KR20060042615A - System for capturing medicine image and method for controlling thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a medical image capture system and a control method thereof for the convenience of an operator. Endoscopic equipment acquires medical images of the subject. The PC is connected to the endoscope equipment, is equipped with a medical image acquisition program, and acquires and stores a medical image provided from the endoscope equipment according to the start of the medical image acquisition program. The video output converter is connected to the endoscope equipment and the PC, and transmits the video output signal provided from the endoscope equipment to the PC. Accordingly, by providing an endoscope device and an image output converting device connected to a PC, the operation of the endoscope device and the transmission of the image acquisition signal can be simultaneously performed through the scope device of the endoscope device to facilitate the operator's convenience.

Medical image, endoscope, capture, program

Description

Medical image capture system and its control method {SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING MEDICINE IMAGE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THEREOF}

1 is a block diagram illustrating a system in which a conventional image signal is transmitted to a medical image acquisition program via a capture board.

2 is a block diagram of a conventional medical image capture system.

3 is a block diagram of a medical image capture system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an example of a screen in which a list of patients scheduled for endoscopy and a list of patients who have been examined are inquired through a medical image acquisition program.

FIG. 5A is a screen illustrating a method of acquiring and storing a medical image of a specific lesion of a patient from an endoscope device using a medical image acquisition program, and FIG. 5B is a screen of a medical image of a specific patient viewed through a medical image acquisition program. It is an example.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal block of the image output converter illustrated in FIG. 3.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a medical image capture system using an endoscope device according to the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a medical image capture system using a medical image acquisition program according to the present invention.

9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image output conversion apparatus according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: medical imaging equipment 130, 220, 320: medical image acquisition program

140, 230, 340: PC 120, 320: Video capture board

210, 310: endoscope equipment 240, 350: communication network

250, 360: Server 260: Footswitch

370: Video output converter

The present invention relates to a medical image capture system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a medical image capture system and a control method thereof for the convenience of the operator.

In general, clinical diagnosis plays a large role in treating patients in the medical practice of dealing with the patient's life. As medical technology advances to enable more detailed and accurate clinical diagnosis, the dependence of clinical diagnosis is increasing, and medical imaging equipment such as endoscope and ultrasound has become an essential device in modern medicine.

However, medical services in the past have been using inefficient resource management that takes a lot of time and manpower to take the abnormal site of the patient using medical imaging equipment and deliver it to the patient's doctor to make a clinical diagnosis.

In addition, there was a lot of difficulties in losing the developed image or retrieving the image taken after a long time, and above all, the patient could not be quickly and accurately treated.

However, the development of computer and communication technology has led to the research and development of a system that provides new medical services by combining computer and data communication technology in the medical field dealing with patients' lives. In other words, by installing a computer communication network throughout the hospital, converting the medical image with the patient information into digital data and storing it in a large storage medium, a system that can be viewed at any time through a computer monitor has emerged.

Connect medical imaging equipment such as endoscope to medical image acquisition program, and use it to save medical images from medical imaging equipment as image files, and retrieve patient information and medical images of patients whenever necessary with databased patient information. have.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a system in which an image signal of a medical imaging apparatus is transferred to a medical image acquisition program. In particular, it shows a system configuration in which the image signal of the medical imaging equipment, such as endoscope, ultrasound, and bone density measurement is transferred to the medical image acquisition program via an image capture board.

Referring to FIG. 1, the medical imaging apparatus 110 includes an image capture board 120, a composite terminal, an S-VIDEO terminal, and an RGB video mounted on a PC 140 on which a medical image acquisition program 130 is mounted. Connected to the terminal, the image signal is transmitted to the image capture board 120 through the cable.

In operation, when the medical image acquisition program 130 is executed and recording is performed in the medical imaging equipment, the image signal of the medical imaging equipment is transferred to the medical image acquisition program through the image capture board, and the same image as the monitor of the endoscope equipment is obtained. It is displayed in real time in the acquisition program. The medical image acquisition program 130 receiving the image signal of the endoscope equipment 112 displays the received image signal on the screen, and thus the same image as that of the monitor of the endoscope equipment is also shown in the medical image acquisition program.

A foot switch is used as a means for transmitting an image acquisition signal to a medical image acquisition program for acquiring and storing a medical image from the endoscope equipment or the ultrasonic apparatus.

2 is a block diagram of a conventional medical image capture system. In particular, it is a block diagram of a medical image capture system using a foot switch.

Referring to FIG. 2, the medical doctor acquires and stores an image signal provided from the endoscope equipment 210 and transmits the image signal to the server 250 via the communication network 240 at any time to inquire the image and patient information of the patient. And a PC 230 equipped with a medical image acquisition program 220 for reading, a server 250 for storing a medical image obtained from the medical image acquisition program 220, and a medical image acquisition program 220. The image capture system is composed of a communication network connecting the server 240 and a foot switch 260 for transmitting an image acquisition signal to a PC 230 equipped with a medical image acquisition program. The foot switch 260 transmits an image acquisition signal to control the medical image acquisition program to acquire and store the medical image from the image signal of the endoscope equipment.

The server 250 is a space for storing the medical image acquired by the medical image acquisition program 220. As the medical image is stored in the server 250, a plurality of individual systems provided with the medical image acquisition program 220 may simultaneously query patient information and the medical image.

The foot switch 260 is an apparatus for transmitting an image acquisition signal to a medical image acquisition program in order to acquire and store a medical image from the endoscope apparatus or the ultrasonic apparatus. In this way, the operator replaces the mouse operation to be performed in the medical image capturing program with a foot switch for convenience of work. The foot switch 260 may be directly connected to a game port (or parallel port) terminal of a PC on which the medical image acquisition program is mounted, and may directly transmit an image acquisition signal to the medical image acquisition program.

The medical doctor examines the patient by observing the medical image displayed on the endoscope monitor or the medical image acquisition program while inserting the endoscope into the patient's affected part and manipulating it. During the examination, the doctor photographs and stores a specific part of the affected area. Instead of clicking the capture execution button of the medical image acquisition program by operating a mouse, the doctor presses the foot switch 260 to send an image acquisition signal to the medical image acquisition program and sends the medical image. The acquisition program acquires and stores the medical image in response to this signal.

In the case of endoscope equipment, when the medical image acquisition program is executed and the endoscope photography is performed, the medical image acquisition program receives an image signal from the endoscope equipment. The medical image acquisition program that receives the image signal of the delivered endoscope device displays the image signal on a screen in real time. When the operator presses the foot switch 260 while operating the endoscope, the image acquisition signal transmitted from the foot switch acquires and stores a medical image in response to the image acquisition signal received by the medical image acquisition program. After the endoscopy, the medical image acquisition program ends.

However, in a medical image capturing system using a foot switch, the foot switch is a separate device from the endoscope equipment and the medical image capturing program, and since the foot switch is an independent device, the operation of the foot switch must be performed separately with the operation of the endoscope equipment. Accordingly, there is a problem that the increase of the unit of work cannot be avoided.

Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medical image capture system for simultaneously performing the acquisition and storage of the medical image only by the operation of the endoscope equipment.

Another object of the present invention to provide a control method of the medical image capture system.

Medical image capture system according to one feature for realizing the object of the present invention includes an endoscope equipment, a PC and an image output conversion device. The endoscope equipment acquires a medical image of the subject. The PC is connected to the endoscope equipment, mounts a medical image acquisition program, and acquires and stores a medical image provided from the endoscope equipment according to the activation of the medical image acquisition program. The image output converter is connected to the endoscope equipment and the PC, and transmits the image output signal provided from the endoscope equipment to the PC.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of a medical image capturing system including a PC equipped with a medical image acquisition program, connected to an endoscope device, and connected to the endoscope device and a PC. In a control method of a medical image capture system including an image output converter for transmitting an image output signal provided from the equipment to the PC, (a) in response to the activation of the endoscope equipment, to transmit the captured image signal to the PC step; (b) the endoscope apparatus checking whether the image signal provided from the image output converter is received, and if it is checked that the image signal is received, transmitting the acquired image signal to the image output converter; And (c) storing the image signal as the PC executing the medical image acquisition program receives the image signal acquired by the endoscope device.

According to such a medical image capture system and its control method, by providing an endoscope device and an image output converter connected to a PC, the operation of the endoscope device and the transmission of an image acquisition signal through the scope device of the endoscope device are performed at the same time. Can be planned.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a medical image capture system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the medical image capture system according to the present invention includes a PC 340 equipped with an endoscope device 310, an image capture board 320, a medical image acquisition program 330, and a PC 340. 350, a server 360 connected to the PC 340 via the communication network 350, and an image output converter 370 connecting the endoscope equipment 310 to the PC 340.

Endoscopic equipment 310 is composed of an endoscope monitor 312, the endoscope body 314 and the endoscope printer 316 for outputting the image signal of the endoscope, to photograph the organ or the body cavity of the human body, and to take a picture of the medical image It is provided to the PC 340 via the capture board 320, and provides the image output signal of the endoscope scope to the image output converter 370.

Specifically, the endoscope body 314 includes various scope devices such as a video system center, a video scope, or a fiber scope. The video system center and the endoscope monitor 212 are connected by an RGB cable for transmitting an image signal, and the video output terminal of the video system center or the RGB output terminal of the endoscope monitor 312 is connected to the video of the image output converter 370. It is connected to the input terminal.

The image capture board 320 acquires a medical image from the endoscope equipment 310 under the control of the medical image acquisition program, and provides the obtained medical image to the medical image acquisition program 330 via the PC 340. . Although the image capture board 320 is separated from the PC 340 in the drawing, it is preferable that the video capture board 320 is mounted on the PC 340.

The medical image acquisition program 330 is mounted on the PC 340, obtains a medical image provided from the endoscope equipment 310, stores the medical image in the PC 340, and stores the stored medical image in the communication network 350. It provides to the server 360 via. An operator may access the server 360 connected to the communication network 350 through the medical image acquisition program 330 to inquire patient information and medical image of the patient.

The image signal of the endoscope equipment 310 is transmitted to the medical image acquisition program 330, and the medical image acquisition program 330 displays the received image signal on the screen. That is, since the received image signal is immediately displayed on the screen of the medical image acquisition program 330, the same screen as that shown on the endoscope monitor 312 is displayed on the PC equipped with the medical image acquisition program 330 ( 340).

The image output converting apparatus 370 is connected to the endoscope equipment 310 and is connected to a PC 340 on which the medical image acquisition program 330 is mounted. The printer port of the image output converter 370 is connected to the output terminal of the endoscope printer 316, and the PC output terminal of the image output converter 370 is connected to the game port of the PC 340. Accordingly, the image output signal transmitted from the endoscope scope of the endoscope equipment 310 is transmitted to the pre-image output converter 370, the image output converter 370 receiving the signal of the PC 340 Send the video acquisition signal to the game port.

The image output converter 370 uses an image output signal transmitted by a scope in the endoscope body 314. When the scope's image output switch is pressed, an image output signal is transmitted to the image output converter 370, and the image output converter 370 responds to the image output signal of the scope in response to a game port signal, that is, an image acquisition signal. Transfer to the medical image acquisition program (330). In this case, if the image output converting apparatus 370 and the endoscope printer 316 are connected, the image output converting apparatus 370 transfers the image output signal received from the scope to the endoscope printer 316 to display the corresponding image. Control to print.

Since the medical image acquiring program 330 is connected to the server 360 via the communication network 350, as shown in FIG. 5, the patient information and the medical image of the patient may be inquired at any time.

4 is an example of a screen in which a list of patients scheduled for endoscopy and a list of patients who have been examined are inquired through a medical image acquisition program.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the patient to be checked is selected from the patient list, the medical image of the patient stored in the server 360 is displayed as shown in FIG. 5A or 5B by the medical image acquisition program 330. do.

FIG. 5A is a screen illustrating a method of acquiring and storing a medical image of a specific lesion of a patient from an endoscope device using a medical image acquisition program, and FIG. 5B is a screen of a medical image of a specific patient viewed through a medical image acquisition program. It is an example.

3, 5A and 5B, the image signal transmitted from the endoscope equipment 310 is displayed in real time in the medical image acquisition program 330 as in the upper left image.

Therefore, the medical doctor may simultaneously check the screen shown on the endoscope monitor 312 in the medical image acquisition program 330. When the image output switch is pressed on the scope in the endoscope body at each time point to be stored while checking the affected part of the patient through the endoscope monitor 312 or the medical image acquisition program 330, the captured image signal is sent to the endoscope printer 316. The image of the endoscope monitor 312 is transmitted and developed into a photograph.

In a medical image capture system using a conventional foot switch, the practitioner must simultaneously operate the foot switch while operating the endoscope equipment, and the foot switch could not be operated if the foot switch is out of the doctor's medical radius. .

However, in the medical image capture system using the image output converting apparatus according to the present invention, since the medical image can be acquired using the medical image acquisition program at the same time as the operation through the endoscope only by operating the scope, the existing endoscope is operated and put Not only did the two units of work that had to be switched on reduced to one unit, but it also eliminated the problem that the footswitch would move out of the doctor's radius and disrupt the care.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal block of the image output converter illustrated in FIG. 3.

3 and 6, the image output converter 370 includes a print input terminal 371, a TTL IC chip 372, a main control unit (MCU) 373, a print output terminal 374, and a PC. An output terminal 375 is included.

As the signal is provided from the print input terminal 374, the main control unit 373 checks whether the corresponding signal is a signal transmitted from the endoscope equipment 310, and receives the signal from the endoscope equipment 310. By sending a response signal to the responsible for the communication between the endoscope equipment 310 and the image output converter 370.

In addition, the main control unit 373 checks whether the endoscope printer 316 is currently connected to the image output converting apparatus 370, and transmits connection information to the endoscope equipment 310.

The print input terminal 371 is connected to the print output terminal 316 of the endoscope equipment 310 receives the image output signal of the scope via the TTL IC chip 372, the print output terminal 374 is The received image output signal is transmitted to the print input terminal of the endoscope printer 316 via the TTL IC chip 372.

The PC output terminal 375 converts the corresponding signal into an on / off signal in response to the image output signal of the endoscope equipment 310 received through the print input terminal 372, and then passes to the game port of the PC 340. The converted image acquisition signal is transmitted.

In this way, the image output converter 370 checks whether the normal connection with the endoscope equipment 310 through mutual communication. Once connected to the endoscope equipment 310, the image output converter 370 is always checking whether or not to receive the image output signal provided from the endoscope equipment 310, and during the medical examination, the doctor in the endoscope equipment 310 When the image output signal is transmitted by operating the image output switch of the), and transmits the image acquisition signal to the medical image acquisition program (330).

7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a medical image capture system using an endoscope device according to the present invention.

3 and 7, the endoscope equipment 310 first checks whether it is started or not (step S105), and if it is checked that the endoscope equipment 310 is activated, after performing endoscope photography (step S110). In operation S115, the captured image signal is transmitted to the PC 340 on which the medical image acquisition program 330 is mounted.

Subsequently, it is checked whether the image signal is received from the image output converter 370 (step S120), and when it is checked that the image signal is received from the image output converter 370, the medical image acquisition program performs image acquisition. Send an image acquisition signal requesting to the PC side (step S125), and provide the endoscope printer with a signal requesting the endoscope printer to print out the image (step S130), and checks whether the endoscope equipment 310 is terminated. (Step S135).

If the end of the endoscope equipment 310 is checked in step S135, the process is terminated.

Although the drawing shows that step S130 is performed after step S125 described above, this is preferably logically separated at the same time for convenience of description. In addition, step S125 may be performed after step S130.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a medical image capture system using a medical image acquisition program according to the present invention.

3 and 8, the PC 340 equipped with the medical image acquisition program 320 checks whether the medical image acquisition program 320 is executed (step S205).

When it is checked in step S205 that the medical image acquisition program 330 is executed, it is checked whether an image signal is provided from the endoscope equipment 310 (step S210).

If it is checked in step S210 that the video signal is received from the endoscope equipment 310, the video signal is displayed on the screen of the PC 340 in real time (step S215).

Then, it is checked whether the video capture request signal is received (step S215), and if it is not received the video capture request, the feedback is returned to the step S215, and if it is checked that the video capture request is received, the displayed live video is paused. (Step S225), the paused image is stored in the memory of the PC 340 (step S230).

Subsequently, by checking whether the medical image acquisition program 330 is terminated (step S235), if the medical image acquisition program 330 is checked to be terminated, the medical image acquisition program 330 is not finished. If checked, the flow returns to step S210.

9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image output conversion apparatus according to the present invention.

3 and 9, it is checked whether the scope provided in the endoscope equipment 310 is normally connected (step S305). When the endoscope scope is normally connected in step S305, it is checked whether the endoscope printer 316 is normally connected (step S310).

When it is checked in step S310 that the endoscope printer 316 is normally connected, the connection signal is transmitted to the endoscope printer 316 (step S315).

When it is checked that the endoscope printer 316 is abnormally connected in step S310 or after transmitting the connection signal to the endoscope printer 316 in step S315, it is checked whether or not the scope signal is received (step S320).

If it is checked in step S320 that the scope signal is not received, wait until the scope signal is received, and if it is checked that the scope signal is received, after transmitting the game port signal for image acquisition (step S325), The process returns to step S305.

As described above, the image output conversion apparatus according to the present invention by omitting a separate device operation, such as when using a foot switch to store the medical image through the medical image acquisition program, through the scope device of the endoscope equipment It is possible to solve the operation of the endoscope equipment and the transmission of the image acquisition signal at once.

As a result, medical practice is unified and simplified, and the composition of the medical imaging system is simple and clear, and the inconvenience that medical doctors suffer from using the existing foot switch, that is, the foot switch must be operated while operating the endoscope. If you are out of the doctor's treatment radius, you can't operate the footswitch, which can solve problems that are causing your health problems.

In addition, the medical environment can be improved by speeding up the treatment by a simplified and unified operation.                     

Although described above with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below. I can understand.

Claims (7)

Endoscope equipment for obtaining a medical image of the subject; A PC connected with the endoscope device, equipped with a medical image acquisition program, and acquiring and storing a medical image provided from the endoscope device according to the activation of the medical image acquisition program; And And a video output converting device connected to the endoscope device and the PC to transfer the image output signal provided from the endoscope device to the PC. The server of claim 1, further comprising: a server connected to the PC via a communication network, storing medical data and medical images of the examinee provided from the PC, and providing stored medical data and medical images in response to a request of the PC. Medical image capture system, characterized in that it further comprises. The video output converter of claim 1, further comprising a PC output terminal. The PC output terminal is connected to the game port of the PC, medical image capture system, characterized in that for transmitting the image acquired in response to the image output switch of the scope of the endoscope equipment to the medical image acquisition program. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image output converter includes a printer port, The printer port is connected to the printer output terminal of the endoscope body provided in the endoscope equipment, medical image capture system, characterized in that for outputting to print out the acquired image in response to the image output switch of the scope of the endoscope equipment. A medical image capture system including a medical image acquisition program, a PC connected to an endoscope apparatus, and an image output converting apparatus connected to the endoscope apparatus and a PC and transferring an image output signal provided from the endoscope apparatus to the PC. In the control method of, (a) transmitting the captured image signal to the PC according to the activation of the endoscope equipment; (b) the endoscope apparatus checking whether the image signal provided from the image output converter is received, and if it is checked that the image signal is received, transmitting the acquired image signal to the image output converter; And (c) the PC executing the medical image acquisition program, and storing the image signal as the image signal acquired by the endoscope equipment is received. The method of claim 5, wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of printing out the acquired image signal. The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) Displaying the video signal on a screen as the video signal acquired by the endoscope device is received; Pausing the displayed live image; And And storing the paused image.

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