Device for communication

• US 7,995,570 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schmidt, Sebastian, Schaeffer-Kundler, Sabine
• Primary Examiner(s): Sefcheck; Gregory B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reddivalam; Srinivasa R
• Application Number:
  US12/046,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/386
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

In a device, a method and a system for communication between a control module that can be associated with a local console of a medical modality, an examination module that can be associated with the medical modality, and an administration module that can be associated with an administration entity remote from the medical modality, respective communication units that can be connected among one another are associated with each of the modules and the signals transferred from a respective communication unit are transferred to the communication unit of at least one other module; and the communication unit of the administration module of the remote administration entity can access data of the medical modality.

Claims

1. A communication device for use in a system comprising a medical modality comprising an operating console having a control module associated therewith and a medical examination unit having an examination module associated therewith, and an administration module having an administration module associated with an administration entity that is remote from said medical modality, said device comprising:

a first communication unit associated with said control module, a second communication unit associated with said examination module, and a third communication unit associated with said administration module, said first, second and third communication units being in communication with each other to allow exchange of data, represented by signals, among said control module, said examination module and said administration module;

said third communication unit at said remote administration entity comprising an input unit that allows control of the medical modality via the third control unit from the remote administration entity, and a display system;

each of said communication units comprising at least one microphone and at least one speaker allowing vocal communication among operators respectively located at said medical modality and said administration entity;

each communication unit also comprising at least one camera with a field of view at least encompassing an operator of that communication unit allowing visual communication between operations respectively located at said medical modality and said administration entity, and wherein each of said first and second communication units also comprises a display system

said display system of said third communication unit displaying an indicator that indicates a presence of an operator at the medical modality and said input unit allowing control of said medical modality from said remote administration entity dependent on said indicator; and

a detector that identifies a presence of said operator at said medical modality and that transmits an indicator signal to said third communication unit, other than said vocal communication and said visual communication, that causes said indicator to be displayed at said display system of said third communication unit.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display system of said third communication unit at said remote administration entity automatically displays all information that are displayed locally at the display system of the first communication unit at the medical modality.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display system of said third communication unit at said remote administration entity displays information obtained from said examination module concerning at least one of a person to be examined at said medical modality and an examination to be conducted at said medical modality.

4. A communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input unit allows control of said medical modality from said remote administration entity only when said indicator indicates said presence of said operator at said medical modality.

5. A communication method for use in a system comprising a medical modality comprising an operating console having a control module associated therewith and a medical examination unit having an examination module associated therewith, and an administration module having an administration module associated with an administration entity that is remote from said medical modality, said method comprising the steps of:

associating a first communication unit with said control module, associating a second communication unit with said examination module, and associating a third communication unit with said administration module, and allowing communication among said first, second and third communication units for exchange of data, represented by signals, among said control module, said examination module and said administration module;

said third communication unit at said remote administration entity comprising an input unit and a display system, and allowing control of the medical modality via the third control unit from the input unit thereof remote administration entity;

establishing vocal and visual communication between operators respectively located at said medical modality and said administration entity by providing, at each of said communication units, at least one microphone and at least one speaker allowing vocal communication among operators respectively located at said medical modality and said administration entity, and by also providing, at each communication unit, at least one camera with a field of view at least encompassing an operator of that communication unit allowing visual communication between operations respectively located at said medical modality and said administration entity, and by providing each of said first and second communication units with a display system;

at said display system of said third communication unit, displaying an indicator that indicates a presence of an operator at the medical modality and controlling said medical modality from said remote administration entity dependent on said indicator; and

at said medical modality detecting said presence of said operator at said medical modality with a detector and transmitting a signal to said administration entity from said detector, other than said vocal communication and said visual communication, that causes said indicator to be displayed at said display system of said third communication unit.

6. A communication method as claimed in claim 5 comprising allowing control of said medical modality from said remote administration entity only when said indicator indicates said presence of said operator at said medical modality.

7. A communication system comprising:

a medical modality comprising an operating console having a control module associated therewith and a medical examination unit having an examination module associated therewith;

an administration module having an administration module associated with an administration entity that is remote from said medical modality;

a first communication unit associated with said control module, a second communication unit associated with said examination module, and a third communication unit associated with said administration module, said first, second and third communication units being in communication with each other to allow exchange of data, represented by signals, among said control module, said examination module and said administration module;

said third communication unit at said remote administration entity comprising an input unit that allows control of the medical modality via the third control unit from the remote administration entity, and a display system;

each of said communication units comprising at least one microphone and at least one speaker allowing vocal communication among operators respectively located at said medical modality and said administration entity;

each communication unit also comprising at least one camera with a field of view at least encompassing an operator of that communication unit allowing visual communication between operations respectively located at said medical modality and said administration entity, and wherein each of said first and second communication units also comprises a display system;

said display system of said third communication unit displaying an indicator that indicates a presence of an operator at the medical modality and said input unit allowing control of said medical modality from said remote administration entity dependent on said indicator; and

a detector that identifies a presence of said operator at said medical modality and that transmits an indicator signal to said third communication unit, other than said vocal communication and said visual communication, that causes said indicator to be displayed at said display system of said third communication unit.

8. A communication system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said input unit allows control of said medical modality from said remote administration entity only when said indicator indicates said presence of said operator at said medical modality.