System and method for managing power deactivation within a medical imaging system

• US 7,720,523 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zaman, Sabih Qamar-Uz, Omernick, Jon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brutus; Joel F
• Application Number:
  US11/180,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20060253022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/438, 601/2
• US Class Current: 600/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• 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 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/56 Switching-on; Switching-off

Abstract

A medical imaging system includes a medical imaging device, a medical imaging control subsystem, and an activation unit. The medical imaging control subsystem includes a processing unit and a monitor. The processing unit is in communication with the medical imaging device and the monitor. The activation unit is operatively connected to the medical imaging device and the medical imaging control subsystem, wherein the activation unit is operable to deactivate the medical imaging device and the medical imaging control subsystem.

Claims

1. A medical imaging system, comprising:

a medical imaging device;

a medical imaging control subsystem having a processing unit and a monitor, said processing unit being in communication with said medical imaging device and said monitor; and

an activation unit operatively connected to said medical imaging device and said medical imaging control subsystem, wherein said activation unit is operable to deactivate said medical imaging device and said medical imaging control subsystem with a single deactivation action.

2. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein said medical imaging device is a fluoroscopic C-arm comprising:

a main C-shaped body having first and second ends;

an x-ray source positioned on said first end; and

a detector positioned on said second end, wherein said detector is configured to receive x-rays emitted from said x-ray source.

3. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein said medical imaging device is an ultrasound imaging device.

4. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein said activation unit is configured to receive a key.

5. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein said activation unit includes one of a button and a switch.

6. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein said activation unit is also operable to activate said medical imaging device and said medical imaging control subsystem from a deactivated state.

7. The medical imaging system of claim 1, comprising a surgical navigation subsystem in communication with said medical imaging control subsystem and said activation unit, wherein said activation unit is operable to deactivate said surgical navigation subsystem along with said medical imaging control subsystem and said medical imaging device.

8. A method of deactivating a medical imaging system, comprising:

operatively connecting an activation unit to a medical imaging device and a medical imaging control subsystem;

engaging the activation unit into a deactivation position; and

deactivating both the medical imaging device and the medical imaging control subsystem through said engaging.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said deactivating comprises reducing power supplied to the medical imaging control subsystem for a set period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising powering off the medical imaging control subsystem if no reactivation event occurs during the set period of time.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising reactivating the medical imaging control subsystem and interrupting said deactivating if a reactivation event occurs during the set period of time.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said deactivating comprises powering off the medical imaging device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising immediately deactivating the medical imaging device and the medical imaging control subsystem if the activation unit loses communication with at least one of the medical imaging device and the medical imaging control subsystem.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said deactivating comprises allowing a critical application process to finish before shutting down the imaging control subsystem.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said deactivating comprises turning a key.

16. A method of deactivating a fluoroscopic imaging system, said fluoroscopic imaging system comprising a (i) C-arm assembly having a C-shaped body with an x-ray source and a detector mounted thereto and a C-arm operation control unit configured to control movement of the C-shaped body, and (ii) a fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem having an imaging control unit in communication a monitor and the C-arm assembly, the method comprising:

operatively connecting an activation unit to the C-arm assembly and the fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem;

engaging the activation unit into a deactivation position; and

deactivating both the C-arm assembly and the fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem through said engaging, wherein said deactivating comprises (i) immediately powering off the C-arm assembly and (ii) reducing power supplied to the fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem for a set period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising powering off the fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem if no reactivation event occurs during the set period of time.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising immediately deactivating the C-arm assembly and the fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem if the activation unit loses communication with at least one of the C-arm assembly and the fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said deactivating comprises allowing a critical application process to finish before shutting down the fluoroscopic imaging control subsystem.