Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The present application aims at making an operation for resuming an examination easy in the case where the examination with the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is interrupted. A control unit (20) performs: examination history record acquisition processing of acquiring one or more examination history record information for an examination performed within a trace time that traces back from a current time point from a database (54); and inquiry processing of inquiring a user whether to resume the examination for each of the one examination history record information or the plurality of examination history record information. The inquiry processing includes processing of displaying information that guides an operation of the user. When an operation for resuming the examination is performed by the user in correspondence with the inquiry processing, the control unit (20) generates examination history record information that integrates the examination performed before the resumption and the examination resumed as a series of examinations, and registers to the database (54).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to ultrasound diagnostic devices, and more particularly to technology for managing information about examinations performed on a patient. Background Technology

[0002] An ultrasound diagnostic system consisting of a management server and an ultrasound diagnostic device was researched and developed. The management server stores a work list that identifies the examinee's identification ID and the examination ID to be performed on the examinee. The ultrasound diagnostic device retrieves the examinee's ID and the corresponding examination ID from the work list on the management server, and performs the examination determined by the examination ID on the examinee identified by the examinee's ID.

[0003] Upon completion of the examination for a patient, the ultrasound diagnostic device will send a termination notification to the management server indicating that the examination for that patient ID is finished. Upon receiving the termination notification, the management server will remove the patient ID and the examination ID from the work list.

[0004] In Patent Document 1 below, as an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus related to the present invention, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is described that, during an examination of a patient, temporarily saves (stores) examination data to an examination data temporary storage unit and performs examinations on other patients. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus can use the temporarily saved examination data to restart the previous examination of the patient.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: JP Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-167048

[0008] In ultrasound diagnostic examinations, sometimes an examination of one patient is interrupted to allow examinations of other patients to proceed. Later, the examination of the previous patient needs to be restarted for additional examinations. In existing ultrasound systems, if an examination is interrupted or terminated, and the ultrasound diagnostic device sends a termination notification to the management server, the examination ID for that examination is deleted from the server. Therefore, when an examination restarts, the ultrasound diagnostic device cannot reference the management server to obtain and display the patient ID and examination ID, sometimes making it difficult to restart the same examination for that patient. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to facilitate the resumption of examinations when the ultrasound diagnostic device is interrupted.

[0010] The invention is characterized by having a control unit that performs: a history record acquisition process, which retrieves from a database one or more history record information for checks performed within a traceback period from the current time point; and an inquiry process, which, for each of the one or more history record information, inquires the user whether to restart the check.

[0011] Ideally, when a user performs an operation to restart the check in response to the query, the control unit generates a check history information that integrates the checks performed before the restart and the restarted checks as a series of checks, and registers it in the database.

[0012] Ideally, when the user performs an operation to restart the check, the control unit executes a preset for the restarted check.

[0013] Ideally, the query process includes a process of displaying information to guide the user's actions.

[0014] Invention Effects

[0015] According to the present invention, in the event that the examination of the ultrasound diagnostic device is interrupted, it is possible to easily perform an operation to restart the examination. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an ultrasound diagnostic system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the basic process by which an ultrasound diagnostic device obtains order information from a management server and performs actions in accordance with that order information.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a diagram representing the processing performed when there is an inspection corresponding to the input subject ID within a certain time frame from the current point in time back to a certain traceable time.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating an example of checking historical information.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0021] 10: Management Server; 12: Communication Line; 14: Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device; 16: Ultrasonic Probe; 18: Ultrasonic Diagnostic Unit; 20: Control Unit; 20-1: Examination History Record Acquisition Unit; 20-2: Inquiry Display Unit; 22: Storage Unit; 24: Operation Unit; 26: Display Unit; 28: Communication Unit; 40: Work List; 42: Reservation Information Group for Incomplete Examinations; 44: Reservation Information (Group) Acquired by the Control Unit from the Server; 46: Subject Information Image; 48: List Bar; 50: Input Form; 52: Start Button; 54: Database; 56: Examination History Record Information; 60: Inquiry Window; 62: Examination Restart Button; 64: New Examination Start Button; 66: Cancel Button; 68: Inquiry Information. Detailed Implementation

[0022] exist Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the structure of an ultrasound diagnostic system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasound diagnostic system 100 includes a management server 10, a communication line 12, and an ultrasound diagnostic device 14. The ultrasound diagnostic device 14 is communicatively connected to the management server 10 via the communication line 12. The management server 10 may be, for example, a general-purpose computer such as a workstation, or a personal computer. The communication line 12 may be a LAN (Local Area Network) constructed within a building in a hospital or research institute. The communication line 12 may also be connected to an external communication line such as the Internet.

[0023] The ultrasound diagnostic device 14 includes an ultrasound probe 16, an ultrasound diagnostic unit 18, a control unit 20, a storage unit 22, an operation unit 24, a display unit 26, and a communication unit 28. The operation unit 24 may include buttons, a joystick, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. The operation unit 24 may be a touch panel located on the display unit 26. The control unit 20 may be a processor that executes programs stored in the storage unit 22 or programs pre-stored in itself. The control unit 20 can control the various components of the ultrasound diagnostic device 14 in response to user operations on the operation unit 24.

[0024] The ultrasound diagnostic unit 18 causes the ultrasound probe 16 to transmit ultrasound waves. The ultrasound probe 16 transmits ultrasound waves to the biological tissue of the subject. The ultrasound probe 16 receives the ultrasound waves reflected by the biological tissue, converts them into a received signal as an electrical signal, and outputs it to the ultrasound diagnostic unit 18. The ultrasound diagnostic unit 18 generates image data based on the received signal and outputs it to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 outputs an image signal based on the image data to the display unit 26. The display unit 26 may be a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 26 displays an image based on the image data.

[0025] The communication unit 28 is communicatively connected to the management server 10 via the communication line 12. The control unit 20 is communicatively connected to the management server 10 via the communication unit 28 and the communication line 12, and obtains information from or sends information to the management server 10. Alternatively, the computer's memory connected to the communication line 12 may be used together with or in place of the storage unit 22. Furthermore, the computer's memory connected to an external communication line connected to the communication line 12 may be used together with or in place of the storage unit 22.

[0026] refer to Figure 2 This describes the basic process by which the ultrasound diagnostic device 14 obtains reservation information indicating the examination content from the management server 10 and performs actions accordingly. Figure 2 The upper-level conceptual diagram shows a work list 40 that enumerates the reservation information 38 stored on the management server 10. The reservation information 38 is information that establishes a correspondence between the examinee ID, inspection ID, inspection location, inspection date and time, and inspection implementation status. The examinee ID identifies the examinee. The inspection ID identifies the inspection performed on the examinee. The inspection location indicates the part being inspected. The inspection date and time indicates the scheduled time and location of the inspection for the examinee. The inspection implementation status indicates whether the inspection has been completed.

[0027] Control unit 20 retrieves reservation information 38 (S1) from management server 10 for checks that were not completed (checks not performed) at the current time. Figure 2 The middle layer displays reservation information group 42 for examinations not completed at the current time. Control unit 20 reads the examinee ID input to operation unit 24. Based on reservation information 38, control unit 20 retrieves the examination ID corresponding to the examinee ID read from operation unit 24, and displays on display unit 26 the content of the examination determined by that examination ID, and an instruction indicating that the examination should be performed (S2, S5). The user performs an operation on operation unit 24 corresponding to the examination displayed on display unit 26, and control unit 20 activates ultrasound diagnostic unit 18 accordingly. For each examination, control unit 20 sends a completion notification to management server 10 after the examination is completed (S3, S6). Control unit 20 stores the examination history information for each examination in storage unit 22, and registers the examination history information in database 54 in storage unit 22 (S4, S7).

[0028] exist Figure 2The middle layer shows an example of processing when the specific input "8888" is used as the subject ID (S2-S7). In step S2, the content of the inspection determined by the inspection ID "FUJI0022" corresponding to the subject ID "8888" and an instruction indicating that the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0022" should be performed are displayed on the display unit 26. In step S3, the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0022" is started. After the inspection is completed, an end notification is sent to the management server 10. In step S4, the inspection history information for the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0022" is stored in the storage unit 22, and the inspection history information is registered in the database 54 in the storage unit 22.

[0029] Historical records can be used to establish corresponding information for completed inspections, such as the examinee's ID, inspection ID, inspection site, inspection date and time, and examinee's name.

[0030] In step S5, the content of the inspection determined by the inspection ID "FUJI0033" corresponding to the examinee ID "8888" and an instruction indicating that the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0033" should be performed are displayed on the display unit 26. In step S6, the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0033" is started. After the inspection is completed, a completion notification is sent to the management server 10. In step S7, the inspection history information for the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0033" is stored in the storage unit 22, and the inspection history information is registered in the database 54 in the storage unit 22 (S7).

[0031] In step S3, the inspection implementation status of the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0022" changes from "not implemented" to "completed". In step S6, the inspection implementation status of the inspection determined by inspection ID "FUJI0033" changes from "not implemented" to "completed".

[0032] exist Figure 2 The lower layer shows the reservation information (group) 44 obtained by the control unit 20 from the management server 10 after step S7 is completed. Reservation information 38 associated with an inspection ID whose inspection implementation status was once "completed" is deleted from the work list 40 of the management server 10 in this embodiment, or the reservation information 38 is set to be unavailable. Therefore, in the case of restarting an inspection previously performed on the same subject and performing an additional inspection, it is difficult to store the inspection history information in the storage unit 22 as the same inspection performed in the past.

[0033] For example, in Figure 2In the lower-level example, the reservation information 38 related to the examinee ID "8888" was not obtained. This is because the inspection implementation status became "completed" for the reservation information 38 related to the examinee ID "8888". Therefore, following the same processing as before, if, for example, an additional inspection is performed in the afternoon for the examinee identified by examinee ID "8888", the following problem arises: It is difficult to store the inspection history information in the storage unit 22 as the same inspection performed in the morning for the inspection that was restarted in the afternoon.

[0034] Therefore, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 14 according to this embodiment performs a process that prompts the user to restart a previously performed examination in response to the user's operation. Specifically, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 14 retrieves examination history information from the database 54 of the storage unit 22 for examinations performed on a specific subject within a given retrospective time range from the current time point. Based on the examination history information retrieved from the database 54, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 14 performs a process that asks the user whether to perform an additional examination. By having the user perform the operation of restarting the examination in response to this inquiry, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 14 performs a restart process for the examination.

[0035] When starting a diagnostic procedure using the ultrasound diagnostic device 14, the user operates the operation unit 24 and inputs the subject ID as information to identify the subject. The control unit 20 reads the subject ID (hereinafter referred to as the input subject ID) from the operation unit 24 and, for the input subject ID, retrieves historical examination history information from the database 54 of the storage unit 22 for examinations performed within a certain time range from the current time. This time range is, for example, 24 hours.

[0036] exist Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the processing performed when an inspection corresponding to the input subject ID is performed within a certain time frame traced back from the current time. The control unit 20 comprises an inspection history acquisition unit 20-1 and an inquiry display unit 20-2. The inspection history acquisition unit 20-1 references the database 54 in the storage unit 22 to acquire inspection history information 56 for inspections performed within a certain time frame traced back from the current time, and outputs the acquired inspection history information 56 to the inquiry display unit 20-2.

[0037] The query display unit 20-2 displays the inspection history information 56 as a query message on the display unit 26, and then queries whether to restart the inspection. Figure 3The image shows an example of an inquiry window 60 displayed on the display unit 26. In the inquiry window 60, inspection history information 56 is displayed as inquiry information 68. The inquiry information 68 shown in the inquiry window 60 is information that establishes a correspondence between the examinee ID, examinee name, inspection ID, inspection date, inspection time, and inspection site.

[0038] exist Figure 3 In the query window 60 shown, there are two query messages for the examinee ID "8888". One message contains the examinee name, examination ID, examination date, examination time, and examination location as "Yosano Akiko", "FUJI0022", "08.27.2021", "10:00:59", and "BREAST", respectively. The other message contains the examinee name, examination ID, examination date, examination time, and examination location as "Yosano Akiko", "FUJI0033", "08.27.2021", "16:55:28", and "ABDOMEN", respectively.

[0039] The query window 60 contains a "Restart Check" button 62, a "New Check" button 64, and a "Cancel" button 66. The upper area of ​​the query window 60 displays the following guidance: "Today, the following checks will be performed. To restart any check, select this check and press 'Restart Check'. To perform a new check, press 'New Check' to set the new check content. To finish, press 'Cancel'." This guidance can also be displayed in a different window than the query window 60 on the display section 26.

[0040] Thus, the inspection history retrieval unit 20-1, configured in the control unit 20, performs inspection history retrieval processing to obtain one or more inspection history information 56 from the database 54 for inspections performed within the retrospective time period from the current point in time. The query display unit 20-2, configured in the control unit 20, performs query processing for each of the one or more inspection history information 56, asking the user whether to restart the inspection. During the query processing, the control unit 20 displays guidance operation information on the display unit 26. That is, the query processing includes processing to display guidance operation information for the user. This prompts the user to restart the inspection.

[0041] If the user selects one of the query messages 68 displayed in the query window 60 by operating the operation unit 24 and presses the check restart button 62, the control unit 20 sets the state of the ultrasound diagnostic device 14 so that the check determined by the check ID in the query message 68 is restarted.

[0042] Additional checks can be performed on the restarted check corresponding to the selected query information 68. If the user performs an operation to end the check corresponding to query information 68, the control unit 20 will update the check date and time of the check history information 56 based on query information 68 and store the updated check history information 56 in the storage unit 22. This updates the check history information registered in the database 54. The control unit 20 can make the check history information 56 to be updated include information indicating the check time of each check performed multiple times within the retrospective time and information indicating the check content.

[0043] Thus, when the user performs an operation to restart the check, the control unit 20 generates a check history information that integrates the checks performed before restarting and the restarted checks as a series of checks, and registers it in the database 54.

[0044] If the New Inspection Start button 64 is pressed, the control unit 20 sets the state of the ultrasound diagnostic device 14 to begin a new inspection that does not follow the query information 68. If the Cancel button 66 is pressed, the control unit 20 enters a state where no query information is selected. Furthermore, when the Cancel button 66 is pressed, the control unit 20 can also close the query window 60 displayed on the display unit 26, entering a standby state for any operation in the operation unit 24.

[0045] In the above description, the examination history information registered in the database 54 of the storage unit 22 displays information corresponding to the examinee ID, examination ID, examination site, examination date and time, and examinee name for each completed examination. The examination history information can further include information on the ultrasound probe used and the preset settings used. Here, a preset setting refers to a function that sets control parameters for each function of the ultrasound diagnostic device 14. By activating a preset for a specific function, for example, setting each control parameter to its default value (standard value), an input format image for inputting the control parameter is displayed on the display unit 26. The user sets the control parameters by operating the operation unit 24 on the input format image. The ultrasound diagnostic device 14 is equipped with presets for various diagnoses, such as early obstetrics, thyroid diagnosis, abdominal diagnosis, and chest diagnosis.

[0046] Control parameters include, for example, the depth of the observation range (diagnostic range), gain for the received signal, time gain control, focusing, and echo enhancement level. Time gain control is a parameter that adjusts the increase in gain as the reception time progresses. Focusing is a parameter that indicates the degree to which the ultrasonic beam converges. Echo enhancement level is a parameter that indicates the degree to which the contours of the B-mode image are emphasized.

[0047] exist Figure 4 In addition to the examinee ID, examination ID, examination site, and examination date and time, the document also shows an example of establishing corresponding examination history information 56 for identifying the ultrasound probe 16 and the preset information. This examination history information 56 is registered in the database 54. For the examination ID “FUJI0033”, an identification symbol such as “CCVV55” is established as information identifying the ultrasound probe 16 used. This identification information can be the product name, model, etc., of the ultrasound probe 16. Furthermore, as the preset used, an identification symbol such as “10.Abdomen” (preset for abdominal diagnosis identified by number 10) is established. For the examination ID “FUJI0022”, an identification symbol such as “LLNN99” is established as information identifying the ultrasound probe 16 used. Furthermore, as the preset used, an identification symbol such as “3.Breast” (preset for chest diagnosis identified by number 3) is established.

[0048] If one of the query messages 68 (check history information 56) displayed in the query window 60 is selected and the check restart button 62 is pressed, the control unit 20 sets the state of the ultrasound diagnostic device 14 so that the check determined by the check ID in the query message 68 is restarted. In this setting, the control unit 20 displays the identification symbol of the corresponding ultrasound probe 16 established in the query message 68 on the display unit 26, prompting the user to confirm whether a suitable ultrasound probe 16 is used.

[0049] Furthermore, the control unit 20 establishes a preset corresponding to the inspection ID in the inquiry information 68. This allows the user to easily set various control parameters suitable for the inspection ID in the inquiry information.

[0050] The ultrasonic diagnostic device involved in this invention may have, for example, the following structure.

[0051] (Structure 1)

[0052] The system includes a control unit that performs: a history retrieval process, which retrieves one or more history retrieval records from the database for checks performed within a retrospective period from the current point in time; and an inquiry process, which inquires the user whether to restart the check for each of the one or more history retrieval records.

[0053] (Structure 2)

[0054] Based on the ultrasound diagnostic device described in Structure 1, when the user performs an operation to restart the examination in response to the inquiry process, the control unit generates examination history information that integrates the examinations performed before the restart and the restarted examinations as a series of examinations, and registers it in the database.

[0055] (Structure 3)

[0056] Based on the ultrasound diagnostic device described in structure 1 or 2, when the user performs an operation to restart the examination, the control unit executes a preset for the restarted examination.

[0057] (Structure 4)

[0058] Based on the ultrasound diagnostic device described in any of Structures 1 to 3, the inquiry process includes a process that displays information to guide the user's operation.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic system, comprising an ultrasonic diagnostic device and a management server communicatively connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic device via a communication line, characterized in that, The ultrasound diagnostic device includes a control unit and a storage unit with a database. The management server stores a corresponding work list that identifies the examinee's ID and the inspection ID that determines the inspection performed on the examinee. The ultrasound diagnostic device obtains the subject ID and the corresponding examination ID from the work list of the management server, and performs the examination determined by the examination ID on the subject identified by the subject ID. Upon completion of the examination for the subject, if the management server receives a completion notification from the ultrasound diagnostic device indicating the end of the examination, it removes the examination ID whose examination status was once completed and the subject ID associated with that examination ID from the work list. The control unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic device performs the following: The inspection history retrieval process retrieves one or more inspection history records from the database in the storage unit of the ultrasound diagnostic device for inspections completed within a retrospective time period from the current point in time; and The query process involves asking the user, for each of one or more completed inspection history records, whether they want to restart the same inspection. When a user performs an operation to restart the same check in response to the query, a check history record is generated, which integrates the checks completed before the restart and the restarted same check as a series of checks, and is registered in the database.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic system according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the user performs an operation to restart the check, the control unit executes the preset for the restarted check.

3. The ultrasound diagnostic system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The query processing includes the process of displaying information to guide the user's actions.

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