1. A medical imaging apparatus, characterized in that the medical imaging apparatus comprises:

the inspection instrument performs medical imaging on the object to be detected to generate image data in a DICOM format; and

the format converter comprises a receiving port, and acquires the DICOM-format image data sent from the sending port of the inspection instrument by using the receiving port and converts the DICOM-format image data into image data in a picture format.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the format converter further comprises a network interface, and

the format converter transmits the image data in the picture format to a terminal arranged outside the medical imaging device through a wired network by using the network interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the format converter also comprises a 4G or 5G module, and

the format converter sends the image data in the picture format to a terminal arranged outside the medical imaging device through a wireless network by utilizing the 4G or 5G module.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein,

the picture formats include a JPG format, a BMP format, and a TIF format.

5. A medical imaging system, comprising:

the medical imaging device of any one of claims 2 to 4;

the terminal; and

the big data platform is connected with the medical imaging device through a wireless network or a wired network so as to acquire the DICOM-format image data and/or the picture-format image data sent from the format converter, and performs data storage and analysis on the image data so as to identify the abnormal condition of the object to be detected by identifying the gray scale of the picture-format image data.

6. The medical imaging system of claim 5, wherein,

and under the condition that the abnormal condition is identified, the big data platform sends the abnormal condition to the terminal as warning information.

7. A medical imaging method using a medical imaging apparatus comprising an examination apparatus and a format converter, the method comprising:

performing medical imaging on an object to be detected by using the inspection tester to generate image data in a DICOM format;

and sending the DICOM-format image data from the inspection instrument to the format converter, and converting the DICOM-format image data into image-format image data by using the format converter.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

and transmitting the image data in the picture format from the format converter to a terminal arranged outside the medical imaging device by using a wireless network or a wired network.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the method further comprises:

and sending the DICOM-format image data and/or the picture-format image data to a big data platform, and performing data storage and analysis on the image data by using the big data platform so as to identify the abnormal condition of the object to be detected by identifying the gray level of the picture-format image data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

and under the condition that the abnormal condition is identified, sending the abnormal condition as warning information from the big data platform to the terminal.

Background

Dicom (digital Imaging and Communications in medicine), i.e., digital Imaging and Communications in medicine, is an international standard for medical images and related information. DICOM is widely used in radiomedicine, cardiovascular imaging, and radiodiagnosis and treatment (X-ray, CT, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound, etc.), and is increasingly used in ophthalmology, dentistry, and other medical fields. Medical images of all patients are stored in the DICOM file format. The DICOM format contains PHI (protected health information) information about the patient, such as name, gender, age, and other image-related information; device information that captures and generates an image; some context-related information of the medical treatment, etc. After the medical image device generates the DICOM file, the doctor reads and diagnoses the problem found in the image using a DICOM reader (computer software capable of displaying DICOM images).

However, the DICOM format reader is less popular and difficult to read. The medical images in DICOM format are generally not available and readable by the average patient. Therefore, when remote medical treatment is required, for example, a medical image printed by carrying or mailing is generally adopted or the printed medical image is taken again as a picture for network transmission, and in the process, the definition of the picture taken again is reduced and certain distortion exists due to light and the like, so that the real situation of the medical image cannot be accurately known during the remote medical treatment, and the diagnosis difficulty is greatly improved. Moreover, the DICOM-format medical images occupy a large content space, and even if the patient obtains the raw data, the storage, transmission and reading difficulties are large.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a medical imaging apparatus, system and method, which can convert a medical image in DICOM format into a medical image in a common picture format (e.g., JPG format, BMP format, TIF format), and transmit the medical image to a terminal of a user, thereby reducing a memory space occupied by the user, facilitating the user to view, read, transmit and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and providing technical support for a medical means such as remote medical treatment, which requires viewing the medical image.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a medical imaging apparatus comprising: the inspection instrument performs medical imaging on the object to be detected to generate image data in a DICOM format; and the format converter comprises a receiving port, and acquires the DICOM-format image data sent from the sending port of the inspection instrument by using the receiving port and converts the DICOM-format image data into image data in a picture format.

According to the embodiment, the medical image in the DICOM format can be converted into the medical image in the common picture format (such as the JPG format, the BMP format and the TIF format) and sent to the terminal of the user, so that the occupied space of the memory is reduced, the user can conveniently view, read, send and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and technical support is provided for the medical means needing to view the medical image, such as remote medical treatment and the like.

Further, the format converter further comprises a network interface, and the format converter transmits the image data in the picture format to a terminal arranged outside the medical imaging device through a wired network by using the network interface.

Alternatively, the format converter further comprises a 4G or 5G module, and the format converter transmits the image data in the picture format to a terminal arranged outside the medical imaging device through a wireless network by using the 4G or 5G module.

According to the embodiment, the image data in the picture format can be directly acquired by using the terminal, so that a user can conveniently view, read, send and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and technical support is provided for medical means needing to view the medical image, such as remote medical treatment and the like.

Further, the picture formats include a JPG format, a BMP format, and a TIF format.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a medical imaging system comprising: the medical imaging apparatus according to the first aspect; the terminal; and the big data platform is connected with the medical imaging device through a wireless network or a wired network so as to acquire the DICOM-format image data and/or the picture-format image data sent from the format converter, and performs data storage and analysis on the image data so as to identify the abnormal condition of the object to be detected by identifying the gray scale of the picture-format image data.

According to the embodiment, the large data platform can be used for carrying out large data analysis on the DICOM-format image data and/or the converted image-format image data, so that preliminary diagnosis is carried out on diseases, and possible abnormal conditions of the body of the user are judged.

Further, in the state that the abnormal situation is identified, the big data platform sends the abnormal situation to the terminal as warning information.

According to the embodiment, the user can be informed as early as possible in the state of judging the possible abnormal condition of the body of the user, and the delay of treatment can be avoided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical imaging method using a medical imaging apparatus comprising an examination apparatus and a format converter, the method comprising: performing medical imaging on an object to be detected by using the inspection tester to generate image data in a DICOM format; and sending the DICOM-format image data from the inspection instrument to the format converter, and converting the DICOM-format image data into image-format image data by using the format converter.

According to the embodiment, the medical image in the DICOM format can be converted into the medical image in the common picture format (such as the JPG format, the BMP format and the TIF format) and sent to the terminal of the user, so that the occupied space of the memory is reduced, the user can conveniently view, read, send and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and technical support is provided for the medical means needing to view the medical image, such as remote medical treatment and the like.

Further, the image data in the picture format is transmitted from the format converter to a terminal provided outside the medical imaging apparatus using a wireless network or a wired network.

According to the embodiment, the image data in the picture format can be directly acquired by using the terminal, so that a user can conveniently view, read, send and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and technical support is provided for medical means needing to view the medical image, such as remote medical treatment and the like.

Further, the method further comprises: and sending the DICOM-format image data and/or the picture-format image data to a big data platform, and performing data storage and analysis on the image data by using the big data platform so as to identify the abnormal condition of the object to be detected by identifying the gray level of the picture-format image data.

According to the embodiment, the large data platform can be used for carrying out large data analysis on the DICOM-format image data and/or the converted image-format image data, so that preliminary diagnosis is carried out on diseases, and possible abnormal conditions of the body of the user are judged.

Further, the method further comprises: and under the condition that the abnormal condition is identified, sending the abnormal condition as warning information from the big data platform to the terminal.

According to the embodiment, the user can be informed as early as possible in the state of judging the possible abnormal condition of the body of the user, and the delay of treatment can be avoided.

The technical solutions of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the drawings and preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the advantageous effects of the present invention will be further apparent.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention without limiting the invention.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a schematic configuration of a medical imaging apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a block diagram of a schematic configuration of a medical imaging system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart of the steps of a medical imaging method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of the steps of a medical imaging method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the specific embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the described embodiments are only a few of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

A medical imaging apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a schematic configuration of a medical imaging apparatus and a medical imaging system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, a medical imaging apparatus 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an inspection scope 101 and a format converter 102. The respective portions will be described in detail below.

The examination apparatus 101 medically images the object to be examined with, for example, CT, MRI, B-mode ultrasound or X-ray, to generate image data in DICOM format. The DICOM-formatted image data contains PHI information about the patient, such as name, sex, age, and other image-related information; device information that captures and generates an image; some context-related information of the medical treatment, etc.

The inspection instrument 101 includes a transmission port 110 for transmitting data, so that when the inspection instrument generates image data in DICOM format, the image data in DICOM format is transmitted through the transmission port 110.

Although not shown in the drawings, the examination apparatus 101 may further include, for example, a microprocessor which can perform various appropriate actions and processes in accordance with a program stored in a Read Only Memory (ROM) or a program loaded from a storage section into a Random Access Memory (RAM). In the RAM, various programs and data necessary for system operation are also stored. The microprocessor, the ROM and the RAM are connected to each other via a bus. A transmit port 110 is also connected to the bus.

Thus, the image data in DICOM format generated by the inspection apparatus can be transmitted to another component (format converter) of the medical imaging apparatus via the transmission port 110.

The transmission port of the inspection tester 110 is connected to a reception port 120 of the format converter 102, which will be described later.

The format converter 120 includes: a receiving port 120 for receiving image data in DICOM format transmitted from the transmitting port 110 of the inspection instrument 101; a microprocessor converting the format of the received image data in the DICOM format to convert the image data in the DICOM format into image data in a picture format (e.g., JPG format, BMP format, TIF format); the 4G/5G communication module and the accessories thereof can be connected to a terminal or a big data platform outside the medical imaging device through a wireless network so as to transmit data (image data in DICOM format and/or image data in picture format); and a network interface 140, the network interface 140 being capable of connecting to a terminal or a big data platform outside the medical imaging apparatus through a wired network to transmit data (image data in DICOM format and/or image data in picture format).

Although not shown in the drawings, the format converter 120 further includes, for example, a memory, a ROM, or a RAM, as is common knowledge, and thus, the description thereof is omitted.

By using the medical imaging device, the medical image in the DICOM format can be converted into the medical image in the common picture format (such as the JPG format, the BMP format and the TIF format) and sent to the terminal of the user, so that the occupied space of the memory is reduced, the user can conveniently view, read, send and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and technical support is provided for the medical means needing to view the medical image, such as telemedicine and the like.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a medical imaging system 1, as shown in fig. 2, comprising the medical imaging apparatus 100, the terminal 200 and the big data platform 300 described above.

The medical imaging device 100 is connected to the terminal 200 and the big data strip 300 through a wired network or a wireless network, and as described above, the medical imaging device 100 uses the 4G/5G module 130 or the network interface 140 to send the image data in DICOM format and/or the image data in picture format to the terminal 200 or the big data platform 300 through the wireless network or the wired network.

The terminal 200 may be a wireless terminal used by a user, e.g., a smart phone, a tablet, an ipad, etc.; or may be a fixed terminal such as a desktop computer or a dedicated stand-alone server. Therefore, the user can directly acquire the image data in the picture format by using the terminal, so that the user can conveniently view, read, send and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and technical support is provided for remote medical treatment and other medical means needing to view the medical image.

The big data platform 300 can store image data in DICOM format and/or image data in picture format acquired from the medical imaging device 100 to form a database, and perform big data analysis on all data stored in the database.

The big data analysis includes identifying an abnormal situation of the user corresponding to the influence data by identifying a gray scale of the image data in the DICOM format and/or the image data in the picture format.

Specifically, since the structure of the human body is substantially symmetrical, the structures on the left and right sides in the same layer image should be substantially symmetrical. When a tumor appears in an organism, due to the fact that the gray levels of images at the same positions on the left side and the right side are different, the large data platform can identify areas with different gray levels at the mirror symmetry positions on the left side and the right side in the images as abnormal areas through analysis, and judges whether the abnormal areas are the tumor or not.

The above identification process is particularly significant in enhancing the image, because the blood movement of the tumor tissue is richer than that of the general tissue, the image brightness of the part with richer blood movement is higher and more obvious under the action of the contrast agent, so that under the condition that the tumor exists, the gray level difference of the mirror symmetry positions of the left side and the right side in the image is larger, and the tumor can be better identified.

The above identification of the tumor is only an example of an abnormal condition, and other abnormal conditions of the body can also be judged through gray level identification, which is not listed here.

Further, in a state where an abnormal situation is identified, the big data platform may send the abnormal situation to a terminal of the user as warning information to remind the user of a possible health risk.

By using the medical imaging system, the large data platform can be used for carrying out large data analysis on the DICOM-format image data and/or the converted image-format image data, so that preliminary diagnosis is carried out on diseases, abnormal conditions possibly existing in the body of a user are judged, the user can be informed as soon as possible, and delay treatment is avoided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a medical imaging method using the medical imaging apparatus as described above is provided.

As shown in fig. 3, the medical imaging method includes steps S101 to S103. The individual steps of the medical imaging method of the invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 3.

Step S101: and (5) imaging.

The medical imaging device is used for carrying out medical imaging on the object to be detected by using an inspection tester to generate image data in a DICOM format.

In particular, the object to be measured is medically imaged using, for example, CT, MRI, B-mode ultrasound or X-ray to generate image data in DICOM format. The DICOM-formatted image data contains PHI information about the patient, such as name, sex, age, and other image-related information; device information that captures and generates an image; some context-related information of the medical treatment, etc.

Step S102: and (5) format conversion.

And sending the DICOM-format image data from the inspection instrument to the format converter, and converting the DICOM-format image data into image-format image data by using the format converter. The picture format is, for example, JPG format, BMP format, TIF format.

Step S103: and a terminal sending step.

And transmitting the image data in the picture format from a format converter to a terminal arranged outside the medical imaging device by using a wireless network or a wired network.

By using the medical imaging method, the medical image in the DICOM format can be converted into the medical image in the common picture format (such as the JPG format, the BMP format and the TIF format) and sent to the terminal of the user, so that the occupied space of the memory is reduced, the user can conveniently view, read, send and store the medical image at any time through the terminal, and technical support is provided for the medical means needing to view the medical image, such as telemedicine and the like.

Further preferably, as shown in fig. 4, the medical imaging method of the embodiment of the present invention further includes step S201.

Step S201: and (5) analyzing big data.

And sending the DICOM-format image data and/or the picture-format image data from a format converter to a big data platform arranged outside a medical imaging device, and performing data storage and analysis on the image data by using the big data platform so as to identify the abnormal condition of the object to be detected by identifying the gray scale of the picture-format image data.

The analysis performed by the big data platform includes identifying an abnormal situation of the user corresponding to the impact data by identifying a gray scale of the image data in DICOM format and/or the image data in picture format.

Specifically, since the structure of the human body is substantially symmetrical, the structures on the left and right sides in the same layer image should be substantially symmetrical. When a tumor appears in an organism, due to the fact that the gray levels of images at the same positions on the left side and the right side are different, the large data platform can identify areas with different gray levels at the mirror symmetry positions on the left side and the right side in the images as abnormal areas through analysis, and judges whether the abnormal areas are the tumor or not.

The above identification process is particularly significant in enhancing the image, because the blood movement of the tumor tissue is richer than that of the general tissue, the image brightness of the part with richer blood movement is higher and more obvious under the action of the contrast agent, so that under the condition that the tumor exists, the gray level difference of the mirror symmetry positions of the left side and the right side in the image is larger, and the tumor can be better identified.

The above identification of the tumor is only an example of an abnormal condition, and other abnormal conditions of the body can also be judged through gray level identification, which is not listed here.

Further, the medical imaging method of the embodiment of the present invention further includes step S202.

Step S202: and (5) warning.

In the state that the abnormal condition is identified, the abnormal condition can be sent to a terminal of the user as warning information to remind the user of possible health risks.

By using the medical imaging method, the large data platform can be used for carrying out large data analysis on the DICOM-format image data and/or the converted image-format image data, so that preliminary diagnosis is carried out on diseases, abnormal conditions possibly existing in the body of a user are judged, the user can be informed as soon as possible, and delay treatment is avoided.

The above description is only an example of the present application and is not intended to limit the present invention, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.