PORTABLE IMAGING SYSTEM WITH REMOTE ACCESSIBILITY

• US 20120203104A1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: URNESS, MARK STEVEN, LAVIN, BRENT
• Granted Patent: US 9,033,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data

Abstract

A portable ultrasound imaging system is provided. The system includes a probe for acquiring ultrasound image data. A memory stores the acquired ultrasound image data. A processor generates an image based on the stored ultrasound image data. A presentation layer is provided for remotely accessing the generated image to display the generated image at a remote location.

Claims

1. A portable ultrasound imaging system comprising:

a probe for acquiring ultrasound image data;

a memory for storing the acquired ultrasound image data;

a processor for generating an image based on the stored ultrasound image data; and

a presentation layer for remotely accessing the generated image to display the generated image at a remote location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is a secure encrypted memory.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound image data is not stored at the remote location.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface to display the presentation layer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a first image based on first ultrasound image data is displayed at the remote location while second ultrasound image data is concurrently acquired with the probe.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated image is remotely accessed from the presentation layer through a web-based browser.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated image is remotely accessed from the presentation layer on a virtual desktop at the remote location.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the presentation layer is accessible through a central hub that is remotely interfaced with a plurality of imaging systems.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an image report is generated at the remote location and stored in the memory.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein an appearance of the image is manipulated at the remote location.

11. A method for displaying an image from a portable ultrasound imaging system, the method comprising:

acquiring ultrasound image data with a portable ultrasound imaging system;

storing the acquired ultrasound image data in a memory within the portable ultrasound imaging system;

generating an image based on the stored ultrasound image data; and

remotely accessing the generated image to display the generated image at a remote location.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the acquired ultrasound image data in a secure encrypted memory provided within the ultrasound imaging system.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the generated image in a presentation layer that is remotely accessible from the remote location.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a first image based on first ultrasound image data at the remote location while concurrently acquiring second ultrasound image data with the portable ultrasound imaging system.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising remotely accessing the generated image through a web-based browser.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an image report at the remote location and storing the image report in the memory provided within the ultrasound imaging system.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising manipulating an appearance of the image at the remote location.

18. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device including;

a scanning device for acquiring imaging data,

a memory for storing the acquired image data,

a processor for generating an image based on the stored image data, and

a presentation layer for displaying the generated image; and

a display located at a remote location from the imaging device, the display remotely accessing the presentation layer to display the generated image at the remote location.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of imaging devices, each of the plurality of imaging devices having a presentation layer that is remotely accessible using the display at the remote location.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the presentation layer is remotely accessible through a web browser.