Accessories as Workflow Priors in Medical Systems

• US 20140195954A1
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Doshi, Niraj K.
• Application Number:
  US14/147,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195954A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/543 Control of the operation of the MR system, e.g. setting of acquisition parameters prior to or during MR data acquisition, dynamic shimming, use of one or more scout images for scan plane prescription G01R33/546 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Workflow information is populated in a user interface of a medical system. One or more accessories are detected. The user interface is updated to assist the user based on the identity of the accessory. One or more lists may be created based on the identity, such as a list of examinations or protocols usable with the accessory. One or more fields for configuring the imaging system for scanning may be pre-filled based on the identity, such as using values used in a previous configuration for scanning with the accessory. The workflow through the user interface may be streamlined or configured to allow for more consistent, rapid, or easier input by the user based on the detection of the accessory.

Claims

1. A method for populating workflow information in medical imaging, the method comprising:

detecting connection of an accessory with a medical imaging system;

identifying an identity of the accessory in response to the detecting;

generating, by the medical imaging system, a user interface for configuring medical imaging by the medical imaging system; and

configuring the user interface for a protocol corresponding to the identity of the accessory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting comprises establishing a communications link between the accessory and the medical imaging system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting comprises detecting the accessory being plugged into the medical imaging system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting comprises detecting the accessory without user input identifying the identity of the accessory.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying comprises identifying a type of the accessory as the identity.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying comprises identifying a serial number of the accessory as the identity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the user interface comprises displaying options for scanning a patient, and wherein configuring comprises limiting the options based on the identity of the accessory.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying the options comprises displaying a list of two or more imaging protocols, and wherein limiting the options comprises not displaying additional imaging protocols.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the user interface comprises displaying fields for user input in a workflow for the medical imaging, and wherein configuring comprises including values in at least two of the fields, the values being a function of the identity of the accessory.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein including the values comprises pre-filling the fields for a scan sequence, the values comprising characteristics of the scan sequence.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessory comprises a phantom, wherein generating the user interface comprises generating a quality control user interface for the medical imaging, and wherein configuring comprises pre-filling values of the quality control user interface based on the identity of the phantom.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying half-life, ownership, or half-life and ownership information for the accessory based on the identity.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting comprises detecting a coil of a magnetic resonance portion of a combination magnetic resonance and positron emission imaging system, and wherein configuring comprises displaying a menu including the protocol, the menu being based on the identity of the coil and the protocol including both magnetic resonance and positron emission scan configurations.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein configuring comprises displaying the protocol as a last used protocol for the accessory with pre-filled fields from the last used protocol.

15. A system for populating workflow information in medical imaging, the system comprising:

a magnetic resonance imaging device comprising;

an input;

a display; and

a processor; and

an accessory connectable with the input of the medical resonance imaging device;

wherein the processor is configured to display a workflow with a protocol, fields of the protocol or the protocol and the fields of the protocol pre-filled based on detection of the accessory connected to the input.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the accessory comprises a coil with a plug matable with the input, and wherein the processor is configured to display the workflow as the protocol specific to a type of the coil.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the accessory comprises a coil with a plug matable with the input, and wherein the processor is configured to display the workflow with a list of protocols including the protocol, the list being selected by the processor based on an identity of the coil.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the accessory comprises a coil, and wherein the processor is configured to pre-fill the fields with characteristics of a scan sequence for operation of the magnetic resonance imaging device using the coil.

19. In a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for populating workflow information in a medical system, the storage medium comprising instructions for:

recognizing an optional appliance to be used with the medical system;

selecting pre-determined workflow attributes based on the recognition of the optional appliance; and

outputting the pre-determined workflow attributes.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein selecting the pre-determined workflow attributes comprises selecting a study, selecting values for scan parameters, or selecting both the study and the values for the scan parameters.