WO2007001113A1

WO2007001113A1 - Web-based remote diagnosis method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007001113A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001515
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Kee Shin; Jong-Hun Lee
Original assignee: Medical Telepacs Center Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-04-21
Filing date: 2006-04-21
Publication date: 2007-01-04

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a Web-based remote diagnosis method and apparatus. In the Web-based remote diagnosis method, user identification information is received from a user terminal (106). Information required to select medical image data, which is a target for remote diagnosis, and a remote diagnostician, is received from the user terminal. The selected medical image data is transmitted to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician (108a or 108b). Results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data are received from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, and are transmitted to the user terminal (106). Accordingly, the present invention provides a remote diagnosis method and apparatus, which can provide reliable radiological diagnosis results even in locations such as a public health center or a remote island in which there is no specialist in radiological diagnosis, and which can facilitate cooperate treatment, thus improving the precision of diagnosis results.

Description

Description WEB-BASED REMOTE DIAGNOSIS METHOD AND

APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a remote diagnosis method and apparatus and, more particularly, to a remote diagnosis method and apparatus, which are implemented based on the Web.

Background Art

[2] Generally, with the development of the information and communication industry, the number of hospitals using a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) has recently increased. PACS is a system for integrally archiving, reading and viewing digital medical images. PACS converts the results of all radioactive examinations of physical information about a patient captured by various types of modality equipment, such as equipment for X-rays, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) , Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), into the format of digital images, and stores the digital images in a large-capacity storage device at the same time that the physical information is radiographed, transmits the digital images to the monitor of a computer in a reading center through a network, and allows a reading specialist to read the digital images.

[3] PACS stores and manages image data based on the Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard. Further, PACS connects medical imaging equipment, a reading specialist of a department of diagnostic radiology and a clinician with each other. PACS functions to store medical images using a relational storage means, search for a required medical image in response to a request, and transmit a found medical image. In the storage means, medical image data about patients collected within a recent period of about two weeks is currently stored. Medical image data more than two weeks old is permanently stored in a long-term storage means. Medical imaging equipment can directly transmit medical images to a PACS server and store the medical images in the PACS server through a storage program based on the DICOM standard, which is supported by each vendor, without requiring a separate interface. A viewer developed as a Graphic User Interface (GUI) is provided to visiting doctors or doctors in departments of diagnostic radiology, thus enabling the doctors to receive and read medical image data in their laboratories or conference rooms, and immediately store diagnosis results.

[4] Such PACS enables the fast transmission of image information. Since the medical images of a patient captured through radiography can be transmitted to a reading room or other clinical departments requiring reading through a transmission line, subsequent actions can be promptly taken. That is, medical image data, which took a long time to be transmitted when PACS was not used, can be transmitted to a place requiring reading, immediately when, or within several seconds after, the medical image data is captured through radiography, thus enabling doctors to give prompt medical treatment to a patient and eliminate delays in the flow of information within a hospital, and shortening a period required for medical treatment of a patient and a period of admission to the hospital.

[5] Further, as PACS is used, medical images can be easily read through a monitor, therefore there is no need to use film. As a result, the loss of data caused by the loss of film can be prevented, the same image data can be simultaneously observed in several places, and the waste of manpower in transporting film can be prevented. Further, large size data is stored in a large-scale integration storage means, such as an optical disc, without being stored in a film, etc., thus improving the usage efficiency of storage space. Therefore, a storehouse for storing films occupying a large volume is not required. Furthermore, a menu item displayed on the screen of the PACS system is selected, instead of finding a past image of a patient in a film storehouse, thus the image can be promptly displayed on the monitor. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] However, although the PACS has many advantages, PACS has been limitedly used in operations within a hospital due to a plurality of technical and legal problems. Therefore, the conventional PACS is problematic in that, even if a region of a patient's body is radiographed using expensive modality equipment in locations, such as a public health center or a remote island in which there is no specialist in radiological diagnosis, reliable radiological diagnosis results cannot be obtained. Further, since cooperative diagnosis using a single radiograph image is not facilitated, a region of a patient's body must be radiographed again in another hospital when the results of diagnosis using the medical image are doubtful, so that there is high probability that repeated redundant examinations are conducted. Further, for the reliable results of a diagnosis, a patient directly uses a tertiary medical institution having a specialist in radiological diagnosis, without passing through a primary medical institution, thus the medical delivery system is not quickly operated. Further, it is difficult to systematically manage past medical treatment information about a patient, so that it is not easy to efficiently treat a patient.

Technical Solution [7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote diagnosis method and apparatus, which can provide reliable diagnostic results, systematically manage medical treatment information, and prevent repeated redundant examinations.

[8] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a Web- based remote diagnosis method, comprising the steps of receiving user identification information from a user terminal, receiving information required to select medical image data, which is a target for remote diagnosis, and a remote diagnostician from the user terminal, transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician, and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[9] Further, the present invention provides a Web-based remote diagnosis method, comprising the steps of receiving medical image data, generated in a Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format, and storing the medical image data in storage means, receiving user identification information from a user terminal and determining whether a user is an authenticated user, searching the storage means for information about medical image data accessible by a user and displaying the information about medical image data on the user terminal if it is determined that the user is an authenticated user, receiving information, required to select medical image data, for which remote diagnosis is requested, and a remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, from the user terminal, transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician, and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, storing the diagnosis results in the storage means, and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[10] Further, the present invention provides a recording medium storing a computer program for implementing a Web-based remote diagnosis method, wherein the computer program implements the steps of receiving user identification information from a user terminal, receiving information required to select medical image data, which is a target for remote diagnosis, and a remote diagnostician from the user terminal, transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician, and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician and transmitting the diagn osis results to the user terminal.

[11] Further, the present invention provides a recording medium storing a computer program for implementing a Web-based remote diagnosis method, wherein the computer program implements the steps of receiving medical image data, generated in a Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format, and storing the medical image data in storage means, receiving user identification information from a user terminal and determining whether a user is an authenticated user, searching the storage means for information about medical image data accessible by a user and displaying the information about medical image data on the user terminal if it is determined that the user is an authenticated user, receiving information, required to select medical image data, for which remote diagnosis is requested, and a remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, from the user terminal, transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician, and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, storing the diagnosis results in the storage means, and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[12] Further, the present invention provides a Web-based remote diagnosis apparatus, comprising storage means for storing medical image data generated in a Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format for each user, and storing user identification information and information about a remote diagnostician, means for implementing Internet communication with a user terminal and a terminal of the remote diagnostician, and a remote diagnosis processing unit for performing a Web-based remote diagnosis using the storage means and the communication means, wherein the remote diagnosis processing unit implements the steps of receiving user identification information from the user terminal, searching the storage means and determining whether a user is an authenticated user, searching the storage means for information about medical image data accessible by the user and information about a remote diagnostician and displaying the information about medical image data and information about the remote diagnostician on the user terminal if it is determined that the user is an authenticated user, receiving information, required to select medical image data, for which remote diagnosis is requested, and a remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, from the user terminal, transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician, and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, storing the diagnosis results in the storage means, and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[13] Accordingly, the present invention having the above construction is advantageous in that it can provide reliable radiological diagnosis results even in locations such as a public health center or a remote island in which there is no specialist in radiological diagnosis, and can facilitate cooperate treatment, thus improving the precision of diagnosis results. Further, as medical treatment information can be systematically managed, efficient medical treatment can be conducted using past medical treatment information, and repeated redundant examinations, such as CT or MRI, can be prevented. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that it can contribute to the establishment of a medical transfer system.

Description of Drawings

[14] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[15] FIG. 1 is a network configuration view of a remote diagnosis apparatus according to the present invention;

[16] FTG. 2 is an entire flowchart of a remote diagnosis method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[17] FTG. 3 is a diagram showing an information object based on a Digital Image and

Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format;

[18] FTG. 4 is a detailed flowchart showing the step of a user requesting remote diagnosis in FTG. 2; and

[19] FTG. 5 is a detailed flowchart showing the step of performing payment in FTG. 2.

Mode for Invention

[20] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

[21] FTG. 1 is a network configuration view of a remote diagnosis apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FTG. 1, a remote diagnosis apparatus 104 is connected to a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) server 102 within a hospital, a user terminal 106 and remote diagnostician terminals 108a and 108b through the Internet 110, and is adapted to perform Web-based remote diagnosis.

[22] A medical system 100 in a hospital includes the PACS server 102, a Radiology Information System (RIS) 111, and various types of medical imaging equipment 112a, 112b and 112c. If a doctor treats a patient, and inputs medical treatment results and an order for radiography into the RIS 111, the medical imaging equipment 112a, 112b and 112c performs radiography for a patient in response to the radiography order input to the RIS 111, converts an image generated as a result of the radiography into a DICOM format image, and transmits the DICOM format image to the PACS server 102. The PACS server 102 transmits the DICOM format medical image data to the remote diagnosis apparatus 104 through the Internet 110, using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The transmitted medical image data is stored in a storage means 118 through a communication means 114. The patient is provided with the results of radiography by the hospital in the form of a Compact Disc (CD), and can provide the radiography results to the remote diagnosis apparatus 104 through the network 110 at his or her terminal 106.

[23] The architecture of PACS within a hospital is one of the most important factors for influencing the efficiency of an entire system when PACS is designed. Generally, the PACS architecture can be classified into a centralized system and a distributed system according to the method of storing and inquiring image data. The centralized system is also called a shared file system PACS, which is implemented to store all of the image data in central storage and transmit corresponding data to an inquiry system when an inquiry request is received. This architecture allows all users to all of the image data regardless of time and space, but it requires a considerably high data transfer rate because data transmission occurs after an inquiry request has been received.

[24] The distributed system is also called a distributed file system PACS, which is implemented to distribute image data to one or more storage systems depending on the organization of tasks. Further, each workstation has the characteristics of local image storage similar to a cache for temporarily storing inquired image data. The transmission of data from each workstation can be performed using a prefetching algorithm for fetching data suitable for the characteristics of each department in advance from a storage system. Compared to the centralized system, this structure can be constructed even using a low speed network having a relatively low data rate (10 Mbps). However, if data requested through inquiry does not exist in a local workstation, a lot of time may be required for data transmission.

[25] In the actual architecture of PACS, it is preferable to use a combined architecture using the advantages of the two-type systems. Currently, with the rapid development of network-related technology, even a personal terminal inexpensively supports 100 Mbps Ethernet or a 155 Mbps Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). However, the design of an architecture precisely reflecting the characteristics and requests of departments is the most important factor in PACS.

[26] In a modern hospital, medical imaging equipment for medical diagnosis has been variously developed and used depending on the purpose thereof. First, there is typical X-ray equipment, which is most generally used and is essentially required for all medical examinations. Typical X-ray equipment is used to allow X-rays, penetrating through the human body, to sensitize a film, and diagnose various internal states of the human body depending on the degree of sensitization. Such equipment limitedly observes detailed variation in the interior of a body using an X-ray image. Further, there is cerebral angiography of mainly radiographing blood vessels within a body using the same principle as the X-ray equipment, or fluoroscopy used to examine a stomach through a fluoroscope. The images captured by such X-ray equipment are stored in X-ray films as analog information.

[27] Next, there is tomography of exhibiting an effect of examining the actual inside of a body, not a projected image. Equipment for tomography is classified into several types of imaging equipment depending on means used for tomography. First, there is Computed Tomography (CT) equipment which was first developed and used. The CT equipment is a device for generating X-rays from various directions of a human body, receiving the X-rays penetrating through the human body, rearranging the X-rays using a computer, and obtaining a tomogram. Further, as equipment similar to the CT equipment, there is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment using a strong magnetic field, or nuclear medicine imaging instrumentation, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) equipment or Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) equipment for injecting radioactive isotopes into a body, sensing positrons or gamma rays emitted when the radioactive isotopes are broken down, and rearranging an image. The characteristics of such tomography are to convert obtained signals into digital signals and to rearrange the digital signals using a computer, thus acquiring a digital image. A conventional reading method is performed to convert such a digital image into an analog image again, record the analog image on an X-ray film, and allow a doctor to observe the X-ray film.

[28] Further, there is an ultrasonic projector implemented using PACS and generally used for the diagnosis of pregnant women, the liver, or the heart. Since this device enables the viewing of a real-time image, internal movement in a body, in particular, the heart, is examined, thus facilitating diagnosis.

[29] PACS, having been described, has been developed mainly to acquire medical images for diagnosis. Most of the medical images are grayscale images, and some tomograms of PET and ultrasonic images are color images using pseudo color.

[30] As other medical images, there are endoscope images and microscope images, which must maintain exact color information, and additionally require high resolution. For such images, color PACS has been researched.

[31] Most PACSs have two stages of storage systems, that is, on-line storage used for the transmission of data at relatively high speed, and archive storage having large capacity and relatively low transmission speed.

[32] First, it is difficult to precisely predict image data, which is stored online in the online storage. Periods during which data must be stored online differ according to the characteristics of tasks of respective departments. However, most systems have a tendency of gradually increasing the capacity of storage on the basis of hot time. The on-line storage is much superior to the archive storage in price versus capacity, so that a minimum capacity must be calculated within a range having no influence on a system. The efficiency of the PACS system is greatly influenced by the method of calculating the capacity of both a storage system and a network when large-size image data is handled. Further, the size or frequency of images generated by medical imaging equipment, the frequency of requests of images from a viewing station, etc. directly influence the efficiency of the entire PACS system.

[33] The on-line storage must retain data without causing data loss when errors occur.

Storage satisfying such a requirement is a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID). RAID3 is suitable for the storage of large size image data, and RAID5 is suitable for the storage of small size image data, such as items stored in a database.

[34] The storage capacity of the archive storage is determined by an on-line storage period for medical images. Statistically, it is considered that 10 percent of images or less are accessed again after the first year. Therefore, the archive storage must be designed to store images collected for at least two years. Images more than two years old must be accessed by the user through a manual operation. Past images exceeding a certain age in the on-line storage must be automatically stored in the archive storage. The images stored in the archive storage must be rapidly inquired by a prefetching algorithm.

[35] The most universal archive storage media are optical disk drives. As other media, there are optical tapes or magnetic tapes. However, an inexpensive hard disc has recently been used due to the problems generated when images are reconstructed.

[36] As shown in FIG. 1, the remote diagnosis apparatus 104 includes a communication means 114, a remote diagnosis processing unit 116, and a storage means 118. In this embodiment, the case where the remote diagnosis apparatus 104 is installed outside a hospital, for example, installed in a public health center, is shown, but the remote diagnosis apparatus 104 may be installed in the hospital.

[37] The communication means 114 is a communication interface, such as a cable modem, which transmits or receives data using TCP/IP, and implements Internet communication with the PACS server 102 in the hospital, the user terminal 106 and the remote diagnostician terminals 108a and 108b. In this embodiment, the communication means 114 preferably supports all of a static Internet Protocol (IP), a dynamic IP, and a virtual IP.

[38] The storage means 118 stores medical image data 122 generated in DICOM format for each user, and also stores user information 124, including user identification information, and remote diagnostician information 126.

[39] The remote diagnosis processing unit 116 performs Web-based remote diagnosis using the storage means 118 and the communication means 114. A detailed processing method using the remote diagnosis processing unit 116 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. [40] FlG. 2 is an entire flowchart of a remote diagnosis method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FlG. 2, a DICOM format medical image is acquired from a region of a patient's body using medical imaging equipment in a hospital, such as X-ray equipment 112a, CT equipment 112b or MRI equipment 112c, at step S202. The acquired image is stored in the storage means 118 in the remote diagnosis apparatus 104 at step S204.

[41] DICOM is a standard of medical imaging fields, which is a standard of a communication method, as well as a standard of an image storage method. DICOM forms a basic unit as a pair of a piece of image information and a command (for example, 'go'). DICOM defines image information as an 'information object', and defines a command as a 'service class'. Using a more esoteric word, an information object is designated as Information Object Definition (IOD), and a service class is designated as DICOM Message Service Element (DIMSE).

[42] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing IOD based on DICOM format and information object instances. IOD includes text data, such as the name of a patient, an examination type, an examination date, or information indicating whether contrast media have been used, and actual image data. IOD has a format similar to that of a personal history capable of inputting data. That is, it means that only data items are arranged, and spaces in which actual data is to be entered are left empty. If actual data is input to a corresponding item, the input actual data is called an 'information object instance'. Part of IOD other than actual image data is called a 'DICOM header'. The results of the diagnosis by a remote diagnostician are inserted into the DICOM header.

[43] DIMSE denotes commands. There are many operations that can be performed using an information object instance 'CT DICOM data of Hong Gildong'. That is, operations, such as transmission, duplication or printing, can be performed. This each operation corresponds to DIMSE. Several examples of service classes defined by DICOM are described as follows.

[44] ■ c-store (store)

[46] ■ c-get (get)

[47] ■ c-move (transmit)

[48] Next, user identification information is received from the user terminal 106, and the user information DB in the storage means 118 is searched, so that whether a corresponding user is an authenticated user is determined at step S206. In relation to user authentication, since an existing commercialized module can be used, a detailed description thereof is omitted here. As a result of the authentication, if it is determined that the user is an authenticated user, the user selects a desired medical image and a desired remote diagnostician, thus requesting remote diagnosis at step S208. In this case, the user is not limited to a patient, and can include the family of the patient and a doctor for medically treating the patient. That is, the doctor can access the remote diagnosis apparatus 104 and legally utilize medical treatment information about a patient being medically treated by the doctor.

[49] FlG. 4 is a detailed flowchart showing the step S208 of the user requesting remote diagnosis in FlG. 2. If it is determined that the user is an authenticated user at step S206, the medical image database 122 is searched for medical image data accessible by the user, and found medical image data is displayed on the user terminal 106 at step S402. In this case, the user can easily select medical image data, for which remote diagnosis is requested, at step S404. Further, the user directly enters a file name of medical image data, and is then capable of selecting medical image data for which remote diagnosis is requested.

[50] If a medical image for which remote diagnosis is requested is selected by the user, the remote diagnostician database 126 is searched for a remote diagnostician depending on the type of medical imaging equipment recorded in a DICOM header of the selected medical image data, and then a found remote diagnostician is displayed on the user terminal 106 at step S406. The user can easily select a desired remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, using display results at step S408. This embodiment shows the case where remote diagnosticians are differently set depending on the type of medical image. However, regardless of the selection of medical images by the user, information about a remote diagnostician can be simultaneously displayed on the user terminal 106 together with information about medical image data.

[51] Finally, after the user has selected a desired medical image, for which remote diagnosis is requested, and a desired remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, the user inputs payment information to pay for remote diagnosis at step S410. User payment can be conducted using commercialized methods, such as money transfer to a bank, credit card payment, or payment using a mobile phone.

[52] The remote diagnosis apparatus 104 determines whether input user payment information is correct, and transmits the selected medical image data to the terminal of the selected remote diagnostician if the input user payment information is correct, thus requesting remote diagnosis from the selected remote diagnostician at step S210. The medical image data is generated and transmitted in a DICOM format.

[53] The remote diagnostician performs remote diagnosis using the transmitted medical image data, inputs diagnosis results to the terminal (for example, 108a), and transmits the diagnosis results to the remote diagnosis apparatus 104. The remote diagnosis apparatus 104 stores the received diagnosis results in the medical image database 122 i n the storage device, and transmits the diagnosis results to the user terminal 106 at step S212. The diagnosis results are also generated and transmitted in a DICOM format. [54] Next, payment for remote diagnosis is performed at step S214. FlG. 5 is a detailed flowchart showing the step S214 of performing payment in FlG. 2. First, at step S502, the fee for the remote diagnosis is received from the user using the user payment information that has been previously input at step S410. If the remote diagnosis requested by the user cannot be performed, guidance can be provided in such a way that such a situation is reported to the user, the fee is not charged, and the process is terminated, or a new request is received. Further, an insurance bill for the remote diagnosis is sent to an insurance institution at step S504. Next, the fee is paid to the remote diagnostician who performed the remote diagnosis at step S506. In order to smoothly pay the fee to the remote diagnostician, the remote diagnostician database 126 preferably stores payment information about the remote diagnostician in advance. If the payment information about the remote diagnostician is not stored in the remote diagnostician database 126, payment information can be provided together with diagnosis results when the remote diagnosis is performed by the remote diagnostician, and diagnosis results are transmitted from the remote diagnostician terminal (for example, 108a). In this embodiment, payment is sequentially performed in the sequence of the user, the insurance institution, and the remote diagnostician. However, payment can be performed in another sequence, or simultaneously.

[55] A network configuration of a remote diagnosis apparatus illustrated in FlG. 1 may be composed of a grid computing environment.

[56] In the grid computing environment, distributed resources may be accessed by sharing files, computing resources, data, and software among several virtual organizations. Here, the virtual organization refers to an aggregate comprising a plurality of physical computing devices.

[57] For example, several remote diagnosis apparatuses 104 constitutes a single grid computing network, and then the composed GRID computing network can be connected to the network 110 such as the Internet via a gateway. Accordingly, data such as medical treatment information and diagnosis results of a patient may be dis- tributely stored in several remote diagnosis apparatuses, thereby efficiently processing and managing the related data by composing virtual organizations depending on characteristics of diagnosis.

[58] When the DICOM is performed between remote diagnosis apparatuses, the related data can be managed by using the distributed storage even when a data capacity based on the DICOM standard is significantly large. Further, the distributed computing resources can be used even when a large amount of data based on the DICOM standard is processed.

[59] When a user searches for desired data by using location information or contents of the data based on the DICOM standard after connecting to the GRID computing network, each remote diagnosis apparatus, composing the GRID computing network, can store or transmit the desired data via other communication protocols, instead of communication methods based on DICOM format, e.g., FTP communication.

[60] The GRID computing network can also be composed of the user terminal 106 or remote diagnostician terminals 108a and 108b as well as the remote diagnosis apparatus 104. In this case, the user terminal 106 or remote diagnostician terminals 108a and 108b operate with the software platform operable in the GRID computing environment.

Industrial Applicability

[61] As described above, the present invention provides a remote diagnosis method and apparatus, which can provide reliable radiological diagnosis results even in locations such as a public health center or a remote island in which there is no specialist in radiological diagnosis, and which can facilitate cooperate treatment, thus improving the precision of diagnosis results. Further, as medical treatment information can be systematically managed, efficient medical treatment can be conducted using past medical treatment information, and repeated redundant examinations, such as CT or MRI, can be prevented. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that it can contribute to the establishment of a medical transfer system.

[62] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. The scope of the present invention is defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] A Web-based remote diagnosis method, comprising the steps of: receiving user identification information from a user terminal; receiving information required to select medical image data, which is a target for remote diagnosis, and a remote diagnostician from the user terminal; transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician; and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[2] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 1, wherein the medical image data is generated and transmitted in a Digital Image and Communication in

Medicine (DICOM) format.

[3] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 2, wherein the diagnosis results made by the remote diagnostician are inserted into a DICOM header of the selected medical image data.

[4] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of searching storage means for information about medical image data accessible by a user corresponding to the user identification information, and displaying the information about the medical image data on the user terminal .

[5] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving the medical image data from the user and storing the medical image data in the storage means.

[6] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying information about one or more remote diagnosticians, found in the storage means depending on the selected medical image data, on the user terminal.

[7] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving user payment information for the remote diagnosis from the user terminal.

[8] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of paying the remote diagnostician for the remote diagnosis .

[9] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an insurance bill for the remote diagnosis to a corresponding medical insurance institution.

[10] A Web-based remote diagnosis method, comprising the steps of: receiving medical image data, generated in a Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format, and storing the medical image data in storage means; receiving user identification information from a user terminal and determining whether a user is an authenticated user; searching the storage means for information about medical image data accessible by a user and displaying the information about medical image data on the user terminal if it is determined that the user is an authenticated user; receiving information, required to select medical image data, for which remote diagnosis is requested, and a remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, from the user terminal; transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician; and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, storing the diagnosis results in the storage means, and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[11] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, wherein the diagnosis results made by the remote diagnostician are inserted into a DICOM header of the selected medical image data.

[12] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying information about one or more remote diagnosticians, found in the storage means depending on the selected medical image data, on the user terminal.

[13] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of receiving user payment information for the remote diagnosis from the user terminal.

[14] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of paying the remote diagnostician for the remote diagnosis .

[15] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of sending an insurance bill for the remote diagnosis to a corresponding medical insurance institution.

[16] A recording medium storing a computer program for implementing a Web-based remote diagnosis method, wherein: the computer program implements the steps of: receiving user identification information from a user terminal; receiving information required to select medical image data, which is a target for remote diagnosis, and a remote diagnostician from the user terminal; transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician; and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[17] A recording medium storing a computer program for implementing a Web-based remote diagnosis method, wherein: the computer program implements the steps of: receiving medical image data, generated in a Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format, and storing the medical image data in storage means; receiving user identification information from a user terminal and determining whether a user is an authenticated user; searching the storage means for information about medical image data accessible by a user and displaying the information about medical image data on the user terminal if it is determined that the user is an authenticated user; receiving information, required to select medical image data, for which remote diagnosis is requested, and a remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, from the user terminal; transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician; and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, storing the diagnosis results in the storage means, and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[18] A Web-based remote diagnosis apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing medical image data generated in a Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format for each user, and storing user identification information and information about a remote diagnostician; means for implementing Internet communication with a user terminal and a terminal of the remote diagnostician; and a remote diagnosis processing unit for performing a Web-based remote diagnosis using the storage means and the communication means, wherein the remote diagnosis processing unit implements the steps of: receiving user identification information from the user terminal, searching the storage means and determining whether a user is an authenticated user; searching the storage means for information about medical image data accessible by the user and information about a remote diagnostician and displaying the information about medical image data and information about the remote diagnostician on the user terminal if it is determined that the user is an authenticated user; receiving information, required to select medical image data, for which remote diagnosis is requested, and a remote diagnostician whose remote diagnosis is requested, from the user terminal; transmitting the selected medical image data to a terminal of the selected remote diagnostician; and receiving results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, storing the diagnosis results in the storage means, and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal.

[19] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the selected medical image data and receiving the results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal is performed via the GRID computing network.

[20] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 19, wherein the selected medical image data is transmitted by the FTP communication.

[21] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving medical image data, generated in a Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format, and storing the medical image data in storage means is performed on the GRID computing environment.

[22] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving the results of diagnosis using the selected medical image data from the terminal of the remote diagnostician, storing the diagnosis results in the storage means, and transmitting the diagnosis results to the user terminal is performed on the GRID computing network.

[23] The remote diagnosis method according to claim 10, wherein the step of searching the storage means for information about the medical image data and displaying the information about the medical image data on the user terminal is performed by the FTP communication.