Method and apparatus for remotely configuring and servicing a field replaceable unit in a medical diagnostic system

• US 6,325,540 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lounsberry, Brian D., Schmidt, Jonathan R., Shepard, James S., Gravelle, Stephen W., Idelchik, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Application Number:
  US09/450,313
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 378/207, 378/114, 378/117, 378/118, 378/108, 378/110, 378/112
• US Class Current: 378/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/581 Remote testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/26 Measuring, controlling or protecting measuring X-ray radiation G01T

Abstract

A method for remotely configuring and servicing a field replaceable unit associated with a medical diagnostic system includes establishing a communication connection between the medical diagnostic system and a remote facility, communicating identification information from an electronic device coupled to the field replaceable unit to the remote facility, communicating configuration information from the remote facility to the medical diagnostic system, and configuring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the configuration information from the remote facility. A corresponding apparatus includes a memory unit configured to store identification indicia associated with the field replaceable unit and a communication interface configured to communicate identification information from the identification indicia to a remote facility via a network.

Claims

1. A method for remotely configuring and servicing a field replaceable unit associated with a medical diagnostic system, the method comprising:

establishing a communication connection between the medical diagnostic system and a remote facility;

communicating identification information from an electronic device coupled to the field replaceable unit associated with the medical diagnostic system to the remote facility;

communicating configuration information from the remote facility to an operating system of the medical diagnostic system; and

remotely configuring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the configuration information from the remote facility.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating operation information of the field replaceable unit to the remote facility.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the identification information with a subscription file at the remote facility.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating operation information of the field replaceable unit to the electronic device coupled to the field replaceable unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the operation information includes any one of install date, failure date, scan record, event log, usage data, and field failure code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information includes any one of serial number, manufacturing date, filament calibration data, and model number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating new characterization information from the remote facility to the medical diagnostic system, the new characterization information providing for a change in performance level of the field replaceable unit.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising communicating new characterization information from the remote facility to the medical diagnostic system, the new characterization information providing for changes in the subscription file associated with the field replaceable unit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the medical diagnostic system is in accordance with characteristic information regarding operation of an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the field replaceable unit.

10. An apparatus which provides for remotely configuring and servicing a field replaceable unit associated with a medical diagnostic system, the apparatus comprising:

a memory unit configured to store identification and configuration indicia associated with the field replaceable unit;

a microprocessor configured to communicate with an operating system of the medical diagnostic system, whereby the microprocessor reads and writes to the memory unit based on commands from the operating system; and

a communication interface configured to communicate identification information to a remote facility via a network, the communication interface further being configured to receive configuration information from the remote facility to the operating system via the network, the configuration information being used for remote configuration of the medical diagnostic system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory unit stores operation data of the field replaceable unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory unit is physically coupled to an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the field replaceable unit.

14. A system for remotely configuring and servicing a field replaceable unit associated with a medical diagnostic system, the system comprising:

means for establishing a communication connection between the medical diagnostic system and a remote facility;

means for communicating identification information from an electronic device coupled to the field replaceable unit to the remote facility;

means for communicating configuration information from the remote facility to an operating system of the medical diagnostic system; and

means for remotely configuring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the configuration information from the remote facility.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for communicating operation information of the field replaceable unit to the remote facility.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operation information includes any one of install date, failure date, scan record, event log, usage data, and field failure code.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for verifying the identification information with a subscription file at the remote facility.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for updating a subscription file associated with the field replaceable unit.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for configuring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the configuration information from the remote facility comprises downloading new operating system software to the medical diagnostic system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the new operating system software reconfigures the medical diagnostic system for different field service unit operating characteristics.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the field replaceable unit comprises an x-ray tube.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the field replaceable unit.