Storage space for elements which are used in a medical activity

• US 7,449,887 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Tan, Alex Wee Kar, Herczegh, Laszlo Csaba, Delaey, Tom P. J. J., Raijmakers, Jozef H. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargas; Dixomara
• Application Number:
  US10/595,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20070164741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 324300-322, 600410-435
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Elements (2), which are used in a medical activity, are stored in a storage space (3) including a plurality of partitions (4) which are each dedicated to receiving a certain type of element (2) assigned to a predetermined medical activity. A user interface (6) selects a preferred medical activity from a plurality of medical activities. In response to the input activity, the partition (4) which holds the corresponding element (2) signals to indicate the correct element (2) to be used for the selected activity. In this manner the medical staff is offered ‘intelligent’ management of medical accessories and space, which helps the staff in organizing elements in an efficient and time- saving manner. In addition, a more flexible working environment contributes to the clinical staff feeling freer at work.

Claims

1. A storage space for elements which are used in a medical activity, comprising:

a plurality of partitions which each are dedicated to receiving a certain type of magnetic coils assigned to a predetermined Magnetic Resonance Imaging activity'"'"'s,

a user interface for selecting a magnetic resonance imaging activity from a plurality of magnetic resonance imaging activities,

wherein each partition comprises signaling means which provide a signal, dependent on the selected magnetic resonance imaging activity, to indicate the correct magnetic resonance imaging coil to be used for the selected magnetic resonance imaging activity.

2. The storage space as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling means provide visual signals.

3. The storage space as claimed in claim 2, wherein each partition is provided with a lighting device, which is activatable through the selection of the magnetic resonance imaging activity by a user.

4. The storage space as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling means provide audio signals.

5. The storage space as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises means for selecting the magnetic resonance imaging activity from a plurality of magnetic resonance imaging activities, said means being chosen from a group including voice control, touch screen, buttons, computer keyboard.

6. The storage space as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage space comprises reading means for reading data which are provided in an identifier which is comprised in each element magnetic coil to be stored in the storage space, and control means for controlling the signaling means for indicating the correct partition to store the magnetic resonance imaging coil, based on the data in the identifier.

7. A magnetic resonance imaging coil for use with a storage space as claimed in claim 6, wherein the element magnetic resonance imaging coil comprises an identifier with data relating to storage partition location, which are readable by reading means provided in the storage space, for identifying the correct partition to store the magnetic resonance imaging coil via the signaling means.

8. A storage space as claimed in claim 1, wherein each coil includes a coil identifier and further including:

reading means for reading data from the coil identifier of each coil, and

means for indicating a correct position of a selected one of the coils relative to an MM device for a selected examination procedure, based on the data in the identifier.

9. A method of storing elements which are used in a medical activity, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of partitions which each are dedicated to receiving a certain t e of clement assigned to a predetermined medical activity,

providing a user interface for selecting a preferred medical activity from a plurality of medical activities, and

upon selection of a preferred medical activity from a plurality of medical activities, providing a signal, dependent on the selected medical activity, to indicate the correct element to be used for the selected activity, wherein the elements include insertable magnetic resonance imaging coils.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further including:

when an element is brought to the partitions for storage, sensing an element identification;

signaling a corresponding one of the partitions in accordance with the sensed element identification.

11. A storage system for storing coils which are used in magnetic resonance activities, the storage system comprising:

a plurality of partitions, each configured to store a corresponding coil;

an interface through which a user designates a selected magnetic resonance activity;

a visual indicator device which provides a visible indication of a partition configured to hold the corresponding coil to be used in the selected med-teal magnetic resonance activity.

12. The storage system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elements coils include electrically readable identifiers and further including:

an electronic identification reader configured to read the electric identifier of a one of the coils to be stored, the visual indicator device providing the visible indication of the partition configured to store the identified element coil.

13. The storage system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coils include magnetic resonance imaging coils.

14. The storage system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the interface is an MRI interface through which the user sets a scan procedure for an MRI scanner.