Workflow configuration and execution in medical imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method of executing a medical imaging procedure on a patient, comprising the steps of:
- creating and storing a workflow template, said workflow template containing a specific desired sequence of predefined medical imaging activities representing a particular medical imaging procedure, wherein each of said predefined medical imaging activities has at least one input connector and at least one output connector, each of said input and output connectors being associated with a data type, wherein links aria created between input and output connectors of different medical imaging activities only where associated data types of such activities are compatible with each other, and only output connectors of preceding activities in said sequence are capable of being linked to input connectors of subsequent activities, wherein said links transfer data from an output connector of one activity to an input connector of a linked activity;
retrieving a stored workflow template defining a particular medical imaging procedure desired to be performed;
entering into said retrieved workflow template particular patient data for a patient on whom the medical imaging procedure is to be executed; and
executing said desired sequence of activities by invoking said workflow template in conjunction with medical imaging acquisition and processing equipment.
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method and apparatus is provided for workflow configuration and execution in medical imaging. One method embodiment comprises the steps of creating and storing a workflow template (the workflow template comprising a standard form for entering data and activities), filling out the workflow template with data and a sequence of activities, and executing the sequence of activities according to the workflow template.
183 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of executing a medical imaging procedure on a patient, comprising the steps of:
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creating and storing a workflow template, said workflow template containing a specific desired sequence of predefined medical imaging activities representing a particular medical imaging procedure, wherein each of said predefined medical imaging activities has at least one input connector and at least one output connector, each of said input and output connectors being associated with a data type, wherein links aria created between input and output connectors of different medical imaging activities only where associated data types of such activities are compatible with each other, and only output connectors of preceding activities in said sequence are capable of being linked to input connectors of subsequent activities, wherein said links transfer data from an output connector of one activity to an input connector of a linked activity;
retrieving a stored workflow template defining a particular medical imaging procedure desired to be performed;
entering into said retrieved workflow template particular patient data for a patient on whom the medical imaging procedure is to be executed; and
executing said desired sequence of activities by invoking said workflow template in conjunction with medical imaging acquisition and processing equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method of executing a medical imaging procedure on a patient, comprising the steps of:
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configuring an image capturing sequence as part of a workflow process containing a sequence of defined executable activities wherein each of said activities has at least one input connector and at least one output connector, each of said input and output connectors being associated with a data type, wherein links are created between input and output connectors of different activities only where associated data types of such activities are compatible with each other, wherein said workflow process is stored in a memory of a computer;
configuring an image processing sequence as part of said workflow process;
executing said image capturing sequence by executing said workflow process;
executing said image processing sequence by executing said workflow process;
detecting a modification of an activity in said sequence as a change in said stored workflow process in real time during execution of an executing instance of said workflow process; and
re-executing only activities in said executing workflow process that are subsequent to said modified activity in said sequence, if said stored workflow process has been modified. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A workflow manager apparatus for carrying out a medical imaging procedure on a patient, comprising:
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at least one I/O device, said at least one I/O device capable of being used by an operator to communicate with said apparatus;
a network interface capable of communicating over a distributed communication network with a plurality of devices used in said medical imaging procedure;
a memory capable of storing a workflow template including a sequence of executable activities related to said medical imaging procedure wherein each of said activities has at least one input connector and at least one output connector, each of said input and output connectors being associated with a data type, wherein links are created between input and output connectors of different activities only where associated data types of such activities are compatible with each other, and a DICOM medical imaging protocol; and
a CPU communicating with said at least one I/O device, said network interface, and said memory, with said CPU creating and storing a workflow template, filling out said workflow template with patient data to create a workflow, and executing said sequence of activities according to said workflow in response to inputs from said at least one I/O device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification