Medical system

Abstract

This medical system comprises an endoscopic system, and an external storage device for storing setting data for the endoscopic system. The external storage device: stores the setting data in a manner that associates device information on the endoscopic system with examination information provided by the endoscopic system; stores analysis information corresponding to the setting data; and transmits, on the basis of the device information and the examination information transmitted from the endoscopic system, the corresponding setting data and analysis information to the endoscopic system. The endoscopic system presents the setting data and the analysis information to a user, and sets the setting data selected by the user.

Description

medical system

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical system that presents setting data to a user.

[0002] In recent years, endoscopes have come into widespread use in fields such as the medical field. Different types of endoscopes are available for different observation sites, and the endoscope suited to the observation site facilitates observation or examination, and treatment using treatment tools. When different types of endoscopes are connected to a common signal processing device and light source device, it is necessary to set the endoscopes appropriately for each type.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent No. 6010258 discloses an endoscope system in which setting data is set by inputting the name of an observation area or a medical department, or in which setting data is set according to the type of endoscope.

[0004] Incidentally, it is conceivable that not only the setting data used in one's own facility but also the setting data used in other facilities may be stored in an external storage device such as a cloud, and the setting data may be provided to the user.

[0005] However, when setting data used at other facilities is also stored in an external storage device, the amount of setting data narrowed down by the name of the observation area or medical department, or narrowed down by endoscope type, can become enormous, and users may be confused about which setting data to use.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a medical system that can reduce the user's confusion when selecting setting data even when multiple setting data are presented.

[0007] A medical system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises an endoscopic system and an external storage device that stores setting data for the endoscopic system. The external storage device stores the setting data by associating equipment information related to the endoscopic system with examination information obtained by the endoscopic system, stores analysis information corresponding to the setting data, and transmits the corresponding setting data and analysis information to the endoscopic system based on the equipment information and examination information transmitted from the endoscopic system. The endoscopic system presents the setting data and analysis information to a user and sets the setting data selected by the user.

[0008] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical system according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of device information; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of test information; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of setting data; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of analysis results; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of setting data displayed on the monitor device, and an example of analysis results corresponding to the plurality of setting data; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an evaluation screen displayed on the monitor device; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of various information stored in an external storage device; FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing for setting setting data; and FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing after the end of an examination.

[0009]

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical system according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the medical system 1 includes an endoscope system 10 and an external storage device 30.

[0010] The endoscopic system 10 includes an endoscope 11 that captures an image of a subject, a processor 12 that performs predetermined image processing on the image signal from the endoscope 11, a light source device 13 that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 11 to illuminate the subject, and a monitor device 14 that displays the observed image that has been image processed by the processor 12.

[0011] The processor 12 includes a communication unit 21, a control unit 22, and a function setting unit 23. The communication unit 21 is configured with a network interface or the like, and transmits and receives data to and from an external storage device 30 connected via a communication network N. The communication unit 21 transmits model information and inspection information to the external storage device 30. The model information and inspection information will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0012] The control unit 22 performs overall control of the processor 12. The control unit 22 outputs the setting data and analysis results (analysis information) received by the communication unit 21 to the monitor device 14, and presents the setting data and analysis results to the user. The setting data and analysis results will be described later with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The function setting unit 23 sets the setting data selected by the user.

[0013] The external storage device 30 is, for example, a cloud, and stores the setting data transmitted from the endoscope system 10. The external storage device 30 is also connected to medical facilities 40A, 40B, ... that are different from the medical facility equipped with the endoscope system 10 via a communication network N. The medical facilities 40A, 40B, ... transmit the setting data they have used to the external storage device 30. The external storage device 30 accumulates multiple pieces of setting data transmitted from the medical facilities 40A, 40B, ...

[0014] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of device information. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of examination information. As shown in Fig. 2, the model information includes at least one of information on the model and serial number of the endoscope 11, information on the model and serial number of the processor 12, information on the model and serial number of the light source device 13, information on the model and serial number of the monitor device 14, and information on the facility name and the doctor in charge.

[0015] As shown in Figure 3, the examination information includes at least one of information on the observation site such as the stomach or large intestine, information on the purpose of the examination indicating whether screening, examination, or treatment will be performed, and information on lesions such as gastric fundus linear cancer or ulcerative colitis.

[0016] The communication unit 21 transmits the model information and the inspection information to the external storage device 30 via the communication network N.

[0017] The external storage device 30 extracts multiple pieces of setting data that match the model information and inspection information transmitted from the communication unit 21. Then, the external storage device 30 extracts corresponding analysis results for the multiple pieces of extracted setting data.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of setting data. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of analysis results. As shown in FIG. 4, the setting data includes at least one of photometry, AGC, BAI-MAC, color tone setting, structure emphasis, RDI mode, TXI mode, etc. Photometry is a function that adjusts brightness according to the subject. AGC is a function that controls gain. BAI-MAC is a function that increases the brightness of dark areas. Color tone setting is a function that changes the gain of color tones. Structure emphasis is a function that emphasizes structure. RDI mode is a function that selects the mode of the RDI function from multiple modes. TXI mode is a function that selects the mode of the TXI function from multiple modes.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5 , the analysis results include at least one of the following: frequency of use, number of uses, user rating, proficiency, and detection rate. Frequency of use is information on the number of uses per unit period. Number of uses is information on the total number of uses by all users. User rating is information on the number of likes (and dislikes). Proficiency is information for beginners / experts. Detection rate is information on the rate at which lesions are detected.

[0020] The external storage device 30 transmits the extracted plurality of setting data and the analysis results corresponding to the plurality of setting data to the endoscope system 10 via the communication network N. The communication unit 21 receives the plurality of setting data and the analysis results corresponding to the plurality of setting data from the external storage device 30. The control unit 22 outputs the plurality of setting data and the analysis results corresponding to the plurality of setting data received by the communication unit 21 to the monitor device 14 and displays them on the monitor device 14.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of setting data displayed on the monitor device and an analysis result corresponding to the plurality of setting data.

[0022] The plurality of setting data extracted by the external storage device 30 and the analysis results corresponding to the plurality of setting data are displayed on the monitor device 14. That is, the analysis results corresponding to each of the plurality of setting data are attached and displayed on the monitor device 14. Note that although three setting data are displayed in the example of Fig. 6, three or more setting data may be displayed.

[0023] The analysis results are displayed in the categories of "number of times used" and "user evaluation." Note that, although the analysis results are displayed in the categories of "number of times used" and "user evaluation," as described above, the analysis results may also be displayed in the categories of "frequency of use," "proficiency," and "discovery rate."

[0024] The user refers to the analysis results, more specifically, the number of times the analysis results have been used and the number of likes, selects the setting data to be used, and sets the selected setting data using the function setting unit 23.

[0025] The test is started using the setting data selected by the user, and when the test is completed, the control unit 22 displays an evaluation screen on the monitor device 14 for inputting an evaluation of the selected (set) setting data.

[0026] 7 is a diagram showing an example of an evaluation screen displayed on the monitor device. The evaluation screen 50 for inputting a user evaluation includes a high evaluation button 51 for inputting a high evaluation for the setting data used in the test, and a low evaluation button 52 for inputting a low evaluation for the setting data used in the test.

[0027] The user inputs a user rating by pressing the high rating button 51 or the low rating button 52. The control unit 22 transmits the input user rating information, as well as the setting data, device information, and test information, to the external storage device 30 via the communication unit 21.

[0028] The external storage device 30 stores the transmitted user evaluation information, setting data, device information, and test information in a storage area.

[0029] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of various types of information stored in the external storage device. As shown in Fig. 8, the external storage device 30 stores device information, examination information, and setting data transmitted from the endoscope system 10. In addition, the setting data is linked to the user evaluation information transmitted from the endoscope system 10 as an analysis result, so that the analysis result can be extracted when the setting data is extracted.

[0030] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the medical system 1 configured as above. Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a process for setting the setting data.

[0031] First, the endoscope system 10 extracts and inputs the device information shown in Fig. 2 and the examination information shown in Fig. 3 (S1). Next, the endoscope system 10 transmits the extracted and input device information and examination information to the external storage device 30 (S2).

[0032] Next, the external storage device 30 extracts multiple pieces of setting data that match the transmitted device information and examination information (S3). Next, the external storage device 30 extracts corresponding analysis results for the extracted multiple pieces of setting data (S4). Next, the external storage device 30 transmits the multiple pieces of setting data and the corresponding analysis results to the endoscope system 10 (S5).

[0033] Next, the endoscope system 10 displays the transmitted plurality of setting data and the corresponding analysis results on the monitor device 14 (S6), allowing the user to refer to the analysis results and select one setting data from the plurality of setting data.

[0034] Finally, the endoscope system 10 sets the setting data selected by the user (S7), and ends the process.

[0035] Through the above processing, medical system 1 can present multiple setting data as well as the analysis results of that setting data, thereby reducing the confusion that users may have when selecting one setting data from multiple setting data.

[0036] Fig. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing after the end of an examination. First, the endoscope system 10 starts an examination using the setting data set by the processing of Fig. 9, and when the examination is completed, the evaluation screen 50 shown in Fig. 7 for inputting a user evaluation is displayed on the monitor device 14 (S11). The user presses the high evaluation button 51 or the low evaluation button 52 on the evaluation screen 50 to input a user evaluation.

[0037] Next, the endoscope system 10 transmits the selected setting data, device information, examination information, and user evaluation information to the external storage device 30 (S12).

[0038] Next, the external storage device 30 stores the transmitted setting data, device information, and test information in a storage area (S13). Finally, the external storage device 30 associates the user evaluation information with the setting data as an analysis result (S14), and ends the process.

[0039] Through the above processing, the device information and examination information are transmitted from the endoscope system 10, and when the setting data is extracted, the corresponding analysis results can be extracted.

[0040] It should be noted that the steps in the flowcharts in this specification may be executed in a different order, may be executed multiple times simultaneously, or may be executed in a different order each time, as long as this does not contradict the nature of the steps.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications, combinations, and applications are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A medical system comprising an endoscopic system and an external storage device that stores setting data for the endoscopic system, wherein the external storage device stores the setting data by associating equipment information related to the endoscopic system with examination information obtained by the endoscopic system, stores analysis information corresponding to the setting data, and transmits the corresponding setting data and analysis information to the endoscopic system based on the equipment information and examination information transmitted from the endoscopic system, and the endoscopic system presents the setting data and analysis information to a user and sets the setting data selected by the user.

2. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the analysis information includes at least one of the frequency of use of the setting data, the number of uses, user ratings, proficiency, and discovery rate.

3. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the device information includes at least one of an endoscope device, an image processing device, and a light source device.

4. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the examination information includes at least one of the purpose of the examination, the area to be observed, and the lesion.

5. The medical system described in claim 1, characterized in that after completing the examination for which the setting data was set, the endoscopic system transmits the equipment information, the examination information, the setting data, and evaluation information in which the user evaluates the setting data to the external storage device.

6. The medical system according to claim 5, wherein the external storage device stores the setting data in association with the evaluation information.

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