U.S. patent application number 10/883691 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for server and method for searching for images using image pre-fetch, designating database and storage devices for searching, and setting retrieval and processing parameters for search.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kanada, Shoji.
Application Number | 20040249806 10/883691 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33494390 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040249806 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kanada, Shoji |
December 9, 2004 |
Server and method for searching for images using image pre-fetch,
designating database and storage devices for searching, and setting
retrieval and processing parameters for search
Abstract
In an image search server which is connected to databases
storing images and to image display terminals and searches the
databases in response to a request from any of the image display
terminals for displaying a search result on the terminal,
responsiveness of an image search is improved while a search of all
the databases is possible if necessary. An image search server
stores images fetched from databases of image archiving apparatuses
in storing means thereof, such as a hard disc. For each of the
image display terminals, the image search server has setting
defining whether the databases and the storing means or only the
storing means are searched, and selects where to search according
to the setting.
Inventors: |
Kanada, Shoji;
(Kaisei-machi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
33494390 |
Appl. No.: |
10/883691 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10883691 |
Jul 6, 2004 |
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09672826 |
Sep 29, 2000 |
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09672826 |
Sep 29, 2000 |
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09540531 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.003; 707/E17.031 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/99945 20130101;
G06F 16/51 20190101; Y10S 707/99955 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/003 |
International
Class: |
G06F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 1999 |
JP |
92384/1999 |
Mar 31, 1999 |
JP |
92385/1999 |
Mar 31, 1999 |
JP |
92386/1999 |
Mar 31, 1999 |
JP |
92387/1999 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
JP |
96559/2000 |
Claims
1-62. (Cancelled).
63. A medical image search apparatus connected to a search
requesting apparatus and to a database storing medical images with
text information, for carrying out a search of the database for a
desired image according to search information from the search
requesting apparatus and for sending a search result including text
information to the search requesting apparatus, the medical image
search apparatus comprising: character type converting means for
carrying out conversion between a character type used by the
database and a character type used by the search requesting
apparatus, wherein the search is carried out after converting the
search information received from the search requesting apparatus
into search information in the character type used by the database
and different from the character type used by the search requesting
apparatus; and a result of the search is sent to the search
requesting apparatus after conversion of the search result into the
character type used by the search requesting apparatus.
64. A medical image search apparatus as claimed in claim 63, the
medical image search apparatus being connected to a plurality of
databases, wherein the medical image search apparatus searches all
the databases after converting the search information received from
the search requesting apparatus into search information in a
character type used by each of the databases and sends the search
result to the search requesting apparatus after converting the
search result into the character type used by the search requesting
apparatus.
65. A medical image search apparatus as claimed in claim 63, the
medical image search apparatus being connected to a plurality of
search requesting apparatuses, wherein the character type
converting means can carry out character type conversion between
character types used by each of the search requesting apparatuses
and the database.
66. A medical image search apparatus as claimed in claim 65, the
medical image search apparatus being connected to a plurality of
databases, wherein the medical image search apparatus searches all
the databases after converting the search information received from
the search requesting apparatus into search information in a
character type used by each of the databases and sends the search
result to the search requesting apparatus after converting the
search result into the character type used by the search requesting
apparatus.
67. A medical image search apparatus as claimed in any one of
claims 63 to 66, the medical image search apparatus being connected
to a multiple character-type database in which a plurality of
images each having text information in different character types
are stored, wherein the medical image search apparatus obtains
search information in all character types used by the database from
the search information received from the search requesting
apparatus and searches the database according to the search
information in each character type so that the search result can be
sent to the search requesting apparatus after conversion of the
result into the character type used by the search requesting
apparatus.
68-76. (Cancelled).
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
application Ser. No. 09/540,531, filed Mar. 31, 2000 now
abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an image search server
which is connected to a database storing images and to an image
display terminal, and which searches the database in response to a
request of the image display terminal to output a result of the
search on the display terminal. More specifically, the present
invention relates to an image search server comprising a function
to retain images fetched from a database in storing means thereof,
and to search for an image within the server, i.e. what is called a
"pre-fetch function", and also to an image search method therefor.
The present invention further relates to a medical image display
system employing a medical image server comprising the pre-fetch
function as described above.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Images recorded by various kinds of image recording
modalities for CT, MRI, CR and the like in a medical facility such
as a hospital have been stored in a large capacity recording medium
such as an optical disc. In this specification, an apparatus for
storing images of this kind is called an "image archiving
apparatus". Medical images are input from each image recording
modality to an image archiving apparatus directly or via an image
server connected to the archiving apparatus through a network, and
the images are stored in the archiving apparatus. The medical
images are output from the image archiving apparatus to a terminal
when the image server receives an output request from the
terminal.
[0006] However, it takes a long time to output an image on a
terminal if the image server fetches the image after receiving an
output request from the terminal. Therefore, many medical image
servers have what is called a "pre-fetch function" to retain images
having the potential for output-request in a hard disc thereof
before an actual output request is received. Medical image servers
having the pre-fetch function have been configured in such a manner
that all images recorded or images of patients subjected to
examinations or diagnoses in a recent predetermined period are
stored therein. When pre-fetching is carried out in this manner, it
takes a long time for the image server to fetch the images from an
image archiving apparatus and the image server needs a
large-capacity hard disc, since the amount of the images to be
retained in the server is large. Furthermore, in that case, a user
has to select a necessary image out of the large volume of
pre-fetched images, which is also time-consuming. Therefore, a
first object of the present invention is to provide a medical image
server and an image acquisition apparatus enabling reduction in
pre-fetched images while maintaining a complete pre-fetching
function, and a medical image display system which employs the
above medical image server with the pre-fetch function to display
medical images efficiently.
[0007] Many of the image recording modalities described above use a
predetermined type of character among various character types such
as the Japanese syllabary and the Roman alphabet for inputting
information showing the name of a patient, for example. In this
case, text information recorded in the database together with the
images naturally uses the predetermined character type. Meanwhile,
many terminals such as diagnostic workstations use only one type of
character. In a situation like this, when a search request
specifying the name of a patient in the Japanese syllabary is
output from a terminal such as a diagnostic workstation or the
like, the image may not be found due to the name of the patient
being written in the Roman alphabet in the database, even if the
image actually exists in the database. Therefore, a second object
of the present invention is to provide a medical image searching
method and a medical image search apparatus enabling a thorough
search of a database regardless of the character type used in a
search requesting apparatus and in the database, and enabling a
proper notification of a search result to the search requesting
apparatus.
[0008] In a conventional image search server having an image
processing function, an image having been found is transferred from
a database to an image display terminal via the image search server
even if image processing is unnecessary for the image search server
due to the image processing function of the image display terminal.
As a result, it is time-consuming for the image to reach the image
display terminal. Therefore, a third object of the present
invention is to provide an image search server enabling a fast
transfer of an image having been found from a database to an image
display terminal retaining an image processing function which can
be used as requested.
[0009] The image search server having the above search function is
often configured in such a manner that the images of frequent use
among the images in the database are retained in storing means
thereof. When an image display terminal requests a search of an
image from the image search server having the above configuration,
the images of frequent use can be searched for promptly and an
image can be obtained by searching all image information stored in
the database. However, in such a conventional image search server
having the function to search the storing means within the server,
the database is searched unnecessarily in some cases, since the
database is searched after the storing means within the server is
searched. As a result, a response of the search is slow. Therefore,
a fourth object of the present invention is to provide an image
search server and an image searching method enabling a search of an
image in a highly responsive manner while enabling a search of all
databases as required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A medical image server of the present invention for
achieving the first object described above is a medical image
server comprising image acquisition means for fetching an image
from an image archiving apparatus storing medical images, storing
means such as a hard disc for storing the image having been
fetched, and delivering means for outputting the image stored in
the storing means to a terminal. The medical image server further
comprises:
[0011] pre-fetching judging means for judging whether acquisition
(pre-fetch) of a past image of a patient which is stored in the
image archiving apparatus is necessary or unnecessary before the
terminal actually sends an order for output of the image, based on
information regarding medical examination order and/or
photographing of the patient; and
[0012] pre-fetching image selecting means for selecting an image of
the patient from the past images stored in the image archiving
apparatus based on the information regarding the medical
examination order and/or photographing in the case where the
pre-fetching judging means has judged the acquisition to be
necessary, and for causing the image acquisition means to fetch the
selected image.
[0013] The pre-fetching judging means is preferably configured to
judge whether the acquisition of the past image is necessary or
unnecessary based on information from RIS (Radiology department
Information System) and/or information attached to an image taken
on the day. In addition, the pre-fetching judging means may be
configured to judge the necessity of the pre-fetching based on a
preset condition required for a past image to be acquired defined
by one of or any combination of a department name such as an
internal department or a surgical ward requesting image acquisition
from a radiology department, a name of a doctor requesting the
image acquisition, an image recording modality, and a photographing
menu. Instead, the pre-fetching judging means may be configured to
judge the necessity of the pre-fetching based on a judging standard
which is one of or any combination of a name of an image requesting
department, a name of an image requesting doctor, an image
recording modality and a photographing menu, which are contained in
information from RIS (Radiology department Information System)
and/or information attached to an image taken on the day, by
comparing the judging standard with a preset condition required for
a past image to be acquired which is defined by one of or any
combination of a name of an image requesting department, a name of
an image requesting doctor, a image recording modality and a
photographing menu. The pre-fetching image selecting means is
preferably configured to determine a selection range of images
based on information from RIS (Radiology department Information
System) and/or information attached to an image taken on the day.
The pre-fetching image selecting means may be configured to select
the past image based on preset selection ranges of the name of the
image requesting department, the name of the image requesting
doctor, the image recording modality and the photographing menu,
which are preset for each of the conditions required for the past
image to be acquired. Instead, the pre-fetching image selecting
means may be configured to select the past image based on a
selection standard which is one of or any combination of a name of
an image requesting department, a name of an image requesting
doctor, an image recording modality and a photographing menu, which
are contained in information from RIS (Radiology department
Information System) and/or information attached to an image taken
on the day, by comparing the selection standard with a preset
selection condition preset for each of the conditions required for
the past image to be acquired, wherein the selection condition is
defined by one of or any combination of a name of an image
requesting department, a name of an image requesting doctor, an
image recording modality and a photographing menu. Therefore, it is
preferable for the pre-fetching image selecting means to be capable
of specifying a setting of a period in which the past image to be
acquired was photographed, for each setting of the selection range.
It is also preferable for the pre-fetching image selecting means to
be configured to select only a past image of a patient having a
medical examination appointment on the day and on the following day
in the case where the image to be acquired is selected based on the
medical examination order. It is more preferable for the selecting
means in this case to select a past image of a patient having a
medical examination appointment on the day in priority over a
patient for the following day.
[0014] Furthermore, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises:
[0015] means for reducing or compressing a past image pre-fetched
from the image archiving apparatus and stored in the storing means;
and
[0016] means for setting a reduction ratio or a compression ratio
used by the means for reduction or compression, for one of or any
combination of a name of an image requesting department, a name of
an image requesting doctor, an image recording modality and a
photographing menu regarding the past image.
[0017] In addition, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises controlling means which causes the
image selection by the pre-fetching image selecting means and the
acquisition of the selected image by the image acquisition means to
be executed at predetermined times.
[0018] Furthermore, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises controlling means which retains
information of a medical examination order and causes the image
selection by the pre-fetching image selecting means and the
acquisition of the selected image by the image acquisition means to
be executed based on the information of the medical examination
order, wherein the controlling means compares check-in information
of a patient to be photographed and appointment information when
receiving the check-in information on the day of the medical
examination and causes selection of an additional image by the
pre-fetching image selecting means and acquisition of the selected
additional image by the image acquisition means to be executed only
if the check-in information was not identical with the appointment
information.
[0019] In addition, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises controlling means which causes the
delivery of the image by the delivering means to be executed after
letting the delivering means wait until a predetermined time.
[0020] Furthermore, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises controlling means which causes the
image selection by the pre-fetching image selecting means and the
acquisition of the selected image by the image acquisition means to
be executed at a time of appointment of a medical examination order
and which causes the delivery of the image by the delivering means
to be executed when receiving check-in information on the day of
the medical examination.
[0021] In addition, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises controlling means which causes the
image selection by the pre-fetching image selecting means and the
acquisition of the selected image by the image acquisition means to
be executed at a time of appointment of a medical examination order
or when receiving check-in information on the day of the medical
examination, and which causes the delivery of the image by the
delivering means to be executed when receiving information
indicating completion of the photographing from an image recording
device or RIS (Radiology department Information System).
[0022] Furthermore, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises controlling means which causes the
delivery of the image by the delivering means to be executed when
the image is input from the image recording device.
[0023] In addition, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises controlling means which can be used
to specify periods in which the delivering means is allowed to
deliver the image, and which suspends the delivery of the image
until the next specified period when the output request is received
at a time out of any specified period.
[0024] Furthermore, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises:
[0025] delivery judging means for judging whether the delivery of
the image stored in the storing means is necessary or unnecessary
based on information regarding a medical examination order and/or
photographing of a patient;
[0026] means for selecting an image to be delivered which selects
the image to be delivered from past images of the patient stored in
the storing means based on the information regarding the medical
examination order and/or photographing and which causes the
delivering means to deliver the selected image; and
[0027] means for determining a past-image delivery destination
which determines a destination to which the delivering means
delivers the selected image, wherein the destination is determined
based on the information regarding the medical examination order
and/or photographing.
[0028] The delivery judging-means of the above medical image server
is preferably configured to judge whether the delivery of the past
image is necessary or unnecessary based on the information from RIS
(Radiology department Information System) and/or the information
attached to the image taken on the day. In addition, the delivery
judging means is preferably configured to judge whether the
delivery of the past image is necessary or unnecessary based on a
preset condition required for a past image to be acquired defined
by one of or any combination of a name of an image requesting
department, a name of an image requesting doctor, an image
recording modality, and a photographing menu. Instead, the delivery
judging means may be configured to judge whether the delivery of
the past image is necessary or unnecessary based on a judging
standard which is one of or any combination of a name of an image
requesting department, a name of an image requesting doctor, an
image recording modality and a photographing menu, which are
contained in information from RIS (Radiology department Information
System) and/or information attached to the image taken on the day,
by comparing the judging standard with a condition required for a
past image to be acquired which is defined by one of or any
combination of a name of an image requesting department, a name of
an image requesting doctor, an image recording modality and a
photographing menu.
[0029] The means for selecting the image to be delivered in the
above medical image server is preferably configured to determine a
selection range of the image based on information from RIS
(Radiology department Information System) and/or information
attached to the image taken on the day. In addition, the means for
selecting the image to be delivered is preferably configured to
select the image based on preset selection ranges of a name of an
image requesting department, a name of an image requesting doctor,
an image recording modality and a photographing menu, which are
preset for each of the conditions required for the past image to be
acquired. Instead, the means for selecting the image to be
delivered may be configured to select the past image based on a
selection standard which is one of or any combination of a name of
an image requesting department, a name of an image requesting
doctor, an image recording modality and a photographing menu, which
are contained in information from RIS (Radiology department
Information System) and/or information attached to an image taken
on the day, by comparing the selection standard with a preset
selection condition preset for each of the conditions required for
a past image to be acquired, wherein the selection condition is
defined by one of or any combination of a name of an image
requesting department, a name of an image requesting doctor, an
image recording modality and a photographing menu. In addition, the
means for selecting the image to be delivered is preferably
configured to be capable of specifying a setting of a period in
which the past image was photographed, for each setting of the
selection range. Furthermore, the means for selecting the image to
be delivered is preferably configured to select only a past image
of the patient having the medical examination appointment on the
day and on the following day in the case where the image is
selected based on the medical examination order. In addition, the
means for selecting the image to be delivered is preferably
configured to select a past image of a patient having a medical
examination appointment on the day in priority over a patient for
the following day.
[0030] The means for determining the past-image delivery
destination is preferably configured to determine the delivery
destination based on information from RIS (Radiology department
Information System) and/or information attached to an image taken
on the day. In addition, the means for determining the past-image
delivery destination is preferably configured to determine the
delivery destination based on a preset delivery destination defined
by one of or any combination of a name of an image requesting
department, a name of an image requesting doctor, an image
recording modality, and a photographing menu. Instead, the means
for determining the past-image delivery destination may be
configured to determine the delivery destination based on a
destination-determining standard which is one of or any combination
of a name of an image requesting department, a name of an image
requesting doctor, an image recording modality and a photographing
menu, which are contained in information from RIS (Radiology
department Information System) and/or information attached to an
image taken on the day, by referring to a preset delivery
destination which is defined by one of or any combination of a name
of an image requesting department, a name of an image requesting
doctor, an image recording modality and a photographing menu.
Further, the means for determining the past-image delivery
destination is preferably configured to be capable of specifying a
plurality of delivery destinations for a single image.
[0031] Moreover, the medical image server of the present invention
preferably comprises controlling means which searches a database at
the delivery destination determined by the means for determining
the past-image delivery destination and which causes the delivering
means to cancel the delivery of the image if the database contained
the image selected by the means for selecting the image to be
delivered.
[0032] In addition, the medical image server of the present
invention preferably comprises:
[0033] means for delivering an image taken on the day which
delivers an image taken and recorded by an image recording modality
to a separated terminal when receiving an order for output from the
separated terminal on the day of recording; and
[0034] means for determining a delivery destination of the image
taken on the day which is delivered by the means for delivering the
image based on the information regarding a medical examination
order and/or photographing of a patient.
[0035] The above means for determining the delivery destination of
the image taken on the day is preferably configured to determine
the delivery destination based on information from RIS (Radiology
department Information System) and/or information attached to the
image taken on the day. In addition, the means for determining the
delivery destination of the image taken on the day is preferably
configured to determine the delivery destination based on a preset
delivery destination defined by one of or any combination of a name
of an image requesting department, a name of an image requesting
doctor, an image recording modality, and a photographing menu.
Instead, the means for determining the delivery destination of the
image taken on the day may be configured to determine the delivery
destination based on a destination-determining standard which is
one of or any combination of a name of an image requesting
department, a name of an image requesting doctor, an image
recording modality and a photographing menu, which are contained in
information from RIS (Radiology department Information System)
and/or information attached to the image taken on the day, by
referring to a preset delivery destination which is defined by one
of or any combination of a name of an image requesting department,
a name of an image requesting doctor, an image recording modality
and a photographing menu. Furthermore, the means for determining
the delivery destination of the image taken on the day is
preferably configured to determine the delivery destination based
on a code input by RIS (Radiology department Information System) or
attached to the image, according to preset combinations of the
delivery destinations and the codes so that each of the codes
specifies one of the destinations directly. In addition, the means
for determining the delivery destination of the image taken on the
day is preferably configured to be capable of specifying a
plurality of delivery destinations for a single image.
[0036] The means for determining the delivery destination of the
image taken on the day and the means for determining the past-image
delivery destination are preferably configured to handle the
delivery destinations according to the same settings and to deliver
the images to the same device.
[0037] The medical image display system according to the present
invention is a medical image display system employing the medical
image server according to the present invention described above and
comprises:
[0038] a workstation comprising display means capable of displaying
an image stored in the medical image server, judging means for
judging whether or not an image need to be displayed is stored in
the workstation, and means for sending to the medical server an
order for output of the image need to be displayed when the judging
means judges that the image is not stored in the workstation;
wherein
[0039] the medical server is configured to judge whether or not the
image specified by the order for output is stored in the storing
means when receiving the order for output from the workstation, to
deliver the image therein to the workstation if the image was
stored in the storing means, and to deliver the image to the
workstation after fetching the image from the image archiving
apparatus if the image was not stored in the storing means.
[0040] A pre-fetching image-acquisition method according to the
present invention is a method used in a medical image server
comprising image acquisition means for fetching an image from an
image archiving apparatus storing medical images, storing means for
storing the image having been fetched, and means for outputting the
image stored in the storing means to a terminal when receiving an
order for output of the image therefrom. The image acquisition
method comprises the steps of:
[0041] judging whether acquisition of past images regarding a
patient having been stored in the image archiving apparatus is
necessary or unnecessary before the terminal actually sends the
order for output of the image, based on information regarding a
medical examination order and/or photographing of the patient;
and
[0042] selecting an image of the patient from the past images
stored in the image archiving apparatus, based on the information
regarding the examination order and/or photographing, in the case
where the acquisition is judged to be necessary, and causing the
image acquisition means to fetch the selected image.
[0043] In the pre-fetching image-acquisition method according to
the present invention, it is preferable to judge whether delivery
of the image stored in the storing means is necessary or
unnecessary based on information regarding the medical examination
order and/or photographing of the patient, to select the image from
the past images of the patient stored in the storing means based on
the information regarding the medical examination order and/or
photographing, and to cause the delivering means to deliver the
selected image, wherein a destination to which the delivering means
delivers the selected image is determined based on the information
regarding the medical examination order and/or photographing.
Further, in the pre-fetching image-acquisition method according to
the present invention, it is preferable to deliver an image taken
and recorded by an image recording modality to a separated terminal
in the case where an order for output is sent from the separated
terminal on the day of recording, wherein a delivery destination of
the image is determined based on the information regarding the
medical examination order and/or photographing of the patient.
[0044] The medical image server of the present invention for
achieving the first object is configured to fetch an image selected
based on the information regarding the examination order and/or
photographing of the patient from the past images of the patient
stored in the image archiving apparatus, after judging the
necessity of pre-fetching of the past image based on the
information regarding the examination order and/or photographing of
the patient. Therefore, even if an image is a recently photographed
image or an image of a patient who underwent a recent examination
or diagnosis, the image is not pre-fetched if the image has been
judged to be unnecessary or to not meet the selection
condition.
[0045] Therefore, according to this medical image server, the
number of the images to be stored after pre-fetching is
comparatively small, and the time necessary for inputting the
images to be pre-fetched from the archiving apparatus is thus
shortened. As a result, the storing means such as a hard disc
having comparatively small capacity is sufficient. Furthermore, a
user can select an image to be output from a comparatively small
number of pre-fetched images, which leads to an easier operation
upon outputting the image to the terminal.
[0046] In the case where the medical image server of the present
invention comprises the means for reducing or compressing the image
to be stored in the storing means after acquisition of the image
from the image archiving apparatus, and the means for setting the
ratio of reduction or compression for one or any combination of a
name of an image requesting department, a name of an image
requesting doctor, an image recording modality and a photographing
menu, space of the storing means necessary for pre-fetching one
image is further reduced. Meanwhile, since the reduction ratio or
the compression ratio can be set in accordance with the image
requesting department, the name of the image requesting doctor, the
image recording modality, or the photographing menu, severe
degradation of an output image due to reduction or compression
processing is prevented.
[0047] It is possible to deliver a past image, which has been
pre-fetched and stored in the storing means, to an appropriate
delivery destination thereof correctly and immediately in the case
where the medical image server of the present invention especially
comprises the delivery judging means for judging whether the
delivery of the image stored in the storing means is necessary or
unnecessary based on the information regarding the medical
examination order and/or photographing of the patient, the means
for selecting an image to be delivered which selects the image from
the past images of the patient stored in the storing means based on
the information regarding the medical examination order and/or
photographing and which causes the delivering means to deliver the
selected image, and the means for determining the past-image
delivery destination which determines the destination to which the
delivering means delivers the selected image, wherein the
destination is determined based on the information regarding the
medical examination order and/or photographing.
[0048] Moreover, it is possible to deliver an image taken on the
day to an appropriate destination thereof correctly and immediately
in the case where the medical image server of the present invention
especially comprises the means for delivering the image taken on
the day which delivers the image recorded by the image recording
modality to the separated terminal when receiving the order for
output from the separated terminal on the day of recording, and the
means for determining the delivery destination of the image taken
on the day, which is delivered by the means for delivering the
image, based on the information regarding the medical examination
order and/or photographing of the patient.
[0049] In addition, it is possible to display an image need to be
displayed immediately and efficiently according to the present
invention, as the medical image display system of the present
invention comprises the workstation comprising display means
capable of displaying the image stored in the workstation, the
judging means for judging whether or not the image need to be
displayed is stored in the workstation, and means for sending to
the medical server an order for output of the image need to be
displayed when the judging means judges that the image is not
stored in the workstation, wherein the medical image server is
configured to judge whether or not the image specified by the order
for output is stored in the storing means when receiving the order
for output from the workstation, to deliver the image therein to
the workstation if the image was stored in the storing means, and
to deliver the image to the workstation after fetching the image
from the image archiving apparatus if the image was not stored in
the storing means.
[0050] A medical image search apparatus of the present invention
for achieving the second object described above is a medical image
search apparatus which is connected to a search requesting
apparatus such as a diagnostic workstation and to a database
storing medical images with text information, and searches the
database for a desired image according to search information from
the search requesting apparatus to send a search result including
text information to the search requesting apparatus. The medical
image search apparatus comprises character type converting means
for carrying out character type conversion between a character type
used by the database and a character type used by the search
requesting apparatus, so that the medical image search apparatus
can carry out the search after converting the search information
received from the search requesting apparatus into search
information in the character type used by the database and
different from the character type used by the search requesting
apparatus and can send the search result to the search requesting
apparatus after the search result has been converted into the
character type used by the search requesting apparatus.
[0051] In the case where the medical image search apparatus of the
present invention is connected to a plurality of search requesting
apparatuses, it is preferable for the character type converting
means to be configured to carry out the conversion between the
character types used by each of the search requesting apparatuses
and the database. Furthermore, in the case where the medical image
search apparatus having the above configuration is connected to a
plurality of databases, it is preferable for the medical image
search apparatus to search all the databases after converting the
search information received from the search requesting apparatus
into search information in a character type used by each of the
databases, and to send the search result to the search requesting
apparatus after conversion of the search result into the character
type used by the search requesting apparatus.
[0052] It is possible that some images in a database have
accompanying information in the Japanese syllabary while, others
have information in the Roman alphabet. In the case where the
medical image search apparatus of the present invention is
connected to a multiple character-type database in which a
plurality of images having text information in different character
types are stored, it is preferable for the medical image search
apparatus of the present invention to obtain search information in
all character types used by the database from the search
information received from the search requesting apparatus, and to
search the database according to the search information in each
character type so that the search result can be sent to the search
requesting apparatus after conversion of the result into the
character type used by the search requesting apparatus.
[0053] A medical image searching method of the present invention is
a method used in a medical image search apparatus which is
connected to a search requesting apparatus such as a diagnostic
workstation and to a database storing medical images with text
information, and searches the database for a desired image
according to search information from the search requesting
apparatus to send a search result including text information to the
search requesting apparatus. The medical image searching method
comprises the steps of:
[0054] searching for the desired image after converting the search
information received from the search requesting apparatus to search
information in a character type used by the database and different
from a character type used by the search requesting apparatus;
and
[0055] sending the search result to the search requesting apparatus
after the search result has been converted into the character type
used by the search requesting apparatus.
[0056] In the present invention according to the second object, a
search is carried out after conversion of the search information
received from the search requesting apparatus into the search
information in the character type used by the database and
different from the character type used by the search requesting
apparatus, and the search result is sent to the search requesting
apparatus after conversion of the search result into the result in
the character type used by the search requesting apparatus.
Therefore, regardless of the character types used by the search
requesting apparatus and by the database, the database can be
searched thoroughly and the search result can be sent properly to
the search requesting apparatus.
[0057] An image search server of the present invention for
achieving the third object described above is an image search
server connected to an image display terminal and to a database
storing images as has been described above, and carries out a
search of the database in response to a request of the image
display terminal to output a search result to the terminal. The
image search server comprises:
[0058] image processing means for carrying out predetermined image
processing on the image obtained by the search;
[0059] storing means for storing the image having been subjected to
the image processing by the image processing means;
[0060] judging means for judging whether or not image processing is
necessary for the image having been searched for; and
[0061] control means for transmitting to the image display terminal
a search result including information indicating a location of the
image in the database in the case where the judging means has
judged image processing to be unnecessary or for transmitting a
search result including information indicating that the image is
located in the storing means while obtaining the image from the
database for causing the image to be subjected to the image
processing by the image processing means in the case where the
judging means has judged the image processing to be necessary.
[0062] In the case where the image search server is connected to a
plurality of databases, the information sent by the control means
to the image display terminal to indicate the location of the image
in the database is assumed to show which of the databases has the
image. Furthermore, in the case where the image search server is
connected to a plurality of image display terminals, it is
preferable for the judging means to have setting defining necessity
or lack of necessity of image processing for each display terminal
and to judge according to the setting. It is also preferable for
the judging means to have setting defining necessity or lack of
necessity of image processing by the image processing means for
each modality having recorded the images to be stored, and to judge
according to the setting.
[0063] As has been described above, in the case where the judging
means has judged the image processing to be unnecessary, the image
search server of the present invention according to the third
object can send to the image display terminal the search result
including information indicating the location of the image in the
database. Therefore, the image display terminal can obtain the
image directly from the database according to the information
indicating the location of the image, and unnecessary transfer of
the image to the image search server is omitted. As a result, the
image can be transferred promptly to the image display
terminal.
[0064] Meanwhile, in the case where the judging means has judged
the image processing to be necessary, the image search server of
the present invention sends to the image display terminal the
search result, including the information indicating that the image
is located in the storing means of the image search server, and
obtains the image from the database to cause the image to be
subjected to the image processing by the image processing means.
Therefore, the image display terminal can obtain the image from the
storing means according to the information indicating the location
thereof and the image having been subjected to the image processing
can be obtained.
[0065] An image search server of the present invention for
achieving the fourth object described above is an image search
server connected to a database storing images as has been described
above and to a plurality of image display terminals, and the image
search server searches the database in response to a search request
of any of the image display terminals and outputs a search result
to the image display terminal. The image search server
comprises:
[0066] storing means for storing an image obtained from the
database; and
[0067] control means having, for each of the image display
terminals, setting defining whether only the storing means or the
storing means as well as the database are searched, and for
determining where to search according to the setting for each
terminal.
[0068] Another image search server of the present invention is an
image search server connected to a database storing images as has
been described above, and to a plurality of image display
terminals, and the image search server searches the database in
response to a request of any of the image display terminals to
display a search result on the terminal. The image search server
comprises:
[0069] storing means for storing an image obtained from the
database; and
[0070] control means having, for each image recording modality,
setting defining whether only the storing means or the storing
means as well as the database are searched, and for determining
where to search according to the setting for each image recording
modality.
[0071] Another image searching method of the present invention is
for an image search server which is connected to a database storing
images and to a plurality of image display terminals and searches
the database in response to a search request of any of the image
display terminals to output a search result on the display
terminal. The image searching method comprises the steps of:
[0072] storing an image obtained from the database; and
[0073] determining where to search for each image display terminal
according to setting defining for each image display terminal
whether only the storing means or the storing means as well as the
database are searched.
[0074] Still another image searching method of the present
invention is for an image search server which is connected to a
database storing images and to a plurality of image display
terminals and searches the database in response to a search request
of any of the image display terminals to output a search result on
the display terminal. The image searching method comprises the
steps of:
[0075] storing an image obtained from the database; and
[0076] determining where to search for each image recording
modality, according to setting defining for each modality whether
only the storing means or the storing means as well as the database
are searched.
[0077] The present invention for achieving the fourth object is
configured to determine, for each image display terminal or for
each image recording modality, whether only the storing means or
the storing means as well as the database are searched. Therefore,
a search of the database is omitted if unnecessary and
responsiveness of the search is greatly improved.
[0078] The above and many other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become manifest to those skilled in the
art upon making reference to the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating
the principle of the present invention are shown by way of
illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0079] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a medical network
system including the medical image server according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0080] FIG. 2 is an example of a monitor screen of the medical
image server shown in FIG. 1 for specifying the setting concerning
selection of images to be pre-fetched;
[0081] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating functions of an image
display system employing the medical image server shown in FIG.
1;
[0082] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process of pre-fetching a
past image carried out in the medical image server according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0083] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a structure and
functions of an image display system employing the medical image
server according to a further embodiment of the present
invention;
[0084] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of delivering a
past image carried out in the medical image server shown in FIG.
5;
[0085] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a structure and
functions of an image display system employing the medical image
server according to a further embodiment of the present
invention;
[0086] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a process of delivering an
image taken on the day, which is carried out in the medical image
server shown in FIG. 7;
[0087] FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a structure and
functions of an image display system employing the medical image
server according to a further embodiment of the present
invention;
[0088] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of pre-fetching
a past image carried out in the medical image server according to a
further embodiment of the present invention;
[0089] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of a medical network
system including a medical image search apparatus according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0090] FIG. 12 is a diagram explaining character type conversion in
the medical image search apparatus shown in FIG. 11;
[0091] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of a medical network
system including an image search server according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0092] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a process carried out by
the image search server shown in FIG. 13 in the case where image
processing is unnecessary;
[0093] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a process carried out by
the image search server shown in FIG. 13 in the case where image
processing is necessary;
[0094] FIG. 16 is a diagram explaining selection of where the image
search server shown in FIG. 1 searches; and
[0095] FIG. 17 is a diagram explaining selection of where another
image search server of the present invention searches.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0096] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows
a medical network system including a medical image server according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0097] In the system shown in FIG. 1, a network 10 is a local area
network (LAN) such as the Ethernet or an FDDI, installed in a
hospital. The network may be connected to the Internet via a
dedicated line or a public telecommunication line such as ISDN.
[0098] A radiology department information system (RIS) 11, image
recording modalities 12 and 13, an image server 14, a diagnostic
workstation 15 which is a terminal, a reference terminal 16, image
archiving apparatuses 17 and 18, a laser printer 19, and the like
are connected to the network 10.
[0099] The image recording modalities 12 and 13 are apparatuses or
systems for CT, MRI, CR, RI, US and the like for recording images
of patients as digital data. The image recording modalities may
record image signals obtained by photographing after conversion of
the analog signal into digital data or obtain digital data by
reading images of patients recorded on a film or the like upon
photographing.
[0100] The radiology department information system 11 is connected
to terminals not shown in FIG. 1 and placed in a radiology
department or other medical departments such as an internal
department or a surgical ward requesting image recording to the
radiology department, and the system carries out information
transmission and processing based on examination order information
(photographing order or the like pertaining to the radiology
department) regarding patients of the requesting departments or on
photographing information in the image recording modalities 12 and
13.
[0101] The image server 14 is a computer which makes image data
recorded by the image recording modalities 12 and 13 be stored in
the image archiving apparatus 17 or 18, and which reads desired
image data from the image data in the archiving apparatuses
according to a request from the diagnostic workstation 15 or the
reference terminal 16, to transfer the image data thereto. Instead,
the image data recorded by the image recording modalities 12 and 13
may be stored directly in the image archiving apparatus 17 or 18,
not through the image server 14.
[0102] The diagnostic workstation 15 is a terminal used by a
radiologist or the like for carrying out a diagnosis while
referring to the image data and carrying out image processing to
generate an image appropriate for diagnosis by changing an image
processing parameter and the like as required.
[0103] The reference terminal 16 is a terminal only for referring
to image data. The laser printer 19 outputs processed image data as
a visible image. Image output on the laser printer 19 is executed
by an instruction from the diagnostic workstation 15 to the image
server 14.
[0104] This medical network system is configured according to the
DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard
generated by the ACR-NEMA committee (ACR: American College of
Radiology, NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers Association),
for example.
[0105] The DICOM standard is a standard for realizing an
object-oriented medical network system and defines the content and
data structure of various kinds of diagnostic information such as
CT image information, examination information, and patient
information, and a procedure of exchanging such diagnostic
information as a message (a procedure of requesting a service such
as storing, acquisition, printing and inquiry about the image). In
the DICOM standard, a data format of information necessary in a
medical system, such as patient information and examination
information, is defined in detail, and the DICOM standard also
defines an interface for requesting processing upon inquiry of
various kinds of information, for example.
[0106] The image server 14 searches for desired image data among
the image data stored in the archiving apparatus 17 or 18 according
to a request from the workstation 15 or the reference terminal 16,
and reads the desired data from the apparatus. In order to promptly
respond to such a request, the image server has a function to read
image data whose output is highly likely to be requested and to
store the data in an internal hard disc 14a. Hereinafter, this
function, a pre-fetch function in other words, will be explained in
detail.
[0107] The image server 14 comprises, in addition to the hard disc
14a, image acquisition means for acquiring an image from the
archiving apparatus 17 or 18, output means for outputting an image
stored in the hard disc 14a to the diagnostic workstation 15 or to
the reference terminal 16 when an order for output is received from
the workstation or from the terminal, judging means for judging
whether pre-fetching of past images regarding a patient stored in
the archiving apparatus 17 or 18 is necessary or unnecessary based
on information regarding an examination order and/or photographing
of the patient, and image selecting means for selecting an image
from the past images of the patient stored in the archiving
apparatus 17 or 18 based on information regarding an examination
order and/or photographing and for causing the image acquisition
means to fetch the selected image in the case where the judging
means has judged the pre-fetching to be necessary. In the present
embodiment, the image acquisition means, the output means, the
judging means and the image selecting means are included in the
image server 14 and processing by each means is executed based on a
predetermined computer program.
[0108] In other words, the image server 14 has a past-image
acquisition condition (a condition required for a past image to be
pre-fetched) defined in advance by one of or any combination of a
name of a department requesting image data, an image recording
modality, and a photographing menu, and judges whether the
pre-fetching is necessary or unnecessary based on the condition.
For more specific explanation, FIG. 2 shows a monitor screen of the
image server 14 for specifying the setting of the past-image search
condition for pre-fetching. In this example, a first past-image
acquisition condition is set as the case where the department
requesting image data is "NAIKA1" (a first internal department) and
the image recording modality is a CR (Computed Radiography)
apparatus, and a second past-image acquisition condition is set as
the case where the department requesting image data is "GEKA2" (a
second surgical ward).
[0109] The image server 14 has a preset selection range regarding
the name of the image requesting department and the image recording
modality, for each of the two past-image acquisition conditions.
Based on the setting, the image server 14 selects images to be
pre-fetched. In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 2, a
group of the past images related to the same image requesting
department is set to be the selection range (search range) of the
past images to be pre-fetched for the first past-image acquisition
condition. Meanwhile, for the second past-image acquisition
condition, a group of the past images pertaining to the same
modality is set as the selection range. In such a manner, the
images to be pre-fetched are selected within the selection
range.
[0110] Furthermore, in the present example, a photographing period
of past images to be pre-fetched is also specifiable for each
setting of the selection range. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2,
when the selection range for the first past-image acquisition
condition refers to past images related to the same image
requesting department, setting is specified to acquire the latest
image, while the setting is specified to acquire the images
photographed in the past 12 months (displayed as 12M in the screen)
when the selection range for the second past-image acquisition
condition refers to past images related to the same image recording
modality.
[0111] The setting for the selection range (search range) and the
past-image acquisition condition can be added or deleted by a user
as required.
[0112] Actual pre-fetching processing carried out according to the
setting described above will be explained next. The radiology
department information system 11 receives examination order
information from any department such as an internal department or a
surgical ward. The examination order information may include the
date of examination, the ID number of a patient, a modality code, a
code of the image requesting department and a status, for
example.
[0113] The "status" in the above refers to four cases. The four
cases are (1) check-in finished: the patient has been accepted at
the radiology department, (2) order received: photographing has
been reserved, (3) batch processing at night: photographing on the
following day or later has been reserved, and (4) check-up
reserved: medical check-up has been reserved. Since a situation in
which pre-fetching is necessary is different depending on each
medical facility, it becomes possible, by defining such statuses,
to practice pre-fetching only for the status enabling
pre-fetching.
[0114] The examination order information described above is
transferred to the image server 14. The image server 14 judges
whether or not past images of the patient stored in the archiving
apparatus 17 or 18 need to be pre-fetched, based on the examination
order information. In the case where pre-fetching has been judged
to be necessary, the image server 14 searches for and selects the
past images of the patient stored in the archiving apparatus 17 or
18, within the selection range having been set.
[0115] In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 2, if the first
internal department requests examination of a patient and if the
image recording modality is CR, pre-fetching -is judged to be
necessary. Likewise, in the case where the second surgical ward
requests examination, pre-fetching is also judged to be necessary.
In the former case, among past images of the patient pertaining to
the first internal department and stored in the archiving apparatus
17 or 18, the latest image is searched for and selected. The
selected image is then stored in the hard disc 14a of the image
server 14. In the latter case, among past images of the patient
recorded by the same image recording modality and stored in the
archiving apparatus 17 or 18, images photographed in the past 12
months are searched for and selected. The selected image or images
are then stored in the hard disc 14a of the image server 14.
[0116] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the pre-fetch function for
pre-fetching the past image as described above.
[0117] The images having been pre-fetched in this manner are highly
likely to be output-requested later by the diagnostic workstation
15 or the reference terminal 16. When an actual order of output is
received, the image pre-fetched and stored in the hard disc 14a can
be output. Therefore, a fast response to the order for output can
be realized, without drawing the image from the archiving apparatus
17 or 18.
[0118] In the above apparatus, the necessity of pre-fetching of the
past images of the patient is judged in advance and the images to
be pre-fetched are selected based on the examination order
information. Therefore, the number of the images to be pre-fetched
is comparatively small. As a result, the time necessary for
receiving the images to be pre-fetched from the archiving apparatus
17 or 18 is also reduced, and the capacity of the hard disc 14a can
be comparatively small. Furthermore, a user can select an image to
be output among the comparatively small number of pre-fetched
images upon outputting the image on the diagnostic workstation 15
or the reference terminal 16, and an operation for image output
becomes easier.
[0119] In the case where the images to be pre-fetched are selected
based on the examination order information, the number of the
images to be pre-fetched can be reduced further by specifying only
past images of patients having an examination appointment on the
day and on the following day to be pre-fetched.
[0120] In that case, an order for output regarding a past image of
a patient having an appointment on the day is more likely to be
sent prior to an order for output regarding a patient having an
appointment on the following day. Therefore, it is preferable for
the image server to prioritize pre-fetch of the past images of the
patient having an appointment on the day.
[0121] In the embodiment described above, judgment regarding the
necessity of pre-fetching and the selection of the images to be
pre-fetched are carried out according to the examination order.
However, it is also possible to carry out the judgment and the
image selection based on information regarding the image recording
modality 12 or 13 or regarding actual photographing.
[0122] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the
conditions for judging the necessity of pre-fetching and the
selection range of the images to be pre-fetched are set for each
combination of the image requesting department and the image
recording modality. However, the setting may be defined for each
combination including a photographing menu such as ordinary
photographing, shadowgraphic photographing, and combinational
photographing, in addition to the image requesting department and
the image recording modality. Moreover, the setting may be defined
for each requesting department, each image recording modality and
each photographing menu.
[0123] Now, another embodiment of the present invention will be
explained in the following. In this embodiment, setting of the
selection range of the image to be pre-fetched is determined using
conditions different from those described above. FIG. 4
schematically illustrates a pre-fetching process according to the
present embodiment. An overall structure of an image display system
for carrying out the pre-fetching process is basically the same as
the structure shown in FIG. 1.
[0124] In the present embodiment, an image server 14 presets the
combinations of the image recording modality and the image
requesting department as the past-image acquisition conditions (the
condition required for an past image to be pre-fetched) and presets
the combinations of an ID number of the patient, the modality, the
image requesting department and the period in which the image was
photographed as the past-image search conditions. Each of the
past-image acquisition conditions is associated with one of the
past-image search conditions, and the associated pairs are recorded
in the form of a reference table 14c. There are a plurality of such
associated pairs set in the reference table 14c.
[0125] A radiology department information system (RIS) 11 sends
examination order information (photographing appointment
information) of a patient to the image server 14. The examination
order information for each patient includes several items such as
the ID number, the modality, the name of the image requesting
department and the name of the image requesting doctor associated
with the patient.
[0126] The image server 14 judges whether or not the combination of
the modality and the image requesting department contained in the
information sent by the radiology department information system
(RIS) 11 is identical to one of those combinations which have been
set as the past-image acquisition condition. In the case where the
image server 14 finds out the identical combination, one of the
items constituting the past-image search condition set in
association with the past-image acquisition condition, i.e. one of
the ID number, the modality and the name of the image requesting
department each contained in the information sent by the radiology
department information system (RIS) 11, is selected as a search
condition to be actually used.
[0127] The image server 14 searches through those images stored in
an archiving apparatus 17 or 18 based on the search condition after
selecting one of the ID number, the modality and the name of the
image requesting department as the search condition to be actually
used, and pre-fetches an image found out during the search
process.
[0128] As a matter of course, it is also possible to use the name
of the image requesting doctor or the period in which the image was
photographed in the past-image acquisition conditions or the
past-image search conditions, though those items are not used in
the present embodiment.
[0129] Now, a further embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. This embodiment realizes
a past-image delivering function, i.e. the function of delivering
the pre-fetched past image to a predetermined delivery destination,
in addition to the past-image pre-fetch function as described
above. Although the items related to the pre-fetching of the past
image are not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the explanation for such
items will not be repeated in the following, the present embodiment
is capable of practicing the pre-fetching substantially in the same
manner as the preceding embodiment does.
[0130] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the structure and the
function of an image display system utilizing the medical image
server of the present embodiment. The past-image delivering
function of the present embodiment is added by extending the
function of the image server 14, and the overall structure of the
image display system of the present embodiment is the same as the
structure shown in FIG. 1.
[0131] As shown in FIG. 5, the image server 14 contains delivery
judging means which judges whether delivery of an image recorded in
a hard disc 14a is necessary or unnecessary based on examination
order information (photographing appointment information) sent by a
radiology department information system (RIS) 11, means for
selecting an image to be delivered which selects an image from past
images of a patient recorded in the hard disc 14a based on the
examination order information when the delivery judging means
judges the delivery of the image to be necessary and which causes
the selected image to be delivered via a network 10 (see FIG. 1),
and means for determining a past-image delivery destination which
determines the delivery destination of the selected image based on
the examination order information.
[0132] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the process of delivering
the past image according to the present embodiment. The following
teachings are supposed to be read along with FIG. 6. In the present
embodiment, the image server 14 presets the combinations of the
image recording modality and the image requesting department as the
past-image delivery conditions and presets the combinations of an
ID number of the patient, the modality, the image requesting
department and the period in which the image was photographed as
the past-image search conditions. Each of the past-image delivery
conditions is associated with one of the past-image search
conditions, and the associated pairs are recorded in the form of a
reference table 14d. There are a plurality of such associated pairs
set in the reference table 14d.
[0133] A radiology department information system (RIS) 11 sends
examination order information (photographing appointment
information) of a patient to the image server 14. The examination
order information for each patient includes several items such as
the ID number, the modality, the name of the image requesting
department and the name of the image requesting doctor associated
with the patient.
[0134] The image server 14 judges whether or not the combination of
the modality and the image requesting department contained in the
information sent by the radiology department information system
(RIS) 11 is identical to one of those combinations which have been
set as the past-image delivery condition. In the case where the
image server 14 finds out the identical combination, one of the
items constituting the past-image search condition set in
association with the past-image delivery condition, i.e. one of the
ID number, the modality and the name of the image requesting
department each identical to the respective item contained in the
information sent by the radiology department information system
(RIS) 11, is selected as a search condition to be actually
used.
[0135] The image server 14 searches through those images stored in
the hard disc 14a based on the search condition after selecting one
of the ID number, the modality and the name of the image requesting
department as the search condition to be actually used, and
delivers an image found out during the search process to a delivery
destination determined in the manner to be described below.
[0136] Now, the process of determining the delivery destination
will be described. In the present embodiment, the image server 14
contains storing means in which several combinations of the image
recording modality and the name of the image requesting doctor and
several sets of three delivery destinations each associated with
one of the combinations are stored in the form of a reference table
14e. The three delivery destinations, namely delivery destinations
1, 2 and 3, correspond to terminals 31, 32 and 33, respectively, in
which each of the terminals 31, 32 and 33 is provided with an image
display function. Each of the terminals 31, 32 and 33 is a terminal
similar to the diagnostic workstation 15 and the reference terminal
16 of FIG. 1.
[0137] The image server 14 looks up the modality and the name of
the image requesting doctor contained in the information sent by
the radiology department information system (RIS), reads the
delivery destinations recorded in the reference table 14e in
association with the above modality and the name of the image
requesting doctor, and specifies the above delivery destinations as
actual delivery destinations. The past image obtained by searching
through the hard disc 14a is delivered to the delivery destinations
determined in the manner described above.
[0138] As a matter of course, it is also possible to use the name
of the image requesting doctor or the period in which the image was
photographed in the past-image delivery conditions or the
past-image search conditions, or to use the name of the image
requesting department in the conditions for determining the
past-image delivery destination, though those items are not used in
the present embodiment.
[0139] Now, a further embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. This embodiment realizes
a function of delivering an image taken on the day, i.e. the
function of delivering an image taken and recorded on the day to a
predetermined destination, in addition to the past-image pre-fetch
function as described above. Although the items related to the
pre-fetching of the past image are not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and
the explanation for such items will not be repeated in the
following, the present embodiment is capable of practicing the
pre-fetching substantially in the same manner as the above
embodiments do.
[0140] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the structure and the
function of an image display system utilizing the medical image
server of the present embodiment. The function of delivering the
image taken on the day realized in the present embodiment is added
by extending the function of the image server 14, and the overall
structure of the image display system of the present embodiment is
the same as the structure shown in FIG. 1.
[0141] The image server 14 in FIG. 7 contains means for determining
a delivery destination of the image taken on the day which
determines the delivery destination of the image taken and recorded
by an image recording modality 12 or 13 based on examination order
information (photographing appointment information) sent by a
radiology department information system (RIS) 11. In the present
example, the image server 14 also contains means for delivering the
image taken on the day.
[0142] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the process of delivering
the image taken on the day according to the present embodiment. The
following teachings are supposed to be read along with FIG. 8. In
the present embodiment, the image server 14 contains storing means
in which several combinations of the name of the image requesting
department, the name of the image requesting doctor and the image
recording modality and several sets of two delivery destinations
each associated with one of the combinations are stored in the form
of a reference table 14f. The two delivery destinations, namely
delivery destinations 1 and 2, correspond to terminals 31 and 32,
respectively, in which each of the terminals 31 and 32 is provided
with an image display function. Each of the terminals 31 and 32 is
a terminal similar to the diagnostic workstation 15 and the
reference terminal 16 of FIG. 1.
[0143] A radiology department information system (RIS) 11 sends
examination order information (photographing appointment
information) of each patient to the image server 14. The
examination order information for each patient includes several
items such as the ID number, the name of the image requesting
department and the name of the image requesting doctor associated
with the patient.
[0144] The image server 14 compares the patient ID number
associated with image data 40 sent from the image recording
modality 12 or 13 with the patient ID number contained in the
information of the patient sent from the radiology department
information system (RIS), and determines a delivery destination of
the image data 40 (i.e. the delivery destination of the image) in
the case where the two patient ID numbers are identical to each
other.
[0145] The image server 14 determines the delivery destination of
the image by looking up the name of the image requesting department
associated with the above identical patient ID number which is
contained in the information of the patient, reading a delivery
destination on the reference table 14f, the delivery destination
which is recorded in association with the above image requesting
department and with the image recording modality of the image data
40, and specifying the above delivery destination as the actual
delivery destination. Then, the image server 14 delivers the image
data 40 to the delivery destination determined as described
above.
[0146] The above function of delivering the image taken on the day
may be provided in parallel with the past-image delivering
function, which was already explained along with the embodiment of
FIGS. 5 and 6. In that case, the reference table for determining
the delivery destinations of the past images (the reference table
14e in FIG. 6) and the reference table for determining the delivery
destinations of the images taken on the day (the reference table
14f in FIG. 8) may be merged into a single table of a single
setting, so that the merged table may be used for determining the
delivery destination for both the past images and the images taken
on the day.
[0147] In the present embodiment, the means for determining the
delivery destination of the image taken on the day contained in the
image server 14 determines the delivery destination based on both
patient identifying information (the patient ID number) associated
with the examination order information and patient identifying
information (the patient ID number) associated with the image taken
on the day, referring to the reference table 14f in which the
predetermined delivery destination is set for each combination of a
plurality of items of the examination order and/or photographing
information (e.g. the name of the image requesting department, the
name of the image requesting doctor and the image recording
modality). However, examination identifying information may also be
used in place of the above patient identifying information.
Moreover, it is possible to use the patient identifying information
and the examination identifying information in parallel.
[0148] The above-described methods for determining the image
delivery destination may also be adopted to the delivery of the
past images which was already explained along with FIGS. 5 and
6.
[0149] In addition, the delivery of the past image may be carried
out using the delivery judging means configured to judge whether
the delivery of the past image is necessary or unnecessary based on
a judging standard which is one of or any combination of the name
of the image requesting department, the name of the image
requesting doctor, the image recording modality and the
photographing menu, which are contained in the information from RIS
(Radiology department Information System) and/or the information
attached to the image taken on the day, by comparing the judging
standard with a preset condition required for the past image to be
acquired which is defined by one of or any combination of the name
of the image requesting department, the name of the image
requesting doctor, the image recording modality and the
photographing menu.
[0150] Instead, the delivery of the past image may be carried out
using the means for selecting the image to be delivered configured
to select the past image based on a selection standard which is one
of or any combination of the name of the image requesting
department, the name of the image requesting doctor, the image
recording modality and the photographing menu, which are contained
in the information from RIS (Radiology department Information
System) and/or the information attached to the image taken on the
day, by comparing the selection standard with a preset selection
condition preset for each of the conditions required for the past
image to be acquired, wherein the selection condition is defined by
one of or any combination of the name of the image requesting
department, the name of the image requesting doctor, the image
recording modality and the photographing menu.
[0151] On the other hand, the pre-fetching of the past image may be
carried out using the pre-fetching judging means configured to
judge the necessity of the pre-fetching based on a judging standard
which is one of or any combination of the name of the image
requesting department, the name of the image requesting doctor, the
image recording modality and the photographing menu, which are
contained in the information from RIS (Radiology department
Information System) and/or the information attached to the image
taken on the day, by comparing the judging standard with a preset
condition required for the past image to be acquired which is
defined by one of or any combination of the name of the image
requesting department, the name of the image requesting doctor, the
image recording modality and the photographing menu.
[0152] In addition, the pre-fetching of the past image may be
carried out using the pre-fetching image selecting means configured
to select the past image based on a selection standard which is one
of or any combination of the name of the image requesting
department, the name of the image requesting doctor, the image
recording modality and the photographing menu, which are contained
in the information from RIS (Radiology department Information
System) and/or the information attached to the image taken on the
day, by comparing the selection standard with a preset selection
condition preset for each of the conditions required for the past
image to be acquired, wherein the selection condition is defined by
one of or any combination of the name of the image requesting
department, the name of the image requesting doctor, the image
recording modality and the photographing menu.
[0153] Another embodiment of the present invention will now be
described along with FIG. 9. FIG. 9 schematically illustrates the
structure and the function of an image display system utilizing the
medical image server of the present embodiment. The present
embodiment is provided with the past-image delivery function for
delivering the pre-fetched past image to a predetermined delivery
destination and the function for delivering the image taken and
recorded on the day to a predetermined destination, in addition to
the past-image pre-fetch function which was already described.
[0154] In the present embodiment, the past images are delivered
substantially in the same manner as the embodiment explained along
with FIGS. 5 and 6, and the images taken and recorded on the day
are delivered substantially in the same manner as the embodiment
explained along with FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0155] Now, another embodiment of the present invention will be
explained referring to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a
pre-fetching process according to the present embodiment. An
overall structure of an image display system for carrying out the
pre-fetching process is basically the same as the structure shown
in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, conditions different from
those described above are used for judging the necessity of the
pre-fetching and for specifying the setting of the selection range
of the pre-fetched image.
[0156] In the present embodiment, an image server 14 presets the
combinations of the image recording modality and the name of the
image requesting department as the past-image acquisition
conditions (the condition required for an past image to be
pre-fetched) and presets the combinations of an ID number of the
patient, the modality, the name of the image requesting department
and the period in which the image was photographed as the
past-image search conditions. Each of the past-image acquisition
conditions is associated with one of the past-image search
conditions, and the associated pairs are recorded in the form of a
reference table 14c. There are a plurality of such associated pairs
set in the reference table 14c.
[0157] A radiology department information system (RIS) 11 sends
examination order information (photographing appointment
information) of a patient to the image server 14. The items
included in the examination order information for each patient are
the patient ID number, the name of the image requesting department
and the name of the image requesting doctor associated with the
patient.
[0158] The image server 14 receives image data 40 related to the
images (images taken on the day) taken and recorded by image
recording modalities 12 and 13, and stores the image data 40 in a
hard disc 14a. The image data 40 contains the information telling
the patient ID number and the image recording modality.
[0159] When receiving the image data 40, the image server 14
compares the patient ID number associated with image data 40 with
the patient ID number contained in the examination order
information of the patient sent from the radiology department
information system (RIS) 11. In the case where the two patient ID
numbers are identical to each other, the image server 14 adopts the
examination order information having that patient ID number as a
standard for judging the necessity of the pre-fetching and as a
standard for selecting the pre-fetched image.
[0160] Also, the examination identifying information contained in
the examination order information may be used in place of the
patient identifying information, e.g. the patient ID number, to
realize the same function.
[0161] The image server 14 looks over the names of the image
requesting departments set in the reference table 14c as the
past-image acquisition conditions, examines whether the name of the
image requesting department identical with the name contained in
the examination order information, which is adopted as the judgment
standard and the selection standard, is recorded in the reference
table 14c, and judges the pre-fetching to be necessary if the
identical name was found.
[0162] The image server 14 then selects a search condition to be
actually used from the past-image search conditions set in
association with the past-image acquisition conditions including
the name of the image requesting department, namely from the name
of the image requesting department and the name of the image
requesting doctor contained in the examination order information
adopted as the selection standard. The image server 14 searches
through the images stored in archiving apparatuses 17 or 18
according to the selected search condition, i.e. the name of the
image requesting department or the name of the image requesting
doctor, and pre-fetches an appropriate image.
[0163] Accordingly, a series of items of the examination order
information corresponding to the input image can be picked up
correctly out of a plurality of items of the examination order
information, each associated with a single patient.
[0164] The above-described method of handling the images, which
utilizes the patient identifying information (e.g. the patient ID
number) associated with the image data 40 and the patient
identifying information (e.g. the patient ID number) contained in
the examination order information for each patient which is sent
from the radiology department information system (RIS), may be used
not only for judging the necessity of the pre-fetching or for
determining the selection range of the pre-fetched images but also
for judging the necessity of the past-image delivery, for
determining the past-image delivery destination, or for determining
the delivery destination of the image taken on the day.
[0165] The workstation such as the diagnostic workstation 15 in the
image display system shown in FIG. 3, 5, 7 or 9 preferably
comprises the display means capable of displaying the image stored
in the workstation, the judging means for judging whether or not an
image need to be displayed is stored in the workstation, and the
means for sending to the medical server 14 the order for output of
the image need to be displayed when the judging means judges that
the image is not stored in the workstation. In that case, the
medical server 14 is preferably configured to judge whether or not
the image specified by the order for output is stored in the hard
disc 14a when receiving the order for output from the workstation,
to deliver the image therein to the workstation if the image was
stored in the hard disc 14a, and to deliver the image to the
workstation after fetching the image from the image archiving
apparatus 17 or 18 if the image was not stored in the hard disc
14a.
[0166] The medical image need to be displayed may be picked up for
display immediately and efficiently by the workstation and the
medical server 14 having the above structures.
[0167] A further embodiment of the present invention will now be
explained with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a diagram
showing a medical network system including a medical image search
apparatus according to the present embodiment of the present
invention.
[0168] In the system shown in FIG. 11, a network 110 is a local
area network (LAN), such as the Ethernet or an FDDI, installed in a
hospital. The network may be connected to the Internet via a
dedicated line or a public telecommunication line such as ISDN.
[0169] A radiology department information system (RIS) 111, image
recording modalities 112 and 113, an image server 114 as a medical
image search apparatus, a diagnostic workstation 115 which is a
terminal, a reference terminal 116, image archiving apparatuses
117, 118 and 119, a laser printer 120, and the like are connected
to the network 110.
[0170] The image recording modalities 112 and 113 are apparatuses
or systems for CT, MRI, CR, RI, US and the like for recording
images of patients as digital data. The image recording modalities
may record image signals obtained by photographing after conversion
of the analog signal into digital data or obtain digital data by
reading images of patients recorded on a film or the like upon
photographing.
[0171] The radiology department information system 111 is connected
to terminals not shown in FIG. 11 and placed in a radiology
department or other medical departments such as an internal
department or a surgical ward requesting image recording from the
radiology department, and the system carries out information
transmission and processing based on examination order information
(photographing order or the like pertaining to the radiology
department) regarding patients from the requesting departments or
on photographing information in the image recording modalities 112
and 113.
[0172] The image server 114 comprises a computer system and stores
image data recorded by the image recording modalities 112 and 113
together with text information showing the name of a patient and
the like in the image archiving apparatus 117, 118 or 119 to
compile a database for each archiving apparatus. The image server
114 searches for and reads desired image data from the database,
based on search information from the diagnostic workstation 115 or
from the reference terminal 116, to transfer the image data and the
text information thereto. The image data recorded by the image
recording modalities 112 and 113 may be stored directly in the
image archiving apparatuses 117, 118 or 119, instead of via the
image server 114.
[0173] The diagnostic workstation 115 is a terminal used by a
radiologist or the like for carrying out a diagnosis while
referring to image data and carrying out image processing to
generate an image appropriate for diagnosis by changing an image
processing parameter and the like upon necessity.
[0174] The reference terminal 116 is a terminal only for referring
to image data. The laser printer 120 outputs processed image data
as a visible image. Image output by the laser printer 120 is
executed by an instruction from the diagnostic workstation 115 to
the image server 114.
[0175] In order to input or display text information, the
workstation 115 uses the Japanese syllabary while the reference
terminal 116 uses the Roman alphabet. Meanwhile, in order to show
text information in the database, the archiving apparatuses 117 and
118 use the Japanese syllabary and the Roman alphabet respectively,
while the archiving apparatus 119 uses either the Japanese
syllabary or the Roman alphabet depending on each image.
[0176] In the case where the character types used are not unique as
has been described above, image search can be carried out
thoroughly. This mechanism will be explained below. The image
server 114 includes an image proxy apparatus 114a and the image
proxy apparatus 114a has a function to carry out protocol
conversion between the two terminals, that is, the workstation 115
and the reference terminal 116, and the databases compiled in the
archiving apparatuses 117, 118, and 119. The protocol conversion
includes character type conversion between the Japanese syllabary
and the Roman alphabet.
[0177] FIG. 12 illustrates this concept of character type
conversion. As shown in FIG. 12, when the proxy apparatus 114a
receives search information from the diagnostic work station 115
using the Japanese syllabary, the proxy apparatus 114a searches the
databases of the archiving apparatuses 117, 118, and 119 based on
the search information in the Japanese syllabary, in the Roman
alphabet converted from the Japanese syllabary, and in the Japanese
syllabary as well as the Roman alphabet converted from the Japanese
syllabary, respectively.
[0178] The image proxy apparatus 114a sends to the diagnostic
workstation 115 a search result including the text information in
the Japanese syllabary obtained from the archiving apparatus 117 or
119, or a search result obtained from the archiving apparatus 118
or 119 after conversion of the result from the Roman alphabet into
the Japanese syllabary.
[0179] Meanwhile, when the proxy apparatus 114a receives search
information from the reference terminal 116 using the Roman
alphabet, the proxy apparatus 114a searches the databases of the
archiving apparatuses 117, 118, and 119 based on the search
information in the Japanese syllabary converted from the Roman
alphabet, in the Roman alphabet and in the Roman alphabet as well
as the Japanese syllabary converted from the Roman alphabet,
respectively.
[0180] The image proxy apparatus 114a sends to the reference
terminal 116 a search result including the text information in the
Roman alphabet obtained from the archiving apparatus 118 or 119, or
a search result obtained from the archiving apparatus 117 or 119
after conversion of the result from the Japanese syllabary into the
Roman alphabet.
[0181] In this manner, in the case where a search request is
received from either the diagnostic workstation 115 or the
reference terminal 116, the databases of the archiving apparatuses
117, 118 and 119 can be searched thoroughly, and the search result
can be noticed to the diagnostic workstation 115 or the reference
terminal 116 having requested the search.
[0182] The character type conversion in the present invention is
not limited to conversion between the Japanese syllabary and the
Roman alphabet, and it is needless to say that conversion in
accordance with character types used by the search requesting
terminal and the databases is carried out.
[0183] FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show a medical network system including
an image search server according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0184] In the system shown in FIG. 13, a network 210 is a local
area network (LAN) installed in a hospital, such as the Ethernet or
an FDDI. The network may be connected to the Internet via a
dedicated line or a public telecommunication line such as ISDN.
[0185] A radiology department information system (RIS) 211, image
recording modalities 212 and 213, an image search server 214, a
diagnostic workstation 215 which is a terminal, a reference
terminal 216, image archiving apparatuses 217 and 218, a laser
printer 219, and the like are connected to the network 210.
[0186] The image recording modalities 212 and 213 are apparatuses
or systems for CT, MRI, CR, RI, US and the like for recording
images of patients as digital data. The image recording modalities
may record image signals obtained by photographing after conversion
of the analog signal into digital data or obtain digital data by
reading images of patients recorded on a film or the like upon
photographing.
[0187] The radiology department information system 211 is connected
to terminals not shown in FIG. 13 and placed in a radiology
department or other medical departments such as an internal
department or a surgical ward requesting image recording from the
radiology department, and the system carries out information
transmission and processing based on examination order information
(photographing order or the like pertaining to the radiology
department) regarding patients from the requesting departments or
on photographing information in the image recording modalities 212
and 213.
[0188] The image search server 214 comprises a computer system and
stores image data recorded by the image recording modalities 212
and 213 together with text information showing the name of a
patient and the like in the image archiving apparatus 217 or 218 to
compile a database for each archiving apparatus. The image search
server 214 searches for and reads desired image data from the
database, based on a search request of the diagnostic workstation
215 or the reference terminal 216 to transfer a search result to
the workstation or the reference terminal. The image search server
214 comprises a hard disc 214a for temporarily storing images and
an image processing apparatus 214b.
[0189] The image data recorded by the image recording modalities
212 and 213 may be stored directly in the image archiving apparatus
217 or 218, instead of through the image server 214.
[0190] The diagnostic workstation 215 is a terminal used by a
radiologist or the like for carrying out a diagnosis while
referring to image data and carrying out image processing to
generate an image appropriate for diagnosis by changing an image
processing parameter and the like upon necessity.
[0191] The reference terminal 216 is a terminal only for referring
to image data. The laser printer 219 outputs processed image data
as a visible image. Image output by the laser printer 219 is
executed by an instruction from the diagnostic workstation 215 to
the image server 214.
[0192] Image search and image processing by the image search server
214 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 showing the
outline thereof. The image search server 214 comprises judging
means and control means. The judging means and the control means
are included in the image search server 214 and judging processing
and control processing is carried out based on a predetermined
computer program.
[0193] The image search server 214 has setting defining that image
processing is unnecessary for the diagnostic workstation 215 which
is an image display terminal having an image processing function
and defining that image processing is necessary for the reference
terminal 216 which is an image display terminal not having an image
processing function.
[0194] As shown in FIG. 14, when an image search is requested by
the diagnostic workstation 215, the image search server 214
searches the databases of the archiving apparatus 217 and 218.
Thereafter, the image search server 214 judges image processing to
be unnecessary, and transfers to the diagnostic workstation 215 a
search result including information indicating a location of the
image in the database (in this example in FIG. 14, the archiving
apparatus 218).
[0195] The diagnostic workstation 215 obtains the image directly
from the archiving apparatus 218 based on the information having
been received, and carries out image processing as required. In
this manner, an image can promptly reach the diagnostic
workstation, since pointless image transfer of the image to the
image search server 214 is omitted.
[0196] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 15, when the reference terminal
216 requests an image search, the image search server 214 searches
the databases of the archiving apparatus 217 and 218. Thereafter,
the image search server 214 transfers to the reference terminal 216
a search result including information indicating that the image is
located in the hard disc 214a of the image search server 214. In
the meantime, the image search server 214 judges image processing
to be necessary, and obtains the image from the database of the
archiving apparatus 217 or 218. After the image processing
apparatus 214b carries out predetermined image processing on the
image having been obtained, the processed image is stored in the
hard disc 214a.
[0197] The reference terminal 216 obtains the image from the hard
disc 214a based on the search result information having been
received, and obtains the processed image. In this manner, the
processed image having better diagnostic performance can be
displayed on the reference terminal 216, although the reference
terminal 216 does not have the image processing function.
[0198] In the embodiment described above, necessity or lack of
necessity of image processing is judged based on whether the image
display terminal is the workstation 215 or the reference terminal
216. However, this judgment may be based on which image recording
modality 212 or 213 has recorded the image, for example.
[0199] The present invention is not limited to the image search
server for medical images, and is also applicable to any image
search server for any kind of images, and the same effect can be
obtained.
[0200] Hereinafter, a further embodiment of the present invention
will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 16 and 17. A medical
network system including an image search server according to the
present embodiment of the present invention may be explained
referring to FIG. 1. For the explanation of the network 10, the
radiology department information system 11, the medical network
system, the DICOM standard, and the like, see the above explanation
in the first embodiment.
[0201] The image recording modalities 12 and 13 are apparatuses or
systems for CT, MRI, CR, RI, US and the like for recording images
of patients as digital data. The image recording modalities may
record image signals obtained by photographing after conversion of
the analog signal into digital data, or obtain digital data by
reading images of patients recorded on a film or the like upon
photographing.
[0202] The radiology department information system 11 is connected
to terminals not shown in FIG. 1 and placed in a radiology
department or other medical departments such as an internal
department or a surgical ward requesting image recording from the
radiology department, and the system carries out information
transmission and processing based on examination order information
(photographing order or the like pertaining to the radiology
department) regarding patients from the requesting departments or
on photographing information in the image recording modalities 12
and 13.
[0203] The image search server 14 comprises a computer system and
compiles a database for each of the image archiving apparatuses by
storing image data recorded by the image recording modalities 12
and 13 in the image archiving apparatus 17 or 18 together with text
information indicating the name of a patient and the like. The
image data recorded by the image recording modalities 12 and 13 may
be stored directly in the image archiving apparatus 17 or 18,
instead of through the image search server 14.
[0204] The image search server 14 comprises the hard disc 14a for
temporarily storing images. The image search server 14 searches the
databases and the hard disc 14a therein for a desired image (the
selection of where to search will be explained later) based on a
search request of the workstation 15 or the reference terminal 16,
and transfers a search result to the diagnostic workstation 15 or
to the reference terminal 16.
[0205] The diagnostic workstation 15 is a terminal used by a
radiologist or the like for carrying out a diagnosis while
referring to image data and carrying out image processing to
generate an image appropriate for diagnosis by changing an image
processing parameter and the like as required.
[0206] Image search processing by the image search server 14 will
be explained with reference to FIG. 16 showing an outline of the
processing. The image search server 14 comprises the control means
described above, and the control means is included in the image
search server 14. Control processing is carried out according to a
predetermined computer program.
[0207] Among images stored in the databases of the archiving
apparatuses 17 and 18, the image search server 14 temporarily
stores images of comparatively frequent use in the hard disc 14a
thereof. The images to be stored temporarily in this manner can be
selected according to the kind of the image recording modality 12
or 13 that photographed the images or based on a photographing
menu.
[0208] The image search server 14 has setting defining that all of
the databases (that is, the archiving apparatuses 17 and 18) and
the hard disc 14a are searched in response to a search request of
the diagnostic workstation 15 which is an image display terminal
while only the hard disc 14a is searched in response to a search
request of the reference terminal 16. The image search server 14
carries out a search according to this setting.
[0209] Upon receiving a search request from the diagnostic
workstation 15, the image search server 14 searches the hard disc
14a and sends a search result to the diagnostic workstation 15. The
image search server 14 then searches the databases in the archiving
apparatuses 17 and 18 and sends a result to the diagnostic
workstation 15. Meanwhile, if a search request is sent from the
reference terminal 16 to the image search server 14, the image
search server 14 searches only the hard disc 14a and sends a result
to the reference terminal 16.
[0210] The reference terminal 16 is used to search for and display
images of comparatively frequent use, and no problem occurs if the
databases of the archiving apparatuses 17 and 18 are not searched
in response to a search request of the terminal. By searching only
the hard disc 14a and not searching the databases of the archiving
apparatuses 17 and 18, an image search can be carried out
promptly.
[0211] On the other hand, the diagnostic workstation 15 may request
a search of an image stored in the databases. For such a search
request, all of the databases of the archiving apparatuses 17 and
18 are searched as has been described above, and a thorough search
can be realized.
[0212] FIG. 17 explains how another image search server of the
present invention selects where to search. In this case, an image
search server 14 has setting defining that all the databases (that
is, the archiving apparatuses 17 and 18) as well as a hard disc 14a
therein, or only the hard disc 14a are searched, for each image
recording modality such as a CT, MRI, or CR apparatus. The image
search server 14 searches for an image based on the setting.
[0213] In the example shown in FIG. 17, when a search of an image
recorded by a CT apparatus is requested by the diagnostic
workstation 15, for example, the image search server 14 searches
all the databases (that is, the archiving apparatuses 17 and 18)
and the hard disc 14a, according to the setting. When the reference
terminal 16 requests a search of an image recorded by a CR
apparatus for example, the image search server 14 searches only the
hard disc 14a, according to the setting.
[0214] In this case, an image search can be carried out thoroughly
and promptly.
[0215] The present invention is applicable not only to the image
search server for medical images but also any image search server
for any kind of image, and the same effect can be obtained when
applied to any server.
[0216] In addition, all of the contents of Japanese Patent
Application Nos. 11(1999)-92384, 11(1999)-92385, 11(1999)-92386,
11(1999)-92387 and 2000-96559 are incorporated into this
specification by reference.
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