JP6073567B2 - Medical information recording apparatus and medical information recording method - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a medical information recording apparatus and a medical information recording method.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, medical image diagnostic apparatuses that collect information inside a subject and generate a medical image by imaging the inside of the subject based on the collected information have been used. Examples of the medical image diagnostic apparatus include an X-ray CT apparatus (computed tomography) and a magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus (MRI). The generated medical image is displayed on a medical image display device connected to the network, for example.

  The performance of these medical image diagnostic apparatuses has improved year by year, and a large amount of medical images can be acquired by one examination. In addition, the recording capacity of recording media such as CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark) is increasing. In DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine), which is a standard generally used for recording medical information including medical images, an index file called DICOMDIR is created when recording medical images. Along with the increase in capacity, the size of the index file also increases, and a long recording time or reading time becomes a problem.

  In order to solve this problem, in the following Patent Document 1, a partial index file is created in advance, and the problem is solved by reducing the recording time using this index file.

JP 2008-217558 A

  However, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, although the recording time can be shortened, the reading time still takes a lot of time.

  That is, in general, a medical image is composed of incidental information including four layers of “patient information”, “examination information”, “series information”, and “image information” in addition to the medical image itself. Extracts of the main information at each level are referred to as “patient directory information”, “examination directory information”, “series directory information”, and “image directory information”, respectively. Is configured.

  In these directory information, offset information to the next related directory information (position information indicating where the next related directory information is located) is recorded. The offset information is recorded in this way, particularly when new information is recorded on the recording medium, it is not recorded sequentially in the recording medium, but is randomly recorded in an empty area, This is because the length of each directory information is not defined.

  Therefore, in other words, when new information is added, the offset information of the immediately preceding directory information must be corrected. However, in order to search for the directory information immediately before this and rearrange it, it is necessary to output the entire index file once.

  In addition, for example, when reading a patient information list recorded in a recording medium, it is necessary to read all patient directory information. Where is this patient directory information located in the entire index file? Since it is unknown, it is necessary to read the entire index file after all.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce processing time and write information when writing information to the recording medium or reading information from the recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a medical information recording apparatus and a medical information recording method capable of preventing deterioration of a recording medium due to processing.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the medical information recording apparatus, image data conforming to a standard for recording a medical image on a recording medium, a data generation unit that generates directory information about the image data, and a medical image The index data having the corresponding directory information is managed, and the medium management unit that holds the recording method of the index data on the recording medium, and the directory information and the data generation unit in the index data acquired from the recording medium are generated. An index data construction unit for determining additional directory information on the recording medium from the directory information, and writing of the additional directory information is controlled, and the additional directory information is provided in advance in a block serving as a writing target area and has a semi-fixed length. padding record constituting the padding area with the padding field of building blocks Stored on deleting the and a write control unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the medical information recording apparatus, a data generation unit that generates image data conforming to the DICOM standard and a plurality of levels of directory information related to the image data to be recorded on a recording medium; A medium management unit that manages index data including directory information related to image data and information related to an offset value between the directory information, and a write target area for additional write directory information when recording additional write directory information on a recording medium ; In the determination result of the index data construction unit and the index data construction unit for judging whether or not the size of the padding area for constructing the semi-fixed length block that is provided in advance in the block is a size that allows the appending directory information to be added. based on the size of the padding area Oh postscript directory information can be added size Case, writing the padding area on deleting the padding records constituting the padding area, if the size can not be added, a write control for writing additional write directory information on building the new block processing A part.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the medical information recording method, the capacity of additional recording directory information relating to an image file of a medical image that is required to be additionally recorded on a recording medium, and a block serving as a writing target area of the additional recording directory information Comparing the capacity of the padding area, and if the result of the comparison indicates that the additional directory information capacity is less than or equal to the capacity of the padding area, the step of deleting the padding record constituting the padding area, and the deleted padding area A step of writing additional directory information to the block, a step of inserting a padding record into the block so that the capacity of the block in which the additional directory information is written does not change, and new offset information related to the additional directory information written in the block are recorded. With steps to .

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the medical information recording device in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the writing part in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the reading part in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the logical structure of the index file in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the physical structure of the index file in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow which adds new medical information to the medical information currently recorded on the recording medium. It is a flowchart which shows the flow which adds new medical information to the medical information currently recorded on the recording medium. It is an example of a screen shown at the time of the recording system selection process in the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows and demonstrates the block which adds the process which adds new medical information to the medical information currently recorded on the recording medium. It is explanatory drawing which shows and demonstrates the block which adds the process which adds new medical information to the medical information currently recorded on the recording medium. It is explanatory drawing which shows and demonstrates the block which adds the process which adds new medical information to the medical information currently recorded on the recording medium. It is explanatory drawing which shows and demonstrates the block which adds the process which adds new medical information to the medical information currently recorded on the recording medium.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a medical information recording apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The medical information recording device 1 is a device for reading medical information such as medical images recorded on a recording medium or recording (writing) new medical information.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when medical information is newly recorded, the medical information is recorded based on the DICOM standard, and the medical information to be read is information recorded according to the DICOM standard. Examples of the recording medium include CD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark) and the like as described above. By inserting these recording media into the medical information recording apparatus 1, medical information recorded in the recording medium can be read or new medical information can be added. For this reason, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the recording medium can be additionally written multiple times, but this does not exclude the use of a recording medium that can be written only once.

  For example, a workstation corresponds to the medical information recording apparatus 1. This medical information recording apparatus 1 is a medical institution such as a hospital information management system (HIS), a radiation department information management system (RIS), or a medical image management system (PACS: Picture Archiving Communication System). It may be used in combination with various management systems built inside. On the other hand, it can be used in a state where connection with these various management systems is not made.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the medical information recording apparatus 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1a, a read only memory (ROM) 1b, a random access memory (RAM) 1c, and an input / output interface 1d via a bus 1e. It is connected. An input unit 1f, a display unit 1g, a communication control unit 1h, a storage unit 1i, a drive 1j, a writing unit 10, and a reading unit 11 are connected to the input / output interface 1d.

  The CPU 1a reads out and executes a boot program for activating the medical information recording apparatus 1 from the ROM 1b based on an input signal from the input unit 1f, and reads out various operating systems stored in the storage unit 1i. The CPU 1a controls various devices based on input signals from other external devices not shown in FIG. 1 via the input unit 1f and the input / output interface 1d. Further, the CPU 1a reads out the program and data recorded in the RAM 1c, the storage unit 1i and the like and loads them into the RAM 1c. Based on the program command read out from the RAM 1c, the CPU 1a writes medical information and calculates data. It is a processing device that realizes a series of processing such as processing.

  The input unit 1f is composed of an input device such as a keyboard and a dial for an operator (for example, a doctor or a laboratory technician) of the medical information recording apparatus 1 to input various operations, and an input signal based on the operation of the operator Is transmitted to the CPU 1a via the bus 1e. The medical information recording apparatus 1 may be provided with a dedicated operation panel as well as a keyboard or the like.

  The display unit 1g is, for example, a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal display. The display unit 1g receives an output signal from the CPU 1a via the bus 1e, and displays, for example, a list of patient information and examination information read from the recording medium, or a processing result of the CPU 1a.

  The communication control unit 1h is a means such as a LAN card or a modem, and is a means that enables the medical information recording apparatus 1 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 unit 1h is transmitted / received to / from the CPU 1a via the input / output interface 1d and the bus 1e as an input signal or an output signal.

  The storage unit 1i is composed of a semiconductor or a magnetic disk, and stores programs and data executed by the CPU 1a. Inspection data is also recorded. This examination data includes information such as the patient name, patient ID, age, birth date, examination ID, examination date and time, and diagnostic part. In the medical information recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration in which the storage unit 1i is provided in the medical information recording apparatus 1 is described as an example. It may be provided on the apparatus.

  The drive 1j has an insertion slot into which a recording medium is inserted, for example, and is used when medical information is written on the recording medium or when medical information is read from the recording medium.

  The writing unit 10 performs a process of writing new medical information on the recording medium. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the writing unit 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The writing unit 10 includes a receiving unit 10a, a writing control unit 10b, a media management unit 10c, a data generation unit 10d, an index file construction unit 10e, a preset application unit 10f, and a transmission unit 10g. The

  The receiving unit 10a receives, for example, a writing instruction from the operator via the input unit 1f. The write control unit 10b controls a media management unit 10c, a data generation unit 10d, and an index file construction unit 10e, which will be described later, and image data (hereinafter referred to as “image file”) to the recording medium based on the write instruction. ) And index data (hereinafter referred to as “index file”). The media management unit 10c detects that a recording medium has been inserted into the medical information recording apparatus 1 (drive 1j). In addition, the type of the recording medium and the recording method of the index file of medical information recorded on the recording medium are confirmed and held, and the index file is managed. The media management unit 10c also provides an index file based on a request from the write control unit 10b.

  The data generation unit 10d acquires the image file to be written to the recording medium based on the write instruction from the storage unit 1i, and also stores directory information (“patient directory information”, “examination directory information”, “Series directory information”, “image directory information”).

  The index file construction unit 10e includes directory information relating to the index file managed by the media management unit 10c and the added image file generated by the data generation unit 10d (hereinafter, such directory information is referred to as “additional directory information” as appropriate). And an area in which directory information to be additionally written is written (hereinafter, such an area is appropriately referred to as a “write target area”). In addition, the capacity of the directory information to be added is compared with the capacity of the free area (padding area) in the write target area, and information on whether or not the directory information to be added to the padding area can be written is also confirmed. To the control unit 10b.

  The preset application unit 10f holds a default recording method for the index file. It also holds the recording method used when writing image files and directory information.

  The transmission unit 10g transmits an instruction from the write control unit 10b to the drive 1j. By this transmission, additional write directory information and the like are written (recorded) on the recording medium inserted in the drive 1j.

  The reading unit 11 reads the index file recorded in the recording medium and displays the contents on the display unit 1g. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the reading unit 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The reading unit 11 includes a receiving unit 11a, a reading control unit 11b, a media management unit 11c, a preset application unit 11d, and a transmission unit 11e. Among these, the read control unit 11b reads the index file in the recording medium via the media management unit 11c. The content of the read index file is displayed on the display unit 1g via the transmission unit 11e.

  For example, the functions of the media management unit 11c and the preset application unit 11d are the same as those of the media management unit 10c and the preset application unit 10f provided in the writing unit 10.

  Here, the structure of the index file will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the logical structure of the index file 4 in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the physical structure of the index file 4. The index file 4 has one file header information 4 # and one index file information 4! And a plurality of directory information.

  In the file header 4 #, offset information to the first directory information and offset information to the last directory information are recorded. In addition, information related to a recording medium and information related to a creation device such as an index file (meta information) are also recorded. Index file information 4! In the, predetermined information for searching for the write target area is recorded. In addition, index file information 4! May be recorded in the file header information 4 #, as will be described later.

  The directory information is information obtained by extracting main information for each layer in the image supplementary information in the recorded image file. For example, in the case of “patient directory information”, information to be recorded is information such as “patient name”, “patient ID”, and “sex”. Further, the length of each directory information is not fixed (undefined). This is because the capacity of the directory information is different for each directory information, and the length cannot be determined from the beginning.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each directory information includes “patient directory information 4a”, “examination directory information 4aa”, “series directory information 4aaa”, “image directory information” in accordance with the hierarchical structure of the image supplementary information in the image file. The four directory information “4aaa1” are hierarchized. The “image directory information” records path information of the image file main body corresponding to each “image file”.

  Therefore, for example, when one image file is recorded, “file header information 4 #”, “patient directory information 4a”, “examination directory information 4aa”, “series directory information 4aaa”, “Image directory information 4aaa1” is recorded. Also, path information related to the corresponding “image file aaa1” is recorded in “image directory information 4aaa1”.

  The same type of directory information is recorded in the same hierarchy. For example, in FIG. 4, “patient directory information 4b” is shown as patient directory information recorded at the same level as “patient directory information 4a”. From “patient directory information 4a” to “patient directory information 4b”. A solid arrow is shown.

  Although there is patient directory information subsequent to “patient directory information 4b”, the description is omitted in FIG. 4, and therefore, a broken-line arrow is shown to come out of “patient directory information 4b”. This is also true for the relationship between “examination directory information 4aa” and “examination directory information 4ab”, for example.

  Each directory information stores “offset information related to the next directory information recorded in the same layer” and “offset information related to the directory information recorded one layer below”.

  Specifically, taking “patient directory information 4a” as an example, “offset information regarding the next directory information recorded in the same hierarchy” is offset information of “patient directory information 4b”. Further, the “offset information related to directory information recorded one level below” corresponds to the offset information of “examination directory information 4aa”. Further, for example, taking “series directory information 4aaa” as an example, “offset information related to the next directory information recorded in the same hierarchy” is offset information of “series directory information 4aab”. Further, the “offset information related to directory information recorded one level below” corresponds to the offset information of “image directory information 4aaa1”.

  By storing two types of offset information in each directory information in this way, the target directory information can be reached easily and quickly at the time of writing or reading.

  In the file structure shown in FIG. 4, “series directory information 4aab” corresponds to the final series in the same examination. Therefore, there is no “offset information related to the next directory information recorded in the same hierarchy”, and a value such as “null” is stored. On the other hand, since “image directory information 4aab1” is stored for “offset information related to directory information recorded one level lower”, offset information of the directory information is stored. Regarding “image directory information”, “offset information related to the next directory information recorded in the same hierarchy” is basically stored, but there is no directory information one level lower than “image directory information”. There is no “offset information related to directory information recorded one level below”, and a value such as “null” is stored.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the physical structure of the index file 4 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the DICOM standard, there is no regulation regarding the storage order of the directory information except that the file header information 4 # is arranged at the head, so that any structure can be adopted. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a structure in which the same type of directory information is stored together is adopted. That is, for example, in the case of “patient directory information”, all “patient directory information” recorded in the index file is recorded together. The same applies to other directory information. Finally, “index file information 4!” Is recorded.

  Next, a flow when a new image file is written in medical information recorded on a recording medium will be described with reference to the drawings. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing a flow of adding new medical information to the medical information recorded on the recording medium.

  First, the operator gives an instruction to write new medical information on the recording medium. This write instruction is input to the writing unit 10 and the reading unit 11 via the input unit 1f (ST1).

  In the writing unit 10, upon receiving this writing instruction, the writing control unit 10b instructs the data generation unit 10d to acquire an image file to be written from the storage unit 1i, and a directory related to the image file. The generation of information is instructed (ST2). It is assumed that the operator selects an image file to be recorded (written) on a recording medium by some method before performing the writing process. Accordingly, the writing instruction includes information about which image file and directory information related to the image file are written to the recording medium.

  The additional directory information that is the generated directory information is transmitted from the data generation unit 10d to the index file construction unit 10e. The index file construction unit 10e confirms the received postscript directory information (ST3). The contents confirmed here are, for example, the type of postscript directory information and the capacity (size) of the postscript directory information.

  On the other hand, the media management unit 10c confirms that the recording medium has been inserted into the drive 1j of the medical information recording apparatus 1 (ST4). This is because the write instruction has already been input to the reading unit 11 as described above. Here, the description has been made on the assumption that the writing instruction is input to the writing unit 10 and the reading unit 11, respectively. However, the reading unit 11 receives the writing instruction from the writing unit 10 that has received the writing instruction. It may be configured to.

  The reading unit 11 reads the index file recorded on the recording medium, transmits the contents to the media management unit 10c, and further transmits to the index file construction unit 10e. The index file construction unit 10e receives the index file recorded on the read recording medium and confirms the recording method for the index file (ST5).

  Here, a recording method at the time of writing to or reading from the index file recorded on the recording medium will be described. FIG. 8 is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 1g in the recording method selection process according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the writing process or the reading process in the embodiment of the present invention, three recording methods can be selected.

  In order to read each recorded directory information as quickly as possible, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the same kind of directory information is collectively recorded in the index file. In order to employ such a recording method, a padding area is recorded in advance in the writing target area in order to secure an area (writing target area) in the directory information in which additional directory information is written.

  Note that, as will be described later, the additional write directory information is written in a write target area that is secured by deleting this padding area. In other words, the write target area is a padding area and is included in the padding area. It can also be said.

  Further, as a method of quickly reaching the write target area, a method of recording index file information in advance and searching the write target area based on the information is also adopted in the embodiment of the present invention.

  However, the presence of the padding area and index file information are recorded in advance, and the method of quickly searching (reading) the writing target area does not deviate from the DICOM standard. Some devices cannot be employed from the viewpoint of reliably recording data on a recording medium.

  Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, three recording methods are adopted as described above. First, “compatible mode” and “high-speed mode” can be cited as recording methods capable of performing writing processing using a padding area. Among these, the latter, “high-speed mode”, employs a method of recording index file information in advance and quickly searching for a write target area. This method is not adopted in the “compatibility mode”. On the other hand, “normal mode” is also provided as one of the recording methods as a mode in which neither the writing process using the padding area nor the method of quickly searching for the writing target area based on the index file information is employed.

  In FIG. 8, a recording method setting screen is shown as “DICOM media recording setting”. Note that this screen layout can be changed as necessary, and is not limited to the layout shown in FIG.

  In the screen example shown in FIG. 8, three recording methods are shown. At the top, “High-speed reading / writing” is shown in “High-speed mode”. Next, “Compatible mode” is indicated as “Highly compatible recording method”. And at the bottom, “Normal mode” is indicated as “very compatible recording method”.

  In the wording expressed as “normal mode”, “very compatible” means that in the normal mode, an index file or the like recorded on a recording medium is quickly read and additional directory information is written. Represents a mode that can be adopted regardless of the medical information recording device in performing the writing process or the reading process because it does not employ a characteristic method for quickly searching the target area. It is.

  When one of the three recording modes is selected and the “Setting” button on the screen shown in FIG. 8 is clicked, the information is stored in the writing unit 10 or the preset application units 10f and 11d in the reading unit 11. Each is recorded. Here, the recording method is selected when performing the writing process, but for example, one of the modes is selected in advance, and the recording method is not set every time the writing process is performed. It may be adopted. The selected recording method is confirmed in the index file construction unit 10e (ST6).

  As a result of confirmation by the index file construction unit 10e, when “compatibility mode” is selected in the writing process (YES in ST7), a directory to which device-defined block size, for example, additional directory information is written The blocks are searched one by one up to the information to determine the writing target area (ST8). As described above, the directory information stores “offset information related to the next directory information recorded in the same hierarchy” and “offset information related to the directory information recorded one level below”. Therefore, the writing target area is searched based on the offset information based on the additional write directory information generated by the data generation unit 10d.

  Here, the directory information is generated in each hierarchy of “patient”, “examination”, “series”, and “image”, but in the embodiment of the present invention, padding is added to the directory information at the end of each hierarchy. A semi-fixed length block is constructed by adding an area. The padding area fills the difference between the capacity of the directory information and the block size in a state where directory information whose length is not determined (undefined) is stored in the block. Therefore, it can be said that the block is constructed from directory information to which no padding area is added and directory information to which a padding area is added, and the capacity can be changed according to the capacity of the directory information.

  This block is constructed including its size (size) when the index file is generated. Therefore, the directory information at the end of each layer of the index file read from the recording medium is composed of blocks. If only one medical image is recorded as medical information on the recording medium, the directory information representing the image file including the medical image is the “patient”, “examination”, “series”, “image”. Since there are four layers, each corresponding to the directory information at the end of each layer, the index file in this case is composed of four blocks.

  The size of the block to be constructed can be arbitrarily set, but the directory information cannot be stored and the frequency with which a new block is constructed is lowered (if the block is constructed frequently, the writing process takes time). It is desirable that directory information can be stored to some extent and that it is matched to a multiple of the sector size of the recording medium. By taking this point into consideration, it is possible to efficiently process the index file in the future.

  It is also conceivable to construct with different block sizes for each hierarchy. This is because the series, the average number of output images, and the size of the directory information differ depending on the medical image capturing device that captures a medical image. For example, the basic block size may be 16 KB capable of storing about 10 to 20 directory information, and 128 KB in the case of image directory information storing icons.

  Furthermore, among the four directory information of “patient directory information”, “examination directory information”, “series directory information”, and “image directory information”, “patient directory information” and “examination directory information” are recorded. In general, there is often less information than the other two. Therefore, for these “patient directory information” and “examination directory information”, one block may be constructed, and each directory information may be recorded in the common block.

  After the index file construction unit 10e determines the write target area, the capacity of the additional write directory information is compared with the capacity of the empty area (padding area) in the block (ST9). Here, the following description will be made by appropriately using the block shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 12 for adding a process for adding new medical information to the medical information recorded on the recording medium.

  The blocks shown in FIG. 9 and thereafter show blocks relating to “patient directory information”. The blocks shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 are divided into 16 areas to which numbers “0” to “15” are assigned for convenience of explanation. In the figure, all the areas are shown to have the same size, but the capacity of the area changes appropriately according to the capacity of the information to be stored.

  First, as described above, each directory information stores “offset information related to the next directory information recorded in the same hierarchy” and “offset information related to the directory information recorded one level below”. The same applies to “patient directory information”. In the “patient directory information” recorded in the block A shown in FIG. 9, “offset to the next patient directory information” is displayed in “area 0” as “offset information related to the next directory information recorded in the same hierarchy”. Information "is stored. Further, “area 1” stores “offset information on next inspection directory information” which is “offset information on directory information recorded one layer below”.

  By the way, “(−)” is shown after “offset information to the next patient directory information” stored in “area 0”. In the case of block A shown in FIG. 9, in this state, only one piece of information is stored as patient directory information, and “next patient directory information” does not exist. There is no description indicating information, and “(−)” is shown as described above.

  The “offset information to the next examination directory information” stored in “area 1” is offset information related to “examination directory information”, which is different in hierarchy from the “patient directory information”. Since the description of “directory information” is omitted, the display thereof is also omitted. However, the concept of offset information and the display method are the same as in the case of “offset information to the next patient directory information”.

  In block A of “patient directory information” shown in FIG. 9, “patient name record” that is information related to the patient name is stored in “area 2”, “patient ID record” is stored in “area 3”, and “area 4”. Stores “sex record”. Then, “padding record” is stored from “area 5” to “area 14”, and this “area 5 to area 14” becomes the padding area.

  In “area 15”, a “termination record” is stored to indicate the end of the patient directory information. The “end record” plays a role of indicating the end of one block. Also, it is provided every time one directory information is completed, and when a plurality of directory information is stored in a block, it plays a role of distinguishing each directory information.

  The index file construction unit 10e compares the capacity of the postscript directory information with the capacity of the empty area (padding area) in the block, and determines whether the capacity of the postscript directory information is equal to or smaller than the capacity of the padding area ( ST9). As a result, if the capacity of the additional directory information is less than or equal to the capacity of the padding area, the padding record is deleted (ST10), and the additional directory information is written into the deleted and empty area (ST11).

  Further, a new padding record corresponding to the block size does not change is inserted into the newly constructed directory information block in which the additional write directory information is written (ST12), and new offset information related to the new directory information is inserted. Fill in (ST13).

  This state is indicated by the block A shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the above-described flow will be described with specific blocks.

  “Area 0” to “Area 4” are the “patient directory information” so far as described above. As shown in the block A of FIG. 9, additional directory information is newly written in the padding areas from “area 5” to “area 14”. Therefore, the padding records from “area 5” to “area 14” are deleted (ST10). First, a “termination record” for distinguishing “patient directory information” recorded so far from newly written additional directory information (patient directory information) is stored in “area 5”.

  Then, “patient directory information”, which is new directory information, is written from “area 6”. Since the additional directory information is also “patient directory information”, the information to be written is the same as the “patient directory information” already recorded. Therefore, “offset information to the next patient directory information” is stored in “area 6”, “offset information to the next examination directory information” is stored in “area 7”, and “patient information” is stored in “area 8”. “Patient name record”, “region 9”, “patient ID record”, and “region 10” are written “sex record” (ST11).

  Since the items to be written as the additional directory information are completed so far, a padding record corresponding to the size of the block A that does not change is inserted into the “patient directory information” block A (ST12). Specifically, the regions to be inserted are “region 11” to “region 14”. In addition, “termination record” is stored in “area 15” as it is.

  Then, new offset information is entered in the new directory information (block A shown in FIG. 10) (ST13). In block A, “offset information to the next patient directory information” is recorded in “area 0” of “patient directory information” originally recorded. As described above, in the block A shown in FIG. 9, only one “patient directory information” is recorded, and “next” patient directory information is not stored. Therefore, the offset information is “(− ) ".

  Since “patient directory information” is recorded as new additional directory information in this “patient directory information”, “offset information to the next patient directory information” related to “patient directory information” that has been recorded conventionally. Is indicated as “(A6)”. This (A6) means that “next patient directory information” starts from “area 6 of block A” in view of the “patient directory information” originally recorded. Therefore, “A6” is “offset information to the next patient directory information”.

  Although “A6” is used as the “offset information to the next patient directory information”, this display method is merely a convenient display method for explaining the embodiment of the present invention. Although any display method may be adopted, the display is actually performed in a manner predetermined by DICOM.

  Next, when the index file construction unit 10e determines whether or not the capacity of the additional directory information is less than or equal to the capacity of the padding area, if the capacity of the additional directory information is larger than the capacity of the padding area (NO in ST9). In other words, additional directory information cannot be written in the block A in which “patient directory information” was originally recorded.

  Therefore, the index file construction unit 10e adds a new block after the block A (ST14). For example, in the case of “patient directory information”, the directory information written in the block is a group of information from “offset information to the next patient directory information” to “sex record”. Therefore, even if the padding area exists in the original block, these pieces of directory information are not divided and stored. A bunch of directory information is recorded together.

  After a new block is added, additional directory information is written in this block (ST15). Then, the “padding record” is inserted into the area other than the newly written additional directory information as much as the size of the new block does not change (ST16), and the original directory information that could not be written to the additional directory information The new "offset information to the next patient directory information" is entered (ST17).

  Hereinafter, the above-described flow will be described with specific blocks. FIG. 11 shows the original block A. In this block A, two pieces of “patient directory information” are recorded, and “padding records” are inserted from “region 11 to region 14”. Here, new patient directory information is written as additional directory information. The block A shown in FIG. 11 is described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, and is almost the same as the state of the block A shown in FIG.

  However, in the block A, there are only four padding areas, and “patient directory information” as additional writing directory information requires an area for writing five pieces of information. That is, the capacity of the postscript directory information is larger than the capacity of the padding area. Therefore, the index file construction unit 10e does not write additional write directory information in this block A, but adds a new block after this block A (ST14). This newly added block is represented as “block B” for convenience of explanation.

  FIG. 12 shows the state of the added block B. In this block B, new patient directory information, which is additional recording directory information, is written from “area 1” to “area 4” (ST15. And “termination record” is stored in “area 15”. Then, padding records are inserted in “area 5” to “area 14” between “patient directory information” and “terminal record”, and these areas are set as padding areas (ST16).

  By writing new “patient directory information” in block B, “offset information to the next patient directory information that has not been entered in the second“ patient directory information ”recorded in block A until now. Can be entered. Therefore, offset information indicating the position of the new “patient directory information” is entered in “previous patient directory information”. Here, since the block B is newly added and the “patient directory information” which is the additional directory information is added, the “patient directory information” in the “patient directory information” before the newly added “patient directory information”. The “offset information to the next patient directory information” is expressed as “(B0)”.

  The writing process and reading process using the padding area have been described above. In the above description, the case where the “compatibility mode” is selected is described as an example, but the writing process and the reading process are performed in the same flow even when the “high speed mode” is selected. The difference between the two is that the method for searching for and reading the write target area in which the additional directory information is written is different.

  That is, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, when it is not the compatible mode (NO in ST7), it is determined whether or not the selected recording method is the high speed mode (ST18). When the high-speed mode is selected (YES in ST18), the index file construction unit 10e confirms the index file information 4i and directly enters the write target area based on the information recorded there. Move (ST19).

  Each “index file information” 4i stores “offset information about the last block in the directory information” and “information about the size of the block”. In the embodiment of the present invention, the index file information is recorded at a fixed length in the last block in the index file.

  As another embodiment, the index file information may be stored in “private information” that is one of the information that can be stored in the meta information included in the file header information. . Therefore, by using these pieces of information, it is possible to directly move to the write target area in which the additional write directory information is written. Since such information is used, it becomes possible to search the writing target area earlier than in the compatibility mode. Therefore, such a recording method is referred to as a “high-speed mode”.

  Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the mode is encoded and recorded in the “implementation UID” which is one of information that can be stored in the meta information included in the file header information 4 #. .

  When only the reading process is performed, first, the medical information recording apparatus 1 reads the reading mode from the implementation UID. Here, when the reading mode is the “high speed mode”, the information regarding the block size is further read from the index file information 4i, and the directory information is read for each layer in units of blocks.

  On the other hand, when the reading mode is the “compatibility mode”, it is possible to read for each block size determined in advance in the medical information recording apparatus 1 and to interrupt reading when additional directory information appears.

  When the recording mode cannot be recognized, such as when the reading mode cannot be read from the implementation UID, the reading process similar to the “compatibility mode” is performed. In addition, since the preset application unit 11d holds in advance a correspondence table between the recording contents of the implementation UID and the recording method, it is a device other than the medical information recording device 1 and will be described in the embodiment of the present invention. It is possible to read in a high speed mode a recording medium output by another device that performs the writing process.

  On the other hand, when neither the compatible mode nor the high-speed mode is selected (NO in ST18), the normal mode is selected. This normal mode is a mode in which neither the writing process using the padding area nor the method of quickly searching for the writing target area based on the index file information is employed. Therefore, when the normal mode is selected, when writing the new additional directory information into the index file originally recorded on the recording medium, all the index files once recorded are output. The additional write directory information is written, and the entire index file is reconstructed (ST20).

  By adopting the method described above, it is possible to shorten the processing time when writing information to the recording medium or reading information from the recording medium, and to prevent deterioration of the recording medium due to the writing process. A medical information recording apparatus and a medical information recording method can be provided.

  In particular, by inserting a padding record into a block, it becomes possible to control the arrangement of information in the index file when writing additional write directory information. As a result, it is not necessary to perform the process of outputting the entire index file for information rearrangement without departing from the DICOM standard, and the time required for the writing process can be greatly reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the structure of the index file in the embodiment of the present invention, the index file information is arranged behind each directory information. In particular, when the high-speed mode is selected, each time the directory information is added, a new write is made to the index file information. If this index file information is arranged at the head of the index file, In the recording medium, writing is always performed at the same location. If the writing process is repeated many times in the same area, only that area may be deteriorated.

  By placing the index file information behind each directory information as in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, when writing additional write directory information by adding a new block, it is necessary to add additional information in the middle of the index file. Therefore, the area to be written with the index file information moves accordingly, and the writing process is not repeatedly performed in the same area, so that the deterioration of the recording medium can be prevented.

  In addition, according to the above-described method, information can be read and written very quickly. For example, even if a disturbance such as a power failure occurs during the process, it is less affected, and the recording medium. It is possible to avoid the information recorded in the information being destroyed.

  Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medical information recording device 10 Writing part 10a Reception part 10b Write control part 10c Media management part 10d Data generation part 10e Index file construction part 10f Preset application part 10g Transmission part 11 Reading part 11a Reception part 11b Reading control part 11c Media management Part 11d preset application part 11e transmission part A block B block

Claims (13)

A data generation unit that generates image data conforming to a standard for recording a medical image on a recording medium and directory information related to the image data;
A media management unit for managing index data including the directory information corresponding to the medical image, and holding a recording method of the index data on the recording medium;
An index data construction unit for determining additional directory information on the recording medium from the directory information in the index data acquired from the recording medium and the directory information generated by the data generation unit;
The writing of the additional writing directory information was controlled, and the padding record constituting the padding area was deleted from the padding area in which the additional writing directory information was provided in advance in the block serving as the writing target area and the semi-fixed length block was constructed . A write controller to store above ,
A medical information recording apparatus comprising: A data generation unit that generates image data that conforms to the DICOM standard and directory information of a plurality of hierarchies related to the image data on a recording medium;
A media management unit that manages index data including information about an offset value between the directory information and the directory information regarding the image data;
When the additional directory information is recorded on the recording medium, the size of the padding area that is provided in advance in the block that is the writing target area of the additional directory information and constructs the semi-fixed-length block is the additional directory information. Index data construction unit that determines whether or not the size can be added,
Based on the determination result of the index data construction unit, if the size of the padding area is a size to which the additional directory information can be added, the padding area constituting the padding area is deleted and then the padding area is deleted. If it is a size that cannot be written and added , a write control unit that performs processing to write the additional directory information after constructing a new block ;
A medical information recording apparatus comprising:   The medical information recording according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the writing control unit additionally writes the additional directory information in the block in which directory information of the same hierarchy as the additional directory information is recorded. apparatus. 2. The block according to claim 1, wherein the block has a size that matches the directory information to be recorded, and includes a padding area that secures a writing target area of the additional directory information together with the directory information. 4. The medical information recording device according to any one of 3.   5. The index data according to claim 1, wherein the index data includes one index data information in addition to the directory information, and the index data information is arranged after all the directory information. The medical information recording device according to any one of the above.   In the index data information, information on the size of each block and offset information of the last directory information in each hierarchy among the directory information recorded in a plurality of hierarchies are recorded. The medical information recording apparatus according to claim 5.   2. The directory information is recorded with one or both of offset information relating to next directory information in the same hierarchy and offset information relating to directory information one level below. 7. The medical information recording device according to any one of 6. As a method for recording the index data on the recording medium, a compatible mode for searching a writing target area based on the additional directory information, a high-speed mode for searching a writing target area based on index data information, or the compatibility The medical information recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one recording method of a normal mode that does not employ either the mode or the high-speed mode is employed. The medical information recording apparatus further includes a reading unit that reads index data recorded on a recording medium, and the reading control unit configuring the reading unit is configured to read the index data based on information stored in index data information. The medical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical information recording apparatus according to claim 1 is read. Comparing the capacity of additional recording directory information relating to image data of a medical image that is required to be additionally recorded on a recording medium, and the capacity of a padding area in a block that is a writing target area of the additional recording directory information;
As a result of the comparison, when the capacity of the additional directory information is less than or equal to the capacity of the padding area, deleting the padding record constituting the padding area;
Writing the additional directory information in the deleted padding area;
Inserting the padding record into the block so that the capacity of the block in which the additional directory information is written does not change;
Recording new offset information related to the additional directory information written in the block;
A medical information recording method comprising: As a result of comparing the capacity of the additional directory information and the capacity of the padding area in the block that is the writing target area of the additional directory information, when the capacity of the additional directory information is larger than the capacity of the padding area,
Adding a new block for writing the additional directory information;
Writing the additional directory information in the new block;
In the new block in which the postscript directory information is written, inserting the padding record for the capacity not changing into the new block;
Recording new offset information related to the additional directory information written in the new block in the directory information of the block where the additional directory information could not be written;
The medical information recording method according to claim 10, further comprising: Before comparing the capacity of the additional directory information and the capacity of the padding area, confirming the recording method selected in writing the additional directory information;
Searching for a block to be the write target area of the additional write directory information that is required to be additionally written to the recording medium when the normal mode is selected as the recording method;
The medical information recording method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising: Before comparing the capacity of the additional directory information and the capacity of the padding area, confirming the recording method selected in writing the additional directory information;
When the high-speed mode is selected as the recording method, the directory information of the last block in the hierarchy among the blocks in which the directory information recorded in the index file information constituting the index file is recorded together with the directory information. Checking offset information and information regarding the size of the block, and moving directly to the write target area based on these information;
The medical information recording method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising:

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