System and method for location based remote services

• US 20060122481A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wiley, Sandra Fieldstad, Sievenpiper, Crispian Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/994,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method for locating and servicing a medical device. A portable computer system transmits a wireless signal to physically locate and identify the medical device which is disposed in proximity to the portable computing system. Further, the medical device may be wirelessly coupled to the portable computer system. The device may be serviced by a field engineer and/or a remote servicing center via the portable computing system and the wireless connection. An electronic toolset may be employed.

Claims

1. A method for locating and servicing a medical device, comprising:

operating a portable computer system to transmit a wireless signal to detect the medical device, wherein the medical device comprises a communication component responsive to the wireless signal;

wirelessly coupling the medical device to the portable computer system;

locating and identifying the medical device; and

servicing the medical device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein sevicing comprises servicing the medical device with an electronic toolset.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein servicing comprises servicing the medical device from a remote service center via the portable computer system and via the wireless coupling of the portable computer system to the medical device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a medical imaging system.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a mobile ultrasound system.

6. A method for locating and servicing a medical device, comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal from a transceiver disposed on a portable device to locate the medical device;

detecting the medical device via the wireless signal; and

wirelessly coupling the medical device to the portable device, wherein the medical device and portable device form a wireless network.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein wirelessly coupling comprises forming an ad hoc wireless network between the medical device and portable device.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, comprising communicating with a remote service center via the portable device.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein detecting comprises receiving the wireless signal at a communication component disposed on the medical device.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the portable device comprises a portable network server or a portable computing system, or a combination thereof.

11. A method of maintaining a medical system, comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal from a portable computing system having a transmitter adapted to transmit the wireless signal;

receiving the wireless signal via a wireless communication device disposed in the medical system;

wirelessly coupling the portable computing system and the medical system to form a location-based wireless network; and

servicing the medical system.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, comprising locating the device via the wireless signal.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein servicing comprises replacing a part of the medical system.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein wirelessly coupling comprises wiressly coupling the portable computing system to the medical device via wireless network cards disposed on the portable computer system and medical device, and wherein servicing comprises servicing the medical system via the wireless network.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein servicing comprises using an electronic toolset via the wireless network.

16. A method of maintaining a medical system, comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal from a portable device;

receiving the wireless signal via a communication device disposed on a component of the medical system;

wirelessly connecting the portable device with the component; and

determining the physical location of the component.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising establishing an ad hoc network between the portable device and the component.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising servicing the component.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising electronically coupling the component with a remote service center via the portable device.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising communicating with the component from a remote site via the portable device.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising communicating with a remote service center from the portable device.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising servicing the component from a remote service center via the portable device and via the wireless connection between the portable device and the component.

23. A system for servicing a medical system, comprising:

a portable computing system having a transmitter component adapted to transmit a wireless signal to locate the medical system;

a wireless communication device disposed in the medical system and responsive to the wireless signal;

a first connector disposed on the portable computing system and a second connector disposed on the medical device, wherein the first and second connectors are configured to facilitate a wireless network connection between the portable computing system and the medical device,

wherein the portable computing system is adapted to service the medical system via the wireless network connection.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless antenna receiver.

25. The service system as recited in claim 23, wherein the transmitter component comprises the first connector.

26. The service system as recited in claim 23, wherein the wireless communication device comprises the second connector.

27. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the first and second connectors comprise wireless network cards.

28. The service system as recited in claim 23, wherein the medical system comprises a medical imaging system.

29. The service system as recited in claim 23, wherein the medical system comprises a mobile medical system.

30. A service system for a medical device, comprising:

means for transmitting a wireless signal to locate the medical device;

means for locating and identifying the medical device via the wireless signal;

means for wirelessly connecting the medical device to the means for transmitting the wireless signal; and

means for servicing the medical device via the wireless connection.

31. A computer program, comprising:

programming instructions stored in a tangible medium, wherein the programming instructions enable transmission of a wireless signal from a portable computing system to a receiver disposed on a medical device, and enable the wirelessly coupling of the medical device to the portable computing system, wherein the programming instructions facilitate locating the medical device.

32. The program as recited in claim 31, wherein the programming instructions enable the portable computing system to perform as a server in an ad hoc wireless network coupling the medical device to the portable computing system.

33. The program as recited in claim 31, wherein the programming instructions enable the portable computing system to perform as a server in a location-based wireless network coupling the medical device to the portable computing system.

34. The program as recited in claim 31, wherein the programming instructions enable the portable computer system to service the medical device via the wireless connection.