Diagnostic delivery service

• US 8,254,524 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Artman, Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US12/322,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 378/97, 378/102, 378/108, 378/117
• US Class Current: 378/108
• 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:

one or more emission modules operable for emitting at least ionizing radiation energy;

means for preventing the release, in any single emission, of more than a first threshold of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emission modules;

means for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation irradiations of one or more body parts by the one or more emission modules;

means for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation from the one or more emission modules responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation irradiations of the one or more body parts if the emission of the ionizing radiation from the one or more emission modules would allow the irradiation of the one or more body parts by more than a second threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy; and

means for resetting, in response to the remote signal, the circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation irradiations, the resetting to allow at least one additional emission of ionizing radiation from the one or more emission modules.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the one or more emission modules.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display configured to present a facial image in a vicinity of the one or more emission modules.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a local interface in a vicinity of the one or more emission modules configured to present input data from a remote individual in real time.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry for transmitting a preliminary image indicating a position of a target relative to at least one of the one or more emission modules.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

first circuitry for activating the one or more emission modules; and

second circuitry for enabling the first circuitry in response to a remote signal.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

first circuitry for causing the one or more emission modules to emit the at least ionizing radiation energy; and

second circuitry for enabling the first circuitry in response to a user certification.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry for capturing a digital image of a body part of the one or more body parts in response to a portion of the at least ionizing radiation energy; and

circuitry for transmitting the digital image.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a support for positioning one or more sensing elements to receive a portion of the at least ionizing radiation energy.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry for causing the one or more emission modules to emit the at least the ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for enabling the circuitry for causing in response to a user certification;

circuitry for computing an image of a one of the one or more body parts from a portion of the at least the ionizing radiation energy;

a wearable article configured to support the circuitry for computing an image;

circuitry for transmitting the image; and

a display configured to present video data in a vicinity of the one or more emission modules.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry for obtaining a preliminary image of a first emission module of the one or more emission modules, the preliminary image indicating a position of the first emission module;

circuitry for sensing a type of the first emission module;

circuitry for capturing data from the at least ionizing radiation energy;

a wearable article configured to support the circuitry for capturing data and to receive the captured data;

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

circuitry for activating the first emission module; and

circuitry for enabling the circuitry for activating in response to a remote signal.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a local interface in a vicinity of the first emission module configured to present input data from a remote individual in real time; and

another emission module configured to permit any a user to emit non-ionizing radiation energy via the other emission module.

13. A system comprising:

one or more emission modules operable for emitting energy for imaging;

one or more emitters, as part of the one or more emission modules, the one or more emitters being operable for emitting at least ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions from the one or more emitters;

circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for capturing a digital image in response to a portion of the energy for imaging;

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

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

14. The system of claim 13 in which the circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy comprises:

circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than 100 kilojoules of cumulative ionizing radiation energy.

15. The system of claim 13 in which the circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy comprises:

circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than 30 joules of cumulative ionizing radiation energy.

16. The system of claim 13 in which the circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions from the one or more emitters and the circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy comprise:

circuitry for indicating cumulative inonizing radiation energy emissions from the one or more emitters;

circuitry for comparing a state of the circuitry for indicating with a threshold; and

circuitry for conditionally preventing an activation of the one or more emitters responsive to the circuitry for comparing so that ionizing radiation energy emissions from the one or more emitters do not exceed the threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

circuitry for causing the one or more emitters to release the ionizing radiation energy;

circuitry for receiving input from at least a first and a second user;

circuitry for certifying at least the first user and the second user based at least partly on received input from the first user and the second user, wherein the circuitry is configured to perform certifications by at least one of authenticating identities or verifying qualifications to use the one or more emitters;

circuitry for enabling the circuitry for causing the one or more emitters to release the ionizing radiation energy in response to a remote signal; and

circuitry for, responsive to the circuitry for certifying and to an action by the first user, triggering an emission of visible light toward the second user.

18. The system of claim 13 in which the circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy comprises:

circuitry for receiving input from at least a first and a second user;

circuitry for certifying at least the first user and the second user based at least partly on received input from the first user and the second user, wherein the circuitry is configured to perform certifications by at least one of authenticating identities or verifying qualifications to use the one or more emitters;

circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation emissions released by each of the first user and the second user from the one or more emitters;

circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation emissions and to the circuitry for certifying if the emission of the ionizing radiation from the one or more emitters would allow either the first user or the second user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy.

19. The system of claim 13 in which the circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation energy from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation energy emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation energy from the emitters would allow a user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy comprises:

circuitry configured to prevent a release, in any single emission, of more than a second threshold of ionizing radiation energy via the emission module.

20. The system of claim 13 in which the one or more emission modules comprise:

a radio frequency emitter operable at least by a user.

21. The system of claim 13, in which the one or more emission modules comprise:

an ultrasound emitter operable at least by a user.

22. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

first circuitry for causing the one or more emission modules to emit the energy for imaging;

second circuitry for enabling the first circuitry in response to a user certification;

third circuitry for transmitting a preliminary image indicating a position of a target relative to a one of the one or more emission modules.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

another emission module, configured to emit visible light at least in response to a user; and

a camera operable at least by the user.

24. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a component configured to be used at most once, in activating the one or more emitters.

25. The system of claim 24 in which the component configured to be used only once in activating the emission module comprises:

a fuse configured to be used at most once, in activating the emission module.

26. The system of claim 24 in which the component configured to be used only once in activating the emission module comprises:

a power source configured to be used at most once, in activating the emission module.

27. The system of claim 13 in which the one or more emitters comprise:

a single-use emitter configured to emit the ionizing radiation energy at most once.

28. The system of claim 13 in which the one or more emitters comprise:

an X-ray emitter configured to be used at most once.

29. The system of claim 13 in which the circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation from the one or more emitters would allow a user to release more than a threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy comprises:

circuitry for receiving input from at least a first and a second user;

circuitry for certifying at least the first user and the second user based at least partly on received input from the first user and the second user, wherein the circuitry is configured to perform certifications by at least one of authenticating identities or verifying qualifications to use the one or more emitters;

circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation from the one or more emitters responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation emissions and to the circuitry for certifying if the emission of the ionizing radiation from the one or more emitters would allow the first user to release more than the threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy; and

circuitry for permitting, responsive to the circuitry for certifying, the second user to release more than the threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy via the one or more emitters.

30. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

circuitry for extracting one or more pathology indicators from the digital image.

31. A system comprising:

an emission module operable for emitting energy for imaging;

a non-transitory device-readable medium configured to store data indicative of an activation history of the emission module;

an interface configured to provide a signal indicative of input from a user; and

first activation circuitry for permitting the emission module to emit ionizing radiation energy of at most a first amount based upon the data indicative of the activation history of the emission module and the signal indicative of the input from the user;

circuitry for capturing a digital image in response to a portion of the energy for imaging;

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

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

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

second activation circuitry for permitting the emission module to emit ionizing radiation energy of a second amount based upon the signal indicative of the input from the user and upon a certification of the user, the second amount being greater than the first amount.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

circuitry for maintaining the emission module in a disabled state until a certification of the user is indicated.

34. The system of claim 33 in which the first activation circuitry for permitting the emission module to emit ionizing radiation energy of at most a first amount based upon the data indicative of the activation history of the emission module and the signal indicative of the input from the user comprises:

the first activation circuitry for permitting the emission module, responsive to the certification of the user, to emit the ionizing radiation energy of at most the first amount based upon the data indicative of the activation history of the emission module and the signal indicative of the input from the user.

35. The system of claim 31 in which the first activation circuitry for permitting the emission module to emit ionizing radiation energy of at most a first amount based upon the data indicative of the activation history of the emission module and the signal indicative of the input from the user comprises:

the first activation circuitry for permitting the emission module, with or without a certification of the user being indicated, to emit the ionizing radiation energy of at most the first amount based upon the data indicative of the activation history of the emission module and the signal indicative of the input from the user.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein the emission module comprises one or more emission modules.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the first activation circuitry for permitting the emission module to emit ionizing radiation energy of at most a first amount based upon the data indicative of the activation history of the emission module and the signal indicative of the input from the user comprises:

circuitry for preventing a user from releasing, in any single emission, more than a second amount of ionizing radiation energy from the emission module.

38. A system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a remote signal via at least one of a wireless linkage, the Internet, a cellular network, a wide area network or a public or private telecommunications service;

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

circuitry for preventing a user from releasing, in any single emission, more than a first threshold of ionizing radiation energy from the emission module;

circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation emissions from the emission module;

circuitry for preventing an emission of ionizing radiation from the emission module responsive to measured or determined cumulative ionizing radiation emissions if the emission of the ionizing radiation from the emission module would allow the user to release more than a second threshold of cumulative ionizing radiation energy via the emission module; and

circuitry for resetting, in response to the remote signal, the circuitry for at least one of measuring or determining cumulative ionizing radiation emissions, the resetting to allow at least one additional emission of ionizing radiation from the emission module, the circuitry for resetting being communicably coupled with the receiver.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the system is at least one of a mobile or handheld system, the system being configured for imaging outside of a hospital, medical or radiology office, or a medical clinic.