Database system, program, image retrieving method, and report retrieving method

• US 20080052126A1
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasai, Kosuke, Kawakami, Youichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

In a plurality of pieces of single report structured data that is stored in a structured database in a diagnosis information database, character information constructing a radiological report describing detailed information of image data is added as metadata for search to the image data. For example, only by designating image data to be read as image (retrieval reference image) data as a reference of retrieval by a reading physician as the user during radiological operation, the character information already added to the retrieval reference image data is set as a keyword. By a keyword search using the metadata, data of a similar image and a related report of the retrieval reference image data are detected from the structured DB.

Claims

1. A database system comprising:

an association information database that stores, report by report, association information in which a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report and one or more pieces of image data related to the report are associated with each other;

an image designating unit, in response to an operation of a user, for designating one or more pieces of image data associated with one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least part of a predetermined number of classification items to which said plurality of pieces of character information belong; and

an image detecting unit for detecting one or more pieces of image data different from but similar to the one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit by performing a keyword search using a search keyword group formed by one or more pieces of character information associated with one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit, and using, as metadata for data retrieval, said plurality of pieces of character information associated with image data in said association information database.

2. The database system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a report database that stores, report by report, report information in which a report and one or more pieces of image data are associated with each other;

a character information extracting unit for extracting a plurality of pieces of character information constructing each of reports by performing language analysis on each of reports included in said report database; and

a storage controlling unit for constructing an association information database by storing, report by report, a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report extracted by said character information extracting unit and one or more pieces of image data related to the report so as to be associated with each other.

3. The database system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pieces of character information constructing said association information include attribute information added to the one or more pieces of image data related to each of reports included in said association information database.

4. The database system according to claim 3, wherein said attribute information includes at least one piece of information of patient'"'"'s ID, age, sex, a modality, a test region, a reading physician, and a primary doctor.

5. The database system according to claim 1, wherein said association information is described in RDF.

6. The database system according to claim 1, further comprising a dictionary database that stores, piece by piece, a piece of character information and at least one or more pieces of association character information having a predetermined relation with the piece of character information so as to be associated with each other,

wherein said keyword search includes a process of extracting, from said dictionary database, one or more pieces of association character information having said predetermined relation with one or more pieces of character information included in said search keyword group and adding the one or more pieces of association character information extracted from said dictionary database to said search keyword group.

7. The database system according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined relation includes at least one of relations of a near-synonym, a synonym, and a related term.

8. The database system according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined relation includes hierarchical relations in concept of character information, and

said keyword search includes a process of extracting one or more pieces of character information having concept higher than one or more pieces of character information included in said search keyword group from said dictionary database and adding the one or more pieces of character information extracted from said dictionary database to said search keyword group.

9. The database system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined number of classification items include at least one of items of an imaging parameter, a region, a basic finding, a feature, a diagnosis, and a conclusive word.

10. The database system according to claim 1, wherein said keyword search includes a process of selectively employing, as said search keyword group, one or more pieces of character information belonging to a part of said predetermined number of classification items, in a plurality of pieces of character information associated with one or more image data designated by said image designating unit.

11. The database system according to claim 1, further comprising an item designating unit for designating at least a part of said predetermined number of classification items in response to an operation of a user,

wherein said keyword search includes a process of selectively employing, as said search keyword group, one or more pieces of character information belonging to a part of said predetermined number of classification items designated by said item designating unit, in a plurality of pieces of character information associated with one or more image data designated by said image designating unit.

12. The database system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of reports included in said association information database include a radiological report.

13. The database system according to claim 1, comprising:

a server having said image detecting unit; and

a terminal device connected to said server via an Internet line so that data can be transmitted/received to/from said server,

wherein, in response to an operation of a user to said terminal device, said image designating unit designates one or more pieces of image data with which one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least a part of said predetermined number of classification items is/are associated,

said server has a transmitting unit for transmitting one or more pieces of image data detected by said image detecting unit to said terminal device via said Internet line, and

said terminal device has an output unit for visibly outputting one or more pieces of image data transmitted from said transmitting unit.

14. The database system according to claim 13, wherein said server further comprises a deleting unit for deleting a predetermined kind of personal information from one or more pieces of image data detected by said image detecting unit, and

said transmitting unit transmits one or more pieces of image data from which said predetermined kind of personal information is deleted by said deleting unit to said terminal device via said Internet line.

15. A database system comprising:

an association information database that stores, report by report, association information in which a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report and one or more pieces of image data related to the report are associated with each other;

an image designating unit, in response to an operation of a user, for designating one or more pieces of image data associated with one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least part of a predetermined number of classification items to which said plurality of pieces of character information belong; and

a report detecting unit for detecting one or more pieces of report data related to the one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit by performing a keyword search using a search keyword group formed by one or more pieces of character information associated with one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit, and using, as metadata for data retrieval, said plurality of pieces of character information associated with image data in said association information database.

16. The database system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a report database that stores, report by report, report information in which a report and one or more pieces of image data related to the report are associated with each other;

a character information extracting unit for extracting a plurality of pieces of character information constructing each of reports by performing language analysis on each of reports included in said report database; and

a storage controlling unit for constructing an association information database by storing, report by report, a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report extracted by said character information extracting unit and one or more pieces of image data related to the report so as to be associated with each other.

17. The database system according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of pieces of character information constructing said association information include attribute information added to the one or more pieces of image data related to each of reports included in said association information database.

18. The database system according to claim 17, wherein said attribute information includes at least one piece of information of patient'"'"'s ID, age, sex, a modality, a test region, a reading physician, and a primary doctor.

19. The database system according to claim 15, wherein said association information is described in RDF.

20. The database system according to claim 15, further comprising a dictionary database that stores, piece by piece, a piece of character information and at least one or more pieces of association character information having a predetermined relation with the piece of character information so as to be associated with each other,

wherein said keyword search includes a process of extracting, from said dictionary database, one or more pieces of association character information having said predetermined relation with one or more pieces of character information included in said search keyword group and adding the one or more pieces of association character information extracted from said dictionary database to said search keyword group.

21. The database system according to claim 20, wherein said predetermined relation includes at least one of relations of a near-synonym, a synonym, and a related term.

22. The database system according to claim 20, wherein said predetermined relation includes hierarchical relations in concept of character information, and

said keyword search includes a process of extracting one or more pieces of character information having concept higher than one or more pieces of character information included in said search keyword group from said dictionary database and adding one or more pieces of character information extracted from said dictionary database to said search keyword group.

23. The database system according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined number of classification items include at least one of items of an imaging parameter, a region, a basic finding, a feature, a diagnosis, and a conclusive word.

24. The database system according to claim 15, wherein said keyword search includes a process of selectively employing, as said search keyword group, one or more pieces of character information belonging to a part of said predetermined number of classification items, in a plurality of pieces of character information associated with one or more image data designated by said image designating unit.

25. The database system according to claim 15, further comprising an item designating unit for designating at least a part of said predetermined number of classification items in response to an operation of a user,

wherein said keyword search includes a process of selectively employing, as said search keyword group, one or more pieces of character information belonging to a part of said predetermined number of classification items designated by said item designating unit, in a plurality of pieces of character information associated with one or more image data designated by said image designating unit.

26. The database system according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of reports included in said association information database include a radiological report.

27. The database system according to claim 15, comprising:

a server having said report detecting unit; and

a terminal device connected to said server via an Internet line so that data can be transmitted/received to/from said server,

wherein, in response to an operation of a user to said terminal device, said image designating unit designates one or more pieces of image data with which one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least a part of said predetermined number of classification items is/are associated,

said server has a transmitting unit for transmitting one or more pieces of report data detected by said report detecting unit to said terminal device via said Internet line, and

said terminal device has an output unit for visibly outputting one or more pieces of report data transmitted from said transmitting unit.

28. The database system according to claim 27, wherein said server further comprises a deleting unit for deleting a predetermined kind of personal information from one or more pieces of report data detected by said report detecting unit, and

said transmitting unit transmits one or more pieces of report data from which said predetermined kind of personal information is deleted by said deleting unit to said terminal device via said Internet line.

29. A computer software product including a recording medium that records a computer-readable software program, said software program for controlling a computer to operate as a database system, said database system comprising:

an association information database that stores, report by report, association information in which a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report and one or more pieces of image data related to the report are associated with each other;

an image designating unit, in response to an operation of a user, for designating one or more pieces of image data associated with one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least part of a predetermined number of classification items to which said plurality of pieces of character information belong; and

an image detecting unit for detecting one or more pieces of image data different from but similar to the one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit by performing a keyword search using a search keyword group formed by one or more pieces of character information associated with one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit, and using, as metadata for data retrieval, said plurality of pieces of character information associated with image data in said association information database.

30. A computer software product including a recording medium that records a computer-readable software program, said software program for controlling a computer to operate as a database system, said database system comprising:

an association information database that stores, report by report, association information in which a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report and one or more pieces of image data related to the report are associated with each other;

an image designating unit, in response to an operation of a user, for designating one or more pieces of image data associated with one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least part of a predetermined number of classification items to which said plurality of pieces of character information belong; and

a report detecting unit for detecting one or more pieces of report data related to the one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit by performing a keyword search using a search keyword group formed by one or more pieces of character information associated with one or more pieces of image data designated by said image designating unit, and using, as metadata for data retrieval, said plurality of pieces of character information associated with image data in said association information database.

31. An image retrieving method comprising the steps of:

(a) preparing an association information database that stores, report by report, association information in which a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report and one or more pieces of image data related to the report are associated with each other;

(b) in response to an operation of a user, designating one or more pieces of image data associated with one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least part of a predetermined number of classification items to which said plurality of pieces of character information belong; and

(c) detecting one or more pieces of image data different from but similar to the one or more pieces of image data designated in said step (b) by performing a keyword search using a search keyword group formed by one or more pieces of character information associated with one or more pieces of image data designated in said step (b) and using, as metadata for data retrieval, said plurality of pieces of character information associated with image data in said association information database.

32. A report retrieving method comprising the steps of

(A) preparing an association information database that stores, report by report, association information in which a plurality of pieces of character information constructing a report and one or more pieces of image data related to the report are associated with each other;

(B) in response to an operation of a user, designating one or more pieces of image data associated with one or more pieces of character information belonging to at least part of a predetermined number of classification items to which said plurality of pieces of character information belong; and

(C) detecting one or more pieces of report data related to the one or more pieces of image data designated in said step (B) by performing a keyword search using a search keyword group formed by one or more pieces of character information associated with one or more pieces of image data designated in said step (B) and using, as metadata for data retrieval, said plurality of pieces of character information associated with image data in said association information database.