Method of dealing with problems affecting a medical apparatus and a medical apparatus suitable for carrying out such a method

• US 6,675,131 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hahn, Guenter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUAREZ, FELIX E
• Application Number:
  US09/960,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182-188, 340/3.1, 340/525, 700/17
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/581 Remote testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The invention relates to dealing with problems affecting a medical apparatus. In this method, if a problem occurs, a service center is notified of the problem by telecommunication, whereupon the service center issues problem-specific instructions by telecommunication for determining data with respect to the notified problem. Then, on the basis of the determined data, of which it has been notified by telecommunication, the service center determines a measure for dealing with the problem and gives notice of it by telecommunication, whereupon the measure for dealing with the problem is taken and a test of the medical apparatus is performed.

Claims

1. A method of dealing with problems affecting a medical apparatus, with the following method steps:

when a problem affecting the medical apparatus occurs, a service center is notified of the problem by telecommunication,

problem-specific instructions for determining data on the medical apparatus with respect to the notified problem are issued by the service center by telecommunication,

data on the medical apparatus corresponding to the problem-specific instructions issued are obtained and notified to the service center by telecommunication,

in accordance with the data notified, a measure for dealing with the problem is determined by the service center and notified by telecommunication, and

the measure for dealing with the problem is taken.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which an apparatus user carrying out the method is given information assisting him in carrying out the method when performing at least one of the method steps according to claim 1.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which a test on the medical apparatus is performed after a measure for dealing with a problem has been taken, the service center being notified of the test result by telecommunication, at least if it is negative.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which a setting operation is performed as the measure for dealing with a problem.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which an exchange of a component is made as the measure for dealing with a problem.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, in which a component to be exchanged is ordered by telecommunication.

7. A medical apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1, the medical apparatus containing a data memory in which information serving to assist in the performance of at least one of the method steps according to claim 1 is stored and, depending on the problem, is fed by the data memory to a display device.

8. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which components to be exchanged as part of a measure for dealing with a problem are designed in a way ensuring that they cannot be mixed up.

9. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which connections serving for power and/or signal transmission of components which can be exchanged as part of a measure for dealing with a problem are designed in a way ensuring that they cannot be mixed up.

10. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 7, components of which can be exchanged as part of a measure for dealing with a problem are provided with a visible code which is displayed as information.

11. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which has telecommunication means connecting the medical apparatus to the service center.