Automated monitoring of collection of operational data from medical imaging devices

• US 6,738,798 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Ploetz, Lawrence E., Robinson, Naja S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US09/585,219
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/223, 370/443, 711/118, 714/704, 600/300, 600/301, 707/404, 707/201, 707/203, 345/581, 382/168, 382/103, 717/162, 386/124, 725/114, 360/48, 360/53, 358/1.15, 705/1, 705/3, 705/14, 715/505
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/581 Remote testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms

Abstract

A method and a system for monitoring the regular collection of operational data from a multiplicity of remotely located medical imaging systems by a central service facility, and starting a corrective action process if the collection of operational data deviates from a historical norm based on the frequency of reception and the volume of the data received from the data source. The system automatically determines, on a per scanner basis, when either the amount of data in the most recent reception or the time between the two most recent data receptions has changed in a way that requires remedial action. In particular, corrective action is taken if the data volume or the time between receptions deviates from a historical mean by a predetermined percentage.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a scanning device at a remote location capable of acquiring scanning data when operated in a scanning mode;

a computer system at a central location; and

a communications channel for connecting said scanning device and said computer system,

wherein said scanning device is further capable of acquiring and storing operational data comprising an exam identifier, an exam date, an exam start time, an exam stop time, and an exam type for each exam performed using said scanning device, and periodically sending log files containing said stored operational data to said computer system via said communications channel in accordance with a data logging function when said data logging function is activated, and

wherein said computer system is programmed to perform the following steps;

activating said data logging function in said scanning device;

receiving log files from said scanning device in accordance with said activated data logging function;

generating a datum representing a characteristic of each received log file or a characteristic of each pair of successive received log files; and

monitoring said datum for each incoming log file to detect when said characteristic has a value which deviates from a historical norm.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer system is further programmed to reinitialize said data logging function in said scanning device via said communications channel in response to the value of said characteristic deviating from said historical norm by more than a predetermined amount.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said predetermined amount is a predetermined percentage.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said characteristic is the number of days between each incoming log file and its preceding log file received from said scanning device.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said monitoring step comprises the step of storing the number of days between each incoming log file and its preceding log file received from said scanning device.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said monitoring step further comprises the steps of:

calculating a historical average number of days between successive log files in a historical series of log files received from said scanning device; and

determining whether the number of days between each incoming log file and its next preceding log file received from said scanning device deviates from said historical average number of days by at least a predetermined amount.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said calculating step further comprising the step of excluding each incoming log file from said historical series of log files.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said characteristic is the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said monitoring step comprises the step of storing the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said monitoring step further comprises the steps of:

calculating a historical average size of a historical series of log files received from said scanning device; and

determining whether the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device deviates from said historical average size at least a predetermined amount.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said calculating step further comprising the step of excluding each incoming log file from said historical series of log files.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said operational data comprises system data identifying said scanning device and data recording usage of said scanning device.

13. A system comprising:

a scanning device at a remote location capable of acquiring scanning data when operated in a scanning mode;

a computer system at a central location; and

a communications channel for connecting said scanning device and said computer system,

wherein said scanning device is further capable of acquiring and storing operational data comprising an exam identifier, an exam date, an exam start time, an exam stop time, and an exam type for each exam performed using said scanning device, and periodically sending log files containing said stored operational data to said computer system via said communications channel in accordance with a data logging function when said data logging function is activated, and

wherein said computer system is programmed to perform the following steps;

activating said data logging function in said scanning device;

receiving log files from said scanning device in accordance with said activated data logging function;

generating a first datum representing a first characteristic of each received log file;

generating a second datum representing a second characteristic of each pair of successive received log files; and

monitoring said first and second data of each incoming log file to detect when said first characteristic of an incoming log file has a value which deviates from a historical norm of said first characteristic, and when said second characteristic of a pair of successive incoming log files has a value which deviates from a historical norm of said second characteristic.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said computer system is further programmed to reinitialize said data logging function in said scanning device via said communications channel in response to the value of either said first or second characteristic deviating from its respective historical norm by more than a predetermined amount.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first characteristic is the number of days between each incoming log file and its preceding log file received from said scanning device, and said second characteristic is the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said monitoring step comprises the steps of storing the number of days between each incoming log file and its preceding log file received from said scanning device, and storing the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said monitoring step further comprises the steps of:

calculating a historical average number of days between successive log files in a historical series of log files received from said scanning device;

determining whether the number of days between each incoming log file and its next preceding log file received from said scanning device deviates from said historical average number of days by at least a predetermined amount;

calculating a historical average size of a historical series of log files received from said scanning device; and

determining whether the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device deviates from said historical average size at least a predetermined amount.

18. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said operational data comprises system data identifying said scanning device and data recording usage of said scanning device.

19. A system comprising an automated central service facility connected to a multiplicity of remotely located scanning devices via communications channels, wherein each scanning device is programmed to acquire scanning data when operated in a scanning mode, and is further programmed to acquire and store operational data comprising an exam identifier, an exam date, an exam start time, an exam stop time, and an exam type for each exam performed using said scanning device, and periodically send log files containing stored operational data to said central service facility in accordance with a data logging program stored in said scanning device when said data logging program is activated, wherein said central service facility comprises:

means for activating a respective data logging program in each scanning device;

means for receiving log files from said scanning devices in accordance with said activated data logging programs;

means for generating a datum representing a characteristic of each received log file or a characteristic of each pair of successive received log files; and

means for monitoring said datum of each incoming log file to detect when said characteristic has a value which deviates from a historical norm for a particular device.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said central service facility further comprises means for reinitializing said data logging program in said particular scanning device via one of said communications channels in response to the value of said characteristic deviating from said historical norm by more than a predetermined amount.

21. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said characteristic is the number of days between receipt of an incoming log file and its preceding log file from the same scanning device, said characteristic being determined for each incoming log file and for each scanning device.

22. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said characteristic is the size of each incoming log file received from each scanning device.

23. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said operational data comprises system data identifying said scanning device and data recording usage of said scanning device.

24. A method of monitoring centralized data collection from a computerized scanning device at a remote location, comprising the steps of:

programming the scanning device to store operational data comprising an exam identifier, an exam date, an exam start time, an exam stop time, and an exam type for each exam performed using said scanning device, and periodically send log files containing said stored operational data to a central location via a communications channel in accordance with a data logging function when said data logging function is activated;

activating said data logging function in said scanning device from said central location via said communications channel;

receiving log files at said central location from said scanning device via said communications channel in accordance with said activated data logging function;

generating a datum representing a characteristic of each received log file or a characteristic of each pair of successive received log files; and

monitoring said datum of each incoming log file at said central location to detect when said characteristic has a value which deviates from a historical norm.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising the step of reinitializing said data logging function in said scanning device from said central location via said communications channel in response to the value of said characteristic deviating from said historical norm by more than a predetermined amount.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said predetermined amount is a predetermined percentage.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said characteristic is the number of days between each incoming log file and its preceding log file received from said scanning device.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said monitoring step comprises the steps of:

storing the number of days between each incoming log file and its preceding log file received from said scanning device;

calculating a historical average number of days between successive log files in a historical series of log files received from said scanning device; and

determining whether the number of days between each incoming log file and its next preceding log file received from said scanning device deviates from said historical average number of days by at least a predetermined amount.

29. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said characteristic is the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein said monitoring step comprises the steps of:

storing the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device;

calculating a historical average size of a historical series of log files received from said scanning device; and

determining whether the size of each incoming log file received from said scanning device deviates from said historical average size at least a predetermined amount.

31. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said operational data comprises system data identifying said scanning device and data recording usage of said scanning device.

32. A system comprising an automated central service facility connected to a multiplicity of remotely located scanning devices via communications channels, wherein each scanning device is programmed to acquire scanning data when operated in a scanning mode, and is further programmed to acquire and store operational data comprising an exam identifier, an exam date, an exam start time, an exam stop time, and an exam type for each exam performed using said scanning device, and periodically send log files containing stored operational data to said central service facility in accordance with a data logging program stored in said scanning device when said data logging program is activated, wherein said central service facility comprises a computer system programmed to perform the following steps:

receiving log files from said scanning devices in accordance with said activated data logging programs;

generating a datum representing a characteristic of each received log file or a characteristic of each pair of successive received log files; and

monitoring said datum of each incoming log file to detect when said characteristic has a value which deviates from a historical norm for a particular scanning device.

33. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein said characteristic is the number of days between receipt of an incoming log file and its preceding log file from the same scanning device, said characteristic being determined for each incoming log file and for each scanning device.

34. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein said monitoring step comprises the steps of:

storing the number of days between each incoming log file and its preceding log file received from each scanning device;

on a per device basis, calculating a historical average number of days between successive log files in a historical series of log files received from each scanning device; and

determining whether the number of days between each incoming log file and its next preceding log file received from each scanning device deviates from its historical average number of days by at least a predetermined amount.

35. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein said characteristic is the size of each incoming log file received from each scanning device.

36. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said monitoring step comprises the steps of:

storing the size of each incoming log file received from each scanning device;

on a per device basis, calculating a historical average size of a historical series of log files received from each scanning device; and

determining whether the size of each incoming log file received from each scanning device deviates from its historical average size at least a predetermined amount.

37. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein said operational data comprises system data identifying said scanning device and data recording usage of said scanning device.