Method and system for determining hardware configuration of medical equipment using RF tags

• US 20050109829A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Inc (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Inc (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Postma, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a medical device component having an RF tag that is configured to provide information regarding the medical device component. Particularly, the RF tag may contain and provide information regarding maintenance, installation, and manufacture of the medical device component. Indeed, the exemplary embodiment of the present technique may facilitate the development of an “as built” or hardware configuration of the medical device through the use of RF tags. Advantageously, the medical device may be surveyed by activating the RF tags, which contain and transmit information regarding the various components in the medical device.

Claims

1. An assembly for use with a medical device, comprising:

a component configured for operation with the medical device; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmission device couplable to the component and configured to transmit information regarding the component.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio frequency transmission device is configured to transmit the information regarding the component in response to a command from the medical device.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising a RF interrogator, wherein the RF transmission device transmits information about the component in response to a signal from the RF interrogator.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF transmission device comprises a power source.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the component is configured to provide power to the RF transmission device.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the component is configured for replacement in an operating environment.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF transmission device is configured to transmit the information regarding the component in response to a signal from an RF interrogator.

8. An imaging device system, comprising:

an imaging device;

a component located in the imaging device and configured for operation with the imaging device; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter configured to broadcast information regarding at least one of manufacture, maintenance, and installation of the component.

9. The imaging device system as recited in claim 8, wherein the imaging device comprises a magnetic resonance imaging device.

10. The imaging device system as recited in claim 8, wherein the imaging device comprises a computed tomography device.

11. The imaging device system as recited in claim 8, comprising an RF reader configured to receive the information regarding the component from the RF transmitter.

12. The imaging device system as recited in claim 8, comprising an RF interrogator, wherein the RF transmitter is configured to transmit the information regarding the component in response to a signal from the RF interrogator.

13. The imaging device system as recited in claim 8, wherein the RF transmitter is located in the imaging device.

14. The imaging device system as recited in claim 8, wherein the RF transmitter is coupled to the component.

15. A system for maintaining an medical device, comprising:

a medical device component;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter coupled to the medical device component and maintaining information related to the medical device component; and

a RF receiver configured to receive the information related to the medical device component from the RF transmitter.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the RF transmitter maintains information related to installation of the medical device component in the medical device.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the RF transmitter maintains information related to the manufacture of the medical device component.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the RF transmitter maintains information related to the maintenance of the medical device component.

19. A method for maintaining a medical device, comprising:

storing information regarding a component of the medical device in a radio frequency (RF) device coupled to the component;

activating the radio frequency (RF) device; and

receiving the information regarding the component via a transmission from the RF device.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein activating comprises providing power to the RF device.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein activating comprises interrogating the RF device via an RF interrogator.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising determining a component list of the medical device via the information received from the RF device.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising determining whether service is warranted on the component of the medical device based upon the information received from the RF device.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising servicing the component of the medical device in response to the information received from the RF device.

25. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising scheduling maintenance for the component of the medical device based upon the information received from the RF device.

26. A method for maintaining a medical device, comprising:

activating a radio frequency (RF) device having information regarding at least one of maintenance, installation, and manufacture of a component of the medical device; and

receiving the information regarding the component via a transmission from the RF device.

27. A maintenance system for a medical device, comprising:

means for activating a radio frequency (RF) device having information regarding at least one of maintenance, installation, and manufacture of a component of the medical device; and

means for receiving the information regarding the component of the medical device via a transmission from the RF device.

29. The computer program as recited in claim 27, comprising code for scheduling maintenance of the medical device based upon the information regarding the component received from the RF device.

28. A computer program for maintenance of an imaging device, the computer program being located on one or more tangible media, comprising:

code for activating a radio frequency (RF) device having information regarding at least one of maintenance, installation, and manufacture of a component of the medical device; and

code for receiving the information regarding the component via a transmission from the RF device.