Protocol/medical image registration method, medical image provision method, protocol utilization method, protocol/medical image registration system, medical image provision system, protocol utilization system, vendor terminal, user terminal, and protocol management server

• US 20030023155A1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsunoda, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 7,315,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/923 by comparison of patient data to other data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/924 using artificial intelligence

Abstract

The present invention aims at permitting numerous user terminals to share protocols as common resources. A vendor terminal or user terminal registers a pair of a protocol and a medical image, which is produced during scanning performed according to the protocol, by recording data in a protocol/medical image database included in a protocol management server. The user terminal acquires a medical image from the protocol management server over a network, and displays it on a display device. Moreover, the user terminal downloads a required protocol from the protocol management server and sets it in a medical diagnostic imaging system.

Claims

1. A protocol/medical image registration system comprising:

a vendor terminal managed by a vendor; and

a protocol management server connected to said vendor terminal,

wherein if an operator instructs new registration or update of a protocol and a medical image produced using the protocol, said vendor terminal transmits a new registration request or an update request to said protocol management server;

in response to the registration request, said protocol management server newly registers or updates the protocol and medical image, which are sent from said vendor terminal, by recording data in a database.

2. A medical image provision system comprising:

a vendor terminal managed by a vendor;

a protocol management server connected to said vendor terminal;

a plurality of user terminals; and

a network over which said protocol management server and said user terminals are interconnected,

wherein if an operator instructs new registration or update of a protocol and a medical image produced using the protocol, said vendor terminal or user terminal transmits a new registration request or an update request to said protocol management server;

in response to the registration request, said protocol management server newly registers or updates the protocol and medical image, which are sent from said vendor terminal or user terminal, by recording data in a database;

if an operator instructs acquisition of the medical image, said user terminal transmits an image request to said protocol management server;

in response to the image request, said protocol management server reads the medical image from said database and transmits it to said user terminal; and

said user terminal receives the medical image and displays it on a screen included therein.

3. A protocol utilization system comprising:

a vendor terminal managed by a vendor;

a protocol management server connected to said vendor terminal;

a plurality of user terminals; and

a network over which said protocol management server and said user terminals are interconnected,

wherein if an operator instructs new registration or update of a protocol and a medical image produced using the protocol, said vendor terminal or user terminal transmits a new registration request or an update request to said protocol management server;

in response to the registration request, said protocol management server newly registers or updates the protocol and medical image, which are sent from said vendor terminal or user terminal, by recording data in a database;

if an operator instructs utilization of the protocol, said user terminal transmits a protocol download request to said protocol management server;

in response to the protocol download request, said protocol management server reads the protocol from said database and transmits it to said user terminal; and

said user terminal sets the received protocol in a medical diagnostic imaging system.

4. A protocol utilization system according to claim 3, wherein a protocol download history or a protocol use history is recorded in said user terminal that has received the protocol.

5. A protocol utilization system according to claim 4, wherein said protocol management server successively accesses said user terminals over said network and receives the download history or use history from said user terminals.

6. A protocol utilization system according to claim 4, wherein said user terminals transmit the download history or use history to said protocol management server over said network.

7. A protocol utilization system according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of protocol management servers is included, and the protocol management servers are accessible to said user terminals.

8. A protocol utilization system according to claim 3, wherein protocols that can be downloaded from said protocol management server are limited in compliance with the legal conditions established at the installation site of said user terminals.

9. A protocol utilization system according to claim 3, wherein when a protocol is newly registered or updated, said protocol management server notifies said user terminals of the fact over said network.

10. A protocol utilization system according to claim 3, wherein said protocol management server responds to a download request sent from a user terminal at which no contract is made for utilization of protocols, but does not respond to a registration request sent therefrom.

11. A protocol utilization system according to claim 3, wherein said medical diagnostic imaging system is at least one of an MRI system, an X-ray CT system, a diagnostic ultrasound system, a PET system, a radiography system, and a CR system.

12. A protocol utilization system according to claim 11, wherein if said medical diagnostic imaging system is an MRI system, the protocol refers to at least one of a pulse sequence-related imaging technique and imaging parameters.