SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING HEMODYNAMIC AND IMAGING EXAMINATIONS

• US 20100198062A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Friedman, Bruce, Zang, William Alphonsus, Everett, Deborah Ann, Mullen, Paul Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,137,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00

Abstract

Hemodynamic data and imaging data are obtained about a patient, and the data is combined to generate a single report integrating same. While a hemodynamic system obtains the hemodynamic data, an imaging system obtains the imaging data. Preferably, the report confirms the absence or presence (and/or severity) of peripheral arterial disease, including quantitative data. The hemodynamic system and the imaging system can communicate directly, indirectly, and/or wirelessly. They may be contained within a common enclosure and/or integrated into a single apparatus. Either or both of the hemodynamic system and/or the imaging system can also be configured to measure the blood pressure of the patient. Preferably, the imaging system is an ultrasound imaging system, and improved workflows for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease result.

Claims

1. An integrated medical system, comprising:

a hemodynamic system configured to obtain hemodynamic data about a patient;

an imaging system configured to obtain imaging data about the patient; and

a processor configured to receive the hemodynamic data and the imaging data and combine them together to generate a single report integrating the hemodynamic data and the imaging data.

2. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein the hemodynamic system includes a blood pressure measuring system to measure a blood pressure of the patient.

3. The integrated medical system of claim 2, wherein the blood pressure measuring system includes one or more blood pressure cuffs configured to be affixed to the patient to measure said blood pressure.

4. The integrated medical system of claim 2, wherein the blood pressure measuring system is controlled, at least in part, by the hemodynamic system.

5. The integrated medical system of claim 2, wherein the blood pressure measuring system is controlled, at least in part, by the imaging system.

6. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system is an ultrasound imaging system.

7. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein the hemodynamic system and the imaging system are configured to communicate directly.

8. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein the hemodynamic system and the imaging system are configured to communicate indirectly.

9. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein the hemodynamic system and the imaging system are configured to communicate wirelessly.

10. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein both the hemodynamic system and the imaging system are contained within a common enclosure.

11. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein both the hemodynamic system and the imaging system are integrated into a single apparatus.

12. The integrated medical system of claim 1, wherein the report integrating the hemodynamic data and the imaging data reflects a peripheral arterial disease condition of the patient.

13. A method of monitoring a medical condition of a patient, comprising:

obtaining hemodynamic data about a patient;

obtaining imaging data about the patient; and

combining the hemodynamic data and the imaging data into a single report integrating the hemodynamic data and the imaging data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining the hemodynamic data comprises measuring a blood pressure of the patient.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining the imaging data comprises obtaining at least one ultrasound image of the patient.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the report integrating the hemodynamic data and the imaging data reflects a peripheral arterial disease condition of the patient.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein combining the hemodynamic data and the imaging data comprises transmitting the hemodynamic data to an imaging system configured to obtain the imaging data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hemodynamic data is transmitted to the imaging system directly.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the hemodynamic data is transmitted to the imaging system indirectly.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the hemodynamic data is transmitted to the imaging system wirelessly.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein combining the hemodynamic data and the imaging data comprises transmitting the imaging data to a hemodynamic system configured to obtain the hemodynamic data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the imaging data is transmitted to the hemodynamic system directly.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the imaging data is transmitted to the hemodynamic system indirectly.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the imaging data is transmitted to the hemodynamic system wirelessly.