Direct manual examination of remote patient with virtual examination functionality

• US 20040097836A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cel-Kom LLC
• Original Assignee: Cel-Kom LLC
• Inventors: Ombrellaro, Mark P.
• Application Number:
  US10/703,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20040097836A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

One embodiment of an imaging exam assembly (900) for palpating a body and obtaining images of the body is provided. The imaging exam assembly includes a housing (904) having a variable pressure-producing device (918) disposed at least partially within the housing, the variable pressure-producing device operable to generate a palpation pressure upon the body. The imaging exam assembly further includes an imaging device (936) disposed at least partially within the housing, the imaging device operable to obtain images of the body to determine an impact of the palpation pressure upon the body.

Claims

1. An imaging exam assembly for palpating a body and obtaining images of the body comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a variable pressure-producing device disposed at least partially within the housing, the variable pressure-producing device operable to generate a palpation pressure upon the body; and

(c) an imaging device disposed at least partially within the housing, the imaging device operable to obtain images of the body to determine an impact of the palpation pressure upon the body.

2. The imaging exam assembly of claim 1 further including a pressure transducer at least partially disposed within the housing, the pressure transducer adapted to generate a signal that is directly related to an interface pressure present between the variable pressure-producing device and the body.

3. The imaging exam assembly of claim 1, wherein the variable pressure-producing device further comprises an expansion chamber, wherein a pressurized fluid may be selectively directed into the expansion chamber to expand the expansion chamber to produce the palpation pressure upon the body.

4. The imaging exam assembly of claim 1, wherein the variable pressure producing device further comprises a linear actuator actuatable to produce the palpation pressure upon the body.

5. The imaging exam assembly of claim 1, wherein the variable pressure producing device further comprises a piston-type variable resistor to produce the palpation pressure upon the body.

6. The imaging exam assembly of claim 1 wherein the imaging device includes an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer adapted to transmit ultrasound waves into the body.

7. The imaging exam assembly of claim 6 further comprising a second ultrasonic transducer disposed at least partially in the housing, the second ultrasonic transducer adapted to detect ultrasound waves.

8. The imaging exam assembly of claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is also adapted to detect ultrasound waves reflected from the body.

9. The imaging exam assembly of claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is a linear array transducer.

10. The imaging exam assembly of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is operable to obtain internal images of the body.

11. The imaging exam assembly of claim 10, wherein the imaging device uses a form of radiation selected from the group consisting of magnetic radiation, electromechanical radiation, electromagnetic radiation, optical radiation, and nuclear radiation, to obtain the internal images of the body.

12. The imaging exam assembly of claim 1 further including an imaging display system coupled in signal communication with the imaging device, the imaging display system adapted to receive and display the images of the body obtained by the imaging device.

13. A patient examination-imaging module for palpating a body and obtaining images of the body comprising:

(a) a housing having a plurality of cells;

(b) a plurality of actuators disposed at least partially within the cells, the actuators each operable to generate a palpation pressure upon the body; and

(c) an imaging device coupled to the housing, the imaging device operable to obtain images of the body to determine an impact of the palpation pressures upon the body.

14. The patient examination-imaging module of claim 13, wherein the imaging device uses radiation selected from the group consisting of ultrasound radiation, magnetic radiation, electromechanical radiation, electromagnetic radiation, optical radiation, and nuclear radiation, to generate the images of the body.

15. The patient examination-imaging module of claim 13 further including a plurality of sensors disposed at least partially within the cells, the sensors each adapted to sense a resistance pressure exerted upon the sensor by the body.

16. The patient examination-imaging module of claim 13, wherein each of the actuators further comprises an expansion chamber, wherein a pressurized fluid may be selectively directed into the expansion chamber to expand the expansion chamber to produce the palpation pressure upon the body.

17. The patient examination-imaging module of claim 13, wherein the actuators each further comprise a linear actuator actuatable to produce the palpation pressures upon the body.

18. The patient examination-imaging module of claim 13, wherein the actuators each further comprise a piston-type variable resistor to produce the palpation pressures upon the body.

19. The patient examination-imaging module of claim 13, wherein the imaging device is an ultrasonic linear array transducer.

20. The patient examination-imaging module of claim 13 further including an imaging display system coupled in signal communication with the imaging device, the imaging display system adapted to receive and display the images of the body obtained by the imaging device.

21. An ultrasonic imaging system for transmitting ultrasound images over a computer network comprising:

(a) an ultrasound pulser disposed at a first location, the ultrasound pulser operable to transmit pulses over a computer network;

(b) an ultrasound image display system disposed at the first location, the ultrasound image display system operable to receive ultrasound images over the computer network and display the received ultrasound images; and

(c) an ultrasound transducer assembly disposed at a second location and operable to be coupled in signal communication with the ultrasound pulser and the ultrasound image display system over the computer network, the ultrasound transducer assembly adapted to emit and detect ultrasound waves in coordination with the pulses received from the ultrasound pulser.

22. The ultrasonic imaging system of claim 21 further including an actuator coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly at the second location, the actuator operable to generate a palpation pressure upon the body.

23. The ultrasonic imaging system of claim 21 further including a sensor coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly at the second location, the sensor adapted to generate a signal that is directly related to a resistance pressure exerted upon the sensor by the body.

24. The ultrasonic imaging system of claim 21 wherein the ultrasound transducer is adapted to generate the ultra sound images from the detected ultrasound waves, and wherein the ultrasound transducer is in signal communication with the ultrasound image display system over the computer network for transmitting the ultrasound images from the ultrasound transducer to the ultrasound image display system.

25. An imaging system for transmitting images over a computer network comprising:

(a) a pulser disposed at a first location, the pulser operable to transmit pulses over a computer network;

(b) an image display system disposed at the first location, the image display system operable to receive images over the computer network and display the received images; and

(c) a radiation transducer assembly disposed at a second location and operable to be coupled in signal communication with the pulser and the image display system over the computer network, the radiation transducer assembly adapted to emit and detect radiation waves in coordination with the pulses received from the pulser.

26. The imaging system of claim 25 further including an actuator coupled to the radiation transducer assembly at the second location, the actuator operable to generate a palpation pressure upon the body.

27. The imaging system of claim 25 further including a sensor coupled to the radiation transducer assembly at the second location, the sensor adapted to generate a signal that is directly related to a resistance pressure exerted upon the sensor by the body.

28. The imaging system of claim 25 wherein the radiation transducer is adapted to generate the images from the detected radiation waves, and wherein the radiation transducer is in signal communication with the image display system over the computer network for transmitting the images from the radiation transducer to the image display system.

29. The imaging system of claim 25, wherein the radiation transducer is adapted to emit a form of radiation selected from the group consisting of magnetic radiation, electromechanical radiation, electromagnetic radiation, optical radiation, and nuclear radiation.

30. An apparatus for examining and imaging an object under study comprising:

(a) a radiation source for irradiating an object under study;

(b) a radiation detector disposed to in proximity to the object to receive radiation scattered by the object, the radiation detector capable of providing data corresponding to the radiation received;

(c) a controller for controlling the radiation source and the radiation detector to emit and receive radiation;

(d) a device coupled to the radiation detector and configured to construct a multidimensional image of the object using the data provided by the radiation detector;

(e) a housing engageable with the object; and

(f) a variable pressure-producing device disposed at least partially within the housing, the variable pressure-producing device operable to generate a palpation pressure upon the object.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of radiation sources.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the radiation detector comprises a plurality of radiation detectors disposed to surround at least a portion of the object.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the radiation source is an ultrasound source, and the radiation detector is an ultrasound detector.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the radiation source is a magnetic radiation source, and the radiation detector is a magnetic radiation detector.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the radiation source is an electromechanical radiation source, and the radiation detector is an electromechanical radiation detector.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the radiation source is an electromagnetic radiation source, and the radiation detector is an electromagnetic radiation detector.

37. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the radiation source is an optical radiation source, and the radiation detector is an optical radiation detector.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the radiation source is a nuclear radiation source, and the radiation detector is a nuclear radiation detector.

39. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the radiation source and the radiation detector include one device that is used both as a radiation source and a radiation detector.

40. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the object under study comprises a plurality of biological tissues.

41. A method for examining and imaging an object understudy, comprising:

(a) irradiating the object using a radiation source disposed so as to be capable of irradiating the object;

(b) receiving, using a radiation detector, radiation scattered by the object and providing data corresponding to the radiation received;

(c) constructing a multidimensional field rendering of the object using the data provided by the radiation detector; and

(d) palpating the object with a variable pressure-producing device to generate a palpation pressure upon the object.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of radiation sources.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation detector comprises a plurality of radiation detectors disposed to surround at least a portion of the object.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source is an ultrasound source, and the radiation detector is an ultrasound detector.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source is a magnetic radiation source, and the radiation detector is a magnetic radiation detector.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source is an electromechanical radiation source, and the radiation detector is an electromechanical radiation detector.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source is an electromagnetic radiation source, and the radiation detector is an electromagnetic radiation detector.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source is an optical radiation source, and the radiation detector is an optical radiation detector.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source is a nuclear radiation source, and the radiation detector is a nuclear radiation detector.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein the radiation source and the radiation detector include one device that is used both as a radiation source and a radiation detector.

51. The method of claim 41, wherein the object under study comprises a plurality of biological tissues.

52. The method of claim 41, further comprising simultaneously irradiating and palpating the object so that an effect of the palpation pressure upon the object may be shown in the multidimensional field rending of the object.