JPH02218336A - Medical image information transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speedily and properly carry out the diagnosis of an emergent case at a remote place where no doctor is present by providing a generating means for the image information related to the medical thereby which is installed at the first place, transmission means, receiving means installed at the second place, and a regeneration output means for the image information. CONSTITUTION:A medical image information transmission system 10 is constituted of an image photographing device 11 as image information generating means installed at a remote place, image read-out device 12, display part 13 as display means which displays the obtained image information and confirms said information, image information storing device 14, first transmission/receiving device 16, second transmission/ receiving device 18 installed in a city part, image processing device 20, and an image output device 22 which regeneration-outputs the received image information. With such constitution, the image information obtained from the image information generating means 11 installed in a prescribed region is once stored, and after the photograph image is displayed and confirmed, the photograph image is transmitted to other regions through a communication circuit, and an image is regenerated. Therefore, even at a remote place where no doctor, etc., are present, the proper diagnostic action on the radioactive ray images by the doctor in a city part can be carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a medical image information transmission system. A medical image information transmission system that enables prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment by transmitting images (image information, etc.) to hospitals in urban areas where doctors are present and equipped with various equipment for record analysis. Regarding.

[Background of the Invention] In recent years, in order to care for patients, a large amount of biological information has been measured, recorded, or diagnosed through various ME devices. However, even today, there are many areas in remote areas such as remote islands or remote areas where there are no doctors or sufficient medical facilities, and it has been pointed out that there are inconveniences in being unable to respond adequately in emergencies. There is.

In other words, this exposes the drawback that precious human lives are lost due to the inability to provide prompt and accurate treatment.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, and is capable of transmitting biological information (particularly image information) of a patient even in a remote area where there is no doctor in an urban area where a doctor is present. To provide a medical image information transmission system that enables prompt and appropriate medical treatment by transmitting and recording image information to hospitals, etc. via communication lines, or by diagnosing based on this image information. With the goal.

[Means for Achieving the Object] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an image information generating means installed at a first location to obtain medical image information;
an image storage means for temporarily storing the image information; a display means for displaying and confirming the image information; and a transmission means for transmitting the image information to a second location separated from the first location;
The apparatus is characterized by comprising a receiving means installed at the second location and receiving the image information transmitted by the transmitting means, and an output means reproducing and outputting the received image information.

[Embodiments] Next, preferred embodiments of the medical image information transmission system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a medical image information transmission system 1 according to this embodiment.
0 is shown. The medical image information transmission system 10 includes an image capturing device 11 as an image information generating means installed in a remote location, an image reading device 12, and a display section 13 as a display means for displaying and confirming the obtained image information. ,
An image information storage device 14, a first transmitting/receiving device 16, and a second transmitting/receiving device 16 installed in an urban hospital where a doctor is always present and connected to the first transmitting/receiving device 16 via a communication line.
The image processing apparatus basically includes a transmitting/receiving device 18, an image processing device 20, and an image output device 22 as an output means for reproducing and outputting received image information.

The image reading device 12 is for, for example, photoelectrically reading a radiation transmitted image of a subject recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet by the photographing device 11 under predetermined conditions, thereby converting it into a digital signal. When irradiated with radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, T-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a stimulable phosphor stores a portion of this radiation energy and is then used to generate excitation light such as visible light. A phosphor that generates stimulated luminescence according to the energy accumulated by irradiation with phosphor. The image information storage device 14 temporarily stores the digital signal,
Alternatively, it has the function of performing manual labor such as various output conditions.

In this case, a display section 13 such as a high-definition display is connected to the image information storage device 14 for checking the stored image information. Note that the image reading device 12 and the image information storage device 14 are connected, for example, by an R3-422 interface.

The first transmitting/receiving device 16 is an interface converter (I/
F CON V) 24 and modem (MODEM) 26
, a data compressor/expander 28 , and a line termination unit (DSU)
30, a display setting section 32, and a power supply section (POW) 34.

In this case, the interface converter (1/FCONV
) 24 performs interface conversion, output of line clock signals and pixel clock signals related to image data, transmission and reception of commands, etc., adjustment of signal levels, etc. In addition, when the communication line is a public line such as a digital communication network, the interface converter (I/FCONV) 24 performs functions such as checking the connection of the line after transmitting the address signal of the other party in response to the activation command signal. Be prepared.

The data compressor/expander 28 has, for example, at least two buffer memories for storing one line of image data, compresses the image data from the image information storage device 14, converts it from a parallel signal to a serial signal, and converts it from a parallel signal to a serial signal. Terminal unit (DSU) 30
At the same time, the serial signal from the line termination unit (DSU) 30 is expanded and converted into a parallel signal. Modem (M
The ODEM) 26 transmits patient information related to image data as an analog signal to the second transmitting/receiving device 18 via a communication line, or receives an analog signal from the second transmitting/receiving device 18. A line termination unit (DSU) 30 transmits the image data compressed by the data compressor/expander 28 to the second transmitting/receiving device 18 via the communication line, or receives the image data from the second transmitting/receiving device 18 . The display setting section 32 displays the state of the first transmitting/receiving device 16 or the communication line. Note that the compression/expansion rate in the data compressor/expander 28 is selected and instructed by the display setting section 32. The power supply unit (POW) 34 is the first transmitting/receiving device 16
Supplies power to each part of the

Next, the second transmitting/receiving device 18 connects an interface converter (1
/FCONV) 36, a modem/modulator (MODEM) 38, a data compressor/expander 40, and a line terminator (DSU) 4
2, a display setting section 44, and a power supply section (POW) 46. In this case, the second transmitting/receiving device 18 has the same configuration as the first transmitting/receiving device 16, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, the interface converter (I/FCONV) 36 of the second transmitting/receiving device 18 includes an image processing device 2 that performs predetermined image processing on medical image information transferred from a remote location.
0 is connected. Further, the image data processed by the image processing device 20 is reproduced as a visible image on a film by the image output device 22.

The medical image information transmission system according to the present invention is basically configured as described above, and its operation and effects will be explained next.

First, an X-ray technician or the like uses the image capturing device 11 to photograph the affected area of a patient in a remote location where a doctor is not available. In this case, for example, the image capturing device 11 records a radiographic image of the patient on a stimulable phosphor sheet. Next, the medical image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet is photoelectrically read by irradiating a light beam in the image reading device 12, and then stored in the image information storage device 14. That is, the stimulable phosphor sheet is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction and a light beam is irradiated in the main scanning direction to obtain stimulated luminescence light related to a radiation image obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet and read image information. , this is stored in the image information storage device 14. The image information storage device 14 displays the medical image information on a display unit 13 consisting of a high-definition display etc. for an X-ray technician or the like to confirm the image, and also displays predetermined patient information such as gender, gender, etc. Information such as age is entered.

Next, from the image information storage device 14 to the first transmitting/receiving device 1
A start signal is sent to the interface converter (1/FCONV) 24 of No. 6. In this case, the interface converter (I/FCONV) 24 is connected to the image information storage device 14.
A response signal to the activation signal is sent back to the controller. On the other hand, the interface converter (I/FCONV) 24 converts the activation signal from, for example, the RS-422 interface standard to the R3-232C interface standard and sends it to the modem (MODEM) 26 and data compressor/expander 28. Send and start these. At this time, the status of the first transmitting/receiving device 16 is displayed on the display setting section 32. Then,
The activation signal is transmitted from the modem (MODEM) 26 to the modem (MODEM) 38 of the second transmitting/receiving device 18 installed in a hospital or the like in an urban area via a communication line.

The modem (MODEM) 38 outputs the activation signal to the interface converter (I/FCONV) 36 and the data compressor/expander 40 to activate them.
It is introduced into the display setting section 44 to display a status flag indicating the start of image data reception from the first transmitting/receiving device 16 to the second transmitting/receiving device 18. Further, the interface converter (I
/FCON V) 36 sends the activation signal, for example, RS -
The RS-422 interface standard is converted from the RS-2320 interface standard to the RS-422 interface standard and introduced into the image processing apparatus 20. In this case, the image processing device 20 transfers a response signal to the activation signal to the first transmitting/receiving device 16 via the second transmitting/receiving device 18 . Note that the display setting unit 32 of the first transmitting/receiving device 16 displays that the communication line is in a connected state based on the response signal to the activation signal. In addition, the image processing device 20
The response signal from the interface converter (I/FCON
v) 24 to the image information storage device 14, thereby making it possible to transmit the image data.

Then, the operator manually inputs various information such as patient information, imaging conditions, etc. to the image information storage device 14 to start transmitting desired medical image information. At this time, the image to be transmitted from the image information storage device 14 can be checked by monitoring it on the display section 13 connected to the image information storage device 14, as described above.

First, patient information, etc. and image data other than the image data sent from the image information storage device 14 are sent to the first transmitting/receiving device 1.
6 interface converter (1/FCONV)
24 and a data compressor/expander 28, respectively.

In this case, the interface converter (I/FCONV
) 24 is a start signal indicating the start of transmission of image data such as patient information, and a patient ID.

The signals related to the photographing conditions are transferred to the modem (MODEM) 26, and the modem (MODEM) 26 transmits these signals to the modem (M) of the second transmitting/receiving device 18 via the communication line.
ODEM) 38.

The start signal indicating the start of transmission is the patient ID.
It is sent to the image processing device 20 via the interface converter (I/FCONV) 36 along with signals related to the photographing conditions, and is displayed on the display setting section 44. Also,
The interface converter (1/FCONV) 24 outputs a line clock signal and a pixel clock signal of image data to a data compressor/expander 28.

Note that since the image information storage device 14 can temporarily hold image data, for example, the transfer rate of image data from the image reading device 12 to the first transmitting/receiving device 16 and the speed of transferring image data from the first transmitting/receiving device 16 to the second transmitting/receiving device 16 are The compatibility with the transfer rate of image data to the transmitting/receiving device 18 can be suitably adjusted.

On the other hand, the data compressor/expander 28 has two buffer memories, and the first buffer memory receives 1 pixel clock signal based on the line clock signal and the pixel clock signal from the interface converter (1/F CON V ) 24.
Image data for lines is stored. At this time, the compression ratio is determined using the display setting section 32 based on the type of image to be transmitted, the part to be imaged, and the like. For example, if the image to be transmitted is of a complex diseased area and detailed, the amount of information is large, so it is necessary to reduce the data compression rate. It is possible to enlarge and transmit.

Therefore, the data compressor/expander 28
One line of image data stored in the first buffer memory is compressed based on the compression ratio determined in , and stored in the second buffer memory, and then converted from parallel signals to serial signals and sent to the line terminator. (DSU) 30. The line terminator (DSU) 30 then transmits the compressed data to the line terminator (DSU) 42 of the second transceiver device 18 .

The image data, which is a serial signal for each line, transmitted to the second transmitting/receiving device 18 is converted into a parallel signal in the data compression/expansion device 40, and then subjected to data expansion processing for restoration.

In this case, the expansion rate of the image data in the data compression/expansion device 40 is set by the display setting unit 44 according to the compression rate set in the data compression/expansion device 28 described above, and the image data is expanded at this expansion rate. and transferred to the image processing device 20. Next, the decompressed image data is subjected to predetermined processing in the image processing device 20, and then sent to the image output device 2.
2 and reproduced as an image on film, for example.

Note that if the image reproduced by the image output device 22 is difficult to distinguish, the data compression rate at the time of transmission is lowered, the amount of information to be transmitted is increased, and the amount of information to be transmitted is increased and transmitted again to reproduce the desired image. do it.

Therefore, doctors in urban areas make diagnoses based on the output images and take measures such as communicating the results to remote locations. Note that, as in the case described above, this diagnosis result can also be transmitted from the urban area to the remote area via the first and second transmitting/receiving devices 16 and 18. On the other hand, 1
When the transmission of the image data related to the image is completed, a transmission end signal is sent to the interface converter (I) of the first transmitting/receiving device 16.
/FCONV) 24 to a modem (MODEM) 26,
The data is sent to the image processing device 20 via the modem (MODEM) 38 and interface converter (I/FCONV) 36 of the second transmitting/receiving device 18, and transmission of the next image data is started as required.

In this embodiment, a system for transmitting images from one remote location to an urban area has been described above, but it is also possible to transmit images from multiple remote locations to an urban area. Furthermore, by providing an image storage device in a radiation image information processing system installed in an urban area, it is possible to match the transfer speed of image data or to accumulate image data.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, image information obtained from an image information generating means installed in a predetermined area is once accumulated, the photographed image is displayed and confirmed, and then the communication line The image is then transmitted to a radiation image information processing system installed in another area via the radio communication system to reproduce the image. In this case, there is an advantage that a doctor in an urban area can perform an accurate diagnosis of radiographic images even in a remote place where there is no doctor, and can respond quickly. Further, it is possible to avoid duplicating the installation of image reading devices, image processing devices, etc. between regions, and thereby a significant economic effect can be obtained.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Of course, various improvements and changes in design are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a medical image information transmission system according to the present invention. 10...Medical image information transmission system 12...Image reading device 13...Display section 14.
...Image storage device 16.18...Transmission/reception device 2
0... Image processing device 22... Image output device 2
4...Interface converter 26...Modulator/demodulator 28...Compressor/expander 30...Line terminator 32...Display setting section 3
4...Power supply section 36...Interface converter 38...Modulator/demodulator 40...Compression/expansion device 42...Line terminator 46...Power supply section 44...Display setting section

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An image information generating means installed at a first location to obtain medical image information, an image storage means for temporarily accumulating the image information, a display means for displaying and confirming the image information, and an image information generating means for obtaining medical image information; a transmitting means for transmitting information to a second location separated from the first location; a receiving means installed at the second location for receiving the image information transmitted by the transmitting means; and a receiving means for transmitting the received image information. 1. A medical image information transmission system comprising: an output means for reproducing and outputting.