JPH04154334A - Medical image storage/communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is a medical application that stores a large amount of generated medical images by common element and accesses desired images as needed. Related to image storage and communication system.

(Prior art) In recent years, it has become common practice to collect medical images such as X-ray film images, X-ray CT images, and ultrasound images, store them in a database as digital images, and read out the images as necessary for use in diagnosis. It is being said. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional medical image storage and communication system.
multiple image generating devices (
consists of a small-capacity image storage device (hereinafter referred to as MDB) 2A for temporarily storing generated images, and an image storage device (hereinafter referred to as SDB) 2B for storing large-capacity images. Image storage device (hereinafter referred to as DB)
(hereinafter referred to as WS) 2 and multiple image display devices (hereinafter referred to as WS) that read necessary images from each DB 2 as necessary.
3, modality 1. The MDB2A, 5DB2B, and WS3 are connected to each other by a network 4.

In the above configuration, first, the procedure from generating an image in modality 1 to storing the image in the 5D82B will be described.

When modality 1 generates an image, it transfers the image to MDB2A.
temporarily stored.

For example, when the storage capacity of the MDB2A becomes low, images are transferred to the 5D82B for storage.

Next, the procedure for transferring images from DB2 to WS3 will be described. For example, if a doctor uses a CRT to record both X-ray images and CT images WS3,
Let us assume the case of image interpretation in which a diagnosis is made by observing as described above. In this case, the doctor requests an image from the DB2 from the WS3.

Upon receiving the request, the DB2 searches for an image and transfers the requested image to the WS3.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in conventional medical image archiving and communication systems, there is a problem in that if an attempt is made to shorten the response time for an image transfer request to a workstation, the price of the entire system increases.

For example, as a network, as shown in FIG. 10, a low-speed network 4A such as Ethernet
When using t), it is possible to construct a system at a relatively low cost, but since image transfer from DB2 to WS3 occurs when a doctor requests an image during interpretation, the response time should be minimized. There is a need. Therefore, slow network 4
If A is used, the requirement cannot be met.

In addition, the response time required for transfer from MDB2A to 5DB2B is relatively low.
When a high-speed network 4B as shown in the figure is used, for example, if images are collected in the morning and interpretation is performed in the afternoon, the transfer may be completed in several hours. Therefore, if the high-speed network 4B is used, the response time requirement can be met, but since the high-speed network 4B is also used for modality networks with relatively low response time requirements, the price of the network system will decrease. It will end up being more expensive than necessary.

Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 12, it is also possible to connect the low-speed network 4A of modality 1 and the low-speed network 4A of WS3 to a high-speed network 4B as the backbone network, but in this case as well, DB2 and W
During S3, the response time is limited by the slow network 4A, so the request cannot be met.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image archiving and communication system that reduces the response time for image requests by combining low-speed communication means and high-speed communication means.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image generation device that generates various images, and an image storage device that collectively stores images of common elements. , an image display device that displays a desired image, and a medical image storage and communication system in which the image generation device, the image storage device, and the image display device are connected via a network. It is characterized by comprising a low-speed communication means connected between the image storage device and the image display device, and a high-speed communication means connected between the image storage device and the image display device.

(Function) Image generating device (modality) and image storage device such as SD
A low-speed communication means is used to connect the image storage device B, and a high-speed communication means is used to connect the image storage device, for example, the MDB and the image display device (WS). By this, WS
The response time can be the same as using only a high-speed network, and since a low-cost network is used to collect images generated from modalities that do not have such high response time requirements, the overall price of the network is low. be able to.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the medical image storage and communication system of the present invention, where 1 is a modality consisting of IA and 1B, and 2A is a small-capacity MDB for temporarily storing images.
, 2B is an SDB that stores large-capacity images, 3 is a WS that reads necessary images from MD B 2 A or 2B as needed, 4A is a low-speed network that connects modality 1 and MDB 2A, and 4B is a 5DR2B, l! =WS
This is a high-speed network that connects between 3 and 3. Further, 6 is a gateway that connects the low-speed network 4A and the high-speed network 4B. As a low-speed network, use an inexpensive bus-type network such as the above-mentioned Ethernet.

However, other inexpensive networks such as star type or ring type may also be used. Further, as the high-speed network 4B, a ring type network such as FDDI is used, but other types of networks may be used as long as the speed is high.

Here, the gateway 6 is assumed to be a Buri-Soji that has a physical layer and a data link layer in the ○SI reference model. Modality IMDB2A, 5D82B.

WS 3. The hierarchical structure of each communication protocol of the gateway 6 is shown in FIG. Low speed network 4A is modality 1. It is configured by the first and second layer protocols of the MDB 2A and the gateway 6. Further, the high-speed network 4B is constituted by the gateway 6.3D82B and the 1st and 2nd layer protocols of the WS3. Note that 7 indicates a protocol conversion unit of the gateway 6.

FIG. 3 shows a specific configuration of the gateway 6, from the low-speed network 4A side to the high-speed network 4B side: a low-speed NW (network) reception buffer 5a, a low-speed NW frame header interpreter 6b, and a low-speed → high-speed NW address. conversion unit 6c, high-speed NW frame header addition unit 5d,
A high speed NW transmission buffer 6e is provided. Further, from the high speed network 4B side to the low speed network 4A side, a high speed NW reception buffer 6f, a high speed NW frame header interpretation section 6g, a high speed → low speed NW address conversion section 6h, a low speed NW frame header addition section 61°, a low speed NW transmission buffer 6j is provided.

Next, the operation of the system of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

When an image is generated from modality 1, the image is transferred through the low-speed network 4A to the MDB 2A and temporarily stored there. When the remaining storage capacity of this MDB 2A decreases, the MDB 2A transfers images to the 5D82B.

Images sent from MDA2A are sent from low-speed network 4A.
is sent to gateway 6 through.

In the gateway 6, the low-speed NW reception buffer 6a receives the image, the low-speed NW frame buffer interpretation section 6b interprets the frame header, and the low-speed → high-speed NW address conversion section 6c
performs address conversion, a high-speed NW frame header addition section 6d adds a frame header, and a high-speed NW transmission buffer 6e transmits the image to the high-speed network 4B. After the image is transferred to the 5D82B, the 5D82B transfers the image to the WS3 via the high-speed network 4B in response to an image transfer request from the WS3. Further, when transferring an image from the high speed network 4B side to the low speed network 4A, a similar transfer operation is performed, only that the transmission and reception at the gateway 6 are reversed.

According to this embodiment, the low-cost low-speed network 4A is used to collect images generated from modality 1, which does not require a high response time, and the DB 2, which has a high response time
Since the high-speed network 4B is used between the computer and WS3, the response time for an image transfer request to WS3 can be shortened without increasing the price of the entire network.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example in which the MDB 2A is provided with a gateway function. In other words, MDB2A is connected to low-speed network 4A.
and the high-speed network 4B. In this embodiment, the hierarchical structure of each communication protocol is as shown in FIG. The low-speed network 4A is configured by modality 1 and MDB2A's 1st to 7th layer protocols, and the high-speed network 4B is configured by MDB2A.
It is configured by the first to seventh layer protocols of B2A, 5DB2B, and WS3.

Furthermore, in this case, the specific configuration of the MDB 2A is as shown in FIG. 6, corresponding to FIG. From the low-speed network 4A side to the high-speed network 4B side, a low-speed NW reception buffer 3a, a low-speed NW frame header interpretation section 8b, a low-speed → high-speed NW address conversion section F3c, a high-speed NW frame header addition section 8d, and a high-speed NW transmission buffer 8e are installed. It is provided. Also, from the high-speed network 4B side to the low-speed network 4A side, the high-speed NW reception buffer 8f, the high-speed NW reception buffer 8f, the high-speed NW reception buffer 8f,
W frame header interpretation section 8g, high speed-low speed NW child address conversion 8h, low speed NW frame header addition section 81. A low-speed transmission buffer 8j is provided. Note that 9 is a data storage section.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example in which 5DB2B is provided with a gateway function. In other words, 5D82B is connected to low-speed network 4A
and the high-speed network 4B. Further, the hierarchical structure of the communication protocol in this case is as shown in FIG. The low-speed network 4A is configured by the first to seventh layer protocols of modalities 1° MDB2A and 5DB2B, and the high-speed network 4B is configured by the first to seventh layer protocols of 5DB2B and WS3.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 can also provide the same effects as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the modality and the DB are connected by a low-speed communication means, and the DB and the WS are connected by a high-speed communication means. The response time for image transfer requests to the WS can be shortened while keeping the overall price low.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the medical image archiving and communication system of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the communication protocol used in this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the communication protocol used in this embodiment. Block diagram showing the configuration of the gateway, No. 4
The figure is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the communication protocol used in the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is the gateway used in the second embodiment. A block diagram showing the functional configuration, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the communication protocol used in the third embodiment.
9 to 12 are block diagrams showing conventional systems. 1, IA, IB...Modality (image generator), 2
...DB (database: image storage device), 2A...
・MDB (small capacity database), 2B...SDB
(Large capacity database), 3.3A, 3B...WS
(workstation), 4A...low-speed network, 4B...high-speed network, 6...gateway, 7...protocol converter, 9
...Data storage section. 11ji 9'' LiteiB Figure Figure Figure 2B 77' Rotokorugaj Ashin Figure Figure Figure Figure 1 Figure

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Equipped with an image generation device that generates various images, an image storage device that stores images of common elements together, and an image display device that displays a desired image; In a medical image storage and communication system in which display devices are connected via a network, a low-speed communication means is connected between the image generation device and the image storage device, and a high-speed communication means is connected between the image storage device and the image display device. A medical image storage and communication system characterized by comprising a communication means. (2) The medical image storage and communication system according to claim 1, wherein the low-speed communication means and the high-speed communication means are connected via a gateway. (3) The medical image storage and communication system according to claim 1, wherein the low-speed communication means and the high-speed communication means are connected via a small-capacity or large-capacity image storage device.