Method and system for remote image reconstitution and processing and imaging data collectors communicating with the system

• US 20040030585A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GEUS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GEUS Incorporated
• Inventors: Sariel, Aviram
• Application Number:
  US10/399,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for remotely producing a diagnostic image is disclosed. The system includes (a) a server designed and constructed for receiving, via a first communications network, at least one signal acquired by a remote imaging data collector; and (c) an image processor for processing the at least one signal into image data being communicable via a second communications network and presentable via an image presentation device.

Claims

1. A system for remotely producing a diagnostic image, the system comprising:

(a) a server designed and constructed for receiving, via a first communications network, at least one signal acquired by a remote imaging data collector; and

(c) an image processor for processing said at least one signal into image data being communicable via a second communications network and presentable via an image presentation device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically communicating said image data back to a default electronic address.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said default electronic address is received by said server, via said first communications network, along with said at least one signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first communications network and said second communications network are a single communications network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging data collector is selected from the group consisting of a digital X-ray data collector, an ultrasound data collector, a magnetic resonance modality data collector, a computerized tomography data collector, a positron emission tomography data collector and a nuclear medicine data collector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one signal is selected from the group consisting of a raw digital signal, a raw analog signal, and a raw analog signal converted into a digital signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one signal is encapsulated, including the packetisation of each of said at least one signal so as to be self descriptive.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said image data is encapsulated, including the packetisation of said image data so as to be self descriptive.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said image data is represented as a file containing pixel data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said image data is represented as a video output signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said image data is represented as a streaming output signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said image data represents a two dimensional image.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said image data represents a three dimensional image.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data storage device for allowing storage and later retrieval of said image data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically analyzing said image data.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically interpreting said image data.

17. A method for remotely producing a diagnostic image, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) at a source location, using an imaging data collector for acquiring at least one signal;

(b) communicating said at least one signal via a first communications network to a remote location;

(c) at said remote location, processing said at least one signal into image data; and

(d) communicating said image data via a second communications network to said source location or to a third location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first communications network and said second communications network are a single communications network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said imaging data collector is selected from the group consisting of a digital X-ray data collector, an ultrasound data collector, a magnetic resonance modality data collector, a computerized tomography data collector, a positron emission tomography data collector and a nuclear medicine data collector.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one signal is selected from the group consisting of a raw digital signal, a raw analog signal, and a raw analog signal converted into a digital signal.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

(a) encapsulating said at least one signal; and

(b) packeting of said at least one signal so as to be self descriptive.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

(a) encapsulating said image data; and

(b) packeting said image data so as to be self descriptive.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of representing said image data as a file containing pixel data.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of representing said image data as a video output signal.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of representing said image data as a streaming output signal.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein said image data represents a two dimensional image.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein said image data represents a three dimensional image.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of storing said image data for later retrieval.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of automatically analyzing said image data.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of automatically interpreting said image data.

31. A medical diagnostic device comprising an imaging data collector and lacking image producing capability.

32. The device of claim 31, further comprising a communication port, the device being designed and constructed for communicating raw data collected thereby to a remote location.

33. A medical diagnostic device consisting essentially of at least one sensor for collecting raw data being processable into an image, and a communication port for communicating said raw data to a remote location.

34. A system for providing image reconstitution services, the system comprising:

(a) a server designed and constructed for receiving, via a first communications network, at least one signal acquired by a remote imaging data collector; and

(b) an image processor for processing said at least one signal into image data being communicable via a second communications network and presentable via an image presentation device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said first communications network and said second communications network are a single communications network.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein said server being further designed and constructed for billing a client.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for effecting secure credit/debit transactions.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein said imaging data collector is selected from the group consisting of a digital X-ray data collector, an ultrasound data collector, a magnetic resonance data collector, a computerized tomography data collector, a positron emission tomography data collector and a nuclear medicine data collector.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein said at least one signal is selected from the group consisting of a raw digital signal, a raw analog signal, and a raw analog signal converted into a digital signal.

40. The-system of claim 34, wherein said at least one signal is encapsulated, including the packetisation of said at least one signal so as to be self descriptive.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data is encapsulated, including the packetisation of said image data so as to be self descriptive.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data is represented as a file containing pixel data.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data is represented as a video output signal.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data is represented as a streaming output signal.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data represents a two dimensional image.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data represents a three dimensional image.

47. The system of claim 34, further comprising a data storage device for effecting storage of said image data and retrieval of said image data.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically communicating said image data back to a default electronic address.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said default electronic address is received by said server, via said first communications network, along with said at least one signal.

50. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data is sent, via said second communications network, to an electronic address of a healthcare practitioner, said practitioner being skilled at analyzing and interpreting said image data.

51. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data is sent, via said second communications network, to an electronic address of a patient.

52. The system of claim 34, wherein said image data is sent, via said second communications network, to any electronic address desirable and authorized by any one of a group comprising the patient, a Health Management Organization, a healthcare facility, an insurance company and any combination thereof.

53. The system of claim 34, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically analyzing said image data.

54. The system of claim 34, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically interpretation of said image data.

55. The system of claim 43, wherein said image data is retrieved from said data storage device and sent, via said communications network, to an electronic address of a healthcare practitioner, said practitioner being skilled at analyzing and interpreting said image data.

56. The system of claim 43, wherein said image data is retrieved from said data storage device and sent, via said communications network, to an electronic address of a patient.

57. The system of claim 47, wherein said image data is retrieved from said a data storage device and sent, via said communications network, to any electronic address desirable and authorized by any one of a group comprising the patient, a Health Management Organization, a healthcare facility, an insurance company and any combination thereof.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically analyzing said retrieved image data.

59. The system of claim 47, wherein said server is further designed and constructed for automatically interpreting said retrieved image data.

60. A method for providing image reconstitution services, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving at least one signal acquired by a remote imaging collector via a first communications network; and

(b) processing said at least one signal into image data, said image data being presentable via an image presentation device; and

(c) communicating said image data via a second communications network.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said first communications network and said second communications network are a single communications network.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of:

automatically communicating said image data back to a default electronic address.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein said default electronic address is received, via said first communications network, along with said at least one signal.

64. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of:

automatically billing the client.

65. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of:

automatically effecting secure credit/debit transactions.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein said imaging data collector is selected from the group consisting of a digital X-ray data collector, an ultrasound data collector, a magnetic resonance modality data collector, a computerized tomography data collector, a positron emission tomography data collector and a nuclear medicine data collector.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein said at least one signal is selected from the group consisting of a raw digital signal, a raw analog signal, and a raw analog signal converted into a digital signal.

68. The method of claim 60, further comprising the steps of:

(a) encapsulating said at least one signal and said data; and

(b) packeting said at least one signal and said data so as to be self descriptive.

69. The method of claim 60, further comprising the steps of:

(a) encapsulating said image data; and

(b) packeting said image data so as to be self descriptive.

70. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of:

representing said image data as a file containing pixel data.

71. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of:

representing said image data as a video output signal.

72. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of:

representing said image data as a streaming output signal.

73. The method of claim 60, wherein said image data represents a two dimensional image.

74. The method of claim 60, wherein said image data represents a three dimensional image.

75. The method of claim 60, further comprising the steps of:

(a) storing said image data in a data storage device; and

(b) retrieving said image data from a data storage device.

76. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of sending said image data, via said second communications network, to an electronic address of a healthcare practitioner, said practitioner being skilled at analyzing and interpreting said image data.

77. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of sending said image data, via said second communications network, to an electronic address of a patient.

78. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of sending said image data, via said second communications network, to any electronic address desirable and authorized by any one of a group comprising the patient, a Health Management Organization, a healthcare facility, an insurance company and any combination thereof.

79. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of providing a service of automatically analyzing said image data.

80. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of providing a service of automatically interpreting said image data.

81. The method of claim 75, further comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving said image data from said data storage device; and

(b) sending said image data, via said communications network, to an electronic address of a healthcare practitioner, said practitioner being skilled at analyzing and interpreting said image data.

82. The method of claim 75, further comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving said image data from said a data storage device; and

(b) sending said image data, via said communications network, to an electronic address of a patient.

83. The method of claim 75, further comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving said image data from said a data storage device; and

(b) sending said image data, via said communications network, to any electronic address desirable and authorized by any one of a group comprising the patient, a Health Management Organization, a healthcare facility, an insurance company and any combination thereof.

84. The method of claim 75, further comprising the steps of:

automatically analyzing said retrieved image data.

85. The method of claim 75, further comprising the steps of:

automatically interpreting said retrieved image data.