Distributed networked medical device

Abstract

A distributed radiographic imaging system is formed using a radiographic imaging device having a radiographic energy source and a digital radiographic detector, a first computer system and a second computer system. Components of the distributed imaging system are communicatively connected. When the radiographic imaging device and the first computer system are in predefined proximity to each other, they wirelessly communicate. The second computer system determines whether the radiographic imaging device is currently being used in the dedicated imaging session and transmits a session approval token to the first computer system and to the radiographic imaging device in response to the dedicated session request if the radiographic imaging device is not currently being used in the dedicated imaging session. The first computer system and the radiographic imaging device establish a dedicated communication and control session in response to receiving the session approval token.

Description

Background Art

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to medical device components that are associated over a network and cooperate to perform medical imaging.

[0002] Standard hardware and software architectures for medical devices (which enable acquisition, manipulation, and processing of acquired images) are mostly located near or on the board of a single device. These devices tend to exhibit closed and static architectural designs that require restrictive and expensive procedures to upgrade. In addition, these architectures have additional disadvantages when considering development and testing, time to market, regulatory requirements and licensing, serviceability, deployment of products, and network security upgrades.

[0003] For example, mobile digital radiography (DR) solutions are typically designed as self-contained, mobile carts that include several components, such as: voltage generators, x-ray sources, motion control for wheels, communications (wired or wireless), connections to DR detectors and to a host network; software and hardware for image reconstruction and advanced image processing capabilities, storage, and often a user interface with components for visualizing and confirming the clinical quality of the acquired image(s). As more hardware and software are deployed in the field, all products involved and their configurations must be considered for any feature of the software.

[0004] The above discussion is provided for general background information only and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Summary of the invention

[0005] A distributed radiographic imaging system is formed using a radiographic imaging device having a radiographic energy source and a digital radiographic imaging detector, a first computer system, and a second computer system. Components of the distributed imaging system are communicatively connected. When the radiographic imaging device and the first computer system are within a predefined proximity of each other, they communicate wirelessly. The second computer system determines whether the radiographic imaging device is currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, and if the radiographic imaging device is not currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, transmits a session approval token to the first computer system and to the radiographic imaging device in response to a dedicated session request. The first computer system and the radiographic imaging device establish a dedicated communication and control session in response to receiving the session approval token.

[0006] In one embodiment, a distributed radiographic imaging system includes: a radiographic imaging device having an x-ray source and a digital radiographic imaging detector, a first computer system, and a communicatively connected second computer system. The radiographic imaging device and the first computer system are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other and identify each other when the first computer system is within a predefined proximity to the radiographic imaging device. The second computer system communicates with the radiographic imaging device to determine whether it is currently being used in a dedicated imaging session. If the radiographic imaging device is not currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, the second computer system transmits a session approval token to the first computer system and to the radiographic imaging device. The first computer system and the radiographic imaging device establish a dedicated communication and control session in response to receiving the session approval token.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method for forming a distributed radiographic imaging system includes providing a radiographic imaging device having an x-ray source and a digital radiographic imaging detector. A first computer system, a second computer system, and the radiographic imaging device are communicatively connected to each other. When the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device are within a predefined proximity, the radiographic imaging device and the first computer system communicate with each other wirelessly and identify each other. The second computer system receives a request for approval as a dedicated session between the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device. In response, the second computer system determines whether the radiographic imaging device is currently being used in a dedicated imaging session. If the second computer system determines that the radiographic imaging device is not currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, the second computer system transmits the requested session approval token to the first computer system and to the radiographic imaging device. In response to receiving the session approval token, a dedicated communication and control session between the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device is established.

[0008] The above summary description is not intended to describe separate separate embodiments (elements of which are not interchangeable). In fact, many of the elements described with respect to a particular embodiment can be used with and possibly interchangeable with elements of other described embodiments. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes all such modifications.

[0009] This brief description of the present invention is intended only to provide a brief overview of the subject matter disclosed herein according to one or more illustrative embodiments, and does not serve as a guide for interpreting the claims or for defining or limiting the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. This brief description is provided to introduce an illustrative selection of concepts in a simplified form, which are further described below in a detailed description. This brief description is neither intended to identify the key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to its implementation that solves any or all of the shortcomings pointed out in the background. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order to be able to understand the manner in which the features of the present invention are adopted, a detailed description of the present invention may be provided by reference to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of the present invention and should not therefore be considered as limiting its scope, as the scope of the present invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings hereinafter are intended to be drawn neither with respect to any precise proportions of relative size, angular relationship, relative orientation or timing relationship, nor with respect to any combination of representations, substitutions or interchangeability of the required implementations, with emphasis generally being placed on the features of certain embodiments of the present invention illustrated. In the accompanying drawings, similar reference numerals are used throughout the various views to indicate similar parts. Therefore, in order to further understand the present invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary general architecture for an imaging device;

[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary decentralized representation of a mobile digital radiography cart;

[0013] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of exemplary individual components that, when associated, form a specific example of a medical radiographic imaging device;

[0014] Figure 4 is a diagram of an exemplary collection of components associated as two separate medical radiographic imaging devices;

[0015] Figure 5 is a diagram of exemplary alternative combinations of associated components A and B for creating devices #3 and #4;

[0016] Figure 6 is a diagram of exemplary alternative combinations of associated components A and B for creating devices #5 and #6;

[0017] Figure 7 is a diagram of an exemplary alternative association of components A and B with a shared second computer system;

[0018] Figure 8 is a schematic network diagram of an example embodiment of distributed networked medical devices; and

[0019] Fig. 9 is a schematic network diagram of an example embodiment of a portable tablet computer and an x-ray imaging device using manual or automatic association. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial number 63 / 408,494, filed on September 21, 2022 in the name of Becker et al. and entitled DISTRIBUTEDNETWORKED MEDICAL DEVICES, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0021] The present invention is directed to components of the composition of programmable associated medical devices. In one embodiment, activation and locking mechanisms enable the distributed components of medical devices to be operated as a networked medical device as a whole. Just as a medical device can be decomposed into component parts, these parts can be activated as a unit when they are programmably locked into an active medical device configuration by sharing a temporary security key among the component parts. The release of security keys to the component parts can be triggered by a signal or a pass, which is transmitted to the shared components to be configured in this way, which locks them into the active device configuration to perform a specific medical task. Once the components are locked, they can remain in a dedicated locked configuration for the duration of the clinical task. At the time of the programmed release of the lock, the components can be deactivated, restored to their previous state, and / or they can be reconfigured as part of another networked medical device.

[0022] The embodiments disclosed herein do not have the constraints that require the components (hardware and software) of the device to be co-located in the same physical platform or on the same physical platform. The embodiments disclosed herein extend the association of components and the communication between components from hard-wired or wireless within a physical device to a more flexible and larger network that can assume the virtual and dynamic structure of the component devices. The user interface is generalized so that user interaction for clinical acquisition, verification, confirmation and service (such as device configuration, performance monitoring, and upgrade) can be performed on various platforms, including basic interfaces using web browsers. Additional functions may include decoupling the scalability of computing components, localizing processing components to servers within a medical site (premise) or on private and / or public clouds, and introducing mechanisms for dynamically and on-demand locking of a collection of components into a constructed active medical device.

[0023] In one embodiment, a feature for triggering an active networked medical device may be based on a locking mechanism. The networked medical device may be formed using a portable computer device (such as a laptop, mobile phone, iPad, tablet computer, and the like) with a user interface capable of generating a locking key. In various embodiments, using the example of a mobile cart digital radiography (DR) system, the DR detector may be directly connected to a larger network and communicate with a centralized server. In other embodiments, the mobile cart may host one of an x-ray, digital tomography, continuous radiography, and fluoroscopy modality. In one embodiment, as Figure 2 As shown in FIG, the decentralized service can reside in a Windows PC. The mobile DR system implemented in this way presents a distributed architecture (based on timely computing responses to operations and interactions within the system).

[0024] As used in this article, time terms can be characterized as follows: real-time - requiring low-latency response: ≤10ms, as exemplified by interactions between sources, generators, and detectors; quasi-real-time: ≤2 minutes, exemplified by image reconstruction or specific image enhancements; and anytime: >2 minutes, capturing processing that may impact clinical workflow, diagnostic decisions, and patient management.

[0025] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the medical imaging devices 100, 200 distributed on the network can be organized into a centralized or distributed architecture of constituent components. Distributed medical imaging devices built with a centralized architecture may include any number of the following components: processing capabilities for performing data processing and / or reconstruction from raw image acquisition; coordination business logic for component sequencing and control; data storage and retrieval; advanced data and image processing capabilities, which may be supported by dedicated hardware; user interfaces for enabling interaction with medical devices; implementations of visualization of specific clinical workflows, acquired or processed data - such UIs may be hosted as cloud services; one or more active sources (such as x-rays), including (one or more) generators and controls; one or more imaging detectors for enabling image acquisition from active or passive sources; motion components, and control of the displacement of acquisition components relative to each other; software-enabled key locking mechanisms for activating a collection of network components into an operational medical device that can be used for specific clinical tasks according to some pre-established configuration; and wired or wireless communication infrastructure for supporting real-time, near-real-time, and any-time processing. It should be appreciated that if the communications infrastructure is not capable of supporting real-time communications, dedicated communications links may be applied to those components with real-time requirements.

[0026] The locking mechanism described herein may implement a unique digital identifier that associates resources such as equipment, personnel, clinical exam requirements, and map overlays for displaying visual work lists. Different associations and / or groupings of components may be used, thereby introducing a hierarchical relationship between components. A decentralized architecture of components may enable data to be shared between components in an independent manner to improve acquisition or interaction opportunities in response to preliminary acquisitions such as image localization or SID calculations.

[0027] The present invention describes an architecture of device components and services for medical devices on a network (rather than integrated into just one or more physical devices). The architecture composition enables a large number of different physical components to be digitally associated statically or dynamically to define a medical device network. Depending on the components being registered manually or automatically, the components can become network instantiations of medical devices. This architecture allows a large variety of configurations to be tailored and improved to meet clinical needs. A fundamental aspect for converting networked components into an integral active medical imaging device is the introduction of a shared locking capability that binds a set of components via communication with a central server.

[0028] refer to Figure 1, image acquisition components (e.g., source, detector & control) as well as imaging reconstruction & processing, UI interface, advanced image / sensor processing (AI) and storage are located on the device and communicate with the hosted healthcare (HCP) network via direct cable or wirelessly. Acquisition modalities range from DR room, CT to mobile DR or mobile cart. Decomposing the medical device architecture and relaxing the standard architecture structure is achieved by: (1) moving reconstruction and advanced image processing components, storage, UI from the device to one or more local servers; (2) communicating not only within the healthcare local network, but also within an alternative sub-network of 5G; (3) and further decoupling of the constituent devices.

[0029] refer to Figure 2 , as by Figure 1 , capabilities that previously resided within the device itself have now been distributed across the network, as illustrated in the "Window PC" box in FIG. 1 . This distribution presents a user interface available at a standard console and / or on a phone and / or tablet computer (which has Wi-Fi communication with a server that performs the original functionality). A portable device 201 (here illustrated as a mobile phone) can trigger a locking mechanism so that all components can be activated as a whole networked medical device. Additionally, this diagram illustrates enhanced capabilities that are directly available as a byproduct of decentralization. These are highlighted as connecting to cloud-based solutions, such as image processing, services, and databases.

[0030] refer to Figure 3 , on the left, a schematic diagram of exemplary individual components is illustrated, which when associated become a specific example of a networked medical radiographic imaging device. As described herein, the components may include any type of medical device, a first computer system (which may be portable), and a second computer system. As described herein, when the components are associated ( Figure 3 , on the right) a distributed medical radiographic imaging device may be formed.

[0031] refer to Figure 4 , on the left, components labeled A can be associated to create a networked medical device #1. Figure 4 , on the right, components labeled B can be associated to create medical device #2. As described herein, components can include any type of medical device, a first computer system (which can be portable), and a second computer system.

[0032] refer to Figure 5, various potential alternative combinations of associated components labeled A and B (as described herein) are illustrated to create devices #3 and #4. These exemplary configurations illustrate that the associations between components can be interchangeable, fluid, and transient. That is, components of an activated networked medical device (as described in FIG. 1 ) are formed by associating device A, a first computer A, and a second computer A. Figure 4 The components in (A) can be implemented interchangeably with device A, first computer B, and second computer B to form medical device #3. Similarly, an activated networked medical device can be formed by associating device B, first computer A, and second computer A to form device #4.

[0033] refer to Figure 6 , further exemplary alternative combinations of associated components labeled A and B are illustrated to create devices #5 and #6. As illustrated, networked medical imaging devices can be interchangeably created by using or exchanging the first computer between two instances of the illustrated medical device.

[0034] refer to Figure 7 , a diagram illustrating an exemplary alternative association of components A and B with a shared second computer system (such as an application server). Both medical radiographic imaging devices with components labeled A and B are separate instances, but the second computer system (such as an application server) can be shared.

[0035] refer to Figure 8 , server 801 is connected to medical device 802 via network connection A; medical device 802 is connected to user computer 803 via network connection B; and server 801 is connected to user computer 803 via network connection C. Server 801 may include a software application as described herein; medical device 802 may be a physical device for medical use; and user computer 803 may be a computer in local proximity of medical device 802 for providing a user interface (UI) for controlling medical device 802. Network connections A, B, C each provide a digital wired or wireless communication path between the devices shown. If any one of network connections A, B, C is omitted, digital communication between any two devices as shown may still be performed directly or indirectly using the other two network connections.

[0036] In a specific embodiment, and with reference to Fig. 9, an application server 901, a portable tablet computer 902 providing a user interface and device control software, and an x-ray imaging system 903 define an example set of components that can be associated (as described herein) to form an overall networked medical device. Network connection 904 (e.g., Ethernet or Wi-Fi) is the communication path between the application server 901 and the x-ray imaging system 903; network connection 904 is the communication path (e.g., Bluetooth) between the tablet computer 902 and the x-ray imaging system 903; and network connection 905 is the communication path (e.g., Ethernet or Wi-Fi) between the application server 901 and the tablet computer 902. Any of the network connections may be omitted, whereby communication between any two components can be performed directly or indirectly via the two existing network connections. As Fig. 9 As depicted in , the imaging system 903 may include an x-ray imaging system for use in an examination room having a wall and / or table mounted with a DR detector and a ceiling mounted with a tube head crane for controlling the movement of the tube head, each of which may be controlled by a user via a UI of a tablet computer 902. Although the tablet computer 902 is depicted as providing a UI for the user, alternative user devices may include a mobile phone or a tethered workstation PC. The user computers 802, 902 may be shared among multiple devices. The server 801, 901 may be located, for example, in a hospital data center or it may be located further away from the x-ray imaging device 903. The server 801, 901 may be shared among one or more devices 803, 903 and one or more computers 802, 902.

[0037] The certificate created by the server 901 may be installed on the imaging system 903 via a standard provisioning process, serving as a trusted certificate for the x-ray imaging system 903. The certificate created by the server may be similarly installed on the tablet computer 902. In one example embodiment, a user may carry the tablet computer 902 (which may be configured to communicate wirelessly via the connected communication network 904, 905) close to the x-ray imaging system 903 (e.g., at a distance of approximately thirty (30) feet or less). The user may then enter the unique ID code assigned to the x-ray imaging system 903 into the tablet computer 902 via a QR code scan or manually. The tablet computer 902 then communicates with the application server 901 and requests a dedicated session for the x-ray imaging system 903 identified via the unique code. The application server 901 verifies the code of the x-ray imaging system 903 and checks that it is not currently in a dedicated session. If the x-ray imaging system 903 is not currently associated with a session, the application server 901 will generate a session token and send it to the x-ray imaging system 903 and to the tablet computer 902. The tablet computer 902 is then wirelessly connected to the x-ray imaging system 903 (e.g., via a Bluetooth connection) and a session token is exchanged via a remote procedure call channel (gRPC). After the x-ray imaging system 903 accepts the session token, it locks itself into a dedicated session with the tablet computer 902. The active networked medical device now consists of a dedicated three-way encrypted session between the application server 901, the tablet computer 902, and the x-ray imaging system 903. The user can now perform x-ray imaging via UI software control on the tablet computer 902 and / or hardware control on the imaging device itself. The collected radiographic image data can be transmitted from the x-ray imaging system 903 to both the tablet computer 902 and the application server 901. Application functions can be transferred between the tablet computer 902 and the application server 901. When the imaging session is completed, the user can terminate the session using the UI, which sends a message to the application server 901, which then notifies the x-ray imaging system 903 that the session is terminated, after which the Bluetooth network connection is broken by the tablet computer 902 and / or the x-ray imaging system 903, thereby unlocking the x-ray imaging system 903. If at any time during the locked session, the network connection to the server is broken, the dedicated session will not be terminated. This allows the user to continue to operate the x-ray imaging system 903 in the event of a server power outage, although functionality may be limited.

[0038] Continue to refer Fig. 9, the medical devices 802 (as described above) used to form an integrated networked medical device may include a portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 (as an alternative to the x-ray imaging system 903), and the application server 901 may include a server computer located in a cloud data center, such as Figure 2 The application server 901 may be shared among one or more devices 802, 903, 906 and one or more user computers 802, 902. As described above, the trust certificate created by the server is provided to the imaging device - portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906, and to the tablet computer 902 provided to the user.

[0039] In one example embodiment, a user may bring a tablet computer 902 close to a portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 (e.g., at a distance of approximately thirty (30) feet or less), and the tablet computer 902 may be configured to communicate wirelessly via the connected communication networks 904, 905. The portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 may detect the wireless tablet computer 902 and, in response, wirelessly transmit a request for the tablet computer's credential information. The portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 receives the tablet computer's credential information and shares it with the application server 901 to verify that the tablet computer 902 is authentic. If authentic, the network connection 904 is allowed to continue; if not authentic, the network connection is disconnected. If authentic, the tablet computer 902 communicates with the application server 901 and requests a dedicated session for the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906. The application server verifies the identity of the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 and checks that it is not currently in a dedicated session. The application server 901 generates a session token and sends it to the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 and to the tablet computer 902. The tablet computer 902 connects to the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 via Bluetooth and exchanges the session token via the gRPC channel. The portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 accepts the session token and locks itself for a dedicated session with the tablet computer 902. The networked medical device now consists of a dedicated three-way encrypted session between the application server 901, the tablet computer 902, and the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906. The user can perform bedside fluoroscopy imaging via the UI software control on the tablet computer 902 and / or the hardware control on the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 itself. The image data collected by the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 can be transmitted to both the tablet computer 902 and to the application server 901. Application functions can be transferred between the application server 901 and the tablet computer 902. When fluoroscopic imaging is completed, the user can terminate the session via the UI or by walking away (carrying the tablet computer 902 until it is no longer close to the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906). The Bluetooth connection is then broken, the session is terminated, and the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 is unlocked for the next operator. The user can then approach another medical device with the same tablet computer 902 and repeat the process to seamlessly establish a dedicated session with a different medical device. If at any time during the locked session, the Ethernet network connection to the server is broken, the dedicated session will not be terminated. This allows the user to continue operating the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 in the event of a server power outage, although functionality may be limited.

[0040] In the case of the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 example described above, while there may be various embodiments of communication configurations, in practice there may be additional accessories included in the network, such as a monitor (which is used to enable visualization of the streamed x-ray images) connected to the application server 901 via Ethernet / Wi-Fi. Thus, the tablet computer 902 (once connected) can be used to configure the image acquisition characteristics, while visualization of the streamed x-ray images can be performed on the accessory monitor.

[0041] Continue to refer Fig. 9 As described above, the medical device used to form an integrated networked medical device may include a portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 (as an alternative to the x-ray imaging system 903 and the portable bedside fluoroscopic fluoroscopy system 906). The application server 901 may include a server computer located in a cloud data center, such as Figure 2 The application server 901 can be shared among one or more devices 802, 903, 906, 907 and one or more user computers 802, 902. As described above, the trust certificate created by the server is provided to the imaging device - portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907, and is provided to the user's tablet computer 902.

[0042] In an example embodiment, a user may approach a portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 while carrying a tablet computer 902 (which may be configured to communicate wirelessly via a connected communication network 904, 905). The portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 may detect the wireless tablet computer 902 and, in response, wirelessly transmit a request for the tablet computer's credential information. The portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 receives the tablet computer's credential information and shares it with the application server 901 to verify that the tablet computer 902 is authentic. If authentic, the network connection 904 is allowed to continue; if not authentic, the network connection is disconnected. If authentic, the tablet computer 902 communicates with the application server 901 and requests a dedicated session for the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907. The application server 901 verifies the identity of the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 and checks that it is not currently in a dedicated session. If the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 is not in a dedicated session, the application server 901 generates a session token and sends it to the portable bedside fluoroscopy system 906 and to the tablet computer 902. The tablet computer 902 is connected to the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 via Bluetooth and exchanges session tokens via the gRPC channel. The portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 accepts the session token and locks itself for a dedicated session with the tablet computer 902. The newly formed networked medical device now consists of a dedicated three-way encrypted session between the application server 901, the tablet computer 902, and the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907. The user can perform bedside continuous radiographic imaging via UI software control on the tablet computer 902 and / or hardware control on the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 itself. Image data collected by the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 can be transmitted to both the tablet computer 902 and the application server 901. Application functions can be transferred between the application server 901 and the tablet computer 902. When the continuous radiographic imaging is completed, the user can terminate the session via the UI or by walking away (carrying the tablet computer 902 until it is no longer close to the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907). The Bluetooth connection is then disconnected, the dedicated session is terminated, and the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 is unlocked for the next operator. The user can then approach another medical device through the same tablet computer 902 and repeat the process to seamlessly establish a dedicated session with a different medical device. If at any time during the locked session, the Ethernet network connection to the server is disconnected, the dedicated session will not be terminated. This allows the user to continue to operate the portable continuous radiographic imaging device 907 in the event of a server power outage, although functionality may be limited.

[0043] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be implemented as a system, method, or computer program product. Thus, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a fully hardware embodiment, a fully software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment of a combination of software and hardware aspects (which may all be generally referred to herein as "services," "circuits," "circuit modules," "modules," and / or "systems"). Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product implemented in one or more computer-readable media having computer-readable program code implemented thereon.

[0044] Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be utilized. A computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor system, device or apparatus, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable storage media will include the following: an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that is capable of containing or storing a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device or apparatus. The program code and / or executable instructions implemented on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, telegraph wire, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0045] The computer program code for performing the operation of aspects of the present invention can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​(such as Java, C++ or the like) and conventional procedural programming languages ​​(such as "C" programming language or similar programming languages). The program code can be executed entirely on the user's computer (device), partially on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer through any type of network (including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)), or the connection can be done to an external computer (e.g., by using the Internet of an Internet service provider).

[0046] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It will be understood that each frame of the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram and the combination of frames in the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that instructions executed via a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing device create components for implementing the function / action specified in a flowchart and / or block diagram frame or multiple frames.

[0047] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that is capable of directing a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other apparatus to operate in a particular manner so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture that includes instructions for implementing the functions / actions specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram box or multiple boxes. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable device, or other apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide a process for implementing the functions / actions specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram box or multiple boxes.

[0048] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention (including the best mode), and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention (including making and using any devices or systems, and performing any incorporated methods). The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. A distributed radiographic imaging system, comprising: A radiographic imaging device, the radiographic imaging device comprising a radiographic energy source and a digital radiographic detector; First Computer System; as well as a second computer system, the second computer system being communicatively connected to the first computer system, wherein the radiographic imaging device and the first computer system are configured to wirelessly communicate with and identify each other when the first computer system is within a predefined proximity to the radiographic imaging device, the second computer system being configured to communicate with both the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device to determine whether the radiographic imaging device is currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, and to transmit a session approval token to the first computer system and to the radiographic imaging device if the radiographic imaging device is not currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, and Wherein, the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device establish a first dedicated communication and control session in response to receiving the session approval token.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein: The first dedicated communication and control session is configured to enable the first computer system to control the operation of the radiographic imaging device, to list radiographic imaging device inspection requests, and to control radiographic image acquisition, processing, visualization, quality assessment, and external delivery of acquired radiographic images.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein: The communication between the first and second computer systems is performed via a wireless or wired connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Infrared (IR), or a physical tethered connection.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second radiographic imaging device, the second radiographic imaging device comprising a second radiographic energy source and a second digital radiographic detector; Third computer system; as well as said second computer system being communicatively connected to said third computer system, wherein the second radiographic imaging device and the third computer system are configured to wirelessly communicate with and identify each other when the third computer system is within a predefined proximity to the second radiographic imaging device, the second computer system being configured to communicate with both the third computer system and the second radiographic imaging device and to transmit a second session approval token to the third computer system and the second radiographic imaging device, and Wherein, the third computer system and the second radiographic imaging device establish a second dedicated communication and control session concurrent with the first dedicated communication and control session in response to receiving the second session approval token.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein: The first and second radiographic imaging devices are selected from portable, mobile or fixed radiographic imaging systems including general radiographic and fluoroscopic imaging.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein: The first computer system is configured to establish a proximity interlock with the radiographic imaging device such that if the first computer system moves outside of the predefined proximity, the first dedicated communication and control session is released.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein: The first computer system is configured to detect a location of the radiographic imaging device and digitally access an acquisition study protocol and a patient name based on the detected location of the radiographic imaging device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein: The first computer system includes a monitor and is configured to display the detected location on the monitor using a map overlay.

9. A method of forming a distributed radiographic imaging system, the method comprising: Providing a radiographic imaging device including a radiographic energy source and a digital radiographic detector; communicatively connecting the first computer system, the second computer system, and the radiographic imaging device; The radiographic imaging device and the first computer system wirelessly communicate with and identify each other when the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device are within a predefined proximity to each other; The second computer system receives a request for approval as a dedicated session between the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device; The second computer system determines whether the radiographic imaging device is currently being used in a dedicated imaging session; In response to the second computer system determining that the radiographic imaging device is not currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, the second computer system transmits a first session approval token to the first computer system and to the radiographic imaging device; and In response to receiving the first session approval token, a first dedicated communication and control session between the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device is established.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: In response to establishing the first dedicated communication and control session, the first computer system is enabled to control the operation of the radiographic imaging device, to list radiographic imaging device inspection requests, and to control radiographic image acquisition, processing, visualization, quality assessment, and external delivery of acquired radiographic images.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: Any one or more of a connection between the first and second computer systems using a wireless or wired connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Infrared (IR), or a physical tether.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: providing a second radiographic imaging device including a second radiographic energy source and a second digital radiographic detector; communicatively connecting the second computer system, the third computer system, and the second radiographic imaging device; the second radiographic imaging device and the third computer system wirelessly communicating with and identifying each other when the third computer system and the second radiographic imaging device are within a predefined proximity to each other; receiving, by the second computer system, a request for approval as a second dedicated session between the third computer system and the second radiographic imaging device; The second computer system determines whether the second radiographic imaging device is currently being used in a dedicated imaging session; In response to the second computer system determining that the second radiographic imaging device is not currently being used in a dedicated imaging session, the second computer system transmitting a second session approval token to the third computer system and to the second radiographic imaging device; and In response to receiving the second session approval token, a second dedicated communication and control session between the third computer system and the second radiographic imaging device is established concurrently with the first dedicated communication and control session.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: The first and second radiographic imaging devices are selected from portable, mobile or fixed radiographic imaging systems including general radiographic and fluoroscopic imaging.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: A proximity interlock is established such that if the first computer system and the radiographic imaging device are no longer within the predefined proximity, the first dedicated communication and control session is released.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising: Based on the detected location of the radiographic imaging device, a study protocol and patient name are digitally accessed.

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