Method and apparatus for remote diagnosis of an ultrasound scanner

• US 6,633,833 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharma, Sanjeev, Peshman, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morris, Andrew P
• Application Number:
  US09/683,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 128/904, 73/18--, 702/39, 702/182-188, 600/437
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for diagnosing multiple ultrasound scanners from a remote location by applying a diagnostic middleware architecture to act as an interface between a web server and diagnostics section within the scanners. A computer that is remote to the scanners interfaces to the web servers of the scanners over a network. The remote computer has a web browser to survey the scanners by communicating with the web servers over the network. The diagnostic middleware architecture initiates execution of diagnostic programs within the scanners in response to client requests received by the web servers from the remote computer over the network. Diagnostic results are generated within the scanners when running the diagnostic programs of the scanners. Log files are generated within the scanners during normal operation of the scanners. The diagnostic middleware architecture reads the diagnostic results and log files and translates the information such that the web servers are able to transfer the information to the remote computer over the network. The information is displayed to an operator by the remote computer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for diagnosing, from a third location, ultrasound scanners being at locations remote to said third location, said apparatus comprising:

a first ultrasound scanner being at a first location and being of a first platform type;

a second ultrasound scanner being at a second location, and being of a second platform type;

a first instance of a diagnostic middleware component initiating execution of a first diagnostic program for diagnosing said first ultrasound scanner at said first location to generate first diagnostic data of a first type in response to a first request originating from said third location, and translating said first diagnostic data to an Internet-compatible format at said first location;

a second instance of said diagnostic middleware component initiating a second diagnostic program for diagnosing said second ultrasound scanner at said second location to generate second diagnostic data of a second type in response to a second request originating from said third location, and translating said second diagnostic data to said Internet-compatible format at said second location;

a first instance of a web server cooperating with said first instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said first location to receive said first request at said first location, and to transfer said first diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said first location to said third location through an Internet protocol-based interface; and

a second instance of said web server cooperating with said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said second location to receive said request at said second location, and to transfer said second diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said second location to said third location through said Internet protocol-based interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first instance and said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component are configured to initiate a plurality of diagnostic programs at said first location and said second location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first instance and said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component comprise a common set of Java servlets and a common Java native interface to C.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said Internet-compatible format comprises XML-based HTML page format.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a network interfacing said first location and said second location to said third location wherein said network comprises the Internet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a remote computer at said third location and a network external to said first ultrasound scanner and said second ultrasound scanner and said remote computer, said remote computer having a web browser and communicating with said first ultrasound scanner and said second ultrasound scanner through said network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first hardware suite of said first ultrasound scanner interfacing to said first diagnostic program and said first instance of said diagnostic middleware component through a distributed object standard protocol interface, wherein said first diagnostic program is a first diagnostic hardware test and said diagnostic middleware component is a diagnostic executive component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second hardware suite of said second ultrasound scanner interfacing to said second diagnostic program and said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component through a distributed object standard protocol interface, wherein said second diagnostic program is a second diagnostic hardware test and said diagnostic middleware component is a diagnostic executive component.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and said first diagnostic program comprises a first file retrieving function to access and translate information in a first set of files stored at said first location for scanner diagnosing purposes.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and said second diagnostic program comprises a second file retrieving function to access and translate information in a second set of files stored at said second location for scanner diagnosing purposes.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first instance of a remote connectivity module being at said first location and a network being external to said first ultrasound scanner, said first instance of said remote connectivity module interfacing said first instance of said web server to said network, and said first instance of said first remote connectivity module being based on Web technology.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second instance of a remote connectivity module being at said second location and a network being external to said second ultrasound scanner, said second instance of said remote connectivity module interfacing said second instance of said web server to said network, and said second instance of said second remote connectivity module being based on Web technology.

15. A method for diagnosing, from a third location, ultrasound scanners being at locations that are remote from said third location, said method comprising:

accessing a first instance of a web server at a first location from said third location by transferring a first instance of a menu and a first instance of user-interface programs from said first location to said third location in response to a first user input at said third location;

generating a first request at said third location by applying said first instance of said menu and said first instance of said user-interface programs at said third location;

transferring said first request to said first location and interpreting said first request at said first location resulting in executing a first diagnostic program at said first location, and said executing resulting in generating first diagnostic data of a first type for a first ultrasound scanner in response to said first request, and wherein said first ultrasound scanner is of a first platform type;

translating said first diagnostic data at said first location to an Internet-compatible format;

transferring said first diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said first location to said third location for display at said third location;

accessing a second instance of a web server at a second location from said third location by transferring a second instance of said menu and a second instance of said user-interface programs from said second location to said third location in response to a second user input at said third location;

generating a second request at said third location by applying said second instance of said menu and said second instance of said user-interface programs at said third location;

transferring said second request to said second location and interpreting said second request at said second location resulting in executing a second diagnostic program at said second location, and said executing resulting in generating second diagnostic data of a second type for a second ultrasound scanner in response to said second request, and wherein said second ultrasound scanner is of a second platform type;

translating said second diagnostic data at said second location to an Internet-compatible format; and

transferring said second diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said second location to said third location for display at said third location.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a plurality of requests at said third location to initiate execution of a plurality of diagnostic programs at said first location and said second location.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said menu is an XML-based HTML page.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said user-interface programs are Java applets.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said interpreting and translating is performed by employing platform/server-independent, Java-based programs at said first location and said second location, said Java-based programs comprising Java servlets and a Java native interface to C.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said Internet-compatible format comprises an XML-based HTML page format.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first diagnostic hardware test operating on a first hardware element of said first ultrasound scanner.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second diagnostic hardware test operating on a second hardware element of said second ultrasound scanner.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first file retrieving function to access and translate information in files stored at said first location.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second file retrieving function to access and translate information in files stored at said second location.

27. The method of claim 15 wherein said first diagnostic data comprises information extracted from files of said first ultrasound scanner and said second diagnostic data comprises information extracted from files of said second ultrasound scanner, said information comprising scanner power information, scanner temperature information, scanner software functioning information, and scanner productivity information.

28. A diagnostic ultrasound scanner comprising:

a web server;

a Java-based diagnostics middleware component interfacing to said web server through an HTTP protocol interface;

a diagnostic programs module interfacing to said diagnostics middleware component; and

a hardware suite interfacing to said diagnostics middleware component and said diagnostic programs module through a COM protocol interface.

29. The ultrasound scanner of claim 28 further comprising a PC backend and a front-end, said PC backend interfacing to said front-end.

30. The ultrasound scanner of claim 28 further comprising a PC backend, said PC backend comprising an imaging mode processing module, a scan conversion module, a control processing module, and a display processing module.

31. The ultrasound scanner of claim 28 further comprising a remote connectivity module interfacing said web server to a network external to said ultrasound scanner.

32. The ultrasound scanner of claim 28 further comprising a monitor.

33. The ultrasound scanner of claim 28 wherein a remote computer, being at a location remote to said scanner, interfaces to said scanner through an Internet protocol-based network, said remote computer comprising a PC processor, a web browser, network software, and a network connection.

34. The ultrasound scanner of claim 28 wherein a remote computer, connecting to said scanner through an Internet protocol-based network, displays results of requested diagnostic tests, results of scanner productivity tests, scanner file information, and scanner status information to a user of said remote computer on a monitor of said remote computer at a location remote from said scanner.

35. Apparatus for diagnosing, from a third location, ultrasound scanners being at locations remote to said third location, said apparatus comprising:

a first ultrasound scanner being at a first location and being of a first platform type;

a second ultrasound scanner being at a second location, and being of a second platform type;

a first instance of a diagnostic middleware component, comprising a common set of Java servlets and a common Java native interface to C, initiating execution of a first diagnostic program for diagnosing said first ultrasound scanner at said first location to generate first diagnostic data of a first type in response to a first request originating from said third location, and translating said first diagnostic data to an Internet-compatible format at said first location;

a second instance of said diagnostic middleware component, comprising a common set of Java servlets and a common Java native interface to C, initiating a second diagnostic program for diagnosing said second ultrasound scanner at said second location to generate second diagnostic data of a second type in response to a second request originating from said third location, and translating said second diagnostic data to said Internet-compatible format at said second location;

a first instance of a web server cooperating with said first instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said first location to receive said first request at said first location, and to transfer said first diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said first location to said third location through an Internet protocol-based interface; and

a second instance of said web server cooperating with said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said second location to receive said request at said second location, and to transfer said second diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said second location to said third location through said Internet protocol-based interface.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said first instance and said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component are configured to initiate a plurality of diagnostic programs at said first location and said second location.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said Internet-compatible format comprises XML-based HTML page format.

38. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a network interfacing said first location and said second location to said third location wherein said network comprises the Internet.

39. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a remote computer at said third location and a network external to said first ultrasound scanner and said second ultrasound scanner and said remote computer, said remote computer having a web browser and communicating with said first ultrasound scanner and said second ultrasound scanner through said network.

40. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a first hardware suite of said first ultrasound scanner interfacing to said first diagnostic program and said first instance of said diagnostic middleware component through a distributed object standard protocol interface, wherein said first diagnostic program is a first diagnostic hardware test and said diagnostic middleware component is a diagnostic executive component.

41. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a second hardware suite of said second ultrasound scanner interfacing to said second diagnostic program and said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component through a distributed object standard protocol interface, wherein said second diagnostic program is a second diagnostic hardware test and said diagnostic middleware component is a diagnostic executive component.

42. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

43. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

44. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and said first diagnostic program comprises a first file retrieving function to access and translate information in a first set of files stored at said first location for scanner diagnosing purposes.

45. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said diagnostic middleware component comprises a log viewer component and said second diagnostic program comprises a second file retrieving function to access and translate information in a second set of files stored at said second location for scanner diagnosing purposes.

46. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a first instance of a remote connectivity module being at said first location and a network being external to said first ultrasound scanner, said first instance of said remote connectivity module interfacing said first instance of said web server to said network, and said first instance of said first remote connectivity module being based on Web technology.

47. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a second instance of a remote connectivity module being at said second location and a network being external to said second ultrasound scanner, said second instance of said remote connectivity module interfacing said second instance of said web server to said network, and said second instance of said second remote connectivity module being based on Web technology.

48. Apparatus for diagnosing, from a third location, ultrasound scanners being at locations remote to said third location, said apparatus comprising:

a first ultrasound scanner being at a first location and being of a first platform type;

a second ultrasound scanner being at a second location, and being of a second platform type;

a first instance of a diagnostic middleware component initiating execution of a first diagnostic program for diagnosing said first ultrasound scanner at said first location to generate first diagnostic data of a first type in response to a first request originating from said third location, and translating said first diagnostic data to an Internet-compatible format at said first location;

a second instance of said diagnostic middleware component initiating a second diagnostic program for diagnosing said second ultrasound scanner at said second location to generate second diagnostic data of a second type in response to a second request originating from said third location, and translating said second diagnostic data to said Internet-compatible format at said second location;

a first instance of a web server cooperating with said first instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said first location to receive said first request at said first location, and to transfer said first diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said first location to said third location through an Internet protocol-based interface;

a second instance of said web server cooperating with said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said second location to receive said request at said second location, and to transfer said second diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said second location to said third location through said Internet protocol-based interface; and

a first hardware suite of said first ultrasound scanner interfacing to said first diagnostic program and said first instance of said diagnostic middleware component through a distributed object standard protocol interface, wherein said first diagnostic program is a first diagnostic hardware test and said diagnostic middleware component is a diagnostic executive component.

49. Apparatus for diagnosing, from a third location, ultrasound scanners being at locations remote to said third location, said apparatus comprising:

a first ultrasound scanner being at a first location and being of a first platform type;

a second ultrasound scanner being at a second location, and being of a second platform type;

a first instance of a diagnostic middleware component initiating execution of a first diagnostic program for diagnosing said first ultrasound scanner at said first location to generate first diagnostic data of a first type in response to a first request originating from said third location, and translating said first diagnostic data to an Internet-compatible format at said first location;

a second instance of said diagnostic middleware component initiating a second diagnostic program for diagnosing said second ultrasound scanner at said second location to generate second diagnostic data of a second type in response to a second request originating from said third location, and translating said second diagnostic data to said Internet-compatible format at said second location;

a first instance of a web server cooperating with said first instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said first location to receive said first request at said first location, and to transfer said first diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said first location to said third location through an Internet protocol-based interface;

a second instance of said web server cooperating with said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component at said second location to receive said request at said second location, and to transfer said second diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said second location to said third location through said Internet protocol-based interface; and

a second hardware suite of said second ultrasound scanner interfacing to said second diagnostic program and said second instance of said diagnostic middleware component through a distributed object standard protocol interface, wherein said second diagnostic program is a second diagnostic hardware test and said diagnostic middleware component is a diagnostic executive component.

50. A method for diagnosing, from a third location, ultrasound scanners being at locations that are remote from said third location, said method comprising:

accessing a first instance of a web server at a first location from said third location by transferring a first instance of a menu and a first instance of user-interface programs from said first location to said third location in response to a first user input at said third location;

generating a first request at said third location by applying said first instance of said menu and said first instance of said user-interface programs at said third location;

transferring said first request to said first location and interpreting said first request at said first location resulting in executing a first diagnostic program at said first location, and said executing resulting in generating first diagnostic data of a first type for a first ultrasound scanner in response to said first request, wherein said interpreting comprises employing platform/server-independent, Java-based programs at said first location, said Java-based programs comprising Java servlets and a Java native interface to C;

translating said first diagnostic data at said first location to an Internet-compatible format, wherein said translating comprises employing platform/server-independent, Java-based programs at said first location, said Java-based programs comprising Java servlets and a Java native interface to C;

transferring said first diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said first location to said third location for display at said third location;

accessing a second instance of a web server at a second location from said third location by transferring a second instance of said menu and a second instance of said user-interface programs from said second location to said third location in response to a second user input at said third location;

generating a second request at said third location by applying said second instance of said menu and said second instance of said user-interface programs at said third location;

transferring said second request to said second location and interpreting said second request at said second location resulting in executing a second diagnostic program at said second location, and said executing resulting in generating second diagnostic data of a second type for a second ultrasound scanner in response to said second request, wherein said interpreting comprises employing platform/server-independent, Java-based programs at said second location, said Java-based programs comprising Java servlets and a Java native interface to C;

translating said second diagnostic data at said second location to an Internet-compatible format, wherein said translating comprises employing platform/server-independent, Java-based programs at said second location, said Java-based programs comprising Java servlets and a Java native interface to C; and

transferring said second diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said second location to said third location for display at said third location.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising generating a plurality of requests at said third location to initiate execution of a plurality of diagnostic programs at said first location and said second location.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein said menu is an XML-based HTML page.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein said user-interface programs are Java applets.

54. The method of claim 50 wherein said Internet-compatible format comprises an XML-based HTML page format.

55. The method of claim 50 wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first diagnostic hardware test operating on a first hardware element of said first ultrasound scanner.

56. The method of claim 50 wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second diagnostic hardware test operating on a second hardware element of said second ultrasound scanner.

57. The method of claim 50 wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

58. The method of claim 50 wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second productivity function comprising one of searching for scanner information, analyzing scanner information, and filtering scanner information.

59. The method of claim 50 wherein said first diagnostic program comprises a first file retrieving function to access and translate information in files stored at said first location.

60. The method of claim 50 wherein said second diagnostic program comprises a second file retrieving function to access and translate information in files stored at said second location.

61. The method of claim 50 wherein said first diagnostic data comprises information extracted from files of said first ultrasound scanner and said second diagnostic data comprises information extracted from files of said second ultrasound scanner, said information comprising scanner power information, scanner temperature information, scanner software functioning information, and scanner productivity information.

62. A method for diagnosing, from a third location, ultrasound scanners being at locations that are remote from said third location, said method comprising:

accessing a first instance of a web server at a first location from said third location by transferring a first instance of a menu and a first instance of user-interface programs from said first location to said third location in response to a first user input at said third location;

generating a first request at said third location by applying said first instance of said menu and said first instance of said user-interface programs at said third location;

transferring said first request to said first location and interpreting said first request at said first location resulting in executing a first diagnostic program at said first location, and said executing resulting in generating first diagnostic data of a first type for a first ultrasound scanner in response to said first request, wherein said first diagnostic data comprises information extracted from files of said first ultrasound scanner, and said information comprising scanner power information, scanner temperature information, scanner software functioning information, and scanner productivity information;

translating said first diagnostic data at said first location to an Internet-compatible format;

transferring said first diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said first location to said third location for display at said third location;

accessing a second instance of a web server at a second location from said third location by transferring a second instance of said menu and a second instance of said user-interface programs from said second location to said third location in response to a second user input at said third location;

generating a second request at said third location by applying said second instance of said menu and said second instance of said user-interface programs at said third location;

transferring said second request to said second location and interpreting said second request at said second location resulting in executing a second diagnostic program at said second location, and said executing resulting in generating second diagnostic data of a second type for a second ultrasound scanner in response to said second request, wherein said second diagnostic data comprises information extracted from files of said second ultrasound scanner, and said information comprising scanner power information, scanner temperature information, scanner software functioning information, and scanner productivity information;

translating said second diagnostic data at said second location to an Internet-compatible format; and

transferring said second diagnostic data in said Internet-compatible format from said second location to said third location for display at said third location.