Integrated portable digital X-ray imaging system

• US 9,357,974 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Foos, David H., Sehnert, William J., Huo, Zhimin, Luo, Hui, Wang, Xiaohui
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US12/967,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20110110496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5252 removing objects from field of view, e.g. removing patient table from a CT image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for processing a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part on a host processor, initiates exposure in response to an instruction entered from an operator console and obtains radiographic image data from a digital detector that is subjected to the exposure. The obtained radiographic image data is analyzed according to a set of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image. One or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console is indicated and a listing of one or more corrective actions at the operator console according to the indicated results is provided.

Claims

1. A method for processing a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part on a host processor, comprising:

initiating exposure in response to an instruction entered from an operator console;

obtaining radiographic image data from a digital detector that is subjected to the exposure;

using a computer processor, automatically analyzing the obtained radiographic image data according to a plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the radiographic image;

indicating one or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console, the one or more results including one or more problems with the diagnostic suitability; and

automatically providing, at the operator console, a listing of one or more corrective actions based on the indicated one or more results.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising reporting a clinical condition according to a predefined sequence of steps for clinical evaluation executed on the obtained image data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the radiographic image comprises obtaining the image at a mobile radiography system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a rib suppression processing to the obtained radiographic image.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the listing is from data obtained over a network connection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image relates to information about the patient.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image relates to information from the technician.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the corrective actions include re-taking the image.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability are specified by technician entry.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein indicating one or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis comprises providing an audible indicator.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein indicating one or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis comprises providing a displayed indicator.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the listing is from data stored in a memory that is accessible to the operator console.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising reporting a severity indicator indicative of the diagnostic image suitability.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising reporting the severity indicator by at least one of the following:

emitting an alarm, emitting an audible tone, displaying a highlighting of at least a portion of the radiographic image data on the operator console, transmitting a text message, and flashing a display element on the operator console.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically analyzing the obtained radiographic image data is accomplished by applying an analyzing algorithm.

16. A method for processing a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part on a host processor, comprising:

initiating exposure in response to an instruction entered from an operator console;

obtaining radiographic image data from a digital detector that is subjected to the exposure;

using a computer processor, automatically analyzing the obtained radiographic image data according to a plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the radiographic image, wherein diagnostic suitability of the image is with respect to image contrast, missing marker, clipped anatomy, and grid cutoff;

indicating one or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console, the one or more results including one or more problems with the diagnostic suitability; and

automatically providing, at the operator console, a listing of one or more corrective actions based on the indicated one or more results.