Abstract: Image data is stored in any MO medium, and association information for associating image information in an MO medium with identification information for specifying the MO medium is managed by the respective image management tables of a plurality of image file apparatus. Each of the image file apparatus presents the identification information of an MO medium storing desired image data therein and thus makes a request for mounting the desired MO medium, thereby to obtain the desired image data. It is accordingly permitted to share image data among the plurality of image file apparatus.

Abstract: This invention provides an endoscope image data filing system comprising: a plurality of endoscope devices and a plurality of ultrasonic endoscope devices; an image data recording device which records a plurality of image information after reversibly and irreversibly compressing image signals received from the plurality of the endoscope devices and from the plurality of the ultrasonic endoscope devices; an image reproducing device (A) and an image reproducing device (B) for reproducing the image information recorded in the image data recording device; a large capacity data recording device which as required reads and writes the compressed image information recorded in the image data recording device; and a data communication device for performing communication between the image data recording device and an external host computer via a data input/output terminal device.