KR101370174B1 - Apparatus and method for processing medical image data - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a medical image data processing apparatus and method. Medical image data processing apparatus according to the present invention, the optical storage medium insertion unit for inserting a plurality of optical storage medium recording the medical image; A reading unit configured to read and store medical image data recorded on the optical storage media; A prescription information inquiry unit for inquiring prescription information corresponding to the medical image data from a picture archiving communication system (PACS) server; A correction unit for changing patient information of the medical image data in response to the changed prescription information when a part of the prescription information is changed; And a transmitter for transmitting the medical image data of which the patient information is changed to the PACS server.

Description

Apparatus and method for processing medical image data}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical image data processing apparatus and method, which automatically reads medical image data recorded on a plurality of optical storage media and transmits the images to a PACS server in a batch. It reduces the time spent reading, modifying, storing, and transmitting medical image data to the PACS server, enabling staff to perform tasks in parallel, and safely storing medical image data without risk of loss. The present invention relates to a medical image data processing apparatus and method capable of minimizing data reading error by reading data according to the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard.

In Korea, there is a medical delivery system, and there is a policy to systematically provide equal medical care to the people by separating hospitals and clinics into primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Under these policies, patients are treated at primary and secondary medical institutions, and depending on the severity of the disease, patients are transferred to tertiary medical institutions, which are higher-level institutions. The medical records as well as the various test results examined by the secondary medical institution are printed out and submitted to the tertiary medical institution for continuous medical treatment.

According to this policy, when a patient is transferred to an advanced medical institution, the patient can copy image data such as general photography, CT, MRI, PET CT, and ultrasound taken from primary and secondary medical institutions to an optical storage medium such as a CD or DVD. Submit it to a higher medical institution. The submitted image data is read by the PACS manager of the tertiary medical institution and sent to the PACS server of the hospital. This process is repeated as many times as the amount of optical storage media brought by the patient.

This process takes a lot of time and effort because a user manually inserts an optical storage medium into an optical disk drive (ODD) of a PC by hand. Therefore, tertiary medical institutions such as university hospitals and cancer centers are assigned dedicated personnel due to the increase in the quantity of optical storage media examined by primary and secondary medical institutions. When importing 3 ~ 20 or more image inspection optical storage media, PACS staff takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours or more to send them to the PACS server. It is causing.

In addition, the recent medical image data is a high-quality, large-capacity data generated due to the improvement of the performance of medical equipment, unlike the conventional one that was able to contain all of the data in one or two optical storage media, a large number in the storage of medical image data Increasingly, optical storage media are needed, and the work of PACS managers is increasing day by day.

In order to distribute the work of the PACS staff, medical image data automatic input terminals have been developed in which patients directly input medical image data from outside. However, this method also has a problem that the price of the terminal is expensive, and it is not easy to perform direct input when the patient is an elderly person or a disabled person.

In addition, optical storage media such as CD and DVD are sensitive to light, and if exposed to light for a long time, the material coated on the surface of the media may be oxidized, which may cause the data to be unreadable. Is not.

In addition, the optical storage media manufacturing program used by each medical institution manufactures the optical storage media in different ways so that the medical image data of the optical storage media examined by the primary and secondary medical institutions is not read by the tertiary medical institution. It is also a frequent occurrence. As such, when the medical image data of the optical storage medium of the primary and secondary medical institutions is not read or missed by the tertiary medical institution, duplicate examinations may be performed on the patient, thereby increasing the patient's treatment cost. there is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to automatically read and transmit medical image data recorded on a plurality of optical storage media to a PACS server, thereby reducing the work time for reading, modifying, storing and transmitting the medical image data to the PACS server. Personnel can perform parallel work and safely store medical image data without risk of loss, and medical image data that can minimize data reading error by reading medical image data of optical storage media produced in various ways according to DICOM standard. It is to provide a processing apparatus and method.

Medical image data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical storage medium insertion unit for inserting a plurality of optical storage medium recording the medical image; A reading unit configured to read and store medical image data recorded on the optical storage media; A prescription information inquiry unit for inquiring prescription information corresponding to the medical image data from a picture archiving communication system (PACS) server; A correction unit for changing patient information of the medical image data in response to the changed prescription information when a part of the prescription information is changed; And a transmitter for transmitting the medical image data of which the patient information is changed to the PACS server.

The optical storage medium inserting unit sequentially inserts the stacked optical storage media into an optical disc drive (ODD), and when reading of one optical storage medium is completed in the reading unit, reading is completed. The optical storage medium may be discharged and a next optical storage medium may be inserted into the ODD to repeat the reading process of the reading unit so that the reading unit reads the plurality of optical storage media.

The reading unit searches for a DICOMDIR file in accordance with the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard in the root path of the medical image data, and the DICOMDIR file in the root path of the medical image data. If present, the DICOMDIR file is analyzed to determine the location of the file inside the medical image data. If the DICOMDIR file does not exist in the root path of the medical image data, the medical image data is directly read and read. You can check the location of the file inside the data.

The transmitter may store the medical image data of which the patient information is changed in a queue and transmit the batch to the PACS server.

The medical image data processing apparatus may include a plurality of blanks in which the data inserted into the optical storage medium insertion unit is not recorded in the medical image data in which the patient information has been changed or the plurality of medical image data transmitted from the PACS server. The apparatus may further include recording units which respectively record on the optical storage medium.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a method of processing medical image data includes: inserting a plurality of optical storage media having a medical image recorded therein into an optical storage medium inserter; A reading unit reading and storing medical image data recorded on the optical storage media; A prescription information inquiry unit searching for prescription information corresponding to the medical image data from a PACS server; If a part of the prescription information is changed by the correction unit, changing patient information of the medical image data in response to the changed prescription information; And transmitting, by the transmitter, the medical image data of which the patient information has been changed to the PACS server.

The reading and storing of the medical image data may include sequentially inserting the plurality of optical storage media loaded into an ODD; Discharging the optical storage medium on which the reading is completed when the reading of one optical storage medium is completed by the reading unit; And inserting a next optical storage medium into the ODD to repeat the reading by the reading unit so that the reading unit reads the plurality of optical storage media.

The reading and storing of the medical image data may include searching for a DICOMDIR file in accordance with a digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) standard in a root path of the medical image data; If a DICOMDIR file exists in the root path of the medical image data, analyzing the DICOMDIR file to determine a location of a file inside the medical image data; And when the DICOMDIR file does not exist in the root path of the medical image data, directly reading the medical image data and identifying a location of the file inside the medical image data.

The transmitting of the medical image data to the PACS server may include storing the medical image data of which the patient information is changed in a queue and transmitting the same to the PACS server.

The medical image data processing method may include a plurality of records in which a recording unit inserts the medical image data whose patient information is changed in the correction unit or the plurality of medical image data transmitted from the PACS server, into which the data is inserted into the optical storage medium insertion unit. The method may further include recording each of the empty optical storage media.

The medical image data processing apparatus and method according to an aspect of the present invention is an automated system from the medical institution side to minimize the working time of the person in charge and the operator can perform other tasks in parallel to maximize the work efficiency, and to lose the medical image data of the patient Can be managed without

In addition, the medical image data processing apparatus and method according to an aspect of the present invention can reduce the medical cost by minimizing the redundant inspection in terms of patients and can minimize the waiting time for treatment due to the rapid treatment in the hospital, the patient directly This saves you the trouble of entering storage media.

1 is a view schematically showing a medical image data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a medical image data processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a repeated description, a known function that may obscure the gist of the present invention, and a detailed description of the configuration will be omitted. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully describe the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shapes and sizes of the elements in the drawings and the like can be exaggerated for clarity.

1 is a view schematically showing a medical image data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the medical image data processing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment may include an optical storage medium inserting unit 110, a reading unit 120, a prescription information inquiry unit 130, and a correction unit 140. ), The transmitter 150 and the recording unit 160 may be configured. The medical image data processing apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is according to an embodiment, and the blocks illustrated in FIG. 1 may not be all essential components, and in other embodiments, some blocks may be added, changed, or deleted. have.

The optical storage medium inserting unit 110 inserts a plurality of optical storage media 10 in which a medical image is recorded, and the reading unit 120 reads and stores the medical image data recorded in the plurality of optical storage media 10. do. The optical storage medium 10 may be any type of optical storage medium developed to date, such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a high definition (HD) -DVD or a blue-ray disc. And may include all types of optical storage media to be developed in the future. In an embodiment, the optical storage medium inserting unit 110 sequentially inserts a plurality of stacked optical storage media 10 into an optical disc drive (ODD), and reads one from the reading unit 120. When the reading of the optical storage medium is completed, the readout optical storage medium is discharged and the next optical storage medium is inserted into the ODD, and the reading unit 120 repeats the reading process so that the reading unit 120 performs a plurality of optical storage media. (10) can be read.

The reader 120 may include an optical storage medium inserter 110 and software for driving the reader 120. At this time, when the corresponding software is driven, the software searches for the optical storage medium inserting unit 110 and attempts to connect. At this time, if the connection is normally proceeded to the next task, if not connected can display a message indicating that the user is not connected.

When the reader 120 is connected to the optical storage medium inserter 110, the reader 120 may check whether there is an error by performing a self test for basic operation and control in the software. When the load button displayed on the display unit of the reading unit 120 is pressed, the optical storage medium inserting unit 110 sequentially inserts a plurality of loaded optical storage media 10 into the ODD.

The reader 120 recognizes the optical storage medium 10 inserted into the ODD of the optical storage medium insertion unit 110 and performs medical digital imaging and communication in the root path of the medical image data. Search for DICOMDIR files conforming to the in Medicine (DICOM) standard. The DICOMDIR file is a file that is generated in the root directory when the medical image data is stored in the optical storage medium 10 in the DICOM standard and displays the paths of the files inside the medical image data. Medical image data recorded on the optical storage medium 10 may or may not follow the DICOM standard, depending on the software or method of producing the optical storage medium 10, so the DICOMDIR file may or may not be searched. It may be.

When the DICOMDIR file exists in the root path of the medical image data, the reading unit 120 analyzes the DICOMDIR file and checks the location of the file inside the medical image data. In this case, since various information exists in addition to the actual medical image data in the data recorded on the optical storage medium 10, the files to be read can be selected by checking the locations of the files having the .dcm extension to be read from the DICOMDIR file. Can be. The reader 120 stores the medical image data by referring to the location of the file inside the medical image data identified by analyzing the DICOMDIR file through the above process. After reading and storing all medical image data recorded on the optical storage medium 10, the reading unit 120 instructs the optical storage medium inserting unit 110 to discharge the optical storage medium 10 from which the reading is completed.

When the DICOMDIR file does not exist in the root path of the medical image data, the reading unit 120 may directly read the medical image data to check the location of the file inside the medical image data. In one embodiment, the reader 120 may store the conversion data for generating a DICOMDIR file by analyzing the medical image data of the optical storage medium produced in a variety of ways in a variety of companies or medical institutions. That is, when the DICOMDIR file does not exist in the root path of the medical image data, the reading unit 120 directly reads the medical image data by using the converted data to generate a DICOMDIR file, thereby generating the DICOMDIR file. You can check the location of the file.

In one embodiment, the reading unit 120 is discharged to the front of the optical storage medium inserting unit 110 for the optical storage medium 10 that is normally read through the above process, and is not read normally The reading failed optical storage medium 10 is discharged to the rear of the optical storage medium inserting unit 110, thereby automatically classifying the reading successful optical storage medium and the reading failure optical storage medium to facilitate read rework. have.

The prescription information inquiry unit 130 inquires the prescription information corresponding to the medical image data read by the reading unit 120 from the PACS server 20. There is a lot of medical image data in one optical storage medium 10, among which only medical image data of a specific test is imported, or prescription information is queried to change patient information existing in the medical image data. Such prescription information can be inquired from the PACS server 20. In this case, the prescription information may be inquired from a preset DICOM worklist server (not shown) included in the PACS server 20. In the present embodiment, the DICOM worklist server has been described as being included in the PACS server 20, but this is according to an embodiment and the DICOM worklist server may be configured as a server separate from the PACS server 20. The prescription information may be automatically retrieved from the DICOM worklist server, or received from the user on the inquiry screen of the terminal connected to the DICOM worklist server by receiving an inquiry condition such as a prescription date, patient name, and treatment modality. You can also retrieve from the list server. After such a process, after the prescription information inquiry unit 130 inquires the prescription information corresponding to the medical image data read by the reader 120 from the PACS server 20, the actual prescription is made in the transferred hospital. In this case, the prescription information to be changed is selected according to the actual prescription.

If a part of the prescription information is changed, the correction unit 140 changes the patient information of the medical image data in response to the changed prescription information. The medical image data recorded in the optical storage medium 10 is configured to include patient information and image files of previous medical institutions. The patient information includes detailed information on the patient name, patient registration number, test name, test performing institution, and the like. Among the patient information, the patient registration number is typically changed to the patient registration number of the transferred hospital, and the system of registered patient information should be changed according to the system of the transferred hospital. As such, patient information of the medical image data recorded on the optical storage medium 10 needs to be changed, and the correction unit 140 changes it.

In addition, if the prescription information selected by the prescription information inquiry unit 130 is changed according to the actual prescription, the correction unit 140 changes the patient information of the medical image data in response to the changed prescription information.

The transmitter 150 transmits the medical image data of which the patient information is changed in the correction unit 140 to the PACS server. At this time, the transmitter 150 is connected to a DICOM storage SCP (Service Class Provider) server (not shown) included in the PACS server 20, and using the information of the generated medical image data, the DICOM storage SCP server Discuss communication with the Upon completion of the consultation, the medical image data with the changed patient information is sent to the DICOM storage SCP server. In this case, the transmitter 150 may transmit medical image data according to the DICOM standard. When the transmission is completed, the transmitter 150 terminates the connection with the DICOM storage SCP server. In this embodiment, the DICOM storage SCP server has been described as being included in the PACS server 20, but this is according to an embodiment and the DICOM storage SCP server may be configured as a server separate from the PACS server 20.

In one embodiment, the transmitter 150 may store the medical image data of which the patient information is changed in a queue and transmit the batch to the PACS server 20. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the transmitter 150 may urgently transmit the medical image data stored in the queue when a user request is requested.

In addition, the transmitting unit 150 may include a display device displayed externally to display a progress state of a current transmission using a progress bar, etc., and after the transmission is completed, a completion message through the display device. You can display the completion or output a sound to indicate that the task is complete.

As such, the medical image data processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention transmits the medical image data to the PACS server 20 through the transmission unit 150, thereby transmitting the medical image data of the patient without loss from the server. It can be managed.

The recorder 160 stores the medical image data whose patient information has been changed in the correction unit 140 or the plurality of medical image data transmitted from the PACS server 20 in which the data inserted into the optical storage medium inserting unit 110 is not recorded. Each of them is recorded in a plurality of empty optical storage media 30.

If the patient has to go to another medical institution to receive medical treatment and treatment, or to submit it to an insurance company, an optical storage medium containing images of his CT, MRI, etc. must be purchased from the hospital. At this time, the medical image manager of the hospital inserts the light storage medium according to the capacity of the patient image, bakes the light storage medium, checks the completion of the light storage medium, and displays the patient information on the surface of the baked light storage medium by hand. In medium and large hospitals with a large number of patients, the above tasks are repeated using multiple PCs. The person in charge must check all the processes on multiple PCs, and each step requires user intervention. Therefore, a large number of PCs are required for manufacturing a patient medical image optical storage medium, which is not only very inefficient in terms of time and cost, but also has a high possibility of human error due to manual manufacturing.

Medical image data processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention automatically proceeds to the manufacturing process of the plurality of optical storage media using the optical storage medium insertion unit 110 that can insert a plurality of optical storage media Since the recording unit 160 is provided, the client side can be provided with a fast and accurate medical image optical storage medium, the hospital side can maximize the efficiency of the work.

When the recording unit 160 completes the recording of the medical image data on the optical storage medium 30 inserted into the optical storage medium inserting unit 110, a label in which patient information is printed on the optical storage medium 30 where the recording is completed is completed. It may further include a labeler (not shown) attaching a label.

Hereinafter, operations of the recording unit 160 and the labeler according to an embodiment will be described in detail. First, when a user requests to manufacture an optical storage medium recording medical image data through the medical image data processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the recording unit 160 of the medical image data processing apparatus 100 The medical image data requested by the user is received through the correction unit 140 or the PACS server 20, and the medical image data is inserted into the optical storage medium 30 inserted through the optical storage medium inserting unit 110. Record medical image data. The labeler prints patient information on the label, and attaches the printed label to the optical storage medium on which the medical image data is recorded to complete the manufacture of the medical image optical storage medium.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a medical image data processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, when a medical image data processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention starts, a plurality of optical storage media having a medical image recorded thereon is inserted into an optical storage medium inserting unit (S201), and the reading unit is inserted into the optical storage medium inserting unit. The medical image data recorded on the plurality of optical storage media is read and stored (S202). The process is repeated until the last optical storage medium is read (S202), and after reading up to the last optical storage medium (S230), the prescription information inquiry unit receives the prescription information corresponding to the medical image data from the PACS server from the PACS server. Inquiry (S240).

In addition, it is checked whether some of the prescription information is changed (S250), and if the prescription information is changed, the correction unit changes the patient information of the medical image data in response to the changed prescription information (S260).

Then, the transmitter transmits the medical image data whose patient information is changed to the PACS server (S270).

In another embodiment, in the medical image data processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the steps according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, a recording unit is transmitted from the medical image data or the PACS server in which the patient information is changed in the correction unit. The method may further include recording a plurality of medical image data into a plurality of empty optical storage media for which data inserted into the optical storage medium insertion unit is not recorded.

In the medical image data processing method illustrated in FIG. 2, the medical image data processing process proceeds similarly to the medical image data processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. As it is applied as is, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 2, as in FIG. 1, each step of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is not a necessary step in all steps, and some steps may be added, changed or deleted in another embodiment.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken as limitations. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

100 medical image data processing device
110 Optical Storage Media Insert
120 reading
130Prescription Information
140 Government
150 transmitter
160 records

Claims (5)

An optical storage medium insertion unit for inserting a plurality of optical storage media in which a medical image is recorded;
A reading unit configured to read and store medical image data recorded on the optical storage media;
A prescription information inquiry unit for inquiring prescription information corresponding to the medical image data from a picture archiving communication system (PACS) server;
A correction unit for changing patient information of the medical image data in response to the changed prescription information when a part of the prescription information is changed; And
And a transmitter configured to transmit the medical image data of which the patient information is changed to the PACS server. The method according to claim 1,
The optical storage medium insertion unit
The stacked optical storage media are sequentially inserted into an optical disc drive (ODD), and when the reading of the optical storage media is completed in the reading unit, the optical storage media on which the reading is completed is discharged. And inserting an optical storage medium into the ODD and repeating the reading by the reading unit so that the reading unit reads the plurality of optical storage media. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Search for a DICOMDIR file in accordance with the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard in the root path of the medical image data,
When the DICOMDIR file exists in the root path of the medical image data, the DICOMDIR file is analyzed to determine the location of the file inside the medical image data.
And if the DICOMDIR file does not exist in the root path of the medical image data, directly reading the medical image data to check the location of the file inside the medical image data. The method according to claim 1,
The transmitting unit,
And storing the medical image data of which the patient information has been changed in a queue and transmitting the same to the PACS server. The method according to claim 1,
The medical image data in which the patient information is changed in the correction unit or the plurality of medical image data transmitted from the PACS server are respectively stored in a plurality of empty optical storage media in which data inserted into the optical storage medium inserting unit is not recorded. And a recording unit for recording.

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