Diagnostic delivery service

• US 8,031,838 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Bowers, Jeffrey A., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick; Edward J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Artman; Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US12/322,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 378/102, 378/97, 378/108, 378/114, 378/115, 378/117
• US Class Current: 378/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4021 involving movement of the focal spot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1074 Details of the control system, e.g. user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 : X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other modalities are described for (a) obtaining an indication relating to an emission module (which may be dangerous, e.g.) or its user (who may be untrained, e.g.) and for (b) configuring the module or causing an irradiation (for imaging, e.g.) in response to the indication.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

means for emitting energy for body imaging;

means for detecting at least a portion of emitted energy that has passed through a body part and for capturing data from the at least the portion of the emitted energy;

means for computing a first image based on the captured data;

means for detecting one or more actions by a user and for emitting a detection signal based on a detection of an action of the one or more actions by the user;

means for transmitting the first image of the body part to remote circuitry in response to the detection signal, wherein the remote circuitry is circuitry to which the means for transmitting transmits the first image via at least one of a wireless linkage, the Internet, a cellular network, or a wide area network;

means for receiving a remote signal from the remote circuitry, wherein the remote signal is a signal received by the means for receiving from the remote circuitry via at least one of the wireless linkage, the Internet, the cellular network or the wide area network;

means for causing the means for emitting energy to emit additional energy through the body part in response to the remote signal;

means for computing a second image of the body part, based on additional data captured from a detected portion of the additional energy by the means for detecting at least a portion of emitted energy, in response to the remote signal wherein the means for receiving is configured to communicate with the means for causing the means for emitting and the means for capturing;

an ionizing radiation energy emitter as a part of the means for emitting energy;

means for detecting an ionizing radiation energy emission from the ionizing radiation energy emitter and for counting cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions from the ionizing radiation and for at least one of storing or transmitting data based on the cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions; and

means for responding to the stored or transmitted data by preventing emitter emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter that would allow the cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter to exceed a threshold.

2. A system comprising:

an emissions device for emitting energy for body imaging;

one or more sensing elements configured to detect a portion of the emitted energy that has passed through a body part from the emissions device and further configured to capture data from the detected portion of the emitted energy;

an imaging component configured to compute a first image based on at least some of the captured data;

circuitry for detecting one or more actions by a user and for emitting a detection signal based on a detection of an action of the one or more actions by the user;

circuitry for transmitting the first image of the body part to a remote circuitry in response to the detection signal, wherein the remote circuitry is circuitry to which the circuitry for transmitting transmits the first image via at least one of a wireless linkage, the Internet, a cellular network, or a wide area network;

circuitry for receiving a remote signal from the remote circuitry, wherein the remote signal is a signal received by the circuitry for receiving from the remote circuitry via at least one of the wireless linkage, the Internet, the cellular network or the wide area network;

circuitry for causing the emissions device to emit additional energy through the body part in response to the remote signal;

the imaging component configured to compute a second image of the body part, based on additional data captured by the one more sensing elements from a detected portion of the additional energy, in response to the remote signal, wherein the circuitry for receiving is configured to communicate with the circuitry for causing the emissions device and the imaging component;

an ionizing radiation energy emitter as a part of the emission device;

circuitry for detecting an ionizing radiation energy emission from and counting cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions from the ionizing radiation and for at least one of storing or transmitting data based on the cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions; and

circuitry for acquiring and responding to the stored or transmitted data by preventing emitter emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter that would allow the cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter to exceed a threshold.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the imaging component.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the imaging component.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the imaging component.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

an interface in a vicinity of the imaging component.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display configured to receive input data in the remote signal from the remote circuitry via the means for receiving and to present the input data in real time;

a user interface; and

a structure supporting the imaging component, the user interface, and the display.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of an emission device relative to the body part and for providing instructions for positioning the emission module to irradiate the body part, wherein the circuitry for sensing the position senses the position without capturing an image of the body part.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving at least some of the captured data via a wearable article and for communicating the captured data to the imaging component.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a visible light emission device responsive to the circuitry for transmitting the first image.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

an ionizing radiation emission device responsive to the circuitry for causing the emission device to emit additional energy.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

an emission device responsive to the circuitry for causing the emission device to emit additional energy; and

circuitry for sensing a type of the emission device.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving user input and certifying the user based at least partly on the received user input and outputting a certification signal based on the user certification, wherein the circuitry is configured to certify the user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the user or verifying that the user is qualified to use the emission device; and

circuitry for enabling the circuitry for causing the emission device to emit additional energy in response to the certification signal.

14. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting a position of the imaging component relative to the body part and for providing guidance that facilitates a user action that positions the imaging component.

15. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates a user action that positions the circuitry for causing the emission device to emit additional energy.

16. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates a user action that triggers the irradiation of the body part.

17. The system of claim 2 in which the emission device comprises:

a radio frequency emitter operable for irradiating the body part.

18. The system of claim 2 in which the emission device comprises:

an ultrasound emitter operable for irradiating the body part.

19. The system of claim 2 in which the emission device comprises:

an x-ray emitter operable for irradiating the body part.

20. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least the second circuitry for causing the emission device to emit additional energy.

21. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support the ionizing radiation emitter, the circuitry for detecting an ionizing radiation energy emission, circuitry for acquiring and responding to the stored or transmitted data, the one or more sensing elements, and a user interface, the kiosk being further configured to support at least one of the one or more sensing elements in a position to detect and to capture data from at least a portion of energy emitted by the ionizing radiation emitter.

22. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more visible light cameras configured to capture a third image in response to the detection signal, the third image depicting at least a portion of a subject'"'"'s face.

23. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more visible light cameras configured to capture a third image in response to the detection signal, the one or more visible light cameras being in a vicinity of the ionizing radiation emitter.

24. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more visible light cameras configured to capture a third image in response to the detection signal.

25. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more video cameras configured to capture video data comprising a third image in response to the detection signal.

26. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for acquiring and responding to the stored or transmitted data by preventing emitter emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter that would allow the cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter to exceed a threshold comprises:

circuitry for acquiring and responding to the stored or transmitted data by preventing emitter emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter that would allow the cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter to exceed a threshold of 100 kilojoules of ionizing radiation energy.

27. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving a signal indicating a failure to recognize one or more features in the first image of the body part and for providing user guidance in response to a failure to recognize one or more physiological features in the first image of the body part.

28. The system of claim 2 in which the emission device comprises:

one or more emitters configured for scanning.

29. The system of claim 2 in which the emission device comprises:

a radio frequency emitter operable for irradiating the body part;

an ultrasound emitter operable for irradiating the body part;

an x-ray emitter operable for irradiating the body part; and

one or more emitters configured for scanning.

30. A system comprising:

an emission device for emitting energy for body imaging;

one or more sensing elements configured to detect a portion of the emitted energy that has passed through a body part from the emissions device, the sensing elements being configured to capture data from the detected portion of the emitted energy;

an imaging component configured to compute a first image of the body part from the captured data;

at least one sensor configured to detect at least one action by a user and to emit a detection signal based on a detection of an action of the one or more actions by the user;

a transmitter configured to transmit the first image of the body part to a remote circuitry in response to the detection signal, wherein the remote circuitry is circuitry to which the transmitter transmits the first image via at least one of the Internet, a cellular network, or a wide area network;

a receiver configured to receive a remote signal from the remote circuitry, wherein the remote signal is a signal received by the receiver from the remote circuitry via at least one of a wireless linkage, the Internet, a cellular network or a wide area network;

control logic configured to cause the emissions device to emit additional energy through the body part in response to the remote signal;

the imaging component further configured to compute a second image of the body part in response to the remote signal, the imaging component configured to compute the second image based on additional data captured by the one or more sensing elements from a detected portion of the additional energy and wherein the receiver is configured to communicate with the control logic and the imaging component;

an ionizing radiation energy emitter as a part of the emission device;

circuitry for detecting an ionizing radiation energy emission from and counting cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter and for at least one of storing or emitting data based on the cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter; and

circuitry for acquiring and responding to the stored or emitted data by preventing emitter emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter that would allow the cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter to exceed a threshold.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the first image to the remote circuitry, at least in part, via a cellular network and the receiver is configured to receive the remote signal from the remote circuitry, at least in part, via the cellular network.

32. Thy system of claim 30, wherein the remote signal comprises two or more remote signals.