Distributed architecture for mammographic image acquisition and processing

• US 20040114714A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Nields, Morgan W., Kremer, Ted V., Minyard, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network

Abstract

A distributed architecture allows for decoupling of mammographic image acquisition and review, thereby enabling more efficient use of resources and enhanced processing. In one embodiment, the system (100) includes a number of image acquisition stations (102) and a number of image review stations (110) all associated with a central server (104). The server (104) is operative to access an image repository (106), a patient information data base (108) and a number of DICOM tools (112). The invention allows for more efficient and/or more convenient use of the image acquisition equipment and image processing stations. Moreover, the distributed architecture including the central image repository provides certain processing and analysis advantages. The invention also provides certain processing and workflow enhancements that allow for a more full realization of potential digital mammography advantages.

Claims

1. A mammographic imaging system, comprising:

a) a first mammographic image acquisition station including;

1) an imaging source for transmitting an imaging signal relative to a patient'"'"'s breast;

2) a digital detector for detecting said transmitted signal from said patient'"'"'s breast and providing a digital signal based on said received signal, wherein said digital signal defines a first digital image of at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s breast;

3) an image acquisition station user interface for receiving image acquisition inputs from a first user of said mammographic image acquisition station to control a process for acquiring said first digital image of said patient'"'"'s breast;

4) at least one image acquisition station monitor for displaying a first displayed image corresponding to said first digital image; and

5) an image acquisition station controller for receiving said image acquisition inputs and operating said imaging source and digital detector at least partially in response thereto, said image acquisition controller further being operative for providing said first digital image to an image repository for storing digital images;

b) a remote mammographic image review station disposed at a location separate from said mammographic image acquisition station, including;

1) a first image review station user interface for receiving image review inputs from a second user of said mammographic image review station, the same or different than the first user, to control a process for reviewing digital mammographic images;

2) an image review station controller for receiving said image review inputs, said image review controller being operative to access said image repository in response to said image review inputs to obtain first information corresponding to said first digital image; and

3) at least one image acquisition station monitor, operatively associated with said image review controller for displaying a second displayed image corresponding to said first digital image based on said first obtained information.

2. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said said imaging source is an x-ray source.

3. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said digital detector comprises one of 1) an x-ray detector and 2) a phosphorescent element optically associated with a light detector.

4. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second image acquisition station separate from said first image acquisition station, for use in obtaining a second digital image of a second patient'"'"'s breast and providing said second digital image to said image repository.

5. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first image review station is operative for accessing said image repository to obtain said second digital image acquired at said second image acquisition station.

6. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second image review station separate from said first image review station, for use in accessing said image repository to obtain second information, the same or different than said first information, corresponding to said first digital image and displaying a third displayed image corresponding to said first digital image based on said second obtained information.

7. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first and second image review stations are operative to concurrently display said second and third images corresponding to said first digital image.

8. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said image repository is associated with a processing platform separate from each of said first image acquisition station and said first image review station.

9. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said image acquisition station controller is operative for transmitting said first digital image to said processing platform.

10. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processing platform is operative for accessing at least one tool, executed in a processor separate from all of said processing platform, said image acquisition station and said image review station, wherein said tool is useful for one of image acquisition, image processing and image review.

11. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tool is accessed via an industry standard interface for communicating digital imaging information.

12. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tool comprises a database tool for accessing a database of patient information

13. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tool comprises a diagnostic tool for processing digital imaging information for diagnostic purposes.

14. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processing platform executes at least part of logic for controlling operation of said first image acquisition station to acquire said first digital image.

15. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processing platform executes at least part of logic for controlling operation of said first image review station to enable review of said first digital image.

16. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said image repository is associated with image information indexed to image information fields and said system further comprises a database tool associated with said image repository for searching said image information based on said information fields.

17. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic tool for preprocessing said first digital image for diagnostic purposes independent of any associated user command, such that preprocessed image information is automatically available for use by said second user.

18. A mammographic imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a collaboration tool associated with said image repository for enabling collaborative review of said first digital image by multiple users at multiple review stations.

19. A mammographic imaging system, comprising:

an input port for receiving digital mammographic images from multiple mammographic image acquisition stations;

a processor for use in storing said mammographic images in an image repository and providing access to said image repository; and

an output port for use in outputting one or more of said mammographic images to multiple mammographic image-review stations.

20. A mammographic imaging system, comprising:

a number, n, of mammographic image acquisition stations, each said image acquisition station including an imaging source for transmitting an imaging signal relative to a patient'"'"'s breast, a digital detector for detecting said transmitted signal from said patient'"'"'s breast and providing a digital signal based on said received signal, wherein said digital signal defines a first digital image of at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s breast; and

a number, m, of mammographic image review stations, wherein each said mammographic image review station includes a monitor for displaying mammographic images acquired at one or more of said mammographic image acquisition stations and a controller for controlling the display of mammographic images on said monitor;

wherein m is different from n.

21. A mammographic imaging system, comprising:

an image repository for storing mammographic images obtained at multiple mammographic image acquisition stations and associated imaging information, said imaging information identifying at least a patient, a study and a mammographic view associated with each of said mammographic images, wherein said image information is indexed to a number of predefined image information fields; and

a database tool associated with said image repository for searching said image information based on said information fields;

wherein said image repository can be searched based on said predefined fields so as to access corresponding digital images.

22. A mammographic imaging system, comprising:

mammographic image acquisition equipment including a patient support for supporting a patient'"'"'s breast in an imaging position, an imaging source for transmitting an imaging signal relative to said patient'"'"'s breast, and a digital detector for detecting said transmitted signal from said patient'"'"'s breast and providing a digital signal based on said received signal, wherein said digital signal defines a first digital image of at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s breast;

an image acquisition station user interface for receiving user inputs from a first user of said mammographic image acquisition station to control a process for acquiring said first digital image of said patient'"'"'s breast; and

an image acquisition station controller, said controller being operative for;

receiving said user inputs from said image acquisition station user interface;

transmitting a controller output based on said user inputs to a remote processing platform, wherein said remote processing platform executes logic for use in operating said mammographic image acquisition equipment;

receiving a controller input from said remote processing platform; and

operating said mammographic image acquisition equipment based on said controller input from said remote processing platform.

23. A mammographic imaging system, comprising:

mammographic image review equipment including a user interface for receiving user inputs from a user to control a process for reviewing digital mammographic images and at least one monitor for displaying mammographic images; and

a mammographic image review station controller operative for;

receiving the user inputs from the image review equipment;

transmitting a controller output based on said image review inputs to a remote processing platform, wherein said remote processing platform is operative to execute logic for controlling said image review equipment;

receiving a controller input from said remote processing platform; and

operating said mammographic image review equipment based on said controller input from said remote processing platform.

24. A computer program product for enabling a computer to manage storage of and access to digital mammographic images relative to multiple mammographic image acquisition stations and multiple mammographic image review stations, comprising:

logical instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the logical instructions;

the predetermined operations including the steps of;

receiving digital images from the multiple mammographic image acquisition station;

storing the received mammographic images in an image repository;

receiving queries from the multiple mammographic image review stations;

processing the queries to obtain responsive mammographic image information; and

transmitting the responsive mammographic image information to the mammographic image review stations.

25. A method for use in managing digital mammographic image information, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a processing platform, digital images from multiple mammographic image acquisition stations;

storing the received mammographic images in an image repository associated with the processing platform;

receiving, at the processing platform, queries from the multiple mammographic image review stations;

processing, at the processing platform, the queries to obtain responsive mammographic image information; and

transmitting the responsive mammographic image information from the processing platform to the mammographic image review stations.