JPH0744341A - Medical image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Use multiple printers connected to the network with good load distribution. [Structure] CT11, MRI12, DSA13, US
A medical modality such as (ultrasound diagnostic apparatus) 14 is connected to medical laser imagers 16 and 17 via a network interface such as Ethernet 15.
Before issuing a print request for an image from the medical modality to the laser imagers 16 and 17, the status is requested to the laser imagers 16 and 17, and the print waiting time in the returned status is compared to determine the print waiting time. Make a print request to the shorter laser imager.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical image recording apparatus including a medical modality and a printer connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A medical image recording apparatus is a medical CT,
This is a device for printing an image transferred from a medical modality such as MRI or DSA using a printer such as a medical laser imager. Regarding the connection between the medical laser imager and the medical modality, in recent years, instead of the conventional video interface, in recent years, a digital interface using RS422, a network interface such as Ethernet, and the like have a broad digital interface. Is used.

The reason for this is that medical CT, MRI,
Image data generated from the DSA or the like is digital data, and noise may be mixed in the process of converting the video data into an analog video signal and transmitting the video signal, and then converting the video signal back into a digital signal in the medical laser imager. Because there is this. Further, especially in the case of DSA, the image size is large, and the clock rate when converted to a video signal is very high, such as 50 MHz, which makes it difficult to design the interface circuit. Furthermore, recently in medical CT, MRI, DSA, etc.,
This is because there is a tendency to configure a network between devices and commonly use one medical laser imager.

[0004]

Such a medical image recording apparatus used in the medical field is required to have high reliability because it may be urgent in some cases. Although much research has been done to improve reliability, there is a limit to improving reliability with only one laser imager as a printer.
In order to supplement it, laser imagers for backup are now available. As the connection form, generally, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 10, a laser imager 4 is connected to the output of CT1, MRI2, DSA3, etc., and a backup laser imager 5 is connected to the output of the laser imager 4. is there.

However, in the conventional connection configuration as shown in FIG. 10, the laser imager 5 for backup is connected to the output of the laser imager 4 composed of multiple inputs, and the printer is operated in a state where both are operating normally. However, since the image data is transferred to the laser imager 5 via the laser imager 4, the load is imposed on the laser imager 4 and the system is not efficient. At present, a system that efficiently uses a plurality of printers arranged on a network is desired.

In the case of a printer connected to a network, information on which printer the image is output, and
Information about how many more sheets to print out is also important,
Current printers do not satisfy it.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
Select a printer that is not overloaded or has a load, even if the load on the printer is concentrated among multiple printers connected to the network, or if there is a malfunction. An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image recording apparatus capable of excellent load distribution of the medical image recording apparatus.

[0008]

A medical image recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a medical image recording apparatus comprising a medical modality connected to a network and a plurality of printers. The modality includes means for requesting a status from the plurality of printers before issuing a print request to the printer, and a print waiting time included in the status returned from the printer in response to the request for the status or And a means for comparing the print waiting time calculated from the returned status or the predicted print completion time included in the status, and sending a print request to the printer having the shortest print waiting time or the predicted print completion time. It is characterized by outputting.

A medical image recording apparatus according to another invention is a medical image recording apparatus including a network-connected medical modality and a plurality of printers, and the medical modality issues a print request to the printer. Means for requesting status to a plurality of the printers previously, and print waiting time included in the status returned from the printer in response to the request for the status or print waiting time calculated from the returned status Alternatively, the print waiting time or the print waiting time or the print waiting time included in the status, and means for holding a threshold value for designating a dead zone for the difference between the print waiting time or the print completion predicted time are provided. If the difference in the estimated completion time is larger than the threshold, A print request is output to the printer with a short print waiting time or the predicted print completion time, and if the difference between the print waiting time or the predicted print completion time is smaller than the threshold value, the print request is output to the same printer as the previous time. It is characterized by doing.

[0010]

The medical image recording apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration requests the printer for the status before the medical modality issues a print request for the image to the printer, and based on the print waiting time or the status in the returned status. The calculated print waiting time or the estimated print completion time in the status is compared, and the print request is output to the printer having the shortest print waiting time or the estimated print completion time.

A medical image recording apparatus according to another invention requests a status from the printer before the medical modality issues a print request for the image to the printer, and the print waiting time or the status in the returned status is used. Compare the calculated print waiting time or the estimated print completion time in the status, and if the difference between the print waiting time or the estimated print completion time is larger than the threshold value, request the printer with a short print waiting time or the estimated print completion time. Is output, and if the difference between the print waiting time or the predicted print completion time is smaller than the threshold value, the print request is output to the same printer as full open.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment. CT11, MRI12, DSA13, US
A medical modality such as (ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus) 14 is connected to a medical laser imager 16 or 17 which is a printer via a network interface such as Ethernet 15.

When the network is constructed, CT
The laser imagers 16 and 17 existing on the network are assigned to the medical modalities 11, 11, MRI 12, DSA 13, and US 14, respectively. Specifically, an IP address is set for each laser imager within the medical modality. When actually recording an image, first, CT11, MRI12, DSA1
3, medical modalities such as US14 sequentially request the status to the two laser imagers 16 and 17 prior to the request to print the image.

There is no problem in the order of requesting the status, whichever comes first. The laser imagers 16 and 17 return the print waiting time in response to the status request.
The waiting time for printing is calculated from the number of prints currently requested, the amount of original data required for each print, the time required to create an image, and the mechanical print cycle time. CT11, MRI
12, DSA13, US14 are each laser imager 1
The print waiting times of 6 and 17 are compared, and the print request is output to the one with the shorter waiting time. As the status returned by the laser imagers 16 and 17, instead of the print waiting time, as information for calculating the waiting time, the number of prints requested, the original data amount required for each print, and an image are created. The time required for printing and the mechanical print cycle time may be returned.

The operation of selecting a laser imager that outputs a print request from the information on the status is performed for each patient. The reason is that if the laser imager is selected on a print-by-print basis, prints for one patient may be output to different laser imagers.
This is because it is inconvenient when picking up an image.
Generally, there are 2-3 image prints for one patient.

As information returned by the laser imagers 16 and 17 to the medical modality, not only the information about the print waiting time but also the amount of data that the laser imagers 16 and 17 can receive later is important. If there is only a small amount of data that can be received thereafter, the data cannot be transferred beyond the amount that can be received, so the medical modality postpones the data transfer or requests the other laser imager to print. It is necessary to select whether to output.

In the case where one laser imager has a failure in the above-mentioned network configuration, if the communication on the network is possible depending on the failure status, the backup will be the status of the failed laser imager. If the print latency is returned as infinite, the medical modality does not output the print request. Further, if the network communication is also impossible, the medical modality does not respond and does not output the print request. However, even if there is no response, the unresponsive laser imager is still queried so that it can be used immediately upon return.

Regarding the format of image data transferred from the medical modality to the medical laser imager, the ACR / NEMA format standardized in the United States is often used in the case of a network interface. The features of this ACR / NEMA format are:
The image information and the header information of one image data are transferred as one file, while the image information and the header information can be separated in the medical laser imager.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the laser imagers 16 and 17 of the first embodiment in more detail. Laser imager is control unit 2
1 and an imaging unit 22, which are S
It is connected via the CSI bus 23. The control unit 21 is also connected to the Ethernet 15.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the control unit 21 in more detail. Ethernet 15 connects to CU via Ethernet interface 31.
A SCSI interface 33, a CPU 34, and a main storage device 35 are connected to the CU bus 32. The SCSI interface 33 has an S
The magnetic disk 38 and the imaging unit 22 (not shown) are connected via the CSI bus 23.

CT11, MRI12, DSA13, US
ACR / N sent from Ethernet 14 to Ethernet 15
The image file in the EMA format is taken into the control unit 21 via the Ethernet interface 31. When recording three images horizontally and three vertically when recording images on a single film, the image file is 9
Sheets are transferred continuously. The transferred image file is buffered in the main storage device 35, and after being confirmed by the CPU 34 to be in the proper ACR / NEMA format, it is stored in the magnetic disk 38 via the SCSI interface 33.

Next, after confirming the transfer of nine images for one film, the data transfer from the control unit 21 to the imaging unit 22 (not shown) is started. However, the reason why the data transfer to the imaging unit 22 does not start unless the image transfer for one film is confirmed is not to restrict the configuration of this embodiment but to ensure the data transfer procedure. It is also possible to transfer data to the imaging unit 22 in parallel with receiving the image file from the Ethernet interface 31.

The image file transferred from the medical modality is composed of image information and header information.
Data transfer to the imaging unit 22 is roughly classified into transfer of image information and transfer of header information. The image information transferred to the imaging unit 22 is CT11, M
The RI12, DSA13, and US14 grayscale images are transferred as they are, but the density conversion LUT (Loo
k Up Table), the LUT is transferred prior to the transfer of the grayscale image. The header information is patient name, patient ID,
It is classified into character information such as modality name, shooting date and time, shooting conditions, and image information such as gray scale. The character information is transferred to the image unit 22 after performing font expansion to form image information. Image information such as gray scale is transferred to the image unit 22 as it is, but in this case as well, if there is a density conversion LUT, the LUT is transferred prior to the transfer of the image information. Addresses on the film are added to the respective image information and header information, and the layout of these is calculated by the CPU 34.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the imaging unit 22 in more detail. The SCSI bus 23 is connected to the SCSI interface 41,
The output of the SI interface 41 is the input FIFO 42, C
It is connected to the PU 43 and the main storage device 44. Input F
The output of the IFO 42 is connected to the LUT 45 and the CPU 43, and the LUT 45 is the image FIFO 46 and the scaling processing circuit 4.
7, the memory control circuit 48 and the CPU 43. The output of the image FIFO 46 is fed back to the input of the image FIFO 46 again, and is also connected to the scaling processing circuit 47. The output of the scaling processing circuit 47 is connected to the memory control circuit 48, and the output of the memory control circuit 48 is connected to the optical system 50 via the output FIFO 49 and also to the page memory 51. In addition, the CPU 43
Is also connected to the mechanical system 52.

Data from the control unit 21 is input to the FIFO through the SCSI interface 41.
42 is input. Data is basically classified into three types, image data, overlay data, and LUT data, and the type check of data is performed by the CPU 43 by reading from the input FIFO 42. The data from the control unit 21 is L if it is image data or overlay data.
Transferred to the image FIFO 46 via the UT 45 and the LUT
If it is data, it is written in the LUT 45. LUT45
The function of can be considered as conversion from N bits to M bits, but not only window processing but also conversion according to film characteristics is performed.

The image data or overlay data input to the image FIFO 46 is read by the scaling processing circuit 47 and subjected to scaling processing in the vertical and horizontal directions. The scaling function and scaling ratio at this time are calculated by the CPU 43 based on the information added to the image data or the overlay data, and set in the scaling processing circuit 47. Image FI
The FO 46 has a structure that allows looping because line data may be used a plurality of times when the scaling process is enlargement. The data subjected to the scaling processing is written in the page memory 51 via the memory control circuit 48.

The page memory 51 is composed of the number of pixels for one film and has 4096 × 5120 pixels. The setting of the address in the page memory 51 to which the scaled data is written and the setting of the write mode such as overwrite, OR writing, AND writing, EXOR writing of the scaling processing data are performed by the CPU 43 to the memory control circuit 48. Done. When the writing of the scaling processing data to the page memory 51 for one film is completed, the CPU 43 controls the mechanical system 52 to handle the film and cause the sub-scan to start printing. Data is transferred from the page memory 51 to the memory control circuit 48 in synchronization with the sub-scan of the film.
Is read out to the output FIFO 49 via. Optical system 50
Then, the laser light is modulated by the data read from the output FIFO 49, and the laser light is scanned in the main scanning direction of the film. The main storage device 44 is a memory used by the CPU 43 when executing a program. Regarding the border which is the space between each image and between the edges of the film and the image when the images are lined up on one film,
The specified value from the control unit 21 is written before the scaling processing of each image.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the status items of the first embodiment. The basic status item of the laser imager is the current state of the laser imager. The current state includes those shown in the following (a) to (d). (a) In the print ready state, data can be received and there is no data to be printed. (b) During printing, the film is currently being fed and the image is being written. (c) In the condition that only data can be received, data can be received, but the film cannot be conveyed due to troubles in the mechanical system and optical system or no magazine. (d) The number of image prints waiting in the print queue. If this laser imager supports multiple film sizes, return a list of sheets for each size.

Items relating to the basic specifications of the laser imager are not necessarily the items to be returned as the status every time, but the state of the laser imager may change dynamically, and the data amount is only a few bytes. Therefore, here, it is transferred along with the status. Items related to the basic specifications of the laser imager include those shown in (e) to (h) below. (e) Print cycle time. This is the cycle time for printing with the image created in the page memory. If it differs depending on the film size, it will be returned as a list. (f) Size and type of film supported. (g) Time required to execute image enlargement corresponding to page memory. In this regard, if the time required for expansion is different depending on the previous film size, the time is indicated for each size. (h) Average data read speed. Control unit 2
This is the speed at which the CPU 34 in 1 reads data from the magnetic disk 38. For example, about 200 kilobytes / second is common.

Finally, information regarding the amount of laser imager data that can be received from the present is returned in byte units. For information on the amount of data that can be received, see the following.
Examples include those shown in (i) and (j). (i) The amount of data already received. (j) The amount of data that can be received from now.

The medical modality receiving such information can output a print command to a laser imager designated in advance, using only the current state of the laser imager and the receivable data amount. However, in this embodiment, the print waiting time is calculated using other information, and the print command is output to the laser imager having a short waiting time.

Assuming the status of the laser imager 16 as follows, the calculation method of the print waiting time is as follows. Support film type 1
When the print cycle time is 14x17 size when 4x17 size and 8x10 size are used,
Tc1 (sec), Tc2 (sec) for 8x10 size, image enlargement time Te1, Te2 (sec), print waiting count S1, S2, and average data read amount
It is assumed that Rs (kilobytes / second) and the amount of data already received are Dk (kilobytes).

First, when the time Tr required for reading data is calculated, it is expressed by the following equation. Tr = Dk / Rs… (1)

Next, the time required for enlarging the image is calculated and is expressed by the following equation. Te = (S1 ・ Te1) + (S2 ・ Te2)… (2)

When the times Te and Tr can be calculated, their sizes are compared. Since the image enlargement and the data reading are performed in parallel, the larger one is selected.

Finally, when the mechanically required time Tm is calculated, it is expressed by the following equation. Tm = (S1 ・ Tc1) + (S2 ・ Tc2)… (3)

As a result, the print waiting time Ta is given by the following equation. Here, max indicates the larger one. Ta = Tm + max (Tr, Te)… (4)

Similarly, based on the status returned from the laser imager 17, the laser imager 17
The print waiting time Tb of is also calculated. These times Ta and
The medical modality that calculated Tb transfers the print data to the one with the short waiting time and prints.

The operation of selecting the laser imager at the time of printing by the medical modality is performed for each patient. This is to avoid the complication that the print results for the same patient are output to different laser imagers. Also, when changing the patient and selecting a printer by comparing the times Ta and Tb, the difference between the times Ta and Tb is compared with a preset threshold Th, and if the difference is less than or equal to the threshold Th. It is also possible to transfer the print data to the same laser imager as the previous time so as to reduce the trouble of having to pick up the images of a plurality of patients from the plurality of laser imagers as much as possible.

In the first embodiment, the number of laser imagers is two, but even if there are three or more laser imagers, an appropriate laser imager can be selected by the same comparison operation.

In the status shown in the first embodiment, various information is returned to the medical modality and the medical modality calculates the print waiting time, but in the second embodiment, the laser imager waits. Calculate time and return status including print latency. The contents of the status are shown below, and the calculation of the print waiting time is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the status items of the second embodiment. A basic item as a laser imager is the current state of the laser imager. The current state includes the following (k) to (p). (k) In the print ready state, data can be received and there is no data to be printed. (m) During printing, the film is currently being fed and the image is being written. (n) In the state where only data can be received, data can be received, but the film cannot be transported due to troubles in the mechanical system or optical system or no magazine. (p) Print waiting time.

Regarding the basic specifications of the laser imager, it is not an item that should be always returned as a status, but it is possible that the state of the laser imager may change dynamically, and the amount of data is only a few bytes. So
Here, it is transferred along with the status. The items related to the basic specifications of this laser imager are as follows.
Examples include those shown in (q). (q) The size and type of film supported.

Finally, information about the amount of data that can be received from the present is returned in byte units. Information regarding the amount of data that can be received includes the information shown in (r) below. (r) Amount of data that can be received from now.

Also in this second embodiment, even if there are three or more laser imagers, an appropriate laser imager can be selected by the same comparison operation as in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the laser imager returns the print waiting time, but in the third embodiment, the predicted print completion time for the print to be requested is returned. Other than that, it is the same as the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the status items of the third embodiment. A basic item as a laser imager is the current state of the laser imager. The current state includes the following (s) to (v). (s) The printable state is a state in which data can be received and there is no data to be printed. (t) The state during printing is the state where the film is currently being fed and an image is being written. (u) In the state where only data can be received, data can be received, but the film cannot be conveyed due to troubles in the mechanical system or optical system or no magazine. (v) Estimated print completion time.

Information regarding the basic specifications of the laser imager includes the following (w). (w) The size and type of film supported.

As information regarding the amount of data that can be received, the following (x) can be given. (x) The amount of data that can be received from now on.

The first method for calculating the estimated print completion time is
It is calculated by adding the time required for the next printing to the print waiting time Ta shown in the above embodiment. However, at this stage, the original data amount of the print, the print film size, the data transfer speed from the medical modality, and the number of prints are unknown, so the data transfer speed from the medical modality is zero, and the print is 1
The maximum sheet and print size is the sum of enlargement time and print cycle time. In the end, the estimated print completion time Tp is given by the following equation. Tp = Ta + max (Te1, Te2) + max (Tc1, Tc2)… (5)

Also in this third embodiment, even if there are three or more laser imagers, a suitable laser imager can be selected by the same comparison operation as in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are block configuration diagrams of the control unit and the imaging unit of the medical image recording apparatus of the fourth embodiment. The control unit of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has a display unit 6 on the CU bus 32 of the control unit 21 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that 1 and the input device 62 are connected. The imaging unit of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the film detection device 63 is connected to the mechanism system 52 of the imaging unit 22 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Since it has the same configuration, its description is omitted. As described in the first embodiment, since information relating to the patient ID is also added to the image, the CPU 34 counts the patient ID of the image already printed and the number of prints corresponding to the patient ID, and the display device 61.
Can be displayed on. Also, the number of prints that have not been printed in response to the received print request can be displayed.

There are the following two methods of deleting the list display concerning the patient ID and the number of prints thereof. For one,
By using the command input device 62, the operator does not need to display anything but erases it. Secondly, the film detector 63 is used to cause the CPU 43 of the imaging unit 22 to send the SCSI bus 23 when the film is no longer present.
The detection state of the film is transferred via the, and the list displayed by the CPU 34 which receives the detection state is collectively erased.

Even when the printers are dynamically distributed and used by performing such a procedure, there is almost no overhead as compared with the case where the medical modality specifies and uses the printers in advance.

[0055]

As described above, the medical image recording apparatus according to the present invention has an effect that it is easy to utilize a plurality of printers with good load distribution. Also, even if some printers out of several printers fail, you can print using the ones that have not failed in normal operation, and even if you back up and print in this way, the same performance as usual Is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a medical laser imager according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an imaging unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a status returned by the laser imager according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a status returned by the laser imager according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a status returned by the laser imager according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block configuration diagram of a control unit according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block configuration diagram of an imaging unit according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CT 12 MRI 13 DSA 14 US 15 Ethernet 16, 17 Laser imager 21 Control unit 22 Imaging unit 23 SCSI bus 31 Ethernet interface 32 CU bus 33, 41 SCSI interface 34, 43 CPU 35, 44 Main memory 42 Input FIFO 45 LUT 46 image FIFO 47 scaling processing circuit 48 memory control circuit 49 output FIFO 50 optical system 51 page memory 52 mechanical system 61 display device 62 command input device 63 film detection device

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A medical image recording apparatus comprising a medical modality connected to a network and a plurality of printers, wherein the medical modality requests a status from the plurality of printers before issuing a print request to the printer. And a print waiting time included in the status returned from the printer in response to the request for the status, a print waiting time calculated from the returned status, or a predicted print completion time included in the status. A medical image recording apparatus comprising: a means for comparing and outputting a print request to the printer having the shortest print waiting time or the shortest predicted print completion time. 2. A medical image recording apparatus comprising a medical modality connected to a network and a plurality of printers, wherein the medical modality requests a status from the plurality of printers before issuing a print request to the printer. And a print waiting time included in the status returned from the printer in response to the request for the status, a print waiting time calculated from the returned status, or a predicted print completion time included in the status. A means for comparing and a means for holding a threshold value for designating a dead zone for the difference in the print waiting time or the predicted print completion time, and when the difference in the print waiting time or the predicted print completion time is larger than the threshold value Is the print waiting time or the print completion A medical device characterized by outputting a print request to the printer having a short measurement time and outputting the print request to the same printer as the previous time when the difference between the print waiting time or the predicted print completion time is smaller than the threshold value. Image recording device. 3. The printer returns a status including at least the print waiting time, and the print waiting time is the total number of print requests accumulated in the print queue of the printer and the print request for each print of the printer. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calculation is performed based on the original data amount, the time required for the printer to create an image, and the print cycle time of the printer. 4. The printer returns a status consisting of at least two of a print waiting time and an amount of data that the printer can receive, the print waiting time of the print request accumulated in the print queue of the printer. Calculated from the total number of sheets, the amount of original data requested to be printed for each print of the printer, the time required to create an image of the printer, and the print cycle time of the printer. 3. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation is performed by subtracting the storage capacity already received and used from the storage capacity secured as the user data area of the printer. 5. The printer returns a status including at least an estimated print completion time, and the estimated print completion time is the total number of print requests accumulated in the print queue of the printer and each print of the printer. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calculation is performed based on an amount of original data requested to be printed, a time required to create an image by the printer, and a print cycle time of the printer. 6. The printer returns a status including at least two of a print completion estimated time and an amount of data that can be received by the printer, and the print completion estimated time is a print accumulated in a print queue of the printer. The receivable data amount calculated from the total requested number of sheets, the amount of original data requested to be printed for each print of the printer, the time required to create an image of the printer, and the print cycle time of the printer. 3. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein is calculated by subtracting a storage capacity already received and used from a storage capacity secured as a user data area of the printer. . 7. The printer has at least two of a total number of print requests accumulated in a print queue of the printer and a print cycle time of the printer.
Claim 1 or Claim 2 which returns a status consisting of three
The medical image recording device according to item 1. 8. The printer includes a total number of print requests accumulated in a print queue of the printer, an amount of original data requested to be printed for each print of the printer, and a print cycle time of the printer. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which returns at least three statuses. 9. The printer returns a status including at least three of a total number of print requests accumulated in a print queue of the printer, an amount of data that can be received by the printer, and a print cycle time of the printer. The medical image recording device according to claim 1 or 2. 10. The total number of print requests accumulated in the print queue of the printer,
The medical image according to claim 1 or 2, which returns a status including at least four of the amount of data that the printer can receive, the print cycle time of the printer, and the time required for the printer to create an image. Recording device. 11. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer is a medical laser imager. 12. The medical laser imager reads out a patient ID number existing in a print request from the medical modality and a number of print images for a patient ID duplicated in the print request. Means for counting, means for displaying in a list the patient ID related to the print image for which printing has been completed and the number of print images related to the patient ID, and the patient ID and the print for the patient from the list specified by the operator. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for deleting an item relating to the number of images. 13. The medical laser imager reads out a patient ID number existing in a print request from the medical modality, and counts the number of print images for a patient ID duplicated in the print request. Means, a means for displaying the patient ID relating to the print image for which printing has been completed and the number of print images relating to the patient ID in a list, and a means for detecting the presence of a print image which has already been printed. The medical image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the display of the items regarding the patient ID and the number of print images of the patient in the list is cleared when no print image exists.