JPH08161463A - Image information management system for medical use - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow each image reading doctor to read an image through the use of any work station or an inexpensive work station by providing an image referring server or the like that applies image processing to an image from a file system in matching with a display form of each work station and stores tentatively the processed image to the management system. CONSTITUTION: The system 1 has four patient image pickup devices 3a-3d to pick up an image of a patient and to obtain the required image such as X-ray CT and file systems 5a-5c storing the images obtained by the patient image pickup devices 3a-3d by patients, and also is provided with an image refering server 7 storing reading images read out of the file systems 5a-5c and work stations 9a, 9b,..., 9l by which image reading doctors read images, and they are interconnected via LANs 11, 13, 15. Then the image refering server 7 processes images transferred from the file systems 5a-5c in matching with each display form of the work stations 9a, 9b,..., 9l and stores the images tentatively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical image management system for managing an image obtained by a patient image capturing apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus and a CR apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a patient image photographing apparatus (medical image diagnostic apparatus) such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus, a CR apparatus for photographing a patient and an image obtained by the patient image photographing apparatus are permanently stored. A medical image information management system (PACS; pictur) for managing an image obtained by the patient image capturing apparatus by connecting a file system and a workstation for image interpretation through a network.
e archiving and communication sistems) are known.

In this PACS, the image obtained by the patient image capturing apparatus is transferred to a file system and permanently stored in an optical disc. At this time, the file system permanently saves the transferred image and reads the past image of the patient corresponding to the image from the optical disc. After that, the file system transfers the image transferred from the patient image capturing device and the image read from the optical disk to the workstation for the doctor who is in charge of interpretation of the patient.

The image interpretation doctor displays the image transferred from the file system on the monitor of the workstation to perform image interpretation.

[0005]

However, in the conventional PACS, since the image is transferred to a predetermined workstation for each image interpretation doctor, there is a problem that the image interpretation doctor cannot perform image interpretation on a workstation other than the predetermined workstation. there were. Therefore, when a predetermined workstation is used, there is a problem that it is necessary to wait until the end.

In addition, a large-capacity memory is required to store all the images for image interpretation by the workstation, and a high-speed arithmetic unit is required to process the image for screen display, which makes the workstation large and expensive. There was a problem of becoming.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to use an inexpensive workstation that enables each image interpretation doctor to perform image interpretation. Another object is to provide a medical image information management system capable of reading images.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides at least one patient image capturing apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus or a CR apparatus for capturing an image of a patient. At least one file system for storing the image obtained by the patient image capturing apparatus and at least one workstation for image interpretation by an image interpreting doctor are provided, and the image obtained by the patient image capturing apparatus is managed. In the medical image information management system, which is connected to the file system via a computer network, is connected to the workstation via a computer network of a circuit switching system or an ATM switching system, and is transferred from the file system. Match the incoming image to the display format of the workstation Is characterized by having an image reference server device temporarily holds image processing Te.

Further, the image reference server device temporarily holds the image transferred from the file system as it is, and processes the image according to the display format of the workstation when transferring the image to the workstation. You can

[0010]

According to the above construction, the image reference server device processes the image transferred from the file system according to the display format of the workstation and temporarily holds it. Alternatively, the image transferred from the file system is temporarily held as it is, and when the image is transferred to the workstation, the image is processed according to the display format of the workstation. As a result, each image interpretation doctor can perform image interpretation by obtaining an image for image interpretation from this image reference server device using any workstation, and further, a high-speed arithmetic device for image processing and a large-capacity memory work. Eliminates the need to prepare for stations.

[0011]

1 is a functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of a medical image information management system according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a medical image information management system (hereinafter referred to as PACS) 1 according to the first embodiment captures four patient images such as an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus for capturing an image of a patient. Devices 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and file systems 5a, 5b, 5 for storing images obtained by these patient image capturing devices 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d for each patient
c, the image reference server device 7 that holds the image for interpretation read out from the file systems 5a, 5b, and 5c, and the workstations 9a and 9b where the image interpretation doctor performs image interpretation.
..., 9l.

Further, the patient image photographing devices 3a, 3b, 3
c, 3d and file systems 5a, 5b, 5c are LAN
11 and the file systems 5a and 5
b and 5c and the image reference server device 7 are connected to the LAN 13. At this time, it is desirable to use the LAN 13 having a high information transfer rate.

The image reference server device 7 and the workstations 9a, 9b, ..., 9l are connected to a LAN 15. The image reference server device 7 is used as the LAN 15.
, 9l, and the workstations 9a, 9b, ...

Further, the file systems 5a, 5b, 5c
Connection to LAN 11, file system 5a, 5b,
5c and the image reference server device 7 connected to the LAN 13, the image reference server device 7 and the workstations 9a, 9b,
, 9l is connected to the LAN 15 via the node 17 which is a network connection device.

Further, the patient image photographing devices 3a and 3b use the LAN 11 to transmit images to the file systems 5a and 5b.
5c is connected to the router 19a which is a conversion device, and the patient image capturing devices 3c and 3d are connected to the router 19b.
It is connected to the. Further, the routers 19 a and 19 b are each connected to the LAN 11 via the node 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the file systems 5a, 5b and 5c store an interface 21, which is a connection portion with the node 17, a CPU 23, a memory 25 for storing programs and the like, a program, character information and the like. A magnetic disk 27, a magnetic disk drive 29 for operating the magnetic disk 27, reading of the magnetic disk 27,
Magnetic disk interface 31 for controlling writing
An optical disc 33 for storing images, character information and the like, an optical disc drive 35 for operating the optical disc 33,
An optical disc interface 37 that controls reading and writing of the optical disc 33, an autochanger 39 that replaces the optical disc 33, an autochanger drive 41 that operates the autochanger 39, an autochanger interface 43 that controls the operation of the autochanger 39, and a high-speed primary holding of an image. Memory 45
Is provided. The interface 21, the CPU 23,
The memory 25, magnetic disk interface 31, optical disk interface 37, autochanger interface 43, and high speed memory 45 are connected to the bus 47.

The image reference server device 7, as shown in FIG. 3, is an interface 51 which is a connection part with the node 17 on the LAN 13 side, a CPU 53, a memory 55 for storing programs and the like, and a high speed arithmetic device for image processing. 57,
A large-capacity memory 59 for storing the image-processed image;
An interface 61, which is a connection portion with the lead 17 on the AN 15 side, is provided. Each of these devices is connected to the bus 63. Further, as the high-speed arithmetic device 57, one in which a plurality of arithmetic devices are connected in series to increase the processing speed or one arithmetic device having a high processing speed is used.

As shown in FIG. 4, the workstation 9 has an interface 71 which is a connection portion with the node 17.
And a CPU 73 and a memory 75 for storing programs and the like.
A cache memory 77 for temporarily holding an image for display (interpretation), a display device 79 for displaying the image on a monitor (not shown), a keyboard (not shown), etc. An input device 81 is provided by an image interpretation doctor for designating an image to be displayed on 79 and the like. Each of these devices is connected to the bus 83. The interface 71, the cache memory 77 and the display device 79 are connected to the high speed bus 85.

Next, the operation of the PACS 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

First, an image of a patient is taken by using the patient image radiographing apparatus 3 (here, a patient image radiographing apparatus (X-ray CT apparatus) 3a). Then, the image obtained by the photographing is temporarily held in its own device and displayed on a monitor (not shown). After the image capturing, the patient image capturing apparatus 3a transfers the obtained image to the file system 5 (here, the file system 5a) which is predetermined for each patient via the LAN 11.

The file system 5a temporarily holds the transferred image in the high speed memory 45 and stores it in the optical disc 33 for each patient. Also, the file system 5
The a reads the previously captured image of the patient corresponding to the transferred image from the optical disc 33 and temporarily holds it in the high speed memory 45. After that, file system 5
The a transfers the image temporarily stored in the high-speed memory 45 to the image reference server device 7 via the LAN 13.

The image reference server device 7 receives the image transferred from the file system 5a from the workstation 9
High-speed arithmetic unit 5 to match the display format of the display unit 79 of
Image processing is carried out by 7 and stored in the large capacity memory 59.

For example, when an image of a lung section as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained, the data actually obtained by the patient image capturing apparatus 3a (X-ray CT apparatus) is 0 for water and -1 for air.
Since it is represented by the CT value where 000 is bone and 1000 is bone, even if the density is converted as it is (usually converted to 256 gradations), the density is changed as shown in FIG. Can not be expressed in detail. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
Window conversion for converting to 6 gradations is performed. For example, C
If you want to see the T value of 30 to 50, the window width WW
Is 20 and the window center WL is 40, and linear conversion is performed as shown in FIG. In this case, CT value 30 to 5
A range between 0 is converted into 256 gradations, a range smaller than 30 is converted into 0, and a range larger than 50 is converted into 255. Therefore, what is indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 8 (FIG. 6) is emphasized as indicated by the solid line in FIG.

At this time, the window width WW and the window center WL are set by the patient image photographing device 3,
The image reference server device 7 as the incidental information together with the image
Transferred to. The image reference server device 7 performs window conversion based on the window width WW and the window center WL. The window width WW and the window center WL
Is an operator (doctor) who operates the patient image capturing device 3
Thus, the optimum value is determined based on the shooting conditions, the region of interest, and the like. Alternatively, the patient image capturing apparatus 3 may be set in advance so as to be automatically determined based on the capturing conditions, the region of interest, and the like.

Further, when the image is converted into a window, the character information is converted into a white character with a black outline as shown in FIG. As a result, characters can be displayed regardless of whether the background is white or black. When the workstation 9 provided with a bit for character display is used, the character display process described above is unnecessary, and the character code is stored in the character display portion. The vertical axis in FIGS. 6 to 9 represents the density conversion value (luminance value).

The image reference server device 7 also stores the directory information of the image stored in the large capacity memory 59 at the head of the image. As shown in FIG. 10, this directory information is used as display data to be actually displayed on the monitor. For each image, the image reference server device 7 displays the patient ID, which is the identification number of the patient, the patient name, the age, the sex, the imaging site, and the like. As the binary information recognized by itself, the image start address (image start address) and the image information such as the patient ID, the patient name, the age, and the sex are stored.

In this state, when an image is read from the image reference server device 7 using the workstation 9 (here, the workstation 9a), the image interpretation doctor first presses a predetermined key of the input device 81 of the workstation 9a to perform an image interpretation operation. To start. As a result, the workstation 9 a outputs a transfer request for the directory information stored in the large capacity memory 59 to the image reference server device 7. When the directory information transfer request is output, the image reference server device 7 transfers the directory information to the workstation 9a that is the transfer request source. The workstation 9a displays the directory information on the monitor of the display device 79 when the directory information is transferred. Note that only the display data in the directory information shown in FIG. 10 is transferred from the image reference server device 7 to the workstation 9a, and only the display data is displayed on the monitor of the display device 79.

When the directory information is displayed on the monitor of the display device 79, the image interpretation doctor designates an image to be interpreted. This designation is made by moving the cursor on the monitor to the position showing the target image using the input device 81 and pressing the decision key. However, another method, for example, the image identification number in the directory information in advance. May be stored and the target image identification number may be input using the input device 81.

Then, the workstation 9a outputs a transfer request for the designated image to the image reference server device 7. Accordingly, the image reference server device 7 refers to the corresponding image start address in the directory information, and transfers the image starting from the image start address to the workstation 9a.

At this time, the image reference server device 7 waits until the transfer stop command is output from the workstation 9a.
The image starting address to the last information of the image are repeatedly transferred. Therefore, even if a data error occurs due to transfer, data is not guaranteed by local resending, etc.
It will be corrected immediately by the next data transfer. In addition, by setting in advance that the display start position of the image is changed little by little, it is possible to perform real-time roaming display.

The image thus transferred from the image reference server device 7 is temporarily held in the cache memory 87 and is supplied to the display device 79 via the high-speed bus 87 to be displayed on the monitor of the display device 79. As a result, the image interpretation doctor starts image interpretation of a desired image.

The image stored in the image reference server device 7 can be read by using the other workstations 9b to 9l in the same manner as when the workstation 9a is used.

As described above, in the PACS 1 of this embodiment, the image for image interpretation is temporarily stored in the image reference server device 7, and the image designated by referring to the directory information of the temporarily stored image is used as the image reference server device. Since the image data is transferred from the designated workstation 7 to the designated workstation 9, each interpretation doctor can perform the interpretation using any workstation 9. For this reason, it is also possible to eliminate the need to wait until the end of the work because the predetermined work station 9 is used as in the conventional art.

Since the image to be interpreted is image-processed on the image reference server device 7 side so as to match the display format of the display device 79 of the workstation 9 and stored in the large capacity memory 59, It is not necessary to equip the workstation 9 with a high-speed arithmetic unit or a large-capacity memory, and image reading can be performed using an inexpensive workstation.

Further, since the desired image is repeatedly transferred until the transfer stop command is output from the workstation 9, even if a data error occurs due to the transfer, the next data is not guaranteed by the local resending or the like. It can be corrected promptly by data transfer.

Further, in the conventional PACS, since the image is directly transferred from the file system 5 to the workstation 9, the power is turned off in the workstation 9 during the transfer.
However, in the PACS 1 of this embodiment, the workstation 9 can be turned off while the image is being transferred from the file system 5 to the image reference server device 7.

The image reference server device 7 of the PACS 1 of this embodiment processes the image transferred from the file system 5a by the high speed arithmetic device 57 so as to match the display format of the display device 79 of the workstation 9. After that, the image data transferred from the file system 5a is directly stored in the large capacity memory 59 and stored in the large capacity memory 59. However, when the image is transferred to the workstation 9, the display device 79 of the workstation 9 is used. Image processing may be performed so as to match the display format of. When the workstation 9 equipped with a high-speed arithmetic device for image processing is used for image interpretation, the image processing may be performed on the workstation 9 side.

Further, in the PACS 1 of this embodiment, the window width WW and the window center WL are set by the patient image radiographing apparatus 3, but they can be changed by using the input device 81 of the workstation 9 during image reading. good. In this case, when the window width WW and the window center WL change command are output from the workstation 9, the image reference server device 7 is set in advance so as to transfer the image after the window processing is performed again by the high speed processing device 57. .

Further, in the PACS 1 of this embodiment, the image reference server device 7 and the workstations 9a, 9b, ...
9l is a circuit-switched or ATM-switched LAN 15
However, it is not limited to this as long as images can be transferred at high speed between a plurality of devices.

Further, in the PACS 1 of this embodiment, the patient image photographing device 3 and the file system 5 are connected to the LAN 11, and the file system 5 and the image reference server device 7 are L.
Although it is connected to the AN 13, it is not limited to this, and one L
Patient image capturing apparatus 3 and file system 5 using AN
And the image reference server device 7 may be connected.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image for image interpretation is temporarily held in the image reference server device, and the designated image of the temporarily held images is designated by the image reference server device. Since the image is transferred to each workstation, each interpretation doctor can perform interpretation using any workstation.

Further, since the image reference server device performs image processing on the image to be interpreted so as to fit the display format of the workstation, it is necessary to equip the workstation with a high-speed arithmetic unit for image processing and a large-capacity memory. Without
Interpretation can be performed using an inexpensive workstation.

Furthermore, since the image designated by the workstation is repeatedly transferred until the transfer stop command is output from the workstation, even if a data error occurs due to the transfer, data is not guaranteed by local resending. It can be corrected immediately by the next data transfer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first medical image information management system according to the present invention.
It is a functional block diagram which shows an Example.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a file system of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an image reference server device of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a workstation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image obtained by a patient image capturing device.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing a density conversion value of a dotted line portion of the image shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of conversion by window conversion.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing density conversion values before (dotted line) and after (solid line) window conversion.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a case where character information is subjected to density conversion.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of directory information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Medical Image Information Management System 3 Patient Image Imaging Device 5 File System 7 Image Reference Server Device 9 Workstation 11, 13, 15 LAN 57 High Speed Computing Device 59 Large Memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An at least one patient image photographing device for photographing a patient to obtain an image, at least one file system for storing the image obtained by the patient image photographing device, and an image interpretation doctor performing image interpretation. In a medical image information management system for managing images obtained by the patient image capturing apparatus, the medical image information management system comprises at least one workstation, which is connected to the file system via a computer network and also via a computer network. And an image reference server device that is connected to the workstation and temporarily processes and retains images transferred from the file system according to the display format of the workstation. system. 2. The image reference server device temporarily holds the image transferred from the file system as it is, and performs image processing according to the display format of the workstation when transferring the image to the workstation. The medical image information management system according to claim 1. 3. The medical image information management according to claim 1, wherein the image reference server device repeatedly transfers a specified image until a transfer stop request is output from the workstation. system. 4. The medical image information management system according to claim 1, wherein the computer network that connects the image reference server device and the workstation is of a circuit switching system. . 5. The computer network for connecting the image reference server device and the workstation is of an ATM exchange system.
4. The medical image information management system according to any one of items 4 to 4.