JP5739167B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, to management information registration processing for managing an ultrasonic examination.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an apparatus that forms an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal obtained by transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves. Prior to such an ultrasonic inspection (ultrasound diagnosis), the contents (inspection management information) of the current ultrasonic inspection are registered as a record on a management table provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. More specifically, a predetermined button (for example, a New Patient button) is operated prior to ultrasonic inspection (transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves, probe operation). Then, a registration screen for registering the current ultrasonic examination is displayed on the entire display screen. On the registration screen, fields for accepting inputs such as a subject ID, a subject's name, sex, age, birthday, height, weight, etc. are displayed as patient information. A column for receiving an input such as an inspection order ID is displayed. Among them, user inputs are made for necessary items, and inspection management information constituted by the input information is registered as a new record on the management table. By this registration, the content of the display screen is switched from the registration screen to the display screen of the ultrasonic image. That is, the actual situation is that an ultrasonic diagnosis cannot be performed without the necessary registration.

  Actually, it is cumbersome to perform user input for a large number of items on the registration screen for each ultrasonic examination, and instead of such input, input can be automated by cooperation with a host system. ing. For example, when a search command is given after inputting the name and identifier (namely, search key) of a subject using a keyboard or a subject card, a search request including a search key is issued to the host system. In the host system, one or a plurality of inspection order information having a search key is searched, and a search result including the search order information is returned to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that is a request source. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, one or a plurality of search information is displayed in a list, and an inspection order corresponding to the current ultrasonic inspection is confirmed or selected from the list. Then, each piece of information constituting it is transcribed as the contents of each item in the registration screen.

  As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic examination is actually executed after a new registration process for the ultrasonic examination. The image acquired in the ultrasonic examination is associated with the registered record, for example, at the timing of freezing. Specifically, a pointer indicating the location of the image data is added as information constituting the record, or the image data is embedded as a part of the record.

JP 2003-323494 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-287942

  However, it takes time to register the inspection, or a certain time lag occurs when searching on the server. It is inconvenient to always ask the inspector for prior input, or to force the standby during the search. There may be emergencies where an ultrasonography must be performed very quickly. On the other hand, if the registration process of the ultrasonic examination is omitted completely, troubles occur in the recording and management of ultrasonic images and measurement values.

  Patent Document 1 describes that in a medical examination system, an examination order of a subject is extracted from an examination order list and the examination system is started based on the order. Patent Document 2 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an examination information input screen and receives input after power is turned on. None of the patent documents disclose a technique for executing ultrasonic inspection and registration processing in parallel.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of promptly starting the ultrasonic examination for each ultrasonic examination and accurately registering the ultrasonic examination.

The present invention includes an ultrasonic inspection execution unit that executes an ultrasonic inspection that displays an ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, and a local in which inspection management information is registered for each ultrasonic inspection. A storage unit and a control unit connected to a server via a network and connected to the local storage unit and controlling execution of the ultrasonic examination, the control unit performing the ultrasonic examination A registration processing means for executing processing for acquiring order information including information received when ordering the ultrasonic examination from the server and registering it as the examination management information on the local storage unit; the after or during execution execution of the ultrasonic examination, to perform the process of associating an ultrasound image created for examination management information on the local storage unit by the ultrasound Association processing means, and the control unit, for each individual ultrasonic examination, before the inspection management information about the ultrasonic examination is registered in the local storage unit, The control is executed so that the real-time display of the ultrasonic image is started in advance, and the order information is acquired from the server as a background task during the transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave and the real-time display of the ultrasonic image. It is characterized by that.

  In the above configuration, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is connected to a server via a network. The server is preferably a host system that manages the order information of the ultrasonic inspection. Prior to the ultrasonic examination, for example, a search key such as a subject name and a subject ID is input as a minimum input, and a search request is issued from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to the server. . It is desirable that an ultrasonic diagnosis can be performed simultaneously with or immediately after the input of the search key. That is, transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves and real-time formation display of ultrasonic images are started without waiting for at least completion of registration processing of examination management information. Thereby, an ultrasonic inspection can be started promptly. After that, or if the access time to the server is prolonged, order information is acquired from the server as a background task during the inspection by operating the ultrasonic probe. Subsequently, a process for registering order information as inspection management information is executed. It is desirable that this is automatically executed under the surface as a background task. However, if single order information is hit by search but it is desirable to let the user confirm the contents, and if multiple order information is hit by search, one or more orders are given to the user It is desirable to present information and allow the user to enter confirmation or selection. In other words, it is desirable to perform semi-automated processing.

  At the start of the ultrasonic inspection, preferably, the operation condition based on preset data registered in advance is automatically set in place of the operation condition set in the previous ultrasonic inspection in accordance with the recognition of the input of the search key. To be set automatically. In this case, inputting the search key also means starting a new examination. Conventionally, registration processing for ultrasonic inspection and execution of ultrasonic inspection are in a serial relationship, but in the present invention, registration processing for ultrasonic inspection and execution of ultrasonic inspection are placed in parallel. Is. In other words, the rational or inspection intention is to allow the registration to be preceded by the inspection anyway, without being bound by the conventional common sense that the inspection itself must be registered before the acquisition of the inspection result. This sequence is adopted.

  Preferably, the registration processing means includes a means for requesting the server to search for order information during the execution of the ultrasonic examination, and one or a plurality of order information when one or a plurality of order information is acquired from the server. Means for displaying the order information on the screen, and the order information which is the input target in response to the user's confirmation input or selection input for the one or more order information displayed on the screen as the inspection management information Means for registering in the local storage unit. Preferably, the search request is automatically issued when a search key is input. The search key can be input by reading an electronic card (such as an electronic medical record) or reading a barcode on an inspection reservation slip by keyboard input. The order information list may be displayed in a pop-up next to the ultrasonic image displayed as a moving image. Alternatively, it may be displayed on a sub display different from the main display on which the ultrasonic image is displayed. If the ultrasonic image is a fan-shaped or sector-shaped convex image or sector image, a gap area is likely to occur in the upper right corner and the upper left corner on the rectangular display screen, so the order information list may be displayed there. . Of course, such information may be displayed at the bottom of the screen.

  Preferably, the one or more order information is displayed around the ultrasonic image on a display screen. Preferably, when a plurality of order information is displayed on the display screen, a list including identification information thereof and detailed information on order information selected from the list are displayed together. . The former may be displayed on one of the left and right, and the latter may be displayed on the other of the left and right.

  Preferably, the acquired one or more pieces of order information are displayed on the screen during the real-time display of the ultrasonic image or at the time of the freeze operation. If order information is displayed during real-time display, the contents of the order information can be quickly recognized or confirmed without waiting for a freeze operation. By displaying the order information at the time of the freeze operation, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a situation that disturbs the consciousness concentration on the probe and the ultrasonic image, and to make the consciousness turn to the order information when there is a margin. Preferably, the association processing means executes the association during real-time display of the ultrasonic image or at the time of a freeze operation. The association includes registration of a pointer (link information) in the inspection management information, embedding an image in the inspection management information, and the like. The freeze operation is an operation interruption operation that causes transmission / reception stop, prohibition of new writing to an image memory (cine memory, etc.), display image (real-time moving image) to be a still image, and the like.

  According to the present invention, the ultrasonic inspection can be started promptly for each ultrasonic inspection, and registration of the ultrasonic inspection can be performed accurately.

1 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the conventional operation | movement as a comparative example. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation content of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the inspection order information list in an inspection order database. It is a figure which shows the example of a display. It is a figure which shows the test | inspection management information managed in the local memory | storage part which an ultrasonic diagnosing device has.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an apparatus that is installed in a medical institution and forms an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from a human body.

  In FIG. 1, a hospital backbone system 12 and an examination order management system 14 are connected to a network 10. The hospital backbone system 12 is a system for registering various examinations using various medical devices installed in the hospital, and individual examination order information is registered using the hospital backbone system 12. The inspection order information includes order information related to ultrasonic inspection. The inspection order management system 14 has an inspection order database (DB) 20. The inspection order DB 20 stores information about the inspection orders registered by the hospital backbone system 12 in a predetermined order. A specific example of the contents will be described later with reference to FIG. The data management unit 22 is a module for managing individual inspection order information on the inspection order DB 20, and the data management unit 22 has a search function. The communication unit 24 is a module for performing communication via the network 10 in the data management unit 22.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 16 and 18 are connected to the network 10. This network 10 is a LAN installed in a hospital. Inspection order information is provided to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 16 and 18 from the inspection order management system 14 via the network 10 as necessary. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 16 and 18, the inspection management information registration process is executed using the inspection order information sent as such.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 18 will be described as a representative of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 16 and 18. The probe 26 is in contact with a living body and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in that state. It is. In this embodiment, the probe 26 includes a 1D array transducer including a plurality of vibration elements. An ultrasonic beam is formed by the array transducer, and the ultrasonic beam is electronically scanned. As the electronic scanning method, electronic sector scanning, electronic linear scanning, and the like are known. The transmission / reception unit 28 functions as a transmission beamformer and a reception beamformer. That is, at the time of transmission, a plurality of transmission signals are supplied in parallel from the transmission / reception unit 28 to the 1D array transducer, thereby forming a transmission beam in the 1D transducer. At the time of reception, the reflected wave in the living body is received by the 1D transducer, and a plurality of reception signals are output in parallel from the 1D array transducer to the transmitting / receiving unit 28. The transmission / reception unit 28 generates a reception signal as beam data by phasing addition processing for a plurality of reception signals. The beam data is sent to the signal processing unit 30.

  The signal processing unit 30 is a module that executes various types of signal processing such as detection processing and logarithmic compression processing. The received signal after the signal processing, that is, the beam data is sent to the image forming unit 32. The image forming unit 32 includes a digital scan converter (DSC), and forms an ultrasonic image such as a B-mode tomographic image based on a plurality of input beam data. DSC has an interpolation function, a coordinate conversion function, and the like. Incidentally, a cine memory as a ring buffer is provided in the front stage or the rear stage of the image forming unit 32 as required. On the cine memory, moving image information is stored in units of frames over a certain period. The display processing unit 34 synthesizes the graphic image generated by the control unit 36 with the formed ultrasonic image, and the generated composite image data is sent to the display unit 38. An ultrasonic image is displayed on the display unit 38. In this embodiment, the control unit 36 is configured by a CPU and an operation program, and the operation of each component in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 18 is controlled by the control unit 36. The control unit 36 has a function of communicating with other devices via the communication unit 44. In this embodiment, the input unit 40 is configured as an aggregate of input devices such as a keyboard, a card reader, and a barcode reader. A search key (information for search), which will be described later, can be input using these devices. The storage unit 37 functions as a local memory, which is connected to the control unit 36. As described later with reference to FIG. 6, inspection management information is stored on the control unit 37 in units of ultrasonic inspection. The inspection management information is generated by keyboard input or based on the inspection order information acquired from the inspection order management system 14.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a conventional operation example as a comparative example. In this flowchart, a series of processes from new registration of ultrasonic examination (ultrasound diagnosis) to association of examination results are shown. In S100, a predetermined button (New Patient SW) is operated by the user before a new ultrasonic examination is registered. Thereby, in S102, the initial registration screen is displayed on the screen. In S104, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to retrieve inspection order information to the server, that is, the inspection order management system shown in FIG. Usually, such a search or inquiry is necessary. In this case, a search key is input using a keyboard or a card reader in S106. The search key is, for example, the name of the subject, the identifier of the subject, and the like.

  In S108, the server is requested to search for inspection order information using such a search key. That is, a search request is issued. As a result, one or more inspection order information corresponding to the search key is returned from the server side as a list. In S110, such one or more pieces of inspection order information are displayed on the screen. In S112, specific inspection order information is selected or confirmed by the user, that is, the inspector.

  Then, in S114, information is automatically filled in for each item in the initial registration screen using the contents of the specified inspection order information, thereby completing the initial registration.

  After the automatic registration process in S114, the automatic registration screen is switched to the ultrasonic image display screen for the first time, and ultrasonic inspection is started in S116. That is, a necessary diagnosis is performed by observing the ultrasonic image while operating the probe. Thereafter, in S118, the acquired image (moving image or still image) is associated with the inspection management information during or after the inspection. Such association processing is, for example, entry of a pointer or embedding of image data. If it is determined to continue in S120, each process from S100 is repeatedly executed.

  According to the operation example shown in FIG. 2 as described above, since the ultrasonic inspection is started only after the completion of the initial registration, the ultrasonic diagnosis cannot be started until the initial registration is completed from the access to the server. There is a problem. In some cases, there is a case where an ultrasonic inspection should be urgently started, or there is a desire to start an ultrasonic inspection in advance without performing initial registration. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a sequence as described below is realized.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an operation example of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. First, in S200, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is set in a frozen state. However, parallel processing, which will be described later, may be executed in a state where ultrasonic inspection can be performed in real time. In S202, it is determined whether the non-simultaneous parallel mode shown in FIG. 2 is selected or whether the simultaneous parallel mode unique to the present embodiment is selected. This can be preset in advance by the user. If the conventional non-simultaneous parallel mode is selected, the same process as the conventional process is executed in S204.

  On the other hand, when the simultaneous parallel mode unique to this embodiment is selected, a search key is input in S206. This is performed, for example, by reading a card or reading a barcode. The search key is, for example, the name of the subject, the identifier of the subject, and the like. For example, when information is input from a barcode reader, it can be predetermined to input the subject ID as a search key, and when various information is input from the barcode reader, Among them, the inspection order number may be recognized as a search key. The relationship between the input device and the contents of the search key can be set in advance. In any case, by inputting such a search key, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus recognizes the start of a new ultrasonic examination. Therefore, when there is preset data associated with a new ultrasonic examination, it is desirable to set the operating conditions of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to such preset data. For example, a plurality of standard preset data may be prepared, and one of the preset data may be selected by the user at this stage.

  After executing S206, two processes are executed in parallel. One is the ultrasonic inspection process shown at S208, and the other is the background task shown at S210. First, the latter background task S210 will be described. In S216, a search request including a search key is issued to the server. In response to this, the server executes a search, and returns one or a plurality of examination order information including the search key to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as a list. In S218, such a list, that is, a search result is displayed in a pop-up on the screen. A specific example thereof will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S220, specific inspection order information is selected or confirmed by the user. Then, in S222, inspection management information is automatically generated using the contents of the specified inspection order information. That is, all the contents to be registered on the initial registration screen described in the conventional example are automatically registered at this stage. Of course, there may be some blanks. In S224, the examination result association process is executed at a predetermined timing. That is, an ultrasonic result as a moving image or a still image or an inspection result as a measurement value is associated with the inspection management information. The timing is during inspection execution, freezing, or inspection end. It is desirable that the timing at which the association is performed can be set in advance by the user. Further, it is desirable that the pop-up display can be set in advance by the user as to when to display the pop-up display. For example, pop-up display may be performed at the time of the freeze operation.

  The inspection routine of S208 will be described. Real-time image display by ultrasonic wave transmission / reception can be performed immediately after the input of a search key, that is, S206, which is represented as S212. Specifically, S212 indicates the start of the inspection. If it is in the frozen state before S212, the freeze is automatically released in S212. Then, necessary inspections are executed, and the end of the inspection is determined by a predetermined operation in S214. The search result is displayed on the screen at a necessary timing in the course of such inspection, and the search result is associated with the inspection management information at an appropriate timing through a predetermined input by the user. In any case, since the ultrasonic inspection can be started prior to the registration of the inspection order information acquired from the server, it is not necessary to wait for the completion of the registration. Then, after the initial registration is completed during the ultrasonic inspection or at a necessary timing, it is possible to reliably associate the inspection result with the registered information. In S226, it is determined whether or not to continue the above steps, and in the case of continuing, each step from S200 is repeatedly executed.

  FIG. 4 shows a plurality of pieces of inspection order information stored on the inspection order DB shown in FIG. Reference numeral 46 indicates a list containing the contents. Reference numeral 48 indicates individual inspection order information. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the examination order information includes registration number, date (reservation date), patient ID (subject ID), patient name (subject name), gender, order identifier, modality (examination type), It consists of various types of information such as the examination site. In the inspection order management system shown in FIG. 1, when a search request is issued based on such a database, one or a plurality of inspection order information corresponding to the search key included therein is specified. ing.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of an image displayed on the screen of the display unit shown in FIG. Reference numeral 50 denotes a display screen, and reference numeral 52 denotes an ultrasonic image as a B-mode image. It is a tomographic image, and since electronic sector scanning is applied in this embodiment, the ultrasonic image 52 has a fan-like or sector-like form. That is, the apex portion is on the upper side and spreads downward from there. As a result, an empty space exists in the upper left corner from the upper right corner on the display screen 50, and information is displayed using these spaces.

  Specifically, reference numeral 54 indicates a search key input using an input device or information corresponding thereto. In this example, the subject ID and name are specified as the search key. Of course, only one of them may be used as a search key. Reference numeral 56 indicates a list including search results, and in this example, three pieces of inspection order information are included. Each inspection order information is composed of three pieces of information including an order ID, an inspection time, and an inspection site, but this is only an example. In any case, when a plurality of search results are generated, it is desirable to display representative information (identification information) on the screen so that they can be definitely selected. Such a list will pop up on the screen. As described above, the timing may be promptly displayed at the time of information acquisition, or such a display may appear when a predetermined operation, for example, a freeze operation is performed. Incidentally, reference numeral 60 indicates an item for selecting the hold, and when such an item is clicked, the registration of the inspection management information is suspended, and the inspection management information is registered at a necessary timing thereafter. Will be. Reference numeral 62 denotes a transition button to the patient information input screen, and manual input or the like can be performed by clicking the button. A column 64 shown in the upper right corner indicates the detailed contents of the inspection order information when specific inspection order information is selected in the list. In this example, various types of information such as order ID, date of birth, and inspection reservation date are displayed. The user who has observed such a display can specify inspection order information corresponding to the current ultrasonic inspection without error. In addition, since the ultrasonic inspection can be performed in advance, there is an advantage that the time lag until the registration is completed can be eliminated and a quick start of the ultrasonic inspection can be secured.

  FIG. 6 shows inspection management information stored in the storage unit shown in FIG. Reference numeral 66 denotes a list composed of a plurality of inspection management information. Reference numeral 68 represents individual inspection management information, which is generated based on the inspection order information acquired from the server. Specifically, the examination management information includes information such as order ID, patient ID (subject ID), patient name (subject name), gender, date of birth, weight, height, etc., and pointers 70.

  The pointer 70 is information for specifying the ultrasonic image associated with the examination management information, and the pointer 70 represents the reference destination of the ultrasonic image in this example. Of course, the ultrasonic image information itself may be embedded as part of the examination management information. In this embodiment, information is managed according to the DICOM standard.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to start the ultrasonic examination without having to wait for the completion of the initial registration only by inputting the search key. In addition, search processing, registration processing, and the like can be performed as a background task, and the result of ultrasonic examination can be reliably associated with the contents of such registration processing. Conventionally, the ultrasonic inspection is executed following the registration process of the ultrasonic inspection, but in the present embodiment, it is not limited to such a method, and is necessary after the inspection is preceded anyway. It is based on the idea of acquiring a lot of information later as a background task. That is, a rational or inspection-oriented sequence is adopted.

  10 network, 12 hospital backbone system, 14 inspection order management system, 16, 18 ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 36 control unit, 37 storage unit, 40 input unit.

Claims (6)

An ultrasonic inspection execution unit for executing an ultrasonic inspection to display an ultrasonic image by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the subject;
A local storage unit in which inspection management information is registered for each ultrasonic inspection;
A control unit connected to a server via a network and connected to the local storage unit to control execution of the ultrasonic examination;
Including
The controller is
During execution of the ultrasonic inspection, processing for acquiring order information including information received when ordering the ultrasonic inspection from the server and registering it as the inspection management information on the local storage unit Registration processing means to be executed;
Wherein after the running or execution of the ultrasonic examination, the association processing unit for executing a process of associating an ultrasound image created by the ultrasound with respect to the inspection management information on the local storage unit,
Including
The control unit is preceded by the ultrasonic transmission / reception wave and the real-time display of the ultrasonic image for each individual ultrasonic inspection before the inspection management information about the ultrasonic inspection is registered in the local storage unit. Control to start and
The order information is acquired from the server as a background task during execution of the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception and real-time display of the ultrasonic image,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The apparatus of claim 1.
The registration processing means includes
Means for requesting the server to retrieve order information during the execution of the ultrasonic inspection;
Means for displaying the one or more order information on the screen when the one or more order information is obtained from the server;
Means for registering in the local storage unit, as the inspection management information, the order information to be input in response to a user confirmation input or selection input for one or a plurality of order information displayed on the screen;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: The apparatus of claim 2.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the one or more pieces of order information are displayed around the ultrasonic image on a display screen. The apparatus of claim 3.
When a plurality of order information is displayed on the display screen, a list composed of the identification information and detailed information about the order information selected from the list are displayed together. A characteristic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The apparatus of claim 2.
The acquired one or more pieces of order information are displayed on a screen during a real-time display of the ultrasonic image or at the time of a freeze operation. The apparatus of claim 1.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that the association processing means executes the association during real-time display of the ultrasonic image or at the time of a freeze operation.

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