FR3004269A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AUDIO AND VIDEO REPORTS OF MEDICAL IMAGING EXAMINATIONS - Google Patents

Abstract

A method (100) for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations. The method (100) according to the invention comprises the following steps: - Reading (101a) images of a medical imaging examination, - Simultaneously with said reading, interpretation (101b) audio of said images of said medical imaging examination, - reading end (102) of said images of said medical imaging examination, the read images forming a sequence of read images (S1), - recording (103) of said sequence of read images (S1) and said audio interpretation said images read from said sequence (S1), said images and said recorded performance forming an audio and video report of said medical imaging examination.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and system for generating audio and video reports of imaging examinations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION medical. The field of the invention relates in particular to the field of radiology. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART Conventionally, during the course of a radiological examination, a radiologist makes photographs, for example of the ultrasound, MRI, scanner or other type, and then analyzes the images according to the information transmitted by the doctor that he has received. addressed the patient. The radiologist then writes a report to the medical correspondents. Therefore, the radiologist's record contains the images of the medical examination and a written report. Such a practice is of course tedious and time-consuming for the radiologist who must write his report below each image. In addition, the practitioner subsequently consulting the radiological examination does not have the entire examination but only certain images selected by the radiologist de facto limiting the practitioner's objectivity. FR2861872 discloses a method for generating interactive radiological reports. More particularly, as a first step, the radiologist dictates or taps a radiological report by making a selection of relevant images from all the images taken during a given radiological examination. In case the report is originally dictated, this report is then typed.

Then, the report thus typed and the images taken during the radiological examination are transmitted to computer equipment equipped with a system called Scan +, this Scan + system being adapted to: - analyze the report, and generate data hypertext links, between the text of the report and the images selected by the radiologist, - produce an interactive report and a summary of the images selected by the radiologist, - edit a printout of the summary of the images selected by the radiologist. radiologist, and - edit an electronic medium, in particular of the CD ROM or DVD ROM type (for example in DICOM format), containing the interactive report, the summary of the images selected by the radiologist as well as the whole of the radiological examination. In addition, it should be noted that the interactive report, the summary of the images selected by the radiologist as well as the entire radiological examination performed can also be disseminated via various computer communication networks, in particular internet type or internet network. However, such a method is also time consuming since it forces the radiologist to type in his analysis. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, the invention relates to a method for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations, said method comprising the following steps: - Reading images of an examination of medical imaging, - Simultaneously with said reading, audio interpretation of said images of said medical imaging examination, - end of reading of said images of said medical imaging examination, the read images forming a sequence of read images, - recording of said image sequence read images and said audio interpretation of said images read from said sequence, said images and said recorded performance forming an audio and video report of said medical imaging examination. For the rest of the description, a sequence of images is intended to mean a plurality of images of a medical imaging examination. A sequence of images may include all the images of the medical imaging examination. In a different implementation, all of the images of a medical imaging examination may form a plurality of image sequences each including images of the medical imaging examination. Some images may be included in several image sequences. In other words, the image sequences may have partial overlap. Thanks to the invention, the radiologist can perform his audio report in real time, in other words during the visualization of the images of the radiological examination. In other words, the invention confers considerable time savings to the radiologist. In addition, in a nonlimiting implementation, the following steps being implemented at least once: - stop reading the images and audio interpretation of the images at a determined stop time t, said read images forming a sequence of read images, - recording said sequence of read images and said audio interpretation of said read frames of said sequence, said recorded images and said performance forming an audio and video report of said medical imaging examination, - backward reading of the images of the medical imaging examination until a predetermined return moment t-1 prior to said determined stop time t, - reiteration of the reading step, and of the step interpretation, said reading and said audio interpretation beginning at said determined return instant t-1. Thanks to this implementation, it is possible to stop the audio interpretation of the images of the exam, go back on the exam to resume reading images and give a more enriched opinion or even different from the previous one. In other words, once the audio analysis is complete, the report is more accurate because the radiologist will have had the opportunity to modify his analysis during the course of viewing the exam. In addition to the characteristics that have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the method according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics among the following, considered individually or in any technically feasible combination. In a non-limiting implementation, the method comprises a step of merging the sequences and the audio interpretations of each of said sequences into a single file forming a complete audio and video report of the medical imaging examination. In a nonlimiting implementation, the reading of the image sequence is carried out at a rate of at least 15 images per second.

In a nonlimiting implementation, the method includes a step of recording each audio and video report on a remote server. In a non-limiting implementation, the method includes an additional step of converting the report into a format that can be broadcast on an internet. In a nonlimiting implementation, the method includes an additional step of converting the report into a format defined by a standard for the computer management of data from medical imaging. In a non-limiting implementation, the audio and video report is converted into a DICOM format.

In a nonlimiting implementation, a dictaphone is used to trigger at least one of the steps of said method for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations. The invention also relates to a system for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations, said system comprising: - reading means, and audio interpretation means of images of a medical examination; medical imaging; means for triggering a reading end of said reading of said images of said medical imaging examination; recording means adapted to record said read images and said audio interpretation of said read images so as to form a audio and video report of said medical imaging examination. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. a synoptic of the steps of a first embodiment of a method for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examination according to the invention; FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a system 30 for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations according to the invention; FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the steps of a second embodiment of a method making it possible to generate audio and video reports of radiological examination according to the invention; - Figure 4 shows a different way the steps of the second embodiment of the method according to the invention shown in Figure 3. In all the figures, the common elements bear the same reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of implementation of a method 100 for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations, for example of type radiography, MRI or scanner. Figure 2 illustrates a system 1 for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations. The method 100 includes a reading step 101a of the images of a medical imaging examination, and a simultaneous step 101b of audio interpretation of the images of the medical imaging examination. These reading 101a and interpretation 101b steps can be triggered by means of a dictaphone 2 by pressing a trigger button 3, for example called "record". The dictaphone may, without limitation, be a SpeechMike® dictaphone. During this reading step 101a, the radiologist visualizes the scrolling of the images on a screen 4 of the system 1, and interprets 101b orally the examination in real time. This oral interpretation 101b is picked up by the dictaphone 2 and prerecorded by recording means 5 that the system 1 comprises. In addition, during these reading steps 101a and 101b, the cursor 6 of a mouse 7 may be used by the radiologist to designate a region of interest. In this case, the position of the cursor 6 of the mouse 7 is also pre-recorded by the recording means 5. In other words, all that is said and everything that is done by the radiologist is pre-recorded by means of It should be noted that the reading of the images is performed at a rate of at least 15 frames per second, and preferably 25 frames per second. The method comprises a step of reading the images of the medical imaging examination 102, this end of reading step 102 being, for example, triggered by the radiologist. In a nonlimiting implementation, the radiologist presses a button 8 of the dictaphone 2 to trigger the end reading step 102. The button 8 may be called "EOL". In this case, the read images form a sequence of read images. This sequence may comprise only part of the images of the medical imaging examination that were previously acquired by means of a medical imaging device such as for example a scanner. In a different implementation, this sequence includes all the images of the medical imaging examination that were previously acquired by means of a medical imaging device. The method further comprises a step 103 of recording the sequence of read images and the audio interpretation of the images included in the sequence. The footage of the sequence and the audio performance together form an audio and video report. During this recording 103 a file, for example of AVI type (for "Audio Video Interleave" in English) is created. Thanks to the invention, radiologists are offered the possibility of saving the interpretation of the patient's examinations in video format. The correspondent can thus consult the video loop and hear the interpretation of the radiologist while following the position of the mouse, placed on the area of interest. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a second example of implementation of a method 100 for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations according to the invention. The method 100 comprises a reading step 101a of the images of a medical imaging examination, and a simultaneous step 101b audio interpretation of the images of the medical imaging examination. These reading 101a and interpretation 101b steps can be triggered at a time tO by the radiologist by pressing the trigger button 3 of the dictaphone 2. The method 100 further comprises a stopping step 104 of the reading of the images and stopping the audio interpretation of the images at a determined stopping time t2. In this nonlimiting implementation, the radiologist decides to stop reading and audio interpretation at a time t2. To do this, the radiologist presses a button 9 of the dictaphone 2, the button 9 being for example called "Pause". It should be noted that the read images form a first sequence of read images S1. The method further comprises a step 105 of recording the image sequence S1 of the examination and audio interpretation of this image sequence S1, the image sequence S1 and the audio interpretation forming a first audio and video report of the medical imaging examination. In this case, a first file, for example of type AVI is created. In other words, a first video of the radiological examination is created, this first video comprising part of the images of the medical imaging examination, an audio interpretation made by the radiologist and possibly the position of the cursor 6 of the mouse 7 used to designate the area of interest evoked by the radiologist. Then, the radiologist rolls back 106 from the reading of the images of the medical imaging examination to a determined return moment t1 prior to the determined stopping time t2. To do this, the radiologist presses a button 10 of the dictaphone 2, for example called "Rewind". The method then comprises the reiteration 107 of the reading 101a and simultaneous interpretation 101b steps, the reading beginning at time t1. These acquisition 101a and interpretation 101b steps can be triggered again by means of the trigger button 3 of the dictaphone. These steps are triggered at a time t1 different from the instant tO of the first triggering of the reading 101a. The method includes an end of reading step 102 of the images of the medical imaging examination, this end of reading step 102 being, for example, triggered by the radiologist by means of the button 8 of the dictaphone 2. This end of reading generates a second sequence of read images S2 between time t1 and time t3. The method further comprises a step 103 of recording the second sequence S2 of read images and the audio interpretation of the images of the second sequence S2. During this recording 103 a second AVI file is created and forms a second audio and video report of the medical imaging examination. Since two S1 and S2 sequences are created for the same medical imaging examination, the method 100 includes a further step of merging the first X-ray image sequence S1 and the second X-ray image sequence S2. radiologist into a single file. Thus, a single audio and video report is made for the same medical imaging examination.

In this implementation, the radiologist starts reading images and audio interpretation via his dictaphone. Everything that is dictated and done via the mouse is pre-recorded by the recording means 5. At any time the radiologist may interrupt the reading and interpretation to restart them later or to backtrack and listen to the report that he is creating. It should be noted that the images of the medical imaging examination are grouped into several sequences that can be loaded at any time in readers arranged in the form of a layer superimposed on each other. The proofreading of the images of the medical imaging examination is therefore done in a transparent way for the end user who does not realize that his video report is actually composed of several sequences that are merged into a single file . In a nonlimiting implementation, the method comprises an additional step 109 of converting the audio / video report in a format that can be broadcast on an internet. In such an implementation, the format of the report is an MPEG4 format. This format is widely used on the internet and the file size is not excessive since it is less than 10MB / mm.

In a nonlimiting implementation, the method includes a step 110 for recording the audio and video report on a remote server 11. Thus, each patient can access the report of his medical imaging examination via the Internet. Its access can be limited in time and secured by means of a personal code. In a different nonlimiting implementation, the method comprises a step 111 of converting the report into a format defined by a standard for the computer management of data from medical imaging. This format can advantageously be the DICOM format (for "Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine"). Such reports in DICOM format can thus be consulted on the consoles of the various manufacturers obeying the DICOM standard. Indeed, these reports in DICOM format may be recorded on the archiving and image transmission systems (better known by the acronym PACS for "Picture Archiving and Communication System"). PACS is a system for managing medical images through archiving functions. It allows the communication via network of DICOM format files and thus the remote or LAN processing with computers with high definition monitors for the visualization of medical imaging examinations.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. A method (100) for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations, said method (100) comprising the steps of: - Reading (101a) images of a medical imaging examination, - Simultaneously with said reading, interpreting (101b) audio of said images of said medical imaging examination, - reading end (102) of said images of said medical imaging examination, the read images forming a sequence of read images (51), - recording ( 103) of said read image sequence (51) and said audio interpretation of said read images of said sequence (51), said recorded images and said performance forming an audio and video report of said medical imaging examination. 2. Method (100) according to claim 1, the following steps being implemented at least once: - stop (104) of the reading (101a) of the images and the audio interpretation (101b) images to a determined stopping time t, said read images forming a read image sequence (S2), - recording (105) of said read image sequence (S2) and said audio interpretation of said read frames of said sequence (S2) , said images and said recorded performance forming an audio and video report of said medical imaging examination, - going back (106) from the reading of the images of the medical imaging examination to a determined return moment t -1 before said determined stop time t, - reiteration (107) of the reading step (101a), and the interpretation step (101b), said reading (101a) and said interpretation (101b) audio beginner at this instant of return determined t-1. A method (100) according to the preceding claim 2 including a step of merging (108) the sequences (S1, S2) and audio interpretations of each of said sequences (S1, S2) into a single audio and audio report file. complete video of the medical imaging exam. The method (100) of any preceding claim wherein the reading (101a) of the image sequence is performed at a rate of at least 15 frames per second. The method (100) of any preceding claim including a step of recording (110) each audio and video report on a remote server (11). A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising an additional step (109) of converting the report into a format that can be broadcast on an Internet. The method (100) of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6 including an additional step (111) of converting the report into a standard-defined format for computer management of medical imaging data. The method (100) of claim 7 above wherein the audio and video report is converted into a DICOM format. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a dictaphone is used to trigger at least one of the steps of said method (100) for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations . 10. System (1) for generating audio and video reports of medical imaging examinations, said system (1) comprising: - reading means (4), and audio interpretation means (2) images of a medical imaging examination; means for triggering (8) an end of reading of said reading of said images of said medical imaging examination; - recording means (5) adapted to record said read images; and said audio interpreting said read images to form an audio and video record of said medical imaging examination.