Image diagnosis support device and operation method of image diagnosis support device

Abstract

To allow a doctor in charge to easily become aware of a report when the report is created by a radiologist while the doctor in charge performs image diagnosis.SOLUTION: An image diagnosis support device according to the present embodiment comprises: a medical image display unit that displays a medical image; a monitoring unit that monitors a registration state of a report corresponding to the medical image displayed on a display; and a report information display unit that displays, on the display, report information based on a result of monitoring conducted by the monitoring unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in the present specification and drawings relate to an image diagnosis support device and an image diagnosis support Operation of the device Regarding the method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when examining an outpatient who requires an imaging test, the doctor in charge of the examination (hereinafter referred to as the attending doctor) requests, for example, an imaging test from a medical technician and an imaging diagnosis from a radiologist. The medical technician performs an imaging test that includes the area requested by the attending doctor and collects medical images. The radiologist performs imaging diagnosis not only on the area requested by the attending doctor but also on all medical images collected by the imaging test, and creates a report on the imaging diagnosis (hereinafter referred to as the report) as the imaging diagnosis results. The attending doctor then checks this report and communicates the diagnosis results to the patient.

[0003] In recent years, the number of imaging tests has increased, leading to an increase in the number of imaging diagnoses. This means that radiologists are spending a lot of time preparing reports related to imaging diagnoses. In such cases, the attending physician may begin interpreting the images and perform the imaging diagnosis without waiting for the report to be prepared. However, if the report is prepared while the attending physician is performing the imaging diagnosis, the attending physician may not notice the arrival of the report because he or she is concentrating on the imaging diagnosis. Furthermore, because the attending physician performs the imaging diagnosis while focusing on diseases that are suspected based on the patient's examination, it may be difficult for the attending physician to notice diseases outside the scope of his or her expectations.

[0004] Therefore, if a report is created while the doctor is performing an image diagnosis, if the doctor can notice the arrival of the report, it will be possible to reduce the number of times the doctor misses checking the report. Furthermore, the arriving report will allow the doctor to easily notice diseases outside the scope of what was expected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-171526 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-109810 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-038429 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] One of the problems to be solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings is to enable a doctor to easily recognize a report created by a radiologist during the doctor's image diagnosis. 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]

[0007] The image diagnosis support device according to the embodiment includes a medical image display unit that displays medical images, a monitoring unit that monitors the registration status of reports corresponding to the medical images displayed on the display unit, and a report information display unit that displays report information based on the monitoring results by the monitoring unit on the display unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image diagnosis support system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the workflow up to when a radiologist registers a report in an electronic medical record management device in the image diagnosis support system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of an image diagnosis support system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of an image diagnosis support apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic medical record management device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of an examination information list displayed on a display of the image diagnosis support apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of medical image information acquired from a storage circuit of the image diagnosis support apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a report transmitted from the electronic medical record management device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 3A and 3B are views showing an example of a report, examination information, and medical images displayed on a display of the image diagnosis support device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 3A and 3B are views showing an example of examination information and medical images displayed on a display of the image diagnosis support device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 3A and 3B are views showing an example of a report, examination information, and medical images displayed on a display of the image diagnosis support device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the report management process executed by the electronic medical record management device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the report management process executed by the electronic medical record management device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a report, examination information, and medical images displayed on a display of an image diagnosis support device according to Modification 1. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of an image diagnosis support system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a medical image storage apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19]FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the examination information management process executed by the electronic medical record management device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image and report management processing executed by the medical image storage device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image and report management processing executed by the medical image storage device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic medical record management device according to Modification 2. [Figure 25] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical image storage device according to Modification 2. [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of a trigger file generation process executed by a medical image storage device according to Modification 2. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a trigger file generated by a medical image storage device according to Modification 2. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the trigger file saving process executed by the electronic medical record management device according to the second modification. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device according to Modification 2. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the trigger file management process executed by the electronic medical record management device according to the second modification. [Figure 31] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image and report management processing executed by the medical image storage device according to the second modification. [Figure 32] 10A and 10B are views showing an example of a plurality of reports, examination information, and medical images displayed on a display of an image diagnosis support device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 33] 10A and 10B are views showing an example of a plurality of reports, examination information, and medical images displayed on a display of an image diagnosis support device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 34] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support device according to Modification 3. [Figure 35] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device according to Modification 3. [Figure 36] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an association list acquired from a storage circuit of an image diagnosis support device according to Modification 3. [Figure 37] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a warning mark displayed on the display of the image diagnosis support device according to Modification 3. [Figure 38] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support device according to Modification 4. [Figure 39] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device according to Modification 4. [Figure 40] 13 is a diagram showing an example of examination order information acquired by the image diagnosis support device and a warning message displayed on the display of the image diagnosis support device in Modification 4. FIG. [Figure 41] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support device according to Modification 5. [Figure 42] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device according to Modification 5. [Figure 43] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of image annotation information according to Modification 5. [Figure 44] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of extracted information displayed on a display of an image diagnosis support device according to Modification 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of an image diagnosis support device and an image diagnosis support method will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be given only when necessary.

[0010] [Outline of the first embodiment] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image diagnosis support system according to a first embodiment. Fig. 1 shows an image diagnosis support device 10, an electronic medical record management device 30, and a radiologist terminal device 50, which constitute this image diagnosis support system. In addition, Fig. 1 also shows the doctors and radiologists involved in this image diagnosis support system. The image diagnosis support device 10 and the electronic medical record management device 30, and the electronic medical record management device 30 and the radiologist terminal device 50 are connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other.

[0011] (1) The image diagnosis support device 10 is a doctor terminal device operated by the doctor in charge. The doctor in charge operates this image diagnosis support device 10 to acquire examination information necessary for image diagnosis from the electronic medical record management device 30. However, when the examination information is acquired, the report created by the radiologist may not be registered in the electronic medical record management device 30. In this case, the image diagnosis support device 10 will not be able to acquire the report created by the radiologist when acquiring the examination information.

[0012] (2) The image diagnosis support device 10 acquires multiple medical images corresponding to the examination information and displays one of the multiple medical images. The attending physician starts image diagnosis based on the displayed examination information and medical images without waiting for the arrival of the report prepared by the radiologist.

[0013] (3) After the attending physician starts the diagnosis, if the medical image displayed on the image diagnosis support device 10 is changed to another medical image among the multiple medical images acquired in (2) above by the attending physician operating the image diagnosis support device 10, the image diagnosis support device 10 checks the registration status of the report with the electronic medical record management device 30.

[0014] (4) Meanwhile, the radiologist who has interpreted the collected medical images operates the radiologist terminal device 50 to create a report and registers the created report in the electronic medical record management device 30. The timing at which the radiologist in (4) registers the report in the electronic medical record management device 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0015] 2 is a diagram illustrating the workflow in the image diagnosis support system of this embodiment, from when a doctor orders an imaging test to when a radiologist registers a report in the electronic medical record management device 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the doctor first interviews the patient about their symptoms, etc. Then, to determine whether the patient has a disease suspected from the interview, the doctor orders an imaging test such as a CT scan or MRI scan by a medical technician and an imaging diagnosis by a radiologist.

[0016] After completing the examination of another patient, the technician performs an imaging examination on the target patient, including the area ordered by the attending physician, and collects medical images. Once the collection of medical images is complete, the attending physician and radiologist are ready to begin the image diagnosis.

[0017] After the radiologist has completed the imaging diagnosis of another patient, he / she obtains the medical images of the target patient collected by the medical technician and begins the imaging diagnosis and preparation of a report for the target patient. At this time, the radiologist performs imaging diagnosis on all of the medical images collected by the medical technician, not just the range ordered by the attending physician, prepares a report, and registers it in the electronic medical record management device 30.

[0018] However, if it takes a long time for the radiologist to prepare the report, the attending physician may obtain the medical images collected by the technician from the image diagnosis support device 10 after completing the diagnosis of another patient and before the radiologist has completed preparing the report, and begin diagnosing the target patient.

[0019] Then, when the radiologist has completed creating the report, he / she registers the report in the electronic medical record management device 30. In Fig. 2, the timing when the radiologist registers the report in the electronic medical record management device 30 is illustrated as an example when the doctor in charge has performed an image diagnosis and is in the middle of diagnosing the target patient.

[0020] Returning to Figure 1, (5) when checking the report registration status in (3) above, if a report has been registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires image information corresponding to the report and display image information, which is information about the displayed medical image, and compares the image information corresponding to the report with the information about the displayed medical image.

[0021] (6) When it is determined that the image information corresponding to the report matches the information about the displayed medical image by comparing the image information corresponding to the report with the information about the displayed medical image, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires the report from the electronic medical record management device 30 and displays the report superimposed on the displayed medical image. This allows the attending physician to easily recognize that a report has been created, even if a radiologist creates a report while the attending physician is performing an image diagnosis, and prevents the attending physician from failing to check the report.

[0022] [Detailed Description of First Embodiment] Next, a configuration example of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the image diagnosis support system 1 according to this embodiment is configured to include an image diagnosis support device 10, an electronic medical record management device 30, a radiologist terminal device 50, and a medical image diagnostic device 70. The image diagnosis support device 10, the electronic medical record management device 30, the radiologist terminal device 50, and the medical image diagnostic device 70 are connected to each other via a network NW so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0023] The image diagnosis support device 10 is, for example, a doctor terminal device operated by a doctor in charge. The image diagnosis support device 10 acquires and displays medical images captured and collected by a medical image diagnostic device 70 and examination information and reports registered in an electronic medical record management device 30 via a network NW.

[0024] 3 in this embodiment, one image diagnosis support device 10 is connected to the network NW, but any number of image diagnosis support devices 10 may be connected to the network NW. For example, two or more image diagnosis support devices 10 may be connected to the network NW.

[0025] The electronic medical record management device 30 is a device that electronically manages patient medical records, and in this embodiment, for example, manages electronic medical record information that includes examination information, reports, etc. in addition to the patient's diagnosis information by the attending physician. Here, examination information is, for example, information about the examination performed when the medical image was collected. The examination information includes, for example, various information about the patient's attributes, such as the patient ID and patient name, as well as information about the examination date and time, examination number, modality name, and area to be examined. This electronic medical record management device 30 corresponds to the first server in this embodiment.

[0026] The radiologist terminal device 50 is a device on which a radiologist creates a report based on medical images and examination information. Specifically, the radiologist terminal device 50 acquires and displays medical images captured and collected by the medical image diagnostic device 70 and examination information registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 via the network NW. The radiologist interprets the displayed medical images and performs image diagnosis while referring to the examination information. The radiologist then creates a report that is the result of the image diagnosis. The radiologist terminal device 50 transmits the created report to the electronic medical record management device 30 via the network NW and registers it.

[0027] 3 in this embodiment, one radiologist terminal device 50 is connected to the network NW, but any number of radiologist terminal devices 50 may be connected to the network NW. For example, two or more radiologist terminal devices 50 may be connected to the network NW.

[0028] The medical image diagnostic device 70 is a device that captures images of a patient and collects medical images. The medical image diagnostic device 70 associates the captured and collected medical images with supplementary information and transmits them to the image diagnosis support device 10 or the radiologist terminal device 50. For example, the medical image diagnostic device 70 is an X-ray diagnostic device, an X-ray image capturing device such as an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) device, an ultrasound diagnostic device, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device, etc. The medical image diagnostic device 70 is also called a modality.

[0029] The additional information is information that accompanies a medical image and is generated by a medical image diagnostic device that captures an image of a patient. The additional information includes, for example, various information related to the examination, such as the examination number, an image unique identifier (UID), and information such as the slice position of the medical image.

[0030] The network NW refers to any information and communication network that utilizes telecommunications technology, including, for example, a hospital backbone LAN (Local Area Network) or other wireless / wired LAN, the Internet, as well as a telecommunications circuit network, an optical fiber communication network, a cable communication network, and a satellite communication network.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support device 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 4, the image diagnosis support device 10 includes a processing circuitry 101, an input interface 103, a first display 105a, a second display 105b, a storage circuitry 107, and a communication circuitry 109. The multiple components constituting the image diagnosis support device 10 may be stored in a single housing, or may be stored distributed across multiple housings.

[0032] The processing circuitry 101 is an arithmetic circuit that performs various calculations, and is configured with, for example, a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, etc. The processing circuitry 101 according to this embodiment, for example, displays medical images captured by the medical image diagnostic apparatus 70, determines whether a report created by a radiologist is a report for the displayed medical image, and displays the report on the first display 105a or the second display 105b.

[0033] For this reason, the processing circuit 101 according to this embodiment has a reception function 101a, an acquisition function 101b, a report information display function 101c, a monitoring function 101d, and an image information comparison function 101e. The reception function 101a corresponds to the reception unit in this embodiment, the acquisition function 101b corresponds to the acquisition unit in this embodiment, the report information display function 101c corresponds to the report information display unit in this embodiment, the monitoring function 101d corresponds to the monitoring unit in this embodiment, and the image information comparison function 101e corresponds to the image information comparison unit in this embodiment.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , the processing functions performed by the reception function 101a, the acquisition function 101b, the report information display function 101c, the monitoring function 101d, and the image information comparison function 101e are stored in the storage circuitry 107 in the form of computer-executable programs. The processing circuitry 101 is a processor that reads and executes the programs from the storage circuitry 107 to realize the functions corresponding to the programs. In other words, the processing circuitry 101 in a state in which the programs have been read has the functions shown in the processing circuitry 101 of FIG. 4 . Note that, although FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the reception function 101a, the acquisition function 101b, the report information display function 101c, the monitoring function 101d, and the image information comparison function 101e are realized by a single processing circuit 101, the processing circuitry 101 may be configured by combining multiple independent processors, and each processor may execute a program to realize these functions.

[0035] The input interface 103 receives various input operations from, for example, the attending physician, converts the received input operations into electrical signals, and outputs the signals to the processing circuitry 101. In this embodiment, for example, the input interface 103 receives selection of examination information from the attending physician, changes to the medical images displayed on the first display 105a or the second display 105b, etc. The input interface 103 is realized by, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a manual switch, a foot switch, a button, a joystick, etc.

[0036] The first display 105a and the second display 105b display various images, examination information, etc. For example, the first display 105a and the second display 105b display medical images captured and collected by the medical image diagnostic device 70, examination information and reports transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for accepting various operations from the user, etc. In this embodiment, the first display 105a and the second display 105b are configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, etc.

[0037] In the example of FIG. 4 according to this embodiment, the image diagnosis support device 10 is equipped with two displays, a first display 105a and a second display 105b. However, the image diagnosis support device 10 may be equipped with any number of displays. For example, the image diagnosis support device 10 may be equipped with one display, or may be equipped with three or more displays. In the following description, when the first display 105a and the second display 105b are not to be distinguished from each other, they will be simply referred to as "display 105." Of the first display 105a and the second display 105b, the display on which the medical image is displayed corresponds to the medical image display unit in this embodiment.

[0038] The storage circuitry 107 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, a hard disk, an optical disk, etc. In this embodiment, the storage circuitry 107 stores, for example, medical images acquired from the medical image diagnostic device 70 and reports acquired from the radiologist terminal device 50.

[0039] The communication circuit 109 implements various information communication protocols according to the configuration of the network NW. The communication circuit 109 realizes communication with other devices via the network NW in accordance with these various protocols. In particular, in this embodiment, the image diagnosis support device 10 is connected to the network NW via the communication circuit 109, and communication with the electronic medical record management device 30 and the medical image diagnostic device 70 is realized.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic medical record management device 30 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the electronic medical record management device 30 is configured to include a processing circuit 301, an input interface 303, a display 305, a memory circuit 307, and a communication circuit 309. The multiple components that make up this electronic medical record management device 30 may be stored in a single housing, or may be stored distributed across multiple housings.

[0041] The processing circuitry 301 is an arithmetic circuit that performs various calculations, and is configured with a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, etc. The processing circuitry 301 according to this embodiment searches for examination information requested by the image diagnosis support device 10, and stores reports created by radiologists, for example.

[0042] For this reason, the processing circuit 301 according to this embodiment has an information acquisition function 301a and an information search function 301b. The information acquisition function corresponds to the information acquisition unit in this embodiment, and the information search function corresponds to the information search unit in this embodiment.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the processing functions performed by the information acquisition function 301a and the information search function 301b are stored in the storage circuitry 307 in the form of computer-executable programs. The processing circuitry 301 is a processor that reads the programs from the storage circuitry 307 and executes them to realize the functions corresponding to the programs. In other words, the processing circuitry 301 in a state in which the programs have been read has the functions shown in the processing circuitry 301 of FIG. 5. Note that, although FIG. 5 illustrates the information acquisition function 301a and the information search function 301b being realized by a single processing circuit 301, the processing circuitry 301 may be configured by combining multiple independent processors, and these functions may be realized by each processor executing a program.

[0044] The input interface 303 receives various input operations from, for example, the attending physician, converts the received input operations into electrical signals, and outputs the signals to the processing circuitry 301. In this embodiment, for example, the input interface 303 receives requests from the attending physician to search for test information or reports. The input interface 303 is realized by, for example, a mouse, keyboard, trackball, manual switch, foot switch, button, joystick, etc.

[0045] The display 305 displays various images, examination information, etc. For example, the display 305 displays medical images captured and collected by the medical image diagnostic device 70, reports transmitted from the radiologist terminal device 50, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for accepting various operations from the user, etc. In this embodiment, the display 305 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, etc.

[0046] 5 in this embodiment, there is one display 305, but the number of displays 305 is not limited to this and may be any number. For example, the system may be configured with two or more displays 305.

[0047] The storage circuitry 307 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, a hard disk, an optical disk, etc. In this embodiment, the storage circuitry 307 stores, for example, reports acquired from the radiologist terminal device 50.

[0048] The communication circuit 309 implements various information communication protocols according to the configuration of the network NW. The communication circuit 309 realizes communication with other devices via the network NW in accordance with these various protocols. In particular, in this embodiment, the electronic medical record management device 30 is connected to the network NW via the communication circuit 309, and communication with the image diagnosis support device 10 and the medical image diagnostic device 70 is realized.

[0049] The above is the configuration of the image diagnosis support system 1. Next, various processes executed by this image diagnosis support system 1 will be explained.

[0050] 6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device 10 of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to this embodiment. In this medical image diagnosis processing, the image diagnosis support device 10 sends a report search instruction to the electronic medical record management device 30 based on a change in the display image, which is a medical image displayed on the display 105, and displays the report by determining whether image information corresponding to the report matches information related to the displayed medical image. For example, this medical image diagnosis processing is processing that is executed when a doctor in charge selects examination information for image diagnosis and acquires the examination information.

[0051] 6, first, the image diagnosis support device 10 accepts the selection of examination information (step S11). The process of accepting the selection of examination information is realized by the accepting function 101a in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 accepts the selection of examination information from the attending physician via the input interface 103.

[0052] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the examination information list LT1 displayed on the display 105 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, the examination information list LT1 stores a patient ID, a patient name, an examination date and time, and an examination number in association with each other. That is, in this embodiment, information relating to the patient ID, the patient name, the examination date and time, and the examination number is extracted from the examination information. Note that the examination information list LT1 may also include other information.

[0053] More specifically, in step S11, when the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the selection of examination information from the attending physician, it displays an examination information list LT1 on the display 105. The attending physician selects examination information for which image diagnosis is to be performed from the displayed examination information list LT1 via the input interface 103.

[0054] 6, the image diagnosis support device 10 then transmits a request to acquire the selected examination information to the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S13). The process of transmitting the request to acquire the selected examination information is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits an examination number for identifying the examination information to the electronic medical record management device 30 via the communication circuitry 109, and requests the acquisition of the selected examination information.

[0055] Next, as shown in Fig. 6, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the examination information from the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S15). This process of receiving the examination information is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives and acquires the examination information transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30 in step S55 of Fig. 14, which will be described later, via the communication circuitry 109.

[0056] 6, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires medical image information corresponding to the examination information (step S17). The process of acquiring the medical image information MIF corresponding to the examination information is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires, from the storage circuitry 107, medical image information associated with the same examination number as the examination number included in the examination information.

[0057] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of medical image information MIF acquired from the storage circuitry 107 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the medical image information MIF stores a plurality of medical images and associated information corresponding to each of the plurality of medical images. In this embodiment, each medical image in the medical image information MIF is a tomographic image of a patient taken in the vertical direction, and each medical image in the medical image information MIF constitutes a three-dimensional medical image of the patient's examination target region. In the example shown in FIG. 9, for example, the three-dimensional medical image is constituted by tens to thousands of medical images.

[0058] 9, the incidental information includes the examination number "123," an image UID (Unique Identifier) ​​corresponding to each medical image, and information regarding the slice position corresponding to each medical image. Here, the examination number is a number for identifying the examination performed on the patient, the image UID is identification information for identifying each medical image in the medical image information MIF, and the slice position is information for identifying the slice position of each medical image in the medical image information MIF. Note that the incidental information may include other information such as information regarding the examination, information regarding the image, or information regarding the patient.

[0059] Furthermore, the image diagnosis support device 10 may acquire the medical image information MIF for the examination information from another device connected to the network NW, rather than from the memory circuitry 107 of the image diagnosis support device 10. In this case, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the examination number included in the examination information to the other device via the communication circuitry 109, requests to acquire the medical image information MIF for the examination information, and acquires the medical image information MIF for the examination information.

[0060] Next, as shown in Fig. 6, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits a request to acquire a report for the medical image information MIF to the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S19). This process of transmitting a request to acquire a report for the medical image information MIF is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the examination number associated with the medical image information MIF to the electronic medical record management device 30 via the communication circuitry 109 to request the acquisition of a report for the medical image information MIF. Note that the image diagnosis support device 10 may request the acquisition of a report for the examination information, or may transmit information other than the examination number to request the acquisition of a report.

[0061] Next, as shown in Fig. 6, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the result of the report acquisition request from the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S21). The process of receiving the result of the report acquisition request is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the result of the report acquisition request transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30 in step S61 of Fig. 14, which will be described later, via the communication circuitry 109.

[0062] In step S21, if a report containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the report itself as a result of the report acquisition request. On the other hand, if a report containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is not registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives a search result indicating that the report is not registered as a result of the report acquisition request.

[0063] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a report RPT1 transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, the report RPT1 includes information related to the report RPT1, such as the examination number, report UID, diagnostic information, and image information. Note that the report RPT1 may also include other information.

[0064] The diagnostic information is information obtained by performing image diagnosis on medical images captured and collected by the medical image diagnostic device 70. The diagnostic information is, for example, a description of findings on the medical images made by a radiologist after image diagnosis. In the example shown in FIG. 10, it states, "A ground-glass opacity is observed in the lungs. Lung cancer is suspected."

[0065] Image information is information describing medical images captured and collected by the medical image diagnostic device 70 that were referenced when creating diagnostic information, as well as supplementary information about the referenced medical images. The image information includes, for example, image data of the medical images referenced when creating diagnostic information, and information about the image data, such as the image UID and slice position of the referenced medical images. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the image information includes image data such as image UID "123_4," slice position "4," and two captured images. The image information may include other information about the image data, or may include only information about the image data, image UID, or slice position. The image data may consist of one image, or three or more images.

[0066] 6, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines whether or not the report RPT1 exists (step S23). This determination of whether or not the report RPT1 exists is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, when the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the report RPT1 as the acquisition request result in step S21, it determines that the report RPT1 exists for the medical image information MIF (step S23: Yes), and displays the report RPT1, the examination information, and the medical image on the display 105 (step S25), and ends the medical image diagnosis processing.

[0067] 11 is a diagram showing an example of the report RPT1, examination information, and medical image displayed on the display 105 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 11, in step S25, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the report RPT1 superimposed on the examination information on the first display 105a, and displays one medical image from the medical image information MIF acquired in step S17 on the second display 105b.

[0068] In step S25, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display the medical image on the first display 105a and the report RPT1 and the examination information on the second display 105b, or may display the report RPT1, the examination information, and the medical image on either the first display 105a or the second display 105b. The display format of the report RPT1 is arbitrary, and for example, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display the report RPT1 next to the examination information on the display 105.

[0069] On the other hand, in step S23, if the image diagnosis support device 10 receives a search result indicating that report RPT1 is not registered as the acquisition request result in step S21, it determines that report RPT1 does not exist for the medical image information MIF (step S23: No), and as shown in Figure 12, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the examination information on the first display 105a and one medical image from the medical image information MIF on the second display 105b (step S27).

[0070] In step S27, the image diagnosis support device 10 may, for example, display the medical image on the first display 105a and the examination information on the second display 105b. Alternatively, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display both the examination information and the medical image on either the first display 105a or the second display 105b.

[0071] Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines whether the medical image displayed on the display 105 has been changed (step S31). This determination of whether the displayed medical image has been changed is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, if the displayed medical image has not been changed to another medical image included in the medical image information MIF acquired in step S17 (step S31: No), the image diagnosis support device 10 waits until the displayed medical image is changed. For example, the doctor in charge inputs an instruction to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the input interface 103, whereby the displayed medical image is changed to another medical image included in the medical image information MIF. In this embodiment, the displayed medical image will also be referred to as a displayed image, as appropriate.

[0072] On the other hand, in step S31, if the medical image displayed on the display 105 is changed to another medical image included in the medical image information MIF acquired in step S17 (step S31: Yes), the image diagnosis support device 10 sends a search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF to the electronic medical record management device 30 in order to monitor the registration status of the report (step S33). The process of sending the search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101.

[0073] Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the examination number associated with the medical image information MIF to the electronic medical record management device 30 via the communication circuit 109. As a result, the image diagnosis support device 10 instructs the electronic medical record management device 30 to search for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF and monitors the registration status of the report RPT1. Note that the image diagnosis support device 10 may transmit an instruction to search for the report RPT1 for the examination information, or may transmit an instruction to search for the report RPT1 for information other than the examination number.

[0074] Next, as shown in Fig. 7, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the search results for report RPT1 from the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S35). This process of receiving the search results for report RPT1 is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the search results for report RPT1 transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30 in step S75 of Fig. 15, which will be described later, via the communication circuitry 109. That is, in this embodiment, the search results for report RPT1 indicate the registration status of the report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the display 105.

[0075] In step S35, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives image information corresponding to the report RPT1 as the search result for the report RPT1. On the other hand, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is not registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives a search result indicating that the report RPT1 is not registered as the search result for the report RPT1.

[0076] 7, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines whether or not the report RPT1 exists (step S37). This determination of whether or not the report RPT1 exists is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, when the registration status of the report RPT1 is monitored and the registration of the report RPT1 is not detected, that is, when the search result indicating that the report RPT1 is not registered is received as the search result for the report RPT1 in step S35, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines that the report RPT1 does not exist for the medical image information (step S37: No), returns to the above-mentioned step S31, and waits until the displayed medical image is changed (step S31).

[0077] On the other hand, if the registration status of report RPT1 is monitored in step S37 and registration of report RPT1 is detected, that is, if image information corresponding to report RPT1 is received as a search result for report RPT1 in step S35, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines that report RPT1 exists for the medical image information MIF (step S37: Yes), and acquires display image information, which is information about the medical image displayed on the display 105 (step S39). This process of acquiring information about the medical image displayed on the display 105 is realized by the image information comparison function 101e in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires, for example, the image UID or slice position corresponding to the medical image displayed on the display 105, or the medical image itself, as information about the medical image displayed on the display 105. Note that this process of acquiring information about the medical image displayed on the display 105 may also be realized by the acquisition function 101a in the processing circuitry 101. Information about the medical image displayed on the display 105 is also referred to as display image information.

[0078] 7, the image diagnosis support device 10 compares the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 with the display image information of the medical image displayed on the display 105 (step S41). The process of comparing the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 with the display image information is realized by the image information comparison function 101e in the processing circuitry 101.

[0079] Specifically, when an image UID is received as image information corresponding to report RPT1, the image UID as image information corresponding to report RPT1 is compared with the image UID as display image information. Also, when a slice position is received as image information corresponding to report RPT1, the slice position as image information corresponding to report RPT1 is compared with the slice position as display image information.

[0080] Furthermore, when image data is received as image information corresponding to report RPT1, the image data of the image information corresponding to report RPT1 is compared with the medical image as the display image information. When comparing the image data corresponding to report RPT1 with the medical image as the display image information, the image diagnosis support device 10 may adjust the brightness of the image data and / or the medical image according to the display mode or the part, and may compare an area other than the ROI (Region of Interest).

[0081] 7, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines whether or not the report is a report RPT1 for the display image, which is a medical image displayed on the display 105 (step S43). The process of determining whether or not the report is a report RPT1 for this display image is realized by the image information comparison function 101e in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, if the comparison in step S41 shows that the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 does not match the display image information of the medical image displayed on the display 105 (step S43: No), the image diagnosis support device 10 returns to the above-mentioned step S31 and waits until the display image is changed (step S31).

[0082] Here, a match between the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 and the display image information means, for example, when comparing using the image UID or slice position, that the image UID or slice position of the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 matches the image UID or slice position as the display image information. Also, for example, when comparing the image data of the report RPT1 with the medical image as the display image information, the comparison means that the image data of the report RPT1 matches the medical image as the display image information, or that conditions are set for the degree of image match and they match within the range of the set conditions.

[0083] On the other hand, in step S43, if it is determined that the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 matches the display image information of the medical image displayed on the display 105 through the comparison in step S41 (step S43: Yes), the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits an instruction to transmit the report RPT1 to the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S45). The process of transmitting the instruction to transmit the report RPT1 is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the examination number associated with the medical image information to the electronic medical record management device 30 via the communication circuitry 109. As a result, the image diagnosis support device 10 instructs the electronic medical record management device 30 to transmit the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF. The image diagnosis support device 10 may request the report RPT1 for the examination information, or may transmit information other than the examination number to request the report RPT1.

[0084] Next, as shown in Fig. 7, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the report RPT1 from the electronic medical record management device 30. (Step S47) The process of receiving this report RPT1 is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the report RPT1 transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30 in step S81 of Fig. 15, which will be described later, via the communication circuitry 109.

[0085] Next, as shown in Fig. 7, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the report RPT1. (Step S49) The process of displaying this report RPT1 is realized by the report information display function 101c in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 13, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the report RPT1 received in step S47 as information about the report based on the monitoring results, superimposed on the medical image displayed on the second display 105b. Note that the display format of the received report RPT1 is arbitrary, and for example, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display the report RPT1 alongside the medical image.

[0086] After displaying the report RPT1 on the second display 105b, the image diagnosis support device 10 returns to step S31 described above and waits until the displayed medical image is changed (step S31).

[0087] The medical image diagnosis processing according to this embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 is repeatedly executed while the attending physician is performing image diagnosis on the target patient, and ends when the attending physician has completed the image diagnosis on the target patient.

[0088] 14 and 15 are flowcharts illustrating the contents of the report management process executed by the electronic medical record management device 30 of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to this embodiment. In this report management process, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives examination information and a request to acquire the report RPT1 transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10, acquires the examination information, searches for the report RPT1, and transmits it to the image diagnosis support device 10. For example, this report management process is executed when a request to acquire examination information transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 is received.

[0089] 14, first, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives a request to acquire examination information from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S51). The process of receiving this request to acquire examination information is realized by the information acquisition function 301a in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives, via the communication circuitry 309, the examination number transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S13 of FIG. 6 described above.

[0090] 14, the electronic medical record management device 30 acquires examination information (step S53). This process of acquiring examination information is realized by the information acquisition function 301a in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 acquires examination information associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S51 from the examination information stored in the memory circuitry 307.

[0091] 14, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the examination information to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S55). This process of transmitting the examination information is realized by the information acquisition function 301a in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the examination information acquired in step S53 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 309.

[0092] 14, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives a request to acquire the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S57). The process of receiving the request to acquire the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives, via the communication circuitry 309, the examination number transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S19 in FIG. 6 described above.

[0093] 14, the electronic medical record management device 30 searches for the report RPT1 (step S59). This process of searching for the report RPT1 is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 searches the reports RPT1 stored in the memory circuitry 307 to determine whether or not a report RPT1 associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S57 has been registered.

[0094] 14, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the result of the request to acquire report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S61). This process of transmitting the result of the request to acquire report RPT1 is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the result of the search performed in step S57 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 309 as the result of the request to acquire report RPT1.

[0095] In this step S61, for example, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the report RPT1 as a result of the request to acquire the report RPT1. On the other hand, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is not registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits a search result indicating that the report RPT1 is not registered as a result of the request to acquire the report RPT1.

[0096] 15, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives a search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S71). The process of receiving the search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives, via the communication circuitry 309, the examination number transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S33 of FIG. 7 described above.

[0097] 15, the electronic medical record management device 30 searches for the report RPT1 (step S73). This process of searching for the report RPT1 is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 searches the reports RPT1 stored in the memory circuitry 307 to determine whether or not a report RPT1 associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S71 has been registered.

[0098] 15, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the search results for report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S75). This process of transmitting the search results for report RPT1 is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the results of the search performed in step S73 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 309 as the search results for report RPT1.

[0099] In step S75, for example, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits image information corresponding to the report RPT1 as the search result for the report RPT1. On the other hand, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is not registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits a search result indicating that the report RPT1 is not registered as the search result for the report RPT1.

[0100] 15, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives an instruction to send a report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S77). The process of receiving the instruction to send a report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the information acquisition function 301a in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives, via the communication circuitry 309, the examination number sent from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S45 of FIG. 7 described above.

[0101] 15, the electronic medical record management device 30 acquires the report RPT1 (step S79). The process of acquiring this report RPT1 is realized by the information acquisition function 301a in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 acquires the report RPT1 associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S77 from the reports RPT1 stored in the memory circuitry 307.

[0102] 15, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S81). The process of transmitting this report RPT1 is realized by the information acquisition function 301a in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the report RPT1 acquired in step S79 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 309.

[0103] In step S81, the report RPT1 is sent to the image diagnosis support device 10, whereby the report management process according to this embodiment is completed.

[0104] As described above, according to the image diagnosis support device 10 of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to this embodiment, the image diagnosis support device 10 monitors whether or not a report RPT1 has been registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, and when a new report RPT1 has been registered, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the report RPT1 on the display 105 to notify the attending physician, thereby enabling the attending physician to easily become aware of the presence of the report RPT1 even while performing the image diagnosis. That is, in this embodiment, the attending physician performing the image diagnosis focuses his or her attention on the medical image displayed on the second display 105b, but when a report RPT1 is created for the medical image displayed on the second display 105b, the report RPT1 is displayed on the same second display 105b, allowing the attending physician to perform an accurate image diagnosis by referring to the report RPT1 without losing concentration on the image diagnosis.

[0105] [Variation 1] In the image diagnosis support device 10 of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to the first embodiment described above, instead of the second display 105b that displays medical images, it is also possible to display the report RPT1 as information about the report on the first display 105a that displays examination information, while emphasizing the display of the report RPT1.

[0106] Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the report RPT1, examination information, and medical image displayed on the display 105 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to the first modification, and corresponds to Fig. 13 in the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 16, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the report RPT1 received in step S47 superimposed on the examination information on the first display 105a, and surrounds the report RPT1 with a thick line to emphasize that the report RPT1 is being displayed. The first display 105a on which this examination information is displayed corresponds to the examination information display unit in this embodiment.

[0107] The display manner of the received report RPT1 is arbitrary; for example, the image diagnosis support device 10 may blink the thick line surrounding the report RPT1, or may highlight and display the thick line surrounding the report RPT1, or may display the report RPT1 alongside the examination information.

[0108] Furthermore, the timing for highlighting report RPT1 is arbitrary, and for example, if report RPT1 is not displayed on the display 105 displaying examination information, report RPT1 may be highlighted when it is displayed on the display 105. Furthermore, if report RPT1 is already displayed on the display 105 displaying examination information, report RPT1 may be highlighted when a medical image corresponding to report RPT1 is displayed.

[0109] As described above, in the image diagnosis support device 10 of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to Modification 1, when a new report RPT1 is registered, the report RPT1 is displayed on the first display 105a that displays the examination information, so that the attending physician can be notified of the registration of the report RPT1 without impeding the visibility of the medical image displayed on the second display 105b. In other words, the newly registered report RPT1 for the displayed medical image is displayed on the first display 105a without being superimposed on the medical image displayed on the second display 105b, so that the attending physician's image diagnosis is not impeded.

[0110] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the medical image information MIF is stored in the image diagnosis support device 10 or the medical image diagnostic device 70, etc., and the report RPT1 created by the radiologist is stored in the electronic medical record management device 30, but the medical image information MIF and the report RPT1 created by the radiologist do not necessarily need to be stored in the above-mentioned devices. Therefore, in the second embodiment, an image diagnosis support system 1 will be described in which the medical image information MIF generated by the medical image diagnostic device 70 and the report RPT1 created by the radiologist are stored in a medical image storage device. Below, differences from the first embodiment described above will be described.

[0111] Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support system 1a according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 3 in the first embodiment described above. As shown in Fig. 17, the image diagnosis support system 1a according to this embodiment is configured to include an image diagnosis support device 10, an electronic medical record management device 30, a radiologist terminal device 50, a medical image diagnostic device 70, and a medical image storage device 90. The image diagnosis support device 10, the electronic medical record management device 30, the radiologist terminal device 50, the medical image diagnostic device 70, and the medical image storage device 90 are connected to each other via a network NW so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0112] The configuration examples of the image diagnosis support device 10, electronic medical record management device 30, radiologist terminal device 50, and medical image diagnostic device 70 of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0113] The medical image storage device 90 is a device that stores medical images, and in this embodiment, stores, for example, medical image information MIF generated by the medical image diagnostic device 70 and report RPT1 transmitted from the radiologist terminal device 50. The medical image storage device 90 also transmits the stored medical image information MIF, report RPT1, etc. to the image diagnosis support device 10 and to the radiologist terminal device 50 via the network NW. The medical image storage device 90 is, for example, an image server such as a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). This medical image storage device 90 corresponds to the first server in this embodiment.

[0114] Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical image storage device 90 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 18, the medical image storage device 90 is configured to include a processing circuitry 901, an input interface 903, a display 905, a memory circuitry 907, and a communication circuitry 909. The multiple components that make up this medical image storage device 90 may be stored in a single housing, or may be distributed and stored in multiple housings.

[0115] The processing circuitry 901 is an arithmetic circuit that performs various calculations, and is configured with a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, etc. The processing circuitry 901 according to this embodiment searches for medical image information MIF etc. requested to be acquired by the image diagnosis support device 10, and acquires from the storage circuitry 907 a report RPT1 created by a radiologist, for example.

[0116] For this reason, the processing circuitry 901 according to this embodiment has a medical image information acquisition function 901a, a report search function 901b, and a report acquisition function 901c. The medical image information acquisition function 901a corresponds to the medical image information acquisition unit in this embodiment, the report search function 901b corresponds to the report search unit in this embodiment, and the report acquisition function 901c corresponds to the report acquisition unit in this embodiment.

[0117] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 , the processing functions performed by the medical image information acquisition function 901a, the report search function 901b, and the report acquisition function 901c are stored in a storage circuitry 907 in the form of computer-executable programs. The processing circuitry 901 is a processor that reads the programs from the storage circuitry 907 and executes them to realize the functions corresponding to the programs. In other words, the processing circuitry 901 in a state in which the programs have been read has the functions shown in the processing circuitry 901 of FIG. 18 . Note that, although FIG. 18 illustrates an example in which the medical image information acquisition function 901a, the report search function 901b, and the report acquisition function 901c are realized by a single processing circuitry 901, the processing circuitry 901 may be configured by combining multiple independent processors, and each processor may execute a program to realize these functions.

[0118] The input interface 903 accepts various input operations from the attending physician, converts the accepted input operations into electrical signals, and outputs the signals to the processing circuitry 901. In this embodiment, for example, the input interface 903 accepts searches for medical image information MIF and reports RPT1. The input interface 903 is realized by, for example, a mouse, keyboard, trackball, manual switch, foot switch, button, joystick, etc.

[0119] The display 905 displays various images, the report RPT1, etc. For example, the display 905 displays medical images captured and collected by the medical image diagnostic device 70, the report RPT1 transmitted from the radiologist terminal device 50, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for accepting various operations from the user, etc. In this embodiment, the display 905 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, etc.

[0120] 18 in this embodiment, there is one display 905, but the number of displays 905 is not limited to this and may be any number. For example, there may be two or more displays 905.

[0121] The storage circuitry 907 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, a hard disk, an optical disk, etc. In this embodiment, the storage circuitry 907 stores, for example, medical image information MIF, a report RPT1, etc.

[0122] The communication circuit 909 implements various information communication protocols according to the configuration of the network NW. The communication circuit 909 realizes communication with other devices via the network NW in accordance with these various protocols. In particular, in this embodiment, the medical image storage device 90 is connected to the network NW via the communication circuit 909, and communication with the image diagnosis support device 10, the medical image diagnostic device 70, etc. is realized.

[0123] The above is the configuration of the image diagnosis support system 1a. Next, various processes executed by this image diagnosis support system 1a will be explained.

[0124] 19 and 20 are flowcharts illustrating the contents of the medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device 10 of the image diagnosis support system 1a according to this embodiment, and correspond to FIGS. 6 and 7 in the first embodiment described above. Based on a change in the display image, which is a medical image displayed on the display 105, a search instruction for report RPT1 is sent to the medical image storage device 90, and report RPT1 is displayed after determining whether image information corresponding to report RPT1 matches information related to the displayed medical image. For example, this medical image diagnosis processing is executed when the doctor in charge selects examination information for image diagnosis and acquires the examination information.

[0125] 19, the processes from step S11 to step S15 are the same as those of the medical image diagnosis process of the first embodiment. After step S15, in this embodiment, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits a request to acquire medical image information MIF for the examination information to the medical image storage device 90 (step S101). This process of transmitting the request to acquire medical image information MIF for the examination information is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits an examination number for identifying the examination information to the medical image storage device 90 via the communication circuitry 109, and requests to acquire medical image information MIF for the examination information.

[0126] 19, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives medical image information MIF from the medical image storage device 90 (step S103). The process of receiving this medical image information MIF is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the medical image information MIF transmitted from the medical image storage device 90 via the communication circuitry 109 in step S125 of FIG. 22, which will be described later. As a result, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires medical image information MIF including a plurality of medical images and their accompanying information.

[0127] 19, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits an acquisition request for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF to the medical image storage device 90 (step S105). The process of transmitting the acquisition request for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the examination number associated with the medical image information MIF to the medical image storage device 90 via the communication circuitry 109, and makes an acquisition request for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF.

[0128] 19, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the result of the request to acquire the report RPT1 from the medical image storage device 90 (step S107). The process of receiving the result of the request to acquire the report is realized by the acquisition function 101b in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the result of the request to acquire the report RPT1 transmitted from the medical image storage device 90 via the communication circuitry 109 in step S131 in FIG. 22, which will be described later.

[0129] The processes of steps S23, S25, S27 after step S21 and step S31 shown in FIG. 20 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

[0130] 20, in step S31, if the medical image displayed on the display 105 is changed to another medical image included in the medical image information MIF acquired in step S103 (step S31: Yes), the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits a search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF to the medical image storage device 90 in order to monitor the registration status of the report (step S109). The process of transmitting the search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101.

[0131] Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the examination number associated with the medical image information MIF to the medical image storage device 90 via the communication circuit 109. As a result, the image diagnosis support device 10 instructs the medical image storage device 90 to search for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF and monitors the registration status of the report RPT1. Note that, similar to the first embodiment described above, the image diagnosis support device 10 may transmit a search instruction for the report RPT1 for the examination information, or may transmit a search instruction for the report RPT1 for information other than the examination number.

[0132] 20, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the search results for report RPT1 from the medical image storage device 90 (step S111). This process of receiving the search results for report RPT1 is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the search results for report RPT1 transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30 in step S145 of FIG. 23, which will be described later, via the communication circuitry 109. The processes from step S37 to step S43 after this step S35 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

[0133] 20, if the comparison in step S41 shows that the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 registered in the medical image storage device 90 matches the display image information of the medical image displayed on the display 105 (step S43: Yes), the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits a transmission instruction for the report RPT1 to the medical image storage device 90 (step S113). The process of transmitting the transmission instruction for the report RPT1 is realized by the acquisition function 101a in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the examination number associated with the medical image information MIF to the medical image storage device 90 via the communication circuitry 109. As a result, the image diagnosis support device 10 instructs the medical image storage device 90 to transmit the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF.

[0134] Next, as shown in Fig. 20, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the report RPT1 from the medical image storage device 90 (step S115). The process of receiving this report RPT1 is realized by the acquisition function 101a in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the report RPT1 transmitted from the medical image storage device 90 in step S151 in Fig. 23, which will be described later, via the communication circuitry 109. The process of step S49 after this step S47 is the same as that in the first embodiment described above.

[0135] As in the first embodiment described above, the medical image diagnosis processing according to this embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 is repeatedly executed while the attending physician is performing image diagnosis on the target patient, and ends when the attending physician has completed the image diagnosis on the target patient.

[0136] Next, Figure 21 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the test information management processing executed by the electronic medical record management device 30 of this embodiment, and corresponds to Figures 14 and 15 in the first embodiment described above.

[0137] In the examination information management process of this embodiment shown in Figure 21, the processes from step S51 to step S55 are similar to the report management process of the first embodiment described above, and after the examination information is sent to the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S55, the examination information management process is terminated.

[0138] 22 and 23 are flowcharts illustrating the contents of medical image and report management processing executed by the medical image storage device 90 of the image diagnosis support system 1a according to this embodiment. In this medical image and report management processing, the medical image storage device 90 receives requests to acquire medical images and reports RPT1 from the image diagnosis support device 10, acquires medical images, searches for reports RPT1, and transmits them to the image diagnosis support device 10. For example, this medical image and report management processing is processing that is executed when a request to acquire medical image information MIF is received from the image diagnosis support device 10.

[0139] 22, first, the medical image storage device 90 receives a request to acquire medical image information MIF for examination information from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S121). The process of receiving the request to acquire medical image information MIF for examination information is realized by a medical image information acquisition function 901a in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 receives, via the communication circuitry 909, the examination number transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S101 of FIG. 19 described above.

[0140] 22, the medical image storage device 90 acquires examination information (step S123). The process of acquiring this examination information is realized by the medical image information acquisition function 901a in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 acquires medical image information MIF associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S121 from the medical image information MIF stored in the memory circuitry 907.

[0141] 22, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the medical image information MIF to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S125). The process of transmitting this medical image information MIF is realized by the medical image information acquisition function 901a in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the medical image information MIF acquired in step S123 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 909.

[0142] 22, the medical image storage device 90 receives a request to acquire the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S127). The process of receiving the request to acquire the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the report search function 901b in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 receives, via the communication circuitry 909, the examination number transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S105 of FIG. 19 described above.

[0143] 22, the medical image storage device 90 searches for the report RPT1 (step S129). This process of searching for the report RPT1 is realized by the report search function 901b in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 searches the reports RPT1 stored in the memory circuitry 907 to determine whether or not a report RPT1 associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S127 has been registered.

[0144] 22, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the result of the request to acquire report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S129). This process of transmitting the result of the request to acquire report RPT1 is realized by the report search function 901b in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the result of the search in step S127 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 909 as the result of the request to acquire report RPT1.

[0145] In step S129, for example, if report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is registered in the medical image storage device 90, the medical image storage device 90 transmits report RPT1 as the result of the request to acquire report RPT1. On the other hand, if report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is not registered in the medical image storage device 90, the medical image storage device 90 transmits a search result indicating that report RPT1 is not registered as the result of the request to acquire report RPT1.

[0146] 23, the medical image storage device 90 receives a search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S141). The process of receiving the search instruction for the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the report search function 901b in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 receives the examination number transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S109 in the above-mentioned FIG. 20 via the communication circuitry 909.

[0147] 23, the medical image storage device 90 searches for the report RPT1 (step S143). This process of searching for the report RPT1 is realized by the report search function 901b in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 searches the reports RPT1 stored in the memory circuitry 907 to determine whether or not a report RPT1 associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S141 has been registered.

[0148] 23, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the search results for report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S145). The process of transmitting the search results for report RPT1 is realized by the report search function 901b in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the results of the search performed in step S143 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 909 as the search results for report RPT1.

[0149] In step S145, for example, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is registered in the medical image storage device 90, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits image information corresponding to the report RPT1 as the search result for the report RPT1. On the other hand, if a report RPT1 containing the same examination number as the examination number in the medical image information MIF is not registered in the medical image storage device 90, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits a search result indicating that the report RPT1 is not registered as the search result for the report RPT1.

[0150] 23, the medical image storage device 90 receives an instruction to send a report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S147). The process of receiving the instruction to send a report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF is realized by the report acquisition function 901c in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 receives, via the communication circuitry 909, the examination number sent from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S113 of FIG. 20 described above.

[0151] 23, the medical image storage device 90 acquires the report RPT1 (step S149). The process of acquiring this report RPT1 is realized by the report acquisition function 901c in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 acquires the report RPT1 associated with the same examination number as the examination number received in step S147 from the reports RPT1 stored in the memory circuitry 907.

[0152] 23, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S151). The process of transmitting this report RPT1 is realized by the report acquisition function 901c in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the report RPT1 acquired in step S149 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 909.

[0153] By transmitting the report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S151, the medical image and report management process according to this embodiment is completed.

[0154] As described above, according to the image diagnosis support device 10 of the image diagnosis support system 1a according to this embodiment, even if a radiologist creates report RPT1 while the attending physician is performing an image diagnosis, the attending physician can easily notice the existence of this report, as in the first embodiment described above. That is, in this embodiment, the image diagnosis support device 10 instructs the medical image storage device 90 to search for report RPT1 every time the displayed image is changed, and if report RPT1 is registered in the medical image storage device 90, it acquires report RPT1 and displays report RPT1 on the second display 105b where the medical image is displayed. Therefore, even if the attending physician is concentrating on the image diagnosis, the attending physician can easily notice report RPT1.

[0155] [Variation 2] In the image diagnosis support system 1a according to the modification of the second embodiment described above, when a report RPT1 is registered in the medical image storage device 90, the medical image storage device 90 generates a trigger file indicating that the report RPT1 has been registered, and transmits the generated trigger file to the electronic medical record management device 30. The image diagnosis support device 10 can also be modified so as to monitor the registration status of the report by monitoring the registration status of the trigger file. Below, the case where this modification is applied to the second embodiment will be referred to as Modification 2, and the parts that differ from the second embodiment described above will be described.

[0156] The configuration of the image diagnosis support system 1a according to the modified example 2 is the same as that in Fig. 17, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Also, the configuration example of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to the modified example of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0157] Figure 24 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic medical record management device 30 according to Modification 2, and corresponds to Figure 5 in the first embodiment described above. As shown in Figure 24, the electronic medical record management device 30 according to this embodiment is configured by adding a trigger file receiving function 301c to the processing circuit 301 of the electronic medical record management device 30 according to the first embodiment. In this Modification 2, the electronic medical record management device 30 corresponds to the first server.

[0158] Fig. 25 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a medical image storage device 90 according to Modification 2, and corresponds to Fig. 18 in the second embodiment described above. As shown in Fig. 25, the medical image storage device 90 according to this embodiment is configured by adding a trigger file generation function 901d and a trigger file transmission function 901e to a processing circuitry 901 in addition to the medical image storage device 90 according to the second embodiment. In Modification 2, the medical image storage device 90 corresponds to the second server.

[0159] 26 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the trigger file generation process executed by the medical image storage device 90 according to Modification 2. In this trigger file generation process, the medical image storage device 90 generates a trigger file when a report RPT1 is newly registered, and transmits the trigger file to the electronic medical record management device 30. In other words, this trigger file generation process is a process that is executed when a report RPT1 is received from the radiologist terminal device 50.

[0160] 26, first, the medical image storage device 90 receives the report RPT1 from the radiologist terminal device 50 (step S161). The process of receiving this report RPT1 is realized by the report acquisition function 901c in the processing circuit 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 receives the report RPT1 from the radiologist terminal device 50 via the communication circuit 909.

[0161] 26, the medical image storage device 90 generates a trigger file for the report RPT1 (step S163). The process of generating the trigger file for this report RPT1 is realized by a trigger file generation function 901d in the processing circuit 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 extracts information about the report RPT1, such as the image UID, report UID, and examination number, from the report RPT1 received in step S161, and generates a trigger file. Here, the trigger file is information indicating that the report RPT1 has been registered in the medical image storage device 90, and includes information that allows the image diagnosis support device 10 to acquire the report RPT1 corresponding to the trigger file by referring to the trigger file.

[0162] Fig. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a trigger file TF generated by the medical image storage device 90 according to Modification 2. As shown in Fig. 27, the trigger file TF includes at least the image UID and report UID extracted from the report RPT1. Note that the trigger file TF may also include other information such as the examination number, and may include other combinations other than the combination of the examination number and image UID.

[0163] 26, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the trigger file TF to the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S165). The process of transmitting this trigger file TF is realized by a trigger file transmission function 901e in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the trigger file TF generated in step S163 to the electronic medical record management device 30 via the communication circuitry 909. The medical image storage device 90 may also transmit the trigger file to another device connected to the network NW.

[0164] By transmitting the trigger file TF in step S165, the trigger file generation process according to the modified example of this embodiment ends.

[0165] 28 is a flowchart illustrating the trigger file saving process executed by the electronic medical record management device 30 according to Modification 2. In this trigger file saving process, the electronic medical record management device 30 saves a trigger file TF. For example, this trigger file saving process is executed when the trigger file TF is received from the medical image storage device 90.

[0166] As shown in Fig. 28, first, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives the trigger file TF from the medical image storage device 90 (step S171). The process of receiving this trigger file TF is realized by the trigger file reception function 301c in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives the trigger file TF sent by the medical image storage device 90 in step S165 of Fig. 26 above, via the communication circuitry 309.

[0167] Next, as shown in Figure 28, the electronic medical record management device 30 saves the trigger file TF (step S173). This process of saving the trigger file TF is realized by the trigger file reception function 301c in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 saves the trigger file TF received in step S171 in the memory circuitry 307. When the electronic medical record management device 30 saves the trigger file TF in step S171, the trigger file saving process according to the modified example of this embodiment ends.

[0168] Fig. 29 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 2, and corresponds to Fig. 20 in the second embodiment. Note that the processing before step S31 shown in Fig. 29 is the same as Fig. 19 in the second embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the processing of step S31 shown in Fig. 29 is the same as that in the second embodiment.

[0169] 29, in step S31, if the displayed image is changed to another medical image included in the medical image information MIF acquired in step S103 (step S31: Yes), the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits a search instruction for the trigger file TF for the medical image information MIF to the electronic medical record management device 30 in order to monitor the registration status of the report (step S181). The process of transmitting a search instruction for the trigger file TF for the medical image information MIF is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101.

[0170] Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the image UID associated with the medical image information MIF to the electronic medical record management device 30 via the communication circuit 109. The transmission of this image UID serves as an instruction to the electronic medical record management device 30 to search for the trigger file TF, and the registration status of the trigger file TF corresponding to the medical image information MIF in the electronic medical record management device 30 is confirmed. This allows the registration status of the report RPT1 stored in the medical image storage device 90 to be monitored.

[0171] Next, as shown in Fig. 29, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the search results of the trigger file TF from the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S183). This process of receiving the search results of the trigger file TF is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the search results of the trigger file TF transmitted from the electronic medical record management device 30 via the communication circuitry 109 in step S195 of Fig. 30, which will be described later.

[0172] In step S183, if a trigger file TF containing the same image UID as the image UID of the medical image information MIF is stored in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives the trigger file TF as the search result for the trigger file TF. On the other hand, if a trigger file TF containing the same image UID as the image UID of the medical image information MIF is not stored in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives a search result indicating that the trigger file TF is not stored as the search result for the trigger file TF.

[0173] 29, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines whether or not a trigger file TF exists (step S185). The determination whether or not the trigger file TF exists is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuit 101. Specifically, when the registration status of the trigger file TF is monitored and registration of the report RPT1 is not detected, that is, when a search result indicating that the trigger file TF is not saved is received as the search result for the trigger file TF in step S183, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines that the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF does not exist (step S185: No), returns to the above-mentioned step S31, and waits until the display image is changed (step S31).

[0174] On the other hand, in step S183, when the registration status of the trigger file TF is monitored and registration of the report RPT1 is detected, that is, when the trigger file TF is received as a search result of the trigger file TF in step S183, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines that the report RPT1 for the medical image information MIF exists (step S185: Yes), and transmits an instruction to acquire the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 to the medical image storage device 90 (step S187). The process of transmitting the instruction to acquire the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 transmits the report UID included in the trigger file TF to the medical image storage device 90 via the communication circuitry 109, and requests acquisition of the image information corresponding to the report RPT1.

[0175] 29, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives image information corresponding to report RPT1 from the medical image storage device 90 (step S189). The process of receiving image information corresponding to report RPT1 is realized by the monitoring function 101d in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives and acquires the image information corresponding to report RPT1 transmitted from the medical image storage device 90 in step S205 of FIG. 31, which will be described later, via the communication circuitry 109. Note that the processes of steps S39, S41, S43, S113, S115, and S49 subsequent to step S189 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

[0176] The medical image diagnosis processing according to the modified example of this embodiment shown in Figure 29 is repeatedly executed while the attending physician is performing image diagnosis on the target patient, and ends when the attending physician has completed the image diagnosis on the target patient.

[0177] Fig. 30 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the trigger file management process executed by the electronic medical record management device 30 according to this modification 2, and corresponds to Fig. 21 in the second embodiment described above. Note that steps S51 to S55 are the same as the report management process in the second embodiment described above.

[0178] Next, as shown in Fig. 30, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives a search instruction for the trigger file TF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S191). The process of receiving the search instruction for the trigger file TF is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 receives, via the communication circuitry 309, the image UID transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S181 of Fig. 29 described above.

[0179] 30, the electronic medical record management device 30 searches for a trigger file TF (step S193). This process of searching for the trigger file TF is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 searches the storage circuitry 307 for a trigger file TF associated with the same image UID as the image UID received in step S191.

[0180] 30, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the search results of the trigger file TF to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S195). This process of transmitting the search results of the trigger file TF is realized by the information search function 301b in the processing circuitry 301. Specifically, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the search results of the trigger file TF searched in step S193 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 309.

[0181] As in step S183 described above, in step S195, if a trigger file TF containing the same image UID as the image UID of the medical image information MIF is stored in the electronic medical record management device 30, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits the trigger file TF as a search result for the trigger file TF. On the other hand, if a trigger file TF containing the same image UID as the image UID of the medical image information MIF is not stored in the electronic medical record management device 30, the electronic medical record management device 30 transmits a search result indicating that the trigger file TF is not stored as a search result for the trigger file TF.

[0182] By transmitting the search results for the trigger file TF in step S195, the trigger file management process according to the modified example of this embodiment is completed.

[0183] Fig. 31 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the medical image and report management process executed by the medical image storage device 90 according to this modified example 2, and corresponds to Fig. 23 of the second embodiment. Note that the process before step S201 shown in Fig. 31 is the same as Fig. 22 of the second embodiment, and therefore its description will be omitted.

[0184] Following step S131 in Fig. 22, as shown in Fig. 31, the medical image storage device 90 receives an acquisition request for image information corresponding to the report RPT1 for the trigger file TF from the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S201). The process of receiving the acquisition request for image information corresponding to the report for the trigger file TF is realized by a report acquisition function 901c in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 receives the report UID transmitted from the image diagnosis support device 10 in step S187 in Fig. 29 via the communication circuitry 909.

[0185] 31, the medical image storage device 90 acquires image information corresponding to the report RPT1 (step S203). The process of acquiring image information corresponding to this report RPT1 is realized by a report acquisition function 901c in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 acquires, from the storage circuitry 907, image information corresponding to the report RPT1 associated with the same report UID as the report UID received in step S201.

[0186] 31, the medical image storage device 90 transmits image information corresponding to the report RPT1 to the image diagnosis support device 10 (step S205). The process of transmitting image information corresponding to this report RPT1 is realized by the report acquisition function 901c in the processing circuitry 901. Specifically, the medical image storage device 90 transmits the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 acquired in step S203 to the image diagnosis support device 10 via the communication circuitry 909.

[0187] The processes from step S147 to step S151 after step S205 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Then, by transmitting report RPT1 in step S151, the medical image and report management process according to the modified example of this embodiment ends.

[0188] As described above, according to the image diagnosis support system 1a according to the second modification of this embodiment, as in the second embodiment described above, even if a radiologist creates a report RPT1 while the attending doctor is performing an image diagnosis, the attending doctor can easily notice the existence of this report RPT1. That is, the image diagnosis support device 10 checks the registration status of the report RPT1 in the medical image storage device 90 every time the displayed image is changed, and when a new report RPT1 is registered in the medical image storage device 90, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires the report RPT1 and displays it on the display 105 on which the medical image is displayed. Therefore, even if the attending doctor is concentrating on the image diagnosis, the attending doctor can easily notice the report RPT1.

[0189] Furthermore, according to the image diagnosis support system 1a relating to a modified example of this embodiment, the image diagnosis support device 10 monitors the registration status of the report RPT1 by monitoring the registration status of the trigger file TF stored in the electronic medical record management device 30. This reduces the processing load on the medical image storage device 90 and makes it possible to monitor the registration status of the report RPT1 while reducing communication with the medical image storage device 90, which has a heavy network load.

[0190] [Third embodiment] In the first and second embodiments described above, information about one report for the examination information or medical image information MIF is displayed together with the medical image, but the number of reports displayed is not limited to one. In the third embodiment, when there are multiple reports for the examination information or medical image information MIF, multiple reports are displayed on the display together with the medical image. Below, based on the first embodiment described above, differences from the first embodiment will be explained.

[0191] 32 and 33 are diagrams showing an example of multiple reports, examination information, and medical images displayed on the display 105 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 32 and 33, when multiple reports corresponding to the medical images displayed on the display 105 exist in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires the multiple reports from the electronic medical record management device 30. Then, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the acquired multiple reports on the display 105 together with the medical images.

[0192] In the example shown in Figure 32, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays on the second display 105b the report RPT1 received from the electronic medical record management device 30 in step S47 in Figure 7 and a past report RPT2 of the patient selected by the attending physician via the input interface 103, alongside the medical image.

[0193] In addition, in the example shown in Figure 33, the image diagnosis support device 10 receives report RPT3 created by a radiologist by image diagnosis of a CT image and report RPT4 created by a radiologist by image diagnosis of an MR image from the electronic medical record management device 30 in step S47 in Figure 7, and displays these reports RPT3 and RPT4 alongside the medical image on the second display 105b.

[0194] The combination of multiple reports is not limited to the above combination and is arbitrary. For example, when multiple reports are created for one piece of medical image information, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display the multiple reports created for the single piece of medical image information on the display 105. Furthermore, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display a report created by a radiologist and a report created as a result of image analysis by AI on the display 105. The multiple reports may also be arranged in any manner on the display 105. For example, the display area may be reduced by displaying the multiple reports in at least partial overlapping fashion.

[0195] Furthermore, a scanogram captured for positioning or setting the scan range may also be displayed on the display 105. A scanogram is sometimes called a scout image, and when such a scanogram is displayed on the display 105, multiple reports may be displayed side by side on the scanogram.

[0196] As described above, according to the image diagnosis support device 10 of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to the third embodiment, even when multiple reports are registered for a medical image displayed on the second display 105b, the image diagnosis support device 10 can acquire the multiple reports and display the acquired multiple reports on the second display 105b together with the medical image. Therefore, even when multiple reports exist for the examination information or medical image information MIF, the doctor performing the image diagnosis of the medical image displayed on the image diagnosis support device 10 can easily notice the existence of the multiple reports. This allows the doctor to perform the image diagnosis based on the medical image displayed on the second display 105b while referring to the multiple reports.

[0197] It should be noted that this third embodiment can also be applied to the second embodiment described above. That is, in the description of the third embodiment described above, the image diagnosis support device 10 is configured to acquire multiple reports by communicating with the electronic medical record management device 30, but as in the second embodiment, the image diagnosis support device 10 may acquire multiple reports by communicating with the medical image storage device 90.

[0198] [Variation 3] The image diagnosis support systems 1 according to the first to third embodiments described above can also be modified so that a warning is displayed on the display if a report RPT1 created by a radiologist during an image diagnosis by an attending physician is a report for a medical image that has already been displayed. Below, a case in which this modification is applied to the first embodiment will be referred to as Modification 3, and differences from the first embodiment described above will be described. Note that the configuration of the image diagnosis support system according to Modification 3 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, which describes the configuration of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0199] Fig. 34 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 3, and corresponds to Fig. 4 in the above-mentioned first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 34, the image diagnosis support device 10 according to the modification of this embodiment is configured by adding a first notification function 101f to the processing circuitry 101 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to the first embodiment. The first notification function 101f corresponds to the first notification unit in this embodiment.

[0200] Fig. 35 is a flowchart illustrating medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 3, and corresponds to Fig. 7 in the first embodiment. Note that the processing before step S31 shown in Fig. 35 is equivalent to Fig. 6 in the first embodiment, and therefore its description will be omitted. Furthermore, steps S31 to S49 shown in Fig. 35 are equivalent to Fig. 7 in the first embodiment, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0201] As shown in FIG. 35, if the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 does not match the displayed image information in step S43 (step S43: No), the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires information about medical images other than the displayed image (step S301). This process of acquiring information about medical images other than the displayed image is realized by the image information comparison function 101e in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires, from the medical image information MIF acquired in step S17, image UIDs or slice positions corresponding to medical images other than the medical image displayed on the display 105, or the medical images themselves. Note that the process of acquiring information about medical images other than the displayed image may be realized by the first notification function 101f.

[0202] Next, as shown in Fig. 35, the image diagnosis support device 10 compares the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 with information about medical images other than the display image (step S303). The process of comparing the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 with information about medical images other than the display image is realized by the image information comparison function 101e in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 compares the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 acquired in step S35 with information about medical images other than the display image acquired in step S301. Then, the image diagnosis support device 10 identifies which medical image the report RPT1 relates to among the medical image information MIF acquired in step S17. Note that the process of acquiring information about medical images other than the display image may be realized by the first notification function 101f.

[0203] When comparing image information corresponding to report RPT1 with information about medical images other than the display image, for example, if an image UID is received as image information corresponding to report RPT1, the image UID as image information corresponding to report RPT1 is compared with the image UID as information about medical images other than the display image. Also, for example, if a slice position is received as image information corresponding to report RPT1, the slice position as image information corresponding to report RPT1 is compared with the slice position as information about medical images other than the display image.

[0204] Furthermore, for example, when image data is received as image information corresponding to report RPT1, an image comparison is performed between the image data of the image information corresponding to report RPT1 and a medical image as information on a medical image other than the displayed image. When performing an image comparison between the image data corresponding to report RPT1 and a medical image as information on a medical image other than the displayed image, the image diagnosis support device 10 may adjust the brightness of the image data and / or the medical image according to the display mode or the region before performing the image comparison, or may perform image comparison of an area other than the ROI (Region of Interest).

[0205] 35, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires an association list (step S305). The process of acquiring this association list is realized by the first notification function 101f in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires the association list for the medical image information acquired in step S17 from, for example, the storage circuitry 107.

[0206] FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of the association list LT2 acquired from the storage circuitry 107 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 3. As shown in FIG. 36, the image diagnosis support device 10 associates image UIDs, which are information about medical images, with whether or not the images have been confirmed, and registers them in the association list LT2. Here, whether or not an image has been displayed is information indicating whether or not the medical images corresponding to the image UIDs in the association list LT2 have already been displayed on the display 105 and confirmed by the attending physician. In the example shown in FIG. 36, it is indicated that the medical images corresponding to image UIDs "123-1 to 123-4" have already been displayed on the display 105. Note that the information about the medical images associated in the association list LT2 may be information other than image UIDs.

[0207] 35, the image diagnosis support device 10 compares information related to the medical image corresponding to the report RPT1 with the association list LT2 to determine whether the medical image corresponding to the report RPT1 has already been displayed on the display 105 (step S307). The process of comparing information related to the medical image corresponding to the report RPT1 with the association list LT2 is realized by the first notification function 101f in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 compares the image information corresponding to the report acquired in step S39 with the association list LT2 acquired in step S305.

[0208] 35, if it is determined that the medical image corresponding to the report RPT1 is not a medical image that has already been displayed (step S309: No), the image diagnosis support device 10 returns to the above-mentioned step S31 and waits until the displayed image is changed (step S31). That is, the newly registered report RPT1 is displayed when the attending physician causes the image diagnosis support device 10 to display the medical image corresponding to the report RPT1.

[0209] On the other hand, if it is determined that the medical image corresponding to the report RPT1 is a medical image that has already been displayed (step S309: Yes), the image diagnosis support device 10 notifies the attending physician that a report on the medical image that has already been displayed has been registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S311). The process of notifying the attending physician that a report on the medical image that has already been displayed has been registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 is realized by the first notification function 101f.

[0210] Fig. 37 is a diagram showing an example of a warning mark displayed on the display 105 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 3. In the example shown in Fig. 37, when a report on an already confirmed medical image is registered in the electronic medical record management device 30, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays a warning mark WN1 on the display 105 to notify the attending physician.

[0211] The image diagnosis support device 10 may notify the doctor by issuing a sound rather than by displaying the warning mark WN1 on the display 105. Alternatively, the image diagnosis support device 10 may notify the doctor by both displaying the warning mark WN1 on the display and issuing a sound. In other words, the manner of notifying the doctor is not limited to these examples and can be modified in various ways.

[0212] In addition, when the attending physician is notified via the display 105, for example, by displaying a warning mark WN1 on the display 105 as shown in FIG. 37, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display a medical image corresponding to the report RPT1 on the display 105 by the attending physician selecting the warning mark WN1 via the input interface 103.

[0213] The medical image diagnosis process according to the third modification shown in FIG. 35 is repeatedly executed while the doctor in charge is performing image diagnosis on the target patient, and ends when the doctor in charge has finished the image diagnosis on the target patient.

[0214] As described above, according to the third modification of the first embodiment, even if a new report RPT1 is registered for a medical image that is already displayed on the display 105 during an image diagnosis by the attending physician, the image diagnosis support device 10 notifies the attending physician, so the attending physician can easily notice that the report RPT1 has been created for a medical image that has already been displayed and confirmed. Therefore, the attending physician can return the display to the medical image that has already been displayed and, while referring to the report RPT1, perform image diagnosis of the medical image for which the report RPT1 has been created.

[0215] The above description of Modification 3 is for the case where it is applied to the first embodiment, but it is clear that this modification can also be applied to the second and third embodiments.

[0216] [Variation 4] The image diagnosis support systems 1 according to the first to third embodiments described above can also be modified so that if the report RPT1 created by the radiologist during the image diagnosis by the attending physician is a report that is not included in the examination instruction information, a warning is displayed on the display 105. Hereinafter, a case where this modification is applied to the first embodiment will be referred to as Modification 4, and differences from the first embodiment described above will be described. Note that the configuration of the image diagnosis support system according to Modification 4 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 which describes the configuration of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0217] Fig. 38 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 4, and corresponds to Fig. 4 in the above-mentioned first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 38, the image diagnosis support device 10 according to the modification of this embodiment is configured by adding a search instruction information acquisition function 101g, an examination instruction information comparison function 101h, and a second notification function 101i to the processing circuitry 101 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0218] In addition, the search instruction information acquisition function 101g corresponds to the examination instruction information acquisition unit in this embodiment, the examination instruction information comparison function 101h corresponds to the examination instruction information comparison unit in this embodiment, and the second notification function 101i corresponds to the second notification unit in this embodiment.

[0219] Fig. 39 is a flowchart illustrating medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 4, and corresponds to Fig. 7 in the first embodiment. Note that the processing before step S31 shown in Fig. 39 is equivalent to Fig. 6 in the first embodiment, and therefore its description will be omitted. Furthermore, steps S31 to S49 shown in Fig. 39 are equivalent to Fig. 7 in the first embodiment, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0220] As shown in FIG. 39, if the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 does not match the displayed image information in step S43 (step S43: No), the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires examination instruction information (step S401). The process of acquiring this examination instruction information is realized by an examination instruction information acquisition function 101g in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires the examination instruction information from the memory circuitry 107. Note that the examination instruction information may be acquired from another device via the communication circuitry 109. The process of acquiring the examination instruction information may also be realized by the acquisition function 101b or the second notification function 101i.

[0221] Here, the examination instruction information is information that is used when the doctor in charge interviews the patient and instructs the technician to perform the necessary imaging examination, and is also called examination order information. This examination instruction information includes at least the examination site information, which is the order content. Figure 40 is a diagram showing an example of examination instruction information acquired by the image diagnosis support device 10 in this modified example 4 and a warning message displayed on the display of the image diagnosis support device 10. In the example shown in Figure 40, the examination instruction information EIF is "Since the coughing symptoms suggest emphysema, a lung examination is requested."

[0222] 39, the image diagnosis support device 10 compares the examination instruction information EIF with the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 (step S403). This process of comparing the examination instruction information EIF with the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 is realized by the image information comparison function 101e in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 compares the examination instruction information EIF acquired in step S401 with the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 acquired in step S35. Note that the process of comparing the examination instruction information EIF with the image information corresponding to the report RPT1 may be realized by the second notification function 101i.

[0223] In step S403, for example, if the examination instruction information EIF contains examination region information, the examination region described in the examination instruction information EIF is compared with the region of image data in the image information corresponding to the report RPT1.

[0224] 39, the image diagnosis support device 10 determines whether the image information corresponding to the report is information within a range not included in the examination instruction information EIF (step S405). The process of determining whether the image information corresponding to the report is information within a range not included in the examination instruction information EIF is realized by the image information comparison function 101e in the processing circuitry 101. Specifically, if the comparison in step S403 shows that the image information corresponding to the report is not information within a range not included in the examination instruction information EIF (step S309: No), the process returns to the above-mentioned step S31 and waits until the displayed medical image is changed (step S31).

[0225] For example, if the examination instruction information is "As cough symptoms suggest emphysema, a lung examination is requested" as shown in Fig. 40, and the image data of the image information corresponding to the report is image data of an area other than the lungs, such as the stomach or throat, the image information corresponding to the report is determined to be information not included in the examination instruction information. Also, for example, if the examination instruction information is "As cough symptoms suggest emphysema, a lung examination is requested" and the image data of the image information corresponding to the report is image data of the lungs, the image information corresponding to the report is determined to be information included in the examination instruction information.

[0226] On the other hand, in step S309, if the comparison in step S403 shows that the image information corresponding to the report is information within a range not included in the examination instruction information (step S403: Yes), the image diagnosis support device 10 notifies the attending physician that a report within a range not included in the examination instruction information has been registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 (step S406). The process of notifying the attending physician that a report within a range not included in the examination instruction information has been registered in the electronic medical record management device 30 is realized by the second notification function 101i. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 40, the attending physician is notified by displaying a warning display WN2 on the display 105, such as "There is a report outside the examination instruction information."

[0227] The image diagnosis support device 10 may notify the attending physician by issuing a sound rather than by displaying the warning display WN2 on the display 105, or may notify the attending physician by both displaying the warning display WN2 on the display 105 and issuing a sound. Also, when a scout image is displayed, the warning display WN2 may be displayed on the scanogram image. That is, the manner of notifying the attending physician is not limited to these examples and can be modified in various ways.

[0228] In addition, when the attending physician is notified via the display 105, such as by displaying a warning display WN2 on the display 105 as shown in Figure 40, the image diagnosis support device 10 may display a medical image corresponding to the report RPT1 on the display 105 by the attending physician selecting the warning display WN2 via the input interface 103.

[0229] The medical image diagnosis process according to the fourth modification shown in FIG. 39 is repeatedly executed while the doctor in charge is performing image diagnosis on the target patient, and ends when the doctor in charge has finished the image diagnosis on the target patient.

[0230] As described above, according to the fourth modification of the first embodiment, when a report is registered for a medical image outside the scope of the examination instruction information created by the attending physician, the image diagnosis support device 10 notifies the attending physician, so that the attending physician can easily notice even a report about a region outside the scope of the examination instruction information. In other words, a report about a medical image outside the scope of the examination instruction information may be difficult to notice because it is not included in the medical images within the range of the attending physician's attention, but by actively calling the attention as in this fourth modification, the attending physician can easily notice it.

[0231] The image diagnosis support device 10 according to the fourth modification may be configured to execute the above-described notification process even when the report RPT1 exists in step S23 of the medical image diagnosis process in Fig. 6 (step S23: Yes). In this case, after it is determined in step S23 that the report RPT1 exists, the device acquires examination instruction information (step S401) and compares the examination instruction information with information about the report RPT1 (step S403). As a result of the comparison, the device determines whether the information about the report RPT1 is information outside the range included in the examination instruction information (step S405). If the information about the report RPT1 is information outside the range included in the examination instruction information (step S407: Yes), the device displays a warning message WN2 on the display 105 to notify the user (step S409), and displays the report RPT1, the examination information, and the medical image (step S25).

[0232] On the other hand, if the information about the report RPT1 is not within the scope of information not included in the examination instruction information (step S407: Yes), the report RPT1, examination information, and medical images may be displayed without notification (step S25).

[0233] The above description of Modification 4 is for the case where this modification is applied to the first embodiment, but this modification can also be applied to the second and third embodiments.

[0234] [Variation 5] In the image diagnosis support systems 1 according to the first to third embodiments described above, it is possible to modify the system so that, instead of acquiring and displaying the report RPT1 created by the radiologist during the image diagnosis by the attending physician as is, only the information that needs to be displayed is extracted and displayed on the display. Hereinafter, a case where this modification is applied to the first embodiment will be referred to as Modification 5, and differences from the first embodiment described above will be described. Note that the configuration of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to Modification 5 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, which describes the configuration of the image diagnosis support system 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0235] Fig. 41 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 5, and corresponds to Fig. 4 in the above-mentioned first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 41, the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 5 is configured by adding an image annotation information acquisition function 101j and an analysis function 101k to the processing circuitry 101 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0236] The image annotation information acquisition function 101j corresponds to the image annotation information acquisition unit in this embodiment, and the analysis function 101k corresponds to the analysis unit in this embodiment.

[0237] Fig. 42 is a flowchart illustrating medical image diagnosis processing executed by the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 5, and corresponds to Fig. 7 in the first embodiment. Note that the processing before step S31 shown in Fig. 42 is equivalent to Fig. 6 in the first embodiment, and therefore its description will be omitted. Furthermore, steps S31 to S49 shown in Fig. 42 are equivalent to Fig. 7 in the first embodiment, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0238] 42, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires image annotation information (step S501). The process of acquiring the image annotation information is realized by the image annotation information acquisition function 101j. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 acquires the image annotation information from the storage circuitry 107.

[0239] FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating an example of image annotation information according to Modification 5. Image annotation information here refers to information including annotation information indicating a position of attention or interest within a medical image. For example, in this embodiment, image annotation information includes character string information such as notes added to a medical image as a result of performing an analysis on the medical image, and graphic information encircling a specific region or area with a graphic. In the example shown in FIG. 43, character string information such as "ground-glass shadows are visible" is added as first image annotation information AIF1, and graphic information encircling a portion of the medical image with a circle is added as second image annotation information AIF2. Note that image annotation information is not limited to the information described above, and may include various other information.

[0240] 42, the image diagnosis support device 10 analyzes the image annotation information and the report information (step S503). This process of analyzing the image annotation information and the report information is realized by the analysis function 101k. Specifically, the related content of the character string information and graphic information included in the image annotation information acquired in step S501 and the character string information included in the report information received in step S47 is analyzed.

[0241] More specifically, for example, in the example shown in Fig. 43, character string information "A ground-glass opacity is seen" is added to the medical image as first image annotation information AIF1, and graphic information circling a portion of the medical image is added to the medical image as second image annotation information AIF2, and in the example shown in Fig. 10, the diagnostic information in the report information received in step S47 states "A ground-glass opacity is seen in the lung. Lung cancer is suspected." Therefore, by the analysis in step S503, for example, the information "A ground-glass opacity is seen" that is common to the diagnostic information and the image annotation information, and the graphic information circling a portion of the medical image indicating the location where the "ground-glass opacity is seen" are extracted as related content.

[0242] 42, the image diagnosis support device 10 extracts and displays information to be displayed on the medical image display unit based on the analysis results (step S505). The process of extracting and displaying information to be displayed on the medical image display unit based on this analysis result is realized by the report information display function 101c. Specifically, the image diagnosis support device 10 extracts character string information and graphic information based on the analysis results of the character string information and graphic information included in the image annotation information acquired in step S501 and the report information received in step S47 through the analysis in step S503, and displays the extracted information on the display 105.

[0243] It should be noted that the image diagnosis support device 10 does not necessarily need to extract information to be displayed on the medical image display unit from both the image annotation information and the information related to the report; it may extract either one of them. In other words, the image diagnosis support device 10 only needs to extract information that meets the criteria for extraction based on the analysis results. Therefore, the image diagnosis support device 10 extracts information to be displayed on the medical image display unit from the image annotation information and / or the information related to the report.

[0244] Fig. 44 is a diagram showing an example of extracted information displayed on the display 105 of the image diagnosis support device 10 according to Modification 5. As shown in Fig. 44, first extracted information IE1, which is character string information extracted based on the analysis result, and second extracted information IE2, which is graphic information extracted based on the analysis result, are displayed on the medical image displayed on the display 105.

[0245] The medical image diagnosis process according to the fifth modification shown in FIG. 42 is repeatedly executed while the doctor in charge is performing image diagnosis on the target patient, and ends when the doctor in charge has finished the image diagnosis on the target patient.

[0246] As described above, according to the fifth modification of the first embodiment, even if a report is registered for a medical image during an image diagnosis by an attending physician, the image diagnosis support device 10 displays the report on the display, allowing the attending physician to easily notice the report. Furthermore, the image diagnosis support device 10 of the fifth modification displays necessary information related to the report on the display 105, allowing the attending physician to easily understand the contents of the report.

[0247] In addition, the image diagnosis support device 10 of variant example 5 may acquire image annotation information (step S501) when a report exists (step S23: Yes) in step S23 of the medical image diagnosis processing in Figure 6, analyze the image annotation information and report information (step S503), and instead of displaying the report RPT1, extract character string information and graphic information based on the analysis results and display the extracted information on the display 105 (step S505).

[0248] Furthermore, the above description of Modification 5 is a description of the case where it is applied to the first embodiment, but it is clear that this modification can also be applied to the second and third embodiments.

[0249] [Variation 6] In the image diagnosis support device 10 of the first to third embodiments described above, after displaying the examination information and medical images in step S27 of the medical image diagnosis processing of FIGS. 6 and 19 , a report search instruction is sent to the electronic medical record management device 30 or the medical image storage device 90 and the registration status of the report RPT1 is monitored each time the displayed image is changed. However, the manner of monitoring the registration status of the report RPT1 is not limited to this. For example, after displaying the examination information and medical images, the image diagnosis support device 10 may send a search instruction for the report RPT1 to the electronic medical record management device 30 or the medical image storage device 90 at predetermined intervals, such as every 10 seconds or every minute, to monitor the registration status of the report RPT1. With this configuration, even if a new report RPT1 is registered for a medical image currently being displayed on the display 105, the doctor in charge can be notified of the registration of this report RPT1.

[0250] The term "processor" used in the above description refers to a circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (e.g., a Simple Programmable Logic Device (SPLD), a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)). A processor realizes its functions by reading and executing a program stored in a memory circuit. Instead of storing a program in a memory circuit, the processor may be configured so that the program is directly embedded in the circuit. In this case, the processor realizes its functions by reading and executing the program embedded in the circuit. The processor is not limited to being configured as a single circuit, but may also be configured as a single processor by combining multiple independent circuits to realize its functions. Furthermore, a plurality of components in FIGS. 4, 5, 18, 24, 25, 34, 38, and 42 may be integrated into one processor to realize the functions thereof.

[0251] Although several embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are presented only as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel apparatus and method described herein may be embodied in various other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made to the forms of the apparatus and method described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms and modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0252] 1, 1a...Image diagnosis support system 10...Image diagnosis support device 30...Electronic medical record management device 50...Radiologist terminal device 70...Medical imaging diagnostic equipment 90...Medical image storage device 103, 303, 503...input interface 105, 305, 505…display 107, 307, 507...memory circuit 109, 309, 509...Communication circuits

Claims

1. a medical image display unit for displaying a medical image; a monitoring unit that monitors the registration status of the report so that, when the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit is changed to another medical image, a search instruction for a report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit is sent to a first server connected via a network, and the search result of the report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit is obtained from the first server as the registration status of the report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit; an image information comparison unit that monitors the registration status of the report and, when registration of the report is detected, compares image information included in the report with information about the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit; a report information display unit that displays information about the report based on the monitoring result by the monitoring unit on the medical image display unit; An image diagnosis support device comprising:

2. 2. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined by the comparison by the image information comparison unit that the image information corresponding to the report matches the information about the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit, the report information display unit displays the information about the report on the medical image display unit.

3. the first server is an electronic medical record management device that electronically manages medical records; 3. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit communicates with the electronic medical record management device via a network and monitors the registration status of the report.

4. The medical imaging device further includes an examination information display unit that displays examination information related to the medical image, 4. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, wherein the report information display unit displays information about the report in an emphasized manner on the examination information display unit instead of on the medical image display unit.

5. the first server is a medical image storage device that manages the medical images; 3. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit communicates with the medical image storage device via a network and monitors the registration status of the report.

6. 6. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 5, wherein the monitoring unit monitors the registration status of the report and, when detecting registration of the report, acquires image information corresponding to the report from the medical image storage device.

7. The medical image processing system further includes a second server that manages the medical images and the reports, The monitoring unit monitors the registration status of the report so that, when the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit is changed to another medical image, a search instruction for a trigger file of a report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit is sent to a first server connected via a network, and a search result of the trigger file of the report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit is obtained from the first server; When the registration of the report is detected based on the search result of the trigger file, image information included in the report is acquired from the second server.

3. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1.

8. 8. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, wherein, when there are multiple reports corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit, the report information display unit displays information about the multiple reports alongside the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit.

9. 9. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, further comprising a first notification unit that notifies that the information about the report based on the monitoring result by the monitoring unit is information about the report corresponding to a medical image already displayed on the medical image display unit.

10. an examination instruction information acquiring unit that acquires examination instruction information including information related to examination instructions when capturing the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit; an examination instruction information comparison unit that compares the examination instruction information with information related to the report; 10. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second notification unit that notifies, based on a comparison result of the examination instruction information comparison unit, that information regarding the report is not included in the examination instruction information.

11. an image annotation information acquisition unit that acquires image annotation information including annotation information indicating a position of attention or interest within a medical image; an analysis unit that analyzes the image annotation information and information related to the report, 11. The image diagnosis support device according to claim 1, wherein the report information display unit extracts information to be displayed on the medical image display unit from the image annotation information and / or information related to the report based on the analysis results of the analysis unit, and displays the extracted information on the medical image display unit.

12. A method for operating an image diagnosis support device that supports image diagnosis of medical images, comprising: the image diagnosis support device comprises a medical image display unit, a monitoring unit, an image information comparison unit, and a report information display unit; a step of displaying a medical image on the medical image display unit; a step of monitoring a registration status of the report so that, when the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit is changed to another medical image, the monitoring unit sends a search instruction for a report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit to a first server connected via a network, and acquires, from the first server, a search result for the report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit as the registration status of the report corresponding to the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit; the image information comparison unit monitors the registration status of the report, and when the registration of the report is detected, compares the image information included in the report with information about the medical image displayed on the medical image display unit; a step in which the report information display unit displays report information based on a monitoring result on the medical image display unit; A method for operating an image diagnosis support device comprising:

Images