Medical image classification system, medical image classification method, and medical image classification apparatus

A medical image classification system includes an acceptance apparatus, a medical image acquisition apparatus, and a medical image classification apparatus. The acceptance apparatus includes an acceptor that accepts the input of patient identification information and medium identification information, and a first storage that stores first association information. The medical image acquisition apparatus includes an identification information acquirer, an image acquirer that acquires a medical image for diagnosing a patient, and a second storage that stores second association information. The medical image classification apparatus includes a first acquirer that acquires the first association information stored by the first storage, a second acquirer that acquires the second association information stored by the second storage, and a classifier that performs classification of the medical image identification information per the patient identification information based on the medium identification information in the first association information and the second association information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-014838 filed on Jan. 28, 2015 the entire disclosure of which, including the description, claims, drawings, and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a medical image classification system, a medical image classification method, and a medical image classification apparatus which are preferably used in medical settings.

BACKGROUND

It is widely known that doctors diagnose the affected skin areas of patients using magnifying glasses such as dermoscopes in medical settings.

For example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. 2005-192944 discloses a remote diagnosis apparatus for the purpose of assisting a doctor to make a diagnosis. The remote diagnosis apparatus receives, via a network, a skin image photographed with a camera with a dermoscope by a doctor and transmits a diagnosis result of diagnosing the received skin image.

SUMMARY

A medical image classification system, including an acceptance apparatus, a medical image acquisition apparatus, and a medical image classification apparatus,

the acceptance apparatus including:

an acceptor that accepts an input of patient identification information for identifying a patient and medium identification information of a portable information retaining medium carried by the patient; and

a first storage that stores first association information in which the patient identification information and the medium identification information accepted by the acceptor are associated with each other;

the medical image acquisition apparatus including:

an identification information acquirer that acquires the medium identification information from the portable information retaining medium carried by the patient;

an image acquirer that acquires a medical image for diagnosing the patient; and

a second storage that stores second association information in which medical image identification information for identifying the medical image acquired by the image acquirer and the medium identification information acquired by the identification information acquirer are associated with each other;

the medical image classification apparatus including:

a first acquirer that acquires the first association information stored by the first storage;

a second acquirer that acquires the second association information stored by the second storage; and

a classifier that performs classification of the medical image identification information per the patient identification information based on the medium identification information in the first association information and the second association information.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the first storage further stores a usage time period in which the patient carrying the portable information retaining medium uses the portable information retaining medium, associated with the patient identification information and the medium identification information, as the first association information;

the second storage further stores a photographing time at which the medical image is photographed, associated with the medical image identification information and the medium identification information, as the second association information;

the classifier includes:

a first determiner that determines whether or not the medium identification information in the second association information and the medium identification information in the first association information correspond with each other; and

a second determiner that determines whether or not the photographing time in the second association information is within the usage time period in the first association information; and

the classification is performed based on a determination result from the first determiner and the second determiner.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the classifier assigns the medical image identification information to the patient identification information and performs the classification when the first determiner determines that the medium identification information in the second association information and the medium identification information in the first association information correspond with each other, and the second determiner determines that the photographing time is within the usage time period.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the portable information retaining medium is a portable transmission medium; and

the identification information acquirer includes receiver that receives medium identification information transmitted by the portable transmission medium.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the medical image acquisition apparatus further includes selector that selects medium identification information with maximum reception strength when the receiver receives a plurality of items of medium identification information; and

the second storage stores the second association information in which the medium identification information selected by the selector and the medical image identification information are associated with each other.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the first storage further stores position information on a location at which a patient carrying the portable transmission medium intends to see a doctor, associated with the patient identification information and the medium identification information, as the first association information; and

the medical image classification apparatus includes:

a position information receiver that receives medium identification information of the portable transmission medium, transmitted from the portable transmission medium carried by the patient, and current position information indicating a current position of the portable transmission medium;

a specifier that specifies the position information on the location at which the patient intends to see the doctor from the first association information acquired by the first acquirer based on the medium identification information received by the position information receiver; and

a notifier that provides a notification that the patient is not at the location at which the patient intends to see the doctor when the position information on the location at which the patient intends to see the doctor, specified by the specifier, and the current position information received by the position information receiver do not correspond with each other.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the medical image is a dermoscopy image of a patient, photographed through a dermoscope.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the second storage is a non-transitory transportable storage medium.

The medical image classification system according to the present disclosure, wherein

the portable transmission medium is a beacon in accordance with Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy or a contactless IC card in accordance with Near Field Communication (NFC).

A medical image classification method, including:

an acceptance step of accepting an input of patient identification information for identifying a patient and medium identification information of a portable information retaining medium carried by the patient;

a first storage step of storing first association information in which the patient identification information accepted in the acceptance step and the medium identification information are associated with each other;

an identification information acquisition step of acquiring the medium identification information from the portable information retaining medium carried by the patient;

an image acquisition step of acquiring a medical image for diagnosing the patient;

a second storage step of storing second association information in which medical image identification information for identifying the medical image acquired in the image acquisition step and the medium identification information acquired in the identification information acquisition step are associated with each other;

a first acquisition step of acquiring the first association information stored in the first storage step;

a second acquisition step of acquiring the second association information stored in the second storage step; and

a classification step of performing classification of the medical image identification information per the patient identification information based on the medium identification information in the first association information and the second association information.

A medical image classification apparatus, including:

a first acquirer that acquires first association information in which patient identification information for identifying a patient and medium identification information of a portable information retaining medium carried by the patient are associated with each other;

a second acquirer that acquires second association information in which medical image identification information for identifying a medical image for diagnosing the patient and medium identification information acquired from the portable information retaining medium are associated with each other; and

a classifier that performs classification of the medical image identification information per the patient identification information based on the medium identification information in the first association information and the second association information.

A medical image classification method, including:

a first acquisition step of acquiring first association information in which patient identification information for identifying a patient and medium identification information of a portable information retaining medium carried by the patient are associated with each other;

a second acquisition step of acquiring second association information in which medical image identification information for identifying a medical image for diagnosing the patient and medium identification information acquired from the portable information retaining medium are associated with each other; and

a classification step of performing classification of the medical image identification information per the patient identification information based on the medium identification information in the first association information and the second association information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a drawing illustrating the configuration of a medical image classification system according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The medical image classification system illustrated inFIG. 1comprises an acceptance apparatus10, a medical image acquisition apparatus20, and a medical image classification apparatus30.

The acceptance apparatus10, which is, for example, a personal computer (PC), is connected to the medical image classification apparatus30via a cable (such as a local area network (LAN) cable) and accepts various items of information based on a user operation.

The medical image acquisition apparatus20, which is, for example, a camera, can communicate with the medical image classification apparatus30via a cable (such as a universal serial bus (USB) cable). The medical image acquisition apparatus20can receive information transmitted by a beacon B.

The beacon B, which is a portable transmission medium that can be carried by a user, transmits various items of information to the neighborhood of the beacon B. In the present example embodiment, as an example, the beacon B transmits a beacon ID for self-identification based on Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (hereinafter referred to as “BLE”) which is a short-range wireless communication standard with reduced power consumption. The medical image acquisition apparatus20supports the short-range wireless communication standard and receives the beacon ID transmitted by the beacon B based on BLE.

The medical image classification apparatus30, which is, for example, a PC, performs classification based on each information acquired from the acceptance apparatus10and the medical image acquisition apparatus20. Specifically, the medical image classification apparatus30acquires an item of information according to a user of the beacon B from the acceptance apparatus10, acquires an item of information according to a medical image from the medical image acquisition apparatus20, and links the items of information based on the beacon ID of the beacon B, to perform a classification process. The details of the classification process will be described later.

A case in which a medical image classification system100comprising such corresponding apparatuses (acceptance apparatus10, medical image acquisition apparatus20, and medical image classification apparatus30) is applied to a medical setting is described below as an example. In this example, a user of the acceptance apparatus10is a hospital receptionist (for example, a medical clerk or the like), a user of the medical image acquisition apparatus20and the medical image classification apparatus30is a doctor, and a user of a beacon B is a patient.

In advance of specific descriptions of each apparatus, the medical image acquisition apparatus20used for a diagnosis by the doctor in the medical setting as a premise, a photographed medical image, and the like will be described.

FIG. 2is a drawing illustrating a scene of a dermoscopy diagnosis. The dermoscopy diagnosis is a diagnosis using a dermoscope200with which an affected skin area is observed under a magnification of 10 to 30 times. The dermoscope200is a magnifying glass comprising: a light source such as a halogen lamp or a white light emitting diode (LED); and a polarization filter that reduces reflected light. As illustrated in the drawing, the dermoscope200is used in the state of being mounted on the medical image acquisition apparatus20via an attachment or the like.

The dermoscopy diagnosis enables a doctor to diagnose an affected skin area with a pigment distribution between the epidermis and upper dermis of the skin under magnification because any irregular reflection caused by the keratin of the skin does not occur.

The doctor specifies the affected skin area of a patient and photographs the affected skin area with the medical image acquisition apparatus20with the dermoscope200.FIG. 3illustrates an example of a dermoscopy image which is an image photographed with the dermoscope200. By observing an affected skin area in the dermoscopy image, the doctor can diagnose, for example, whether the affected skin area is benign (lentigo or the like) or malignant (melanoma or the like).

In the present embodiment, the medical image classification system100is applied to a medical setting in which a dermoscopy diagnosis is made, and the dermoscopy images of patients, photographed with the dermoscope200, are automatically classified per patient.

On the premise of the above medical setting, the specific configuration of each apparatus (acceptance apparatus10, medical image acquisition apparatus20, and medical image classification apparatus30) of the medical image classification system100will be described one by one.

First, the configuration of the acceptance apparatus10is described with reference toFIG. 4. The acceptance apparatus is placed at a hospital reception desk and accepts the inputs of various items of information from a medical clerk.

The acceptance apparatus10comprises a controller11, an input device12, a display13, a storing section14, and a communicator15.

The controller11comprises, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and/or the like. The controller11implements the various functions (such as an acceptance process described later) of the acceptance apparatus10by control according to a program stored in the ROM. The controller11corresponds to an acceptor.

The input device12comprises, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and/or the like, and is used in order for a user to input an operation content.

The display13comprises, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescence (EL) display, and/or the like. According to control by the controller11, the display13displays a screen used in order for a medical clerk to input information.

The storing section14comprises a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores data and a table (such as a patient specification table described later). The storing section14corresponds to a first storage.

The communicator15is a communication interface for communicating with an external apparatus. The controller11communicates with the medical image classification apparatus30via the communicator15.

The controller11of the acceptance apparatus10comprising each component described above executes an acceptance process by controlling each component as appropriate according to the program stored in the ROM. The acceptance process will be described with reference toFIG. 5. The acceptance process starts when the medical clerk, after having accepted a patient visiting a hospital and after having lent the patient a beacon B, inputs a patient ID, the beacon ID of the lent beacon B, and the lending time, using the input device12.

In expectation of the peak number of patients visiting the hospital, beacons B corresponding to the number of the patients are prepared in advance at a reception desk. The medical clerk lends a patient one beacon B optionally selected from the plural beacons B each time accepting the patient visiting the hospital. The medical clerk inputs information (patient ID, beacon ID, and lending time) into the acceptance apparatus10.

First, the controller11accepts the inputs of the patient ID, the beacon ID, and the lending time (step S11). Specifically, the controller11accepts the inputs of the patient ID for identifying the patient, the beacon ID for identifying the beacon B lent to the patient, and the lending time at which the beacon B is lent to the patient.

Then, the controller11determines whether or not to accept the input of the time of the return of the lent beacon B (step S12). The controller11waits until the input of the return time is accepted (step S12; No). During this period, the patient possessing the beacon B has an examination by a doctor. When the patient coming back to the reception desk after the examination returns the beacon B to the medical clerk, the medical clerk inputs the return time into the acceptance apparatus10.

When the acceptance apparatus10accepts the input of the return time (step S12; Yes), the controller11calculates a usage time period in which the beacon B is used from the lending time and the return time (step S13) and stores the patient ID, the beacon ID, and the usage time period associated with each other (step S14). Specifically, the controller11stores, in the storing section14, the patient ID, the beacon ID, and the usage time period associated with each other. After step S14, the acceptance process is ended.

The storing section14stores a patient specification table (seeFIG. 6) in which patient IDs, beacon IDs, and usage time periods in which beacons are used, which are associated with each other, by repeating such an acceptance process each time an input from the medical clerk is accepted.

The patient specification table reveals that a beacon 1 having a beacon ID of 1 is used in a patient having a patient ID of A (patient A) and a patient having a patient ID of C (patient C) in different usage time periods. In such a manner, the usage history of a beacon based on each patient can be confirmed on a time period basis from the patient specification table. When it is not necessary to specially specify and describe any of beacons (such as beacons 1 and 2), a beacon B is typically described below. Similarly, when it is not necessary to specially specify and describe any of patients (such as patients A and B), a patient is typically described below.

The configuration of the medical image acquisition apparatus20will be described below with reference toFIG. 7. The medical image acquisition apparatus20, which is a camera used during an examination by a doctor, acquires a dermoscopy image which is a medical image.

The medical image acquisition apparatus20comprises a controller21, an imaging device22, an operation device23, a communicator24, a display25, a storing section26, and an external interface27.

The controller21comprises, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and/or the like. The controller21implements the function of each component (image acquiring section211, beacon ID receiving section212, and beacon ID selecting section213) by control according to a program stored in the ROM. The function of each of the components will be described later.

The imaging device22comprises an optical element such as a lens or a diaphragm; and an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). By a user (doctor) operation, the affected skin area of a patient, enlarged by the dermoscope200, is photographed with the imaging device22.

The operation device23comprises various buttons. Examples of the various buttons include a shutter button for instructing a photographing operation and function buttons for making various settings.

The communicator24is an interface for performing short-range wireless communication based on BLE. Via the communicator24, the controller21receives a beacon ID transmitted by the beacon B.

The display25comprises, for example, an LCD, an EL display, and/or the like. The display25provides an output to display a live view imaging in real time a photographed image made by the imaging device22, a photographed dermoscopy image, or the like.

The storing section26, which is a non-transitory transportable storage medium such as a secure digital (SD) card, stores a dermoscopy image and a table (such as an image specification table described later). The storing section26corresponds to a second storage.

The external interface27comprises a USB connector, a video output terminal, and/or the like. Via a USB cable and/or the like, the controller21outputs a dermoscopy image to the medical image classification apparatus30and provides an output to display the dermoscopy image to a display35in the medical image classification apparatus30.

The controller21may output a dermoscopy image to the medical image classification apparatus30by short-range wireless communication based on BLE, without limitation to wire communication via the external interface27.

The function of each component (image acquiring section211, beacon ID receiving section212, and beacon ID selecting section213) of the controller21will be described below.

The image acquiring section211acquires a medical image for diagnosing a patient. Specifically, the image acquiring section211acquires the dermoscopy image of the patient, photographed with the dermoscope200by the imaging device22. The image acquiring section211corresponds to an image acquirer.

The beacon ID receiving section212receives the beacon ID of the beacon B, transmitted from the beacon B. The beacon ID receiving section212corresponds to a receiver.

The beacon ID selecting section213selects a beacon ID with the maximum reception strength when the beacon ID receiving section212receives a plurality of beacon IDs. A specific selection process carried out by the beacon ID selecting section213will be described later. The beacon ID selecting section213corresponds to a selector.

The controller21of the medical image acquisition apparatus20comprising each component described above executes an imaging process by controlling each component as appropriate according to the program stored in the ROM. The imaging process will be described with reference toFIG. 8. The imaging process is started when a doctor specifies an affected skin area to push down the shutter button of the operation device23while examining the skin of a patient possessing a beacon B.

First, the image acquiring section211acquires a medical image (step S21). Specifically, the image acquiring section211acquires a dermoscopy image showing the affected skin area of the patient, photographed by the doctor.

Then, the beacon ID receiving section212determines whether or not to receive a beacon ID (step S22). Specifically, the beacon ID receiving section212determines whether or not to receive the beacon ID transmitted from the beacon B by short-range wireless communication based on BLE.

When determining that the beacon ID is received (step S22; Yes), the beacon ID receiving section212determines whether the received beacon ID is plural or not (step S23). When the beacon ID is not plural (step S23; No), that is, when only the beacon ID transmitted from the beacon B possessed by the patient who is being examined is received, the beacon ID selecting section213selects the received beacon ID (step S25).

Alternatively, when the beacon ID is plural (step S23; Yes), that is, when any beacon ID other than the beacon ID transmitted from the beacon B possessed by the patient who is being examined (for example, a beacon ID transmitted from a beacon B possessed by another patient in a waiting room) is also received, the beacon ID selecting section213selects a beacon ID with the maximum reception strength (step S24). As a result, the beacon ID transmitted from the beacon B possessed by the patient who is being examined by the doctor can be selected.

The reason that the beacon ID with the maximum reception strength is selected is because the patient possessing the beacon B transmitting the beacon ID with the maximum reception strength is assumed to be nearest to the doctor. However, practically, it is conceivable that there is a case in which the above assumption does not hold due to various situations. Examples of the case include a case in which a waiting room is near and the reception strength of a beacon ID transmitted from the waiting room is stronger; a case in which transmission strength is changed due to the state of the battery drain of each of a plurality of beacons B, so that levels of reception strength vary; and the like. It will be appreciated that in an actual setting, confirmation by a doctor is needed and precision can be increased by using Near Field Communication (NFC) or Global Positioning System (GPS) described later.

After step S24or S25, the controller21allows the selected beacon ID, the image ID of the medical image, and a photographing time associated with each other to be stored. Specifically, the controller21allows the selected beacon ID, the image ID for identifying the photographed dermoscopy image, the photographing time at which the dermoscopy image is photographed, associated with each other, to be stored in the storing section26(step S26).

By repeating the imaging process each time the doctor pushes down the shutter button, the storing section26stores an image specification table in which the image IDs of dermoscopy images, selected beacon IDs, and photographing times are associated with each other (seeFIG. 9). An entry in the image specification table is accompanying information (Exchangeable Image File Format (Exif)) that accompanies one dermoscopy image. Thus, the image specification table can also be considered to be a table in which items of accompanying information that accompany corresponding dermoscopy images are gathered.

The image specification table reveals that for example, the dermoscopy image with an image ID of a is photographed at 9:40, and the beacon ID received at the time of the photographing is 1.

In such a manner, a beacon ID associated with each image ID is managed in the image specification table.

Referring back toFIG. 8, in a case in which the beacon ID is not received in step S22(step S22; No), that is, in such a case that the patient who is being examined does not possess the beacon B, the controller21allows the image ID of the medical image and the photographing time associated with each other to be stored (step S27). In this case, the controller21allows the beacon ID to be stored in the storing section26separately from the image specification table because the beacon ID is not able to be associated.

In step S27, the controller21may provide together by voice and/or the like an error notification that it is impossible to receive the beacon ID. The error notification is effective in such a case that a patient forgets borrowing a beacon B at a reception desk.

After step S26or27, the imaging process is ended. After ending the examination by the doctor, the patient returns the beacon B at the reception desk, and the medical clerk inputs into the acceptance apparatus10a time at which the beacon B is returned.

The configuration of the medical image classification apparatus30will be described below with reference toFIG. 10. The medical image classification apparatus30is placed in the examination room of the doctor and classifies dermoscopy images per patient based on the patient specification table and image specification table that are acquired.

The medical image classification apparatus30comprises a controller31, an input device34, the display35, a storing section36, and a communicator37.

The controller31comprises, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and/or the like. The controller31implements the function of each component (acquiring section32and classification section33) by control according to a program stored in the ROM. The function of each of the components will be described later.

The input device34comprises, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and/or the like, and is used in order for a user to input an operation content.

The display35comprises, for example, an LCD, an EL display, and/or the like. According to control by the controller31, the display35provides an output to display a dermoscopy image acquired from the medical image acquisition apparatus20.

The storing section36comprises a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD and stores a dermoscopy image and a table (such as a classification table described later).

The communicator37is a communication interface for communicating with an external apparatus. The controller31communicates with the acceptance apparatus10and the medical image acquisition apparatus20via the communicator37.

The function of each component (acquiring section32and classification section33) of the controller31will be described below.

The acquiring section32acquires the patient specification table and the image specification table. Specifically, the acquiring section32acquires, via the communicator37, the patient specification table stored in the storing section14of the acceptance apparatus10and the image specification table stored in the storing section26of the medical image acquisition apparatus20.

An acquisition method is optional. It is necessary only that for example, the acquiring section32of the medical image classification apparatus30transmits table acquisition requests to the acceptance apparatus10and the medical image acquisition apparatus20, respectively, and receives the patient specification table and image specification table transmitted in response to the requests. Alternatively, each of synchronization between the medical image classification apparatus30and the acceptance apparatus10, or synchronization between the medical image classification apparatus30and the medical image acquisition apparatus20may be automatically achieved at a predetermined interval.

The acquiring section32also acquires a dermoscopy image specified by each image ID from the medical image acquisition apparatus20in timing with the acquisition of the image specification table. The acquiring section32corresponds to a first acquirer and a second acquirer.

The classification section33comprises a first determination section331and a second determination section332, and classifies each image ID per patient ID based on the patient specification table and image specification table acquired by the acquiring section32. The classification section33corresponds to a classifier.

The first determination section331determines whether or not the beacon IDs in the image specification table and the beacon IDs in the patient specification table are corresponded with each other. The first determination section331corresponds to a first determiner.

The second determination section332determines whether or not the photographing times in the image specification table are within the corresponding usage time periods in the patient specification table. The second determination section332corresponds to a second determiner.

The controller31of the medical image classification apparatus30comprising each component described above executes a classification process by controlling each component as appropriate according to the program stored in the ROM. The classification process will be described with reference toFIG. 11. The classification process is started when a doctor provides, via the input device34, an instruction to execute the classification process.

First, the acquiring section32acquires the patient specification table (step S31). Specifically, the acquiring section32acquires the patient specification table transmitted from the acceptance apparatus10in response to the table acquisition request.

Then, the acquiring section32acquires the image specification table (step S32). Specifically, the acquiring section32acquires the image specification table transmitted from the medical image acquisition apparatus20in response to the table acquisition request.

The order in which the patient specification table and the image specification table are acquired does not matter because it is necessary only that the patient specification table and the image specification table are acquired prior to the process according to the classification in step S33or later. Thus, the order of step S31and step S32may be reversed, or the patient specification table and the image specification table may be simultaneously acquired.

Then, the classification section33selects one beacon ID from the image specification table (step S33). For example, the classification section33selects the beacon ID of 1 of the image ID of a from the image specification table illustrated inFIG. 9.

Then, the first determination section331determines whether or not the beacon ID corresponding with the selected beacon ID is in the patient specification table (step S34). Specifically, the first determination section331compares the selected beacon ID with the beacon ID of each row in the patient specification table on a one-by-one basis, to specify all corresponding beacon IDs. For example, the first determination section331specifies, as beacon IDs corresponding with the beacon ID of 1, a beacon ID of 1 with a patient ID of A and a beacon ID of 1 with a patient ID of C from the patient specification table.

When it is determined that the beacon ID corresponding with the selected beacon ID is in the patient specification table (step S34; Yes), that is, when at least one corresponding beacon ID is specified, the second determination section332determines whether or not the photographing time is within the usage time period (step S35). Specifically, the second determination section332determines whether or not the photographing time associated with the selected beacon ID is within the usage time period of the beacon associated with the beacon ID determined to correspond with the selected beacon ID.

For example, it is determined whether or not a photographing time of 9:40 associated with a selected beacon ID of 1 is within each of the usage time periods of 9:00 to 10:00 and 10:05 to 10:30 of beacons associated with beacon IDs of 1 determined to correspond with the selected beacon ID of 1.

When the photographing time is within the usage time period (step S35; Yes), the classification section33assigns the image ID in the image specification table to the patient ID in the patient specification table (step S36). Specifically, when the first determination section331determines that the beacon IDs correspond with each other and when the second determination section332determines that the photographing time is within the usage time period, the classification section33assigns the image ID in the image specification table to the patient ID in the patient specification table and allows the IDs to be stored in the storing section36.

For example, the classification section33assigns an image ID of a to a patient ID of A with a beacon ID of 1 determined to correspond with a selected beacon ID of 1 by the first determination section331and with a usage time period of 9:00 to 10:00 within which the photographing time of 9:40 of the beacon ID of 1 is determined to be by the second determination section332, and allows the IDs to be stored in the storing section36.

The processing order of step S34and step S35may be reversed because the assignment can be carried out even if the processing order is reversed.

Alternatively, when the beacon ID corresponding with the selected beacon ID is not in the patient specification table (step S34; No), or when the photographing time is not within the usage time period although the corresponding beacon ID is in the patient specification table (step S35; No), the assignment is impossible, and therefore, step S36is skipped to step S37.

In step S37, the classification section33determines whether or not all the beacon IDs in the image specification table have been already selected (step S37). If all the beacon IDs have not been selected (step S37; No), the classification section33returns back to step S33and selects one beacon ID from unselected beacon IDs. In the case of the above-described example, a beacon ID (for example, a beacon ID of 2 with an image ID of b) other than the beacon ID of 1 with the image ID of a is selected to carry out processes of step S34to step36.

In such a manner, the classification section33assigns an image ID to a patient ID based on one selected beacon ID (loop of step S33to step S37) until all the beacon IDs are selected, and the classification process is ended when all the beacon IDs are selected (step S37; Yes).

By carrying out the classification process, the classification table in which the patient IDs and the image IDs are associated with each other, that is, in which the image IDs are classified per patient ID is stored in the storing section36(seeFIG. 12). Because dermoscopy images are specified by the image IDs, the classification table can also be considered to be a table in which the dermoscopy images are classified per patient examined by the doctor.

The interactions between the respective apparatuses (acceptance apparatus10, medical image acquisition apparatus20, and medical image classification apparatus30) of the medical image classification system100described above will be mainly described below with reference toFIG. 13. As an example, a case in which a patient A visits a hospital and is handed a beacon 1 by a medical clerk is described as appropriate.

First, the acceptance apparatus10carries out the acceptance process described above. For example, the acceptance apparatus10accepts a patient ID of A of which the input has been accepted, a beacon ID of 1, and a lending time, and waits until accepting a return time.

Meanwhile, the patient A receives a dermoscopy diagnosis made by a doctor. When the doctor pushes down the shutter button of the medical image acquisition apparatus20, the medical image acquisition apparatus20carries out the imaging process described above and generates an image specification table (image ID of a, beacon ID of 1, and photographing time of 9:40, as a first entry) to end the process.

It is assumed that the patient A finishes the diagnosis and returns the beacon 1 to a reception desk, and the medical clerk inputs the return time. Then, the acceptance apparatus10generates a patient specification table (patient ID of A, beacon ID of 1, and usage time period of beacon of 9:00 to 10:00, as a first entry) in the acceptance process described above, to end the process.

When the doctor provides, via the input device34of the medical image classification apparatus30, an instruction to execute a classification process, the medical image classification apparatus30executes the classification process described above, transmits table acquisition requests to the acceptance apparatus10and the medical image acquisition apparatus20, respectively, and acquires the patient specification table and the image specification table transmitted in response to the requests.

Then, the medical image classification apparatus30generates a classification table (patient ID of A and image ID of a, as a first entry) based on the tables, to end the process. As a result, the patient A and a dermoscopy image with the image ID of a are automatically associated with each other. When there are a plurality of entries in the patient specification table and the image specification table, dermoscopy images are classified per patient.

According to the medical image classification system100described above with reference toFIG. 4toFIG. 13, the dermoscopy images can be automatically classified per patient based on the beacon IDs and the time information in each of the tables (patient specification table and image specification table) generated by the acceptance apparatus10and the medical image acquisition apparatus20, respectively. Thus, the medical image classification system100, according to the present example embodiment, can reduce a workload pertaining to the classification.

Information that specifies a patient (for example, patient ID) is not stored in the image specification table stored in the storing section26(non-transitory transportable storage medium such as SD card) of the medical image acquisition apparatus20in the present example embodiment. Thus, the personal information of a patient does not leak out even if an outsider runs away with the storing section26for illicit purposes. As a result, compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that provides privacy rules for the health information of patients in U.S.A. can be achieved.

In the medical image classification system100in the present example embodiment, a plurality of beacons B are repeatedly used by managing usage time periods in which the beacons B are used (in other words, it is not necessary to prepare a beacon corresponding to each patient). Thus, it is necessary only to prepare in advance beacons corresponding to the on-peak number of patients visiting a hospital, and the number of beacons can be therefore reduced. Further, because it is not necessary to manage a beacon in association with each patient, the load of managing a plurality of beacons can be reduced, and a beacon can be easily replaced with another beacon when the beacon is lost. However, it is also possible to prepare in advance beacons corresponding to patients, respectively.

For example, dermoscopy images can be classified per patient based only on beacon IDs regardless of time (determination whether or not a photographing time is within a usage time period) by associating a beacon with each patient, that is, by associating a beacon ID with each patient ID. Thus, a process load according to classification by the medical image classification apparatus30can be reduced.

In the example embodiment described above, the medical image acquisition apparatus20transmits dermoscopy images and an image specification table to the medical image classification apparatus30by wired communication (such as USB cable) or wireless communication (such as BLE), without limitation thereto. For example, a user may pull out the storing section26(SD card) and may insert the storing section26into the medical image classification apparatus30, to thereby transfer the dermoscopy images and the image specification table to the medical image classification apparatus30.

Further, the example embodiment is described above based on the premise that the portable transmission medium carried by a patient is a beacon, without limitation thereto. For example, the portable transmission medium may be a contactless IC card in accordance with NFC. In this case, the patient carries the non-contact integrated circuit (IC) card and receives a diagnosis by a doctor. Then, the contactless IC card receives weak electric waves from a reader/writer included in the medical image acquisition apparatus20, is booted by electromagnetic induction, and transmits a card ID to the medical image acquisition apparatus20. In such a manner, the contactless IC card can be used instead of a beacon B.

Furthermore, the medical image acquisition apparatus20may acquire a card ID in a contact manner with the use of an SD card, a magnetic card, or the like which is a portable information retaining medium. In this case, for example, a user who carries the magnetic card may bring the magnetic card in contact with the medical image acquisition apparatus20to acquire the card ID. In this case, the beacon ID receiving section212of the medical image acquisition apparatus20functions as an identification information acquirer that acquires the medium identification information of the portable information retaining medium (for example, acquires the card ID of the magnetic card). The portable information retaining medium is a superordinate concept of a portable transmission medium, and is not limited only to contact-type media such as magnetic cards and SD cards but also encompasses non-contact-type media such as beacons and FeliCa.

Further, in the example embodiment described above, a medical clerk who is a user for the acceptance apparatus10inputs a patient ID, a beacon ID, and a lending time into the acceptance apparatus10when accepting a patient, without limitation thereto. It is also acceptable that the medical clerk inputs a patient ID and a beacon ID and that the acceptance apparatus10regards a time at which the patient ID and the beacon ID are accepted as a lending time and automatically associates the lending time, the patient ID, and the beacon ID with each other. Further, the medical clerk need not input a return time, but it is necessary only that the fact that a beacon B is returned is input into the acceptance apparatus10. For example, it is necessary only that when a beacon 1 lent to a patient A is returned, the medical clerk pushes down a “returned” button for the beacon 1 displayed on the display13of the acceptance apparatus10.

In this case, in the acceptance process inFIG. 5, when the acceptance apparatus10accepts the inputs of the patient ID and the beacon ID (step S11), the current time of the acceptance as the lending time is associated with the patient ID and the beacon ID. Then, when the acceptance apparatus10accepts the return of the beacon B (step S12; Yes), the current time of the acceptance is regarded as the return time, and a usage time period is calculated from the lending time and the return time. In such a manner, the workload of the inputs of times on a medical clerk can be reduced.

The example embodiment has been described above. However, it will be appreciated that the example embodiment described above is an example, and the configuration of the medical image classification system100, the content of the process carried by each apparatus, and the like are not limited to the descriptions of the example embodiment described above.

Alternative Example Embodiment

The example embodiment is described above based on the premise that a patient does not go to a wrong examination location. However, it is practically possible that a patient goes to another wrong examination location and a doctor mistakenly believes the patient to be a patient to be examined and diagnoses the patient. Thus, in a medical image classification system100′ in an alternative example, a beacon B is provided with a GPS function, which is the function of specifying the current position of a patient and determining whether or not the patient is at an examination location where the patient should be examined. The function will be mainly described below.

A storing section14in an acceptance apparatus10in the medical image classification system100′ stores a position information table illustrated inFIG. 14. The position information table is a table to which a medical image classification apparatus30refers before a patient returns a beacon B.

First, a medical clerk accepts a patient and lends a beacon B to the patient. Then, the medical clerk inputs, into the acceptance apparatus10, the patient ID of the accepted patient, the beacon ID of the lent beacon B, the lending time of the beacon B, and the position information of a location where an examination is intended to be carried out. The acceptance apparatus10accepts the inputs and generates a position information table.

The position information of a location where an examination is intended to be carried out, which is information indicating a patient's destination, is, for example, the number of an examination room (Room 001 in the example ofFIG. 14). The association relationship between the number of the examination room and longitude/latitude information is stored in advance in the acceptance apparatus10. The number of the examination room and the longitude/latitude information are associated with each other as accompanying information when the number of the examination room is accepted (longitude x1, latitude y1, and the like in the example ofFIG. 14).

The medical image classification apparatus30in the medical image classification system100′ receives a beacon ID and current position information (longitude/latitude information), transmitted by a beacon B having a GPS function, via a communicator37. A patient correction/incorrection determination process, carried out by the medical image classification apparatus30, for determining whether or not a patient is at an examination location where the patient should be examined will be described with reference toFIG. 15.

In the patient correction/incorrection determination process of thisFIG. 15, it is monitored whether or not a controller31in the medical image classification apparatus30receives the beacon ID and the current position information from the beacon B via the communicator37(step S41; No). It is assumed that the controller31receives the beacon ID and the current position information transmitted from the beacon B carried by the patient before a doctor starts the examination of the patient (step S41; Yes). Then, the processes of step S42or later are carried out.

First, an acquiring section32acquires the position information table. Specifically, the acquiring section32acquires the position information table from the acceptance apparatus10via the communicator37. Then, the controller31specifies the patient ID of a patient examined by a doctor and the position information of a location where an examination is intended to be carried out (information indicating the destination of the patient) with reference to the position information table (step S43).

Specifically, the controller31specifies the patient ID and the position information of the location where the examination is intended to be carried out from the position information table based on the beacon ID received in step S41and on a current time specified by a timer and/or the like. For example, when a beacon ID of 1 is received from a beacon 1 and the current time is 9:10, the controller31refers to the position information table, a patient ID of A and Room 001 (longitude x1 and latitude y1) which correspond with the beacon ID of 1 and a lending time of 9:00 followed by the current time of 9:10 are specified.

Then, the controller31determines whether or not the specified position information of the location where the examination is intended to be carried out and the received current position information correspond with each other (step S44). Specifically, the controller31determines whether or not the position information (longitude/latitude information) indicating the patient's destination and the current position information (longitude/latitude information) of the patient correspond with each other.

For example, the controller31determines whether or not the longitude x1 and latitude y1 of Room 001 which are the items of position information of the location where the examination is intended to be carried out and the current position information (longitude/latitude information) received from the beacon 1 correspond with each other. In this case, because it is not necessary that the longitude and the latitude accurately correspond with each other but it is necessary only that it can be determined whether or not the patient is in an examination room in which the patient should be examined, the errors of the longitude and the latitude are preferably set in accordance with the size of the interior of the examination room. For example, in step S44, it may be determined whether or not the specified position information of the location where the examination is intended to be carried out and the received current position information are within predetermined errors.

When both correspond with each other (step S44; Yes), for example, when the position information of the location where the examination is intended to be carried out and the current position information correspond with each other at the longitude x1 and the latitude y1, the patient A with the patient ID of A is in Room 001 which is the location where the examination is intended to be carried out, and the process is therefore ended without providing an error notification.

Alternatively, when the position information of the location where the examination is intended to be carried out and the current position information do not correspond with each other (step S44; No), the patient is not in the location where the examination is intended to be carried out (in the case of the example described above, the patient A with the patient ID of A is not in Room 001 at the location where the examination is intended to be carried out), and an error notification is therefore provided (step S45) to end the process. The error notification is, for example, a voice notification for notifying a doctor that a patient is not a patient intended to be examined or a voice notification for providing a notification that a patient is at a location different from a location where an examination is intended to be carried out. In the correction/incorrection determination process, the acquiring section32corresponds to a position information receiver, and the controller31corresponds to a specifier and a notifier.

In such a manner, in the medical image classification system100′ according to the alternative example, the current position information of a patient is specified from a beacon B having a GPS function, and it is determined whether or not the specified current position information corresponds with information indicating a patient's destination in a position information table (position information of a location where an examination is intended to be carried out). Thus, it can be determined whether or not the patient is at an examination location where the patient should be examined. Accordingly, a doctor can find, before examining the patient, whether or not the patient is a patient whom the doctor intends to take charge of examining, and the patient can find, before the examination, whether or not the patient is in an incorrect examination room.

In the present alternative example, the position information table is used, without limitation thereto. For example, a patient specification table may be used instead of the position information table. Specifically, in the patient specification table, a usage time period in which a beacon B is used may be used in place of a lending time in which the beacon is lent until the beacon B is returned, and one column may be added for the position information of a location where an examination is intended to be carried out. As a result, the patient specification table can be used not only for classification but also for correction/incorrection determination.

In the alternative example described above, the medical image classification apparatus30carries out the correction/incorrection determination process, without limitation thereto. The medical image acquisition apparatus20may carry out the correction/incorrection determination process as long as the medical image acquisition apparatus20can acquire the position information table from the acceptance apparatus10by wired communication or wireless communication. In this case, the medical image acquisition apparatus20preferably allows an error message to be displayed as an error notification on a display25.

The example embodiment and alternative example are described above based on the premise that a medical image is a dermoscopy image, without limitation thereto. It is essential only that such an image is a medical image. Therefore, for example, roentgen images, X-ray images, computed tomography (CT) images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, and the like are also acceptable.

The medical image classification systems100and100′ are described based on the premise that the medical image classification systems100and100′ are applied to medical settings. It is parenthetically remarked that in this case, users of the beacon B are patients, users of the medical image acquisition apparatus20and the medical image classification apparatus30are doctors, and objects to be classified are medical images, without limitation thereto. For example, images may be classified per subject based on the premise that users of the beacon B are subjects, users of the medical image acquisition apparatus20and the medical image classification apparatus30are photographers, and objects to be classified are the images showing the subjects (for example, landscape images and/or the like).

Each function of the acceptance apparatus10, medical image acquisition apparatus20, and medical image classification apparatus30of the present disclosure can also be carried out by a computer such as a usual PC.

Specifically, the example embodiment is described above based on the premise that the program for each process (acceptance process, imaging process, and classification process) carried out by each apparatus is stored in advance in the ROMs of the controllers11,21, and31of each apparatus. However, a computer capable of implementing the above-described function of each component may also be configured by distributing the program for each process stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disc, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a magneto-optical disc (MO) and by installing the program on the computer. For example, the program stored in a disk device and/or the like included in a server device on a communication network such as the Internet may also be downloaded to a computer.