Examination system, image processing apparatus and method, medium, and x-ray photographic system

Abstract

In order to improve ease of operation in an X-ray photographic system for performing X-ray photography (radiography) for taking a plurality of photographs (radiographs) when a photographic request is received from an external source; when photographs of a plurality of regions are to be taken, an examination system includes a device for changing the input photographic sequence of the regions to be photographed, a device for taking photographs in accordance with the changed photographic sequence, and a device for outputting the photographed results in a desired sequence.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An examination system, comprising: 
 input means for inputting a desired sequence of a plurality of examination methods for a patient;    changing means for changing the desired sequence into a changed sequence;    performing means for performing examination in accordance with the changed sequence and obtaining results therefrom; and    output means for outputting in the desired sequence a plurality of examination results obtained by the performing means.    
     
     
         2 . An examination system, comprising: 
 input means for inputting examination request information formed of a plurality of examination methods for a patient;    display means for displaying the examination sequence of the input examination methods in a list;    handling means for handling the examination method as a plurality of examination method objects and for attaching a status to each examination method object;    changing means for changing the display format of each examination method object according to the status;    selection means for selecting one of the examination method objects;    performing means for performing examination in accordance with the examination conditions determined by the selected examination method object and in accordance with an examination mode determined by the status of the selected examination method object; and    output means for outputting in a desired sequence a plurality of examined examination method objects.    
     
     
         3 . An examination system according to  claim 2 , wherein types of the status attached to an examination method object include at least an examination wait state and an examination terminated state, and the display of the examination method object and/or the examination mode is changed by the attached status.  
     
     
         4 . An examination system according to  claim 3 , wherein said display means divides a particular area on a display screen of an operations console into a plurality of areas and causes the respective areas to be linked with the plurality of examination method objects, and wherein when the status of the examination method object is in an examination wait state, a symbol indicating an examination method is displayed, and when the examination is terminated, an examination result such as an examination image is displayed instead of the symbol.  
     
     
         5 . An examination system according to  claim 4 , wherein a mouse and/or a touch screen are provided, a particular area on the display screen of the operations console is made user-selectable, and when a symbol indicating an examination method is selected, examination is set ready, and when the examination result such as an examination image is selected, reexamination is set ready.  
     
     
         6 . An examination system according to  claim 2 , wherein said examination system is an X-ray photographic system comprising an X-ray generation apparatus and an X-ray photographic apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . An examination system, comprising: 
 input means for inputting an examination request formed of a plurality of examination methods in a desired examination sequence;    display means for displaying an examination sequence of the input examination methods in a list;    handling means for handling the examination method as a plurality of examination method objects and for attaching a status to each examination method object;    format changing means for changing the display format of each examination method object according to the status attached to each examination object;    sequence changing means for changing the desired examination sequence of the input examination method objects into a changed examination;    performing means for performing examination in accordance with the examination conditions determined by the examination method object selected on the basis of the changed examination sequence and in accordance with an examination mode determined by the status of the selected examination method object; and    output means for outputting in the desired examination sequence a plurality of examined examination method objects.    
     
     
         8 . An examination system according to  claim 7 , wherein types of the status attached to an examination method object include at least an examination wait state and an examination terminated state, and the display of the examination method object and/or the examination mode is changed by the attached status.  
     
     
         9 . An examination system according to  claim 8 , wherein said display means divides a particular area on a display screen of an operations console into a plurality of areas and causes the respective areas to be linked with the plurality of examination method objects, and wherein when the status of the examination method object is in an examination wait state, a symbol indicating an examination method is displayed, and when the examination is terminated, an examination result such as an examination image is displayed instead of the symbol.  
     
     
         10 . An examination system according to  claim 9 , wherein a mouse and/or a touch screen are provided, a particular area on the display screen of the operation console is made user-selectable, and when a symbol indicating an examination method is selected, examination is set ready, and when the examination result such as an examination image is selected, reexamination is set ready.  
     
     
         11 . An examination system according to  claim 7 , wherein said examination system is an X-ray photographic system comprising an X-ray generation apparatus and an X-ray photographic apparatus.  
     
     
         12 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 instruction means for instructing a plurality of photographs to be taken with respect to an object image in a predetermined sequence;    changing means for changing the predetermined sequence as instructed by said instruction means; and    output means for outputting in the predetermined sequence a plurality of images photographed in accordance with a sequence changed by said changing means.    
     
     
         13 . An image processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said output means comprises recording means for recording the plurality of photographed images in a medium.  
     
     
         14 . An image processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said changing means changes the sequence in accordance with a manual instruction from a user.  
     
     
         15 . An image processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising photographic means for performing photography.  
     
     
         16 . An image processing apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said photographic means is an X-ray photographic means.  
     
     
         17 . An image processing method, comprising the steps of: 
 instructing a plurality of photography to be taken with respect to an object image in a predetermined sequence;    receiving an instruction of the predetermined sequence and changing an order of the predetermined sequence into a changed sequence; and    outputting in the predetermined sequence a plurality of images photographed in accordance with the changed sequence.    
     
     
         18 . A computer-executable storage medium for storing a program, said program comprising the steps of: 
 instructing a plurality of photographs to be taken with respect to an object image in a predetermined sequence;    receiving an instruction of the predetermined sequence and changing an order of the predetermined sequence into a changed sequence; and    outputting in the predetermined sequence a plurality of images photographed in accordance with the changed sequence.    
     
     
         19 . A photographic system for irradiating a patient with X-rays and for digitally obtaining an X-ray transmitted image, said photographic system comprising: 
 an X-ray photographic apparatus for performing X-ray photography in given examination units;    an apparatus for inputting, to said X-ray photographic apparatus, patient data and photographic request information from which setting parameters, which are required for said X-ray photographic apparatus to perform photography, can be created;    operation means for displaying the system status and for performing an operation;    input means for inputting photographic request information formed of a plurality of photographic requests with respect to one patient data;    creation means for creating setting parameters required to perform X-ray photography from the plurality of input photographic requests; and    calling means for calling the created setting parameters.    
     
     
         20 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , wherein said calling means is a setting object showing a symbol in which the type of the photographic request is formed into tangible form.  
     
     
         21 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising setting means for setting a photographic sequence of the photographic requests in accordance with the input photographic request information.  
     
     
         22 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising display means for displaying in a list a plurality of objects showing symbols in which the type of the input photographic request is formed into tangible form for only one patient.  
     
     
         23 . A photographic system according to  claim 22 , wherein said display means divides a particular area on a display screen of an operations console into a plurality of areas and displays the respective areas corresponding with the plurality of objects.  
     
     
         24 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising display means for displaying setting objects showing a symbol in which the type of the input photographic request is formed into tangible form in a set sequence regardless of the input sequence.  
     
     
         25 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising changing means for changing the display of a plurality of setting objects showing a symbol in which the type of the input photographic request is formed into tangible form, according to the status of a photographic sequence.  
     
     
         26 . A photographic system according to  claim 25 , wherein said changing means divides a particular area on a display screen of an operations console into a plurality of areas and causes the respective areas to be linked with the plurality of setting objects, and when the status of the object is in an examination wait state, a symbol indicating an examination method is displayed, and when the examination is terminated, an examination result such as an examination image is displayed instead of the symbol.  
     
     
         27 . A photographic system according to  claim 25 , wherein types of the status include at least an examination wait state and an examination terminated state, and the display of the examination method object and/or the examination mode is changed by the status.  
     
     
         28 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising changing means for changing a performing sequence of setting objects showing a symbol in which a type of the input photographic request is formed into tangible form.  
     
     
         29 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising output means for outputting in a desired sequence a plurality of photographed photographic requests.  
     
     
         30 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising output means for outputting a plurality of photographed photographic requests in a predetermined sequence regardless of the photographed sequence.  
     
     
         31 . A photographic system according to  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined sequence is a requested sequence.  
     
     
         32 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising retaking means for retaking a desired taken photograph.  
     
     
         33 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , further comprising a mouse attached as an auxiliary input means of an operations console and a touch screen on a display section, wherein a particular area on the display screen of the operations console is made user-selectable, and when a symbol indicating an examination method is selected, examination is set ready and when an examination result such as an examination image is selected, reexamination is set ready.  
     
     
         34 . A photographic system according to  claim 19 , wherein the photographic system is connected to a hospital information system, such as an intra-hospital information system or radiology information system.