Flexible automated specification testing for quality checks

• US 6,200,025 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rich, Lawrence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Application Number:
  US09/212,879
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 378/65, 378/207, 378/4, 378/118, 378/117, 702/208, 702/183, 371/20.1
• US Class Current: 378/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method for maintaining a network of multiple radiation devices, such as linear accelerator radiation therapy devices. Automated specification testing and checking of the network of radiation therapy devices facilitates integrated analysis of collected information and system calibration. A network interface is provided for coupling the radiation devices to the network through dedicated personal computers (PCs). Databases of device history records and device specifications are maintained on a system calibration server for each of the multiple radiation devices. Dosimetry scanners operable with the radiation devices use a dedicated PC as a client user interface in communication with the server via the network and one radiation device. The radiation devices are responsive to the client user interface for undergoing an operation sequence with dosimetry scanner performing a series of tests. The radiation device is thus operated automatically via the PC client user interface in accordance with the series of tests performed by the dosimetry scanner. The dedicated PCs and any additional PCs on the network have read-only access to server database information.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining a network of multiple radiation devices with automated testing, comprising:

a network interface for coupling the radiation devices to the network through one or more computers;

a database of device history records for each of the multiple radiation devices;

a database of device specifications for each of the multiple radiation devices;

a network server for said device history records database and said device specifications database for use with client applications;

a dosimetry scanner operable with at least one of the radiation devices; and

a client user interface provided with the one or more computers in communication with said server via the network and said at least one radiation device and said dosimetry scanner, said radiation device being responsive to said client user interface for undergoing an operation sequence, said dosimetry scanner performing a series of tests on said radiation device being operated in accordance with the series of tests performed by said dosimetry scanner.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said client user interface comprises a first communications link to said radiation device for receiving commands for carrying out said operation sequence.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said client user interface comprises a second communications link to said dosimetry scanner for receiving commands for performing said series of tests on said radiation device by said dosimetry scanner.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said client user interface comprises a dedicated personal computer (PC) employing said first communications link for automatic sequencing of said radiation device.

5. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said second communications link comprises a serial interface to said dosimetry scanner.

6. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first and second communications links comprise digital interface protocols for network communications with said radiation device and said dosimetry scanner respectively.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said digital interface protocols comprise object linking and embedding (OLE) interfaces.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said digital interface protocols comprise a TCP/IP network connection.

9. A system in accordance with claim 3, comprising document templates retrievable by said client user interface for creating new device history records for said radiation devices.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said document templates comprise a user interface format including check lists, prompting, semi-automatic or automatic information collection with said radiation device undergoing operation sequences without manual activation of the radiation device by the user, said radiation device being programmed in the operation sequence of the testing commands generated in accordance with a plurality of tests performed by said dosimetry scanner in which said radiation device generates radiation during the performance of at least one of said tests.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said network server comprises a system calibration server for comparing said device history records database and said device specifications database for automated analysis of collected information.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said databases comprise open database connectivity (ODBC) for database support for multiple vendors.

13. A system in accordance with claim 11, comprising a corporate intranet comprising said server, said network and user interfaces for access and control of collected information.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said radiation devices comprise linear accelerator radiation therapy devices.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said operation sequence of said radiation therapy devices comprise analysis routines for calibration including beam alignment, interlocks, scan profiles, off-axis ratio or depth dose.

16. A system for automated specification testing and checking of a network of multiple radiation devices, comprising:

means for coupling the radiation devices to the network;

means for storing device history records for each of the multiple radiation devices;

means for storing device specifications for each of the multiple radiation devices;

means for maintaining the device history records and the device specifications in plural databases on a system calibration server for use with a client user interface;

means for operating a dosimetry scanner with at least one of the radiation devices via the network; and

means for communicating with the system calibration server and the at least one radiation device and the dosimetry scanner via the network, the radiation device being responsive to the client user interface for undergoing an operation sequence, the dosimetry scanner performing a series of tests on the radiation device being operated in accordance with the series of tests performed by the dosimetry scanner.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, comprising document templates retrievable with the client user interface for creating the device history records for the radiation devices, the document templates providing a user interface format including check lists, prompting, semi-automatic or automatic information collection with the radiation device undergoing operation sequences without manual activation of the radiation device by the user.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17, comprising means for programming the radiation device in the operation sequence of the testing commands generated in accordance with a plurality of tests performed by said dosimetry scanner in which said radiation device generates radiation during the performance of at least one of said tests.

19. A method of automatically testing and calibrating a network of multiple radiation devices, comprising the steps of:

coupling the radiation devices to the network;

storing device history records for each of the multiple radiation devices;

storing device specifications for each of the multiple radiation devices;

providing a system calibration server for maintaining the device history records and the device specifications in plural databases for use with a client user interface;

operating a dosimetry scanner with at least one of the radiation devices via the network; and

communicating with the system calibration server and the at least one radiation device and the dosimetry scanner via the network, the radiation device being responsive to the client user interface for undergoing an operation sequence, the dosimetry scanner performing a series of tests on the radiation device being operated in accordance with the series of tests performed by the dosimetry scanner.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, comprising the steps of retrieving document templates with the client user interface and creating the device history records for the radiation devices, the document templates providing a user interface format including check lists, prompting, semi-automatic or automatic information collection with the radiation device undergoing operation sequences without manual activation of the radiation device by the user.