JP2002017732A - Ultrasonic remote diagnosis system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system that can immediately share high-quality diagnostic information. A communication line is provided between an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided at a first site for acquiring an image by scanning an inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves and a host computer provided at a second site. An ultrasonic remote diagnosis system established by utilizing the information processing apparatus and sharing information regarding diagnosis of each of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the host computer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for performing examinations and diagnoses by transmitting and exchanging various kinds of diagnostic information including images between spatially separated places, and particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. To a remote diagnostic system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Medical imaging equipment provides a great deal of information about a subject in the form of images, and plays an important role in many medical activities such as diagnosis, treatment and surgical planning of diseases. I have. At present, as main medical imaging devices, there are an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus, and the like. Among them, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has various features not found in other medical diagnostic apparatuses due to the characteristic that the physical quantity to be imaged is an ultrasonic wave. In particular, the heartbeat and the movement of the fetus can be obtained in real time with a simple operation of simply touching the ultrasonic probe from the body surface, and the safety is high, so that the examination can be repeated and moved to the bedside The inspection can be easily performed.

[0003] One of the problems in medical diagnosis in recent years is the rapid sharing of diagnostic information. This means that diagnostic information including images taken by the medical imaging equipment or the like can be quickly transmitted between hospitals that are geographically separated, between examination rooms in the same hospital, between a patient's bedside and an examination room, and the like. Or, they can exchange and perform medical communication quickly and smoothly. As a result, improvements in the quality and convenience of telemedicine are achieved.

Conventionally, when diagnostic information is shared (or transmitted / exchanged) between spatially separated places as described above, image data or the like is stored on a portable recording medium such as a photograph, a magneto-optical disk, or a VTR. The diagnostic information is shared by recording and reproducing a recording medium which is hardware.

[0005]

However, the sharing of diagnostic information by exchanging a recording medium, which is hardware, as in the prior art, lacks quickness, especially real-timeness.
There is a limit to the amount of information that can be shared. In particular, in the diagnosis using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the advantage unique to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus such as real-time property cannot be fully utilized, and further improvement is desired.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic remote diagnostic system capable of sharing high-quality diagnostic information immediately.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided at a first site for acquiring an image by scanning an inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided at a second site. A diagnostic system established using a communication line with a host computer, wherein the host computer has input means for inputting a control signal relating to an operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Is an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system comprising: a control unit that controls operation of the ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus based on a control signal received from the host computer via the communication line.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system according to the first aspect, wherein the host computer transfers a program relating to an operation control of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for a predetermined diagnostic operation. And the control means controls the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on the program.

A third aspect of the present invention is a system according to the first aspect, wherein real-time voice communication is established between the first site and the second site using the communication line. Voice communication means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system according to the first aspect, wherein the system is provided at the first site and captures an overview image of a state of an ultrasonic diagnosis. And a photographing means for transferring in real time to a display means provided at the second site via the communication line.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performs an operation related to ultrasonic diagnosis on the subject based on the control signal. It is characterized by having.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a system according to the first aspect, which is provided at the first site and is used for ultrasonic diagnosis for acquiring an image by scanning an inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves. A diagnostic system established using a communication line between the apparatus and a host computer provided at a second site, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits the collected image via the communication line. The image processing apparatus further includes a transfer unit that transfers the image to the host computer, and the host computer further includes an image processing unit that performs image processing on the automatically transferred image.

[0013] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes at least one of the image data amount, the diagnostic object, and the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Further, based on one, further comprising a determining means for determining whether or not to perform image transfer to the host computer, the transfer means, only the image determined by the determining means to perform the transfer to the image processing means It is characterized by being transferred.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is the system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a means for generating a thumbnail image of each of the collected images, and the transfer means And transferring only the collected image corresponding to the thumbnail image selected by the operator from the plurality of thumbnail images to the host computer.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is the system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises:
The diagnosis target, further comprising a compression unit that selects a compression ratio or a compression method based on at least one of the information on the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and compresses the collected image,
The transfer means transfers the image compressed by the compression means to the host computer via a communication line.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is the system according to the ninth aspect, wherein the information on the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes at least one of a frame rate of an ultrasonic scan and a photographing mode. It is characterized by the following.

An eleventh viewpoint according to the present invention is the system according to the sixth viewpoint, wherein the transfer means stores the information related to the ultrasonic scanning together with the acquired image or the information stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in advance. At least one of the image processing programs corresponding to the collected images is transferred.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the ultrasonic remote diagnosis system comprises:
In the storage means provided in the second site, a plurality of diagnostic information including an ultrasound image is stored and unique information corresponding to each of the plurality of diagnostic information is stored,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further includes a storage unit connected to the host computer via the communication line, at least one of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the host computer, the diagnostic information based on the unique information It has a reading means.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the system according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus stores the acquired image data and stores a replica of the acquired image corresponding to the image. And means for automatically transferring the information together with the unique information to the storage means.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the second site is an examination room in a main hospital, and the first site is outside the main hospital. It is a remote site or a hospital room in the basic hospital.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system capable of immediately sharing high-quality diagnostic information.

The embodiments according to the present invention include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of a plurality of disclosed structural requirements.
For example, when an invention is extracted by omitting some constituent elements from all the constituent elements described in the embodiments, when practicing the extracted invention, the omitted part is appropriately supplemented by well-known conventional techniques. It is something to be done.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This ultrasonic remote diagnosis system is a system for communicating diagnostic information between spatially separated ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses or between a spatially separated ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a workstation through a communication line. is there. The “communication line” means wireless or wired for transmitting communication from one or both directions by electromagnetic means.

In the following description, components having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be made only when necessary.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to the present invention. The ultrasonic remote diagnostic system shown in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 at a remote site connected to the server 12 of the primary hospital 10 via a server 12, a workstation 14, and a communication line 15 provided in the primary hospital 10. It is composed of

"Remote site" refers to a medical facility such as another hospital or clinic, a home for patient, a welfare facility for home care, a place of health check for a company or school, In the case of emergency medical care, it means a place that is spatially separated from the main hospital, such as an emergency site or inside an ambulance. In the following description, a diagnostic system established between the remote site and the main hospital will be described as an example, but a diagnostic system established between medical departments within the same medical facility, that is, within the same main hospital. It may be.

In the main hospital 10, for example, an in-hospital LAN is constructed. The server 12 and the ultrasonic workstation 14 are connected to the LAN. Therefore, the data stored in the server 12 is transmitted to the workstation 1
4 and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 at the remote site. For example, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 at the remote site can read various medical information stored in the server 12 based on unique information such as a patient ID.

The workstation 14 is located at the main hospital 10.
Is a computer terminal having a processing function of performing an advanced ultrasonic image processing apparatus at high speed. By transferring the basic data for image configuration from the workstation 14 via the server 12 via the network, it is possible to perform advanced diagnosis by advanced processing with a minimum infrastructure.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 is provided at a remote site for taking an ultrasonic image of a patient. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 has a function of transmitting and receiving diagnostic information to and from the server 12 via the communication line 15 in addition to a known function related to ultrasonic diagnosis. Hereinafter, the configuration related to the communication function of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration relating to a communication function of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 161,
It has a data processing unit 163, a data compression engine 165, a network unit 167, and a system control unit 169.

The transmission / reception unit 161 uses an ultrasonic wave to traverse the inside of the subject in a procedure according to an arbitrary imaging mode, such as a B mode for representing morphological information of a tissue or a contrast agent, and a Doppler mode suitable for representing blood flow information. It is connected to an ultrasound probe 10 for scanning. The transmission / reception circuit 161 has a function of generating image data in the B mode or the like based on the echo signal obtained by the scanning.

The data processing section 163 has a preamplifier, an A / D converter, a reception delay circuit, and an adder (not shown). The echo signal output to the receiving unit 16 for each element of the probe 12 is amplified for each channel by a preamplifier, and A / D converted by an A / D converter.
The echo signal after the A / D conversion is given a delay time necessary for determining the reception directivity by the reception delay circuit, and is added by the adder. The echo signal after this addition has a reflection component from a direction corresponding to the reception directivity emphasized. An overall ultrasonic beam for transmission and reception is formed by the transmission directivity and the reception directivity. Further, the echo signal after the addition is subjected to logarithmic amplification, envelope detection processing, and the like, and the intensity of the echo signal becomes data expressed by brightness.

The data compression engine 165 compresses an ultrasonic image or the like collected at a remote site. In general,
When performing data transfer via a network, transfer time becomes a problem. As a method of operating the transfer time, it is conceivable to adjust the image size or to devise a compression method according to the data amount. The data compression engine 165
For example, the data compression is performed by selecting a compression ratio and a compression method according to the diagnosis field and the operation of the apparatus. This content will be described later.

The network unit 167 transmits the data compressed by the data compression engine 165 to the server 12 of the basic hospital 10 via the communication line 15 or stores the data stored in the server 12 via the communication line 15 This is a device for transmitting and receiving data, such as receiving the data of the above. The network unit 167 includes a modem (not shown) for transmitting and receiving data via a public telephone line, and a terminal adapter (hereinafter, TA) and a digital server unit (hereinafter, not shown) for using a digital telephone line. Hereinafter, it is connected to the electric line communication network 15 via DSU) or the like.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to transmit and receive diagnostic information between the remote site and the main hospital. Therefore,
It is possible to provide an ultrasonic remote diagnostic system capable of sharing a large amount of high-quality diagnostic information with immediacy.

The exchange of diagnostic information realized by the ultrasonic remote diagnostic system having the above-described configuration will be described below with reference to some specific examples.

(Example 1-Case Where Part of Image Processing is Performed in the Core Hospital 10) In recent years, image processing techniques in the medical field, particularly three-dimensional image processing techniques, have been remarkably developed. For example, various techniques have been developed, such as collecting tomographic images, generating volume data, and imaging a subject in three dimensions. In general, such technically advanced image processing requires a computer having a high processing speed, such as an ultrasonic workstation.

However, if the above-mentioned image processing function is provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 provided at the remote site, the apparatus becomes large-scale and cannot be cost-effective. In some circumstances, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 is preferably portable, and there is a case where it is desired to make the apparatus as compact as possible.

In consideration of these circumstances, in Example 1, only the ultrasound image is taken at the remote site, and the image processing that requires advanced and high-speed operations is performed by the ultrasonic work provided at the main hospital 10. A diagnostic system executed in the station 14 will be described.

In FIG. 1, basic data for image composition collected by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 provided at a remote site is transferred to a workstation 14 provided at the main hospital 10 via a communication line. You. The workstation 14 executes complicated measurement processing and image processing at high speed, and displays an ultrasonic image on a monitor (not shown).
If necessary, the processed image data is transferred to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 at the remote site via a communication line.

According to such a configuration, complicated measurement processing and image processing are processed at high speed by a workstation or the like provided in a main hospital or the like. Therefore, the ultrasonic remote diagnosis system can realize advanced diagnosis by advanced processing with a minimum infrastructure. Also,
The time required from photographing to image display is the transfer time and the image processing time in the workstation 14,
A diagnostic image can be acquired in a short time.

The diagnostic system shown in Example 1 can be applied to, for example, a LAN in the main hospital 10.

(Example-2: Selection of Compression Method / Compression Rate According to Diagnosis Field) A case where an ultrasonic image collected by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus at a remote site is compressed and transferred to a main hospital will be described. . The compression for this transfer is
It is executed in the data compression engine 165 under the control of the system control unit 169.

Generally, when data is transferred via a communication line, the data is compressed at a predetermined compression ratio and transferred for the purpose of shortening the transfer time and saving the memory area and radio wave band used.

By the way, the transfer time mainly depends on the compression ratio, and the quality of the image by restoring the compressed data depends on the compression method. Therefore, the compression ratio and compression method simply shorten the transfer time,
It is preferable not only to save the used memory area and the radio wave band but also to select an appropriate one at any time according to the data amount of the image to be transferred, the diagnostic field, or information on the operation of the apparatus. This is because the required image quality and data transfer speed differ depending on the diagnostic field and the like.

The system control unit 169 appropriately selects a compression method and a compression ratio to be applied to data to be transferred in accordance with information on a diagnosis field or operation of the apparatus, and performs compression control.
For example, in a circulatory organ or a carotid artery, an image is transferred at a high compression rate, giving priority to the number of frames over resolution. This is because the circulatory and carotid arteries are generally interested in their movement. On the other hand, in an abdominal system or a superficial part, an image is transferred at a low compression ratio with priority given to image quality. This is because the accuracy of the image is important.

The compression ratio is automatically changed according to the frame rate of the ultrasonic scan. In other words, when the frame rate is high, the purpose is to collect linked images, and the interest is in the movement of organs and the like. Therefore, image transfer is performed at a high compression rate, giving priority to the number of frames over the resolution. On the other hand, when the frame rate is low, the image is transferred with a low compression ratio giving priority to the image quality.

In diagnosis, ROIs in ultrasound images
The information shown in (region of interest) is particularly important. Therefore, the same compression method or compression ratio is not applied to all of one ultrasonic image, the ROI is processed at the highest possible resolution and the highest frame rate, and the resolution of the other regions is within the allowable range. Alternatively, it may be configured to transfer at a frame rate.

The compression ratio may be automatically changed in accordance with the display area of the collected ultrasonic image. That is, when the display area is large, the image is transferred at a high compression rate because the data amount is large, and when the display area is small, the image is transferred at a low compression rate because the data amount is small.

Further, a color image and a black-and-white image are separated from each other, and a separate compression ratio (that is, a color image having a large
A method of processing and transferring at a higher compression ratio is also conceivable.

It is not always necessary that high-precision images are required for all of the captured images. In this case, for example, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 16 first transfers an image or a thumbnail image with a low compression rate to the main hospital 10 for selection. The user using the terminal of the main hospital may be configured to transfer only a desired image selected from these images with high image quality (constant compression ratio) through the communication line.

According to such a configuration, an appropriate compression ratio and compression method are selected at any time according to the diagnosis field or the operation of the apparatus, so that the necessary diagnostic information is secured and the transfer time is shortened. In addition, it is possible to save the used memory area and the radio wave band.

Next, a method of storing the data transferred as described above will be described. Two examples of data storage methods are given below.

First, the diagnostic information collected by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 is directly and automatically converted to the server 1 of the main hospital 10.
2 and store it (see FIG. 1). With such a configuration, the diagnostic information stored in the server 12 of the main hospital 10 is always automatically updated to the latest information. Therefore, in the basic hospital 10, it is possible to immediately obtain the diagnostic information on the patient at the remote site. Also,
Workability can be improved in terms of data management.

Another example is a method of providing a remote site server dedicated to a remote site and storing data in the server.

FIG. 3 shows an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system provided with remote site servers 20A and 20B dedicated to remote sites (subscripts indicate different remote sites). The diagnostic information obtained by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 is automatically and sequentially stored in the remote site server. According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10, since the compression ratio and the compression method are distinguished according to the diagnostic field as described above, the memory area in the server can be effectively used.

In each of the above examples, the image data is transferred in association with the patient-specific information.

Incidentally, it is preferable that the diagnostic information stored in the remote site server is automatically updated periodically as the latest diagnostic information in the server 12 provided in the main hospital 10 as well. Furthermore, if this automatic update is executed simultaneously with the data transfer to the remote site server 20,
The latest diagnostic information can be obtained immediately (that is, at the same timing as the site) at the main hospital 10, and it is also effective in data management.

The ultrasonic remote diagnostic system shown in FIG. 3 has a function of automatically creating a replica of the diagnostic information and automatically updating the replica to the latest diagnostic information.

In FIG. 3, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses 16A and 16B installed at remote sites are connected to the corresponding remote site servers 20A and 20B, respectively. The diagnostic information collected by each ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 is stored in the corresponding remote site server 20.
At this time, each remote site server 20 creates a replica of the diagnostic information and transfers it to the server 12 of the main hospital 10 via the communication line. The server 12 updates the diagnostic information in the server at any time with the latest diagnostic information newly transmitted.

According to such a configuration, since a replica is automatically created and the replica is automatically transferred to the main hospital 10 at any time, the latest diagnostic information can be obtained immediately and effective. Data management can be realized.

The diagnostic information is not limited to the ultrasonic image, but may be used together with image data to provide additional information (distance, area, volume, blood flow rate, blood flow velocity, etc.) It also includes raster data and the like. In addition, it is desirable that information such as scanning density information, such as scanning density information, about the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and information, such as a program for image processing, such as a data interpolation processing program, can be transferred. In addition, there may be a number of other cases in which the measurement processing program is transferred together and the measurement can be performed on the receiving side.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system in which a plurality of types are mixed.

(Example-3: When operating an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus at a remote site from a computer at a main hospital)
The remote control function of the ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to the present invention will be described. This function makes it possible to operate the ultrasonic probe at the remote site directly from the workstation 14 located at the basic hospital 10 by utilizing, for example, a binocular camera or a manipulator provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 at the remote site. Things.

In order to realize such an inspection based on remote operation, it is necessary to exchange diagnostic information including voice information and images for communication, and to provide feedback of operational feeling mainly using a probe. Hereinafter, a method of realizing the diagnosis information will be described in the order of exchange of diagnostic information and feedback of operation feeling.

For example, a method in which voice information for communication with a patient at a remote site is performed through a telephone line is conceivable. In a battlefield or the like, a case where a field hospital is connected via radio, a network, or a satellite line is also assumed.

When exchanging diagnostic information including images, when using a public telephone line via a modem, using a digital line via a TA (terminal adapter) or DSU (digital service unit), using an Internet line And so on. The method described in Example 1 can be applied to the image compression method and the like.

For example, the following method can be used as feedback of operation feeling. First, a method is conceivable in which a pressure distribution is visualized by a transducer surface pressure sensor and fed back. For example, a schematic diagram of a probe or the like is displayed on the monitor of the workstation 14 and the pressure difference applied to the contact portion with the subject is displayed in correspondence with the shading of the color, so that the operational feeling can be fed back. . Alternatively, a schematic cross-sectional view of the probe and the subject may be displayed, and the pressure difference applied to the subject may be displayed as a bar graph or the like in correspondence with the position of the contact portion of the probe. Further, the pressure difference may be displayed on the schematic diagram of the subject displayed on the monitor as well as the probe by using a color gradation or a bar graph. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to color shading or a bar graph, and may be configured to transmit an image in which the integrated value of the echo intensity on each ultrasonic raster of the ultrasonic image corresponds to the probe shape.

According to such a configuration, the remote control function allows the operational feeling to be fed back even if the doctor is placed in a spatially distant place, so that an ultrasonic examination can be performed without a doctor in a remote place. Become. Thus, additional possibilities can be provided for ultrasound telediagnosis and even ultrasound teletherapy.

(Example 4-Backup of Data, etc.) In ultrasonic diagnosis at a remote site, it may be assumed that facilities are not sufficient. Further, depending on the situation, an inexperienced or inexperienced operator may use the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In these cases, it is preferable that a work procedure (hereinafter referred to as a workflow) relating to the diagnosis can be displayed on a monitor of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to provide support information relating to the diagnosis.

The following describes an example in which an ultrasonic diagnosis using a workflow is executed by an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system.

In a diagnosis using a workflow, the automatic backup and collection of data is performed by:
It can be realized by software or the like. For example, from among a plurality of workflow patterns prepared in advance, a workflow corresponding to a diagnosis to be executed may be specified according to the situation, and data may be collected according to a work procedure defined by the specified workflow. This can be achieved by utilizing functions. In this case, in order to effectively use the storage unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16,
It is assumed that a plurality of workflow patterns prepared in advance and a program for realizing each workflow are stored in storage means provided in the basic hospital 10, and only the designated workflow and the corresponding program are transferred to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16. May be used.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 provided at a remote site
In 6, the workflow related to the examination designated (selected) based on the predetermined condition is displayed on the screen of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and, for example, the steps being performed are displayed by color coding or the like. Then, the workflow related to the examination is transferred to the main hospital together with the images collected according to the workflow. Depending on the result, the workflow for the next inspection is transferred.

The data collected according to the workflow is backed up in a storage device such as an MO, HD, or server. These storage devices may be stored directly in a storage device of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, or may be stored in a storage device provided in a main hospital through a communication line.

According to such an ultrasonic remote diagnostic system, the server 12 of the main hospital 10 is automatically automatically operated only by performing the diagnostic work according to the workflow at the remote site.
Diagnostic work linked with the workstation 14. As a result, the operator can perform a diagnosis work even in a remote site in a situation close to the environment of the main hospital 10.

According to the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.

First, by transmitting and receiving voices and images in real time, diagnostic information can be shared immediately.

Second, it is possible to operate an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus installed at a spatially separated place.

Third, a diagnosis by advanced processing can be obtained even in a remote place.

Fourth, an optimum image suitable for the purpose can be obtained within an acceptable time.

Fifth, efficient remote diagnosis can be executed by automatic processing in accordance with the diagnosis procedure.

Sixth, even in a remote place, the examination can be executed without waste by an appropriate diagnostic procedure. In addition, the latest diagnostic information required can be reliably obtained even at a basic hospital located in a spatially separated place.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the concept of the present invention. It is understood that examples also fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown below, various modifications can be made without changing the gist.

In the above embodiment, the ultrasonic remote diagnosis system between the main hospital 10 and the remote site which are spatially separated has been described as an example. On the other hand, the present invention can be applied in the same hospital (for example, in the basic hospital 10, between the examination room and the patient's room). As a result, in-hospital examination efficiency can be improved.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system capable of instantly sharing high-quality diagnostic information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 16 provided at a remote site.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic remote diagnosis system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Basic hospital 12 ... Server 14 ... Ultrasonic workstation 16 ... Remote site ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 18 ... 20 ... Remote site server 161 ... Transmission / reception part 163 ... Data processing part 165 ... Data compression engine 167 ... Network part 169 ... System control Department

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takuya Sasaki 1385-1 Higashiyama, Shimoishikami, Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture Inside the Toshiba Nasu Factory Co., Ltd. 1 Toshiba Nasu Factory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naohisa Kamiyama 1385-1 Higashiyama, Shimoishi-kami, Otawara-shi, Tochigi Prefecture F-term in Toshiba Nasu Factory Co., Ltd. 4C301 CC02 DD01 DD02 EE07 EE10 GB02 HH03 HH24 HH37 HH38 HH52 JB03 JB29 KK24 LL11 LL20 5K101 KK11 KK12 KK19 NN06 NN18

Claims (14)

[Claims] A communication between an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided at a first site for acquiring an image by scanning an inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves and a host computer provided at a second site. A diagnostic system established using a line, wherein the host computer has input means for inputting a control signal related to an operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus via the communication line. Control means for controlling operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus based on a control signal received from the host computer. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the host computer further includes a program transfer unit for transferring a program relating to an operation control of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for a predetermined diagnostic operation, wherein the control unit is configured to control the ultrasonic wave based on the program. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the system controls the operation of the diagnosis device. 3. The ultrasonic remote diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising: voice communication means for establishing real-time voice communication between said first site and said second site using said communication line. . 4. A means provided at said first site for taking an overview video of the state of an ultrasonic diagnosis, said display means being provided at said second site via said communication line. 2. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging unit for transferring the image data in real time. 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a manipulator for performing an operation related to ultrasonic diagnosis on the subject based on the control signal.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described in the above. 6. A communication between an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided at a first site for acquiring an image by scanning an inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves and a host computer provided at a second site. A diagnostic system established using a line, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further includes a transfer unit configured to transfer the collected image to the host computer via the communication line. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 1, further comprising image processing means for performing image processing on the automatically transferred image. 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is transmitted to the host computer based on at least one of a data amount of the image, a diagnosis target, and an operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine the image data, wherein the transfer unit transfers only an image determined to be transferred by the determination unit to the image processing unit. 8. 8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for generating a thumbnail image of each of the collected images; and wherein the transferring means comprises a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to a thumbnail image selected by an operator. 7. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 6, further comprising: transferring only collected images to the host computer. 9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus selects a compression ratio or a compression method based on at least one of a data amount, a diagnosis target, and information on an operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and compresses the collected image. 7. The ultrasonic remote diagnostic system according to claim 6, further comprising a compression unit, wherein the transfer unit transfers the image compressed by the compression unit to the host computer via a communication line. 10. The ultrasonic remote diagnostic system according to claim 9, wherein the information on the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes at least one of a frame rate of an ultrasonic scan and an imaging mode. 11. The transfer means transfers at least one of information on ultrasonic scanning or an image processing program stored in advance in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and corresponding to the collected image, together with the collected image. 7. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 6, wherein: 12. The ultrasonic remote diagnostic system is a storage means provided in the second site, wherein a plurality of diagnostic information including an ultrasonic image are stored and each of the plurality of diagnostic information is stored in each of the plurality of diagnostic information. Corresponding unique information is stored, and further comprising a storage unit connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the host computer via the communication line, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the host computer performs the diagnosis. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit configured to read information based on the unique information. 13. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing the collected image data and automatically transferring a replica of the collected image to the storage means together with unique information corresponding to the image. 13. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 12, wherein: 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second site is an examination room in a main hospital, and said first site is a remote site existing outside said main hospital or a hospital room in said main hospital. The ultrasonic remote diagnosis system according to claim 1 or 6.