Patient handling system for use on multiple imaging systems
DCFirst Claim
1. A medical diagnostic imaging means for producing medical diagnostic images of an object, said means comprising:
- a diagnostic imaging equipment of a first type for producing a first diagnostic image of the object;
a diagnostic imaging equipment of a second type for producing a second diagnostic image of the object, said first and second imaging equipment having respective first and second imaging computers for controlling the production of diagnostic images thereby, said first and second imaging equipment forming respective first and second imaging spaces; and
an object handling system for use in supporting said object during examination comprising;
a table for supporting the object during examination;
a base for supporting said table above a floor;
a computer for storing data relating to the identification of the object under examination; and
a means for selectively linking the object handling system computer to one of the first and second imaging equipment, said linking means providing a data communication path between the object handling system computer and the computer of the selected one of the first and second imaging equipment such that said identification data is available to the computer of the selected one of the first and second imaging equipment for use in the production of diagnostic images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A object handling system is moveable between various diagnostic imaging apparatus for imaging thereby. The handling system has an object handling computer 34 for storing object identification data and imaging data. Selectively linking the object handling computer 34 with a first imaging system provides the first imaging system with access to the object identification data and imaging data for use in the production of diagnostic images thereby. Similarly, the object identification data and imaging data are available to a second imaging system for use in the production of diagnostic images thereby when the object handling computer 34 is selectively linked thereto. The object identification data is associated with the diagnostic images produced by various imaging system for subsequent correlation of the object with the diagnostic images of the object. The object handling computer 34 also modifies various automated table movement apparatus as a function of the imaging system to which the handling system is selectively linked.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A medical diagnostic imaging means for producing medical diagnostic images of an object, said means comprising:
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a diagnostic imaging equipment of a first type for producing a first diagnostic image of the object; a diagnostic imaging equipment of a second type for producing a second diagnostic image of the object, said first and second imaging equipment having respective first and second imaging computers for controlling the production of diagnostic images thereby, said first and second imaging equipment forming respective first and second imaging spaces; and an object handling system for use in supporting said object during examination comprising; a table for supporting the object during examination; a base for supporting said table above a floor; a computer for storing data relating to the identification of the object under examination; and a means for selectively linking the object handling system computer to one of the first and second imaging equipment, said linking means providing a data communication path between the object handling system computer and the computer of the selected one of the first and second imaging equipment such that said identification data is available to the computer of the selected one of the first and second imaging equipment for use in the production of diagnostic images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A medical diagnostic system comprising:
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a first diagnostic imaging equipment for producing a first diagnostic image of an object; a second diagnostic imaging equipment for producing a second diagnostic image of the object, said first and second imaging equipment having respective first and second imaging computers for controlling the production of diagnostic images thereby, said first and second imaging equipment forming respective first and second imaging spaces; and a means for sustaining an object during examination by the first and second diagnostic imaging equipment, said sustaining means comprising; a table for supporting said object; a means for supporting the table relative to the floor, said support means being moveable between said first and second imaging equipment such that said table is selectively disposable in the first and second imaging spaces; table movement means disposed between the table and the support means for moving the table relative to the support means; and a computer connected to the table movement means, said sustaining means computer being selectively connectable to the first and second computers, said connection providing a data communications path therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An object support system for supporting an object during the production of diagnostic images by a diagnostic imaging apparatus, said support system comprising:
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a table of longitudinal extent having an object support side for supporting the object thereon, said table having a longitudinal axis extending along said longitudinal extent; a base for supporting the table above a floor; a means for moving the base relative to the floor; one or more of (i) a table movement means, disposed between the table and the base, for allowing movement of the table in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the table and relative to the base and (ii) a means for adjusting the height of the table relative to the floor; a computer for controlling the one or more of the table movement means and the means for adjusting; a linking means for selectively connecting the computer into communication with the diagnostic imaging apparatus; and a data entry means connected with the object handling computer for entering examination specific data into the object handling computer, said diagnostic imaging apparatus including positioning data relating to the relative position of the table to the diagnostic imaging apparatus, said data being available to the computer for controlling the one or more of the table movement means and the means for adjusting as a function of the relative position data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of producing images using a first and second diagnostic imaging apparatus, said first and second imaging apparatus forming respective first and second imaging spaces, the method comprising:
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disposing an object on a movable object handling system having a table disposed over a base; docking the object handling system relative to the first imaging space; producing diagnostic images of said object with the first imaging apparatus; undocking the object handling system; moving the object handling system, with the object disposed thereon, to the second imaging apparatus; docking the object handling system relative to the second imaging space; producing diagnostic images of said object with said second imaging apparatus; entering data into a data storage means disposed on the object handling system prior to producing diagnostic images of said object with one of the first imaging apparatus and the second imaging apparatus; and connecting the data storage means to one of the first imaging apparatus and second imaging apparatus prior to producing diagnostic images therewith, whereby the selected one of said imaging apparatus associates the data with the images of said object produced by said selected one of said first and second imaging apparatus.
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20. A medical diagnostic system comprising:
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a first diagnostic imaging equipment for producing a first diagnostic image of an object; a second diagnostic imaging equipment for producing a second diagnostic image of the object, said first and second imaging equipment forming respective first and second imaging spaces; means for controlling the production of diagnostic images by said first and second imaging equipment; and a means for sustaining an object during examination by the first and second diagnostic imaging equipment, said sustaining means comprising; a table for supporting said object; a means for supporting the table relative to the floor, said support means being moveable between said first and second imaging equipment such that said table is selectively disposable in the first and second imaging spaces; table movement means disposed between the table and the support means for moving the table relative to the support means; and a computer connected to the table movement means and to said means for controlling, said sustaining means computer containing data that is utilizable by the means for controlling.
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21. A patient handling system for use in supporting a patient during medical imaging by at least one imaging apparatus having an imaging space and an imaging computer, said system comprising:
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a table for supporting the patient; a base for supporting said table above a floor; a computer for storing data relating to the patient; a means for entering data into the computer; and a means for selectively linking the handling system computer to said imaging computer, said linking means providing a data communication path between said handling system computer and the imaging computer such that the data is available for use by the imaging computer during medical imaging. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification