Diagnostic delivery service

• US 8,116,429 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• 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:
  US12/322,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 378/182, 378/184, 378189-192, 378/102, 378/62, 378/63
• US Class Current: 378/63
• 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 emission device;

means for detecting an action by a user of the emission device and emitting a detection signal based on a detection of the action 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 emission device;

means for outputting a certification signal based at least partially on the user certification;

means for detecting at least a portion of energy, from the emission device, that has passed through or reflected from a body part;

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

means for sensing a position of the emission device relative to the body part, wherein the sensing the position of the emission device does not include obtaining an image of the body part with the emission device;

the emission device, operable for emitting ionizing energy as the electromagnetic energy; and

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission device.

2. A system comprising:

an emission device operable for emitting electromagnetic energy;

circuitry for detecting at least a portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy, from the emission device, that has passed through a body part;

circuitry for detecting an action by a user and emitting a detection signal based on the detected action 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 at least partially on the user certification;

circuitry for detecting at least a portion of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy that has reflected from or passed through the body part;

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

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a data output in a vicinity of the emission device.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

an input device for accepting input from the user; and

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

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the circuitry for detecting at least a portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy comprises:

at least one sensing element configured to detect and capture data from the at least the portion of the ionizing electromagnetic energy;

a wearable article configured to support and position the at least one sensing element to detect and capture data from the at least the portion of the ionizing electromagnetic energy; and

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article and computing an image from the captured data.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the circuitry for detecting at least a portion of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy comprises:

at least one sensing element configured to detect and to capture data from the at least the portion of the non-ionizing electromagnetic energy;

a wearable article configured to support and position the at least one sensing element to detect and to capture data from the at least the portion of the non-ionizing electromagnetic energy; and

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article and for computing an image from the captured data.

12. 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.

13. 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; and

fourth circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates another action by the other user.

14. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

another emission device, operable for emitting visible-light energy.

15. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

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

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

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

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

the emission device, operable for emitting one or more of ultrasound energy or the electromagnetic energy.

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

another emission device, operable for emitting radio-frequency energy.

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

a single-use component.

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

an emitter operable for emitting at least some ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation emissions of the emitter;

circuitry for emitting an emissions signal responsive to the at least one of measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the emitter; and

circuitry for preventing excessive cumulative emissions by responding to the emissions signal by preventing emitter emissions that would allow at least an unspecified user to release more than 300 joules of ionizing radiation energy via the emitter.

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

an emitter operable for emitting at least some ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for at least one of determining or measuring cumulative ionizing radiation emissions of the emitter;

circuitry for emitting an emissions signal responsive to the at least one of determined or measured cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the emitter; and

circuitry for preventing excessive cumulative emissions by responding to the emissions signal by preventing emitter emissions that would allow at least an unspecified user to release more than 30 joules of ionizing radiation energy via the emitter.

22. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission device.

23. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the circuitry for detecting at least the portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy or the circuitry for detecting at least the portion of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy.

24. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the emission device or the circuitry for resetting the emission device.

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

an ionizing electromagnetic energy emitter;

circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing electromagnetic energy emissions of the emitter;

circuitry for emitting an emissions signal responsive to the at least one of measured or determined cumulative ionizing electromagnetic energy emissions from the emitter; and

circuitry for preventing excessive cumulative emissions by responding to the emissions signal by preventing emitter emissions that would allow the cumulative ionizing electromagnetic energy emissions via the emitter to exceed a threshold.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

circuitry for accepting input from an other 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 for emitting a second detection signal based on a detection of the action by the other user;

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device relative to the body part, the circuitry being configured to perform the sensing without obtaining an image of the body part with the emission device;

circuitry for triggering an activation of the emission device;

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

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

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission device;

the emission device, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy;

a visible-light emission device, operable for emitting visible-light energy;

a display configured to present a facial second image in a vicinity of the visible-light emission device;

a speaker configured to present audio data in a vicinity of the visible-light emission device; and

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the circuitry for detecting at least the portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy or the circuitry for detecting at least the portion of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy.

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

an ionizing electromagnetic energy emitter;

circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing electromagnetic energy emissions of the emitter;

circuitry for emitting an emissions signal responsive to the at least one of measured or determined cumulative ionizing electromagnetic energy emissions from the emitter; and

circuitry for preventing excessive cumulative emissions by responding to the emissions signal by preventing emitter emissions that would allow at least an unspecified user to release more than 100 kilojoules of ionizing electromagnetic energy via the emitter.

28. 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 for emitting a second detection signal based on a detection of the action by the other user;

circuitry for capturing a digital image at least in response to the second detection 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.

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

one or more emitters configured for scanning;

at least one sensing element configured to capture data from the at least the portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy emitted by at least one of the one or more emitters; and

circuitry for computing an image from the captured data.

30. 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 another user and for emitting a second detection signal based on a detection of the action by the other user;

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

the emission device, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy; and

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

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to interact with the user, the kiosk including circuitry for providing guidance that facilitates the action by the user.

32. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one sensing element configured to capture data from the at least the portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy;

a wearable article configured to support and position the at least one sensing element to capture data from the at least the portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy; and

circuitry for triggering an activation of the emission device;

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

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article and for computing an image from the captured data; and

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

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

another emission device, operable for emitting visible-light energy; and

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

34. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device, wherein the sensing does not include obtaining an image of the body part with the emission device;

the emission device, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy;

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission device; and

a wearable article configured to support at least one of the circuitry for resetting the emission device or the circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a data output device in a vicinity of the emission device; and

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

36. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device relative to the body part, wherein the sensing the position of the emission device does not include obtaining an image of the body part with the emission device;

the emission device, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy; and

a handheld device configured to support at least the emission device.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a wearable article configured to support and position at least one of the circuitry for detecting at least the portion of ionizing electromagnetic energy or the circuitry for detecting at least the portion of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy; and

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

38. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one sensing element configured to capture data from at least the portion of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy;

a wearable article configured to support and position the at least one sensing element to capture data from at least the portion of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy; and

circuitry for receiving the captured data via the wearable article and for computing an image from the captured data;

circuitry for sensing a position of the emission device, the circuitry being configured to perform the sensing without obtaining an image of the body part with the emission device;

the emission device, operable for emitting x-ray energy as the electromagnetic energy;

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

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

39. The system of claim 2, comprising:

circuitry for detecting at least a portion of other energy that has traveled from the emission device and has passed through or reflected from the body part, wherein the “

other energy”

is energy that is not electro-magnetic energy.

40. A system comprising:

an emission device operable for emitting ionizing radiation energy and non-ionizing radiation energy;

a certification device, implemented at least in part by hardware, configured to receive user input and to perform a user certification based at least partly on the received user input and to output a certification signal based on the user certification, wherein the certification 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, implemented at least in part by hardware, configured to detect an action of the user and to output a detection signal based on the detected user action;

circuitry for detecting and capturing data from at least a portion of the ionizing radiation energy that has passed from the emission device through a body part;

circuitry for detecting and capturing data from at least a portion of non-ionizing energy that passed from the emission device through or reflected from the body part; and

circuitry for configuring or reconfiguring the emission device partly based on the certification signal and partly based on the detection signal;

circuitry for detecting at least a portion of other energy that has traveled from the emission device and has passed through or reflected from the body part, wherein the “

other energy”

is energy that is not electro-magnetic energy.