (ST6).

  In the first medical communication device 1 that issued the inquiry, the version information replied in the medical communication device setting means 3m, the version information related to the second medical communication device to be communicated stored in the storage means 1i, and Are compared to determine whether the version information is new (ST7). As a result of the comparison, if the version information is new (YES in ST8), the second medical communication device to which the corresponding version information is given to the communication management server 2 based on the answered version information. A request for acquiring the communication setting information is issued (ST9).

  The communication management server 2 that has received such a request searches the storage unit 2i for communication setting information about the second medical communication device to which the version information corresponding to the request is given, and issues the first request. A reply is made to the medical communication device 1 (ST10). The first medical communication device 1 that has received this answer stores it in its own storage means 1i via the medical communication device setting means 3m (ST11).

  On the other hand, as a result of comparison in the medical communication device setting unit 3m, there is no difference between the version information stored in the storage unit 1i of the own device and the version information transmitted from the communication management server 2, that is, new version information Is not created or the version information is not updated (NO in ST8), the version information acquired from the communication management server 2 is discarded (ST12). Note that this discarding is only discarding the latest version information acquired from the communication management server 2, and the version information and communication setting information about the medical communication device to be communicated stored in the storage unit 1 i of the own device. It does n’t mean that it ’s going to be destroyed.

  As described above, the first medical communication device 1 that has acquired the communication setting information about the medical communication device to be communicated performs communication via the communication network N (ST13).

  Thus, in the embodiment of the present invention, communication setting information for all medical communication devices connected to the communication network is communicated including communication setting information for medical communication devices newly connected to the communication network. It is supposed to be stored in a batch in the management server. This eliminates the need to set communication setting information for each individual medical communication device each time new or updated communication setting information is generated, and each medical communication device communicates with the necessary communication setting information. Since it is acquired from the management server, the medical communication device setting system and the medical communication that can surely perform the setting of the communication setting information with the device that desires communication on the communication network, although it is a simple operation. A device setting method can be provided.

  Further, when determining whether or not the communication setting information of the medical communication device that the medical communication device desires to communicate in the communication management server is new or updated, all of the communication setting information There is no need to compare information, and only version information with a small amount of information created based on the communication setting information needs to be compared. Therefore, there is no need to go through complicated comparison procedures when establishing a communication line with a medical communication device to be communicated, and communication setting information can be set with a device that desires communication on a communication network. A medical communication device setting system and a medical communication device setting method that can be performed by a simpler operation can be provided.

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

It is a lineblock diagram showing the whole medical communication equipment setting system composition in an embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the communication management server in embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the flow from the production | generation of the version information with respect to the communication setting information regarding the 2nd medical communication apparatus connected to the communication network to the start of communication between 1st and 2nd medical communication apparatuses in embodiment of this invention. It is. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the 2nd medical communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic diagram showing the example of a screen displayed on the display means of a 2nd medical communication apparatus in the case of registration of network information. It is the schematic diagram showing the example of a screen displayed on the display means of a 2nd medical communication apparatus in the case of registration of network information. It is the schematic diagram showing the example of a screen displayed on the display means of a 2nd medical communication apparatus in the case of registration of network information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of version information preparation. It is explanatory drawing which represented only the part of the hash value of the produced version information for convenience.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st medical communication apparatus 2 Communication management server 3 2nd medical communication apparatus N Communication network S Medical communication apparatus setting system

Claims (6)

A first medical communication device that communicates via a communication network;
Communication setting information connected to the communication network and set for each medical communication device is collectively collected for a plurality of the medical communication devices including an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a CT apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a diagnostic workstation. A communication management server to manage
To set the own communication setting information to the communication management server through the communication network, a second medical communication devices that communicate with each other and the first medical communication device or the communication management server, the Prepared,
When the communication management server acquires information related to the setting of the communication setting information from the second medical communication device, the communication management server generates version information for the communication setting information by generating an identifier related to the communication setting information. A medical communication device setting system comprising an identifier generation unit . 2. The medical communication device setting according to claim 1 , wherein the identifier generating unit generates version information by using a hash function based on the communication setting information transmitted from the second medical communication device. system. The medical communication device setting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second medical communication device includes medical communication device setting means for setting own communication setting information. Connecting a second medical communication device to the communication network;
Communication setting information related to the second medical communication device is connected to the communication network, and the communication setting related to a plurality of the medical communication devices including an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a CT apparatus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a diagnostic workstation. A step of transmitting information to a communication management server that collectively manages information;
The communication management server newly registering the received communication setting information from the second medical communication device, or registering an update setting;
Providing the communication setting information with version information by generating an identifier for the communication setting information registered and registered by the communication management server;
A first medical communication device connected to the communication network accesses the communication management server, and acquires the version information related to communication setting information about the second medical communication device;
When the first medical communication device determines that the acquired version information is new or updated, the communication corresponding to the acquired version information with respect to the communication management server Requesting configuration information; and
The first medical communication device and the second medical communication device communicate with each other using the version information acquired based on the request;
A medical communication device setting method comprising: The step of connecting the second medical communication device to the communication network is a step of connecting using a medical communication device setting means for setting communication setting information provided in the second medical communication device. The medical communication device setting method according to claim 4 . The step of giving version information to the communication setting information registered and registered by the communication management server is performed by an identifier generating means in the communication management server based on the communication setting information transmitted from the second medical communication device. Extracting identification information, use service information and provided service information;
Calculating a hash value for each piece of information extracted in the extraction step;
Connecting the hash value for each piece of information calculated in the calculation step and a variable of version information into version information;
The medical communication equipment setting method according to claim 4 or 5 , characterized by comprising:

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