Diagnostic delivery service

• US 8,083,406 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• 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: Bowers, Jeffrey A., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Rivet, Dennis J., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Artman, Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US12/322,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62, 378/63, 378/102, 378/182, 378189-192
• US Class Current: 378/192
• 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:

an electromagnetic radiation control module having at least a trigger operable for activating an ionizing radiation emitter;

first circuitry for resetting the electromagnetic radiation control module;

one or more emitters configured for scanning, including at least the ionizing radiation emitter; and

a wearable article configured to support a sensing element responsive to the ionizing radiation emitter and comprising a vest or a helmet.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the handheld device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

detection circuitry configured to receive energy from the ionizing radiation emitter, the detection circuitry including the sensing element; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the detection circuitry.

6. The system of claim 1 in which the wearable article configured to support a sensing element responsive to the ionizing radiation emitter comprises:

an ionizing radiation shield.

7. The system of claim 1 in which the electromagnetic radiation control module comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a user from being able to release more than a maximum amount of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter, the maximum amount being at most 100 kilojoules.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

activation-history-dependent circuitry responsive to the trigger; and

second circuitry for comparing a state of the activation-history-dependent circuitry with a threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

third circuitry for sensing a position of the ionizing radiation emitter.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support at least the sensing element;

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

third circuitry for transmitting a digital image indicating a position of a target relative to the ionizing radiation emitter.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio frequency emitter operable for magnetic resonance imaging and controlled by the electromagnetic radiation control module.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the handheld device.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

detection circuitry configured to receive energy from the ionizing radiation emitter, the detection circuitry including the sensing element; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the detection circuitry.

16. The system of claim 11 in which the wearable article configured to support a sensing element responsive to the ionizing radiation emitter comprises:

an ionizing radiation shield.

17. The system of claim 11 in which the electromagnetic radiation control module comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a user from being able to release more than a maximum amount of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter, the maximum amount being at most 100 kilojoules.

18. The system of claim 11 in which the electromagnetic radiation control module comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a user from being able to release more than a maximum amount of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter, the maximum amount being on the order of 1 kilojoule.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

activation-history-dependent circuitry responsive to the trigger; and

second circuitry for comparing a state of the activation-history-dependent circuitry with a threshold.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support at least the sensing element;

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

third circuitry for transmitting a digital image indicating a position of a target relative to the ionizing radiation emitter.

21. The system of claim 1, the wearable article being a vest.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the handheld device.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

detection circuitry configured to receive energy from the ionizing radiation emitter, the detection circuitry including the sensing element; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the detection circuitry.

26. The system of claim 21 in which the wearable article configured to support a sensing element responsive to the ionizing radiation emitter comprises:

an ionizing radiation shield.

27. The system of claim 21 in which the electromagnetic radiation control module comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a user from being able to release more than a maximum amount of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter, the maximum amount being at most 100 kilojoules.

28. The system of claim 21 in which the electromagnetic radiation control module comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a user from being able to release more than a maximum amount of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter, the maximum amount being on the order of 1 kilojoule.

29. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

activation-history-dependent circuitry responsive to the trigger; and

second circuitry for comparing a state of the activation-history-dependent circuitry with a threshold.

30. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support at least the sensing element;

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

third circuitry for transmitting a digital image indicating a position of a target relative to the ionizing radiation emitter.

31. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a radio frequency emitter operable for magnetic resonance imaging and controlled by the electromagnetic radiation control module.

32. The system of claim 1, the wearable article being a helmet.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter.

34. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a handheld device including at least detection circuitry configured to obtain a digital image of a body part resulting from an activation of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the handheld device.

36. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

detection circuitry configured to receive energy from the ionizing radiation emitter, the detection circuitry including the sensing element; and

a kiosk configured to support at least the detection circuitry.

37. The system of claim 32 in which the wearable article configured to support a sensing element responsive to the ionizing radiation emitter comprises:

an ionizing radiation shield.

38. The system of claim 32 in which the electromagnetic radiation control module comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a user from being able to release more than a maximum amount of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter, the maximum amount being at most 100 kilojoules.

39. The system of claim 32 in which the electromagnetic radiation control module comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a user from being able to release more than a maximum amount of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter, the maximum amount being on the order of 1 kilojoule.

40. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

activation-history-dependent circuitry responsive to the trigger; and

second circuitry for comparing a state of the activation-history-dependent circuitry with a threshold.

41. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support at least the sensing element;

second circuitry for sensing a type of the ionizing radiation emitter; and

third circuitry for transmitting a digital image indicating a position of a target relative to the ionizing radiation emitter.

42. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a radio frequency emitter operable for magnetic resonance imaging and controlled by the electromagnetic radiation control module.