Background
Computed Tomography (CT) systems are a major breakthrough in the medical field after the combination of electronic computers and X-ray technologies, and it makes the traditional X-ray diagnostic technology enter a new era of computer processing and displaying in a display.
In order to control the scanning and examining operation of the CT system, different scanning protocols may be selected to perform the scanning and examining in the scanning and controlling program of the CT system, wherein each scanning protocol is a set of scanning parameters, which are predefined for a more conventional scanning and examining.
Taking a scanning protocol applied to a spiral CT system as an example, the parameters to be set include layer thickness, image span, pitch coefficient, scanning time, reconstruction interval, reconstruction parameters, patient position, and the like. For example, for routine scan examination of the thoracic cavity, a typical setup is to set the layer thickness to be 8mm, the image span from the thoracic outlet to the diaphragm feet (including the adrenal gland), the pitch coefficient to be 1.25-1.5, the scan time to be 20-30 s, the reconstruction parameters to be an interpolation algorithm, the patient position to be supine, etc.; the set of these scan parameters is set to a scan protocol.
The different scanning protocols are distinguished by their names (ID), for example, the scanning protocol used for the conventional scanning examination of the thorax is named as scanning protocol 1, and when the user of the CT system selects the scanning protocol 1 in the scanning control program, the scanning control program transmits the parameters of the protocol to the corresponding components of the CT system to control the components to work.
In the CT system, the number of scan protocols set for different pathologies, body parts, applicable subjects, and the like is large. However, there is no system or method for uniformly managing these scanning protocols in the current CT system, which results in very complicated and tedious operations for the numerous scanning protocols (such as sorting, parameter modification, deletion, restoring default values for the scanning protocols with modified parameters, introducing scanning protocols from outside the CT system, etc.).
For example, to modify parameters of a plurality of scanning protocols containing the same parameters, the scanning protocols need to be searched one by one in the CT system, the scanning protocols are opened one by one using a dedicated program, the parameters need to be modified one by one, and the scanning protocols need to be saved one by one after the modification is completed, which is quite tedious. For another example, when a plurality of scanning protocols need to be deleted, a dedicated program needs to be applied to search the scanning protocols one by one in the CT system and then delete the scanning protocols one by one. For another example, when the parameters corresponding to the scanning protocol with the modified parameters need to be restored to the initial values, the scanning protocols need to be searched one by one in the system, the scanning protocols are opened one by using the special program, the corresponding parameter values are modified to the initial values, and the scanning protocols need to be stored one by one.
As can be known from the above description, the methods applied in the existing CT systems and using different programs to perform related operations on the scanning protocols separately are time-consuming and labor-consuming, and are prone to problems of wrong selection, wrong parameter modification, omission or forgetting to store during the operation process.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a management system and a management method of a scanning protocol, which are used for carrying out efficient, convenient and visual management on the scanning protocol.
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a scanning protocol management system applied in a CT system for managing scanning protocols, the system comprising: the database unit is used for storing a scanning protocol; the grouping unit is connected with the database unit and is used for grouping the scanning protocols in the database unit; the control unit is respectively connected with the database unit and the grouping unit so as to select one or a plurality of scanning protocols from the database unit, or select one or a plurality of groups of scanning protocols from the grouping unit, or select part of the scanning protocols in the group or the plurality of groups for operation; and the human-computer interface unit is respectively connected with the grouping unit and the control unit and is used for starting the grouping unit and the control unit and displaying the operation results of the grouping unit and the control unit.
The scanning protocols stored in the database unit are mutually independent, and each scanning protocol comprises at least one parameter. The grouping of the grouping unit comprises sub-groupings, and the grouping result is transmitted to the human-machine interface unit for displaying.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit at least comprises any one of a sorting module, a parameter modification module, a deletion module, a default value module and an external data source connection module. The sequencing module, the parameter modification module, the deletion module or the default value module is started through the human-computer interface unit, one or more scanning protocols are selected from the database unit, or one or more groups of scanning protocols are selected from the grouping unit, or part of the scanning protocols in the group or the groups are used for carrying out corresponding sequencing, parameter modification, deletion and default value restoration operations on the scanning protocols with modified parameters. The management system of the scanning protocol further comprises an external data source storing the scanning protocol, the external data source connection module is started through the man-machine interface unit, the scanning protocol to be introduced is selected from the external data source, and the selected scanning protocol is transmitted to the database unit for storage; the external data source is any one of a remote server which is connected through a network and stores a scanning protocol, an optical disc which is provided by a CT system manufacturer and stores the scanning protocol, and a magnetic disc.
Correspondingly, the invention also provides a management method of the scanning protocol, which is applied to the CT system to manage the scanning protocol and comprises the following steps; 1) providing a database storing a scanning protocol; 2) grouping scanning protocols of a database; 3) inputting an operation instruction; 4) selecting a scanning protocol individually or in groups; and 5) performing corresponding operations.
According to an embodiment of the invention, further comprising the step of: 6) and storing the operation result in a database.
According to one embodiment of the invention, in step 1), the scan protocols stored in the database are independent of each other, each scan protocol comprising at least one parameter; in step 2), the sub-packets are included in the packets of the scanning protocol; in step 3), the operation instruction is any one of sequencing, parameter modification, deletion, restoration of a default value of the scanning protocol with the modified parameters and introduction of the scanning protocol from the outside of the CT system; in step 4), one or more scanning protocols are selected from the database unit, or one or more groups of scanning protocols, or a part of the scanning protocols in the group or the groups, are selected from the grouping unit.
By the management system and the method for the scanning protocols, a user of the CT system can efficiently, conveniently and intuitively manage a plurality of scanning protocols, and a large amount of labor cost and time cost spent on managing the scanning protocols by using the existing method are reduced.
Detailed Description
Referring to fig. 1, the management system 100 for scanning protocols of the present invention includes a database unit 20 for storing scanning protocols; a grouping unit 30 connected to the database unit 20 for grouping the scanning protocols therein; a control unit 40 respectively connected to the database unit 20 and the grouping unit 30 for selecting scanning protocols individually or in groups to perform operations such as sorting, parameter modification, deletion, restoring default values of the scanning protocols with modified parameters, and introducing scanning protocols from the outside of the CT system; and the human-machine interface unit 10 is respectively connected with the grouping unit 30 and the control unit 40, and a user can start the grouping unit through the human-machine interface unit 10, display the grouping result, start the control unit 40, select a scanning protocol, and display the result of the control unit 40 after operating the selected scanning protocol.
The database unit 20 is used for storing all scanning protocols of the CT system, so as to be called by each scanning control program of the CT system. In the database unit 20, the scan protocols are independent of each other, and each scan protocol includes at least one parameter, such as scan protocol name, setup time, layer thickness, image span, pitch coefficient, scan time, reconstruction interval, reconstruction parameters and patient position, dose, etc.
The user 60 via the man-machine interface unit 10 may activate the grouping unit 30, and the grouping unit 30 reads in the scanning protocols from the database unit and groups the scanning protocols according to predetermined distinguishing features, such as but not limited to pathology, body part, applicable object, etc., for example, the scanning protocols are divided into groups 1, 2, 3, etc., as indicated by reference numerals 31, 32, 33, etc., and each group includes the corresponding scanning protocol, such as scanning protocol 1, scanning protocol 2, etc. Further, each packet may further include a sub-packet, and the sub-packet includes a corresponding scanning protocol therein.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the grouping unit 30 groups the scanning protocols according to distinguishing characteristics of applicable objects including, but not limited to, adults and children, i.e., the grouping unit 30 groups the scanning protocols applicable to adults into one group and the scanning protocols applicable to children into another group. Of course, the grouping unit 30 may also group the scanning protocols according to other distinguishing features, and is not limited to the description in this embodiment.
In a further embodiment of the above embodiment, the grouping unit 30 further groups the adult and child groups according to the distinguishing feature of the body part after dividing the scanning protocol into the adult and child groups according to the distinguishing feature of the applicable object. The scanning protocols, such as those included in the adult group, are further grouped by body parts, including but not limited to head, neck, shoulders, arms, legs, spine, thorax, abdominal cavity, pelvis, vessels, specific parts, etc., i.e., the scanning protocols applied to the different body parts are grouped accordingly. Similarly, children are also grouped similarly. Of course, the grouping unit 30 may further group the adults and/or children according to other distinguishing features, and it should be understood that the distinguishing features adopted in the above further grouping may be the same or different, and may be selected according to different requirements, and are not limited to what is described in this embodiment. The above grouping results of the grouping unit 30 are displayed in the human interface unit 60 for the user 60 to observe and refer to.
The user 60 can activate the control unit 40 through the human interface unit 10, and the control unit 40 is respectively connected to the database unit 20 and the grouping unit 30, so as to directly select one or more independent scanning protocols from the database unit 20 for corresponding operations, or select one or more groups from the grouping unit 30 according to groups, or select a part of the scanning protocols in the group or the groups for corresponding operations.
The control unit 40 includes a sorting module 41, a parameter modifying module 42, a deleting module 43, a default value module 44, an external data source connecting module 45, and the like, respectively, for performing the above operations. The modules of the control unit 40 are activated by the user 60 via the man-machine interface unit 60.
In an embodiment of the present invention, when the sorting module 41 is activated, the corresponding scan protocol is selected from the database unit 20 or the grouping unit 30, and sorting is performed after the selection is confirmed, where the sorting condition may be sorting according to a positive order or a negative order of a certain parameter of the scan protocol, such as name, setup time, and the like. The sorted results are displayed by the human interface unit 10 for viewing and reference by the user 60.
In one embodiment of the present invention, when the parameter modification module 42 is activated, a corresponding scanning protocol is selected from the database unit 20 or the grouping unit 30, and a parameter modification interface is displayed on the human interface unit 10 after the selection is confirmed, wherein each parameter of the scanning protocol is displayed on the parameter modification interface for the user 60 to modify correspondingly through the human interface unit 10. In a further embodiment of the present embodiment, the parameters of the scanning Protocol are divided into several categories including, but not limited to, Protocol (Protocol), positioning image (Topogram), scanning (Scan), Reconstruction (reconstraction, abbreviated as Recon), and automatic task (Auto task), so that the user 60 can conveniently and efficiently find and modify the corresponding parameters. The modified parameters are displayed in the human interface unit 10 and the corresponding scanning protocol is transmitted to the database unit for storage.
In one embodiment of the present invention, when the deletion module 43 is activated, the corresponding scanning protocol is selected from the database unit 20 or the grouping unit 30, and the scanning protocol is deleted from the storage location of the database unit after the selection is confirmed.
In one embodiment of the present invention, when the default module 44 is activated, the corresponding scanning protocol is selected from the database unit 20 or the grouping unit 30, and the parameters of the scanning protocol are restored to the initial default values after the selection is confirmed.
In an embodiment of the present invention, when the external data source connection module 43 is activated, the external data source connection module 43 is connected to an external data source 50, the external data source 50 may be connected to a remote server storing a scanning protocol, an optical disc, a magnetic disc, etc. storing a scanning protocol, which are provided by a CT system manufacturer, through a network, and the user 60 selects a scanning protocol to be introduced through the human interface unit 10 and then transmits the introduced scanning protocol to the database unit 20 for storage.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the user 60 may also start other modules of the control unit 40 through the human interface unit 10, then select a scanning protocol to perform corresponding operations, and the results of the operations are displayed through the human interface unit 10 and stored through the database unit 20.
Referring to fig. 2, corresponding to the management system 100 of the scan protocol, the present invention further provides a management method of the scan protocol, which includes the following steps:
step S100: and starting.
Step S110: a database is provided that stores scan protocols.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the database is provided by the database unit of the management system 100 using the aforementioned scanning protocols, and all scanning protocols of the CT system are stored in the database, and each scanning protocol is independent of each other.
Step S120: the scan protocols of the database are grouped.
In this step, the scanning protocols are grouped according to predetermined distinguishing features, including but not limited to pathologies, body parts, applicable subjects, etc., and each group includes the corresponding scanning protocol, and further, each group may further include sub-groups including the corresponding scanning protocol. For example, the scanning protocols are grouped according to distinguishing characteristics of applicable objects including, but not limited to, adults and children, i.e., the scanning protocols applicable to adults are divided into one group and the scanning protocols applicable to children are divided into another group. Of course, the scanning protocols may be grouped according to other distinguishing features, and the method is not limited to the steps. In a further step of this step, after the scanning protocol is divided into two groups of adults and children according to the distinguishing features of the applicable objects, the two groups of adults and children are further grouped according to the distinguishing features of the body parts. The scanning protocols, such as those included in the adult group, are further grouped by body parts, including but not limited to head, neck, shoulders, arms, legs, spine, thorax, abdominal cavity, pelvis, vessels, specific parts, etc., i.e., the scanning protocols applied to the different body parts are grouped accordingly. Similarly, children are also grouped similarly. Of course, the adult and/or child groups may be further grouped according to other distinguishing features, and it should be understood that the distinguishing features adopted in the further grouping may be the same or different, and may be selected according to different requirements, and are not limited to what is described in this embodiment.
Step S130: and inputting an operation instruction.
In an embodiment of this step, the operation instructions include, but are not limited to, sorting, parameter modification, deletion, default restoration of the scan protocol of the modified parameters, introduction of the scan protocol from the outside of the CT system, and the like, and the instructions are input by activating the corresponding module of the control unit 40 through the human interface unit 10 of the management system 100 of the scan protocol.
Step S140: the scanning protocols are selected individually or in groups.
In this step, one or more independent scanning protocols are directly selected from the database, or one or more groups or partial scanning protocols in the group or groups are selected from the grouped scanning protocols. In order to make the selection more intuitive and avoid wrong selection and selection omission, an visualized selection method is provided in the step. Taking as an example that the scanning protocols have been divided into two groups according to applicable objects, such as adults and children, and then the scanning protocols of the two groups are divided into corresponding sub-groups according to body parts, such as head, neck, shoulder, arm, leg, spine, chest, abdominal cavity, pelvis, blood vessels, special parts, etc., respectively, in step S120; as shown in fig. 3, when the scan protocol of the adult group is selected, all the sub-groups belonging to the adult group, such as the head, neck, shoulder, arm, leg, spine, thorax, abdominal cavity, pelvis, blood vessel, special part, etc., and the scan protocols included in the sub-groups are displayed and an image of the body of the adult is provided at the same time. The body image is composed of segments of the head, neck, shoulders, arms, legs, spine, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, etc. associated with the sub-groups of the respective scanning protocols described above, and when a respective segment of the body image is selected, the associated sub-group and the scanning protocol included therein are highlighted. Similarly, when the scanning protocol of the child group is selected, the body image of a child is provided to perform the similar operation as described above.
Step S150: and executing corresponding operation.
In this step, the operation instruction input in step S130 is executed on the scanning protocol selected in step S140, and further, after the scanning protocol is selected in step S140, a step that needs to be confirmed is executed, and the corresponding operations are executed after confirmation, including but not limited to sorting, parameter modification, deletion, restoring the default value of the scanning protocol with modified parameters, introducing the scanning protocol from the outside of the CT system, and the like.
Step S160: and storing the operation result in a database.
After sorting, parameter modification, deletion, and restoring the scan protocol with the modified parameters to the scan protocol with the default value, or introducing the scan protocol from the outside of the CT system and storing the scan protocol in the database for subsequent call or operation.
Step S170: and (6) ending.
In summary, by the scanning protocol management system and method of the present invention, a user of the CT system can efficiently, conveniently and intuitively manage a plurality of scanning protocols, and a large amount of labor cost and time cost spent on managing the scanning protocols by using the existing method is reduced.