Diagnostic delivery service

• US 20100191092A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Bowers, Jeffrey A., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4021 involving movement of the focal spot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1074 Details of the control system, e.g. user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 : X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other modalities are described for (a) obtaining an indication relating to an emission module (which may be dangerous, e.g.) or its user (who may be untrained, e.g.) and for (b) configuring the module or causing an irradiation (for imaging, e.g.) in response to the indication.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an emission module;

means for detecting an effect of energy from the emission module; and

means for resetting the emission module partly based on a certification of a user and partly based on an action by the user.

2. A system comprising:

an emission module operable for emitting electromagnetic energy;

first circuitry for detecting an effect of the electromagnetic energy through a body part from the emission module;

second circuitry for detecting an effect of other energy from the body part; and

third circuitry for resetting the emission module partly based on a certification of a user and partly based on an action by the user.

3. The system of claim 2, in which the user is a professional service provider.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the emission module.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the emission module.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the emission module.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a data output in a vicinity of the emission module.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a structure supporting the emission module and configured to present data in response to the user in real time.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for sensing a position of the body part relative to the emission module.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for sensing a position of the emission module.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for receiving one or more results of the electromagnetic energy via a wearable article.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for receiving one or more results of the other energy via a wearable article.

15. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for triggering an activation of the emission module; and

fifth circuitry for notifying the user of the activation of the emission module.

16. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates another action by another user.

18. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

another emission module, operable for emitting visible-light energy.

19. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

another emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy.

20. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

the emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy.

21. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

the emission module, operable for emitting one or more of ultrasound energy or the electromagnetic energy.

22. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

another emission module, operable for emitting radio-frequency energy.

23. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

a single-use component.

24. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

an emitter operable for emitting at least some ionizing radiation energy; and

circuitry for preventing at least an unspecified user from being able to release more than 300 joules of ionizing radiation energy via the emitter.

29. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission module.

30. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the first circuitry or the second circuitry.

31. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the emission module or the third circuitry.

32. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

activation-history-dependent logic; and

circuitry for comparing a state of the activation-history-dependent logic with a threshold.

33. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

one or more activation-history-dependent features configured to prevent another user from being able to release more than 100 kilojoules of ionizing radiation energy via the emission module.

34. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for capturing a digital image at least in response to an action by another user; and

fifth circuitry for providing user guidance in response to a failure to recognize one or more physiological features in an image resulting from the emission module.

36. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

one or more emitters configured for scanning; and

circuitry for computing an image resulting from output from at least one of the one or more emitters.

37. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for capturing a digital image at least in response to an action by another user;

fifth circuitry for providing user guidance in response to a failure to recognize one or more physiological features in an image resulting from the emission module;

the emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy; and

another emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to interact with the user, the kiosk including sixth circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates the action by the user.

39. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for triggering an activation of the emission module;

fifth circuitry for notifying the user of the activation of the emission module;

sixth circuitry for receiving one or more results of the electromagnetic energy via a wearable article; and

the emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

another emission module, operable for emitting visible-light energy; and

a structure supporting the emission module and configured to present data in response to the user in real time.

41. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for sensing a position of the emission module;

the emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy;

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission module; and

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the emission module or the third circuitry.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

a data output in a vicinity of the emission module; and

fifth circuitry for sensing at least a type of the electromagnetic energy from the emission module.

43. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for sensing a position of the body part relative to the emission module;

the emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy; and

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission module.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the first circuitry or the second circuitry; and

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the emission module.

45. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for receiving one or more results of the other energy via a wearable article;

fifth circuitry for sensing a position of the emission module;

the emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy;

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the emission module; and

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the emission module.

46. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

fourth circuitry for sensing a position of the emission module;

fifth circuitry for triggering an activation of the emission module;

sixth circuitry for notifying the user of the activation of the emission module;

seventh circuitry for capturing a digital image at least in response to an action by another user;

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission module.

the emission module, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy;

another emission module, operable for emitting visible-light energy;

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the emission module;

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the emission module; and

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the first circuitry or the second circuitry.

10. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. The system of claim 25 in which the emission module comprises:

an emitter operable for emitting at least some ionizing radiation energy; and

circuitry for preventing at least an unspecified user from being able to release more than 30 joules of ionizing radiation energy via the emitter.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

35. (canceled)