JP2008059250A - Image management system, image management method, and image management program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a technique for realizing a balance between time to display a medical image desired by a viewer and image quality.
In an image management system that stores medical images in a database and searches and displays a medical image desired by a viewer, the time required from the start of transmission of the medical image to the display unit until the display is completed The image data compression ratio desired by the image viewer is stored for each required time determining factor for determining the necessary time determining factor for browsing the medical image, and the image corresponding to the acquired required time determining factor After the data amount of the medical image is compressed based on the data compression rate, it is transmitted to the display means for displaying the medical image.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image management technique for managing medical images.

  In recent years, systemization in hospitals has progressed, and various systems have been operating in hospitals. For example, an image management system or radiation information system is connected to a network, and a computer terminal on the network is used to communicate with these medical management system or radiation information system to send and receive medical images, examination status information, and examination order information. ing.

  The image management system 1 is a so-called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). PACS is a network system that stores medical images in a database and searches and displays medical images desired by a viewer. When a viewer inputs an attribute of a medical image to be browsed, the viewer can browse a medical image having the attribute (see, for example, “Patent Document 1”).

  In this image management system, a management device that manages medical images in a database, an image storage device that stores medical images, and an image display device that displays medical images are arranged on a network. A plurality of image display devices are arranged on the network.

  The management device presents the storage location of the medical image desired by the viewer to the image display device. The storage destination image storage device transmits a medical image desired by the viewer to the image display device. The image display device inquires of the management device about the medical image desired by the viewer, causes the management device to search the database, and displays the medical image transmitted from the image storage device.

  The image storage device stores medical images by performing predetermined data compression. The stored medical images are uniformly compressed at a predetermined compression rate using a predetermined compression format. As the compression format, for example, a JPEG method that is irreversible compression, JPEG2000 that is reversible compression, or the like is employed. In JPEG2000, the whole medical image is data-compressed, the data-compressed medical image is divided into a plurality of blocks and further compressed for each block, and the data-compressed block is further divided into a plurality of blocks and further compressed for each block. And memorize. In the image storage device, a medical image whose data has been compressed to a uniform level is transmitted to each image display device.

  The data compression rate of the medical image is uniformly determined so that the balance between the time required from the start of transmission of the medical image transmitted through the network to the completion of display and the image quality is optimal. Conventionally, however, the uniformly determined data compression rate cannot always be said to realize the optimization of the balance between the time required for medical images and the image quality.

  For example, in-hospital networking by this image management system is generally gradually built up in many cases. For this reason, there is a difference in the performance of the image display device such as CPU performance, monitor size, and network bandwidth, and there is a difference in network traffic because the network is constructed by a plurality of LANs. Originally, in an image table display device in which the performance of the image display device and the network throughput are good compared to the average of other image display devices, it does not take time to display the image even if the image quality is improved. Also good. On the other hand, in an image table display device in which the performance of the image display device and the network throughput are worse than the average of other image display devices, stress is applied until the image is displayed unless the image quality is lowered. There must be.

  Also, if a small number of medical images are sent at a time, even if the compression rate is low, the image transmission will not take time and the viewer will not be stressed, but there will be many medical images sent at a time. If there is a high compression ratio, it takes time to transmit the image and stresses the viewer.

  Also, depending on the type of medical image, there may be a case where a high compression rate is not required so much, and a high compression rate is required, or a low compression rate is required because image quality is required.

  As described above, when a conventional image management system compresses a medical image at a constant data compression rate, the image quality and the required time are considered in view of the display environment of the image display device, the number of medical images transmitted and the type of medical image. It could not be said to optimize the balance. Furthermore, considering the display environment of the image display apparatus, the number of medical images transmitted, and the type of medical image, it has been difficult to derive an optimal data compression rate uniformly.

  As a result, the time required from the start of transmission of the medical image to the completion of display and the image quality of the medical image realized by the image management system do not meet the conditions desired by the viewer, causing problems for the viewer. Was.

JP-A-5-81156

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that realizes a balance between time to display a medical image desired by a viewer and image quality.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a storage unit for storing a medical image, a display unit for displaying the medical image, and a display is completed after transmission of the medical image to the display unit is started. Factor acquisition means for acquiring a required time determining factor for determining the time required for the storage, storage means for storing an image data compression rate for each required time determination factor, and the required time determining factor acquired by the factor acquisition means A compression unit that compresses the data amount of the medical image stored in the storage unit based on the image data compression rate stored correspondingly, and a medical image in which the data amount is compressed is transmitted to the display unit. And a transmission means.

  The factor acquisition unit acquires an image display environment of a display unit operated by an image viewer as the required time determination factor, and the storage unit calculates an image data compression rate for each image display environment of the display unit. You may make it memorize | store (equivalent to invention of Claim 2).

  The factor acquisition means acquires information indicating the number of medical images transmitted at a time as the required time determining factor, and the storage means calculates an image data compression rate for each number of medical images transmitted at a time. You may make it memorize | store (equivalent to invention of Claim 3).

  The factor acquisition means acquires imaging apparatus information indicating an apparatus that has taken a medical image as the required time determination factor, and the storage means stores an image data compression rate for each of the imaging apparatus information. Good (corresponding to the invention of claim 4).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image data compression rate is stored for each required time determining factor for determining the time required from the start of transmission of the medical image to the display means until the display is completed. The time required for browsing is acquired, and the data amount of the medical image is compressed based on the image data compression rate corresponding to the acquired required time determining factor, and then transmitted to the display means for displaying the medical image. did. Thereby, the viewer can acquire a medical image with a desired image quality in a desired time.

  The image data compression rate may be stored for each display environment of the display unit as the required time determining factor, and the image display environment of the display unit operated by the image viewer may be acquired as the required time determining factor. In this case, the viewer can acquire a medical image having a desired image quality in a desired required time according to the display environment of the image display device 4.

  The image data compression rate may be stored for each piece of imaging device information as a required time determining factor, and medical device imaging device information may be acquired as the required time determining factor. In this case, the viewer can acquire a medical image having a desired image quality in a desired required time according to the number of medical images to be transmitted and the examination content.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network configuration of an image management system according to the present embodiment.

  The image management system 1 is a so-called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). PACS is a network system that stores medical images in a database and searches and displays medical images desired by a viewer. When the viewer inputs the attribute of the medical image to be browsed, the viewer can browse the medical image having the attribute.

  The image management system 1 is configured by connecting a management device 2, an image storage device 3, and an image display device 4 to a network N that extends throughout the hospital so that data communication is possible. A modality 5 can also be connected to the network N of the image management system 1, and the modality 5 can communicate data with the management apparatus 2.

  The management apparatus 2 is a so-called database management system (DBMS), and has a medical image database in which attributes of medical images are used as data items. The management apparatus 2 executes various processes in response to commands described in a relational database operation language such as SQL. For example, when a search request including an attribute of a medical image to be viewed is received, a medical image having the attribute is searched and a list of search results is presented. In addition, when a browsing request for a specific medical image is received, the storage location of the medical image to be browsed is presented.

  The attribute of the medical image refers to various incidental information attached to the medical image. The medical image is accompanied by information on the information subject and information on the examination content.

  In addition, the management device 2 stores the data compression rate of the medical image desired by the viewer as a database. The data compression rate is the ratio of the amount of data after compression to the amount before compression in the case where the amount of data that reduces the amount of data is applied to the medical image while retaining its semantic content.

  This data compression rate database stores, as data items, information for identifying a viewer and various required time determining factors that determine the time required from the start of transmission of a medical image to display to completion of display. The data compression rate is stored for these combinations.

  The required time determining factor is composed of information indicating the image display environment of the display means, examination contents, and the number of medical images. That is, the viewer can determine the data compression rate of the medical image for each display environment of the display means, examination contents, and the number of medical images transmitted at a time.

  The display environment refers to the performance of the display means and the performance and status of the network where data reaches the display means. If the display environment is bad, it takes a long time to display the medical image after it is requested to be viewed. The viewer tends to want to improve even if the image quality of the medical image is lowered if the required time becomes longer. Also, the viewer tends to want to improve the quality of the medical image if the required time is short. That is, the quality of the display environment leads to a trade-off between image quality and required time.

  Information indicating the examination content and the number of medical images is specified by the imaging apparatus information. The imaging device information is information that uniquely identifies the type of modality 5 that captured a medical image and the modality 5 that captured the medical image. The imaging apparatus information determines the examination contents and whether the number of medical images transmitted at a time is one or at least several hundred.

  Some inspection contents require high image quality, and viewers tend to want to improve image quality even if the required time is extended. Some examination contents do not require image quality, and the viewer tends to want to improve even if the image quality of the medical image is lowered if the required time becomes longer. That is, there is a trade-off between image quality and required time depending on the inspection content.

  In addition, if the number of medical images transmitted at a time is large, there is a tendency to improve the image quality by reducing the required time. On the other hand, if the number of medical images transmitted at a time is small, there is a tendency to improve the image quality even if the required time is long. That is, there is a trade-off relationship between image quality and required time depending on the number of medical images transmitted at a time.

  The viewer trades off the image quality and the required time in consideration of the display environment and the photographing device information, and registers the data compression rate for each required time determining factor.

  The image storage device 3 is a so-called network attached storage (NAS). The image storage device 3 stores medical images. The storage destination matches the storage destination of the medical image stored in the management apparatus 2 as a database.

  The image display device 4 is a so-called viewer, and displays a medical image in accordance with a browser operation. When displaying a medical image, the image management device 2 is requested to search for a medical image, and the medical image is acquired from the image storage device 3. A plurality (4-1, 4-2, 4-3) of the image display devices 4 are installed in the image management system 1. With the construction of the image management system 1, an old image display device 4 and a new image display device 4 may be mixed, and there may be a difference in network traffic depending on the installation environment of the image display device 4.

  The modality 5 is a medical diagnostic apparatus that creates a medical image that is an image in a subject from projection data obtained by observing the inside of the subject. For example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for observing the inside of a subject with ultrasonic waves, an X-ray CT apparatus or an X-ray apparatus for observing the inside of a subject with X-rays, a magnetic field and electromagnetic waves are generated and generated from, for example, hydrogen nuclei in the subject It is an MRI apparatus that receives radio waves. There are cases where a plurality (5-1, 5-2) of modalities 5 are installed such as an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus in accordance with various diagnosis modes.

  The network N is a wide area network that connects between hospital-related facilities or hospital-related facilities including a hospital, and is an electronic communication line that can transmit electronic data. For example, for the network N, a telephone line network, ISDN, FDDI, dedicated line, mobile communication network, communication satellite line, CATV, LAN, wireless LAN, or a combination of these is employed.

  In the network N, the management device 2, the image storage device 3, the image display device 4, and the modality 5 can perform data communication with each other using a network communication technique. As the network communication technology, for example, WWW (World Wide Web), TCP / IP protocol, DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) protocol or the like is adopted. The DICOM protocol is a common standard for medical images and communications.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the management device 2, the image storage device 3, and the image display device 4 that realize such an image management system 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the management device 2, the image storage device 3, and the image display device 4 are computers in which an arithmetic control unit 100, a main storage unit 101, an external storage unit 102, and a LAN interface 103 are connected by a common line. . Peripheral devices such as the input device 104 and the monitor 105 are further connected to the image display device 4.

  The arithmetic control unit 100 is a so-called CPU (Central Processing Unit), which decodes a program and executes the decoded instruction. The main storage unit 101 is a so-called RAM (Random Access Memory), and serves as a work area in which programs and calculation results of the calculation control unit 100 are appropriately stored. The external storage unit 102 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores data such as a program read by the arithmetic control unit 100 and a database. The LAN interface 103 is an interface for connecting to the network N and inputting / outputting data. The input device 104 is a man-machine interface that is operated by a viewer such as a mouse or a keyboard to input data. The monitor 105 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, or the like.

  In the management device 2, the image storage device 3, and the image display device 4, the program stored in the external storage unit 102 is appropriately expanded in the main storage unit 101, and the arithmetic control unit 100 is expanded using the main storage unit 101 as a work area. By decoding and executing the program, the computer functions as the management device 2, the image storage device 3, and the image display device 4, and inputs and outputs data between the devices.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart relating to image display of the image display system 1 realized by executing this program.

  First, when the viewer logs in, the image display device 4 acquires the viewer identification information and the display environment of the image display device 4 (S01). The viewer identification information is information for identifying the viewer. The display environment is an environment that affects the reception speed and drawing performance of medical images, and includes the performance of the image display device 4 and the network environment. The performance of the image display device 4 is the performance of the arithmetic control unit 100 and the size of the monitor 105. The network environment is network bandwidth and network traffic. The network traffic is measured when data is transmitted / received to / from the management apparatus 2.

  When the viewer operates the input device 104 to input the attribute of the medical image desired to be browsed, a search request using the attribute of the medical image as a search key is transmitted to the management device 2 (S02). At the time of a search request to the management device 2, the network traffic is measured to acquire the network traffic.

  When receiving the search request, the management device 2 searches the database (S03). The management device 2 reads the database and searches for a medical image record having a data item that matches the search key.

  When the search of the database is completed, the management device 2 lists the search results and transmits them to the image display device 4 (S04). The management device 2 generates data in which medical image records having data items that match the search key are collected in a list, and transmits this data to the image display device 4.

  The image display device 4 displays the list transmitted from the management device 2 on the monitor 105 (S05). While browsing the list displayed on the monitor 105, the viewer selects a medical image to be browsed from the list using the input device 104.

  When a medical image is selected, the image display device 4 transmits a browsing request for the selected medical image to the management device 2 (S06). In conjunction with this browsing request, the image display device 4 transmits the acquired viewer identification information and display environment to the management device 2 (S07).

  The management apparatus 2 that has received the browsing request searches the database for the storage location of the medical image that is the target of the browsing request (S08). In addition, the management device 2 that has received the display environment stores a data compression rate of the medical image using a combination of the logged-in viewer, the display environment, and the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be viewed as a search key. Is searched (S09).

  When the management device 2 acquires the storage destination of the medical image from the database, the management device 2 transmits the storage destination to the image display device 4. When the management device 2 detects the data compression rate from the database, the management device 2 transmits the data compression rate to the image display device 4. (S10).

  Upon receiving the storage destination and the data compression rate, the image display device 4 transmits a medical image transmission request and a data compression rate to the image storage device 3 corresponding to the storage destination (S11).

  Receiving the medical image transmission request and the data compression rate, the image storage device 3 first reads out the medical image of the storage destination (S12). The image storage device 3 that has read the medical image selects a compression format that realizes a data compression rate close to the received data compression rate, and compresses the read medical image data (S13).

  The image storage device 3 that has compressed the medical image data in the storage destination transmits the compressed medical image to the image display device 4 (S14). The image display device 4 expands a medical image compressed at a data compression rate registered according to the combination of the logged-in viewer, the display environment, and the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be browsed, and It is displayed on 105 (S15).

  As described above, the image management system 1 selects the data compression rate for each logged-in viewer, and compresses the medical image so as to approximate the selected data compression rate. That is, the viewer can acquire and display a medical image at the desired image quality and image reception speed by registering the data compression rate in the database in consideration of the image quality and image reception speed of the medical image. It becomes possible.

  In the image management system 1, a data compression rate is selected corresponding to the display environment of the image display device 4, and the medical image is compressed so as to approximate the selected data compression rate. That is, by registering the data compression rate in the database in consideration of the display environment, it is possible to acquire and display a medical image with optimized image quality and image reception speed.

  Further, in this image management system 1, a data compression rate is selected corresponding to the examination type of the medical image, and the medical image is compressed so as to approximate the selected data compression rate. The examination type of a medical image is information that uniquely identifies the type of modality 5 and the device that have taken the medical image. Depending on the type of modality 5, the number of medical images transmitted at a time and the required image quality differ. For example, in the case of a medical image captured by an X-ray CT apparatus, the number of medical images transmitted at a time is large, but in the case of X-ray imaging, the number of medical images transmitted at a time is often singular. . It is possible to acquire and display a medical image with optimized image quality and image reception speed required according to the number of medical images transmitted at a time.

  The search request and browsing request transmitted by the image display device 4 are described in a database operation language described in DICOM Q / R (Query and Retrieve), SQL, or the like.

  A medical image managed by the image management system 1 is generated from the modality 5. The modality 5 captures the inside of a subject such as a patient and creates a medical image in the subject. When creating a medical image, the modality 5 attaches additional information indicating the attribute of the medical image to the medical image.

  The medical image with the accompanying information is transmitted from the modality 5 to the management apparatus 2. The management device 2 registers the medical image in the database with the accompanying information as a data item. After registering the medical image in the database, the management device 2 transmits the medical image to the image storage device 3. The image storage device 3 stores the transmitted medical image.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the management apparatus 2 installed in such an image management system 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the image display of the management apparatus 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the management apparatus 2 has an image database 21 and a compression rate database 22. The image database 21 and the compression rate database 22 include an external storage unit 102.

  The image database 21 is composed of medical image records having various incidental information indicating various attributes of the medical image as data items. In the record, various accompanying information and medical image storage destinations are associated with each other. The data items include the name, age, sex, and address of the patient who is the main subject of the medical image, the examination ID, series ID, and image ID of the medical image, the type of the modality 5 that created the medical image, the AE title, and the station Imaging device information such as information that uniquely identifies the modality 5 such as a name is stored. The medical image storage destination is a path or URL on the network where the medical image is stored.

  Upon receiving the medical image search request, the image database 21 picks up a record having the content of the data item that matches the search key included in the search request. When a record is picked up, a list in which the records are collected is created and transmitted to the image display device 4. In the list, supplementary information of medical images is recorded for each corresponding record.

  Further, when receiving a request for browsing a specific medical image, the image database 21 receives identification information such as an image ID indicating the specific medical image included in the browsing request from a record having the content of the data item that matches the search key. Extract the storage location. When the storage destination of the medical image requested to be browsed is extracted, the storage destination is transmitted to the image display device 4.

  The compression rate database 22 stores a combination of various display environments and various types of photographing device information for each viewer identification information, and stores a data compression rate in association with each combination. The viewer identification information is, for example, a login ID. The display environment is a combination of the CPU performance, monitor performance, network bandwidth, and network traffic of the image display device 4. The imaging apparatus information is information for inferring the number of medical images from the examination contents of the patient. The type of modality 5 such as an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus, or an identification unique to the modality 5 such as an AE title and a station name Information.

  The data compression rate is registered based on a transmission condition desired by the viewer in addition to a numerical value determined by default. The transmission condition desired by the viewer is information indicating the image quality and transmission speed of the medical image to be viewed. For example, it is a numerical value indicating the image quality level of a medical image. This transmission condition is transmitted from the image display device 4. For example, the compression rate database 22 determines a data compression rate corresponding to the numerical value of the image quality level based on calculation or a correspondence table, and registers the determined data compression rate.

  The compression rate database 22 receives the viewer identification information, the display environment, and the imaging device information, searches for the data compression rate associated with the received combination of these information, and transmits it to the image display device 4. The browser identification information and the display environment of the image display device 4 operated by the viewer are included in the browsing request. The imaging device information of the medical image for which browsing is requested is received from the image database 21. This data compression rate is transmitted together with the storage destination transmitted by the image database 21.

  The operation of the management device 2 is shown in FIG. First, when receiving a search request from the image display device 4 (S21, Yes), the image database 21 searches for a medical image that matches the attribute of the medical image included in the search request (S22). The image database 21 uses the attribute of the medical image included in the search request as a search key, and compares the search key with the contents of the data items of each record. As a result of the comparison, if the search key and the content of the data item match, a record having the data item content that matches the search key is extracted.

  When searching for medical images, the image database 21 creates a list summarizing the search results and transmits the list to the image display device 4 (S23). In the image display device 4, a medical image that the viewer wants to browse is selected based on this list. When a medical image is selected, the image display device 4 transmits a browsing request for the medical image to the management device 2. At this time, the image display device 4 transmits the browser identification information and the display environment to the management device 2 together with the browsing request.

  When the management device 2 receives the browsing request, the viewer identification information, and the display environment (S24, Yes), the image database 21 extracts the storage destination from the medical image record corresponding to the browsing request (S25). Further, the image database 21 extracts imaging device information from a medical image record corresponding to the browsing request (S26).

  When the storage destination is extracted, the compression rate database 22 searches for the data compression rate using the combination of the browser identification information received together with the browsing request, the display environment, and the extracted photographing device information as a search key (S27). When the data compression rate corresponding to the combination of the viewer identification information, the display environment, and the photographing device information is searched (S28, Yes), the corresponding data compression rate is extracted (S29). On the other hand, if the data compression rate corresponding to the combination of the viewer identification information, the display environment, and the photographing device information is not searched (S28, No), the data compression rate stored in advance by default is read (S30).

  The management device 2 transmits the data compression rate stored in the storage location and the compression rate database 22 or the read default data compression rate to the image display device 4 (S31).

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the image storage device 3 installed in such an image management system 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in image display of the image storage device 3.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image storage device 3 includes an image storage unit 31, a compression format selection unit 32, and a compression unit 33. The image storage device 3 includes an external storage unit 102, and the compression format selection unit 32 and the compression unit 33 include an arithmetic control unit 100.

  The image storage unit 31 stores medical images. The storage location of the medical image matches the storage location stored in the image database 21. This medical image is stored in an uncompressed state such as a bitmap format or in a format capable of lossless compression such as a JPEG2000 format.

  The compression format selection unit 32 selects the data amount compression format or compression level of the medical image based on the data compression rate transmitted from the image display device 4. Data compression is a process of reducing the data size while retaining the meaning of a medical image according to a certain procedure. Data compression formats include the JPEG 2000 method and JPEG method capable of creating a plurality of stages of compressed data, and a compression method having a fixed data compression rate. The compression format selection unit 32 holds a numerical value of the data compression rate realized by each compression format, and selects a compression method that realizes a data compression rate that is closest to the data compression rate acquired from the image display device 4. .

  The compression unit 33 compresses medical image data. The compression unit 33 includes a first compression unit 33a, a second compression unit 33b, a third compression unit 33c, a fourth compression unit 33d, etc. that realize various compression formats. The compression unit 33 compresses the medical image using the compression format selected by the compression format selection unit 32. The medical image compressed by the compression unit 33 is transmitted to the image display device 4.

  The operation of such an image storage device 3 is shown in FIG. First, the image storage device 3 receives the storage location and data compression rate of the medical image from the image display device 4 (S41). When receiving the storage destination, the image storage unit 31 reads a medical image stored in the storage destination (S42).

  When the medical image is read, the compression format selection unit 32 selects a compression format that realizes a data compression rate that is closest to the received data compression rate and the degree of compression (S43). When the compression format and the compression level are selected, the compression unit 33 performs data compression on the read medical image with the selected compression format and compression level (S44).

  When the data compression is completed, the compressed medical image is transmitted to the image display device 4 (S45).

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the image display device 4 installed in such an image management system 1. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing in image display of the image display device 4.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the image display device 4 includes a DB client 41, a display unit 42, a viewer identification information acquisition unit 43, a computer performance acquisition unit 44, a network traffic acquisition unit 45, and a transmission condition acquisition unit 46.

  The DB client 41, the computer performance acquisition unit 44, and the network traffic acquisition unit 45 are configured to include an arithmetic control unit 100. The display unit 42 includes a monitor 105. The browser identification information acquisition unit 43 and the transmission condition acquisition unit 46 are configured to include the input device 104.

  The DB client 41 transmits a search request and a browsing request to the management device 2 and transmits a transmission request to the image storage device 3. The DB client 41 causes the display unit 42 to display a form for inputting attributes of a medical image desired to be browsed and a list transmitted from the management apparatus 2. The display unit 42 expands and displays the medical image transmitted from the image display device 4.

  The browser identification information acquisition unit 43 acquires the browser identification information input by the viewer when logging in. The computer performance acquisition unit 44 acquires the CPU performance, monitor size, and network bandwidth of the image display device 4 when the image display device 4 is activated. The network traffic acquisition unit 45 acquires network traffic from the throughput required for the probability of the network when browsing is requested.

  The transmission condition acquisition unit 46 acquires transmission conditions desired by the viewer for each display environment of the image display device 4 and for each photographing device information. The transmission condition acquisition unit 46 displays a form for selecting a transmission condition on the display unit 42 and acquires the selected transmission condition.

  The operation of the image display device 4 is shown in FIG. First, in the image display device 4, the viewer logs in by inputting the viewer identification information and the password (S51). When the viewer logs in, the browser identification information acquisition unit 43 acquires the input browser identification information (S52), and the computer performance acquisition unit 44 determines the CPU performance, monitor size, and network bandwidth of the image display device 4. Obtain (S53).

  Next, the DB client 41 displays a form for inputting the attributes of the medical image on the display unit 42 (S54). When the viewer inputs the attribute of the medical image on the form, the DB client 41 creates a search request including the attribute of the input medical image (S55).

  The DB client 41 transmits a search request to the management device 2 (S56). When transmitting a search request to the management apparatus 2, the network traffic acquisition unit 45 measures the throughput and acquires network traffic with the establishment of the network (S57). In the management apparatus 2 to which the search request has been transmitted, the image database 21 searches for a medical image that matches the attribute of the medical image, and transmits a list of searched medical images to the image display apparatus 4.

  When receiving a list of search results from the management apparatus 2 (S58), the DB client 41 displays the received list on the display unit 42 (S59).

  When a medical image that the viewer wants to browse is selected from the list displayed on the display unit 42 (S60), the DB client 41 creates a browsing request including information for specifying the selected medical image (S61). The DB client 41 transmits a browsing request to the management apparatus 2, and accompanying the display environment including the network traffic acquired by the network traffic acquisition unit 45, the CPU performance acquired by the computer performance acquisition unit 44, the monitor size, and the network bandwidth, The browser information acquired by the browser identification information acquisition unit 43 is transmitted to the management device 2 (S62).

  When the storage destination and the data compression rate are received from the management apparatus 2 (S63), the DB client 41 transmits a transmission request including information indicating the storage destination of the medical image to the image storage apparatus 3 indicated by the storage destination, and data The compression rate is transmitted (S64). In the image storage device 3, the medical image at the storage destination is data-compressed according to the data compression rate and transmitted to the image display device 4.

  When receiving a medical image whose data is compressed from the image storage device 3 (S65), the DB client 41 expands the received medical image and displays it on the display unit 42 (S66).

  The creation of the compression rate database 22 in the image management system 1 will be described.

  The compression rate database 22 creates a record based on the viewer identification information and the display environment sent together with the browsing request from the image display device 4 and the photographing device information acquired in the processing for the browsing request.

  When a new combination of the viewer identification information, the display environment, and the photographing device information is transmitted, the compression rate database 22 registers the new combination in the database, and there is no transmission condition designation from the image display device 4. Associate the default data compression rate.

  Further, in the image display device 4, when a browsing request is made, the transmission condition acquisition unit 46 can acquire a desired transmission condition in the current display environment and the imaging device information of the medical image to be browsed. . The display unit 42 displays a button for designating a transmission condition, and a popup for designating the transmission condition is displayed when the button is pressed. In the pop-up, for example, a gauge designating the image quality level is displayed, and a transmission condition reflected by the image quality level is input by operating the gauge.

  The transmission condition acquisition unit 46 acquires the input transmission condition. The transmission condition acquisition unit 46 that acquired the transmission condition transmits the acquired transmission condition along with the transmission of the viewer identification information and the display environment to the management device 2.

  In the compression rate database 22 of the management device 2, when registering a new combination of the viewer identification information, the display environment, and the photographing device information, the data compression rate corresponding to the transmitted transmission condition is associated.

  The operation of the data compression rate to the compression rate database 22 of the management device 2 is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the data compression rate registration operation of the compression rate database 22.

  When the browser identification information and the display environment are transmitted together with the browsing request from the image display device 4 (Yes in S71), the compression rate database 22 first stores the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be browsed. 21 (S72).

  Next, the compression rate database 22 collates whether the combination of the transmitted browser identification information, the display environment, and the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be browsed is registered in the database (S73).

  If the combination is registered in the database (S73, Yes), the process for the browsing request after S29 in FIG. 5 is executed (S74). If the combination is not registered in the database (S73, No), it is determined whether a transmission condition is transmitted together with the browsing request (S75).

  If the transmission condition is not transmitted (S75, No), the compression rate database 22 uses a new combination of the transmitted browser identification information, the display environment, and the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be browsed, and the default. A new database is registered in association with the data compression rate (S76).

  If the transmission condition is transmitted (S75, Yes), the compression rate database 22 generates a data compression rate from the transmitted transmission condition (S77). When the data compression rate is generated from the transmission conditions, the compression rate database 22 generates a new combination of the transmitted browser identification information, the display environment, and the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be browsed, and the generated data compression rate. Are newly registered in the database (S78).

  Note that even if the combination of the transmitted browser identification information, the display environment, and the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be browsed already exists, it exists if the transmission condition is transmitted together with the browse request. The data compression rate corresponding to the transmitted transmission condition is updated and registered for the combination of the transmitted browser identification information, the display environment, and the imaging device information of the medical image requested to be browsed.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of the compression rate database 22.

  The compression rate database 22 includes data items Da for browsing user identification information, data items Db for CPU performance, data items Dc for monitor size, data items Dc for network bandwidth, data items De for network traffic, and imaging device information for medical images. Data items Df and data compression rate data items Dg are stored in association with each other. That is, the viewer can register the data compression rate for each display environment and further according to the number of medical images transmitted at a time and the necessity of image quality based on examination contents.

  For example, the viewer “Yamada Taro” uses the image display device 4 having the performance of “3.2 GHz”, the monitor size of “17 inches”, and the network bandwidth of “100 Mbps”. In the past, when the network traffic in the network is “15 Mbps”, a request for viewing a medical image having “X-ray CT apparatus” as apparatus operation information has been made in the past, and this combination is registered in the compression rate database 22. It is assumed that “30%” is associated as the data compression rate.

  In this case, the viewer “Yamada Taro” uses the image display device 4 having a CPU performance of “3.2 GHz”, a monitor size of “17 inches”, and a network bandwidth of “100 Mbps”. If a medical image browsing request having “X-ray CT apparatus” as apparatus operation information is requested and the network traffic at that time is “15 Mbps”, the viewer identification information “Yamada Taro”, CPU, Information of performance “3.2 GHz”, monitor size “17 inches”, network bandwidth “100 Mbps”, and network traffic “15 Mbps” is transmitted to the management apparatus 2.

  The management apparatus 2 acquires apparatus operation information “X-ray CT apparatus” from the image database 21. Further, the combination of the viewer identification information “Yamada Taro”, CPU performance “3.2 GHz”, monitor size “17 inches”, network bandwidth “100 Mbps”, network traffic “15 Mbps”, and device operation information “X-ray CT apparatus” The compression rate database 22 is searched, and the data compression rate “30%” is acquired. This data compression rate “30%” is transmitted to the image storage device 3 via the image display device 4, and the medical image is compressed depending on the compression format and degree of compression that achieves the data compression rate closest to the data compression rate “30%”. The data is compressed and transmitted to the image display device 4.

  Further, for example, “Yamada Taro” who is a viewer uses the image display device 4 having a CPU performance of “3.2 GHz”, a monitor size of “17 inches”, and a network bandwidth of “100 Mbps”. When the network traffic at that time is “25 Mbps”, since there has been a request for viewing a medical image having “X-ray” as device operation information in the past, this combination is registered in the compression rate database 22. It is assumed that “80%” is associated as the data compression rate.

  In this case, the viewer “Yamada Taro” uses the image display device 4 having a CPU performance of “3.2 GHz”, a monitor size of “17 inches”, and a network bandwidth of “100 Mbps”. If a medical image having “X-ray” as device operation information is requested to be browsed and the network traffic at that time is “25 Mbps”, the viewer identification information “Yamada Taro”, CPU performance “3” .2 GHz ”, monitor size“ 17 inches ”, network bandwidth“ 100 Mbps ”, and network traffic“ 25 Mbps ”are transmitted to the management apparatus 2.

  The management apparatus 2 acquires apparatus operation information “X-ray” from the image database 21. Furthermore, a compression rate database for the combination of the viewer identification information “Yamada Taro”, CPU performance “3.2 GHz”, monitor size “17 inches”, network bandwidth “100 Mbps”, network traffic “25 Mbps”, and device operation information “X-ray” 22 searches are performed, and a data compression rate of “80%” is acquired. This data compression rate “80%” is transmitted to the image storage device 3 via the image display device 4, and the medical image is compressed depending on the compression format and degree of compression that achieves the data compression rate closest to the data compression rate “80%”. The data is compressed and transmitted to the image display device 4.

  In addition, the viewer “Yamada Taro” uses the image display device 4 having the performance of “1.6 GHz”, the monitor size “14 inches”, and the network bandwidth “10 Mbps”. Suppose that no browsing request for a medical image having “X-ray CT apparatus” as apparatus operation information has been made in the past when the network traffic at “5 Mbps” in FIG. That is, this combination is not registered in the compression rate database 22.

  In this case, the viewer “Yamada Taro” uses the image display device 4 having a CPU performance of “1.6 GHz”, a monitor size of “14 inches”, and a network bandwidth of “10 Mbps”. When a medical image having “X-ray CT apparatus” as apparatus operation information is requested to be viewed at “image quality level 1” as a transmission condition and the network traffic at that time is “5 Mbps”, Information of the browsing user identification information “Yamada Taro”, CPU performance “1.6 GHz”, monitor size “14 inches”, network bandwidth “10 Mbps”, and network traffic “5 Mbps” is transmitted to the management apparatus 2.

  The management apparatus 2 acquires apparatus operation information “X-ray CT apparatus” from the image database 21. Further, a combination of the viewer identification information “Yamada Taro”, CPU performance “1.6 GHz”, monitor size “14 inches”, network bandwidth “10 Mbps”, network traffic “5 Mbps”, and apparatus operation information “X-ray CT apparatus” The compression rate database 22 is searched. Since the corresponding combination is not searched by this search, the compression rate database 22 includes the viewer identification information “Yamada Taro”, the CPU performance “1.6 GHz”, the monitor size “14 inches”, the network bandwidth “10 Mbps”, and the network traffic. A new combination of “5 Mbps” is registered in the database. Further, since the transmission condition “image quality level 1” is transmitted, the compression rate database 22 associates the data compression rate “10%” corresponding to “image quality level 1” with the newly registered combination.

  As described above, the image management system 1 stores the data compression rate for each required time determining factor, acquires the required time determining factor when viewing the medical image, and performs data compression corresponding to the acquired required time determining factor. Based on the rate, the data amount of the medical image is compressed and transmitted to the image display device 4. Thereby, the viewer can acquire a medical image with a desired image quality at a desired required speed.

  The image data compression rate is stored for each display environment of the image display device 4 as a required time determining factor, and the image display environment of the image display device 4 operated by the image viewer is acquired as the required time determining factor. Good. Thereby, the viewer can acquire a medical image having a desired image quality in a desired required time according to the display environment of the image display device 4.

  The image data compression rate may be acquired for each number of medical images transmitted at a time as a required time determining factor. Thereby, the viewer can acquire a medical image having a desired image quality in a desired required time according to the number of medical images to be transmitted.

  It is also possible to store the image data compression rate for each piece of imaging device information as a required time determining factor, and to acquire medical device imaging device information as a required time determining factor. Thus, the viewer can acquire a medical image having a desired image quality in a desired required time according to the number of medical images to be transmitted and the examination content.

  In this embodiment, the management device 2 and the image storage device 3 are described as separate devices. However, a device having both functions of the management device 2 and the image storage device 3 is connected to the network N. Also good. In this case, it is not necessary to transmit the data compression rate via the image display device 4, and it is also possible to retrieve the data compression rate by obtaining the viewer identification information and the display environment at the time of transmission request.

  In the image display device 4, information on how the medical image is used such as tomographic transformation (MPR: multi-planar reconstruction) or composition of medical images photographed by a heterogeneous diagnostic device (Fusion :) is collected. Can be a data item associated with a data compression rate.

  The medical image transmitted to the image display device 4 is compressed according to the data compression rate. For example, the data compression rate can be stored as “100%” or “no compression”. According to the data compression rate, the medical image is not compressed. That is, it is sufficient if a medical image having an image size according to the data compression rate can be transmitted, and does not necessarily involve data compression.

  As the compression format selected according to the data compression rate, any of the known compression formats such as the Tiff format and the Gif format can be adopted in addition to the JPEG format and JPEG2000 format exemplified in the present embodiment. A program in a selected compression format may be installed in the image storage device 3 and registered so that it can be used when data of medical images is compressed.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the network of the image management system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a management apparatus, an image storage apparatus, and an image display apparatus. It is a flowchart which concerns on the image display of an image display system. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function of a management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the image display of a management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function of an image storage apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the image display of an image storage apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function of an image display apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the image display of an image display apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the data compression rate registration of a compression rate database. It is a schematic diagram which shows the specific example of a compression rate database.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image management system 2 Management apparatus 21 Image database 22 Compression rate database 3 Image storage apparatus 31 Image storage part 32 Compression format selection part 33 Compression part 4 Image display apparatus 41 DB client 42 Display part 43 Viewer identification information acquisition part 44 Computer performance Acquisition unit 45 Network traffic acquisition unit 46 Condition acquisition unit 5 Modality 100 Calculation control unit 101 Main storage unit 102 External storage unit 103 LAN interface 104 Input device 105 Monitor N network

Claims (17)

Storage means for storing medical images;
Display means for displaying the medical image;
Factor acquisition means for acquiring a required time determining factor for determining a time required from the start of transmission of a medical image to the display means until display is completed;
Storage means for storing an image data compression rate for each required time determining factor;
Compression means for compressing the amount of medical image data stored in the storage means based on the image data compression rate stored in correspondence with the required time determining factor acquired by the factor acquisition means;
Transmitting means for transmitting a medical image in which the amount of data is compressed to the display means;
Providing
An image management system characterized by The factor acquisition means includes
As the required time determining factor, obtain the image display environment of the display means operated by the image viewer,
The storage means
Storing an image data compression rate for each image display environment of the display means;
The image management system according to claim 1. The factor acquisition means includes
As the required time determining factor, obtain information indicating the number of medical images transmitted at a time,
The storage means
Storing the image data compression rate for each number of medical images transmitted at one time;
The image management system according to claim 1. The factor acquisition means includes
As the required time determining factor, obtain imaging device information indicating a device that has taken a medical image,
The storage means
Storing an image data compression rate for each of the photographing device information;
The image management system according to claim 1. Environment acquisition means for acquiring an image display environment of the display means;
Condition acquisition means for acquiring a transmission condition indicating the image quality and image transmission speed of a medical image displayed in the image display environment acquired by the environment acquisition means;
Further comprising
The storage means
Storing the image data compression rate based on the transmission condition acquired by the condition acquisition unit in association with the image display environment acquired by the environment acquisition unit;
The image management system according to claim 2. Imaging information acquisition means for acquiring imaging apparatus information of a medical image to be transmitted to the display means;
Condition acquisition means for acquiring a transmission condition indicating the image quality and image transmission speed of a medical image displayed by the imaging apparatus information acquired by the imaging information acquisition means;
Further comprising
The storage means
Storing the image data compression rate based on the transmission condition acquired by the condition acquisition unit in association with the imaging device information acquired by the imaging information acquisition unit;
The image management system according to claim 4. The environment acquisition means includes
Obtaining at least one or more of CPU performance, monitor size, network bandwidth, or network traffic of the display means as the image display environment;
The image management system according to claim 2, wherein the image management system is an image management system. The photographing information acquisition means includes
Obtaining, as the imaging device information, either type information of a device that has taken a medical image or unique identification information of a device that has taken a medical image;
7. The image management system according to claim 4 or 6, wherein: The compression means includes
Selecting a compression format that realizes a data compression rate that approximates the image data compression rate from various compression formats, and compressing the data amount of the medical image by the selected compression format;
The image management system according to claim 1. An image management method for storing medical images on a network and displaying the stored medical images on a display means,
Obtaining a required time determining factor for determining a time required from the start of transmission of a medical image to the display means until the display is completed;
Store the image data compression rate for each required time determining factor,
Based on the image data compression rate stored corresponding to the required time determining factor, compress the amount of medical image data stored,
Transmitting a medical image in which the amount of data is compressed to the display means;
An image management method characterized by the above. As the required time determining factor, obtain the image display environment of the display means operated by the image viewer,
Storing an image data compression rate for each image display environment of the display means;
The image management method according to claim 10. As the required time determining factor, obtain information indicating the number of medical images transmitted at a time,
Storing the image data compression rate for each number of medical images transmitted at one time;
The image management method according to claim 10. As the required time determining factor, obtain imaging device information indicating a device that has taken a medical image,
Storing an image data compression rate for each of the photographing device information;
The image management method according to claim 10. A medical image management system for managing medical images, comprising storage means for storing medical images and display means for acquiring and displaying stored medical images,
Factor acquisition means for acquiring a required time determining factor for determining a time required from the start of transmission of the medical image to the display means until the display is completed;
Storage means for storing an image data compression rate for each required time determining factor;
Compression means for compressing the data amount of the medical image stored in the storage means based on the image data compression rate stored corresponding to the required time determining factor acquired by the factor acquisition means;
Transmitting means for transmitting a medical image in which the amount of data is compressed to the display means;
To function as a
An image management program characterized by The factor acquisition means includes
As the required time determining factor, obtain the image display environment of the display means operated by the image viewer,
The storage means
Storing an image data compression rate for each image display environment of the display means;
The image management program according to claim 14. The factor acquisition means includes
As the required time determining factor, obtain information indicating the number of medical images transmitted at a time,
The storage means
Storing the image data compression rate for each number of medical images transmitted at one time;
The image management program according to claim 14. The factor acquisition means includes
As the required time determining factor, obtain imaging device information indicating a device that has taken a medical image,
The storage means
Storing an image data compression rate for each of the photographing device information;
The image management program according to claim 14.

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