Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with data access and communications capability

• US 5,891,035 A
• Filed: 10/24/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATL Ultrasound Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ATL Ultrasound Incorporated
• Inventors: Ungari, Joseph L., Van Dlac, Kymberly, Dewar, Ian, Roncalez, Pascal, Roundhill, David N., Wood, Michael A., Canfield, Earl M. II
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/957,459
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/407, 128/904, 382/128, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 341/65, 705/3, 395/705
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52023 Details of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45169 Medical, rontgen, x ray
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided which is capable of accessing images and information from internal or external databases by means of a browser. Access to such images or information may be over a local network or over a worldwide network such as the Internet. The browser may be used to pull in system preset data or reference images from a reference image library, for instance.

Claims

1. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system which produces and stores diagnostic ultrasound images or diagnostic reports, comprising:

browser software installed on said ultrasound system; and

means for connecting said browser software to a database external to said ultrasound system,

whereby externally stored images or information are remotely accessible through said browser software.

2. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said browser software comprises means for viewing hypertext data.

3. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting comprises means for connecting said browser software to a network.

4. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 3, wherein said means for connecting said browser software to a network further comprises TCP/IP software.

5. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein said means for connecting said browser software to a network further comprises PPP software.

6. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 5, wherein said means for connecting said browser software to a network further comprises a modem.

7. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said ultrasound system further comprises a user interface for controlling the operation of said ultrasound system,

wherein said browser software is also operated by said user interface.

8. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 7, wherein said user interface includes an image display.

9. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 7, wherein said user interface includes a keyboard.

10. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 7, wherein said user interface includes a trackball.

11. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system claim 1, further comprising:

means for connecting said browser software to a source of reference images external to said ultrasound system,

whereby externally stored reference images are remotely accessible through said browser software.

12. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein said browser software comprises means for viewing hypertext data.

13. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein said means for connecting comprises means for connecting said browser software to a network.

14. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 13, wherein said means for connecting said browser software to a network further comprises a modem.

15. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein said ultrasound system further includes a display for displaying ultrasound images produced by the ultrasound system;

and further comprising means for displaying a reference image on said display adjacent to an ultrasound image produced by the ultrasound system.

16. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1, further comprising:

electronic message software installed on said ultrasound system; and

means for connecting said electronic message software to send or receive electronic messages to or from sources external to said ultrasound system.

17. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 16, further comprising means for connecting said electronic message software to a network, whereby said ultrasound system can send or receive electronic messages over said network.

18. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 17, wherein said means for connecting said electronic message software to a network further comprises TCP/IP software.

19. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 18, wherein said means for connecting said electronic message software to a network further comprises PPP software.

20. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 19, wherein said means for connecting said electronic message software to a network further comprises a modem.

21. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 20, wherein said ultrasound system further comprises a user interface for controlling the operation of said ultrasound system,

wherein said electronic message software is also operated by said user interface.

22. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 21, wherein said user interface includes an image display.

23. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 21, wherein said user interface includes a keyboard.

24. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 21, wherein said user interface includes a trackball.

25. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system which produces and stores diagnostic ultrasound images or diagnostic reports, comprising:

a storage device, connected as a part of said ultrasound system, for storing said ultrasound images or reports;

browser software installed on said ultrasound system; and

means for connecting said browser software to access information stored on said storage device,

whereby images or reports stored on said storage device are accessible through said browser software.

26. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 25, wherein said means for connecting said browser software comprises a server.

27. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 25, wherein said browser software comprises means for viewing said ultrasound images or reports through a hypertext link.

28. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 25, wherein said storage device comprises an ultrasound image memory.

29. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 25, wherein said ultrasound system further includes a user interface for operating said ultrasound system,

wherein said browser is operable through said user interface to access ultrasound images or reports stored on said storage device.

30. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system which produces and stores diagnostic ultrasound images or diagnostic reports, comprising:

browser software installed on said ultrasound system; and

means for connecting said browser software to the Internet,

wherein externally stored images or information are remotely accessible by said browser software over the Internet.

31. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 30, wherein said browser software is compatible with the World Wide Web of the Internet,

wherein externally stored images or information are remotely accessible by said browser software over the World Wide Web of the Internet.

32. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 30, wherein said browser software comprises means for viewing hypertext data.

33. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 30, wherein said means for connecting comprises means for connecting said browser software to a network.

34. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 33, wherein said means for connecting said browser software to a network further comprises TCP/IP software.

35. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 33, wherein said means for connecting said browser software to a network further comprises PPP software.

36. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 33, wherein said means for connecting said browser software to a network further comprises a modem.

37. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 30, wherein said ultrasound system further comprises a user interface for controlling the operation of said ultrasound system,

wherein said browser software is also operated by said user interface.