Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to image acquisition and notification (e.g., in telemedicine). More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of notifying a physician that acquired medical images are available.
In a typical medical environment, where a physician desires to have medical images taken of a patient, a worklist system (e.g., a DICOM compatible system) may be employed where the physician makes a request to a broker who then generates a request to an imaging modality technician (e.g., an X-ray technician). The technician queries the worklist system and receives the request. Initially, the status of the request is “to process”, for example. When the technician processes the request (i.e., acquires the images), the status of the request is changed to “processed”. The acquired images are typically archived, for example, on a PACS system.
The requesting physician may periodically check the archiving system to determine whether or not the requested images are available. This can be time-consuming and frustrating for the physician. Alternatively, a notification may be sent to the physician to make the physician aware that the images are available. This may help to prevent the physician from having to periodically check if the images are available. However, once notified, the physician may still have to go through the process of retrieving the images from an archiving system. In order to retrieve the images, the physician may need to become aware of specific codes, directories and/or or file names in order to access the images. Such a retrieving process by the physician can also be time-consuming and frustrating, for example, if the physician is given the wrong directory information, or if the physician incorrectly types in the information needed to access the images from the archive.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems and methods with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a visual and/or audible indication is provided to a user of an application to indicate to the user that image acquisition has occurred.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of image acquisition notification. The method comprises acquiring at least one digital image using an imaging modality and automatically transmitting an image acquisition notification message, via a network, in response to acquiring the at least one digital image. The method also comprises automatically receiving the image acquisition notification message in an application running on a computer-based platform that is operationally connected to the network. The method further comprises automatically displaying the image acquisition notification message on a display of the computer-based platform in response to the receiving step. The method also comprises selecting an iconic representation embedded within the displayed image acquisition notification message to initiate displaying of the at least one acquired digital image associated with the notification message. The method further comprises automatically displaying the at least one acquired digital image on the display of the computer-based platform in response to the selecting step.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable medium having an application of computer-executable instructions for performing a method where the method comprises automatically receiving an image acquisition notification message, at a computer-based platform running said application of computer-executable instructions, which is automatically transmitted from an imaging modality system over a network in response to said imaging modality system acquiring at least on digital image. The method also comprises automatically displaying the image acquisition notification message, in response to the receiving step, on a display of the computer-based platform running the application of computer-executable instructions. The method further comprises allowing selecting of an iconic representation embedded within the displayed image acquisition notification message to initiate displaying of the at least one acquired digital image associated with the notification message. The method also comprises automatically displaying the at least one acquired digital image on the display of the computer-based platform in response to the selecting step.
These and other advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.
In step 110 of the method 100, at least one digital image is acquired using an imaging modality. For example, the imaging modality may include any one of an X-ray imaging modality, an ultrasound imaging modality, an MR imaging modality, an optical imaging modality (e.g., using a camera), or any other type of imaging modality that uses an imaging system 210 to generate digital images (e.g., digital medical images using a medical imaging modality, or digital defect images of defects in manufactured or fabricated items).
In step 120, an image acquisition notification message is automatically transmitted, via a network 220, in response to acquiring the at least one digital image. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the network 220 may comprise a wired communication network, a wireless communication network, or some combination thereof. The imaging modality system 210 is operationally connected to the network 220. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the image acquisition notification message is transmitted over the network 220 in accordance with a DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) standard protocol. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the image acquisition notification message is transmitted over the network 220 in accordance with a non-DICOM standard protocol.
In step 130, the image acquisition notification message is automatically received in an application 235 (i.e., a software application) running on a computer-based platform 230 that is operationally connected to the network 220. The computer-based platform 230 may be a personal computer (PC), a work station, a hand-held device, or any other processor-based device capable of performing the functions as described herein which are attributed to the computer-based platform 230. In accordance with an embodiment of present invention, the application 235 may be resident on a computer-readable medium 236 having the application 235 of computer-executable instructions for performing the methods described herein. The computer-readable medium 236 may comprise, for example, a hard drive, a compact disc (CD), a floppy disk, a digital video disc (DVD), or any other computer-readable medium.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the computer-based platform 230 and a user (e.g., a physician or a dentist) of the computer-based platform 230 are located remotely away from the imaging modality system 210. For example, the imaging modality system 210 and an X-ray technician using the imaging modality system 210 may be located in a hospital, and the work station 230 and physician using the work station 230 may be located miles away in a private doctor's office.
In step 140, the image acquisition notification message is automatically displayed on a display 240 of the computer-based platform 230 in response to the message being received by the application 235 running on the computer-based platform 230.
In step 150, an iconic representation 315 embedded within the displayed image acquisition notification message 310 is selected (e.g., by a user of the application 235) to initiate displaying of the at least one acquired digital image associated with the notification message. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the iconic representation 315 is an image thumbnail and is selected when a user “clicks” on the image thumbnail using a mouse 231 of the computer-based platform 230, for example.
The user may be, for example, a physician or a dentist. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the user logs into the application 235 running on the computer-based platform 230 in order to access records of the patient. That is, only the particular user (e.g., physician) has permission to access the records of a particular patient. The image acquisition notification message 310 is associated with the user such that only the user, when logged into the application 235, may access the image acquisition notification message 310 for the user's patient. For example, only the permitted user can select the iconic representation 315 to open the file. Also, for example, before acquiring the images with the imaging modality system 210, an X-ray technician may designate an individual (e.g., the patient's physician or dentist) such that only the designated individual can receive the image acquisition notification message 310 when logged into the application 235.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the image acquisition notification message 310 is displayed on the display 240 of the computer-based platform 230 only when the permitted user is logged into the application 235. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present application, the image acquisition notification message 310 is displayed on the display 240 of the computer-based platform 230 no matter who is logged into the application 235. However, only a designated or permitted user (e.g., the dentist of the patient associated with the message 310) may be able to access the message 310.
In step 160, the at least one acquired image is automatically displayed on the display 240 of the computer-based platform 230 in response to selecting the iconic representation 315. The user may then observe the image (or images) on the display 240.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the digital image (or images) received in the image acquisition notification message 310 may be saved by the user of the computer-based platform 230. For example, the user may save the digital image(s) as files to a storage device of the computer-based platform 230 such as a hard disk 236, a memory stick 237, or some other digital storage device (e.g., a CD or DVD), using the application 235 running on the computer-based platform 230.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the digital image(s) may be saved as files by the user to a server 250 operationally connected to the computer-based platform 230 or to the network 220, using the application 235 running on the computer-based platform 230. In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, the digital image(s) may be saved by the user to a database 260 operationally connected to the computer-based platform 230 or to the network 220, using the application 235 running on the computer-based platform 230. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the digital image(s) may be saved by the user to an archiving device 270 (e.g., a PACS archiving system) operationally connected to the computer-based platform 230 or to the network 220, using the application 235 running on the computer-based platform 230. Just as images may be saved, as described above herein, images may also be deleted, in a similar but opposite manner by the user.
Similarly, the image acquisition notification message itself, with all of its constituent parts (e.g., image thumbnail, image file or image object, dialogue box, etc.), may be saved or deleted just as images may be saved or deleted.
Again, all of the functionality of the application 235 as described herein may be resident on a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that provide the functionality when executed on a computer-based platform 230. For example, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a computer-readable medium having an application of computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising automatically receiving an image acquisition notification message, at a computer-based platform running the application of computer-executable instructions, which is automatically transmitted from an imaging modality system over a network in response to the imaging modality system acquiring at least one digital image; automatically displaying the image acquisition notification message, in response to the receiving, on a display of the computer-based platform running the application of computer-executable instructions; allowing selecting of an iconic representation embedded within the displayed image acquisition notification message to initiate displaying of the at least one acquired digital image associated with the notification message, and automatically displaying the at least one acquired digital image on the display of the computer-based platform in response to the selecting. The receiving may be performed in accordance with a DICOM standard protocol, or a non-DICOM protocol, for example.
In summary, embodiments of the present invention provide a software application having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of image acquisition notification. An image acquisition notification message is automatically sent to a designated user (e.g., a physician or a dentist) providing a visual and/or audible indication to the user such that the user may immediately access the acquired image(s). The software application may be resident on a computer-readable medium.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.