Operating guidance system for medical equipment

• US 20020112733A1
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Jun, Miyauchi, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,834,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/408
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/581 Remote testing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A remote maintenance and operating guidance system in which data relating to the operation of a medical system in a hospital is transmitted to an operator who operates an operating device of the medical system from a service center by way of a communication device such as a dedicated telephone line. The system is equipped to monitor operations performed by the operator on the medical system, and to transmit data relating to the monitored operation to the operating device. Accordingly, it is possible to transmit details of the method of operation of the medical equipment more accurately and effectively to the operator from a location remote from the medical equipment

Claims

1. A medical system located in a medical facility and connected via a communication network to a server system in a service center located at a distance from the medical facility, comprising:

a disk unit which stores a plurality of ways an operator can be guided in an operation of the medical system;

a console with which the operator selects at least one of the ways; and

a communications device which interchanges data with the service center according to the selected way.

2. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to send data displayed on a monitor of the medical system to the service center and to receive voice information from the service center.

3. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to send data displayed on a monitor of the medical system to the service center and to receive a voice information data of a demonstrated operation from the service center.

4. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to send data displayed on a monitor of the medical system to the service center and to receive data of filming conditions from the service center.

5. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to send to the service center data which commands a storing unit in the service center to store voice information and data of a demonstrated operation.

6. The medical system according to claim 5, wherein the communications device is configured to receive voice information and data of the demonstrated operation stored in the storing unit in the service center.

7. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to receive voice information and data of a demonstrated operation stored in a storing unit in the service center.

8. A medical system located in medical facility and connected via a communication network to a server system in a service center located at a distance from the medical facility, comprising:

a disk unit configured to store a plurality of ways an operator can be guided in an operation of the medical system;

a selection unit configured to select automatically at least one of the ways based on a parameter for selection stored in the disk unit;

a monitor control unit configured to display the selected way on a monitor of the medical system;

a console with which the operator selects at least one of the ways displayed on the monitor; and

a communications device which interchanges data with the service center according to the selected way.

9. The medical system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for selection is rewritable from the service center.

10. The medical system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for selection is related to an elapsed time of the medical system.

11. The medical system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for selection is related to the frequency of filming with the medical system.

12. The medical system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a model number of the medical system.

13. The medical system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for selection is related to an operator who operates the medical system.

14. The medical system according to claim 13, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a division to which the operator belongs.

15. The medical system according to claim 13, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a working term of the operator.

16. The medical system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a sort of disease of a patient filmed with the medical system.

19. The operating guidance system for a medical system according to claim 18, further comprising a remote maintenance system.

17. A server system located in an service center and connected via a communications network to a medical system in a medical facility located at a distance from the service center, comprising:

a storing unit configured to store a plurality of ways an operator can be guided in an operation of the medical system;

a data receiving device configured to receive data according to the way from the medical system;

a determination unit configured to determine the way the operator is to be guided on the basis of the received data; and

a sending device which sends a data according to the determined way.

18. An operating guidance system for a medical system having a medical system in a medical facility and a server system in a service center located at a distance from the medical facilities and connected to the medical system via communications network, comprising:

a disk unit configured to store a plurality of ways an operator can be guided in an operation of the medical system;

a console with which the operator selects at least one of the ways; and

a communications device configured to interchange data between the medical system and the server system according to the selected way.