Operating guidance system for medical equipment

• US 6,834,207 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Jun, Miyauchi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US10/067,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20020112733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 700/65, 700/83, 700/2-5, 700/14-17, 700/20, 700/75, 700/76, 700/84, 700/264, 600/300, 434/365, 434/369, 434/379, 434/401, 434/428, 345/704, 345/727, 345/716-719, 340/3.1, 340/3.9, 340/3.71
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/581 Remote testing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• 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

Abstract

A remote maintenance and operating guidance system in which data relating to the operation of a medical system in a hospital is transmitted to an operator who operates an operating device of the medical system from a service center by way of a communication device such as a dedicated telephone line. The system is equipped to monitor operations performed by the operator on the medical system, and to transmit data relating to the monitored operation to the operating device. Accordingly, it is possible to transmit details of the method of operation of the medical equipment more accurately and effectively to the operator from a location remote from the medical equipment.

Claims

1. A medical system located in medical facility and connected via a communication network to a server system in a service center located at a distance from the medical facility, comprising:

a disk unit configured to store a plurality of ways an operator can be guided in an operation of the medical system;

a selection unit configured to select automatically at least one of the ways based on a parameter for selection stored in the disk unit;

a monitor control unit configured to display the selected way on a monitor of the medical system;

a console with which the operator selects at least one of the ways displayed on the monitor; and

a communications device which interchanges data with the service center according to the selected way.

2. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for selection is rewritable from the service center.

3. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for selection is related to an elapsed time of the medical system.

4. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for selection is related to the frequency of filming with the medical system.

5. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a model number of the medical system.

6. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a sort of disease of a patient filmed with the medical system.

7. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for selection is related to an operator who operates the medical system.

8. The medical system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a division to which the operator belongs.

9. The medical system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter for selection is related to a working term of the operator.