Medical ultrasonic diagnostic system with upgradeable transducer probes and other features
First Claim
1. A process for providing scanhead upgrades to a remotely upgradeable medical diagnostic ultrasound system which includes a communications link for establishing a data link over a common carrier communications network between said ultrasound system and a remote factory location comprising the steps of:
- receiving an order from a customer for a scanhead upgrade;
checking the configuration of the ultrasound system which is to receive the scanhead upgrade;
dispatching a scanhead by air to the location of the ultrasound system;
establishing a data communications link over a common carrier communications network between a program data server at the factory and the ultrasound system;
transmitting upgrade program data from the program data server to the ultrasound system over the data communications link;
receiving the upgrade program data by the ultrasound system;
installing the upgrade program data in the ultrasound system; and
reporting by the ultrasound system to the program data server that the upgrade program data has been successfully received or installed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely upgradeable medical diagnostic ultrasound system is described which is upgradeable with a new transducer probe by means of air shipment of the upgrade hardware and remote transmission of upgrade data which controls operation of the probe. The ultrasound system includes a data communicator such as a network link or modem for receiving upgrade data from a remote location. A process for upgrading the system is provided whereby a communications link is established over a common carrier communications medium between the ultrasound system and a remote terminal, which transmits upgrade program data to the ultrasound system. The program data portion of an upgrade is provided via the communications link while the hardware portion of the upgrade is shipped by air freight to the user. In this way, an ultrasound upgrade can be provided to a user from a remote location in a matter of hours.
312 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A process for providing scanhead upgrades to a remotely upgradeable medical diagnostic ultrasound system which includes a communications link for establishing a data link over a common carrier communications network between said ultrasound system and a remote factory location comprising the steps of:
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receiving an order from a customer for a scanhead upgrade; checking the configuration of the ultrasound system which is to receive the scanhead upgrade; dispatching a scanhead by air to the location of the ultrasound system; establishing a data communications link over a common carrier communications network between a program data server at the factory and the ultrasound system; transmitting upgrade program data from the program data server to the ultrasound system over the data communications link; receiving the upgrade program data by the ultrasound system; installing the upgrade program data in the ultrasound system; and reporting by the ultrasound system to the program data server that the upgrade program data has been successfully received or installed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system which is capable of being upgraded by the addition of new or different performance features and functions, including means for remotely upgrading said ultrasound system comprising:
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a communications link, coupled to a data bus of said ultrasound system, and controlled by said ultrasound system to receive ultrasound upgrade program data transmitted from a remote location over a common carrier communications medium; and a processor for installing said ultrasound upgrade program data in said ultrasound system following its receipt by said ultrasound system, said upgrade program data providing some or all of the functionality of an ultrasound system upgrade. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system which is capable of being remotely polled to determine its current configuration comprising:
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a data storage device which stores digital data comprising configuration information of said ultrasound system; and a communications link, coupled by means of a data bus of said ultrasound system to said data storage device, and responsive to an electronic request from a remotely located terminal for transmitting said configuration information over a common carrier communication medium to said terminal location. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system which is capable of being remotely polled to provide information concerning said ultrasound system to a remote location comprising:
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a data storage device which stores digital data comprising patient data and/or information concerning operating characteristics of said system; a communications link, coupled by means of a data bus of said ultrasound system to said data storage device, and responsive to an electronic request from a remotely located terminal for transmitting digital data from said system over a common carrier communication medium to said terminal location; and a security device which is controllable by a user of said ultrasound system to preclude said communications link from transmitting digital data of a predetermined character to said remote location. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A process for providing program data upgrades to a remotely upgradeable medical diagnostic ultrasound system which includes a data communicator for establishing a data link over a common carrier communications network between said ultrasound system and a remote program data server comprising the steps of:
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receiving an order from a customer for an ultrasound upgrade; checking the configuration of the ultrasound system which is to receive the ultrasound upgrade; establishing a data communications link over a common carrier communications network between the data communicator of said ultrasound system and the remote program data server; transmitting upgrade program data from the program data server to the ultrasound system; receiving the upgrade program data by the data communicator in the ultrasound system; and installing the upgrade program data in the ultrasound system. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification