Medical image management system and method

• US 6,678,703 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radvault, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radvault, Inc.
• Inventors: Rothschild, Peter Alden, Prasad, Vijendra Guru Raaj
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/771,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/2, 707/10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104, 707/201, 709/229, 705/2, 705/37, 705/3, 382/128, 382/132
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

The present invention provides a medical image management system and method that uses a central data management system to centrally manage the storage and transmission of electronic records containing medical images between remotely located facilities. A polling system is provided with remotely located workstations or local workstations so that the remote or local workstations may request queued data to be delivered that is awaiting delivery in the central database management system. The remotely located workstation or local image workstation communicates with a remotely located central data management system via a remote interface over the internet. The central database management system maintains and update any changes in the IP address of a remote or local workstation, in a look up table. The central data management system may also, in addition, push data when received to the last known IP address in the look up table.

Claims

1. A medical image management system comprising:

a central data management system which is adapted to receive and store an electronic record from a medical imaging device; and

a remote image viewing system arranged to receive the electronic record and to display the record in a visible format, said central data management system and said remote image viewing system being in communication along a remote interface;

wherein said central data management system is configured to push the electronic record to the remote image viewing system and to store the electronic record in a queue if the central data management system fails to push the electronic record; and

wherein said remote image viewing system comprises a polling system including an internal poller to identify when an event has occurred, and a data requestor in communication with said central data management system to request queued data when said event has occurred.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said event is a booting of the remote image viewing system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said event is establishing an internet connection.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said event is a change in IP address.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said event is the expiration of a predetermined time interval.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote interface comprises a publicly accessed telecommunication interface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote interface comprises the internet.

8. The system of claim 1

wherein said central data management system further comprises an IP address look up table including a last known IP address associated with a remote image viewing system;

wherein said central data management system is configured to push the electronic record to the remote image viewing system at said last known IP address; and

wherein said polling system of the remote image viewing system further comprises an IP address notifier in communication with said central data management system to notify said central data management system of the current IP address of the remote image viewing system when said event has occurred.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising

a second image system arranged to receive the electronic record and to display the record in a visible format, said central data management system and said second image viewing system being in communication along a remote interface;

said second image system further arranged to receive information relating to said electronic record;

wherein said central data management system is configured to push the electronic record to the second image system and to store the electronic record in a queue if the central data management system fails to push the electronic record; and

wherein said second image system comprises a polling system including an internal poller to identify when an event has occurred, and a data requestor in communication with said central data management system to request queued data when said event has occurred.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said central data management system is configured to push the information relating to the electronic record to the second image system and to store the information relating to the electronic record in a queue if the central data management system fails to push the electronic record.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said information relating to said electronic record comprises at least one of, a review history, radiologist notes, physician notes, text, voice-overs, time, date and person reviewing images, comments, instructions, information relating to diagnosis, information relating to treatment of a patient, and information relating to a patient'"'"'s medical record.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said second image system comprises a local image workstation,

wherein said system further comprises an image history record system associated with at least one of the central data management system and local image workstation, and which is adapted to maintain an image history record that comprises said information relating to the electronic record which comprises at least one of:

locations where the electronic record has been sent, locations where the electronic record has been received, times where the electronic record has been sent to a location, times when the electronic record has been received at location, times where the electronic record is opened at a location, and times where the electronic image is viewed at a location.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising an image history record system associated with the remote image viewing system;

and

a central history record system associated with the central data management system,

wherein the remote history record system is adapted to send a remote system message from the remote image viewing system to the central history record system, which remote system message contains the history information related to activity at the remote image viewing system, and wherein the central history record system is adapted to push a central system message to the local history record system, which central system message contains at least a portion of the history information contained in the remote system message.

14. A medical image management system comprising:

a central data management system which is adapted to receive and store an electronic record from a medical imaging device; and

a remote image viewing system arranged to receive the electronic record and to display the record in a visible format, said central data management system and said remote image viewing system communicating along a remote interface;

wherein said central data management system comprises an IP address look up table including a last known IP address associated with a remote image viewing system and wherein said central data management system is configured to push the electronic record to the remote image viewing system at said last known IP address and

wherein said remote image viewing system comprises a polling system including a internal poller to identify when an event has occurred and an IP address notifier in communication with said central data management system to notify said central data management system of the current IP address of the remote image viewing system when said event has occurred.

15. The medical image management system of claim 14 wherein said event is the booting of the remote image viewing system.

16. The medical image management system of claim 14 wherein said event is establishing an internet connection.

17. The medical image management system of claim 14 wherein said event is a change in IP address.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said event is the expiration of a predetermined time interval.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote interface comprises a publicly accessed telecommunication interface.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the remote interface comprises the internet.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said information relating to said electronic record comprises at least one of, a review history, radiologist notes, physician notes, text, voice-overs, time, date and person reviewing images, comments, instructions, information relating to diagnosis, information relating to treatment of a patient, and information relating to a patient'"'"'s medical record.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said second image system comprises a local image workstation, and wherein said system further comprising an image history record system associated with at least one of the central data management system and local image workstation, and which is adapted to maintain an image history record that comprises said information relating to the electronic record which comprises at least one of:

locations where the electronic record has been sent, locations where the electronic record has been received, times where the electronic record has been sent to a location, times when the electronic record has been received at location, times where the electronic record is opened at a location, and times where the electronic image is viewed at a location.

23. The system of claim 20 further comprising an image history record system associated with the remote image viewing system;

and

a central history record system associated with the central data management system,

wherein the remote history record system is adapted to push a remote system message from the remote image viewing system to the central history record system, which remote system message contains the history information related to activity at the remote image viewing system, and wherein the central history record system is adapted to push a central system message to the local history record system, which central system message contains at least a portion of the history information contained in the remote system message.

24. The system of claim 14 further comprising

a second image system arranged to receive the electronic record and to display the record in a visible format, said central data management system and said second image viewing system being in communication along a remote interface;

said second image system further arranged to receive information relating to said electronic record;

wherein said central data management system is configured to push the electronic record to the second image system and to store the electronic record in a queue if the central data management system fails to push the electronic record; and

wherein said second image system comprises a polling system including an internal poller to identify when an event has occurred, and a data requestor in communication with said central data management system to request queued data when said event has occurred;

wherein said central data management system comprises an IP address look up table including a last known IP address associated with the second image system and wherein said central data management system is configured to push the information relating to the electronic record to the second image system at said last known IP address associated with the second image system, and

wherein said the second image system polling system further comprises an IP address notification device in communication with said central data management system to notify said central data management system of the current IP address of the second image system when said event has occurred.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said central data management system is configured to push the information relating to the electronic record to the second image system and to store the information relating to the electronic record in a queue if the central data management system fails to push the electronic record.

26. A medical image management system comprising:

a medical imaging means at a first location for producing an electronic record in a computer-readable format and that includes an electronic image associated with a region of a patient'"'"'s body;

a storage means for storing the electronic record;

a pushing means for pushing the electronic record along a remote interface to a remote image viewing system at a second location that is remote from the first location, wherein the electronic record is pushed in a format that may be opened such that the electronic image may be converted into a recognizable, visible format;

a queue means for temporarily storing an electronic record when it has not been successfully pushed to the remote image viewing system; and

a polling means at said remote image viewing system for requesting an electronic record stored in said queue means when a predetermined event has occurred.

27. A medical image management system comprising:

a medical imaging means at a first location for producing an electronic record in a computer-readable format and that includes an electronic image associated with a region of a patient'"'"'s body;

a storage means for storing the electronic record;

a pushing means for pushing the electronic record along a remote interface to a remote image viewing system at a second location that is remote from the first location, wherein the electronic record is pushed in a format that may be opened such that the electronic image may be converted into a recognizable, visible format;

an IP address look up means for storing a most recent know IP address corresponding to a remote image viewing system;

a polling means at said remote image viewing system for updating the IP address look up means when a predetermined event has occurred.

28. A method for managing medical images, comprising:

receiving along a first remote interface at a central data management system, an electronic record from a medical imaging system located at a first location, wherein the central data management system is located at a second location that is remote from the first location, and wherein the electronic record includes an electronic image that is associated with a body of a patient; and

pushing the electronic record along a second remote interface to a remote image viewing system located at a third location that is remote from the first and second locations;

storing an electronic record in a temporary location when the electronic record has not been successfully pushed;

requesting the temporarily stored electronic record by the remote image viewing system upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising

adding information to the electronic record at the remote image viewing system to create a revised electronic record;

pushing the revised electronic record to a local image workstation located at said first location;

storing the revised electronic record in a temporary location when the revised electronic record has not been successfully pushed to said local image workstation;

requesting the temporarily stored electronic record by the local image workstation system upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said information added to the electronic record comprises at least one of, a review history, radiologist notes, physician notes, text, voice-overs, time, date and person reviewing images, comments, instructions, information relating to diagnosis, information relating to treatment of a patient, and information relating to a patient'"'"'s medical record.

31. A method for managing medical images, comprising:

storing the IP address of a remote location in a look up table in a central data management system at a second location;

receiving along a first remote interface at the central data management system, an electronic record from a medical imaging system located at a first location, wherein the central data management system is located at the second location that is remote from the first location, and wherein the electronic record includes an electronic image that is associated with a body of a patient; and

pushing the electronic record from the central data management system along a second remote interface to a remote image viewing system located at the remote location that is remote from the first and second locations;

checking the IP address at the remote image viewing system upon the occurrence of a predetermined event and if the IP address has changed, communicating the changed IP address to the central data management system; and

updating the look up table with the changed IP address.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising adding information to the electronic record at the remote image viewing system to create a revised electronic record;

pushing the revised electronic record to a local image workstation at the first location;

checking the IP address at the local image workstation system upon the occurrence of a predetermined event and if the IP address has changed, communicating the changed IP address to the central data management system; and

updating the look up table with the changed IP address.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said information added to the electronic record comprises at least one of, a review history, radiologist notes, physician notes, text, voice-overs, time, date and person reviewing images, comments, instructions, information relating to diagnosis, information relating to treatment of a patient, and information relating to a patient'"'"'s medical record.

34. A medical image management system comprising:

a central data system which is adapted to receive and store an electronic record from a medical imaging device;

a remote image viewing system arranged to receive the electronic record; and

a remote interface between said central data system and said remote image viewing system, wherein said central data system and said remote image viewing system are in communication along said interface,

said remote image viewing system including a polling system comprising an internal poller to identify when an event has occurred and a data requestor in communication with said central data management system to request queued data when said event has occurred.