Emergency vehicle with medical image scanner and teleradiology system
First Claim
1. A method for rapidly evaluating patient treatment options, comprising:
- (A) deploying a medical image scanner in an emergency vehicle;
(B) obtaining medical image data from a patient while the vehicle is en route to a treatment facility;
(C) transmitting the medical image data to a receiver at a location which is remote from the vehicle;
(D) receiving the medical image data at the receiver; and
(E) evaluating the received medical image data to evaluate patient treatment options in advance of the patient reaching the treatment facility.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile medical image scanner and teleradiology system are incorporated into an ambulance or other vehicle to permit a patient to be diagnosed while en route to a treatment facility such as a trauma center. The system obtains medical image data while the patient is being transported in the vehicle and transmits the medical image data to a receiver at a location which is remote from the vehicle. At the remote location, the transmitted medical image data is displayed in a humanly discernable manner and interpreted by a qualified physician, who then communicates diagnostic information to the technicians in the vehicle and/or to the treating physicians at the treatment facility. By providing diagnostic information back to the treating physicians prior to the patient'"'"'s arrival at the treatment facility, the patient can be routed directly to the operating room, or the intensive care unit as necessary, thereby saving valuable time. The patient can even receive some care in the vehicle based on the diagnoses before he or she reaches the treatment facility. Patient survival rates are substantially improved due to the reduction in the diagnostic time required after the patient arrives at the trauma center.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for rapidly evaluating patient treatment options, comprising:
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(A) deploying a medical image scanner in an emergency vehicle;
(B) obtaining medical image data from a patient while the vehicle is en route to a treatment facility;
(C) transmitting the medical image data to a receiver at a location which is remote from the vehicle;
(D) receiving the medical image data at the receiver; and
(E) evaluating the received medical image data to evaluate patient treatment options in advance of the patient reaching the treatment facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An emergency vehicle comprising:
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(A) a mobile chassis;
(B) an enclosure which is disposed on the chassis and which forms a treatment/scanning bay;
(C) emergency and/or trauma equipment which is located in the treatment/scanning bay;
(D) a medical image scanner which is located in the treatment/scanning bay, the medical image scanner being mounted on the mobile chassis in a sufficiently hardened and shock isolated manner to permit medical image scans to be performed while the emergency vehicle is traveling; and
(E) a teleradiology system which is located in the treatment/scanning bay and which includes (1) a computer which receives medical image data from the medical image scanner, and (2) a transmitter which is coupled to the computer and which is configured to transmit medical image data to a remote receiver while the vehicle is traveling. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. In combination:
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(A) an emergency vehicle including (1) a mobile chassis;
(2) an enclosure which is disposed on the mobile chassis and which forms a treatment/scanning bay;
(3) a medical image scanner which is located in the treatment/scanning bay, the medical image scanner being mounted on the mobile chassis in a sufficiently hardened and shock isolated manner to permit medical image scans to be performed while the vehicle is traveling, and (4) a teleradiology system which is located in the treatment/scanning bay and which includes (a) a computer which receives medical image data from the medical image scanner, and (b) a transmitter which is coupled to the computer and which is configured to transmit medical image image data while the vehicle is traveling;
(B) a receiver located remotely from the emergency vehicle and configured to receive the transmitted medical image data; and
(C) a workstation located remotely from the emergency vehicle and coupled to the receiver, and which is configured to generate and display humanly discernable medical images of the transmitted medical image data.
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Specification