Radiological image interpretation apparatus and method
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for routing a medical image comprising:
- generating at least one medical image at an image-acquiring site;
creating a computerized study which includes the at least one medical image and identifying information about the study;
transmitting the study over a wide area network to an image interpretation site, the transmission being controlled by an administrative processor coupled to the image acquiring site, the administrative processor generating study parameters from the study, and selecting the interpretation site using the study parameters and data available to the administrative processor relating to a plurality of interpretation sites located on the wide area network; and
receiving the study at the interpretation site over the wide area network.
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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.
334 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for routing a medical image comprising:
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generating at least one medical image at an image-acquiring site; creating a computerized study which includes the at least one medical image and identifying information about the study; transmitting the study over a wide area network to an image interpretation site, the transmission being controlled by an administrative processor coupled to the image acquiring site, the administrative processor generating study parameters from the study, and selecting the interpretation site using the study parameters and data available to the administrative processor relating to a plurality of interpretation sites located on the wide area network; and receiving the study at the interpretation site over the wide area network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for routing medical images to obtain an interpretation of the medical images, comprising:
at a medical site located on a wide area network, using a data processing system for; performing medical imaging on a patient to obtain a plurality of medical images; generating identifying information about a patient; obtaining information relating to a plurality of image interpretation sites located on the wide area network; performing a comparison between the identifying information and the information relating to the plurality of image interpretation sites; selecting an image interpretation site; routing of the medical images to at least one of the image interpretation sites over the wide area network; and
at an interpretation site, using a computerized workstation for;receiving the medical images over the wide area network; displaying the medical images; generating a report relating to the medical images; and transmitting the report to a predetermined site. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for routing medical images, comprising:
at least one image-acquiring site comprising; an acquisition device for obtaining medical images; a first data processing system for creating a study comprising patient information and the medical images; a second data processing system coupled to the first data processing system including a memory module storing data relating to type of medical personnel at one or more interpretation sites and availability of the one or more interpretation sites, the second data processing system determining medical parameters from the study, selecting an interpretation site based on the medical parameters and the data, and generating control signals; a transmitter having an input coupled to the second data processing system and an output coupled to a wide area network for transmitting the study and the control signals to the selected interpretation site over the wide area network; and
a plurality of interpretation sites in communication with the acquiring site via the wid area network, each interpretation site comprising;a receiver for receiving the study and the control signals; an image viewing system for viewing the study; a third data processing system for generating an interpretation of the study; and a transmitter having an input coupled to the third data processing system, and an output for routing the interpretation. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for routing medical images comprising:
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a) providing a first digital processing system for generating a study comprising one or more medical images and identifying information about a patient; b) providing a second digital processing system in communication with the first digital processing system for;
(i) obtaining information relating to a plurality of image interpretation sites which are coupled to the wide area network, (ii) performing a comparison between the identifying information and the information relating to the image interpretation sites, and (iii) selecting an image interpretation site based on the comparison;c) coupling the first digital processing system to a wide area network for transmitting the study over a wide area network to a selected image interpretation site; and d) providing a third digital processing system at the image interpretation site for;
(i) receiving a study over the wide area network, (ii) displaying the study on an image viewing system, (iii) generating a report relating to the study, and (iv) transmitting the report to a medical site. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for routing medical images and obtaining an interpretation of the medical images, comprising:
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an image-acquiring site comprising;
(i) acquisition equipment for obtaining medical images, (ii) a host computer for creating a study comprising patient information and the medical images, and (iii) networking equipment for transmitting the study over a wide area network;an administrative site coupled to the image acquiring site comprising a data processing system for;
(i) determining medical parameters from the study, (ii) selecting an interpretation site based on a comparison between the medical parameters and data relating to a plurality of image interpretation sites, and (iii) initiating transmission of the study over the wide area network from the image-acquiring site to the selected interpretation site; andat least one interpretation site distanced from the image-acquiring site and the administrative site and coupled to a wide area network, comprising;
(i) image viewing equipment for viewing the study, (ii) a computer for generating an interpretation of the study, and (iii) networking equipment for routing the interpretation under the control of the administrative site. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification