WO2012001560A2

WO2012001560A2 - Colposcopy network system and method for evaluation of image quality

Info

Publication number: WO2012001560A2
Application number: PCT/IB2011/052530
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xiao Lan Ren; Jiongguang Liu; Yu Shen
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2010-06-28
Filing date: 2011-06-10
Publication date: 2012-01-05
Also published as: WO2012001560A3; CN102298666A

Abstract

The invention provides a colposcopy network system and a method for evaluation of the image quality. The colposcopy network system comprises a colposcopy workstation, a colposcopy central server and a colposcopy consultation workstation. The colposcopy workstation is configured to acquire an image and upload the acquired image to the colposcopy central server; the colposcopy consultation workstation obtains the acquired image and the evaluation criteria information from the colposcopy central server, and obtains the evaluation of the image quality input by a second user; the colposcopy central server obtains the option information input by the second user from the colposcopy consultation workstation, and generates feedback information related to the image quality, and displays the feedback information. According to the feedback information, a first user could determine whether he/she should re-acquire an image and improve the image acquisition operation in the future. In this manner, the expert may improve the quality of the image acquired using colposcopy by medical personnel of the primary level hospital without the expert having to be present in the primary level hospital.

Description

COLPOSCOPY NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF IMAGE QUALITY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to the evaluation of the quality of an image acquired by colposcopy, in particular to the colposcopy network system and the method for evaluation of the image quality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A colposcopy is an instrument designed to facilitate visual inspection of pathological changes of the vagina and cervix. The colposcopy enlarges the field of view by tens of times, allowing slight pathological changes to be observed that cannot be seen with the naked eye alone, and also to perform a biopsy, so as to increase the positive detectable rate, to enhance early detection of precancerous or cancerous pathological changes. During the colposcopy examination, only the vagina and the cervix have to be exposed using a vaginal speculum, and subsequently the camera lens of the colposcopy is aimed at the cervix at a distance of 20cm from the introitus, and the focal length is adjusted so as to observe the enlarged image of the cervix via the computer display. The computer could store and playback these images, so as to follow up and observe the therapeutic effect.

In recent years, the number of young women being diagnosed with cervical cancer has increased significantly, and therefore the Chinese Ministry of Health has included screening for cervical cancer in rural women in the key projects of maternal and child healthcare, so as to improve the rate of early diagnosis and early treatment of cervical cancer in rural women as well as the capability of offering healthcare services for women and child populations in rural areas. However, the majority of maternal and child health institutions in rural areas lack technically qualified medical personnel, thus there is no guarantee for the primary level medical personnel to perform a colposcopy properly so as to acquire the proper images during the examination for cervical cancer; errors in the image acquisition may lead to erroneous cervical cancer examination results.

It is necessary to improve the quality of image acquisition, because, even though experts could be organized to evaluate the acquired image, it is possible that, for the same image, different experts have different evaluation results in that they use different evaluation criteria, and the results are vulnerable to subjective factors; thus, the accuracy and consistency of the evaluation of the image quality are adversely affected.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the maternal and child healthcare institutions in rural areas lack technological knowhow, quality control, follow-up, organization management, and good-quality data management, this problem cannot be solved only by the technical supervision of experts by their visiting these primary level institutions in person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the above description of the background technology and the existing technical problems, it would be advantageous if the quality of the image acquired by primary level medical personnel performing the colposcopy could be improved without the expert having to be present at maternal and child healthcare institutions in rural areas. It is also very important to minimize the negative effect of the subjective factors of the experts evaluating the quality of the image. It is also desirable that the quality control, follow up, organization management and data management that are related to the examination for cervical cancer, can be improved.

To solve at least one of the above concerns, according to a first aspect of this invention, a colposcopy workstation is provided which comprises:

a colposcopy configured to acquire an image;

a first output device configured to upload the image to a colposcopy central server;

a first input device configured to obtain feedback information from the colposcopy central server, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and

an interface configured to display the feedback information to a first user.

By uploading the acquired image to the colposcopy central server, it could be achieved that the expert remotely evaluates the image quality via the colposcopy central server to generate feedback information, and then the feedback information obtained from the colposcopy central server is displayed via the colposcopy workstation. Based on the feedback information, a first user, such as medical personnel working in the primary level hospital, could determine whether he/she should re-acquire an image or improve the image acquisition operation in the future, thus the quality of the image acquired by the colposcopy is improved. In this manner, the quality of the image acquired by the medical personnel in the primary levels hospital with the colposcopy could be improved without the expert having to be present in the primary levels hospital.

In one embodiment of the colposcopy workstation, the feedback information is obtained by the colposcopy central server based on an analysis of multiple inputs corresponding to multiple option groups provided by a second user, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image, each of the inputs comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group, wherein the location of the first user and that of the second user are different. Because the feedback information is obtained according to the option chosen by the second user, e.g. the expert, from the multiple option groups, the negative effect of the factor of the expert's subjective view upon the accuracy of the evaluation result could be reduced or avoided. Besides, due to the fact that the location of the first user and that of the second user are different, remote image quality control could be achieved.

In another embodiment of the colposcopy workstation, the interface of the colposcopy workstation is further configured to display multiple operation instructions related to acquiring the image. By means of the multiple operation instructions, it can be guaranteed that the primary level medical personnel try to acquire the image using a colposcopy according to a proper procedure, as a result of which the quality of the acquired image is improved.

According to one embodiment of a second aspect of this invention, a colposcopy central server is provided. The colposcopy central server comprises:

a second input device configured to obtain an image from a colposcopy workstation;

a second output device configured to provide a colposcopy consultation workstation with the image and evaluation criteria information, the evaluation criteria information comprising multiple option groups, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image;

a third input device configured to obtain option information from the colposcopy consultation workstation, the option information comprising multiple inputs corresponding respectively to the multiple option groups from a second user, each input comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group;

a processor configured to generate feedback information related to the image according to the option information, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and a third output device configured to provide the colposcopy workstation with the feedback information.

Because each option group comprises multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image, the second user (e.g. the expert) at the colposcopy consultation workstation can evaluate the image quality by choosing the corresponding option in each option group. Therefore, the expert's evaluation criteria of the image are not arbitrary but controlled by the evaluation criteria information output by the colposcopy central server. In this manner, the negative effect of the factor formed by the expert's subjective view on the image quality evaluation result can be reduced as much as possible, and the accuracy of the image quality evaluation result is increased.

According to one embodiment of the third aspect of this invention, a colposcopy network system is provided. The colposcopy network system comprises a colposcopy workstation as mentioned above, a colposcopy central server as mentioned above, and a colposcopy consultation workstation.

The colposcopy workstation located at a primary level hospital and the colposcopy consultation workstation used by an expert could be interconnected to form a network by using the colposcopy central server. In this manner, the expert could remotely perform a relatively objective quality control to the image acquired by the colposcopy.

In one embodiment, the colposcopy network system further comprises a pre-consultation workstation, which is configured to enter medical case related information and upload the entered medical case related information to the colposcopy central server. In this manner, the colposcopy central server can store plenty of medical case related information, and other pre-consultation workstations and consultation workstations can access the medical case related information by accessing the colposcopy central server; thus, management of the information related to cervical cancer examination performed using colposcopy is achieved, such as quality control, follow up, organization management and data management, etc..

According to one embodiment of the fourth aspect of this invention, a method of evaluating image quality in a colposcopy workstation is provided. The method comprises:

- acquiring an image using a colposcopy;

- uploading the image to a colposcopy central server;

- obtaining feedback information from the colposcopy central server, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and

- displaying the feedback information to a first user.

According to one embodiment of the fifth aspect of this invention, a method of evaluating image quality in a colposcopy central server. The method comprises:

- obtaining an image from a colposcopy workstation;

- providing a colposcopy consultation workstation with the image and evaluation criteria information, the evaluation criteria information comprising multiple option groups, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image;

- obtaining option information from the colposcopy consultation workstation, the option information comprising multiple inputs corresponding respectively to the multiple option groups, from a second user, each input comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group;

- generating feedback information related to the image according to the option information, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and

- providing the colposcopy workstation with the feedback information.

Various aspects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By reading the detailed description of non-restrictive embodiments with reference to the following drawings, the above mentioned and other features of this invention will become apparent.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the colposcopy network system according to one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the colposcopy workstation according to one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the colposcopy central server according to one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the method of evaluating image quality in a colposcopy workstation, according to one embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the method of evaluating image quality in a colposcopy central server, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Same components are marked with the same reference number in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, this invention will be further described in connection with the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the colposcopy network system 100 according to one embodiment of this invention.

Referring to Fig.l, the colposcopy network system 100 comprises a colposcopy workstation 110, a colposcopy central server 120, and a colposcopy consultation workstation 130.

In one embodiment of the colposcopy network system, a first user (e.g. medical personnel at healthcare institutions for maternal and child populations in rural areas) can acquire an image using the colposcopy workstation 110, and upload the acquired image to the colposcopy central server 120; then a second user (e.g. an expert in cervical cancer examination) can obtain the acquired image and the evaluation criteria information from the colposcopy central server 120 via the colposcopy consultation workstation 130, and input the evaluation of the image quality; and then, after the colposcopy central server 120 has obtained the second user's input related to the image quality via the colposcopy consultation workstation 130, feedback information related to the image quality is generated and sent to the colposcopy workstation 110; finally, the colposcopy workstation 110 displays the feedback information to the first user.

In another embodiment of the colposcopy network system, the colposcopy workstation 110 is a colposcopy and a computer located at the primary level hospital (e.g. rural healthcare institutions for maternal and child populations), the colposcopy central server 120 is a computer located at the communication operator, a colposcopy consultation workstation 130 is a computer located at a hospital in the capital city of a province which has plenty of experts in cervical cancer examination.

In the following description, the colposcopy workstation 110, the colposcopy central server

120, and the colposcopy consultation workstation 130 of the colposcopy network system 100, and how they cooperate, will be specified in detail.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the colposcopy workstation according to one embodiment of this invention.

Referring to Fig.2, the colposcopy workstation 110 comprises a colposcopy 210, a first output device 220, a first input device 230 and an interface 240.

The colposcopy 210 is configured to acquire an image. The colposcopy 210 could be implemented in various manners, such as for electrical colposcopy or optical-electrical colposcopy. Electrical colposcopy diagnoses cervical abnormalities through a colposcopy imaging system using digital electrical imaging technology. In one embodiment, electrical colposcopy comprises a videography part, a light source part, a processor part, a holder part and a software part. Optical-electrical colposcopy integrates a microscope optical system and an electrical colposcopy imaging system. In one embodiment, optical-electrical colposcopy comprises a cold light source part, an optical part, a processor part and a software part.

The first output device 220 is configured to upload the image to a colposcopy central server 120. The first output device 220 could be implemented in various manners, for example a transmitter.

The first output device 220 is configured to obtain feedback information from the colposcopy central server 120, and the feedback information indicates the quality of the image. The first input device 230 could be implemented in various manners, for example, a receiver.

The interface 240 is configured to display the feedback information to a first user. The interface could be implemented in various manners, for example, a display device or a printer, etc. The feedback information could be implemented in various manners, for example, feedback information that indicates the quality level of the image, wherein the image quality level comprises at least two levels, for example, "satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory", or comprises three levels "satisfactory", "substantially satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory". For another example, the feedback information could indicate whether an image re-acquisition is needed, for example, the feed back information can be "re- acquisition needed" or "re-acquisition not needed".

In one embodiment, feedback information is obtained by the colposcopy central server, based on an analysis of multiple inputs corresponding to multiple option groups provided by a second user, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image, each of the inputs comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group, wherein the location of the first user and that of the second user are different. The location of the first user and the second user being different relates to the places of the first user and the second user or the functionalities thereof being different. For example, the first user is at a rural hospital, and the second user is at an urban hospital. And, for example, the first user is at a primary level hospital, and the second user is at a hospital that has a higher level than the primary level hospital. For another example, the first user is at a hospital of city A, and the second user is at a hospital of city B. The feedback information-related contents will be further described in the following detailed description related to the colposcopy central server 120.

Because the feedback information is obtained according to the option chosen by the second user, e.g. the expert, from the multiple option groups, the negative effect of the factor formed by the expert's subjective view on the accuracy of the evaluation result can be reduced or avoided. Besides, since the location of the first user and that of the second user are different, remote image quality control can be achieved.

The first user, such as medical personnel of the primary level hospital, can determine whether he/she should re-acquire an image or improve the image acquisition operation in the future. For example, if the feedback information indicates the quality of the image is "satisfactory", the medical personnel could proceed with the subsequent diagnosis according to the acquired image. And, for example, if the feedback information indicates the quality of the image is "unsatisfactory": if the feedback information is obtained in real time, i.e., the colposcopy workstation obtains the feedback information immediately after the image has been acquired and uploaded, the medical personnel could immediately reacquire the image; if the feedback information is not obtained in real time, the medical personnel could contact the patient for re-examination to re-acquire the image. For another example, if the feedback information indicates the quality of the image is "substantially satisfactory", then the medical personnel knows the image acquisition operation may be further improved in the future, and can determine whether he/she should re-acquire the image, according to the situation of the patient.

By uploading the acquired image to the colposcopy central server, it can be achieved that the expert remotely evaluates the image quality to generate feedback information, and then implements the quality control of the image acquired by the colposcopy by using the feedback information obtained by the colposcopy workstation from the colposcopy central server. In this manner, the quality of the image acquired by medical personnel in the primary level hospital using the colposcopy can be improved without the expert having to be present in the primary level hospital.

In one embodiment of the colposcopy workstation, the interface 240 is further configured to display to the first user multiple operation instructions related to acquiring the image. Said multiple operation instructions comprise at least one of the following instructions: acquire an image after the cervix has been exposed using a speculum; acquire an image after the mucus on the surface of the cervix is removed using physiological saline; carry out the 5% glacial acetic acid experiment, acquiring an image every 10 seconds from 20 seconds to 90 seconds after the acetic acid is smeared. Multiple operation instructions may be determined according to the specific operation procedure requirement, and are not limited to the above operation instructions. Medical personnel in a primary level hospital may use the colposcopy to acquire images according to the multiple operation instructions, resulting in an improvement of the quality of the acquired images.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the colposcopy central server according to one embodiment of this invention.

Referring to Fig. 3, the colposcopy central server 120 comprises a second input device 310, a second output device 320, a third input device 330, a processor 340, and a third output device 350.

The second input device 310 is configured to obtain an image from a colposcopy workstation 110. The second input device could be implemented in various manners, for example, a receiver. The second output device 320 is configured to provide a colposcopy consultation workstation 130 with the image and evaluation criteria information. The evaluation criteria information comprises multiple option groups, each of which comprises multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image. The second output device could be implemented in various manners, for example a transmitter.

The determination criteria comprise at least one type of the following criteria: location, clarity, acquired time, content, and amount. The location criterion may be whether or not an entire conversion area could be observed. The location criterion may also be the focusing location of the camera lens. The clarity criterion may be whether or not the image of the focus is clear. The acquired time criterion may be the time of reaction of the acetic acid. The content criterion may be the order of the image after different operations. The amount criterion may be the number of clear cervical images. Each option group comprises multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image. For example, if the determination criterion is clarity, the corresponding option group comprises three options: the entire focus is displayed, the focus can be seen but is incomplete, there is a focus but it is not clear and cannot be determined, respectively.

The third input device 330 is configured to obtain option information from the colposcopy consultation workstation 130. The option information comprises multiple inputs from a second user corresponding respectively to the multiple option groups, each input comprising at least one option in the corresponding option group. The second user inputs by choosing the option group in accordance with the situation of the image seen. The third input device could be implemented in various manners, for example, a receiver.

The processor 340 is configured to generate feedback information related to the image according to the option information, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image. The processor could generate the feedback information according to the option information in various manners. For example, a corresponding score is assigned for each option, and by summing up all the scores of the options chosen by the second user, a total score is obtained, which is then compared to multiple thresholds, and the quality of the image is determined according to the relationship between the total score and the multiple thresholds. And for another example, a list recording the corresponding relationship between the different option combinations and the level of the image quality is stored in the colposcopy central server 120; the processor finds the corresponding level of the image quality in the list according to the option combination input by the second user.

The third output device 350 is configured to provide the colposcopy workstation 110 with the feedback information. The third output device can be implemented in various manners, for example a transmitter.

Due to each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image, the second user (e.g. an expert) at the colposcopy consultation workstation may evaluate the image quality by choosing the corresponding option in each option group. Thus, the expert's evaluation criteria of the image are not arbitrary, but controlled by the evaluation criteria information output by the colposcopy central server. In this manner, the negative effect of the factor formed by the expert's subjective view on the image quality evaluation result can be reduced as much as possible, and the accuracy of the image quality evaluation result is increased.

In one embodiment of the colposcopy central server, the colposcopy central server is installed with software for implementing the operation of each of said device and said processor, and the colposcopy central server further comprises a copyright protection device (not shown), configured to protect the copyright of the software. The copyright protection device could be implemented in various manners, for example, a hardware encryption lock, the popular name of which is hardware dog or encryption dog.

The devices comprised in the above colposcopy workstation and the colposcopy central server could be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. For example, they could be implemented by the processor and a storage device storing instruction codes. They could also be implemented by an integrated chip.

In the following it is illustrated how the colposcopy workstation 110 obtains the feedback information by means of one concrete example.

Firstly, multiple images are acquired by medical personnel of the primary level hospital through the colposcopy workstation 110, and uploaded to the colposcopy central server 120.

Next, the colposcopy central server 120 provides the colposcopy consultation workstation 130 with the evaluation criteria information and the images obtained via the colposcopy workstation 110.

The evaluation criteria information includes three option groups corresponding respectively to three determination criteria. The first type of determination criteria is the location, and the corresponding option group comprises the following options: the focusing target being the cervix, the focusing target being the speculum, the focusing target being the goal conversion area, and the focusing target being the vaginal wall. The second type of determination criteria is the content, and the corresponding option group comprises the following options: acquisition order consistent with the order of the original image -> green light image -> image acquired after the acetic acid is smeared -> image acquired after compound iodine solution is smeared; acquisition order not consistent with the order of the original image -> green light image -> image acquired after the acetic acid is smeared -> image acquired after compound iodine solution is smeared. The third type of determination criteria is the amount, the corresponding option group comprising the following options: 6-8 clear cervical images are available; 4-5 clear cervical images are available; fewer than 4 clear cervical images are available.

And next, an expert in a hospital of a large city obtains the evaluation information and the acquired image through the colposcopy consultation workstation 130, and provides his input after choosing the option in accordance with the situation of the image seen, from multiple options of the multiple option groups comprised in the evaluation information. For example, the expert chooses four options: the focusing target is the vaginal wall, the focusing target is the goal conversion area, the order is not consistent, and 4-5 clear cervical images are available.

The colposcopy consultation workstation 130 then provides the colposcopy central server 120 with the input of the expert as the option information, i.e. it provides the colposcopy central server 120 with the four options chosen by the expert.

Next, the colposcopy central server 120 calculates a total score according to the scores corresponding to the four options in the option information. Each option corresponds to a score ranging from 0 to 5, and there are two threshold values, 12 and 16 respectively, stored in the colposcopy central server 120. The image quality is considered to be unsatisfactory if the total score is below 12, substantially satisfactory if the total score is between 12 and 16, and satisfactory if the total score is above 16. Assuming the total score of the above mentioned four options is 11, the colposcopy central server 120 determines that the feedback information is unsatisfactory, and provides the colposcopy workstation 110 with the feedback information. Finally, after the colposcopy workstation 110 has obtained the feedback information, the feedback information is displayed to the medical personnel. Because the feedback information is "unsatisfactory", the medical personnel could contact the patient to perform a re-examination in order to re-acquire the image.

It should be noted that the above example of image quality evaluation is only for explaining the working method of this invention (not the real situation); the inventor in no way intends to mislead those skilled in the art.

The transmission of the above mentioned information and image between the colposcopy workstation 110, colposcopy central server 120, and colposcopy consultation workstation 130 can be implemented using a wireless network or a cable network. Obtaining and sharing the information and the image are preferably achieved by means of internet technology (WEB 2.0). Related application software is only installed on the colposcopy central server 120, and software for browsing the webpage is only installed on the colposcopy workstation 110 and the colposcopy consultation workstation 130. In this manner, the colposcopy network system 100 can be easily maintained by maintaining the corresponding colposcopy central server 120.

The colposcopy network system can be implemented in various manners.

In one embodiment of the colposcopy network system, the colposcopy network system further comprises a pre-consultation workstation, which is configured to enter medical case related information and upload the entered medical case related information to the colposcopy central server. The medical case related information may comprises various content related to the medical case, for example, examination number, personal profile of the patient, date of the examination, examination item, and the corresponding examination results, diagnosis results, etc.. In this manner, even if the patient visits different hospitals every time, medical personnel of each hospital can obtain all the medical case related information from the colposcopy central server through the pre-consultation workstation of each hospital. Furthermore, medical personnel of the primary level hospital could also inquire, enter, revise, save and upload the medical case related information of the examined people under their care.

In another embodiment of the colposcopy network system, the colposcopy workstation is further configured to obtain medical case related information from the colposcopy central server, acquire an image related to the medical case and upload the image related to the medical case to the colposcopy central server.

In a further embodiment of the colposcopy network system, the colposcopy central server further comprises a database, the database comprising the entered medical case related information and medical case management related information. The data management for the examined people could be achieved by means of the database.

In another embodiment of the colposcopy network system, the colposcopy consultation workstation is also configured to obtain medical case related information of a medical case from the colposcopy central server, and provide the colposcopy central server with feedback information. In this manner, the expert can remotely inquire, enter, revise, and audit the examination data of the primary level hospital.

The above mentioned colposcopy network system enables remote quality control of the image acquired during a colposcopy and sharing of the related information, and the shortcomings of inconvenience in respect of follow up activities and re-examination according to the "one-machine one-site" way are overcome, and management of the patient in a large region is facilitated. Without having to be present at the primary level hospital, an expert of a higher level hospital can technically guide and double check the colposcopy examination performed by medical personnel at the primary level hospital, and improve the skill level of performing the diagnosis and the lower level/primary level doctors' ability of quality control of the colposcopy examination, so that the medical resources of the higher level hospital are more properly used for the primary level hospital.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the method of evaluating image quality in a colposcopy workstation, according to one embodiment of the invention.

According to Fig. 4, the method comprises step 410, acquiring an image using a colposcopy.

The method further comprises step 420, uploading the image to a colposcopy central server.

The method further comprises step 430, obtaining feedback information from the colposcopy central server, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image.

The method further comprises step 440, displaying the feedback information to a first user.

In one embodiment, the feedback information is obtained by the colposcopy central server based on an analysis of multiple inputs corresponding to multiple option groups provided by a second user, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image, each of the inputs comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group, wherein the location of the first user and that of the second user are different.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises a step of displaying multiple operation instructions related to acquiring the image.

According to Fig. 5, the method comprises step 510, obtaining an image from a colposcopy workstation.

The method further comprises step 520, providing a colposcopy consultation workstation with the image and evaluation criteria information, the evaluation criteria information comprising multiple option groups, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image.

The method further comprises step 530, obtaining option information from the colposcopy consultation workstation, the option information comprising multiple inputs corresponding respectively to the multiple option groups, from a second user, each input comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group.

The method further comprises step 540, generating feedback information related to the image according to the option information, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image.

The method further comprises step 550, providing the colposcopy workstation with the feedback information.

The present invention relates to system and method for evaluating the quality of the images of the cervical. Although clinically relevant examples are used for the illustrative description, the inventor does no intent to provide any diagnostic method. Furthermore, the aim of this invention is not to obtain a diagnosis of a disease or health condition, but to provide a method of evaluating the quality of the acquired images and information sharing, so as to improve the quality of the acquired images, and to increase the efficiency of information acquisition. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the exemplary details above, and this invention can be implemented by other embodiments without departing from the spirit and the basic features of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive. Any reference number in the claims should not be considered as limiting the involved claim. Furthermore, obviously the word "comprise" doesn't exclude the presence of other elements, and the word "a" or "an" preceding the element doesn't exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The multiple components in the product claims could also be implemented in one component. The use of the words first, second and third, et cetera, does not indicate any ordering. These words are to be interpreted as names.

Claims

1. A colposcopy workstation comprising:

a colposcopy (210) configured to acquire an image;

a first output device (220) configured to upload the image to a colposcopy central server;

a first input device (230) configured to obtain feedback information from the colposcopy central server, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and

an interface (240) configured to display the feedback information to a first user.

2. A colposcopy workstation according to claim 1, wherein the feedback information is obtained by the colposcopy central server, based on an analysis of multiple inputs corresponding to multiple option groups provided by a second user, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image, each of the inputs comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group, wherein the location of the first user and that of the second user are different.

3. A colposcopy workstation according to claim 1, wherein the interface (240) is further configured to display to the first user multiple operation instructions related to acquiring the image.

4. A colposcopy central server, wherein the colposcopy central server comprises:

a second input device (310) configured to obtain an image from a colposcopy workstation;

a second output device (320) configured to provide a colposcopy consultation workstation with the image and evaluation criteria information, the evaluation criteria information comprising multiple option groups, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image; a third input device (330) configured to obtain option information from the colposcopy consultation workstation, the option information comprising multiple inputs, corresponding respectively to the multiple option groups, from a second user, each input comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group;

a processor (340) configured to generate feedback information related to the image according to the option information, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and a third output device (350) configured to provide the colposcopy workstation with the feedback information.

5. A colposcopy central server according to claim 4, wherein the determination criteria comprise at least one type of the following criteria:

location, clarity, acquired time, order, amount.

6. A colposcopy central server according to claim 4, wherein the colposcopy central server is installed with software for implementing the operation of said device and said processor, the colposcopy central server further comprising:

a copyright protection device configured to protect the copyright of the software.

7. A colposcopy network system comprising a colposcopy workstation according to claim 1, a colposcopy central server according to claim 4, and a colposcopy consultation workstation.

8. A colposcopy network system according to claim 7, wherein it further comprises: a pre-consultation workstation configured to enter medical case related information and upload the entered medical case related information to the colposcopy central server.

9. A colposcopy network system according to claim 7, wherein the colposcopy workstation is further configured to obtain medical case related information of a medical case from the colposcopy central server, acquire an image related to the medical case and upload the image related to the medical case to the colposcopy central server.

10. A colposcopy network system according to claim 7, wherein the colposcopy central server further comprises a database, the database comprising the entered medical case related information and medical case management related information.

11. A method of evaluating image quality in a colposcopy workstation, comprising:

- acquiring (410) an image using a colposcopy;

- uploading (420) the image to a colposcopy central server;

- obtaining (430) feedback information from the colposcopy central server, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and

- displaying (440) the feedback information to a first user.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the feedback information is obtained by the colposcopy central server based on an analysis of multiple inputs corresponding to multiple option groups provided by a second user, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image, each of the inputs comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group, wherein the location of the first user and that of the second user are different.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

- displaying to the first user multiple operation instructions related to acquiring the image.

14. A method of evaluating image quality in a colposcopy central server comprising:

- obtaining (510) an image from a colposcopy workstation;

- providing (520) a colposcopy consultation workstation with the image and evaluation criteria information, the evaluation criteria information comprising multiple option groups, each of the option groups comprising multiple options corresponding to a type of criteria for determining the quality of the image;

- obtaining (530) option information from the colposcopy consultation workstation, the option information comprising multiple inputs corresponding respectively to the multiple option groups, from a second user, each input comprising at least one option in a corresponding option group;

- generating (540) feedback information related to the image according to the option information, the feedback information indicating the quality of the image; and

- providing (550) the colposcopy workstation with the feedback information.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the determination criteria comprise at least one type of the following criteria:

location, clarity, acquired time, order, amount.