Diagnostic delivery service

• US 8,111,809 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• 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:
  US12/322,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 378/182, 378/184, 378189-192, 378/102, 378/62, 378/63
• US Class Current: 378/102
• 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 one or more actions by a user and emitting a detection signal based on a detection of an action of the one or more actions by the user;

means for receiving user input;

means for certifying the user based at least partly on the received user input, wherein the means for certifying 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 based on the user certification;

means for receiving a portion of the energy from the means for emitting;

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

a receiver configured to receive a communication from the means for resetting the means for emitting via at least one of a wireless linkage, the Internet, a cellular network, a private or public telecommunications service or a wide area network, the receiver being further configured to route the received communication to the means for emitting;

a handheld device configured to support the receiver, the means for emitting and the means for receiving the portion of the energy, the means for receiving further configured to capture data from the portion of the energy;

means for receiving the captured data via the handheld device; and

means for computing an image from the captured data.

2. A system comprising:

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

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

circuitry for receiving user input;

circuitry for certifying the user based at least partly on the 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 device;

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

one or more sensing elements configured to receive a portion of the energy through a body part from the emission device;

circuitry for resetting the emission device partly based on the certification signal and partly based on the detection signal;

a receiver configured to receive a communication from the means for resetting the means for emitting via at least one of a wireless linkage, the Internet, a cellular network, a private or public telecommunications service or a wide area network, the receiver being further configured to route the received communication to the emission device;

a handheld device configured to support the receiver, the emission device and at least one of the one or more sensing elements in position to receive the portion of the energy, the one or more sensing elements further configured to capture data from the portion of the energy;

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the handheld device; and

circuitry for computing an image from the captured data.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the body part relative to the emission device.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wearable article supporting and positioning the one or more sensing elements to receive the portion of the energy that has passed through the body part, the one or more sensing elements further configured to capture data from the portion of the energy;

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article; and

circuitry for computing an image from the captured data.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing at least a type of the energy from the emission device.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for triggering an activation of the emission device; and

circuitry for notifying the user of the activation of the emission device.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for accepting input from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates another action by the other user; and

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

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates the action by the user.

10. The system of claim 2 in which the emission device operable for emitting energy through a wireless medium comprises:

the emission device, operable for emitting x-ray energy.

11. The system of claim 2 in which the emission device operable for emitting energy through a wireless medium comprises:

the emission device, operable for emitting one or more of ultrasound energy, infrared energy, visible-light energy, or ionizing radiation energy.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support the emission device.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a handheld device configured to support at least one of the one or more sensing elements.

14. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support a subset of the one or more sensing elements.

15. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the one or more sensing elements.

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

a patch or a belt.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

another article configured to support another of the one or more sensing elements.

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

an ultrasound emitter.

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

a radio frequency emitter suitable for magnetic resonance imaging.

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

a radio frequency emitter.

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

circuitry for accepting input from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

an ionizing radiation emitter;

circuitry for measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the ionizing radiation emitter; and

circuitry for responding to the measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation emissions by preventing the other user from being able to release more than 100 kilojoules of ionizing radiation energy via the ionizing radiation emitter.

22. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for accepting input from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

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

circuitry for activating the emission device at least in response to the second detection signal.

23. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more emitters of the emission device configured for scanning;

a wearable article supporting and positioning the one or more sensing elements to receive the portion of the energy that has passed through the body part, from at least one of the one or more emitters, the one or more sensing elements further configured to capture data from the portion of energy;

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article; and

circuitry for computing an image based on the captured data.

24. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

25. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

26. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

27. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a structure supporting the emission device and configured to present data in response to the detection signal in real time.

28. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for accepting input data from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device; and

an interface in a vicinity of the emission device configured to receive and to present the input data from the other user in real time.

29. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support the emission device;

one or more emitters of the emission device configured for scanning;

a wearable article supporting and positioning the one or more sensing elements to receive the portion of the energy that has passed through the body part, from at least one of the one or more emitters, the one or more sensing elements further configured to capture data from the portion of energy;

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article;

circuitry for computing an image based on the captured data;

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

another emission device, operable for emitting visible-light energy toward at least one of the one or more sensing elements.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a structure supporting the emission device and configured to present data in response to the detection signal in real time;

circuitry for accepting input data from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device; and

an interface in a vicinity of the emission device configured to receive and to present the input data from the other user in real time.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the body part relative to the emission device;

circuitry for accepting input from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates another action by the other user; and

circuitry for detecting the other action by the other user.

32. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a handheld device configured to support at least one of the one or more sensing elements;

circuitry for accepting input from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

circuitry for detecting an action by the other user and to emit a second detection signal based on the detected action by the other user;

circuitry for capturing a digital image in a vicinity of the emission device at least in response to the second detection signal; and

circuitry for sensing at least a type of the energy from the emission device.

33. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for accepting input from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

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

circuitry for activating the emission device at least in response to the second detection signal;

circuitry for capturing a digital image via at least one of the one or more sensing elements;

circuitry for sensing a position of the body part relative to the emission device; and

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

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the one or more sensing elements; and

another article configured to support another of the one or more sensing elements.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a handheld device configured to support at least one of the one or more sensing elements in position to receive the portion of the energy, the one or more sensing elements further configured to capture data from the portion of the energy;

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

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the handheld device; and

circuitry for computing an image from the captured data.

36. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a handheld device configured to support at least one of the one or more sensing elements;

circuitry for triggering an activation of the emission device;

circuitry for notifying the user of the activation of the emission device;

circuitry for sensing a position of the body part relative to the emission device; and

circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates the action by the user.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a structure supporting the emission device and configured to present data in response to the detection signal in real time;

circuitry for accepting input data from another user; and

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

an interface in a vicinity of the emission device configured to receive and to present the input data from the other user in real time.

38. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support the emission device;

circuitry for accepting input from another user;

circuitry for certifying the other user based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the circuitry for certifying the other user is configured to certify the other user by at least one of authenticating an identity of the other user or verifying that the other user is qualified to use the emission device;

circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates another action by the other user; and

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

39. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to support the emission device;

circuitry for activating the emission device at least in response to another detection signal based on a detection by the circuitry for detecting of another action by the user; and

circuitry for capturing a digital image via at least one of the one or more sensing elements.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device; and

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

41. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support a subset of the one or more sensing elements in position to receive the portion of the energy, the one or more sensing elements further configured to capture data from the portion of the energy;

another article configured to support another of the one or more sensing elements;

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article; and

circuitry for computing an image from the captured data.

42. A system comprising:

an emission device operable for emitting energy;

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

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

one or more sensing elements configured to receive a portion of the energy through a body part from the emission device;

circuitry for at least one of configuring or reconfiguring the emission device partly based on a the certification signal and partly based on the detection signal;

a receiver configured to receive a communication from the means for resetting the means for emitting via at least one of a wireless linkage, the Internet, a cellular network, a private or public telecommunications service or a wide area network, the receiver being further configured to route the received communication to the emission device;

a handheld device configured to support the receiver, the emission device and at least one of the one or more sensing elements in position to receive the portion of the energy, the one or more sensing elements further configured to capture data from the portion of the energy;

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the handheld device; and

circuitry for computing an image from the captured data.