Method and apparatus for associating a field replaceable unit with a medical diagnostic system and recording operational data

• US 7,107,189 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Shepard, James S., Gravelle, Stephen W., Lounsberry, Brian D., Schmidt, Jonathan R., Idelchik, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S.
• Application Number:
  US09/450,264
• Time in Patent Office: 2,479 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 700/9
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• 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 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• 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 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation

Abstract

A method for associating a field replaceable unit with a medical diagnostic system includes querying for information on a field replaceable unit to be associated with a medical diagnostic system by sending a query to an electronic device associated with the field replaceable unit, receiving information on the field replaceable unit, and configuring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the information. A corresponding apparatus includes a storage medium physically coupled to the field replaceable unit and a programmed digital processing circuit coupled to the storage medium. The storage medium contains identification information for a field replaceable unit. The processing circuit responds to requests for identification information from the medical diagnostic system.

Claims

1. A method for associating a replacement field replaceable unit with a medical diagnostic system, the replacement field replaceable unit being different than the field replaceable unit that is being replaced, therefore requiring a reconfiguration of the medical diagnostic system, the method comprising:

querying for information on a replacement field replaceable unit to be associated with a medical diagnostic system by sending a query to an electronic device associated with the replacement field replaceable unit;

receiving information on the replacement field replaceable unit from the electronic device; and

reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system for use with the replacement field replaceable unit in accordance with the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of querying for information comprises sending a query to a memory circuit attached to the replacement field replaceable unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving information comprises receiving identification information from the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of receiving information further comprises receiving association information from a remote service facility, the association information providing data for the step of reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of communicating operational data of the replacement field replaceable unit to the remote service facility.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving information further comprises receiving association information from the electronic device, the association information providing data for the step of reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating operational data related to the replacement field replaceable unit to the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system is in accordance with characteristic information regarding operation of an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the replacement field replaceable unit.

9. A method for associating a replacement field replaceable unit with a medical diagnostic system, the replacement field replaceable unit being different than the field replaceable unit that is being replaced, therefore requiring a reconfiguration of the medical diagnostic system, the method comprising:

querying for information on a replacement field replaceable unit to be associated with a medical diagnostic system by sending a query to an electronic device associated with the replacement field replaceable unit;

receiving identification information on the replacement field replaceable unit from the electronic device;

receiving association information from a remote service facility;

generating a subscription file based upon the association information, the subscription file including data uniquely identifying a field service unit and a service subscription for the medical diagnostic system and storing the subscription file in a machine readable form; and

reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system for use with the replacement field replaceable unit in accordance with the association information and identification information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a service request subject to a service subscription and verifying a subscription file status based upon the service request.

11. An apparatus which provides for the association of a replacement field replaceable unit to a medical diagnostic system and the recording of replacement field replaceable unit operational data, the replacement field replaceable unit being different than the field replaceable unit that is being replaced, therefore requiring a reconfiguration of the medical diagnostic system, the apparatus comprising:

a storage medium physically coupled to the replacement field replaceable unit, the storage medium containing identification information for the replacement field replaceable unit;

a programmed digital processing circuit coupled to the storage medium, the processing circuit being responsive to requests for identification information from the medical diagnostic system; and

an operating system that reconfigures the medical diagnostic system for use with the replacement field replaceable unit in accordance with the identification information.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a communication interface coupled to the medical diagnostic system, the communication interface being configured to allow communications between the medical diagnostic system and a remote facility via a network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the storage medium provides a memory location for a record of operational data for the field replaceable unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the storage medium contains characterization information related to the reconfiguration of the medical diagnostic system for the operation of the replacement field replaceable unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the storage medium is physically coupled to an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the replacement field replaceable unit.

16. A system for associating a replacement field replaceable unit with a medical diagnostic system, the replacement field replaceable unit being different than the field replaceable unit that is being replaced, therefore requiring a reconfiguration of the medical diagnostic system, the system comprising:

means for electronically querying for information on a replacement field replaceable unit to be associated with a medical diagnostic system;

means for electronically receiving information on the replacement field replaceable unit; and

means for reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system for use with the replacement field replaceable unit in accordance with the information.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means attached to the replacement field replaceable unit for storing association information regarding the replacement field replaceable unit.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for recording operational information associated with the operation of the replacement field replaceable unit in the medical diagnostic system.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for interfacing with a remote facility via a communication network.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with association information from the remote facility.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for servicing the replacement field replaceable unit via the communication network.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system is in accordance with characteristic information regarding operation of an x-ray tube, the x-ray tube being the replacement field replaceable unit.

23. A method for reconfiguring a medical diagnostic system for use with a replacement field replaceable unit, the replacement field replaceable unit being different than the field replaceable unit that is being replaced, therefore requiring a reconfiguration of the medical diagnostic system, the method comprising:

providing a medical diagnostic system having a replacement field replaceable unit;

providing an electronic device associated with the replacement field replaceable unit;

providing a storage medium on the electronic device, the storage medium containing identification information and characterization information related to the reconfiguration of the medical diagnostic system for the operation of the replacement field replaceable unit;

querying for information on the replacement field replaceable unit by sending a query to the electronic device associated with the field replaceable unit;

receiving identification information and characterization information on the replacement field replaceable unit from the electronic device; and

reconfiguring the medical diagnostic system for use with the replacement field replaceable unit in accordance with the identification information and characterization information.