Medical information processing device, medical information processing system, and operation method of medical information processing device

Abstract

To provide a medical information processing device, a medical information processing system, and an operation method of the medical information processing device with which it is possible to correct information at appropriate timing.SOLUTION: In a medical information processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, an imaging terminal transmits, to an analysis terminal, collateral information of a medical image in accordance with an information transmission request received from the analysis terminal. Meanwhile, the analysis terminal transmits an information transmission request to the imaging terminal in accordance with operation by a user of the analysis terminal, accepts operation for correcting collateral information by the user, and transmits a first correction request for requesting the correction of the collateral information to the imaging terminal in accordance with the accepted operation, and the imaging terminal corrects the collateral information in a set information correction period in accordance with the first correction request by taking into account the processing load of the imaging terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical information processing device, a medical image processing system, and an operating method of a medical image processing device, and more particularly to a technique for correcting supplementary information of a medical image. [Background technology]

[0002] When performing examinations or diagnoses using medical images, examination information and patient information are recorded along with the acquired medical images, and technologies for appropriately recording such information have been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which, when registering patient information accompanying a medical image in a database, the registered information is compared with the accompanying information of the image, and a warning is issued if there is a mismatch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-222308 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some systems for capturing medical images have separate consoles (terminals) for capturing images and consoles for analyzing images. In such systems, it is possible to record common information (examination information and other data) on both consoles. In this case, if there is an error in the examination information entered on the imaging console, the incorrect information will be sent to the analysis console. When a user of the analysis console notices an error, they must correct the examination information and reflect the correction in the examination information recorded on the imaging console. However, correcting the examination information on the imaging console involves a high processing load, and there are periods when the correction is difficult.

[0005] To address this problem, the conventional technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the timing of correcting information.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a medical information processing device, a medical image processing system, and an operating method of a medical image processing device that can correct auxiliary information of medical images at appropriate times. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a medical information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a medical information processing device comprising an imaging terminal connected to a medical imaging device and an analysis terminal connected to the imaging terminal for analyzing medical images captured using the medical imaging device, wherein the imaging terminal transmits incidental information of the medical image to the analysis terminal in response to an information transmission request received from the analysis terminal, the analysis terminal transmits the information transmission request to the imaging terminal in response to an operation by a user of the analysis terminal, accepts an operation by the user to modify the incidental information, and transmits a first correction request, which is a request to modify the incidental information, to the imaging terminal in response to the accepted operation, and the imaging terminal corrects the incidental information in response to the first correction request within an information correction period that is set taking into account the processing load of the imaging terminal.

[0008] According to the first aspect, the incidental information of the medical image can be corrected at an appropriate timing because the incidental information is corrected during an information correction period that is set in consideration of the processing load of the imaging terminal. The processing load can take into consideration the operating rate of various processors, the usage rate of memory and other recording media, the amount of data to be transmitted and received, etc.

[0009] In the first aspect, the number of medical imaging devices may be one or more, and the number of imaging terminals may be one or more correspondingly. Furthermore, the number of analysis terminals may be one or more for one imaging terminal. In the first aspect and the following aspects, medical images are also referred to as medical images.

[0010] In the medical information processing device according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the imaging terminal performs correction using a period in which the processing load when making correction is at an allowable level as the information correction period.

[0011] In the medical information processing device according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the imaging terminal corrects information during a period when no examinations using the medical imaging device are scheduled. Since the period when no examinations are scheduled is not affected by examinations and the processing load of the imaging terminal is low, the information can be corrected at an appropriate timing depending on the processing load.

[0012] In the medical information processing device according to the fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the imaging terminal performs correction during a period when the imaging terminal is not reconstructing medical images, which is an information correction period. In the fourth aspect, the incidental information is corrected during a period when the medical images are not being reconstructed. The processing load on the imaging terminal is low during a period when the medical images are not being reconstructed, making it an appropriate timing for correction. Note that in each aspect of the present invention, "reconstruction" also includes the case where a once-reconstructed image is repeatedly reconstructed by changing conditions such as the part, angle, magnification ratio, etc.

[0013] A medical information processing device according to a fifth aspect is any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the imaging terminal displays a list of the incidental information on the first display device, and the analysis terminal displays a list of the incidental information received from the imaging terminal on the second display device. According to the fifth aspect, the user can easily check the incidental information to be corrected.

[0014] In a sixth aspect of the medical information processing device, in the fifth aspect, the imaging terminal displays the corrected supplementary information on the first display device, and the analysis terminal displays the corrected supplementary information on the second display device. In the sixth aspect, the display can be made distinctive by adding one or more of letters, numbers, symbols, and figures, or a combination of these with color, to the supplementary information, and such distinctive display allows the user to easily understand that a correction has been made. In the sixth aspect, the supplementary information before and after the correction may be displayed for comparison.

[0015] The medical information processing device according to the seventh aspect is the fifth or sixth aspect, in which the imaging terminal associates the incidental information with the medical image and displays it as a list on the first display device, and the analysis terminal associates the incidental information with the medical image and displays it as a list on the second display device. According to the seventh aspect, the user can easily understand the relationship between the medical image and the incidental information.

[0016] In the medical information processing device according to an eighth aspect, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the analysis terminal sets a priority for the first correction request in accordance with a user's operation, and the imaging terminal corrects the incidental information in accordance with the priority. In the eighth aspect, for example, a high priority can be set for incidental information of an image that is desired to be analyzed immediately, and the incidental information can be corrected in descending order of priority.

[0017] A medical information processing device according to a ninth aspect is the eighth aspect, wherein the imaging terminal corrects the incidental information before reconstructing the medical image if the priority is equal to or higher than a predetermined priority.

[0018] A medical information processing device according to a tenth aspect is any one of the first to ninth aspects, in which the imaging terminal stores the first correction request in a queue and corrects the incidental information by referring to the queue. In the tenth aspect, the correction by referring to the queue can be performed, for example, by FIFO (First In First Out: processed in the order received). Note that there may be one or more queues.

[0019] In a medical information processing device according to an eleventh aspect, in the eighth or ninth aspect, the imaging terminal stores the first correction request in one of a plurality of queues according to the priority, and corrects the incidental information by referring to the plurality of queues. In the eleventh aspect, for example, a queue in which high-priority correction requests are stored, and a queue of medium priority and / or low priority can be provided, and corrections can be made in an appropriate order by referring to these queues.

[0020] In the medical information processing device of the 12th aspect, in any one of the 1st to 11th aspects, the analysis terminal sets a request for reconstruction of a medical image in accordance with a user's operation, and when the reconstruction request is set, the imaging terminal corrects the accompanying information before reconstructing the medical image.

[0021] A medical information processing device according to a thirteenth aspect is any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein the incidental information includes test information of the subject. The incidental information may include patient information (information about the subject or the examinee).

[0022] In a medical information processing device according to a fourteenth aspect, in any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the imaging terminal associates the incidental information with the medical image and transmits it to the analysis terminal, and the analysis terminal associates the incidental information and the first correction request with the medical image and transmits it to the imaging terminal. In the fourteenth aspect, the imaging terminal may associate the incidental information by recording it in the header of the image file.

[0023] In a medical information processing device according to a fifteenth aspect, in the fourteenth aspect, the imaging terminal associates the medical image with the corrected incidental information and transmits them to the analysis terminal. According to the fifteenth aspect, the user can easily check whether the incidental information has been appropriately corrected.

[0024] A medical information processing device according to a sixteenth aspect is any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, in which the analytical terminal, in response to a user's operation, sets a second correction request, which is a request for correction of pre-reconstruction data of the medical image and imaging conditions of the medical image, recorded in the imaging terminal, and transmits the second correction request to the imaging terminal, and the imaging terminal corrects the pre-reconstruction data and imaging conditions in response to the second correction request. While pre-reconstruction data of the medical image (e.g., raw data) and imaging conditions of the medical image may be recorded only in the imaging terminal 200 (recording device 216), according to the sixteenth aspect, even such information can be corrected in response to an operation on the analytical terminal. Note that in the sixteenth aspect, the analytical terminal may transmit an information transmission request regarding the pre-reconstruction data of the medical image and imaging conditions of the medical image to the imaging terminal, and the imaging terminal may transmit information to the analytical terminal in response to this information transmission request.

[0025] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a medical image processing system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention includes a medical information processing device according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects and a medical image capturing device. According to the seventeenth aspect, similar to the first aspect, the supplementary information of the medical image can be corrected at an appropriate time.

[0026] The medical image processing system according to the eighteenth aspect is the seventeenth aspect, in which the medical imaging device is one or more of a CT device (Computed Tomography), an MRI device (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and a PET device (Positron Emission Tomography). When the medical image processing system includes multiple medical imaging devices, the imaging devices may be of the same type or different types. Furthermore, when there are multiple medical imaging devices, multiple imaging terminals and analysis terminals may be provided corresponding to the multiple devices.

[0027] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a nineteenth aspect of the present invention provides a method for operating a medical information processing device, comprising: an imaging terminal connected to a medical imaging device; and an analysis terminal connected to the imaging terminal and configured to analyze medical images captured using the medical imaging device, wherein the imaging terminal transmits incidental information of the medical image to the analysis terminal in response to an information transmission request received from the analysis terminal; the analysis terminal transmits the information transmission request to the imaging terminal in response to an operation by a user of the analysis terminal, accepts an operation by the user to modify the incidental information, and transmits a first modification request to the imaging terminal in response to the received operation, which is a modification request for the incidental information; and the imaging terminal modifies the incidental information in response to the first modification request within an information modification period that is set in consideration of the processing load of the imaging terminal. According to the nineteenth aspect, as in the first and seventeenth aspects, the incidental information of the medical image can be modified at an appropriate time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] As described above, according to the medical information processing device, medical image processing system, and method of operating a medical image processing device of the present invention, the supplementary information of a medical image can be corrected at an appropriate timing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a medical image processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the imaging terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the analysis terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process of correcting the additional information (first mode). [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a list display of the additional information. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the supplementary information is arranged. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for modifying the supplementary information. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which an error in the supplementary information has been corrected. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how corrections to the supplementary information are displayed in an identifiable manner. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process of correcting the additional information (second mode). [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how supplementary information is modified using queues according to priority. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the process of correcting the additional information (third mode). [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a priority setting screen. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing how the order of processing is set according to priority. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the process of correcting the additional information (fourth mode). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a medical information processing device, a medical image processing system, and an operating method of a medical image processing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that for convenience of explanation, some components may be omitted from the accompanying drawings.

[0031] [First embodiment] [Configuration of medical image processing system] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a medical image processing system 10 (medical image processing system) according to the first embodiment. In the figure, the medical image processing system 10 includes a CT apparatus 100 (CT: Computed Tomography, medical image imaging apparatus), an imaging terminal 200 (imaging terminal), and an analysis terminal 300 (analysis terminal). The imaging terminal 200 and the analysis terminal 300 are connected via a network 20 such as a LAN, and are capable of communicating with each other. The medical image processing system 10 may also include a RIS (Radiology Information System), a HIS (Hospital Information System), a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems), etc., all of which are not shown.

[0032] The medical image processing system 10 may include other medical imaging devices such as an MRI device or a PET device instead of or in addition to the CT device 100. That is, the medical image processing system 10 includes one or more medical imaging devices selected from the group consisting of a CT device, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device, and a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) device.

[0033] Although one analytical terminal 300 is shown in FIG. 1, the medical image processing system 10 may include a plurality of analytical terminals 300.

[0034] [Image capture device] 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the imaging terminal 200 (imaging terminal). As shown in the figure, the imaging terminal 200 includes a processor 210 (processor), a ROM 212, a RAM 214, a recording device 216 (a non-transitory tangible recording medium), a display device 218 (first display device), an operation unit 220, and a communication interface 222. The imaging terminal 200 is connected to a medical image imaging system such as the CT device 10, and is capable of communicating with the analysis terminal 300 via the communication interface 222 and the network 20. The imaging terminal 200 can be realized by installing software required for the processing performed in the medical image processing system 10 on a computer.

[0035] [Processor] The processor 210 controls each part of the imaging terminal 200, and performs the reconstructing of images (tomographic images, etc.) based on the data acquired from the CT device 100, the inputting and sending / receiving of supplementary information including examination information, and corrections in response to requests from the analysis terminal.

[0036] The processor 210 is configured with various processors and electrical circuits, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a PLD (Programmable Logic Device). The functions of the processor 210 do not necessarily correspond one-to-one to the processors and electrical circuits. Multiple functions may be realized by a single processor, or one function may be realized by multiple processors. When these processors and electrical circuits execute software (programs), computer-readable code for the software to be executed is recorded on a non-transitory, tangible recording medium such as the ROM 212, and the computer references the software. The "computer" here refers to, for example, the various processors and electrical circuits that constitute the processor, and / or a combination thereof.

[0037] The software stored on the non-transitory, tangible recording medium includes programs for transmitting and receiving medical images and associated information, reconstructing medical images, and performing various image processing, as well as data used in executing the programs. Instead of the ROM 212, the code may be stored on a non-transitory, tangible recording medium such as a flash ROM or an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory). Note that this "non-transitory, tangible recording medium" does not include non-tangible recording media such as carrier signals or propagation signals themselves. When processing using the software, the RAM 214 is used as a temporary storage area or working area.

[0038] The processing using the processor 210 configured as described above will be described in detail later.

[0039] [Recording Device] The recording device 216 is configured with recording media (non-transitory, tangible recording media) such as a hard disk, semiconductor memory, and various types of magneto-optical recording media, and their control units, and records or saves various types of information. Information recorded in the recording device 216 includes, for example, data acquired by the CT device 100, images (tomograms and 3D images) reconstructed from the data, incidental information of the images, correction schedules and correction history of the incidental information, correction requests for the incidental information received from the analysis terminal 300, and data acquired from the RIS 400 and HIS 500, but is not limited to these examples.

[0040] [Display device] The display device 218 (first display device) is configured with a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and can display data recorded in the recording device 216, the processing results thereof (including reconstructed images), information input by the user (including supplementary information of medical images), etc. The display device 218 may be configured with a touch panel display and used as part of the operation unit 220. Information (for example, messages to the user) may be output using a speaker (not shown).

[0041] [Operation section] The operation unit 220 includes devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a user can use these devices to perform operations necessary for processing in the medical image processing system 10. The operation unit 220 may also include a microphone (not shown) for voice input. In this case, the processor 210 is assumed to have a voice recognition function.

[0042] [Analysis terminal] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the analytical terminal 300 (analytical terminal). As shown in the figure, the analytical terminal 300 includes a processor 310 (processor), a ROM 312, a RAM 314, a recording device 316 (a non-transitory tangible recording medium), a display device 318 (second display device), an operation unit 320, and a communication interface 322. The analytical terminal 300 can communicate with the imaging terminal 200 via the communication interface 322 and the network 20. The analytical terminal 300 can be realized by installing software required for the processing performed by the medical image processing system 10 on a computer.

[0043] The processor 310 controls each part of the analysis terminal 300, and performs operations such as displaying images, displaying a list of incidental information including examination information and sending and receiving the same, and requesting the imaging terminal 200 to modify the incidental information. The processor 310 can be configured with various processors and electric circuits, similar to the above-mentioned processor 210, and performs processing using software and data recorded on a non-transitory and tangible recording medium such as a ROM 312. The processor 310 uses a RAM 314 as a temporary storage area and a working area during processing.

[0044] The configurations of the recording device 316, display device 318, operation unit 320, and communication interface 322 of the analysis terminal 300 can be similar to the configurations of the recording device 216, display device 218, operation unit 220, and communication interface 222 of the imaging terminal 200, respectively.

[0045] The imaging terminal 200 described above can be installed, for example, in the examination room where the CT device 100 is installed, or in a location adjacent to the examination room from which the interior of the examination room can be seen. Hereinafter, the examination room and the location from which the interior of the examination room can be seen may be collectively referred to as the "site." On the other hand, the analysis terminal 300 may be installed in the examination room, or may be installed at a service site, such as a different floor of the same building as the examination room, a different building from the examination room, or a different site from the examination room.

[0046] [Edit additional information] Next, we will explain how to correct the supplementary information of medical images in the medical image processing system 10 configured as described above. When the medical image processing system 10 is provided with the imaging terminal 200 and the analysis terminal 300, the supplementary information recorded on these terminals is not always synchronized or consistent, and errors or inconsistencies may be discovered. In such cases, correction is necessary.

[0047] In the first embodiment, the "accompanying information" includes examination information and subject information (subject information, patient information), but may also include other information. In the first embodiment, the "medical image" refers to an image acquired using the CT device 100, but may also be an image acquired using an MRI device or a PET device. A medical image and its associated information can be associated, for example, by recording the associated information in the header or tag portion of the image file, but this is not a limitation. The image file and its associated information may be stored as separate files, and then associated (by sharing part of the file name, saving them in the same folder, etc.). Furthermore, image data can be recorded, for example, as a file conforming to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard, but other formats are also acceptable.

[0048] [Modification of supplementary information: First mode] 4 is a flowchart showing the process of correcting incidental information (first mode). In the flowcharts from FIG. 4 onwards, steps S100 to S140 (left side of the diagram) are processes in the analytical terminal 300, and steps S200 to S230 (right side of the diagram) are processes in the imaging terminal 200.

[0049] [Request for additional information from the analysis terminal to the imaging terminal] In response to a user operation, the processor 310 (processor) of the analysis terminal 300 requests the imaging terminal 200 for additional information (step S100; information transmission request). The user can perform this operation to request additional information via the operation unit 320 and the screen of the display device 318.

[0050] The processor 210 (imaging terminal 200) transmits the incidental information in response to a request from the analysis terminal 300 (step S200). The processor 210 may transmit only the incidental information, or may transmit the incidental information together with the medical image. However, even when transmitting only the incidental information, it is preferable to associate the incidental information with the medical image (so that it is possible to identify which image the incidental information belongs to). Furthermore, when transmitting the incidental information together with the medical image, both may be transmitted as a file conforming to the DICOM standard.

[0051] [Displaying a list of additional information on the analysis terminal] The processor 310 of the analytical terminal 300 displays the received incidental information on the screen of the display device 318 (second display device) in a list (step S110). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a list display of incidental information. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the incidental information includes examination information such as an examination ID and examination date and time, and subject information (subject information or patient information) such as a subject ID and subject name. The incidental information also includes a storage location (link) of the image file, thereby associating the incidental information with the image. In the "RIS" column, a circle is marked if information is acquired from a RIS (Radiology Information System) (an example of an identification display). A column indicating whether information is acquired from an HIS 500 or a PACS 600 may also be provided. For items marked with an upward or downward triangle in FIG. 5, the user can click the mark to sort the incidental information in ascending or descending order of the item.

[0052] The user of the analytical terminal 300 can check the accompanying information displayed in a list in this way and determine whether or not correction is necessary. When the accompanying information is corrected, a circle is placed in the "corrected / uncorrected" column (an example of the identification display will be described later in FIG. 8), but since FIG. 5 shows the state before correction, all items are marked "-" (no correction).

[0053] In the example of FIG. 5, when the user inputs a desired keyword in the “search” box, the additional information corresponding to the keyword can be extracted and displayed on the display device 318.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state in which the supplementary information is sorted in descending order using the subject ID as a key. In the example shown in the figure, for the same subject ID (92651427), data exists in which the subject names are "Kashiwa Goro" and "Kashiwada Goro" (an example of an error in the supplementary information). In such a situation, it is preferable that the processor 310 checks the supplementary information to confirm whether there are any inconsistencies or discrepancies in the data, and displays data that may be incorrect (in the example of FIG. 6, this is displayed using a shaded display, but this may also be done by adding letters, symbols, figures, colors, etc.) or output a message prompting the user to make corrections. In this example, the explanation will be given assuming that "Kashiwa Goro" is correct and "Kashiwada Goro" is incorrect.

[0055] [Modifying additional information] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for correction operations on the analytical terminal 300. When the user specifies the additional information including "Kashiwada Goro" by operating the operation unit 320 (for example, by clicking the line to be corrected with the mouse), the processor 310 displays a correction screen as shown in part (a) of FIG. 7 on the display device 318 (second display device). In this example, the item name and its input field are displayed. In addition, "Kashiwada Goro", which may be incorrect, is displayed in an identifiable manner.

[0056] When the user corrects "Kashiwada Goro" to "Kashiwa Goro" and clicks "correct", the confirmation screen shown in part (b) of Fig. 7 is displayed. When the user clicks "OK" here, the correction request is confirmed in response to this operation (step S120), and processor 310 transmits a correction request (first correction request) for the incidental information to imaging terminal 200 (step S130). It is preferable that processor 310 records the content and history of this correction request in recording device 316 so that the user can view it.

[0057] The processor of the imaging terminal 200 preferably stores the received correction request in the recording device 216. At this time, the correction information may be stored in a queue (for example, a specific recording area in the recording device 216) and the correction may be performed by referring to the queue (see other aspects described later).

[0058] [Correction of supplementary information on the imaging device] [Modifying supplementary information taking into account the processing load on the imaging device] In the first embodiment, the information correction period (the period for correcting the incidental information) in the imaging terminal 200 is set in consideration of the processing load of the imaging terminal. Specifically, correction can be performed during a period in which the processing load is at an acceptable level as the information correction period. For example, since the processing load is high during imaging by a medical imaging device such as the CT device 100, during image reconstruction by the imaging terminal 200, or during 3D image processing, the processing load can be determined to be "not at an acceptable level (no correction of the incidental information)," and a period in which these processes are not being executed can be set as an "information correction period" in which the processing load is at an acceptable level. Furthermore, the processing load can be considered to be one or more of the usage rate of the processor 210 or RAM 214, the access rate to the recording device 216, the communication load of the network 20, etc. The processor 210 can determine that the "processing load is at an acceptable level" when these values ​​are below a predetermined threshold.

[0059] Processor 210 determines whether the processing load when making the correction is at an allowable level (step S210), and if the result of the determination is YES, proceeds to step S220 to correct the incidental information. Such correction of the incidental information taking the processing load into consideration is continued until processing for all correction requests received from analytical terminal 300 is completed (until step S225 returns YES).

[0060] The processor 210 (imaging terminal 200) can display a list of the corrected incidental information on the display device 218 (first display device). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how an error in the incidental information has been corrected. In the example of the figure, the subject's name for "Examination ID: 180512155" has been corrected to "Kashiwa Goro." The processor 210 also displays a discernible indication that a correction has been made in the "Correction or not" column (in the example of FIG. 8, a circle is displayed). The processor 210 can display such a discernible indication using any one of letters, numbers, symbols, and icons, or a combination of these, and may also add color to the discernible indication.

[0061] Furthermore, in the list display, processor 210 may distinguish not only "corrected" but also "scheduled to be corrected" (indicating that a correction request has been made but the correction has not been made due to the processing load or waiting in line for processing) (see the example of FIG. 9 described later). In this case, processor 210 preferably distinguishes in a manner different from the accompanying information that indicates "corrected."

[0062] In the example of FIG. 8, the corrected supplementary information and the medical image are associated with each other by a link indicating the storage location of the file, as described above with reference to FIGS.

[0063] [Identification of Modifications] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display in which corrections to supplementary information are distinguished in the imaging terminal 200. Part (a) of the figure shows medical images stored in a folder, with the medical images stored in a subfolder of "subject ID + subject name." Part (b) of FIG. 9 shows the inside of a folder corresponding to a certain subject, with the file name being "examination ID + examination date," and medical images corresponding to one examination (which may be one or multiple images) displayed as a single icon. In addition to the medical images, non-reconstructed data (such as raw data) may also be displayed as an icon; in this case, it is preferable to distinguish between the non-reconstructed data and the medical images obtained by reconstruction. In this case, it is also preferable to associate the medical image icon with the data icon.

[0064] The processor 210 displays the icon as "corrected" for medical images whose supplementary information has been corrected. Also, for "images for which a correction request has been made from the analysis terminal 300 but which have not yet been corrected due to the processing load described above," the processor 210 displays the icon as "to be corrected" (an example of displaying an identification in a manner different from that for corrected images). The identification may be displayed not only on the medical image icons but also on the folder icons for each subject (see part (a) of Figure 9).

[0065] In the medical image processing system 10 according to the first embodiment, such list display and identification display can be performed not only on the imaging terminal 200 but also on the analysis terminal 300. When the identification display is performed on the analysis terminal 300, the folder or icon of the medical image may be displayed with an identification such as "Correction requested" or "Confirm correction has been made."

[0066] Such a distinguishable display allows the user to easily grasp the correction status of the supplementary information.

[0067] [Send corrected supplementary information] The processor 210 (imaging terminal 200) associates the medical image with the corrected incidental information and transmits them to the analytical terminal 300 (step S230). The processor 310 (analytical terminal 300) receives the medical image and the corrected incidental information and records them in the recording device 316 (step S140). In response to a user's operation, the processor 310 can display a list of the received incidental information on the display device 318 (second display device), and at this time, similar to the examples in FIGS. 8 and 9, can display corrected incidental information in an identifiable manner. Furthermore, as described above, an identifiable display may be provided on the icons of the medical images and folders for each subject.

[0068] [Modification of supplementary information: Second mode] Next, a second aspect of the incidental information correction will be described. In the second aspect, a priority is set for the correction of incidental information, and the correction request is stored in one of a plurality of queues according to the priority, and the incidental information is corrected by referring to the queues. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of incidental information correction in the second aspect. In Figure 10, the same steps as in Figure 4 are assigned the same step numbers, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0069] The processor 310 (analysis terminal 300) sets a priority for the correction request for the incidental information in response to a user operation (step S125), and transmits the correction request and its priority to the imaging terminal 200 (step S131). The processor 310 may accept a user operation via a priority setting screen (see the example of FIG. 13 described later). The number of levels into which the priority is divided is not particularly limited, and may be two levels or three or more levels. In this example, the explanation will be given assuming that the priority is divided into three levels: "high, medium, and low."

[0070] The processor 210 (imaging terminal 200) stores the correction requests for the incidental information in a queue according to the priority (step S206), and corrects the incidental information by referring to the queue according to the priority during a period when the processing load is at an allowable level (YES in step S210) (step S222). FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how the incidental information is corrected by referring to the queue. In the example shown in the figure, one correction request with "high priority" is made before the examination (before imaging and reconstruction), two correction requests with "medium priority" are made during the examination (between imaging and reconstruction), and one correction request with "low priority" is made after the examination (after imaging and reconstruction). The processor 210 may also make two correction requests with "medium priority" after the examination (after imaging and reconstruction). The processor 310 continues the correction until the queue is empty (until YES in step S225).

[0071] According to the second aspect, by such processing, the supplementary information can be corrected at an appropriate timing according to the priority.

[0072] [Modification of supplementary information: Third mode] In the medical image processing system 10, a medical image can be reconstructed by the imaging terminal 200 and transmitted to the analytical terminal 300, where it can be analyzed. However, if, during this analysis, it becomes necessary to reconstruct an image of a different region or an image that has been enlarged or otherwise processed, the user of the analytical terminal 300 can send a request for reconstruction to the imaging terminal 200. In this case, as will be explained below, depending on the priority of the correction, it may be necessary to correct the incidental information before reconstruction.

[0073] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the process of correcting the incidental information in the third mode. In Fig. 12, the same processes as those in Fig. 4 and Fig. 10 are given the same step numbers, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0074] The processor 310 of the analytical terminal 300 sets a priority for the correction of the incidental information in response to a user operation via the operation unit 320 (step S125). FIG. 13 is an example of a priority setting screen, showing how the user can select one of three levels of priority using radio buttons. This screen is displayed on the display device 318. FIG. 13 also shows the content of the correction request. When the user selects "confirm" in this state, the content of the correction request and the priority are confirmed. As described above for the second aspect, there is no particular limitation on the number of levels of priority, and it may be two levels or three or more levels.

[0075] The processor 310 also sets a reconstruction request for the medical image in response to a user operation (which can be performed via the operation unit 320 and the screen of the display device 318) (step S127). The reconstruction request may include the specification of the original data by an examination ID and reconstruction conditions (site, size, image processing content, etc.). The processor 310 may set the reconstruction request before modifying the supplementary information or setting the priority.

[0076] The processor 310 transmits a request for modifying the incidental information (first modification request), the priority of the modification, and a reconfiguration request to the imaging terminal 200 (step S132). Upon receiving this information, the processor 210 may store the modification request (first modification request) in a queue. When storing the modification request in a queue, it may be stored in one of a plurality of queues according to priority, as in the above-described aspect.

[0077] Processor 210 corrects the incidental information and reconstructs the image in accordance with the priority set by analytical terminal 300 (step S229). Details of the processing in step S229 will be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0078] The processor 310 determines whether the priority of the correction to be processed is equal to or higher than a predetermined priority (step S229-1). If the result of the determination is YES, the processor 310 corrects the incidental information (step S229-2) and then reconstructs a medical image (step S229-3). For example, if the "determined priority" is "high" and the set priority is "high," the determination is affirmative, and the processor 310 corrects the incidental information and then reconstructs a medical image. On the other hand, if the priority of the correction is lower than the predetermined priority, the determination is negative in step S229-1, and the processor 310 reconstructs a medical image (step S229-4) and then corrects the incidental information (step S229-5). The processor 310 repeats the process of FIG. 14 until the correction of the incidental information and the reconstruction of the medical image are completed (until step S229-6 is YES). According to the third aspect, this process allows the incidental information to be corrected at an appropriate timing according to the priority.

[0079] [Modification of supplementary information: Fourth mode] Next, a fourth aspect of the correction of the incidental information will be described. In the medical image processing system 10, raw data (data before reconstruction) of the medical image and the imaging conditions of the medical image are recorded in the recording device 216. The imaging conditions may include the imaging region and the body orientation of the subject, in addition to dose information at the time of imaging. These data may be recorded only in the recording device 216 (imaging terminal 200). In this case, it is preferable to be able to correct these data in accordance with the correction of the incidental information. Therefore, in the fourth aspect, the raw data and the imaging conditions of the medical image can be corrected in response to a user correction request (second correction request).

[0080] In the flowchart of FIG. 15, the processor 310 (analysis terminal 300) determines a request to modify the incidental information, raw data, etc. (for example, raw data and imaging conditions of medical images; the same applies below) in response to a user operation (step S122), and accordingly transmits the request to modify the incidental information, raw data, etc. to the imaging terminal 200 (step S135). The same priority as described above may be set for these modification requests. The processor 210 (imaging terminal 200) can store these modification requests in a queue similar to that described above. Multiple queues may be provided according to priority.

[0081] Processor 210 modifies the incidental information, raw data, etc. (step S223) while the processing load is at an allowable level (YES in step S210), and continues processing until the modifications are completed (until YES in step S225). If priorities are set for the modification requests, processor 210 can perform the modifications in the order of the priorities, as in the above-described aspect.

[0082] [Modification of supplementary information: fifth mode] As described above, the medical image processing system 10 includes the RIS 400 (see FIG. 1), and the imaging terminal 200 and the analysis terminal 300 can acquire and use a worklist from the RIS 400. For example, the imaging terminal 200 can acquire a worklist from the RIS 400 and transmit it to the analysis terminal 300, and the analysis terminal 300 can display the acquired worklist together with accompanying information on the display device 318. The processor 310 (analysis terminal 300) can set the allocation of the worklist together with the examination information (accompanying information) in response to a user operation and transmit it to the imaging terminal 200.

[0083] The above describes several aspects of acquiring and modifying supplementary information and related information, but the medical image processing system 10 may execute a combination of the above-mentioned aspects of processing (accepting modification requests via a screen, setting priorities, using queues, the relationship between priorities and reconstruction, etc.).

[0084] [others] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 10 Medical image processing system 20 Network 100 CT equipment 200 Imaging terminal 300 Analysis terminal S100~S140 Processing on the analysis terminal S200~S230 Processing on the imaging terminal

Claims

1. A medical information processing device comprising: an imaging terminal connected to a medical imaging device; and an analysis terminal connected to the imaging terminal and configured to analyze medical images captured using the medical imaging device, the imaging terminal transmits supplementary information of the medical image to the analysis terminal in response to an information transmission request received from the analysis terminal; The analysis terminal includes: transmitting the information transmission request to the imaging terminal in response to an operation by a user of the analysis terminal; accepting an operation by the user to modify the supplementary information; transmitting a first correction request, which is a correction request for the auxiliary information, to the imaging terminal in response to the received operation; The medical information processing apparatus, wherein the imaging terminal corrects the incidental information in response to the first correction request, during an information correction period that is set in consideration of a processing load of the imaging terminal.

2. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging terminal performs the correction during an information correction period during which the processing load when the correction is performed is at an allowable level.

3. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging terminal performs the correction during a period in which no examination using the medical imaging apparatus is scheduled as the information correction period.

4. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the imaging terminal performs the correction during a period when the imaging terminal is not reconstructing the medical image as the information correction period.

5. the imaging terminal displays a list of the supplementary information on a first display device; The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the analysis terminal displays a list of the supplementary information received from the imaging terminal on a second display device.

6. the imaging terminal causes the first display device to distinctively display the supplementary information after the correction; The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the analysis terminal causes the supplementary information after the correction to be displayed in an identifiable manner on the second display device.

7. the imaging terminal causes the first display device to display a list of the supplementary information in association with the medical image; The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the analysis terminal displays the supplementary information in a list on the second display device in association with the medical image.

8. the analysis terminal sets a priority for the first modification request in accordance with an operation by the user; The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging terminal modifies the supplementary information in accordance with the priority.

9. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the imaging terminal corrects the supplementary information before reconstructing the medical image when the priority is equal to or higher than a predetermined priority.

10. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging terminal stores the first correction request in a queue and corrects the additional information by referring to the queue.

11. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the imaging terminal stores the first modification request in one of a plurality of queues according to the priority, and modifies the accompanying information by referring to the plurality of queues.

12. the analysis terminal sets a request for reconstruction of the medical image in response to an operation by the user; 3. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging terminal corrects the supplementary information before reconstructing the medical image when the reconstruction request is set.

13. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supplementary information includes examination information of the subject.

14. the imaging terminal transmits the supplementary information to the analysis terminal in association with the medical image; 3. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis terminal transmits the supplementary information and the first correction request to the imaging terminal in association with the medical image.

15. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the imaging terminal transmits the medical image and the corrected supplementary information to the analysis terminal in association with each other.

16. The analysis terminal includes: setting a second modification request, which is a modification request for the pre-reconstruction data of the medical image and the imaging conditions of the medical image, which are recorded in the imaging terminal, in response to an operation by the user; transmitting the second modification request to the imaging terminal; The imaging terminal includes: The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a processor configured to modify the pre-reconstruction data and the imaging conditions in response to the second modification request.

17. The medical information processing device according to claim 1 or 2; the medical imaging device; A medical image processing system comprising:

18. 18. The medical image processing system according to claim 17, wherein the medical imaging device is one or more of a CT device, an MRI device, and a PET device.

19. A method for operating a medical information processing device including an imaging terminal connected to a medical image imaging device, and an analysis terminal connected to the imaging terminal and analyzing medical images captured using the medical image imaging device, comprising: the imaging terminal transmits supplementary information of the medical image to the analysis terminal in response to an information transmission request received from the analysis terminal; The analysis terminal includes: transmitting the information transmission request to the imaging terminal in response to an operation by a user of the analysis terminal; accepting an operation by the user to modify the supplementary information; transmitting a first correction request, which is a correction request for the auxiliary information, to the imaging terminal in response to the received operation; an operating method in which the imaging terminal, in response to the first correction request, corrects the incidental information during an information correction period that is set in consideration of a processing load of the imaging terminal;

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