Distributed medical imaging system and method
First Claim
1. A method of conducting a medical imaging business, comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of medical images using a distributed medical imaging system (60);
viewing the obtained medical images using the distributed medical imaging system (60); and
charging for use of the distributed medical imaging system (60) based on the amount of usage of the medical imaging system (62).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed diagnostic imaging system and method includes a data processor coupled to a variety of diagnostic imaging components through a network. The diagnostic imaging components include acquisition devices that are used to obtain diagnostic imaging signals, displays on which obtained images can be viewed, and control units that are used with either acquisition units or displays to control the manner in which an image is obtained or displayed. The distributed nature of the system makes it relatively easy and inexpensive to upgrade or modify individual imaging components, and allows the businesses of selling, distributing, and upgrading an imaging lab, and obtaining and reviewing diagnostic images to be conducted in a novel manner, such as by costing an imaging procedure on a “per use” or “per imaging application” basis.
24 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a medical imaging business, comprising:
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obtaining a plurality of medical images using a distributed medical imaging system (60);
viewing the obtained medical images using the distributed medical imaging system (60); and
charging for use of the distributed medical imaging system (60) based on the amount of usage of the medical imaging system (62). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a distributed medical imaging system (60) having a plurality of medical imaging components coupled to a data processor, at least some of the components being software based, a method of upgrading the software-based components of the imaging system comprising:
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loading upgraded software into the data processor; and
uploading the upgraded software from the data processor to the software-based components that are to be upgraded. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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- 14. A method of charging for the purchase of a distributed medical imaging system (60), comprising charging at least a portion of a purchase price for use of the distributed medical imaging system (60) based on the amount of usage of the medical imaging system (62).
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22. A method of providing a diagnostic imaging system in a health care facility, the method comprising:
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installing a data network (80) in the health care facility having a plurality of data ports distributed throughout a significant portion of the health care facility;
obtaining a plurality of diagnostic signal acquisition units structured to provide diagnostic signals corresponding to diagnostic images acquired using the diagnostic signal acquisition units (90);
coupling the diagnostic signal acquisition units to the data network (80) as needed to obtain diagnostic signals using the diagnostic signal acquisition units (90);
coupling a network data processor to the data network (80), the network data processor being structured to process the diagnostic signals provided by the diagnostic signal acquisition units (90) to produce image data; and
obtaining a plurality of display units (98) structured to display diagnostic images corresponding to the image data processed by the network data processor, the number of display units obtained corresponding to at least a number of acquisition units (90) that are used simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification