Medical information communication device, medical information communication method, and medical information communication program

Abstract

To perform confirmation of an imaging condition by an approving person smoothly.SOLUTION: A medical information communication device includes a setting unit, a determination unit, and a collation unit. The setting unit sets an imaging condition for acquiring medical data. The determination unit determines whether or not confirmation for the imaging condition by an approving person is required. When confirmation for the imaging condition by the approving person is determined to be required, the collation unit transmits the imaging condition to a terminal that the approving person can access.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings relate to a medical information communication device, a medical information communication method, and a medical information communication program. [Background technology]

[0002] When capturing medical images using a medical imaging diagnostic device, a technician must set various imaging conditions, including setting the region of interest (ROI or VOI) and imaging parameters. The set imaging conditions are usually not checked by a doctor. Therefore, if the set imaging conditions are inappropriate, the doctor may not be able to grasp accurate information from the medical images or medical data captured under those imaging conditions, potentially leading to an inability to obtain a correct diagnosis. Therefore, when necessary, it is desirable to ask a doctor to confirm the imaging conditions, but the control room where the medical imaging diagnostic equipment is operated by the technician is generally often separated from the doctor's room (medical office, examination room, etc.), making it difficult to have the doctor immediately confirm the settings of the imaging conditions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-137288 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2023 / 199956 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] One of the problems to be solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings is to enable the approver to smoothly confirm the imaging conditions. However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings are not limited to the above problem. Problems corresponding to the effects of each configuration shown in the embodiments described below can also be positioned as other problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The medical information communication device according to this embodiment includes a setting unit, a determination unit, and a query unit. The setting unit sets imaging conditions for acquiring medical data. The determination unit determines whether the imaging conditions require the approval of an approver. If the query unit determines that the imaging conditions require the approval of the approver, it transmits the imaging conditions to a terminal accessible to the approver. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a medical information communication system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a client-side communication device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an approver communication device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the client side communication device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the approver communication device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first example of query data. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of the query data. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a third example of the query data. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of reply data. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a medical information communication system according to a modified example of this embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the inquiry process when the medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the second modification is an X-ray CT apparatus. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows an example of the inquiry process when the medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the second modification is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, a medical information communication device, a medical information communication method, and a medical information communication program according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts with the same reference numerals perform similar operations, and redundant explanations will be omitted as appropriate. Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] A medical information communication system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of Figure 1. The medical information communication system 1 includes a first terminal 2 and a second terminal 3. The first terminal 2 includes a medical information communication device 10a. The second terminal 3 includes a medical information communication device 10b.

[0009] In the following embodiments, the medical information communication device 10a included in the first terminal 2 is also called a requester-side communication device, and the medical information communication device 10b included in the second terminal 3 is also called an approver-side communication device.

[0010] The first terminal 2 is a terminal operated by a requester and is assumed to be, for example, a tomographic imaging device such as an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device or an X-ray CT device. The first terminal 2 requests the second terminal 3 to confirm imaging conditions for acquiring medical data related to the tomographic imaging device. The imaging conditions include the position and size of a region of interest (ROI or VOI) and imaging parameters. For example, if the tomographic imaging device is an MRI device, the imaging conditions include the position and size of the region of interest related to MR images or MRS (MR Spectroscopy), the type of imaging sequence, TE, TR, and flip angle, and if it is MRS, the position, angle, number, or number of additions (NEX) of outer volume suppression (OVS). If the tomographic imaging device is an X-ray CT device, the imaging conditions include the tube current, tube voltage, rotation speed of the X-ray tube, slice thickness, helical pitch, etc. The imaging conditions may also include any other imaging-related conditions (parameters), such as image resolution and contrast.

[0011] The second terminal 3 is assumed to be a terminal that can be viewed by the approver, and may be, for example, a desktop PC, laptop PC, tablet terminal, smartphone, or any other terminal that can view various information including images. The second terminal 3 displays the imaging conditions received from the first terminal 2 so that the approver can check them, and transmits the approver's confirmation results to the first terminal 2.

[0012] Here, the approver is a superior (expert) who checks and approves the settings of the imaging conditions made by the requester. Therefore, if the requester is a technician, the requester is also a doctor. The relationship between the requester and the approver may be between technicians or between doctors. In other words, the approver is someone who can check the contents of the imaging conditions. For example, in the relationship between a new technician and his / her superior, the requester is the new technician and the approver is the superior technician. The requester may be a computer setting such as artificial intelligence (AI), and the imaging conditions may be set by AI without human intervention. In this case, the approver may be a person such as a technician or a doctor.

[0013] Next, the client-side communication device (medical information communication device 10a) will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The client-side communication device may, for example, be included in the console (not shown) of the tomographic imaging device, which is the first terminal 2, or may be independently of the first terminal 2 and connected to be able to communicate with the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3. The client communication device according to this embodiment includes a processing circuit 11, a memory 12, an input interface 13, and a communication interface .

[0014] The processing circuit 11 includes a setting function 111, a determining function 112, a querying function 113, an acquiring function 114, and a display control function 115. The processing circuit 11 has a processor (not shown) as a hardware resource.

[0015] The setting function 111 sets imaging conditions for acquiring medical data. The determination function 112 determines whether or not the imaging conditions require confirmation from an approver. When it is determined that the imaging conditions require confirmation by the approver, the inquiry function 113 transmits the imaging conditions to a terminal that can be viewed by the approver. The acquisition function 114 acquires the corrected imaging conditions, which are imaging conditions corrected by the approver. The display control function 115 controls the display of various information such as the positioning image, imaging conditions, and corrected imaging conditions on the display (not shown) of the first terminal 2.

[0016] The memory 12 stores various medical data, acquisition conditions, trained models, etc., which will be described later. The memory 12 is a semiconductor memory element such as a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an optical disk, etc. The memory 12 may also be a drive device that reads and writes various information from and to a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or a flash memory.

[0017] The input interface 13 has circuits for receiving various instructions and information input from a user. The input interface 13 has circuits related to input devices such as a pointing device such as a mouse or a keyboard. Note that the circuits included in the input interface 13 are not limited to circuits related to physical operation components such as a mouse or a keyboard. For example, the input interface 13 may have an electrical signal processing circuit that receives an electrical signal corresponding to an input operation from an external input device provided separately from the medical information communication device and outputs the received electrical signal to various circuits within the medical information communication device.

[0018] The communication interface 14 exchanges data with the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 via a network, either wired or wirelessly. As for the network, common communication means such as the Internet, Ethernet (registered trademark), and Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used, a description thereof will be omitted here. The communication interface 14 is an interface that connects the first terminal 2 to a workstation, a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), an HIS (Hospital Information System), a RIS (Radiology Information System), etc. via a LAN (Local Area Network), Ethernet, Bluetooth, etc. The communication interface 14 transmits and receives various types of information to and from the connected workstation, PACS, HIS, and RIS.

[0019] Next, a block diagram of the approver side communication device (medical information communication device 10b) according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The approver communication device according to this embodiment includes a processing circuit 21, a memory 22, an input interface 23, and a communication interface 24. The memory 22, the input interface 23, and the communication interface 24 are similar to the memory 12, the input interface 13, and the communication interface 14 shown in Fig. 2, respectively, and therefore will not be described here.

[0020] The processing circuit 21 includes a data reception control function 211, an acquisition function 212, a data transmission control function 213, and a display control function 214. The processing circuit 21 has a processor (not shown) as a hardware resource. The data reception control function 211 controls reception of query data including the imaging conditions and the positioning image from the first terminal 2. The acquisition function 212 acquires the imaging conditions and the positioning image from the first terminal 2 operated by the requester, based on the query data. The data transmission control function 213 controls so that the presence or absence of corrections to the imaging conditions and, if any corrections have been made, the corrected imaging conditions are transmitted to the first terminal 2 as reply data. The display control function 214 controls the second terminal 3 so that the imaging conditions and the positioning image are displayed on the screen of the second terminal 3.

[0021] Next, an example of the operation of the client side communication device will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 4. In step SA1, the setting function 111 causes the processing circuit 11 to set imaging conditions based on user input from a client such as a technician.

[0022] In step SA2, the processing circuit 11 determines, using the determination function 112, whether or not the imaging conditions require approval by an approver. For example, a "request" flag may be prepared, and if the flag is set, it may be determined that the imaging conditions require approval by an approver. Conversely, if the flag is not set, it may be determined that the imaging conditions do not require approval by an approver. Specifically, if a "request" flag is prepared when setting an imaging protocol, and if the requester sets the "request" flag before inputting the imaging conditions, it may be determined that the imaging conditions require approval by an approver when the imaging conditions are set in step SA1. Furthermore, if a specific imaging protocol is specified, it may be automatically determined that the imaging conditions require approval by an approver. For example, if it is specified that approval by an approver is always required for the region of interest in the case of an MRS imaging protocol, the processing circuit 11 may determine, using the determination function 112, that the imaging conditions require approval by an approver when the MRS imaging conditions are set.

[0023] Note that instead of a flag expressing two values, "inquiry" and "no inquiry," a three-value expression, such as "inquiry (with timeout)," "inquiry (without timeout)," and "no inquiry," may be used, and the present invention is not limited to flags. In this case, for example, in the case of "inquiry (with timeout)," if there is no response for a certain period of time, a predetermined process, for example, a process for when the inquiry is approved (or when the inquiry is not approved), may be performed. In this way, if additional information expressing whether or not an inquiry is required is set in the imaging protocol, the processing circuit 11 may determine whether or not approval from the approver is required based on the additional information using the determination function 112. If it is determined that approval from the approver is required for the imaging conditions, the process proceeds to step SA3. If it is determined that approval from the approver is not required for the imaging conditions, the process returns to step SA1, and the same process is repeated until the next imaging conditions are set.

[0024] In step SA3, the processing circuit 11 uses the inquiry function 113 to transmit the imaging conditions to which the flag has been added to the second terminal 3 via the network, and inquires of the approver who uses the second terminal 3. In step SA4, the processing circuit 11 uses the acquisition function 114 to acquire from the second terminal 3 the confirmation result regarding the imaging conditions.

[0025] In step SA5, the processing circuit 11 determines, as a confirmation result, using the determination function 112, whether or not corrected imaging conditions have been acquired from the second terminal 3. If corrected imaging conditions have been acquired, the process proceeds to step SA6, and if corrected imaging conditions have not been acquired, the process proceeds to step SA7. In step SA6, the setting function 111 causes the processing circuit 11 to reset the imaging conditions based on the corrected imaging conditions.

[0026] In step SA7, the setting function 111 causes the processing circuit 11 to confirm the imaging conditions according to the confirmation result. If the confirmation result indicates that imaging is OK, imaging is performed under the imaging conditions acquired in step SA1. If the imaging conditions are reset in step SA6, the reset imaging conditions are confirmed. If the confirmation result indicates that imaging is not required, imaging is not performed under the imaging conditions acquired in step SA1, and imaging can be skipped.

[0027] Note that, if the above-mentioned flag is set before the imaging conditions are set, the processing circuit 11 may, by using the inquiry function 113, transmit the positioning image to the second terminal 3 before the imaging conditions are set. Also, if the above-mentioned flag is set before the imaging conditions are set, the processing circuit 11 may, by using the inquiry function 113, transmit the imaging conditions to the second terminal 3 when the setting of the imaging conditions is completed. In this way, by transmitting a positioning image with a large amount of data to the second terminal 3 in advance, the positioning image has already been transmitted to the second terminal by the time the imaging conditions are transmitted to the second terminal, thereby reducing the time lost from setting the imaging conditions to having the approver check the imaging conditions.

[0028] Next, an example of the operation of the approver communication device will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 5. In step SB1, the data reception control function 211 causes the processing circuit 21 to receive query data relating to an inquiry about imaging conditions, which will be described later. In step SB2, the processing circuitry 21 extracts and acquires the imaging conditions and positioning image to be confirmed by the approver from the received query data using the acquisition function 212. Note that the query data may include a link to the positioning image, and the positioning image may be set to be downloaded from the PACS server based on the link.

[0029] In step SB3, the display control function 214 causes the processing circuitry 21 to display the imaging conditions and the positioning image on the display of the second terminal 3. As a method for displaying the imaging conditions and the positioning image, for example, a cross-sectional image that the client has determined needs to be confirmed may be displayed as the positioning image by default. Alternatively, if three cross sections of the positioning image are displayed and a region of interest is included in the imaging conditions, the region of interest may be superimposed. Alternatively, the three cross sections of the positioning image may be displayed so as to be automatically switched. Alternatively, one cross section may be automatically scrolled. Furthermore, automatic scrolling may be performed if no operation from the user is obtained for a preset period of time. Furthermore, automatic scrolling may be performed in the x-axis direction, y-axis direction, and z-axis direction, one cross section at a time, in order, at a preset speed. Note that if a user inputs an operation while automatic scrolling is being performed, automatic scrolling may be paused. Also, a resume button may be provided, and automatic scrolling may be performed again by pressing the resume button when the user wishes to resume automatic scrolling.

[0030] In step SB4, the processing circuitry 21 determines whether the imaging conditions have been modified based on user input from the approver. For example, when the processing circuitry 21 acquires modified values ​​for the imaging conditions from the approver via the acquisition function 212, it may determine that the imaging conditions have been modified. If the imaging conditions have been modified, the process proceeds to step SB5; if the imaging conditions have not been modified, the process proceeds to step SB6. In step SB5, the processing circuit 21 uses the acquisition function 212 to acquire a confirmation result that is a result of checking the imaging conditions based on a user input from the approver.

[0031] In step SB6, the processing circuit 21 acquires, by the acquisition function 212, the confirmation result, which is the result of confirming the imaging conditions, based on the user input from the approver, together with the corrected imaging conditions. In step SB7, the data transmission control function 213 causes the processing circuit 21 to transmit the confirmation result and, if a corrected imaging condition has been generated, the corrected imaging condition to the first terminal 2.

[0032] Next, an example of the data format of query data when the first terminal 2 inquires about the imaging conditions to the second terminal 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows query data for positioning images, and is a diagram illustrating the correspondence between data types and data contents in the query data. The data type "ID" includes a device identifier, a query data identifier, and a query type. The device identifier is, for example, an identifier that uniquely identifies a device that acquires a positioning image. The query data identifier is an identifier that uniquely identifies related query data. The query type is an identifier that uniquely identifies query data.

[0034] The data type "data" includes positioning images and additional information. Positioning images are, for example, a DICOM format file series and may include three-dimensional volume data. This allows the approver to freely observe cross sections. Additional information is, for example, information regarding parameters for reproducing the imaging.

[0035] 6 is received by the approver communication device, if previous query data for positioning images transmitted from the same device is held, the processing circuit 21 may discard the previous query data for positioning images and save the most recently received query data for positioning images using the data reception control function 211 based on the device identifier. Alternatively, the previous query data may not be discarded, and the received query data may be added.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows query data relating to imaging conditions, and is a diagram illustrating the correspondence between data types and data contents in the query data. The data type "ID" includes a device identifier, a query data identifier, and a query type, as in Fig. 6. Note that, to indicate that the positioning image and the imaging conditions correspond to each other, the query data identifier uses the same value as the query data related to the positioning image.

[0037] The data type "data" includes imaging conditions, the request priority for the approver, and the status of requests to other physicians. For example, if the imaging condition item requiring confirmation is a region of interest, the imaging conditions include information about the reference position (x, y, and z coordinate information) of the region of interest, the reference direction (directional vectors for each of the x, y, and z axes), and the size of the region of interest. The imaging conditions can be defined in XML Schema, Protobuf, or the like, and the imaging conditions can be transmitted to the second terminal 3 as data corresponding to the defined type. Furthermore, in XML Schema, Protobuf, or the like, definitions for commonly used data can be prepared as a basic set, and vendor-specific information can be adjusted as an extension to the basic set. The basic set may use, for example, an XML Schema included in the MRD format established by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). This allows parameters to be defined that are generally common across vendors. The data type "data" may also be configured to allow the reason for sending query data to be entered. For example, information on the reason for wanting the approver to check the imaging conditions may be included. Alternatively, the data type "data" may include items that allow free description, such as inquiries about other values.

[0038] 7 is received by the approver communication device, the processing circuit 21 determines whether or not positioning image query data whose query data identifier matches the received positioning image query data is stored in the approver communication device using the data reception control function 211. If positioning image query data whose query data identifier matches is not stored in the approver communication device, the requester communication device may be requested to provide positioning image query data whose query data identifier matches. Furthermore, in the approver-side communication device, when both the query data regarding the positioning image and the query data regarding the region of interest are correctly collected, the processing circuit 21 uses the display control function 214 to display them on the display of the second terminal 3 so that the approver can check them. In other words, if only one of the query data regarding the positioning image or the query data regarding the region of interest has been received, it is considered that there is insufficient information for the approver to check the imaging conditions, so by displaying both the positioning image and the region of interest data on the screen after they are collected, the approver can efficiently check the imaging conditions.

[0039] FIG. 8 shows cancel query data for canceling a query sent to inquire of the approver, and is a diagram illustrating the correspondence between data types and data contents. The data type "ID" includes a device identifier, a query data identifier, and a query type, as in FIG. The data type "data" includes the reason for cancellation. For example, if the wrong positioning image data or region of interest was selected, or if the wrong subject was selected, the reason is described. The query data shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are merely examples, and for example, information relating to a positioning image and imaging conditions may be generated as one piece of query data, and may be configured in any format.

[0040] Next, an example of the data format of reply data transmitted from the approver communication device to the requester communication device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between the data type and data content of reply data.

[0041] The data type "ID" includes a device identifier and a query data identifier, and the same value as the query data may be copied. The data type "Data" includes one of the following information: "Yes" indicating that imaging is permitted under the imaging conditions included in the query data, "No" indicating that imaging is not permitted under those imaging conditions, "Modified Imaging Conditions" which are the values ​​of the imaging conditions modified by the approver, and "Skip" indicating that imaging itself is to be canceled (skip).

[0042] When confirmation is required from multiple approvers, the order in which the query data regarding the positioning image and the query data regarding the imaging conditions are sent may be determined according to priority. For example, based on the request priority for the approver stored in the data shown in Fig. 7, the query data is sent to the second terminal 3 used by the approver with the highest priority. When reply data to the query data is obtained, the query data is sent to the second terminal 3 used by the approver with the next highest priority.

[0043] In addition, if the requester-side communication device cannot obtain a confirmation result from the first approver after a predetermined time has elapsed, it sends cancellation query data to the first approver and sends query data regarding the positioning image and imaging conditions to a second approver different from the first approver.

[0044] In the approver communication device, the processing circuit 11 acquires reply data using the acquisition function 114. If the approver determines that the imaging conditions are acceptable, imaging is performed using the imaging conditions as they are. On the other hand, if the approver has modified the imaging conditions, the processing circuit 11 resets the imaging conditions to the modified imaging conditions using the setting function 111, and imaging is performed. Also, if the reply data instructs skipping, imaging can be skipped.

[0045] It is possible that the query data and reply data between the requester and the approver will not be resolved in one round trip, but may require multiple exchanges. In this case, a serial number or the like is assigned to the query data ID. A draft flag indicating that the reply data from the approver is in the draft stage may be prepared, and if the draft flag is set, it may be determined that the imaging conditions have not been finalized. Upon receiving the reply data, the requester-side communication device may increment the serial number by one and again transmit the query data to the approver-side communication device.

[0046] In this way, even if the exchange of query data and reply data continues while the imaging conditions are not finalized, the requester-side communication device can easily understand that the imaging conditions have not been finalized due to the flag. After that, when the approver-side communication device finalizes (commits) the imaging conditions, it is sufficient to send reply data with the draft flag cleared to the requester-side communication device. Note that the format of the additional information is not limited to the draft flag format, and any format, such as a description in natural language, may be used as long as it indicates that the imaging conditions have not been finalized.

[0047] The query data and reply data may also include links that allow the requester and the approver to interact with each other. For example, the query data and reply data may include links to execute applications such as chat, IP phone, and video conferencing. This allows the requester or approver to immediately communicate with the other party via the link.

[0048] (Variation 1) In the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the first terminal 2 includes a client-side communication device and the second terminal 3 includes an approver-side communication device, and they communicate with each other. However, the medical information communication device may be included in an external server, such as a PACS server, and the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 may access the external server to query and confirm the imaging conditions.

[0049] A medical information communication device 10 according to a first modification of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 10 includes a first terminal 2, a medical information communication device 10, and a second terminal 3. The medical information communication device 10 exists independently of the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3. The medical information communication device 10 includes a processing circuit 31, a memory 12, an input interface 13, and a communication interface 14. The processing circuit 31 includes a determination function 112, a query function 113, an acquisition function 114, a data reception control function 211, a data transmission control function 213, and a display control function 115.

[0050] The functions included in the processing circuitry 31 are the same as the functions shown in Figures 2 and 3. The medical information communication device 10 according to this first modification acquires set imaging conditions from the first terminal 2. If the medical information communication device 10 determines that confirmation of the imaging conditions is necessary, it controls the second terminal 3 so that the imaging conditions and a positioning image are displayed. The medical information communication device 10 acquires input of the confirmation results of the imaging conditions and corrected imaging conditions, if necessary, from the approver who views the imaging conditions and the positioning image using the second terminal 3, and sets the corrected imaging conditions in the first terminal 2.

[0051] In addition, if the requester is a computer such as an AI, and the approver is a person such as an engineer, the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 may be the same device. In this case, communication related to transmission and reception may be Inter Process Communication (IPC). (Variation 2) In the second modification of this embodiment, another example of the inquiry process will be described in the case where the first terminal 2 is one of various medical image diagnostic devices such as an X-ray CT device, an MRI device, and an ultrasonic diagnostic device. FIG. 11 shows an example of query processing when the medical image diagnostic apparatus according to Modification 2 is an X-ray CT apparatus. The X-ray CT apparatus 50 includes a gantry unit 50-1 and a bed 50-2. A visible light camera 51 and an operation panel 52 are arranged on the gantry unit 50-1. The visible light camera 51 is arranged so as to be able to capture an image of the subject P placed on the bed 50-2. Note that the visible light camera 51 is not limited to being connected to the gantry unit 50-1, and may also be arranged on the ceiling of the examination room, as long as it is arranged in a position where it can capture an image of the subject P. In addition, a query button 53 is arranged on the operation panel 52 of the gantry unit 50-1. The query button 53 may be a virtual button formed on a touch display, or may be a physical button. For example, the requester may inquire about the setting status of the subject P, not limited to the imaging conditions as in the above-described embodiment. Specifically, after setting up the X-ray CT device to image the subject P, the requester presses the query button 53. When the query button 53 is pressed, the processing circuitry 11 transmits the image of the subject P captured by the visible light camera 51 to the second terminal 3 via the query function 113. The image captured by the visible light camera 51 is displayed on the second terminal 3. This allows the approver to determine whether the setting of the subject P is correct. Although the X-ray CT device 50 is used as an example here, the visible light camera 51 and the query button 53 may also be arranged in the case of an MRI device, similarly to the X-ray CT device 50. As a use case, for example, when the knee of a subject P is to be imaged using an MRI device, pressing the query button 53 causes an image from the visible light camera 51 to be transmitted to the second terminal 3, and the approver can check whether the left-right arrangement of the receiving coils placed on the subject P is correct. FIG. 12 shows an example of the inquiry process when the medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the second modification is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasound diagnostic device 60 includes an ultrasound bed device main body 60-1 and an ultrasound probe 60-2. A visible light camera 61 and an operation panel 62 are arranged on the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 60-1. A query button 63 is arranged on the operation panel 62. The arrangement and functions of the visible light camera 61 and the query button 63 may be the same as those in FIG. 11. For example, assume that the requester is examining a subject P using the ultrasound diagnostic device 60, and ultrasound images are being taken in real time. When the requester presses the query button 63, the processing circuitry 11 uses the query function 113 to transmit to the second terminal 3 the ultrasound image at the time the query button 63 was pressed. At the second terminal 3, the approver can determine whether the ultrasound image is the desired image. The requester may continue the examination using the ultrasound diagnostic device even after pressing the query button 63. In this case, if the requester receives a confirmation result from the second terminal 3 indicating that the requested ultrasound image is not the desired image, the requester may obtain an ultrasound image of the target area or subject again. The inquiry process according to this embodiment can also be used to check and instruct the technique of the requesting technician using the ultrasound probe 60-2. For example, if video capture is possible using the visible light camera 51, a video is captured focusing on the technician's movements of the ultrasound probe 60-2 during the examination. When the requester presses the query button 63, the processing circuit 11 transmits the video from the start of capture to the time the query button 63 is pressed to the second terminal 3 using the inquiry function 113. The approver can check the video and determine whether the technician has performed the technique of the ultrasound probe 60-2 to obtain the desired ultrasound image for the examination.

[0052] According to the present embodiment described above, when the imaging conditions require confirmation by an approver, the medical information communication device transmits the imaging conditions and the positioning image to a device that the approver can view. The approver can check the imaging conditions at their leisure by checking the imaging conditions on a device such as a laptop PC or a tablet terminal. For example, if a technician wants a doctor to check the imaging conditions, the technician can send the imaging conditions directly to a tablet device or the like, even if the doctor is in a remote location, and entrust the doctor with checking. This reduces the approver's workload and allows the approver to smoothly check the imaging conditions.

[0053] The term "processor" used in the above description refers to a circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a programmable logic device (e.g., a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)). If the processor is a CPU, for example, the processor realizes its function by reading and executing a program stored in a memory circuit. On the other hand, if the processor is an ASIC, for example, instead of storing the program in a memory circuit, the function is directly incorporated into the processor circuit as a logic circuit. Note that each processor in this embodiment is not limited to being configured as a single circuit per processor, but may be configured as a single processor by combining multiple independent circuits to realize its function. Furthermore, multiple components in the diagram may be integrated into a single processor to realize its function.

[0054] In addition, each function according to the embodiment can be realized by installing a program that executes the above-described processes in a computer such as a workstation and expanding the program in memory. In this case, the program that causes the computer to execute the above-described methods can be stored and distributed on a storage medium such as a magnetic disk (e.g., a hard disk), an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM or a DVD), or a semiconductor memory.

[0055] Although several embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Medical information and communication systems 2 Terminal 1 3. Terminal 2 10,10a,10b Medical information communication equipment 11, 21, 31 Processing circuit 12,22 memory 13,23 Input Interface 14,24 Communication Interface 50 X-ray CT device 50-1 Gantry section 50-2 Sleeper 51,61 Visible light camera 52,62 Operation panel 53,63 Query button 60 Ultrasound diagnostic equipment 60-1 Ultrasound diagnostic equipment 60-2 Ultrasound probe 111 Setting Function 112 Judgment Function 113 Inquiry Function 114 Acquisition Function 115 Display control function 211 Data reception control function 212 Acquisition Function 213 Data transmission control function 214 Display Control Function

Claims

1. a setting unit that sets imaging conditions for acquiring medical data; a determination unit that determines whether or not the imaging conditions require confirmation by an approver; a query unit that transmits the imaging conditions to a terminal that can be viewed by the approver when it is determined that the imaging conditions require confirmation by the approver; A medical information communication device comprising:

2. 2. The medical information communication device according to claim 1, wherein the query unit transmits the imaging conditions to the terminal when setting of the imaging conditions is completed if additional information indicating that confirmation by the approver is required is set.

3. The medical information communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the querying unit transmits a positioning image captured prior to the acquisition of the medical data to the terminal before the imaging conditions are set.

4. The medical information communication device according to claim 1 , wherein when the imaging conditions require confirmation from a plurality of approvers, the inquiry unit transmits the imaging conditions to the plurality of approvers in order of priority.

5. an acquisition unit that acquires modified imaging conditions that are imaging conditions modified by the approver; The medical information communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the setting unit resets the imaging conditions based on the corrected imaging conditions.

6. an acquisition unit that acquires imaging conditions and positioning images set for acquiring medical data from a terminal operated by a client; a transmitting unit that transmits to the terminal operated by the requester information indicating whether or not the imaging conditions have been modified, and, if the imaging conditions have been modified, modified imaging conditions that are the modified imaging conditions; A medical information communication device comprising:

7. The medical information communication device according to claim 6 , further comprising a setting unit that sets additional information for the corrected imaging conditions, the additional information requesting reconfirmation of the imaging conditions that have been reset based on the corrected imaging conditions.

8. The medical information communication device according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the imaging conditions include a region of interest.

9. a setting means for setting imaging conditions for acquiring medical data; a determination means for determining whether or not the imaging conditions require confirmation by an approver; When the query means determines that the imaging conditions require confirmation by the approver, the query means transmits the imaging conditions to a terminal that can be viewed by the approver.

10. On the computer, A setting function for setting imaging conditions for acquiring medical data; a determination function for determining whether or not the imaging conditions require confirmation by an approver; and a query function for transmitting the imaging conditions to a terminal that can be viewed by the approver when it is determined that the imaging conditions require confirmation by the approver.

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