Data entry and setup system and method for ultrasound imaging
First Claim
1. A configurable ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
- portable storage media storing data including patient identifying information identifying a specific patient and information identifying an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the portable storage media being one of a bar code, smart card and a personal digital assistant; and
an ultrasound imager including an imaging probe, an ultrasound signal path, a display, a processor, a mass storage device storing a digital requisition for the patient, the digital requisition containing at least the patient identifying information and information associated with the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, and a data entry device structured to read the storage media to obtain the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the ultrasound imager being structured to transmit a query to the mass storage device containing the patient identifying information and the information associated with the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient and to receive a response from the mass storage device containing at least a portion of the digital requisition, the ultrasound imager further being structured to use the digital requisition to set up the ultrasound imager to perform the examination procedure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound imaging system includes a data entry device that reads storage media that is assigned to each patient on which the system is to be used or the operator of the system to obtain ultrasound images. The storage media, which may be a bar code, smartcard, personal digital assistant, for example, contains patient identifying information. The patient or procedure identifying information may be used to access a digital requisition that is referenced by the patient identifying information. The digital requisition may be stored in a disk drive included in the ultrasound imaging system or in a clinical information system accessed through a communication link included in the ultrasound imaging system. The digital requisition may include information pertaining to an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the patient, which can be used to automatically set up the ultrasound imaging system. The digital requisition may also include the patient'"'"'s medical history or information about the patient that can be associated with ultrasound images obtained from the patient.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A configurable ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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portable storage media storing data including patient identifying information identifying a specific patient and information identifying an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the portable storage media being one of a bar code, smart card and a personal digital assistant; and
an ultrasound imager including an imaging probe, an ultrasound signal path, a display, a processor, a mass storage device storing a digital requisition for the patient, the digital requisition containing at least the patient identifying information and information associated with the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, and a data entry device structured to read the storage media to obtain the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the ultrasound imager being structured to transmit a query to the mass storage device containing the patient identifying information and the information associated with the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient and to receive a response from the mass storage device containing at least a portion of the digital requisition, the ultrasound imager further being structured to use the digital requisition to set up the ultrasound imager to perform the examination procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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portable storage media storing data including patient identifying information identifying a specific patient and information identifying an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the portable storage media being one of a bar code, smart card and a personal digital assistant; and
an ultrasound imager including an imaging probe, an ultrasound signal path, a display, a processor, and a data entry device structured to read the portable storage media to obtain the patient identifying information and the information identifying an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the ultrasound imager being structured to use the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient to access a digital requisition and to set up the ultrasound system to perform an ultrasound examination procedure in accordance with the digital requisition, the ultrasound imager also being structured to obtain an ultrasound image. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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an ultrasound imaging probe;
an ultrasound signal path;
a display;
a mass storage device;
a data entry device structured to read portable storage media containing patient identifying information identifying a specific patient and information identifying an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the data entry device being one of a bar code reader, smart card reader and a personal digital assistant interface; and
a processor coupled to the ultrasound signal path, the display, the data entry device, and the mass storage device, the processor being operable to obtain from the data entry device the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, obtain procedure information identifying an examination procedure associated with the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, and to automatically set up the ultrasound system to perform the ultrasound examination procedure in accordance with the obtained procedure information. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of configuring an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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providing portable storage media storing data including patient identifying information identifying a specific patient and information identifying an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the portable storage media being one of a bar code, a smart card and a personal digital assistant;
using the ultrasound imaging system to read the storage media to obtain the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient;
using the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient access a digital requisition containing information about one of the patient and the examination procedure; and
using the digital requisition to automatically set up the ultrasound system to perform the ultrasound examination procedure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
using the patient identifying information to access a digital requisition for the patient from internal mass storage media, the digital requisition containing at least the patient identifying information and information associated with the patient identifying information pertaining to an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the patient;
obtaining from the accessed digital requisition information pertaining to the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed; and
using the information pertaining to the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed to automatically set up the ultrasound system to perform the ultrasound examination procedure.
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19. The method of claim 18, wherein the act of using the patient identifying information to automatically set up the ultrasound system to perform the ultrasound examination procedure comprises:
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providing the ultrasound imaging system with mass storage media; and
periodically storing digital requisitions for a plurality of patients in the mass storage media.
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20. The method of claim 18, further comprising
obtaining ultrasound images using the ultrasound imaging system; -
obtaining from the accessed digital requisition information pertaining to the patient; and
associating the obtained information pertaining to the patient with the obtained ultrasound images.
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21. The method of claim 20 further comprising uploading the obtained ultrasound images and associated information pertaining to the patient to the mass storage media.
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22. The method of claim 18, wherein the digital requisition includes information about the medical history of the patient, and wherein the method further includes obtaining from the accessed digital requisition the information about the medical history of the patient and displaying information about the medical history of the patient.
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23. A method of using an ultrasound imaging system to obtain ultrasound images and associate the images with a patient from which the ultrasound images were obtained, the method comprising:
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providing portable storage media storing data including patient identifying information identifying a specific patient and information identifying an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, the portable storage media being one of a bar code, smart card and a personal digital assistant;
using the ultrasound imaging system, to obtain at least one of ultrasound images, worksheet data, measurements, and calculations from the patient;
using the ultrasound imaging systems to read the portable storage media to obtain the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient, and automatically associating with the images obtained from the patient the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
using the patient identifying information and the information identifying the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient to access a digital requisition for the patient, the digital requisition containing information about the patient that is to be associated with the images obtained from the patient; and
obtaining from the accessed digital requisition the information about the patient that is to be associated with the images.
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25. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of automatically associating with the images obtained from the patient the patient identifying information and the information associated with the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient comprise:
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providing the ultrasound imaging system with mass storage media;
periodically storing information about a plurality of patients in the mass storage media, the stored information being associated with respective patient identifying information and the information associated with the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient;
using the patient identifying information and the information associated with theultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on, the specific patient read from the portable storage media to access the information about the patient corresponding to the read patient identifying information and the information associated with the ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the specific patient; and
obtaining the information about the patient from the mass storage media.
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26. The method of claim 23, further comprising uploading the obtained ultrasound images and associated patient identifying information to the mass storage media.
Specification