X-ray tube replacement management system
First Claim
1. A method for management of replacement of x-ray tubes, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a plurality of operating parameters of a system at a service facility remote from the system the system including an x-ray tube;
transmitting data representative of the plurality of parameters from the system to the remote service facility via a computer network the data representative of the plurality of parameters being transmitted to the remote service facility during periodic data sweeps of the system by the remote service facility;
analyzing the monitored parameters at the remote service facility in accordance with a predetermined failure prediction routine by comparing values derived from the monitored parameters to reference values derived from similar parameters of a known population of x-ray tubes; and
automatically scheduling replacement of the x-ray tube based upon the analysis of the monitored parameters and transmitting a message coordinating replacement of the x-ray tube from a known tube stock.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for managing replacement of x-ray tubes, such as in medical diagnostic systems, includes circuitry for monitoring operating parameters of the x-ray tubes, and circuitry for analyzing the monitored parameters and scheduling for tube replacement based upon predicted failure. The scheduling circuitry may be located in a remote service center and is linked to the diagnostic systems via a network connection. A failure prediction circuit may be located at the remote service center or local to the diagnostic system. Upon identifying a predicted tube failure, replacement of the tube is scheduled and shipment of a replacement tube is ordered. Service personnel may be notified automatically to coordinate tube replacement. Electronic messages may be transmitted to the service personnel and to personnel in the facility where the x-ray tube is installed to notify all parties of the scheduled tube replacement.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for management of replacement of x-ray tubes, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a plurality of operating parameters of a system at a service facility remote from the system the system including an x-ray tube;
transmitting data representative of the plurality of parameters from the system to the remote service facility via a computer network the data representative of the plurality of parameters being transmitted to the remote service facility during periodic data sweeps of the system by the remote service facility;
analyzing the monitored parameters at the remote service facility in accordance with a predetermined failure prediction routine by comparing values derived from the monitored parameters to reference values derived from similar parameters of a known population of x-ray tubes; and
automatically scheduling replacement of the x-ray tube based upon the analysis of the monitored parameters and transmitting a message coordinating replacement of the x-ray tube from a known tube stock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A service system for managing replacement of x-ray tubes in medical diagnostic systems, the service system comprising:
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a monitoring circuit detecting for operating parameters of a diagnostic system including an x-ray tube;
a memory circuit coupled to the monitoring circuit for storing values of monitored parameters;
a failure prediction circuit at a remote service facility, the failure prediction circuit being coupled to the memory circuit for analyzing the stored values to predict failure of the x-ray tube, the failure prediction circuit being remote from the diagnostic system and coupled to the memory circuit via a network connection, the failure prediction circuit being configured to access values transmitted from the memory circuit during periodic data sweeps of the diagnostic system by the remote service facility; and
a scheduling circuit configured to schedule replacement of the x-ray tube based upon the analysis executed by the failure prediction circuit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for replacing x-ray tubes in a medical diagnostic system, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a plurality of operating parameters of the diagnostic system;
storing values representative of the parameters;
transmitting the values from the diagnostic system to a remote service facility during periodic data sweeps by the remote service facility, and analyzing the stored values at the remote service facility in accordance with a failure prediction routine based upon a known population of x-ray tubes; and
automatically scheduling replacement via a computer network of an x-ray tube based upon the analysis of the stored values. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A service system for managing replacement of x-ray tubes in medical diagnostic systems, the service system comprising:
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a plurality of separate diagnostic systems, each diagnostic system including a monitoring circuit for detecting operating parameters of an x-ray tube and a memory circuit coupled to the monitoring circuit for storing values of monitored parameters, each diagnostic system being configured to transmit operating parameters from the memory circuit to a remote service facility in response to data sweep prompts from the remote service facility;
a failure prediction circuit at the remote service facility, the failure prediction circuit analyzing the monitored parameters obtained during data sweeps, and predicting possible failure of the x-ray tubes by comparing stored values derived from monitored parameters to reference values; and
a scheduling circuit coupled to the plurality of diagnostic systems via a network, the scheduling circuit scheduling replacement of x-ray tubes in the diagnostic systems based upon the monitored parameters. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification