Automated generation of transfer functions based upon machine data

• US 20070162190A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Choubey, Suresh
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/290
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system and method for servicing a medical device, which provides for generation of a transfer function that correlates historical machine data with the health of the medical device. The transfer function may be validated and stored. The transfer function is automatically updated based on current machine data.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining a medical device, comprising:

generating a transfer function correlating historical machine data with a health of the medical device;

validating and storing the transfer function;

receiving current machine data of the medical device in substantially real time; and

automatically updating the transfer function based on the current machine data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein automatically updating comprises updating the transfer function substantially contemporaneously with receipt of the current machine data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein automatically updating comprising updating the transfer function during monitoring and diagnosis of the medical device.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting an anomaly of the medical device via the transfer function.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising implementing corrective action in response to the detection of the anomaly.

6. A method of monitoring a medical system, comprising:

storing machine parameter data of the medical system;

generating a transfer function that correlates a health of the medical system with the stored machine parameter data;

storing the transfer function; and

automatically updating the transfer function based on current machine parameter data.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising storing and updating the transfer function at a location remote from the medical system.

8. The method according to claim 6, comprising storing or updating the transfer function on a portable computer system.

9. The method according to claim 6, comprising servicing the medical system in response to diagnosis of the medical system via the updated transfer function.

10. A method of servicing a medical device, comprising:

storing a model having a transfer function that correlates a health of the medical device with one or more machine parameters of the medical device;

receiving machine data of the medical device; and

automatically updating the model based on the machine data.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein storing comprises storing the model on the medical device or in a remote service center, or a combination thereof

12. The method according to claim 10, comprising diagnosing the health of the medical device via the updated model.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein diagnosing comprises diagnosing the health of the device locally or remotely, or a combination thereof.

14. The method according to claim 12, comprising implementing corrective action in response to the diagnosis.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the medical device comprises a medical imaging system.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the medical device comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI) and the one or more machine parameters comprise magnet center frequency.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the device health comprises a gradient of magnet shim.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising adjusting the magnet shim in response to analysis of machine data via the transfer function.

19. A system for maintaining a medical system, comprising:

a module configured to generate a transfer function that correlates a health of the medical device with one or more machine parameters of the medical device;

a module configured to diagnose the medical device via the transfer function; and

a module configured to substantially automatically update the transfer function based on contemporaneous machine parameter data.

20. The system of claim 19, comprising a module configured to notify an operator or service technician.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the medical device comprises a CT system, a vascular imaging system, or a nuclear medicine system, or any combination thereof.

22. A computer program, provided on one or more tangible media, for maintaining a medical device, comprising:

a routine for generating a transfer function that correlates a health of the medical device with one or more machine parameters of the medical device;

a routine for diagnosing the medical device via the transfer function; and

a routine for automatically updating the transfer function based on machine parameter data received during diagnosis of the medical device.

23. The computer program of claim 22, comprising a routine for notifying an operator or service technician.