Radiological image interpretation apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method for providing interpretation of radiological images, comprising:
- coupling a data processing system of an administrative site to a wide area network;
coupling a plurality of acquiring sites to the wide area network for acquiring radiological images and for generating identifying information about a radiology study, the study including one or more of the images;
coupling a plurality of interpretation sites to the wide area network for gathering information about the interpretation sites and for communicating selected information between the interpretation sites and the administrative site;
receiving the identifying information about the study from one of the acquiring sites over the wide area network and through the data processing system;
utilizing the received identifying information to determine one or more study parameters from the received identifying information;
comparing the study parameters at the administrative site with information about the interpretation sites to select an optimum interpretation site to interpret the study from the available interpretation sites and from current information gathered over the wide area network;
routing the study onto the wide area network, under the control of the administrative site, to the selected interpretation site;
receiving report information at the administrative site about an interpretation of the study from the selected interpretation site over the wide area network; and
routing the study interpretation, under the control of the administrative site, to the acquiring site from which the study identifying information about the radiology study was received.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Radiology Healthcare Network provides high quality, timely medical interpretations of radiological images on a national (e.g., across the U.S.) and regional basis. The images can include images created by conventional x-ray technology, computed radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound imaging, nuclear medicine, and mammography equipment. The invention includes the acquisition of these images from health care facilities, the conversion of these images to digital format, the routing of these converted images, the interpretation of these routed images, and the routing of the interpretations back to the originating facility. The images are routed (e.g., on a variety of high-speed digital and analog telecommunication networks) to the appropriate interpretation resource by an administrative site on the Network based on one or more requirements associated with the radiological study. The interpretation can be performed on high-resolution workstations and/or on films produced by film printers. The invention can include quality control measures which assure high image and interpretation quality. The control and tracking of images by the administrative site results in the production of a complete, signed interpretive report in a timely manner.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for providing interpretation of radiological images, comprising:
-
coupling a data processing system of an administrative site to a wide area network; coupling a plurality of acquiring sites to the wide area network for acquiring radiological images and for generating identifying information about a radiology study, the study including one or more of the images; coupling a plurality of interpretation sites to the wide area network for gathering information about the interpretation sites and for communicating selected information between the interpretation sites and the administrative site; receiving the identifying information about the study from one of the acquiring sites over the wide area network and through the data processing system; utilizing the received identifying information to determine one or more study parameters from the received identifying information; comparing the study parameters at the administrative site with information about the interpretation sites to select an optimum interpretation site to interpret the study from the available interpretation sites and from current information gathered over the wide area network; routing the study onto the wide area network, under the control of the administrative site, to the selected interpretation site; receiving report information at the administrative site about an interpretation of the study from the selected interpretation site over the wide area network; and routing the study interpretation, under the control of the administrative site, to the acquiring site from which the study identifying information about the radiology study was received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification