JP2012217593A - Ultrasonograph and medical image management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform an ultrasonic diagnostic examination by simplifying an operation to be performed in the examination.SOLUTION: An ultrasonograph 20 includes: an image generation part 204 for sequentially generating ultrasonographic image data; a display part 207 for displaying an ultrasonographic image; a storage part 209 for storing the ultrasonographic image data; an operation input part 201 for allowing an operator to input an operation indication; and a control part 208 for allowing the storage part 209 to store the ultrasonographic image data corresponding to timing to receive an image acquisition operation as primary storage data among the pieces of ultrasonographic image data to be sequentially generated by the image generation part 204, allowing the display part 207 to display by list, the primary storage data stored by the storage part 209 from the start to the end of the examination, selecting one of the primary storage data, on the basis of a selection operation by the operation input part 201 among the primary storage data displayed by list by the display part 207, and allowing the storage part 209 to store the selected primary storage data as secondary storage data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a medical image management system.

  Conventionally, it has an ultrasonic probe (probe) provided with a large number of transducers (arrays) arranged, scans an object such as a living body with an ultrasonic beam, and receives sound ray data from the received ultrasonic wave. Are sequentially generated, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates and displays an ultrasonic image based on this is known.

  In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example, among a plurality of time-sequential ultrasonic images sequentially generated by the image generation unit, a plurality of ultrasonic images before and after the freeze instruction timing are set as candidate images. A technique is provided in which a candidate image with the best image quality is selected from a plurality of candidate images in accordance with reference information and stored in a memory as a freeze image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-301398 A

  However, in the conventional techniques as described above, it is necessary to perform a plurality of operations such as an operation for giving a freeze instruction and an operation for storing data of a freeze image, which is complicated for a skilled operator. Further, performing such a plurality of operations during the ultrasonic diagnostic examination is not preferable for the subject because it lowers the examination efficiency of the ultrasonic diagnostic examination and increases the time required for the examination.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a medical image management system capable of simplifying an operation performed in an ultrasonic diagnostic examination and performing an examination efficiently.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
An image generator that sequentially generates ultrasonic image data based on reflected ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject;
A display unit for displaying an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation unit;
A storage unit for storing ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation unit;
An operation unit for an operator to input operation instructions;
From the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit, ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which an image acquisition operation is received is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data, and from the start of an ultrasonic diagnostic examination Primary storage data stored in the storage unit until the end is displayed as a list on the display unit, and any one of the primary storages based on a selection operation by the operation unit from the primary storage data displayed as a list on the display unit And a control unit that selects data and stores the selected primary storage data in the storage unit as secondary storage data.

The invention according to claim 2 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The control unit stores a moving image including ultrasonic image data of a plurality of frames in the storage unit as primary storage data.

The invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The control unit stores in the storage unit, as time information, a time at which the ultrasonic image data is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data and a time at which the selected primary storage data is stored in the storage unit as secondary storage data. It is characterized by making it.

The invention according to claim 4 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit sequentially displays ultrasonic images based on the generated ultrasonic image data on the display unit at the same time as the ultrasonic image data is sequentially generated by the image generation unit, and after completion of the ultrasonic diagnostic examination, The primary storage data stored in the storage unit is displayed as a list on the display unit.

The invention according to claim 5 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4,
When the control unit receives an image acquisition operation, the control unit performs freeze control for maintaining a state in which an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which the image acquisition operation is received is displayed on the display unit. Features.

The invention according to claim 6 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5,
The control unit ends the freeze control after a predetermined time has elapsed after starting the freeze control.

The invention according to claim 7 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
The control unit terminates the freeze control in response to a predetermined operation after starting the freeze control.

The invention according to claim 8 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
When the control unit stores ultrasonic image data as primary storage data in the storage unit, the control unit adds identification information to the ultrasonic image data of the primary storage data, and the selected primary storage data is used as secondary storage data. When storing in the storage unit, the identification information added to the ultrasound image data of the selected primary storage data is deleted.

The invention according to claim 9 is a medical image management system comprising an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an image management apparatus, and a storage device for storing ultrasonic image data,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises:
An image generator that sequentially generates ultrasonic image data based on reflected ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject;
A first control unit that outputs ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which an image acquisition operation is received from the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit to the storage device as primary storage data; And
The storage device stores primary storage data output from the ultrasonic diagnostic device,
The image management device includes:
A display for displaying a list of primary storage data stored in the storage device;
An operation unit for an operator to input operation instructions;
The primary storage data stored in the storage device is displayed as a list on the display unit, and one of the primary storage data selected from the primary storage data displayed as a list on the display unit based on a selection operation by the operation unit is selected. And a second control unit that stores the selected primary storage data in the storage device as secondary storage data.

  According to the present invention, the operation performed in the ultrasonic diagnostic examination can be simplified and the examination can be performed efficiently.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a medical image management system according to the present embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of an ultrasonic diagnosing device. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of PACS. It is a flowchart explaining an image storage process. It is a figure explaining the file structure of an image file.

  Hereinafter, a medical image management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In addition, in the following description, what has the same function and structure attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the medical image management system 100 includes an RIS (Radiological Information System) 10, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20, a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) 30, and a client terminal 40. I have. Each of the above devices is connected to be able to perform data communication via a communication network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The medical image management system 100 may be connected to a modality of a type different from that of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 20, for example, CT (Computer Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Diagnosis Apparatus), CR ( Computer radiography), DR (digital X-ray imaging apparatus), XA (angiographic X-ray diagnostic apparatus), ES (endoscopic apparatus), and the like.

  The RIS 10 performs information management such as medical appointment reservation, diagnosis result report, and results management in the medical image management system 100. The RIS 10 transmits imaging order information generated by an electronic medical chart system or the like (not shown) to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 is an apparatus that displays and outputs an ultrasonic image of a state of a living body tissue of a patient (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a subject). That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 transmits ultrasonic waves (transmission ultrasonic waves) to the inside of a subject such as a living body, and also reflects reflected waves (reflected ultrasonic waves: echoes) reflected in the subject. Receive. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 converts the received reflected wave into an electrical signal, and generates ultrasonic image data based on this. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 displays the internal state in the subject as an ultrasonic image based on the generated ultrasonic image data. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 generates incidental information related to the generated ultrasonic image data based on the imaging order information. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 can add the incidental information to the ultrasonic image data, generate an image file composed of DICOM image data in conformity with DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standard, and transmit the image file to the PACS 30. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20a and an ultrasonic probe 20b. The ultrasonic probe 20b transmits ultrasonic waves as described above and receives reflected waves. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20a is connected to the ultrasonic probe 20b via the cable 20c, and transmits an electric signal drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 20b, thereby transmitting the ultrasonic signal to the ultrasonic probe 20b. Send sound waves. Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20a receives a reception signal that is an electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic probe 20b in response to the reflected ultrasonic wave from within the subject received by the ultrasonic probe 20b. The ultrasonic image data is generated as described above.

  The ultrasonic probe 20b includes transducers (not shown) made of piezoelectric elements, and a plurality of the transducers are arranged in a one-dimensional array in the azimuth direction (scanning direction), for example. In the present embodiment, for example, an ultrasonic probe 20b including 192 transducers is used. The vibrators may be arranged in a two-dimensional array. Further, the number of vibrators can be arbitrarily set. In this embodiment, a linear electronic scan probe is used for the ultrasonic probe 20b. However, any of an electronic scanning method or a mechanical scanning method may be used, and a linear scanning method or a sector scanning method may be used. Alternatively, any method of the convex scanning method can be adopted.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20a includes, for example, an operation input unit 201, a transmission unit 202, a reception unit 203, an image generation unit 204, an image memory unit 205, a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 206, and a display unit 207. A control unit 208, a storage unit 209, and a communication unit 210.

  The operation input unit 201 includes, for example, various switches, buttons, a trackball, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like for inputting data such as a command for starting diagnosis and personal information of a subject, and the like. The data is output to the control unit 208.

  The transmission unit 202 is a circuit that supplies a drive signal, which is an electrical signal, to the ultrasonic probe 20b via the cable 20c and generates transmission ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic probe 20b under the control of the control unit 208. . The transmission unit 202 includes, for example, a clock generation circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulse generation circuit. The clock generation circuit is a circuit that generates a clock signal that determines the transmission timing and transmission frequency of the drive signal. The delay circuit sets a delay time for each individual path corresponding to each transducer corresponding to the transmission timing of the drive signal, delays the transmission of the drive signal by the set delay time, and transmits the transmission beam constituted by the transmission ultrasonic waves. This is a circuit for focusing. The pulse generation circuit is a circuit for generating a pulse signal as a drive signal at a predetermined cycle. The transmission unit 202 configured as described above drives, for example, a continuous part (for example, 64) of a plurality (for example, 192) of transducers arranged in the ultrasound probe 20b. To generate transmission ultrasonic waves. The transmission unit 202 performs scanning (scanning) by shifting the vibrator to be driven in the azimuth direction every time transmission ultrasonic waves are generated.

  The receiving unit 203 is a circuit that receives a reception signal that is an electrical signal from the ultrasound probe 20b via the cable 20c under the control of the control unit 208. The receiving unit 203 includes, for example, an amplifier, an A / D conversion circuit, and a phasing addition circuit. The amplifier is a circuit for amplifying a received signal with a preset amplification factor for each individual path corresponding to each transducer. The A / D conversion circuit is a circuit for A / D converting the amplified received signal. The phasing addition circuit adjusts the time phase by giving a delay time to each individual path corresponding to each transducer with respect to the A / D converted received signal, and adds these (phasing addition) to generate a sound ray. It is a circuit for generating data.

  The image generation unit 204 performs envelope detection processing, logarithmic amplification, and the like on the sound ray data from the reception unit 203, and adjusts the dynamic range and gain to generate B-mode image data. To do. In other words, the B-mode image data represents the intensity of the received signal by luminance. The image generation unit 204 may be capable of generating A-mode image data, M-mode image data, and image data based on the Doppler method in addition to the B-mode image data.

  The image memory unit 205 is configured by a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), for example, and stores the B-mode image data transmitted from the image generation unit 204 in units of frames. That is, it can be stored as frame image data. The stored frame image data is transmitted to the DSC 206 under the control of the control unit 208. The image memory unit 205 is composed of a large-capacity memory capable of holding frame image data for about 10 seconds. For example, the frame image data for the latest 10 seconds is stored by a FIFO (First-In First-Out) method. Retained.

  The DSC 206 converts the frame image data received from the image memory unit 205 into an image signal based on a television signal scanning method, and outputs the image signal to the display unit 207.

  The display unit 207 may be a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display, an organic EL (Electronic Luminescence) display, an inorganic EL display, or a plasma display. The display unit 207 displays an image on the display screen in accordance with the image signal output from the DSC 206. Note that a printing device such as a printer may be applied instead of the display device so that print output is possible.

The control unit 208 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and reads various processing programs such as a system program stored in the ROM to read the RAM. The operation of each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 is centrally controlled according to the developed program.
The ROM is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor and the like, and is a system program corresponding to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 and various processing programs that can be executed on the system program, such as an image storage process described later, Various data such as tables are stored. These programs are stored in the form of computer-readable program code, and the CPU sequentially executes operations according to the program code.
The RAM forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU and data related to these programs.

  When the control unit 208 configured as described above receives a freeze operation (image acquisition operation) by the operation input unit 201, the control unit 208 receives the freeze operation from the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit 204. Freeze control is performed to maintain the state in which the ultrasonic image corresponding to the timing is displayed on the display unit 207. In addition, after starting the freeze control, the control unit 208 ends the freeze control in response to the elapse of a predetermined time or the freeze end operation by the operation input unit 201.

  The storage unit 209 is configured by a large-capacity recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores the generated image file. The file structure and creation procedure of the image file will be described later.

  The communication unit 210 includes a LAN adapter, a router, a TA (Terminal Adapter), and the like, and exchanges data with external devices such as the RIS 10, the PACS 30, and the client terminal 40 connected via the communication network N.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the PACS 30 is a database system that stores and manages image files generated by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 20 and performs search and data analysis. The PACS 30 accumulates and stores the image file in, for example, a relational database based on incidental information included in the image file received from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 20. Then, the PACS 30 searches the image file or the like using the patient ID or examination ID specified in accordance with the operation instruction from the image interpretation doctor or the like as a search key, and outputs it to the image viewer or imager. When the PACS 30 receives an image file data acquisition request including a search key such as a patient ID and an examination ID from an external device, the PACS 30 searches for an image file or the like corresponding to the acquisition request and transmits the image file to the external device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the PACS 30 includes a control unit 301, an operation unit 302, a display unit 303, a communication unit 304, and a storage unit 305, and each unit is connected by a bus 306.

  The control unit 301 includes a CPU, a RAM, and the like, and comprehensively controls processing operations of the respective units of the PACS 30. Specifically, the CPU reads various processing programs stored in the storage unit 305 in accordance with an operation signal input from the operation unit 302 or an instruction signal received by the communication unit 304, and is formed in the RAM. The work area is expanded and various processes are performed in cooperation with the program.

  The operation unit 302 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse. The control unit 301 receives operation signals input by key operations or mouse operations on the keyboard. Output to.

  The display unit 303 is configured by an LCD and displays various screens based on display data input from the control unit 301.

  The communication unit 304 includes a LAN adapter, a router, a TA, and the like, and transmits / receives data to / from external devices such as the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 and the client terminal 40 connected via the communication network N.

  The storage unit 305 is configured by a large-capacity recording medium such as an HDD, and stores a control program, parameters and files necessary for executing the program, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 305 stores an image file and a moving image file generated by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 20. An image file management database for managing image files and the like is stored in the storage unit 305, and the image files and the like stored in the storage unit 305 are managed in cooperation with the control unit 301. May be.

  The client terminal 40 has a viewer function for displaying a medical image, and is a terminal used for interpretation by an interpreting doctor or the like. The client terminal 40 transmits an image file acquisition request to the PACS 30, and acquires an image file and a moving image file corresponding to the acquisition request from the PACS 30. Then, the client terminal 40 displays an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data included in the acquired image file or moving image file.

  Next, image storage processing executed by the control unit 208 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 in the medical image management system 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. This image storage process is a process executed in accordance with the execution of one ultrasonic diagnostic examination by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20. For example, the image storage process is executed according to a predetermined examination execution operation by an operator such as a doctor or a technician.

First, in the control unit 208, imaging order information is input from the RIS 10, or the patient's personal information is input from the operation input unit 201 (step S1).
Next, the control unit 208 starts an ultrasonic diagnostic examination based on a predetermined operation by the operation input unit 201 (step S2). That is, the control unit 208 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using the transmission unit 202 and the reception unit 203, and generates ultrasonic image data using the image generation unit 204. Then, the control unit 208 stores the generated ultrasonic image data in the image memory unit 205 for each frame. The control unit 208 sequentially displays ultrasonic images on the display unit 207 based on the ultrasonic image data stored in the image memory unit 205. The control unit 208 repeatedly executes the above operation in parallel in the subsequent processing.

Next, the control unit 208 determines whether or not there has been a switching operation of the image storage mode by the operation input unit 201 (step S3).
When it is determined that the image storage mode switching operation has been performed by the operation input unit 201 (step S3: Y), the control unit 208 switches the image storage mode to the still image mode or the moving image mode based on the switching operation ( Step S4). Here, the still image mode is a mode for storing ultrasonic image data for one frame generated by the image generation unit 204 at a predetermined timing, and the moving image mode is generated in the image generation unit 204 within a predetermined period. In this mode, ultrasonic image data of a plurality of frames is stored as a moving image.
If it is determined that there is no image storage mode switching operation by the operation input unit 201 (step S3: N), the control unit 208 performs the process of step S5.

Next, the control unit 208 determines whether or not a freeze operation (image acquisition operation) has been performed by the operation input unit 201 (step S5).
If it is determined that there is no freeze operation (step S5: N), the control unit 208 omits steps S6 to S9 and performs step S10.

  When it is determined that there has been a freeze operation (step S5: Y), the control unit 208 displays an ultrasound image based on ultrasound image data according to the timing at which the freeze operation is received when the freeze operation is received. The freeze control for maintaining the state displayed on the display screen is started (step S6). In the present embodiment, the scan operation is stopped in the freeze control. However, the scan operation may be performed in parallel while the freeze control is performed.

Further, the control unit 208 acquires ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which the freeze operation is received from the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit 204 (step S6).
Here, when the image storage mode is set to the still image mode, the control unit 208 is generated from the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit 204 at the timing when the freeze operation is received. One frame of ultrasonic image data is acquired. When the image storage mode is set to the moving image mode, the control unit 208 starts the timing from 10 seconds before the timing when the freeze operation is received from the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit 204. The ultrasonic image data of a plurality of frames generated within the period up to is acquired.

The control unit 208 stores the acquired ultrasound image data in the storage unit 209 as primary storage data (step S7). Specifically, the control unit 208 generates an image file based on the acquired ultrasonic image data, and stores the generated image file in the storage unit 209 as primary storage data.
That is, the control unit 208 first reads out ultrasonic image data from the image memory unit 205 in accordance with the timing at which the freeze operation is received by the operation input unit 201. The read ultrasound image data is, for example, a bitmap image. The ultrasonic image data may be compressed by a compression method such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group format).
The control unit 208 combines the read ultrasound image data with the body mark selected based on the input operation by the operation input unit 201. The body mark is combined with the ultrasound image data to visually identify the examination site. The body mark may be a character / symbol or other figure, and may be in any form as long as the inspection site can be visually recognized by the image reader. Further, a comment input by the operation input unit 201 or the like may be imaged together with the body mark or in place of the body mark and synthesized with the ultrasonic image data. Note that the control unit 208 may not combine the body mark with the ultrasonic image data.
The control unit 208 adds incidental information to the combined image data, and generates an image file made up of DICOM image data configured as shown in FIG. The incidental information includes, for example, patient information, examination information, series information, and image identification information as shown in FIG.

Patient information includes information on the patient such as sex, date of birth, address, occupation, etc. in addition to the patient name and patient ID. Each information of a patient name and patient ID is based on the imaging order information transmitted from RIS10, for example.
The inspection information includes the inspection date, the primary storage time indicating the time when the image file is stored, the body mark ID, the display depth indicating the focus point, the inspection ID for identifying the inspection, the inspection name, the reception number, and the inspection purpose. Information about the inspection such as inspection contents is included. The inspection date information is based on, for example, imaging order information transmitted from the RIS 10. The time information related to the primary storage time is generated based on time information output from a built-in clock unit (not shown) when the image file is stored in the storage unit 209, for example. The body mark ID corresponds to the synthesized body mark, and is used to specify the examination site when searching for an image file.
The series information includes the modality name, the type of ultrasound probe (probe) used, the modality generated in one examination, such as the series number, procedure, imaging location, imaging direction, and imaging technician name. This is information on a series (unit) of a series of medical images. The modality name is a modality name to be used, and is information indicating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the present embodiment. The probe type information is information indicating the type of the ultrasonic probe 20b connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20a, such as a linear scan probe or a convex scan probe, and a frequency type. The probe type information is generated based on information input in advance by the operation input unit 201. Note that when the ultrasound probe 20b is connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus main body 20a, the probe type information may be automatically acquired from the ultrasound probe 20b.
The image identification information is information relating to a medical image such as an SOP (Service Object-Pair class) instance UID (Unique IDentifier), an image number, and an image size for identifying an image.

When the image file generated as described above is stored in the storage unit 209 as primary storage data, the control unit 208 is primary storage data for each image file generated in one ultrasonic diagnostic examination. Tag information (identification information) for identifying this is added. The control unit 208 can perform various processes such as erasing the image file and further adding additional information to the image file to which the tag information is added, but the image file from which the tag information has been deleted. Such a process cannot be performed. Furthermore, by providing an operator authentication system using a password, an ID card, or the like, only an operator who has an access right may perform various processes on the image file to which the tag information is added.
Note that the control unit 208 may store the generated image file in the storage unit 209 without adding tag information.

Next, the control unit 208 determines whether or not the freeze control end condition is satisfied (step S8). Here, the establishment of the freeze control end condition means that a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the freeze control, or that a freeze end operation by the operation input unit 201 has been accepted.
Note that the control unit 208 can appropriately change the time until the freeze control is ended based on a predetermined operation by the operation input unit 201.
Accordingly, the control unit 208 ends the freeze control in response to the elapse of the predetermined time or the freeze end operation by the operation input unit 201. However, the control unit 208 ends the freeze control only when the predetermined time elapses. Alternatively, the freeze control may be ended only when a freeze end operation is performed by the operation input unit 201.

  If the freeze control end condition is not satisfied (step S8: N), the control unit 208 performs the process of step S8 again.

  When the freeze control end condition is satisfied (step S8: Y), the control unit 208 ends the freeze control (step S9). Specifically, the control unit 208 stops displaying the ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data acquired in step S6 on the display unit 207, and the ultrasonic images sequentially generated by the image generation unit 204. Ultrasound images based on the data are sequentially displayed on the display unit 207.

Next, the control unit 208 determines whether or not to end the ultrasonic diagnostic examination (step S10). In other words, the control unit 208 determines whether or not an end operation by the operation input unit 201 for ending one inspection is received. Whether or not an end operation has been accepted may be when other patient information is read in addition to a predetermined test end operation.
When it is determined that the ultrasonic diagnostic examination is not finished (step S10: N), the control unit 208 executes the process of step S4 again.

When it is determined that the ultrasonic diagnostic examination is finished (step S10: Y), the control unit 208 performs one ultrasonic diagnostic examination, that is, the image file stored in the storage unit 209 between steps S2 to S9 is one. It is determined whether or not this is the case (step S11).
When it is determined that the number of image files stored in the storage unit 209 is not 1 or more (step S11: N), the control unit 208 ends the image storage process.

  When it is determined that the number of image files stored in the storage unit 209 is 1 or more (step S11: Y), the control unit 208 displays a list of the image files stored in the storage unit 209 on the display unit 207 (step S11). S12). That is, the control unit 208 causes the display unit 207 to display thumbnail images of the reduced ultrasonic images based on the stored image file.

  Next, based on the selection operation by the operation input unit 201, the control unit 208 selects one of the image files displayed as a list on the display unit 207 (step S13).

The control unit 208 stores the selected image file in the storage unit 209 as secondary storage data among the image files stored in the storage unit 209 in one ultrasonic diagnostic examination, and image files other than the selected image file. Is deleted (step S14). When storing the selected image file as secondary storage data in the storage unit 209, the control unit 208 deletes the tag information added to the image file. Thereby, it is possible to easily identify whether the image file stored in the storage unit 209 is an image file before selection or an image file (secondary storage data) after selection. In addition, as described above, if the tag information is deleted, the image file cannot be processed. Therefore, the image file selected once by the control unit 208 and stored in the storage unit 209 as the secondary storage data is stored. On the other hand, the data cannot be altered.
Further, when the control unit 208 stores the selected image file as secondary storage data in the storage unit 209, the control unit 208 adds secondary storage time indicating the time at which the image file is stored to the incidental information. The time information related to the secondary storage time is generated based on time information output from a built-in clock unit (not shown) when the image file is stored in the storage unit 209, for example.
Thus, the image storage process is terminated.

Here, in the above-described image storage processing, it has been described that the processing of each step is performed by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20, but part of the processing may be performed by the PACS 30 or the client terminal 40. That is, in this case, the PACS 30 or the client terminal 40 functions as an image management apparatus that manages the ultrasonic image data generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20.
For example, the process of step S7 is performed by the PACS 30. That is, the control unit 208 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 transmits the image file generated in step S6 to the PACS 30 configured on the communication network N via the communication unit 210. In step S7, the control unit 301 of the PACS 30 The image file received from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20 is stored in the storage unit 305 as primary storage data. Note that the processing of step S7 may be performed by a control unit (not shown) and a storage unit (not shown) of the client terminal 40.
Further, for example, the processing of step S12 and step S13 is performed by the client terminal 40. That is, the control unit of the client terminal 40 transmits a data acquisition request for displaying a list of image files stored as primary storage data to the PACS 30 via the communication network N, and the PACS 30 receives the received acquisition request. In response, the data is transmitted to the client terminal 40. The control unit of the client terminal 40 displays a list of primary storage data on the display unit (not shown) of the client terminal 40 based on the received data, and selects one of the image files displayed as a list based on the selection operation. Select an image file. Note that the processing in step S12 and step S13 may be performed by the control unit 301 and the display unit 303 of the PACS 30.
Further, for example, the process of step S14 is performed by the PACS 30. That is, in step S13, the control unit of the client terminal 40 transmits image file selection information to the PACS 30 via the communication network N. In step S14, the control unit 301 of the PACS 30 receives the selection information received from the client terminal 40. The image file is selected based on the image data, and the selected image file is stored in the storage unit 305 as secondary storage data. Note that the processing in step S14 may be performed by the control unit and the storage unit of the client terminal 40.

  In this way, by performing a part of the image storage processing by the PACS 30 or the client terminal 40, any one of the freezing operation of the ultrasonic image data in the ultrasonic diagnostic examination and the ultrasonic image data displayed as a list on the screen is selected. The selection operation for selecting the ultrasound image data can be performed by different operators, and the ultrasound diagnostic examination and the ultrasound image data can be efficiently stored.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which a freeze operation (image acquisition operation) is accepted is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data from sequentially generated ultrasonic image data. Since it is memorized, acquisition of ultrasonic image data during ultrasonic diagnostic examination and storage of acquired ultrasonic image data can be performed by one operation. Therefore, the operation performed in the ultrasonic diagnostic examination can be simplified.
In addition, after the ultrasonic diagnostic examination is completed, the stored ultrasonic image data is displayed as a list, and any ultrasonic image data selected from them is stored in the storage unit as secondary storage data. The ultrasonic image data to be stored can be selected after the inspection is completed, and the inspection time required for the ultrasonic diagnostic inspection can be shortened.

  In addition, since a moving image including a plurality of frames of ultrasonic image data can be stored in the storage unit as primary storage data, for example, the movement of the examination region can be stored as data in the storage unit.

  Also, since the time at which the ultrasonic image data is stored in the storage unit as the primary storage data and the time at which the selected primary storage data is stored in the storage unit as the secondary storage data are stored, the ultrasonic image data depends on when the inspection is performed. It is possible to easily grasp whether the ultrasonic image data is finally stored or not.

  In addition, when the control unit receives an image acquisition operation, it performs freeze control to maintain a state in which an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which the image acquisition operation is received is displayed on the display unit. The ultrasonic image related to the acquired ultrasonic image data can be confirmed by the display unit, and the inspection accuracy of the ultrasonic diagnostic inspection can be improved.

  In addition, after the freeze control is started, the freeze control is terminated after a lapse of a predetermined time. Therefore, the freeze end operation can be omitted, and the operation performed in the ultrasonic diagnostic examination can be further simplified.

  In addition, after the freeze control is started, the freeze control is ended according to the freeze end operation. Therefore, the time during which the freeze control is performed can be shortened, and the time required for the ultrasonic diagnostic examination can be shortened. it can.

  The description in the embodiment of the present invention is an example of the medical image management system according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each functional unit constituting the medical image management system can be changed as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic image data stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is output to the display unit. However, a display apparatus, a printing apparatus, a network, or the like externally connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used. The ultrasonic image data may be referred to from an external device connected to the.

  In the present embodiment, the list display process is performed after the end of the inspection as the time related to the execution of the inspection. However, the inspection start timing or the inspection may be in progress. Further, the list display process may be performed at a time not related to the execution of the examination, such as a shutdown process in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured on the medical image management system. However, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be configured not to be connected to the network. At this time, the image file stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be input to the image management apparatus offline using a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  In the present embodiment, in the moving image mode in which a moving image is stored as the ultrasonic image data, a plurality of frames that are generated by the image generation unit within a period from 10 seconds before the timing when the freeze operation is received to the timing are received. Although the moving image including the sound wave image data is acquired, it may be acquired including the ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation unit after accepting the freeze operation. A plurality of frames of ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation unit is acquired for a predetermined time immediately before the timing when the freeze operation is received, for example, 10 seconds.

  In the present embodiment, every time ultrasonic image data is acquired, an image file to which supplementary information is added is generated and the image file is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data. The ultrasonic image data is stored as it is in the storage unit without generating the image, and the ultrasonic image data selected from the list-displayed ultrasonic image data is stored in the storage unit as secondary storage data. Ancillary information may be added to the ultrasonic image data to generate an image file. In addition, when a part of the image storage process is performed by the PACS or the client terminal, for example, the ultrasonic image data is transmitted through the communication unit without generating the image file related to the acquired ultrasonic image data. And the PACS control unit (or the client terminal control unit) adds the incidental information to the received ultrasonic image data to generate an image file, and stores the generated image file as primary storage data May be stored in the unit (or the storage unit of the client terminal).

In the present embodiment, in a still image mode in which a still image is stored as ultrasonic image data, one frame of ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which an image acquisition operation is received is stored as primary storage data in the storage unit. However, the ultrasonic image data for several frames before the ultrasonic image data, for example, 60 frames of ultrasonic image data is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data together with the ultrasonic image data for the one frame. Also good.
In this case, when selecting any ultrasound image data from the list of displayed ultrasound image data, one frame of ultrasound image data corresponding to the timing of accepting the image acquisition operation is preferable for the operator. If not, the ultrasound image data for 10 frames stored together with the ultrasound image data is referred to, and any ultrasound image data is selected from them and stored in the storage unit as secondary storage data. be able to.

  In the present embodiment, when an image acquisition operation is received, freeze control is started to maintain a state in which an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which the image acquisition operation is received is displayed on the display unit. However, the freeze control may not be performed. That is, when an image acquisition operation is received, ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which the image acquisition operation is received is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data, but the display unit generates ultrasonic waves sequentially generated by the image generation unit. Ultrasonic images based on the image data are sequentially displayed.

In this embodiment, the primary storage data and the secondary storage data are described as being stored in the same storage area of the storage unit. However, the storage unit is provided with two storage areas, and the primary storage data and the secondary storage data are stored in the storage unit. The stored data may be stored separately in each storage area.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the primary storage data and the secondary storage data are described as being stored in a single storage unit. However, the primary storage data and the secondary storage data are stored separately in two storage units. It is good as a thing. For example, two storage units are provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the primary storage data and the secondary storage data may be stored separately in each storage unit, or the primary storage data is stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The secondary storage data may be stored in the storage unit of the PACS.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which a hard disk, a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, or the like is used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention is disclosed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. As another computer-readable medium, a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied. A carrier wave is also used as a medium for providing program data according to the present invention via a communication line.

10 RIS
20 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 20a Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20b Ultrasonic probe 20c Cable 30 PACS
40 Client terminal 100 Medical image management system 201 Operation input unit 202 Transmission unit 203 Reception unit 204 Image generation unit 205 Image memory unit 206 DSC
207 Display unit 208 Control unit 209 Storage unit 210 Communication unit 301 Control unit 302 Operation unit 303 Display unit 304 Communication unit 305 Storage unit 306 Bus N Communication network

Claims (9)

An image generator that sequentially generates ultrasonic image data based on reflected ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject;
A display unit for displaying an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation unit;
A storage unit for storing ultrasonic image data generated by the image generation unit;
An operation unit for an operator to input operation instructions;
From the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit, ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which an image acquisition operation is received is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data, and from the start of an ultrasonic diagnostic examination Primary storage data stored in the storage unit until the end is displayed as a list on the display unit, and any one of the primary storages based on a selection operation by the operation unit from the primary storage data displayed as a list on the display unit An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a control unit that selects data and stores the selected primary storage data in the storage unit as secondary storage data.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores a moving image including ultrasonic image data of a plurality of frames in the storage unit as primary storage data.   The control unit stores in the storage unit, as time information, a time at which the ultrasonic image data is stored in the storage unit as primary storage data and a time at which the selected primary storage data is stored in the storage unit as secondary storage data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used.   The control unit sequentially displays ultrasonic images based on the generated ultrasonic image data on the display unit at the same time as the ultrasonic image data is sequentially generated by the image generation unit, and after completion of the ultrasonic diagnostic examination, The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the primary storage data stored in the storage unit is displayed as a list on the display unit.   When the control unit receives an image acquisition operation, the control unit performs freeze control for maintaining a state in which an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which the image acquisition operation is received is displayed on the display unit. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit ends the freeze control after a predetermined time has elapsed after starting the freeze control.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit ends the freeze control according to a predetermined operation after starting the freeze control.   When the control unit stores ultrasonic image data as primary storage data in the storage unit, the control unit adds identification information to the ultrasonic image data of the primary storage data, and the selected primary storage data is used as secondary storage data. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the identification information added to the ultrasonic image data of the selected primary storage data is deleted when storing in the storage unit. . A medical image management system comprising an ultrasound diagnostic device, an image management device, and a storage device for storing ultrasound image data,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises:
An image generator that sequentially generates ultrasonic image data based on reflected ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject;
A first control unit that outputs ultrasonic image data corresponding to the timing at which an image acquisition operation is received from the ultrasonic image data sequentially generated by the image generation unit to the storage device as primary storage data; And
The storage device stores primary storage data output from the ultrasonic diagnostic device,
The image management device includes:
A display for displaying a list of primary storage data stored in the storage device;
An operation unit for an operator to input operation instructions;
The primary storage data stored in the storage device is displayed as a list on the display unit, and one of the primary storage data selected from the primary storage data displayed as a list on the display unit based on a selection operation by the operation unit is selected. And a second control unit that stores the selected primary storage data as secondary storage data in the storage device.

Images