Diagnostic delivery service

• US 8,047,714 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): Artman; Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US12/322,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 378/182, 378/184, 378189-192, 378/102
• US Class Current: 378/189
• 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 through a wireless medium;

means for detecting an action by a user and for emitting a sensor signal responsive to a detected action by the user;

means for receiving user input;

means for certifying the user at least partly responsive to received user input, wherein the means for certifying the user certifies the user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the user or verifying that the user is qualified to use the means for emitting;

means for outputting a certification signal responsive to the user certification;

means for resetting the means for emitting energy partly based on the sensor signal and partly based on the certification signal; and

means for positioning one or more sensing elements to receive a portion of the energy from the means for emitting energy, the means for positioning including a wearable article that is an article of clothing.

2. A system comprising:

an emission module operable for emitting energy through a wireless medium;

circuitry for detecting an action by a user;

circuitry for emitting a sensor signal responsive to a detected action by the user;

circuitry for receiving user input;

circuitry for certifying the user at least partly responsive to received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the user 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 module;

circuitry for outputting a certification signal responsive to the user certification;

circuitry for resetting the emission module partly based on the sensor signal and partly based on the certification signal;

one or more sensing elements for receiving a portion of the energy through a body part from the emission module; and

a wearable article configured to support the one or more sensing elements to receive the portion of the energy through the body part from the emission module, the wearable article being an article of clothing.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the emission module.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the emission module.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the emission module.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

an interface that includes at least one user input device; and

a kiosk supporting the emission module, the circuitry for detecting an action by the user, the circuitry for certifying the user, and the interface.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

an interface configured to present data in response to a received second sensor signal emitted by the circuitry for emitting based on a detection of another action by the user.

8. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

an ionizing radiation emission module operable for emitting ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for detecting an emission from the ionizing radiation emission module and for measuring or for determining cumulative emissions of the ionizing radiation emission module and for emitting an emissions signal responsive to the measured or determined cumulative emissions; and

circuitry for preventing excessive cumulative emissions by responding to the emissions signal by preventing activation of the ionizing radiation emission module if further activation of the ionizing radiation emission module would permit the user to release more than a threshold of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emission module.

9. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

an ionizing radiation emission module operable for emitting ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for detecting an emission from the ionizing radiation emission module and for measuring or for determining cumulative emissions of the ionizing radiation emission module and for emitting an emission signal based on the measured or determined cumulative emissions; and

circuitry for preventing excessive cumulative emissions by responding to the emission signal by preventing activation of the ionizing radiation emission module if further activation of the ionizing radiation emission module would permit the user to release more than 30 joules of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emission module.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for transmitting an image indicating a position of the body part relative to the emission module.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission module.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for triggering an emission of visible light.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for triggering an emission of visible light responsive to the sensor signal.

14. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

an ionizing radiation emission module.

15. The system of claim 2 in which the wearable article comprises:

circuitry for receiving one or more therapeutically relevant signals.

16. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a type of the emission module or of the energy.

17. The system of claim 2 in which the circuitry for resetting the emission module comprises:

a network linkage;

a receiver communicably coupled with the circuitry for resetting and with the network linkage; and

the circuitry for resetting the emission module responsive to a remote signal indicative of a sensor signal emitted by the circuitry for emitting and a certification signal output by the circuitry for outputting a certification signal, wherein the remote signal comprises a signal received by the receiver via the network linkage.

18. The system of claim 2 in which the wearable article comprises:

circuitry for transmitting data wirelessly from at least one of the one or more sensing elements.

19. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one of the one or more sensing elements operable for transmitting information associated with a digital image of the body part.

20. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

second circuitry for detecting non-ionizing radiation energy from the body part; and

another article configured to support the second circuitry.

21. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one of the one or more sensing elements, including at least circuitry for detecting at least a portion of the energy emitted by the emission module.

22. The system of claim 2, in which the emission module comprises:

a radio frequency emitter.

23. The system of claim 2, in which the emission module comprises:

an x-ray emitter.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting an additional action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on the detection of the additional action by the user;

at least one of the one or more sensing elements operable for transmitting information associated with a first digital image of the body part, including at least second circuitry for detecting at least a part of the energy emitted by the emission module;

third circuitry for triggering an emission of visible light responsive to the second sensor signal;

fourth circuitry for capturing a second digital image in response to the second signal and to a third signal based on another detection of another action by the user;

fifth circuitry for sensing a position of the emission module relative to a position of the one or more sensing elements;

sixth circuitry for obtaining an evaluation, based on the sensed position of the emission module relative to the one or more sensing elements, of whether the emission module is positioned to emit energy toward at least one of the one or more sensing elements for imaging;

seventh circuitry for transmitting a third digital image indicating a position of the body part relative to the emission module;

eighth circuitry for sensing a type of the emission module or of the energy emitted by the emission module;

ninth circuitry for detecting non-ionizing radiation energy from the body part;

another article configured to support at least the ninth circuitry;

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the emission module; and

a speaker configured to present audio data in the vicinity of the emission module.

25. The system of claim 2, in which the emission module comprises:

an ionizing radiation emitter;

circuitry for detecting an emission from and counting cumulative emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter and for outputting an emissions signal based on the emissions; and

circuitry for responding to the emission signal by preventing the user from being able to release more than 100 kilojoules of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter.

26. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting an additional action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on a detection of the additional action by the user; and

circuitry for capturing a digital image in response to the second sensor signal.

27. The system of claim 2 in which the emission module comprises:

one or more emitters configured for scanning, wherein at least one of the one or more sensing elements is configured to detect output from at least one of the one or more emitters; and

circuitry for computing an image resulting from data from the at least one of the one or more sensing elements.

28. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one of the one or more sensing elements, including at least circuitry for detecting at least a portion of the energy emitted by the emission module and circuitry for capturing a first digital image;

circuitry for transmitting a first digital image indicating a position of the body part relative to the emission module;

circuitry for detecting another action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on a detection of the other action by the user; and

circuitry for capturing a second digital image in response to the second sensor signal.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the emission module; and

a speaker configured to present audio data in the vicinity of the emission module.

30. The system of claim 2, comprising:

the at least one of the one or more sensing elements, including at least circuitry for detecting at least part of the energy emitted by the emission module and for capturing a first digital image that is based on the detected energy and that indicates a position of a body part relative to the emission module;

circuitry for transmitting the first digital image;

circuitry for capturing a second digital image at least in response to a second sensor signal based on another detection of another action by the user;

circuitry for receiving input from a human being; and

circuitry for signaling, responsive to received input from the circuitry for receiving input from a human being, whether one or more physiological features in the second digital image are recognizable to a human being.

31. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting non-ionizing radiation energy from the body part;

circuitry for capturing a digital image at least in response to a second sensor signal based on a detection of an additional action by the user;

circuitry for receiving input from a human being;

circuitry for signaling, responsive to received input from the circuitry for receiving input from a human being, whether one or more physiological features in the digital image are recognizable to a human being; and

another article configured to support the circuitry for detecting non-ionizing radiation energy.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting a further additional action by the user and for emitting a third sensor signal responsive to detection of the further additional action by the user; and

circuitry for triggering an emission of visible light responsive to the third sensor signal.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission module; and

circuitry for sensing a type of the emission module or of the energy.

34. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting an additional action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on the detected additional action by the user;

an interface configured to present data in response to a third sensor signal based on another detection of another action by the user;

a common structure supporting the emission module and the interface;

at least one of the one or more sensing elements operable for transmitting information associated with a first digital image of the body part; and

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the emission module.

35. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting another action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on the detection of the other action by the user;

circuitry for capturing a digital image of the body part in response to the second sensor signal;

at least one of the one or more sensing elements operable for transmitting information associated with the digital image of the body part;

an interface configured to present data in response to a third sensor signal based on a third detection of a third action by the user; and

a common structure supporting the emission module and the interface.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the emission module.

37. The system of claim 2:

wherein the circuitry for certifying the user is configured to authenticate an identity of the user by performing at least one of voice, fingerprint, password, cryptographic or biometric authentication; and

wherein the circuitry for certifying the user is configured to determine that the user is qualified to use the emission module by performing a skills verification.

38. A system comprising:

an emission module operable for emitting energy through a wireless medium;

circuitry for detecting an action by a user;

circuitry for emitting a sensor signal responsive to detected action by the user;

circuitry for receiving user input;

circuitry for certifying the user at least partly responsive to received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying 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 module;

circuitry for outputting a certification signal based on the user certification;

circuitry for resetting the emission module partly based on the sensor signal and partly based on the certification signal;

one or more sensing elements for receiving a portion of the energy through a body part from the emission module;

a wearable article configured to support the one or more sensing elements to receive the portion of the energy through the body part from the emission module;

circuitry for detecting an additional action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on the detected additional action by the user;

circuitry for capturing a digital image responsive to the second sensor signal; and

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

39. A system comprising:

an emission module operable for emitting energy through a wireless medium;

circuitry for detecting an action by a user;

circuitry for emitting a sensor signal responsive to detected action by the user;

circuitry for receiving user input;

circuitry for certifying the user at least partly responsive to received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying 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 module;

circuitry for outputting a certification signal responsive to the user certification;

circuitry for resetting the emission module partly based on the sensor signal and partly based on the certification signal;

one or more sensing elements for receiving a portion of the energy through a body part from the emission module;

a wearable article configured to support the one or more sensing elements to receive the portion of the energy through the body part from the emission module;

circuitry for detecting an additional action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on the detected additional action by the user;

circuitry for capturing a digital image at least in response to the second sensor signal;

circuitry for receiving a signal indicating a failure to recognize one or more physiological features in the digital image and for providing user guidance in response to the signal indicating the failure to recognize one or more physiological features in the digital image; and

circuitry for detecting non-ionizing radiation energy from the body part.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

a interface configured to present data in response to a third sensor signal based on another detection of another action by the user.

41. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the emission module; and

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the emission module.

42. A system comprising:

an emission module operable for emitting energy through a wireless medium;

circuitry for detecting an action by a user;

circuitry for emitting a sensor signal responsive to the detected action by the user;

circuitry for receiving user input;

circuitry for certifying the user at least partly responsive to the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the user 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 module;

circuitry for outputting a certification signal based on the user certification;

circuitry for resetting the emission module partly based on the sensor signal and partly based on the certification signal;

one or more sensing elements for receiving a portion of the energy through a body part from the emission module;

a wearable article configured to support the one or more sensing elements to receive the portion of the energy through the body part from the emission module;

circuitry for detecting a second action by the user and for emitting a second sensor signal based on the detected second action by the user;

a common structure supporting the emission module and the interface;

at least one of the one or more sensing elements operable for transmitting information associated with a first digital image of the body part;

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the emission module;

circuitry for capturing a second digital image at least in response to the second sensor signal;

circuitry for receiving a signal indicating a failure to recognize one or more physiological features in the second digital image and for providing user guidance in response to the signal indicating the failure to recognize one or more physiological features in the second digital image; and

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the emission module.

43. A system comprising:

an emission module operable to wirelessly transmit energy through a body part;

at least one sensing element configured to receive a portion of the energy transmitted through the body part by the emission module;

a certification module configured to receive user input to certify a user at least partly responsive to received user input and to emit a certification signal based on the user certification, wherein the certification module 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 module;

at least one sensor configured to detect an action by a user and to provide a sensor signal based on the action by the user;

circuitry for resetting the emission module partly based on the certification signal from the certification module and partly based on the provided sensor signal; and

a wearable article configured to support and position the at least one sensing element to receive the portion of the energy transmitted through the body part by the emission module the wearable article being an article of clothing.