Method and apparatus for communicating operational data for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system

• US 6,574,518 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lounsberry, Brian D., Shepard, James S., Gravelle, Stephen W., Idelchik, Michael S., Schmidt, Jonathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US09/450,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 700/90, 700/2, 700/9, 235/375, 348/72, 348/232, 378/121, 378/162, 378/207, 378/118, 378/117, 600/338, 702/182-184, 702/187
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• 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 6/548 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 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems
• 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: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for communicating operational data for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system includes communicating identification information from an electronic device coupled to the system unit in the medical diagnostic system to an imaging unit in said medical diagnostic system, operating the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the identification information and generating operational data, and communicating the operational data to the system unit in order to establish a record of operational data for the system unit in the electronic device. The operational data includes information relating to the operation of the system unit in the medical diagnostic system. A corresponding apparatus includes a storage medium, a communication interface, and a programmed digital processing circuit coupled to the storage medium and the communication interface. The storage medium contains identification information for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system and a memory location for a record of operational data for the system unit. The communication interface is configured to allow for the communication between the system unit and the medical diagnostic system of identification information and operational data regarding the system unit. The processing circuit is responsive to requests for identification information and controlling communication of operational data via the communication interface to the medical diagnostic system.

Claims

1. A method for communicating operational data for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system, the method comprising:

communicating identification information from an electronic device coupled to the system unit in the medical diagnostic system to said medical diagnostic system;

operating the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the identification information and generating operational data;

communicating the operational data from the system unit in order to establish a record of operational data for the system unit in the electronic device, the operational data including information relating to the operation of the system unit in the medical diagnostic system;

establishing a remote record of operational data for the system unit, the remote record being communicated over a network;

verifying the identification information with a subscription file at the remote facility; and

linking the remote record of operational data to the corresponding subscription file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational data includes any one of install date, failure date, error data, usage data, and field failure code associated with an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the system unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a remote record of operational data comprises the steps of communicating the identification information to a remote facility, establishing a file at the remote facility of the operational data for the system unit corresponding to the identification information, and communicating operational information to the remote facility.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an operations report detailing operation data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characterization information is related to the configuration of the medical diagnostic system for the operation of the system unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication interface communicates the characterization information to the medical diagnostic system.

5. An apparatus which provides for the communication of operational data for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system, the apparatus comprising:

a storage medium, the storage medium containing any one of identification information for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system, characteristic information for the system unit, and a memory location for a record of operational data for the system unit;

a communication interface, the communication interface being configured to allow for the communication between the system unit and the medical diagnostic system of any one of identification information, characteristic information, and operational data regarding the system unit; and

a programmed digital processing circuit coupled to the storage medium and the communication interface, the processing circuit being responsive to requests for any one of identification information and characteristic information, and controlling communication of operational data via the communication interface to the medical diagnostic system and to a remote facility to establish a remote record of operational data for the system unit, wherein the remote record of operational data is linked to a corresponding subscription file at the remote facility.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the operational data includes any one of install date, failure date, scan record, event log, usage data, and field failure code associated with an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the system unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising fasteners which couple the apparatus to the system unit.

10. A system for communicating operational data for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system, the system comprising:

means for communicating identification information from an electronic device coupled to the system unit in the medical diagnostic system to an imaging unit in the medical diagnostic system;

means for operating the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the identification information and generating operational data;

means for communicating the operational data from the system unit in order to establish a record of operational data for the system unit in the electronic device, the operational data including information relating to the operation of the system unit in the medical diagnostic system;

means for communicating the identification information and the operational data to a remote facility to establish a remote record of operational data for the system unit; and

means for verifying the identification information communicated from the electronic device with a subscription file at the remote facility, wherein the remote record of operational data is linked to the subscription file.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system unit comprises an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the system unit.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for monitoring operational data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for monitoring operational data comprises an operator workstation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operator workstation and the medical diagnostic system are physically located in different places.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for monitoring comprises means for adjusting medical diagnostic system in response to operational data.

16. An apparatus which provides for the communication of operational data for a system unit in a diagnostic system, the apparatus comprising:

a storage medium, the storage medium containing identification information for the system unit and system unit operational data;

a communication interface, the communication interface being configured to allow for the communication of operational data regarding the system unit, the operational data being communicated between the system unit and the diagnostic system; and

a programmed digital processing circuit coupled to the storage medium and the communication interface, the programmed processing circuit controlling communication of operational data via the communication interface to the diagnostic system and to a remote facility, wherein the remote facility establishes a remote record of operational data for the system unit, wherein the remote record of operational data is linked to a corresponding subscription file at the remote facility.