KR102427173B1 - Method of searching for similar medical image and similar image search device for performing method - Google Patents

Abstract

A non-contact medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a negative pressure forming device for forming a negative pressure inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus; and a medical image capturing unit that captures a medical image of a target part of the body of the subject in an upright state when the subject is located in the upright state inside the non-contact type medical imaging apparatus in which the negative pressure is formed.

Description

Non-contact medical imaging device

The present invention relates to a non-contact type medical imaging apparatus for imaging a medical image of a subject in an upright state.

Recently, as people's health and health awareness is improved, the demand for disinfection-related products (eg, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, etc.) is increasing. Moreover, due to the fear of a new infectious disease for which no treatment or vaccine has been developed, such as coronavirus (COVID-19), personal hygiene awareness is being strengthened.

Meanwhile, in the medical field, in order to examine an abnormality inside a body of a subject, the subject uses a medical image taken by computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or the like. In general, when a subject takes a CT or MRI scan, the subject enters the imaging device while lying on the imaging device to take a picture. In this way, the subject inevitably comes into contact with the imaging device.

In order to prevent infection due to CT and MRI scans, conventionally, after a single scan, disinfection, ventilation, and sterilization of the imaging equipment were performed in the imaging room. occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact type medical imaging apparatus for imaging a medical image of a subject in an upright state.

However, the problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems to be solved that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs from the following description. will be.

A non-contact medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a negative pressure forming device for forming a negative pressure inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus; and a medical image capturing unit that captures a medical image of a target part of the body of the subject in an upright state when the subject is located in the upright state inside the non-contact type medical imaging apparatus in which the negative pressure is formed.

The non-contact medical imaging apparatus may further include a disinfecting unit that disinfects the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus after the medical image is captured.

The disinfection unit may include: a local area disinfection unit for disinfecting a local area with a high possibility of infection among the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus; and a wide area disinfection unit for disinfecting the entire interior of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus.

The local area disinfection unit may include: a spraying device that sprays the disinfectant solution into the local area; and a sensing device for sensing the local area.

The local area disinfection unit may further include a disinfection device that sprays a larger amount of the disinfectant solution to an area where the body weight of the examinee is sensed among the bottom surface of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus.

The wide area disinfection unit may include an injector that sprays at least one of a disinfectant solution and steam into the non-contact medical imaging apparatus, or a heat treatment unit that heats the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus at a high temperature.

The negative pressure forming apparatus may include a negative pressure device for sucking air inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus; a supply port installed on the inner upper surface of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus to introduce air from the outside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus; and an exhaust port connected to the negative pressure device and installed on an inner lower surface or an inner side surface of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus to discharge air inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus to the outside; The flow of air inside may be formed so as to flow from the supply port to the exhaust port.

The negative pressure forming apparatus may include: a first air filter configured to block an inflow of impurities contained in air outside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus into the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus; and a second air filter that blocks an outflow of a virus existing inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus to the outside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus.

The first air filter and the second air filter may be HEPA filters.

The non-contact medical imaging apparatus may further include a controller for identifying the target region in the medical image being photographed by the medical imaging unit using a pre-trained artificial neural network.

The non-contact medical imaging apparatus may include a plurality of cameras each of which photographs the subject; and a controller for determining a position of a medical image capturing unit, wherein the controller determines the position, posture, and movement of the subject using images captured by the plurality of cameras, and determines the position, posture, and movement of the subject The position of each body part in the body of the examinee may be determined based on the movement, and the position of the medical image capturing unit may be determined based on the position of each body part of the examinee.

The controller may be configured to receive an image of the body part of the subject being photographed by the medical image capturing unit, determine a pose of the subject using the image being captured, and the medical image capturing unit using the subject's pose It is possible to identify a region corresponding to the target region from among the images being photographed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a negative pressure is formed inside the medical imaging apparatus, thereby preventing the virus from leaking out of the medical imaging apparatus.

In addition, by minimizing the contact between the medical imaging apparatus and the examinee by taking a medical image in an upright state by the subject, and providing an automatic disinfection function after the medical image is taken, infection of a disease caused by contact when taking a medical image can be prevented.

In addition, by automatically identifying an area corresponding to a target region of a subject to photograph a medical image, it is possible to capture a medical image of a subject even if an operator operating the non-contact type medical image capturing apparatus is not in the imaging room.

1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a non-contact medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a non-contact medical imaging apparatus including a camera unit and a sound pressure forming device installed at a position according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows a non-contact medical imaging apparatus including a camera unit and a sound pressure forming device installed at a position according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a function of a controller for identifying a target region for imaging a medical image according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of moving a camera to take a medical image according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of identifying a target region for imaging a medical image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

In describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a well-known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in an embodiment of the present invention, which may vary according to intentions or customs of users and operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a non-contact medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a non-contact medical image including a camera unit and a sound pressure forming device installed at a position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 shows a non-contact medical imaging apparatus including a camera unit and a sound pressure forming device installed at a location according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 includes a controller 100 , a medical imaging unit 110 , a camera unit 120 , a sound pressure forming device 130 , a communication unit 140 , and a disinfection unit ( 150) may be included.

2 and 3 , the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 provides a medical image of the subject P while the subject P is upright (standing) in order to minimize infection through shooting a medical image. It may be configured in a stand-up manner to take an image.

Because the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 is configured in a stand-up manner, the contact between the subject P and the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 may be minimized when the subject P takes a medical image.

When the door installed in the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 is closed, the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 may be substantially sealed, and the negative pressure forming device 130 inside the sealed non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . By forming a negative pressure using the , viruses, bacteria, etc. (hereinafter, representative viruses) inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 may not escape to the outside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 .

The controller 100 may control the overall operation of the non-contact human body image capturing apparatus 10 .

The medical image capturing unit 110 may include one or more imagers (not shown). The medical image photographing unit 110 may photograph a medical image of a body organ of a subject by using the one or more photographing devices. The medical image captured by the medical imaging unit 110 may be any one of a computed tomography (CT) image, a magnetic resonance (MR) image, an X-ray image, and a positron emission tomography (PET) image, but is not limited thereto. . That is, the medical image captured by the medical image capturing unit 110 may be a series of images for detecting a disease, internal injury, etc. of the subject or for determining the condition of the subject.

The camera unit 120 may include a plurality of cameras. A plurality of cameras included in the camera unit 120 determine the location of the camera (eg, the head, neck, chest, abdomen, spine, etc.) of the subject, and target parts (brain, heart, liver, kidney, lung, etc.). A method of determining the position of the camera and identifying the target site will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4 .

For example, referring further to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the camera unit 120 may include a first camera 121 , a second camera 123 , and a third camera 125 . The first camera 121 may be installed on the upper surface of the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 to photograph the subject P on the subject P's head. The second camera 123 may be installed on one side of the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 to photograph the subject P from one side (eg, the left side) or the front side of the subject P. The third camera 125 may be installed on the opposite side to the second camera 123 to photograph the subject P from the other side (eg, the right side) or the back of the subject P.

In the present specification, the camera unit 120 includes a first camera 121 , a second camera 123 , and a third camera 125 , and a first camera 121 , a second camera 123 and a third camera. Each of (125) has been described as being installed on the upper surface or the side of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10, but is not limited thereto. That is, the plurality of cameras included in the camera unit 120 may be installed in an appropriate number to determine a position of a camera and a body part of a subject to take a medical image.

The negative pressure forming device 130 includes an air inlet, which is a passage through which air from the outside of the non-contact medical imaging device 10 flows into the non-contact medical imaging device 10 , and air inside the non-contact medical imaging device 10 to the outside. It may include an exhaust port, which is an outlet, and a negative pressure device connected to the exhaust port to suck air inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 to form a negative pressure inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10. .

Prevents impurities such as dust contained in external air from entering the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 , and viruses inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 leak out of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . In order to prevent this from happening, an air filter may be installed in each of the inlet port and the exhaust port. In some embodiments, the air filter may be a HEPA filter.

The supply port 131 and the exhaust port 135 are provided in the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 to minimize the air introduced from the outside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 to stay inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . ) may be installed at a position such that the internal air flow is formed from the top to the bottom of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 , and the positions of the supply port 131 and the exhaust port 135 may be changed according to embodiments. .

Referring to FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment, the supply port 131 is installed on the inner upper surface of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 , and the exhaust port 135 is located on the inner lower surface of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . can be installed.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3 , according to another embodiment, the supply port 131 is installed on the inner upper surface of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 , and the exhaust port 135 is the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . It can also be installed on the side.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first air filter 133 has an air supply port ( 131) can be installed inside, at the inlet or at the outlet.

The second air filter 137 is installed at the inside, inlet or outlet of the air inlet 131 to prevent the virus inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 from leaking out of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . can be installed.

A negative pressure device (not shown) is a device that sucks air inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 to form a negative pressure inside the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10, and is installed to be connected to the inlet of the exhaust port 135 and , a second air filter 137 may be included.

The communication unit 140 may include at least one of a microphone (not shown), a speaker (not shown), and a display (not shown) so that the subject P and a user operating the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 can communicate. may include

Using the microphone and speaker included in the communication unit 140 , the subject P can communicate with the user, and using the display included in the communication unit 140 , the subject P provides information necessary for imaging a medical image. can be acquired

The disinfection unit 150 may include a local area disinfection unit (not shown) and a wide area disinfection unit (not shown).

The local area disinfection unit is a non-contact medical imaging device 10 that is highly likely to be infected with a virus (that is, contact with the subject P or have a high probability of attaching droplets of the subject P) or actually to the virus. It is possible to intensively disinfect an infected area (that is, contact with the subject P or to which droplets of the subject P are attached).

The local area disinfection unit may include one or more devices necessary for intensively disinfecting a local area in the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . For example, the local area disinfection unit may include a spray device for spraying a disinfectant solution or the like on a local area, a sensing device for detecting an infected area, a disinfection device for disinfecting the floor of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10, etc. .

According to an embodiment, the disinfection device for disinfecting the floor of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 included in the local area disinfection unit detects the weight of the subject P among the bottom surface of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . A larger amount of disinfectant can be sprayed on the affected area.

The wide area disinfection unit may disinfect the entire interior of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . The wide area disinfection unit may include one or more devices necessary for overall disinfection of the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 . For example, the wide area disinfection unit may include an injector for spraying a disinfectant solution, steam, etc. into the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 , a heat treatment unit for heat-treating the inside of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 at a high temperature, and the like.

2 and 3, only the camera unit 120 and the sound pressure forming apparatus 130 are illustrated for convenience of explanation, but is not limited thereto. That is, although not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the components of the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 described throughout this specification may be installed at positions appropriate to perform the functions of each component.

4 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a function of a controller for identifying a target region for imaging a medical image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the controller 100 may control the camera unit 120 to determine a location of a camera and identify a target site for capturing a medical image.

The controller 100 may include a camera position determiner 101 and a target region identification unit 103 to determine a position of the imager and determine a region to capture a medical image.

The camera position determining unit 101 and the target region identification unit 103 shown in FIG. 4 conceptually divide the functions of the controller 100 in order to easily explain the functions of the controller 100 , and the present invention is not limited thereto. According to embodiments, the functions of the camera position determining unit 101 and the target region identification unit 103 may be merged/separated, and may be implemented as a series of instructions included in one or more programs.

The camera position determining unit 101 may determine the position of the camera included in the medical image capturing unit 110 based on the image captured by the camera unit 120 .

The camera position determining unit 101 may receive an image captured by the camera unit 120 and determine the position, posture, and movement of the subject P based on the received image. The camera position determining unit 101 may determine the position of each body part of the subject P based on the determined position, posture, and movement of the subject P.

According to an embodiment, the camera position determining unit 101 receives an image captured by the camera unit 120 using an artificial neural network that has already been trained to determine at least one of the position, posture, and movement of the subject P. The position of each body part of the subject may be determined.

The camera positioning unit 101 receives information on a target part (brain, heart, liver, kidney, lung, etc.) of the body of the subject P to take a medical image, and receives the determined information on each body part of the subject P. Based on the location, it is possible to move the camera to photograph the target site.

According to an embodiment, after the camera positioning unit 101 determines the location of the camera, the user operating the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 moves the camera to the position determined by the imaging device positioning unit 101 . can be decided If the user decides not to move the camera to the position determined by the camera positioning unit 101, the user may directly designate a location to move the camera, and the imaging location determining unit 101 determines the position where the camera is to be moved. may decide To this end, the non-contact medical imaging apparatus 10 may further include a transceiver (not shown) for transmitting and receiving information to and from the user.

The target part identification unit 103 may receive an image being photographed by the camera.

The target part identification unit 103 may determine whether the subject P is stopped from among the images being photographed by the camera, and, when the subject P is stopped, may determine the pose of the subject P.

The target region identification unit 103 identifies a region corresponding to a target region for imaging a medical image from among the medical images based on the posture and pose of the subject P, and the medical image capturing unit 100 generates a medical image of the target region. can be filmed.

According to an embodiment, the target region identification unit 103 uses an artificial neural network that has been previously trained to identify a target region for imaging a medical image from among the body of the subject P when an image being photographed by the camera is inputted, using an artificial neural network to obtain a medical image. It is possible to identify a region corresponding to a target part to be photographed from among them.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of moving a camera to take a medical image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5 , the camera position determining unit 101 may receive images captured by a plurality of cameras included in the camera unit 120 ( S500 ).

The camera position determiner 101 may determine the position, posture, and movement of the subject P based on the received images ( S510 ). For example, the camera position determiner 101 may determine the position, posture, and movement of the subject P from images received using a pre-learned artificial neural network.

The camera position determining unit 101 may determine the position of each body part of the subject P based on the determined position, posture, and movement of the subject P ( S520 ).

The camera positioning unit 101 receives information on a target part (brain, heart, liver, kidney, lung, etc.) of the body of the subject P to take a medical image, and receives the determined information on each body part of the subject P. Based on the location, the camera may be moved to photograph the target site (S530).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of identifying a target region for imaging a medical image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 6 , the target region identification unit 103 may receive an image being photographed by the image photographing apparatus ( S600 ).

When the subject P is still in the image being photographed by the camera device (YES in S610), the target region identification unit 103 may determine the pose of the subject P (S620).

The target region identification unit 103 identifies a region corresponding to a target region to be photographed in the medical image based on the posture and pose of the subject P (S630), and the medical image capturing unit 100 performs a medical image of the target region (S630). can be photographed (S640).

Combinations of each block in the block diagram attached to the present invention and each step in the flowchart may be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be embodied in the encoding processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, such that the instructions executed by the encoding processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment may correspond to each block or Each step of the flowchart creates a means for performing the functions described. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-usable or computer-readable memory that may direct a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement a function in a particular manner, and thus the computer-usable or computer-readable memory. The instructions stored in the block diagram may produce an article of manufacture containing instruction means for performing the functions described in each block in the block diagram or in each step in the flowchart. The computer program instructions may also be mounted on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, such that a series of operational steps are performed on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer-executed process to create a computer or other programmable data processing equipment. It is also possible that instructions for performing the processing equipment provide steps for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and each step of the flowchart.

Further, each block or each step may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes one or more executable instructions for executing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments it is also possible for the functions recited in blocks or steps to occur out of order. For example, it is possible that two blocks or steps shown one after another may in fact be performed substantially simultaneously, or that the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in the reverse order according to the corresponding function.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various modifications and variations will be possible without departing from the essential quality of the present invention by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be construed by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

10: non-contact medical imaging device
100: controller
101: camera positioning unit
103: target region identification unit
110: medical imaging unit
120: camera unit
130: sound pressure forming device
140: communication department
150: disinfection unit

Claims (12)

In the non-contact computed tomography (CT) imaging apparatus,
a negative pressure forming device for forming a negative pressure inside the non-contact computed tomography imaging device; and
a medical imaging unit which, when an upright subject is positioned inside the non-contact computerized tomography imaging apparatus in which the negative pressure is formed, takes a computed tomography image of a predetermined target part of the subject's body in the upright state; and
A sterilizing unit for disinfecting the inside of the non-contact computed tomography imaging apparatus after taking the medical image;
The disinfection unit,
a sensing device for acquiring an area in which the body weight of the subject is sensed from among the bottom surfaces of the non-contact computed tomography imaging apparatus;
a disinfection device that sprays a larger amount of disinfectant to the sensed area; and
Comprising a wide area disinfection unit for disinfecting the entire interior of the non-contact computed tomography imaging device,
Non-contact computed tomography imaging device. delete delete delete delete The method of claim 1,
The wide area disinfection unit,
A sprayer for spraying at least one of a disinfectant solution and steam into the non-contact computed tomography imaging device, or a heat treatment device for heat-treating the inside of the non-contact computed tomography imaging device at a high temperature
Non-contact computed tomography imaging device. The method of claim 1,
The sound pressure forming device,
a negative pressure device for sucking air inside the non-contact computed tomography imaging device;
an air supply port installed on the inner upper surface of the non-contact computed tomography imaging device to introduce air from the outside of the non-contact computed tomography imaging device; and
and an exhaust port connected to the negative pressure device and installed on an inner lower surface or an inner side of the non-contact computerized tomography imaging device to discharge air inside the non-contact computerized tomography imaging device to the outside;
The flow of air inside the non-contact computed tomography imaging apparatus is formed to flow from the air supply port to the exhaust port.
Non-contact computed tomography imaging device. The method of claim 1,
The sound pressure forming device,
a first air filter for blocking the inflow of impurities contained in the air outside the non-contact computed tomography imaging device into the inside of the non-contact computed tomography imaging device; and
and a second air filter for blocking the outflow of viruses existing inside the non-contact computed tomography imaging device to the outside of the noncontact computed tomography imaging device.
Non-contact computed tomography imaging device. 9. The method of claim 8,
The first air filter and the second air filter are HEPA filters.
Non-contact computed tomography imaging device. delete delete delete

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