Method and system for remote image display to facilitate clinical workflow

• US 7,865,211 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Fors, Steven, Jabri, Kadri N., Avinash, Gopal B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US12/561,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• 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 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for improved clinical workflow using wireless communication. A system for remote image display includes a data source with image data, wherein the data source is capable of transmitting the image data. The system also includes an identifiable display device capable of displaying image data transferred from the data source and a portable device capable of identifying the display device and requesting image data transfer from the data source to the display device without the transfer of the image data between the portable device and the data source. The system may also include an access point for relaying communication between the portable device and the data source. Communication between the portable device, the data source, and/or the display may include wireless communication, for example.

Claims

1. A system for remote image display to facilitate a clinical workflow in a clinical environment, said system comprising:

a data source including clinical image data related to a patient, said data source transmitting said image data in response to a request;

an identifiable display device displaying image data transferred from said data source, said identifiable display device being associated with an identifier to identify said display device among a plurality of display devices, said data source being external to said identifiable display device; and

a portable device capable of retrieving said image data from said data source and displaying said image data on said portable device, said portable device identifying said display device using said identifier associated with said identifiable display device to select said display device from among the plurality of display devices across a plurality of locations in the clinical environment, said portable device requesting image data transfer from said data source to said display device wherein image data transferred to said display device from said data source is transferred without passing through said portable device to be relayed to said data source,

wherein said data source transmits said image data in response to a request specifying requested image data and target display device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an access point for relaying communication between said portable device and said data source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a diagnostic quality display.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a uniquely identifiable display device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said data source further includes non-image data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said display device is capable of displaying said non-image data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein communication between said portable device and said data source comprises wireless communication.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein communication between said data source and said display comprises wireless communication.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein identification between said portable device and said display device occurs through wireless communication.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable device comprises one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone, laptop computer, pocket personal computer or ultra personal computer.

11. A method for remote display of images in a healthcare environment to facilitate a clinical workflow, said method comprising:

associating a display device with an identifier;

identifying the display device, with a portable device that is capable of retrieving and displaying image data from an external data source, using the identifier associated with the display device to identify said display device among a plurality of display devices in a plurality of locations in the healthcare environment;

requesting a transfer of image data from the external data source to said display device using said portable device wherein image data transferred to said display device from said data source is transferred without passing through said portable device to be relayed to said data source, wherein said data source transmits said image data in response to a request specifying requested image data and target display device; and

displaying said data at said display device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said requesting step further comprises requesting said transfer of said image data from said data source via a wireless connection.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said display comprises a diagnostic quality display.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said identification step occurs through wireless communication.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising relaying said request for data via an access point to said data source.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling said display device.