Method and system for using personal digital assistants with diagnostic medical ultrasound systems
AssigneeSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
InventorsPaul D. Frelburger, Sankaralingam Ramraj, Aaron J. Schuman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An system and method for incorporating the functionality of a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) with a diagnostic medical ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. The PDA is capable of controlling the ultrasound system via a wired or wireless communications link. In addition, the personal information management (“PIM”) functions of the PDA are integrated together and with the system control functionality to permit automated control and configuration of the ultrasound system based on data stored by the PIM applications.
Claims58
A medical diagnostic imaging system for use with a personal digital assistant, said medical diagnostic imaging system comprising:
- a transmitter;
- a receiver;
- a transducer coupled with said transmitter and receiver;
- a processor coupled with said transmitter and receiver and operative to control said transmitter and receiver and generate medical diagnostic imaging data representative of the operation thereof,
- a first user interface coupled with said processor and operative to allow a user to perform at least one of a first set of control functions on said imaging system;
- and
- a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) interface coupled with said processor and operative to externally couple a PDA with said imaging system, said PDA comprising a second user interface operative to allow a user to perform at least one of a second set of control functions on said imaging system, said PDA interface being further operative to receive input data from said PDA and transmit output data to said PDA.
A method of using a personal digital assistant with a medical diagnostic imaging system, said system comprising a processor, a first user interface coupled with said processor and a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) interface coupled with said processor, said method comprising:
- (a) controlling said imaging system and generating medical ultrasound imaging data representative of the operation thereof;
- (b) performing at least one of a first set of control functions on said imaging system via said first user interface;
- (c) coupling, externally, a PDA with said imaging system via a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) interface coupled with said first user interface and said processor, said PDA comprising a second user interface;
- (d) performing at least one of a second set of control functions on said imaging system via said second user interface;
- (e) receiving input data by said PDA interface from said PDA;
- and
- (f) transmitting output data by said PDA interface to said PDA.
A medical diagnostic imaging system for use with a personal digital assistant, said medical diagnostic imaging system comprising:
- processing means for generating medical diagnostic image data using a transducer coupled with transmit and receive means;
- a first user interface means for allowing a user to perform at least one of a first set of control functions on said imaging system, said first set of control functions comprising at least controlling said processing means;
- and
- a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) interface means coupled with said first user interface means for externally coupling a PDA with said imaging system, said PDA comprising a second user interface means for allowing a user to perform at least one of a second set of control functions on said imaging system, said PDA interface means being further operative to receive input data from said PDA and transmit output data to said PDA.
In a medical diagnostic imaging system, an improvement for operating the imaging system, the improvement comprising:
- a personal digital assistant interface connected with the system;
- and
- a processor of the system operative to allow a personal digital assistant to control the system via the personal digital assistant interface.
A medical imaging system for use with a personal digital assistant, said medical imaging system comprising:
- a beamformer;
- a processor coupled with said beamformer and operative to control said beamformer and generate medical imaging data representative of the operation thereof;
- a first user interface coupled with said processor and operative to allow a user to perform at least one of a first set of control functions on said imaging system;
- and
- wherein said first user interface further comprises an optical reader operative to input data into said first user interface, said data being visually represented on a medium, said data operative to perform at least one of a second set of control functions on said imaging system.
A medical imaging system for use with an external interface, said medical imaging system comprising:
- a transmitter;
- a receiver;
- a transducer coupled with said transmitter and receiver;
- a processor coupled with said transmitter and receiver and operative to control said transmitter and receiver and generate medical imaging data representative of the operation thereof;
- a first user interface coupled with said processor and operative to allow a user to perform at least one of a first set of control functions on said imaging system;
- and
- a second user interface coupled with said first user interface and said processor and operative to externally wirelessly couple an electromagnetic spectrum data source with said imaging system, said second user interface being operative to allow a user to perform at least one of said first set of control functions on said imaging system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.