Remote diagnosis system for medical appliances of modular design

• US 8,024,612 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hilderscheid, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Guyton; Philip
• Application Number:
  US11/882,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20080034257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 714/30, 378/114, 378/115, 378/116, 378/92, 378/207
• US Class Current: 714/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/581 Remote testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence

Abstract

A method is disclosed for determining a configuration for a computer tomograph for the purpose of error diagnosis, a module, a computer tomograph and a system of appropriate design. The computer tomograph includes a multiplicity of detector modules. In at least one embodiment, a respective detector module is designed to have an identification device which is intended to provide a signature, the signature being uniquely associated with the respective module. The detector module transmits the measurement data it captures and its signature. The digital, electronic signature allows remote maintenance of the computer tomograph.

Claims

1. A method for determining a configuration for a medical appliance for error diagnosis, the medical appliance including a plurality of modules for capturing measurement data intended to be fitted into the medical appliance, the method comprising:

providing a signature for a respective module, the signature being uniquely associated with the respective module; and

automatically determining a current configuration of the medical appliance after the modules are fitted into the medical appliance by identifying a slot for at least one of the plurality of modules in the medical appliance by automatically recording the respective signature of the at least one module, the signature being at least one of automatically processed, transmitted and stored together with measurement data captured by the at least one module;

wherein the method is dividable into two phases including;

a production phase, before the respective module is fitted into the medical appliance, in which the signature is provided, and

an operating phase, after the respective module has been fitted into the medical appliance, in which error diagnosis is performable and in which at least one of the signature is at least one of processed, transmitted and stored and in which the current configuration of the appliance is determinable.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medical appliance is a computer tomograph.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signature is at least one of transmitted from the module to at least one of an image reconstruction system and an error diagnosis entity, and stored.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signature is retrievable by a remote entity via a provided interface.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the configuration is determinable and the signature is recordable by a remote entity via at least one provided interface.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signature is at least one of transmitted and stored on the basis of configurable criteria.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signature is at least one of processed, transmitted and stored at least one of when the module is started up in the medical appliance and when the module is changed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the current configuration is indicative of an association between the plurality of detector modules and respective slots.

9. A hardware detector module, intended to capture measurement data and to be fitted into a medical appliance, the detector module comprising:

an electronic identification device configured to provide a signature for the hardware detector module, the signature being uniquely associated with the hardware detector module and the hardware detector module being configured such that the signature is at least one of automatically processable, transmittable and storable together with the captured measurement data;

wherein

the signature for the hardware detector module is provided in a production phase, before the hardware detector module is fitted into the medical appliance, and

a configuration of the medical appliance is automatically determined after the hardware detector module is fitted into the medical appliance by identifying a slot for the hardware detector module in the medical appliance by automatically recording the signature of the hardware detector module, wherein

the configuration of the medical appliance is determined in an operating phase, after the hardware detector module has been fitted into the medical appliance, in which error diagnosis is performable and in which the signature is at least one of processed, transmitted and stored.

10. A medical appliance comprising:

means for at least one of error diagnosis and monitoring; and

a hardware detector module as claimed in claim 9.

11. A hardware system for determining a configuration for a medical appliance for the purpose of error diagnosis, the medical appliance including a plurality of detector modules for capturing measurement data which are at least one of fitted in the medical appliance and intended to be fitted into the medical appliance, the system comprising:

at least one electronic identification device associated with a respective detector module and used to provide a signature identifying the detector module; and

an error diagnosis entity configured to automatically determine a current configuration of the medical appliance by identifying a slot for at least one of the plurality of detector modules in the medical appliance in question by virtue of the error diagnosis entity reading the respective signature for the detector module from the electronic identification device together with the data captured by the detector module;

wherein

the current configuration is indicative of an association between the plurality of detector modules and respective slots, and

the determining of the of the configuration of the medical appliance is dividable into two phases including,

a production phase, before the respective detector module is fitted into the medical appliance, in which the signature is provided, and

an operating phase, after the respective detector module has been fitted into the medical appliance, in which error diagnosis is performable and in which at least one of the signature is at least one of processed, transmitted and stored and in which the current configuration of the medical appliance is determinable.

12. A method for determining a configuration for a medical appliance for error diagnosis, the medical appliance including a plurality of detector modules for capturing measurement data intended to be fitted into the medical appliance, the method comprising:

providing a signature for a respective detector module, the signature being uniquely associated with the respective detector module; and

automatically determining a current configuration of the medical appliance after the detector modules are fitted into the medical appliance by identifying a slot for at least one of the plurality of detector modules in the medical appliance by automatically recording the respective signature of the at least one detector module, the signature being at least one of automatically processed, transmitted and stored together with measurement data captured by the at least one detector module;

wherein

the medical appliance is a computer tomograph, and

the method is dividable into two phases including;

a production phase, before the respective detector module is fitted into the medical appliance, in which the signature is provided, and

an operating phase, after the respective detector module has been fitted into the medical appliance, in which error diagnosis is performable and in which at least one of the signature is at least one of processed, transmitted and stored and in which the current configuration of the appliance is determinable.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signature is at least one of transmitted from the detector module to at least one of an image reconstruction system and an error diagnosis entity, and stored.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signature is retrievable by a remote entity via a provided interface.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the configuration is determinable and the signature is recordable by a remote entity via at least one provided interface.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signature is at least one of transmitted and stored on the basis of configurable criteria.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signature is at least one of processed, transmitted and stored at least one of when the detector module is started up in the medical appliance and when the detector module is changed.