Medical software providing method, method for transacting option part for medical image diagnostic device, medical software providing system, and system for transacting option part for medical image diagnostic device

• US 20020091547A1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC A Delaware Limited Liability Company
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC A Delaware Limited Liability Company
• Inventors: Ohe, Yasuhiro, Miyoshi, Mitsuharu, Kosugi, Susumu
• Application Number:
  US09/950,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

Medical software is easily evaluated, used and updated on a medical image diagnostic device. To simply evaluate or purchase an option part, an MRI device registering medical software with use limitation is connected by a network to a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of the medical software. When the “use” request button or the “purchase” request button of the medical software is clicked on a customer Web Page screen, the MRI device sends the use request or the purchase request through the network to the vendor management server device. Upon reception of the use request or the purchase request, the vendor management server device sends an option key for making the medical software available through the network to the MRI device.

Claims

1. A medical software providing method comprising the steps of:

connecting, by a network, a medical image diagnostic device to a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of medical software;

registering medical software with use limitation in the medical image diagnostic device;

upon request to use the medical software by the medical image diagnostic device, sending the use request through the network to the vendor management server device; and

when the vendor management server device receives the use request, sending an option key for making the medical software available to the medical image diagnostic device.

4. The medical software providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vendor management server device charges a customer or a payment organization thereof corresponding to the medical image diagnostic device for a use or update fee of the medical software, and sends the option key or the updating data to the medical image diagnostic device only when the charging is successful.

5. The medical software providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vendor management server device sends the medical software through the network to the medical image diagnostic device, and registers the medical software in the medical image diagnostic device.

8. The medical software providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the medical image diagnostic device is at least one of an MRI device, an X-ray CT device, an ultrasound diagnostic device, a PET device, and a digitized X-ray and CR device.

2. A medical software providing method comprising the steps of:

connecting, by a network, a medical image diagnostic device to a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of medical software;

registering medical software with use limitation in the medical image diagnostic device;

upon request to use the medical software on a customer Web Page displayed on the medical image diagnostic device, sending the use request through the network to the vendor management server device; and

when the vendor management server device receives the use request, sending an option key for making the medical software available to the medical image diagnostic device.

6. The medical software providing method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the vendor management server device sends the customer Web Page through the network to the medical image diagnostic device, and registers the customer Web Page to the medical image diagnostic device.

7. The medical software providing method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the medical image diagnostic device reads and displays through the network the customer Web Page intensively managed by the vendor management server device.

3. A medical software providing method comprising the steps of:

connecting, by a network, a medical image diagnostic device to a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of medical software;

registering medical software in the medical image diagnostic device;

upon request to update the medical software on a customer Web Page displayed on the medical image diagnostic device, sending the update request through the network to the vendor management server device; and

when the vendor management server device receives the update request, sending updating data of the medical software to the medical image diagnostic device.

9. A method for transacting an option part for a medical image diagnostic device comprising the steps of:

connecting, by a network, a medical image diagnostic device to a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of an option part for use in the medical image diagnostic device;

upon request to lend or purchase the option part on a customer Web Page displayed on the medical image diagnostic device, sending a transaction request through the network to the vendor management server device; and

responding to the lending or the purchase by the vendor when the vendor management server device receives the transaction request.

10. A medical software providing system comprising:

a medical image diagnostic device registering medical software with use limitation;

a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of the medical software; and

a network connecting the medical image diagnostic device to the vendor management server device, wherein

upon request to use the medical software, the medical image diagnostic device sends the use request through the network to the vendor management server device, and wherein

upon reception of the use request, the vendor management server device sends an option key for making the medical software available to the medical image diagnostic device.

13. The medical software providing system according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the vendor management server device charges a customer or a payment organization thereof corresponding to the medical image diagnostic device for a use or update fee of the medical software, and sends the option key or the updating data to the medical image diagnostic device only when the charging is successful.

14. The medical software providing system according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the vendor management server device sends the medical software through the network to the medical image diagnostic device, and registers the medical software in the medical image diagnostic device.

11. A medical software providing system comprising:

a medical image diagnostic device registering medical software with use limitation;

a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of the medical software; and

a network connecting the medical image diagnostic device to the vendor management server device, wherein

upon request to use the medical software on a customer Web Page, the medical image diagnostic device sends the use request through the network to the vendor management server device, and wherein

upon reception of the use request, the vendor management server device sends an option key for making the medical software available to the medical image diagnostic device.

15. The medical software providing system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the vendor management server device sends the customer Web Page through the network to the medical image diagnostic device, and registers the customer Web Page to the medical image diagnostic device.

16. The medical software providing system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the medical image diagnostic device reads and displays through the network the customer Web Page intensively managed by the vendor management server device.

17. The medical software providing system according to claim 11 to 12, wherein the medical image diagnostic device is at least one of an MRI device, an X-ray CT device, an ultrasound diagnostic device, a PET device, and a digitized X-ray and CR device.

12. A medical software providing system comprising:

a medical image diagnostic device registering medical software;

a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of the medical software; and

a network connecting the medical image diagnostic device to the vendor management server device, wherein

upon request to update the medical software on a customer Web Page, the medical image diagnostic device sends the update request through the network to the vendor management server device, and wherein

upon reception of the update request, the vendor management server device sends updating data of the medical software to the medical image diagnostic device.

18. A system for transacting an option part for a medical image diagnostic device comprising:

a medical image diagnostic device;

a vendor management server device managed by a vendor as a provider of an option part for use in the medical image diagnostic device; and

a network connecting the medical image diagnostic device to the vendor management server device, wherein

upon request to lend or purchase the option part on a customer Web Page, the medical image diagnostic device sends a transaction request through the network to the vendor management server device, and wherein

upon reception of the transaction request, the vendor management server device sends a transaction establishment notice through the network to the medical image diagnostic device.