Distributed diagnostic imaging systems
First Claim
1. A diagnostic imaging system comprising:
- a plurality of scanning apparatuses which each generate data sets representative of an examination of a subject disposed in an imaging region of the apparatus;
at least one communal processing center remote from the scanning apparatuses that processes the data sets into image representations of the subject;
an information transfer pathway which transports the data sets from the scanning apparatuses to the communal processing center and transports the image representations from the communal processing unit to a display console.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of diagnostic scanners (S1, S2, . . . , Sn) share access to a remote, communal processing center (CP) that performs reconstruction and post reconstruction processing for various modalities. Each of the diagnostic scanners submits a data set to the remote center electronically over the lines (T). An scheduling computer (22) assigns a priority to each of the received data sets and controls a plurality of parallel processors (261, 262, . . . , 26n) accordingly. The reconstructed image representations are sent electronically back to the address that sent them, or another designated location, for display on a monitor (281, 282, . . . , 28n, 28cf, 28r). Upgrades loaded into the remote center are immediately available for all users. Software modifications, hardware adjustments, training services, operations monitoring, and scanner operating services of individual scanners are provided from the remote center.
54 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A diagnostic imaging system comprising:
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a plurality of scanning apparatuses which each generate data sets representative of an examination of a subject disposed in an imaging region of the apparatus;
at least one communal processing center remote from the scanning apparatuses that processes the data sets into image representations of the subject;
an information transfer pathway which transports the data sets from the scanning apparatuses to the communal processing center and transports the image representations from the communal processing unit to a display console. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An image reconstruction system comprising:
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a gantry for examining a subject and generating a data set corresponding thereto;
a computer means for controlling the gantry to implement a selected protocol for examining the subject and for reconstructing the data sets into an image representation using at least first selected reconstruction algorithms;
a communication means for transmitting the data sets to a remote processing location for reconstruction into an image representation using at least second reconstruction algorithms and for receiving the reconstructed image representations therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of diagnostic imaging comprising:
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generating a data set representative of an interior of a subject which is examined with a diagnostic scanning apparatus;
electronically communicating at least a portion of the data set to a remote reconstruction center;
at the remote center, identifying a type of data set and the reconstruction to be performed;
at the remote center, reconstructing the data set;
electronically communicating the reconstructed data set to a remote display console that is remote from the reconstruction center;
at the remote display console, displaying at least the reconstructed data set in a human readable format. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification