System and method for storing and retrieving a communication session

• US 20050251009A1
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Morita, Mark M., Fors, Steven L., Rai, Khal A.
• Application Number:
  US10/832,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A graphical user interface is configured to facilitate storage of an electronic communication session generated between a first networked workstation and a second networked workstation and regarding a medical image. The graphical user interface includes a storage function configured to store the communication session in a computer-readable format which is also used to store the medical image, and to associate the communication session with the medical image so that the communication session is capable of being accessed from the medical image.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface configured to facilitate storage of an electronic communication session generated between a first networked workstation and a second networked workstation and regarding a medical image, the graphical user interface comprising:

a storage function configured to;

store the communication session in a computer-readable format which is also used to store the medical image; and

associate the communication session with the medical image so that the communication session is capable of being accessed from the medical image.

2. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the medical image is a radiology image.

3. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the first workstation and the second workstation are networked using a Picture Archiving and Communication System.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the communication session is stored in a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the communication session includes text data regarding the medical image.

6. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the communication session includes voice data regarding the medical image.

7. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the communication session includes video data regarding the medical image.

8. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the communication session is stored as part of the medical image.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 1, further comprising a retrieval function configured to access the communication session.

10. The graphical user interface of claim 9, wherein the retrieval function is configured to automatically access the communication session when the medical image is accessed.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 9, wherein the communication session includes text data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the text data to a display.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 9, wherein the communication session includes voice data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the voice data to an audio output.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 9, wherein the communication session includes video data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the video data to a display.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 9, further comprising functionality configured to manipulate content of the communication session.

15. A system for storing an electronic communication session regarding a medical image, the system comprising:

memory, including the medical image;

a display; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the display and operable to execute a storage function, wherein the storage function;

stores the communication session in the memory in a computer-readable format which is also used to store the medical image; and

associates the communication session with the medical image so that the communication session is capable of being accessed from the medical image.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the medical image is a radiology image.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is a Picture Archiving and Communication System.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication session is stored in a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication session includes text data regarding the medical image.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication session includes voice data regarding the medical image.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication session includes video data regarding the medical image.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication session is stored as part of the medical image.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising a retrieval function configured to access the communication session.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the retrieval function is configured to automatically access the communication session when the medical image is accessed.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication session includes text data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the text data to the display.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication session includes voice data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the voice data to an audio output.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication session includes video data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the video data to the display.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising functionality configured to manipulate content of the communication session.

29. A device configured to facilitate storage of an electronic communication session regarding a medical image, the device comprising:

a first networked workstation;

the first workstation including a graphical user interface configured to facilitate storage of the communication session regarding the medical image between the first networked workstation and a second networked workstation;

the graphical user interface including a storage function configured to;

store the communication session in a computer-readable format which is also used to store the medical image; and

associate the communication session with the medical image so that the communication session is capable of being accessed from the medical image.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the medical image comprises a radiology image.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein the first workstation and the second workstation are networked using a Picture Archiving and Communication System.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein the communication session is stored in a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format.

33. The device of claim 29, wherein the communication session includes text data regarding the medical image.

34. The device of claim 29, wherein the communication session includes voice data regarding the medical image.

35. The device of claim 29, wherein the communication session includes video data regarding the medical image.

36. The device of claim 29, wherein the communication session is stored as part of the medical image.

37. The device of claim 29, wherein the graphical user interface further includes a retrieval function configured to access the stored communication session.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the retrieval function is configured to automatically access the communication session when the medical report is accessed.

39. The device of claim 37, wherein the communication session includes text data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the text data to the first display system.

40. The device of claim 37, wherein the communication session includes voice data, and wherein the retrieval function is configured to transmit the voice data to an audio output.

41. The device of claim 37, wherein the communication session includes video data, and wherein the display system is configured to transmit the video data to the first display system.

42. The device of claim 37, wherein the graphical user interface further includes functionality configured to manipulate content of the communication session.

43. A method of storing an electronic communication session generated between a first networked device and a second networked device and regarding a medical image, the method comprising:

providing a storage function configured to;

store the communication session regarding the medical image in a computer-readable format which is also used to store the medical image; and

associate the communication session with the medical image so that the communication session is capable of being accessed from the medical image.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising providing a retrieval function configured to access the communication session.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising providing functionality configured to manipulate content of the communication session.