X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Electronic circuit – With display or signaling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-01-23
Church, Craig E. (Department: 2876)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Electronic circuit
With display or signaling
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178225
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services, specifically digital X-ray imaging facilities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, analog film-based X-ray imaging facilities involve initial relatively low equipment costs, particularly when amortized over the fairly long lifetime of the equipment, combined with ongoing significant expenditures per image. Per image expenses include the cost of film, processing, handling, archiving and labor.
Digital X-ray imaging facilities, which are now coming into use, involve equipment costs which are significantly greater than conventional systems and have equipment lifetime that may be shorter than that of a conventional system. The high entry cost of digital X-ray imaging facilities is generally perceived as limiting the widespread use of digital technologies for X-ray imaging. Following initial high equipment costs, digital X-ray facilities are able to offer many benefits including improving diagnostics, savings of time and cost savings by eliminating the film and phosphor screen that are associated with analog imaging, thus significantly streamlining the work flow, enhancing productivity and replacing space-intensive film archives with more easily accessible electronic archives. Moreover, the reduced usage of film and chemicals used for developing and processing of film is expected to offer ecological benefits.
Digital X-ray imaging systems that offer system costs which are competitive with conventional film/screen imaging systems combined with per image costs that are lower than the per image cost of non-digital film/screen systems could lead to widespread penetration of digital X-ray imaging systems to the marketplace, thus accelerating migration of conventional X-ray, the last non-digital medical imaging modality, to digital X-ray imaging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services including the steps of installing at least a part of a digital X-ray imaging facility; generating digital images corresponding to X-ray exposures; metering the number of X-ray exposures produced by the digital X-ray imaging facility; and generating a billing output in respect of the number of X-ray exposures.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metering step of the method for management of X-ray imaging facilities includes taking into account unacceptable exposures.
In further accordance with the present invention, the metering step includes a decision step wherein an operator decides whether to accept an exposure.
In yet further accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services also includes an archiving step wherein a generated digital image is retrievably stored.
Moreover, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the archiving step includes transferring the generated digital image to a remote archive.
In still further accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metering step includes remote metering via a communications network.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the remote metering includes communication via e-mail.
Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metering step is responsive to at least one characteristic of an X-ray image produced by said facility.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services also includes the step of providing a hard copy of an X-ray image produced by an X-ray exposure.
Moreover, in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services includes the step of preparing a statistical report covering at least some of the X-ray exposures produced by the facility. Information contained in the statistical report may include periodic data regarding the number of accepted exposures, the number of rejected exposures, the overall area, typically, in square inches that was imaged, the number of images printed, dose per image or other data considered relevant to the service center.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services including at least one digital X-ray imaging facility operative to provide digital images in response to X-ray exposures; a metering system associated with each of the digital X-ray imaging facilities for metering the number of digital images produced thereby; and a service center, generating a billing output for each of the digital X-ray imaging facilities in respect of the number of X-ray exposures provided thereby.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metering system takes into account unacceptable exposures.
Yet further in accordance with the present invention, the metering system is associated with a decision entry interface enabling an operator to decide whether to accept an exposure.
Moreover, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the service center also provides archiving services and generates billing output in accordance thereof.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, the metering system is operative to communicate with the service center via a communications network.
In accordance with the present invention, the metering system may communicate with the service center via an Internet communication technology as described by a Request for Comments (RFC). Alternatively or additionally, the metering system communicates with the service center by electronic polling.
Further in accordance with the present invention, the metering system is responsive to at least one characteristic of an X-ray image produced by the facility. For example, the metering system may be responsive to the number rejected images, accepted images, printed images, stored images or a combination thereof.
Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, the system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services includes a hard copy output device providing a hard copy of an X-ray image produced by an X-ray exposure.
Yet further in accordance with the present invention, the system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services also includes a statistical report generator operative to preparing a statistical report covering at least some of the X-ray exposures produced by the facility.
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Hakimian Debra
Trumer Dror
Zur Albert
Church Craig E.
Edge Medical Devices Ltd.
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
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