JP2006134138A - MEDICAL IMAGE DATA MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND MEDICAL IMAGE DATA MANAGEMENT METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image data management apparatus and a medical image data management method capable of managing a plurality of medical image data in association with each other.
A client computer 2 designates a plurality of medical image data stored in a data server 1 and recorded across a plurality of recording units. Also, a plurality of designated medical image data are managed in association with each other. Therefore, medical image data recorded in different recording units can be managed in association with each other. Alternatively, the client computer 2 may receive input of general findings related to the entire plurality of designated medical image data, and manage the general findings in association with the plurality of medical image data.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image data management apparatus and a medical image data management method for managing medical image data, and more particularly to a medical image data management apparatus and a medical image data management method that can effectively use a plurality of medical image data.

  A data management system for accumulating and managing medical image data is known. FIG. 8 shows a data structure of data stored in a storage device of a conventional data management system. As shown in FIG. 8, the storage device stores the observation data relating to the image together with the image data, and the two are combined to form one record.

JP 2001-155099 A

  When a doctor makes a diagnosis, in addition to a captured image of an affected area of a patient, it may be desired to refer to another image. In addition, as materials for case studies and the like, a collection of various images related to cases as one data group is required.

  However, in the conventional data management system, by accessing the data having the data structure shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to refer to the image data of the affected area and the findings related to the image, but to display other image data in association with each other, Alternatively, these image data cannot be handled as related data groups.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image data management apparatus and a medical image data management method capable of managing a plurality of medical image data in association with each other.

The medical image data management apparatus according to the present invention is a medical image data management apparatus that manages medical image data. The medical image data management apparatus specifies a plurality of medical image data recorded across a plurality of recording units. Management means for managing the plurality of medical image data associated with each other.
According to this medical image data management apparatus, since medical image data recorded in different recording units can be managed in association with each other, a plurality of images related to each other can be handled together. “Recording unit” means a group of a plurality of pieces of data recorded in association with a plurality of pieces of data. For example, the “recording unit” may be prepared for each image data. The data included in the “recording unit” is not required to be recorded in a form physically collected in one place, and may be associated with each other in some form. For example, the designation unit can designate a plurality of medical image data in accordance with a user instruction.

The medical image data and data accompanying the medical image data may be recorded in one recording unit.
In this case, the management means may manage data accompanying the medical image data together with the medical image data. The “data accompanying the medical image data” may include information (for example, an image ID) for specifying the image, findings on the image, display conditions for the image, data on an index displayed in the image, and the like.

The management means may comprise storage means for storing information specifying the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation means in association with each other.
In this case, the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation unit can be specified by referring to the stored information. As this information, for example, an image ID specifying medical image data can be used.

Receiving means for receiving input of information related to all of the plurality of medical image data specified by the specifying means; and the management means specifies the information input via the receiving means by the specifying means The plurality of medical image data may be managed in association with each other.
In this case, examples of the information related to the whole of the plurality of medical image data include information such as findings about the whole of the plurality of medical image data, or findings related to the specified medical image data.

A plurality of types of data formats may be mixed as the data format of the plurality of medical image data.
In this case, since the medical image data recorded in the original data format can be managed by the management means, there is no risk of image quality deterioration or the like.

The management unit may manage the three-dimensional model images related to the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation unit.
In this case, for example, a standard three-dimensional model image of the target organ can be used as an image associated with a plurality of medical image data.

The medical image data management method of the present invention is a medical image data management method for managing medical image data, the step of designating a plurality of medical image data recorded across a plurality of recording units, and the designation means And managing the plurality of medical image data in association with each other.
According to this medical image data management method, since medical image data recorded in different recording units can be managed in association with each other, a plurality of images related to each other can be handled together. “Recording unit” means a group of a plurality of data recorded in association with a plurality of data. For example, the “recording unit” may be prepared for each image data. The data included in the “recording unit” is not required to be recorded in a form physically collected in one place, and may be associated with each other in some form. In the specifying step, for example, a plurality of medical image data can be specified in accordance with a user instruction.

The medical image data and data accompanying the medical image data may be recorded in one recording unit.
In this case, in the managing step, data accompanying the medical image data may be managed together with the medical image data. The “data accompanying the medical image data” may include information (for example, an image ID) for specifying the image, findings on the image, display conditions for the image, data on an index displayed in the image, and the like.

The managing step may include a step of storing information specifying the plurality of medical image data specified in the specifying step in association with each other.
In this case, the plurality of medical image data specified by the specifying step can be specified by referring to the stored information. As this information, for example, an image ID specifying medical image data can be used.

A step of accepting input of information related to all of the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation means, and in the managing step, the information inputted in the accepting step is designated by the designating step. The management may be performed in association with the plurality of medical image data.
In this case, examples of the information related to the whole of the plurality of medical image data include information such as findings about the whole of the plurality of medical image data, or findings related to the specified medical image data.

A plurality of types of data formats may be mixed as the data format of the plurality of medical image data.
In this case, since the medical image data recorded in the original data format can be managed by the management means, there is no risk of image quality deterioration or the like.

In the managing step, the three-dimensional model images related to the plurality of medical image data specified in the specifying step may be managed together.
In this case, for example, a standard three-dimensional model image of the target organ can be used as an image associated with a plurality of medical image data.

  According to the present invention, since medical image data recorded in different recording units can be managed in association with each other, a plurality of images related to each other can be handled together. For example, by managing image data relating to a specific case in association with each other, the data can be used as effective data for diagnosis and case study.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a medical image data management method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a medical management system for implementing the medical image data management method of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this medical management system is configured by connecting a data server 1 for storing medical data and a plurality of client computers 2 via an information network 3. Each client computer 2 is connected to a monitor 21 for displaying various information, a storage device 22 for storing data, and an input device 23 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

  FIG. 2 shows a database structure of a medical database stored in the data server 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the data server 1 stores data related to images as a group of data for each patient. The data of each patient is further classified for each image type. Examples of the type of image include those used for normal diagnosis such as CR, CT, and MR, or intraoperative photographs, excised specimen images, split face images, pathological tissue images, excised specimen images, and the like. In the example of FIG. 2, the image data is divided into image type data such as CT data 5, X-ray data 6, specimen image data 7, tissue image data 8.

  3 illustrates the record information of each image type data. FIG. 3A shows the record information of the CT data 5, and FIG. 3B shows the record information of the sample image data 7. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the CT data 5, one CT image data and various data attached to the CT image data constitute one record (recording unit). In this example, each record defines an image ID 51 for specifying a CT image, CT image data 52 for the CT image specified by the image ID 51, finding data 53 for the CT image, gradation of the CT image, display magnification, and the like. And a marker 55 that defines the position, shape (circle, arrow, etc.) of the index for indicating a specific position by being displayed in the CT image. In this way, one record is formed for one CT image data 52, and the same number (N) of records as the CT image data 52 are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, in the sample image data 7, one sample image image data and various data associated with the sample image image data form one record. In this example, each record includes an image ID 71 for specifying the sample image, sample image image data 72 for the sample image specified by the image ID 71, observation data 73 for the sample image, and the gradation and display magnification of the sample image. The display condition 74 to be defined and the marker 75 to define the position, shape, and the like of an index for indicating a specific position in the sample image. In this way, one record is formed for one sample image data 72, and the same number (M) of records as sample image image data 72 is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the image data of each image type and the accompanying data constitute the same record, but the data format of the image data of each image type is not common. . For example, the data format of the CT image data 52 shown in FIG. 3A and the data format of the sample image data 72 shown in FIG. 3B are different from each other. A plurality of data formats are mixed because each medical device does not conform to a common standard, but in this embodiment, each image data is stored in its original data format, By handling each image data in the same data format, adverse effects such as image quality deterioration are avoided.

  Various data other than image data, for example, image ID, finding data, display conditions, markers, etc., are data adopting the same data format regardless of the image type.

  FIG. 4 shows a display screen of the monitor 21 at the time of image registration.

  When the image data is designated from the state where the image data is stored in the data server as electronic data, the display screen of FIG. 4 is opened. In FIG. 4, when an image type 81, a marker 82, a comment 83, etc. are input and a registration button 84 is clicked, the numbered image ID 85 is attached and the image data and accompanying data such as the image type are registered. Note that the comment 83 corresponds to finding data. The registered image data and various data are stored in the data server 1 as one record of each image type data as described above.

  In the present embodiment, image data over a plurality of records can be associated with each other and recorded and managed. In addition, it is possible to input a comprehensive finding for a plurality of image data associated with each other, and to record and manage the comprehensive findings in association with the plurality of image data.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram functionally showing an operation for executing such a series of operations.

  In FIG. 5, the designation unit 101 designates a plurality of medical image data recorded across a plurality of recording units. The management unit 102 manages a plurality of medical image data designated by the designation unit 101 in association with each other. The storage unit 103 stores information (image ID) for specifying a plurality of medical image data specified by the specifying unit 101. The accepting unit 105 accepts input of information related to all of the plurality of medical image data specified by the specifying unit 101 (such as general findings). The management unit 102 manages the information input via the reception unit 105 in association with a plurality of medical image data designated by the designation unit 101. Here, the designation unit 101 and the management unit 102 correspond to the client computer 2 (FIG. 1). The storage means 103 corresponds to the storage device 22 (FIG. 1). The accepting means 105 corresponds to the input device 23 (FIG. 1).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of such an operation. This procedure is executed based on the control of the client computer 2 (FIG. 1).

  In step S <b> 1 of FIG. 6, an image designation process is performed for designating a plurality of image data from the image data stored in the data server 1 in accordance with a user instruction. The user selects a plurality of image data from the image type data recorded in the record as shown in FIG. 3 and inputs information for specifying the image data via the input device 23. . The selected image data may be a mixture of different image types, or a plurality of image data may be selected from a single image type. A plurality of formats may be mixed as the data format of the selected image data. A plurality of pieces of image data may be selected from image data that adopts the same data format.

  The client computer 2 designates the image data according to the input contents of the user. That is, the client computer 2 designates the image data selected by the user. In the present embodiment, the plurality of image data is specified using an image ID (FIG. 3) that identifies each image data. This process corresponds to the function of the designation means 101 (FIG. 5).

  Next, in step 2, a general finding input acceptance process is executed. Here, the input of the comprehensive findings for the image data group designated in step S1 is accepted. The user inputs an overall finding through the input device 23, and the client computer 2 receives the inputted overall finding. The accepted comprehensive findings are handled as information associated with the image data group designated in step S1. This process corresponds to the function of the accepting means 105 (FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S3, the image data group specified in step S1 and the general findings input in step S2 are stored in the storage device 22 as one record constituting the image combination information. This processing corresponds to the functions of the management unit 102 and the storage unit 103 (FIG. 5).

  FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a record configuration of the image combination information stored in step S3.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, a plurality of image IDs specifying a plurality of image data designated in step S2 and a general finding regarding the designated image data group constitute one record. For example, image ID (1) and image ID (2) are stored in column 91 and column 92 of “record 1” in FIG. Further, the column 93 of “record 1” stores general findings relating to two pieces of image data specified by the image ID (1) and the image ID (2).

  Next, in step S4 in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not there is a next record to be stored. If the determination is affirmative, the process returns to step S1, and the processes in steps S1 to S3 are repeated for the next record. If the determination in step S4 is negative, the process ends. The determination in step S4 can be performed in accordance with a user instruction performed via the input device 23.

  In this way, a series of processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed until the user finishes selecting image data. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, a record in which the image data group specified in step S1 and the general findings input in step S2 are associated with each other is accumulated in the storage device 22.

  When accessing the image data group recorded in the storage device 22, for example, the client computer 2 is used to access the image combination information (FIG. 7A) of the storage device 22 and store it in a predetermined record. A plurality of image data IDs are acquired. Next, each image type data (FIG. 3) of the data server 1 is accessed, and a plurality of image data corresponding to the acquired image data ID is acquired. At this time, other data in the record in which the corresponding image data is recorded can be acquired simultaneously.

  For example, an image can be displayed on the monitor 21 based on the acquired image data. At this time, each image may be displayed by a method according to the data format of each image data. It is also possible to display the comprehensive findings acquired from the corresponding records of the image combination information. Further, these image data and general findings can be output from the client computer 2.

  In this way, by recording image IDs and general findings that identify a plurality of image data groups in association with each other and managing them as a single data group, the data group can be used as information useful for diagnosis and research. It becomes. For example, if the image IDs of a plurality of types of image data related to a specific disease (for example, lung cancer) are recorded as one record, the image data and findings related to the specific disease can be obtained by accessing this record. It can be easily searched and displayed. Therefore, when a doctor makes a diagnosis, these images and comprehensive findings contribute to the support of diagnosis as a reference object. In addition, since various images can be collected from various cases for the subject case, it can be used as effective information in case studies and the like.

  In addition to a plurality of image data groups and general findings, image data of a three-dimensional model image such as a target organ may be recorded in one record. FIG. 7B shows an example in which three-dimensional model image data is additionally stored in the column 95 of the record 1. Note that the 3D model image data may be separately stored in, for example, the data server 1, and only information (for example, an image ID) specifying the 3D model image data may be stored in the record 1.

  In this way, by recording a three-dimensional model image in association with a plurality of image data groups, it is possible to compare and display a three-dimensional image of a diseased part and a standard three-dimensional model image of the organ. It becomes. For example, the position of the diseased part can be displayed on the three-dimensional model image using a marker. Therefore, by adding a three-dimensional model image, it is possible to provide information useful for diagnosis, case study, and the like.

  The scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be widely applied to a system for managing medical data.

The block diagram which shows an example of the medical management system for enforcing the medical image data management method of this embodiment. The figure which shows the database structure of the medical database stored in a data server. It is a figure which illustrates the record information of each image classification data, (a) shows the record information of CT data, (b) shows the record information of sample image data, respectively. The figure which shows the display screen of the monitor at the time of image registration. The block diagram which shows the operation | movement which links | relates several image data functionally. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the operation | movement which associates several image data. It is a figure which shows the record structure of image combination information, (a) is a figure which shows the record structure which linked | related several images and comprehensive findings, (b) shows the example which additionally stored the three-dimensional model image data in the record. Figure. The figure which shows the data structure of the data stored in the memory | storage device of the conventional data management system.

Explanation of symbols

2 Client computer 22 Storage device 23 Input device 101 Designating means 102 Management means 103 Storage means 105 Accepting means

Claims (12)

In a medical image data management apparatus that manages medical image data,
A designation means for designating a plurality of medical image data recorded across a plurality of recording units;
Management means for managing the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation means in association with each other;
A medical image data management apparatus comprising: The medical image data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image data and data accompanying the medical image data are recorded in one recording unit. 3. The medical image data management according to claim 1, wherein the management unit includes a storage unit that stores information specifying the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation unit in association with each other. apparatus. Receiving means for receiving input of information related to all of the plurality of medical image data specified by the specifying means;
The management unit manages the information input via the reception unit in association with the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation unit. The medical image data management apparatus according to the item. The medical image data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of data formats are mixed as data formats of the plurality of medical image data. The medical image according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the management unit manages a three-dimensional model image associated with the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation unit. Data management device. In a medical image data management method for managing medical image data,
Designating a plurality of medical image data recorded across a plurality of recording units;
Managing the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation means in association with each other;
A medical image data management method comprising: The medical image data management method according to claim 7, wherein the medical image data and data accompanying the medical image data are recorded in one recording unit. The medical image data according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the managing step includes a step of storing information specifying the plurality of medical image data specified in the specifying step in association with each other. Management device. Receiving an input of information related to all of the plurality of medical image data designated by the designation means;
10. The managing step includes managing the information input in the receiving step in association with the plurality of medical image data specified in the specifying step. The medical image data management method according to the item. The medical image data management method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein a plurality of types of data formats are mixed as a data format of the plurality of medical image data. 12. The management step according to claim 7, wherein, in the managing step, the three-dimensional model images associated with the plurality of medical image data specified in the specifying step are also managed. Medical image data management method.