Arrangement for managing lifecycles of imaging devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (100) one aspect of which concerns the use of imaging devices in such manner that their technical service life is fully utilized. The arrangement (100) is intended for managing the life cycle of at least an imaging device (101) and a second imaging device (102), and it comprises a data repository (103), a management device (104) configured to retrieve data from the data repository, and a plurality of time counters (105) for measuring the technical service lives of the imaging devices. In the arrangement (100), the data repository (103) is configured to receive an identifier of the imaging device (101) and to store the identifier together with location information (106) in a data set (107), which further contains the technical service life (108) of the display. The management device (104) is configured to issue a life-cycle notification (109), the lifecycle notification comprising at least the transfer of the imaging device (101) to a new location, which is a present location of the second imaging device (102), i.e., the device having a shorter remaining service life.

Description

[0001] Arrangement for managing lifecycles of imaging devices

[0002] Area of technology: an invention relates to imaging devices, especially diagnostic displays, and to the monitoring and assurance of the quality level of imaging devices.

[0003] Background of the technology

[0004] Imaging devices include, among others, computed tomography, X-ray imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound equipment. The imaging devices also include diagnostic displays intended for viewing medical images.

[0005] Diagnostic displays are intended for use by healthcare professionals. They are of higher quality and more expensive than ordinary displays designed for office work. One example of a use case for a diagnostic display is a physician’s examination of an X-ray image, where early-stage cancers, calcifications, pneumothorax, or even small fractures should be distinguishable on the diagnostic display. The purpose of quality assurance is to ensure that the performance of diagnostic displays meets certain criteria. Quality assurance measurements are carried out at regular intervals, during maintenance, or when device malfunction is suspected. The measurements relate either to user tests or technical tests. User tests are performed by healthcare professionals who use the diagnostic displays, while technical tests are carried out by personnel specialized in quality control.

[0006] A logbook is kept of quality assurance measurements and observations, and it is used to monitor the quality level of a diagnostic display. The logbook shows the date and performer of each quality assurance measurement. The logbooks are retained for the entire lifecycle of the display and can be presented to the supervisory authority, and even after the displays have been disposed of, they may be used for a research purpose. If the result of a quality assurance measurement deviates from the reference value, it is checked whether the measurement instructions were followed and whether the measuring instruments functioned correctly. The measurement is then repeated. If the repeated measurement is still not acceptable, the cause of the deviation is investigated and an attempt is made to correct the fault. In extreme cases, the device is reassigned to another use or removed from service.Several factors affect the wear of a diagnostic display, such as lighting conditions. For example, if the display is located in a place with abundant sunlight due to a window, the user must increase the display brightness, which accelerates the wear of the display, in other words, the quality level of the display deteriorates faster than normal. An organization such as a hospital typically acquires diagnostic displays in batches selected according to modality (intended use).

[0007] In a corresponding manner, other imaging devices are also subject to (regulatory) criteria. Quality-assurance measurements are used to determine whether these criteria are met, and corrective actions are taken, if the criteria are not fulfilled. Such actions include maintenance or repair actions, and removal from service when the imaging device cannot be repaired (at a sufficiently low cost).

[0008] All imaging devices belonging to the same procurement batch may be replaced at the same time with new devices, even if only some of them has reached the end of theirs service life.

[0009] The following describes solutions of the prior art disclosed in different publications. The first publication, JP2003051397, discloses an evaluation of the operational condition of an X-ray device, providing information about ending of the device’s service life. GB2551541 relates to the medical field, more specifically to a surgical robot, and concerns monitoring the operational condition of a mechanical arm included in the robot. CN111584058 concerns the lifecycle of medical equipment and the quality control of such equipment. CN115171866, CN118841151, and US2021280307 relate to repurposing the lifecycle of medical equipment, monitoring its use, or similar lifecycle management and maintenance. CN115796223 concerns software services and the scheduling of software service actions by means of threshold values. FR2809519 concerns the control of food product freshness, including the assessment of the usable lifetime of food products. US2024160868 relates to the traceability and identification of computers using an NFC (near-field communication) tag. US2014288761 discloses a method in which diagnostic displays are provided with barcodes indicating their status and possible faults.

[0010] One prior art problem concerns the management of the lifecycle of imaging devices when a large number of such devices are in use and they wear at different rates.Summary of the invention

[0011] One aspect of the invention is to enable lifecycle management of a plurality imaging devices in such a manner that the owner of the plurality of imaging devices achieves cost savings.

[0012] In the present application, an imaging device refers to an image-producing component or an image-displaying component, or alternatively to equipment comprising both an image-producing component and an image-displaying component. The

[0013] image-displaying component refers to a diagnostic display.

[0014] Another aspect of the invention is the use of the plurality of imaging devices in such a manner that their technical service life is fully utilized.

[0015] Another aspect of the invention concerns work management associated with the plurality of imaging devices, including the scheduling of work tasks and the assignment of such tasks to employees.

[0016] Another aspect of the invention is to provide up-to-date information regarding each imaging device owned by an organization, as well as statistical information relating to the plurality of imaging devices.

[0017] An arrangement in accordance with the invention is intended for lifecycle management of the plurality of imaging devices, the lifecycle management comprising at least a lifecycle notification associated with a transfer threshold value.

[0018] The arrangement comprises at least an imaging device and a second imaging device, a data repository, a management device equipped with a processor and memory, and a plurality of time counters for measuring technical service lives of the plurality of imaging devices.

[0019] In the arrangement, the data repository is configured to

[0020] receive an identifier and location information of the imaging device and

[0021] store the identifier and the location information into a data set that includes a technical service life of the imaging device.In the arrangement, the management device is configured to

[0022] issue a lifecycle notification, the lifecycle notification comprising at least information on transferring the imaging device to a new placement location which is a present placement location of the second imaging device.

[0023] Brief description of the drawings

[0024] For a more complete understanding of examples and embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] FIGURE 1 shows an arrangement for managing lifecycles of imaging devices.

[0026] FIGURE 2 shows an example of the arrangement and the lifecycle management.

[0027] FIGURE 3 shows an implementation of the data repository and the data set included therein.

[0028] FIGURE 4 shows a transfer process for an imaging device.

[0029] FIGURE 5 shows receiving technical service lives of imaging devices from a plurality of time counters.

[0030] FIGURE 6 shows utilizing a data repository in the arrangement.

[0031] FIGURE 7 shows a verification and removal process for an imaging device.

[0032] FIGURE 8 shows a flow diagram for lifecycle management of an imaging device.

[0033] Detailed description of the invention

[0034] It is appreciated that the following embodiments are exemplary. Although the specification may refer to “one” embodiment, the reference is not necessarily made to the same embodiment s), or the feature in question may apply to multiple embodiments.

[0035] Features associated with different embodiments may be combined to form new

[0036] embodiments.FIGURE 1 shows an arrangement 100 for lifecycle management of an imaging device 101. In one embodiment, the lifecycle management comprises a transfer threshold value for transferring imaging device 101 or a test threshold value for testing imaging device 101. Arrangement 100 may be used to manage tens or even thousands of imaging devices. FIG. 1 illustrates imaging device 101 and a second imaging device 102.

[0037] Imaging device 101 is intermittently in use and intermittently not in use, and arrangement 100 monitors the operating hours of the display of imaging device 101. For example, the display is in use when some (moving) image is shown on the display. In a power-saving mode, the display is black; in other words, the display is not in use. Imaging device 101 is connected, for example, by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable to a workstation or computer that records the operating hours. Arrangement 100 responds when the operating hours reach a predetermined threshold value.

[0038] Arrangement 100 comprises a data repository 103 and management device 104 equipped with a processor and memory, management device 104 being configured to retrieve data from data repository 103. In one embodiment, data repository 103 is located on a server connected to a data network. In another embodiment, management device 104 is a circuit board included in said server, comprising a processor and a memory. In general, data repository 103 and management device 104 may be implemented in various ways. For measuring the operating hours, or more generally, the technical service lives of the plurality of imaging devices, arrangement 100 comprises a plurality of time counters 105.

[0039] In the arrangement 100, data repository 103 is configured to receive at least an identifier of imaging device 101 and present information about a placement location of imaging device 101, i.e. location information 106, and to store the identifier and location information 106 of imaging device 101 in a data set 107. In one embodiment, the identifier is a serial number, and the serial number is (typically) an identifier assigned by the manufacturer of imaging device 101, comprising digits 0-9 and / or letters. Data set 107 further comprises a (current) technical service life 108 of imaging device 101.

[0040] In the arrangement 100, management device 104 is configured to retrieve data relating to imaging device 101 from data set 107 stored in data repository 103, the data comprising at least technical service life 108 of imaging device 101. Management device 104 is configured to issue a lifecycle notification 109 relating to imaging device 101,lifecycle notification 109 comprising at least information indicating that imaging device 101 is to be transferred to a new location that is the present location of second imaging device 102. Execution of lifecycle notification 109 means in this case the physical transfer of imaging device 101 from its present location to the new location.

[0041] In one embodiment, management device 104 is configured to assign lifecycle notification 109 to imaging device 101 when technical service life 108 of imaging device 101 reaches the transfer threshold value. The transfer may also be triggered for some other reason. An example of a transfer threshold value is 10000 operating hours.

[0042] Since one objective of arrangement 100 is that the plurality of imaging devices wear at approximately the same rate, the imaging device to be transferred is moved to a new location in which it is likely to wear more slowly than in its present location.

[0043] Transfers are periodically directed, by the arrangement 100, to the most worn imaging devices at which time technical service life of all imaging devices (belonging to the same procurement batch) is fully utilized.

[0044] In one embodiment, lifecycle notification 109 concerns changing the intended use of a diagnostic display from a primary display to a secondary display. Changing the intended use means that a physician or other qualified professional is no longer permitted to use the display for making a diagnosis. A secondary display is nevertheless still suitable for viewing medical images. A similar situation may arise with another imaging device, such as an X-ray device, in which its current intended use must be changed to another intended use because predetermined quality criteria are no longer met.

[0045] In one embodiment, the lifecycle management further comprises a test threshold value and a task notification 110. Task notification 110 scheduled according to the test threshold value is directed to the imaging device and comprises at least one of the following tasks: a test, a user test, a technical test, scheduled maintenance, or cleaning. Cleaning refers, for example, to wiping dirt and dust from the surface of the imaging device (particularly from the display screen), or removing dust from inside the imaging device by blowing compressed air into it.

[0046] A user test refers to a test performed on a diagnostic display by typical users of the diagnostic display, such as nurses. In a user test, the tester uses visual perception. Anexample is a visual test related to distinguishing different shades of gray, in which a certain number of “bars” in different gray levels appear (or should appear) on the diagnostic display. Technical tests, in turn, are performed by hospital technicians or other specialists, and measurement instruments are used in such tests. Both user tests and technical tests produce measurement results that must be recorded.

[0047] In one embodiment, management device 104 issues a second lifecycle notification 111 when the intended use of the diagnostic display changes from a primary display to a secondary display.

[0048] Both the lifecycle notification and the test notification are intended for personnel who test, maintain, and transfer diagnostic displays. In other words, arrangement 100 uses the lifecycle notifications and the test notifications for managing the lifecycles of diagnostic displays. The lifecycle notifications and the test notifications comprise essential information for work orders issued to testers or other personnel. Essential information comprises at least the identifier and location information 106.

[0049] An example of a test threshold value is 1000 operating hours, and an example of task notification 110 is a user test for a diagnostic display. As another example of a test threshold value, 2000 operating hours may be mentioned, and as another example of task notification 110, scheduled maintenance may be mentioned.

[0050] FIGURE 2 shows an example of arrangement 100 and the lifecycle management for imaging device 101, such as a diagnostic display 200. In one embodiment, diagnostic display 200, or more generally imaging device 101, comprises in addition to the identifier, a second identifier 201, and second identifier 201 is one of the following identifiers: an NFC identifier such as an NFC tag, a barcode, a QR (quick-response) code, or another code readable by a reader device. The reader device accelerates, in principle, the execution of all work tasks, because it reduces the need to enter information via keys.

[0051] A serial number and a barcode are typically found on a small label on the rear side of the display for identification purposes. When an NFC tag is attached to diagnostic display 200, identification of diagnostic display 200 is more reliable and faster than identification using the serial number (or the barcode). Ultra-wideband (UWB) is mentioned as a further identification technology for imaging devices.Data repository 103 included in arrangement 100 is configured to receive second identifier 201 via a reader device. In one embodiment, the reader device indicates to its user visually, by an audible signal, or in another manner, whether diagnostic display 200 having second identifier 201 is indeed the diagnostic display that was previously placed at the respective location.

[0052] Let us assume that the lifecycle of diagnostic display 200 in arrangement 100 began by reading second identifier 201 attached to diagnostic display 200 using a handheld device 202, such as a smartphone. In that case, the information contained in second identifier 201 was transmitted wirelessly to arrangement 100 that resides on a server 203. After these steps, commissioning 204 of diagnostic display 200 in arrangement 100 was completed, and the technical service life of diagnostic display 200 began to accumulate.

[0053] Arrangement 100 monitors the increase of the technical service life, and at a certain point in time arrangement 100 issues lifecycle notification 109. In such a case, at least one of the following tasks or actions is performed on diagnostic display 200: a transfer 205 to a new location and / or a change 206 of intended use. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, after transfer 205, diagnostic display 200 still belongs to primary displays 207, and its lifecycle continues at the new location. After change 206 of intended use, the lifecycle of diagnostic display 200 continues among secondary displays 208 (at the same or a different location).

[0054] Let us assume that change 206 of intended use has been performed for diagnostic display 200. Task notification 110 directed to diagnostic display 200 comprises one of the following tasks: a maintenance task 209 or a removal 210 from the plurality of imaging devices.

[0055] Maintenance task 209 is one of the following: a test, scheduled maintenance, cleaning, or fault investigation, of which the first three are scheduled tasks and the last one is a task resulting from a malfunction of the diagnostic display. Scheduled maintenance and fault repair may involve replacing a component of the diagnostic display with a new component.

[0056] Task notification 110 may be directed to diagnostic display 200 already when diagnostic display 200 belongs to primary displays 207. Once change 206 of intended usehas been performed for diagnostic display 200, diagnostic display 200 may additionally be subjected to transfer 205 among secondary displays 208 to a new location. Diagnostic displays and their lifecycles differ from each other. Primary displays 207 may comprise numerous diagnostic displays of the same brand and model, and secondary displays 208 may likewise comprise numerous diagnostic displays of the same brand and model. It is also possible that arrangement 100 includes diagnostic displays of different brands and / or different models.

[0057] FIGURE 3 shows data repository 103 and an implementation of data set 107 included therein for an imaging device in two different views, such that in a first view 301 data set 107 is supplemented (by programming) in a first manner, and in a second view 302 data set 107 is supplemented in a second manner. The first manner and the second manner may be used together or separately.

[0058] In first view 301, data set 107, which comprises the identifier, location information 106, and technical service life 108 of the same imaging device, has been supplemented with at least one additional piece of information 303. An example of at least one additional piece of information 303 is a second identifier, such as an NFC tag.

[0059] In general, location information 106 provides personnel or other individuals with understandable information about the location of the imaging device. In one embodiment, at least one of the following pieces of information can be read from location information 106: a street address, a building, a floor in the building, or a room on the floor.

[0060] In second view 302, data set 107 describing the same imaging device has been supplemented with at least one additional data set 304. An example of additional data set 304 is a measurement log 305. Additional data set 304 differs from additional piece of information 303 in that additional data set 304 comprises information items that are related to one another. For example, measurement log 305 comprises the person who performed the measurement, the date, and the measurement result.

[0061] In one embodiment, data repository 103 is centralized and resides on the same server. In another embodiment, data repository 103 is distributed such that data, which it contains, is stored in memory devices located in geographically different places.Regardless of whether data repository 103 is centralized or distributed, the data contained by it is processable by at least one processor and retrievable from data repository 103.

[0062] FIGURE 4 shows the actions included in a transfer process 400 for imaging devices. In primary use, the maximum number of operating hours of a (diagnostic) display is, for example, 20000 hours which is referred to as a “backlight warranty.” In a power-saving mode, the display is black, and when power is on, the display backlight is illuminated, whereby a computer program monitoring the use of the display increments a service-life counter. In this example, the backlight warranty expires if the value of the service-life counter exceeds 20000 hours.

[0063] A central challenge in the lifecycle management of displays is the uneven rate at which displays wear. If all displays wore at the same rate, their operating hours would be utilized as close as possible to the maximum number of hours defined by the display manufacturer, i.e., close to the number of hours associated with the backlight warranty.

[0064] Transfer process 400 and the plurality of time counters it utilizes are intended to provide solutions to this challenge, and more generally, to the wearing of imaging devices. For transfer process 400, a management device is configured to: perform, on the basis of the data sets stored in data repository 103, a comparison 401 of the technical service lives of the plurality of imaging devices, at least between imaging device 101 and second imaging device 102; make a selection 402 of the second imaging device, the technical service life of the second imaging device being (according to comparison 401) smaller than the technical service life of the imaging device; and make a transfer marking 403. As a result of transfer marking 403, the lifecycle notification specifies, as the new location of imaging device 101, the present location of the second imaging device.

[0065] In general, transfer marking 403 is made for an imaging device that has worn “a lot,” and then physical transfers are performed for the imaging device that has worn “a lot” and a “slightly” worn imaging device. Physical transfers mean, for example, that an employee moves the display that has worn “a lot” to the location of the display selected in selection 402, i.e., the “slightly” worn display, after which the employee physically moves the “slightly” worn display to the former location of the display that has worn “a lot”.After the physical transfers, the slightly worn display will likely begin to wear faster than before, and the heavily worn display will likely begin to wear more slowly than before. When transfer process 400 is carried out for multiple displays, all displays wear at approximately the same rate, thereby allowing each diagnostic display to reach a service life close to its maximum number of operating hours in primary use.

[0066] In one embodiment, wearing of the display refers to an increament in its technical service life. In another embodiment, a statistical parameter such as an average value is calculated for the wear in the arrangement. Thereafter, a display whose service life is greater than the average is interpreted in the arrangement as a heavily worn display, and correspondingly a display whose service life is smaller than the average is interpreted as a slightly worn display.

[0067] Selection 402 may yield more than one diagnostic display. In one embodiment, a worker may direct the selection to a single diagnostic display. A selection criterion may be, for example, a short transfer distance. Alternatively, the arrangement directs the selection (randomly) to one diagnostic display.

[0068] In one embodiment, selection 402 is directed to a diagnostic display having the smallest service life. In other words, the arrangement selects the least worn display as the display whose location becomes the destination to which the heavily worn display is transferred. In addition to illumination, factors influencing the wear of a diagnostic display include for example whether the display is placed in an emergency unit or in a clinic.

[0069] An emergency unit is open 24 hours a day on all days of the year, i.e. every day during 52 weeks, and therefore the number of operating hours accumulated in one year for a diagnostic display in an emergency unit is:

[0070] 24 h x 7 x 52 = 8736 h.

[0071] In contrast to an emergency unit, a clinic is open only on weekdays for eight hours per day (from morning to afternoon). Accordingly, a diagnostic display placed in a clinic accumulates in one year the following number of operating hours:

[0072] 8 h x 5 x 52 = 2080 h.Thus, in emergency-unit use, a diagnostic display wears more than four times faster than in clinic use. Uneven wear of displays will occur with almost 100% certainty if no action is taken. In one embodiment, transfer process 400 is used when the technical service life of the (heavily worn) diagnostic display reaches the transfer threshold value.

[0073] In another embodiment, transfer process 400 is used in connection with an annual inspection of the diagnostic display. In other words, in addition to reaching the transfer threshold value, there exists a second basis for performing transfer process 400.

[0074] FIGURE 5 shows receiving counter values of the plurality of imaging devices from the plurality of time counters 105 for use in management device 104. Each imaging device has its own counter value, which is included e.g. in a variable or (in object-oriented programming) in an object. The counter value is stored in arrangement 100 in a data structure such as a list element or a relational database, or more generally in a file. The counter value indicates technical service life 108 (measured in hours) of the imaging device, such as imaging device 101.

[0075] A time counter 501, implemented as a separate computer, is included in the plurality of time counters 105 and in this example is connected by a USB cable to imaging device 101. Time counter 501 may be, instead of a desktop computer, for example a laptop computer. Technical service life 108 of imaging device 101 is retrievable via an API (application programming interface) of time counter 501 to management device 104. Only some manufacturers of imaging devices provide an API to their customers. A drawback of the API is that its use incurs data-communication costs and may increase informationsecurity risks. In addition, a second time counter 502 is included in the plurality of time counters 105. Through the API of second time counter 502, a second technical service life 503 of second imaging device 102 is retrievable.

[0076] In a first embodiment, the counter values are retrievable one at a time from the computers functioning as time counters, such as time counter 501 and second time counter 502. In such a case, arrangement 100 receives technical service life 108 of imaging device 101 via the API of time counter 501, and second technical service life 503 of second imaging device 102 is received via the API of second time counter 502. Thereafter, the action “comparison of technical service lives” illustrated in FIG. 4 is possible. In one embodiment, in addition to the technical service life, further information is retrievable viathe API of time counter 501, such as the calibrated display brightness (in candelas), the display color temperature (in kelvins), and information on any possible connection issue.

[0077] A third time counter 504 is embedded in the imaging device, and the technical service life of the imaging device measured by it is available in a composite file 505. In one embodiment, composite file 505 is of the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) type and comprises information relating to multiple imaging devices.

[0078] In a second embodiment, a server of the device manufacturer (not shown in the figure) receives a third technical service life 506 from third time counter 504 and technical service lives from other time counters, and transmits the received technical service lives, for example once per hour, in composite file 505 to be used in arrangement 100.

[0079] Arrangement 100 receives the technical service lives in composite file 505 that includes the manufacturer’s serial number for the imaging device and data pairs comprising the technical service life, for example . In such a case, arrangement 100 retrieves, using the manufacturer’s serial number, the technical service life of each imaging device from composite file 505, after which the action “comparison of technical service lives” shown in FIG. 4 is possible. An advantage of the second embodiment is that fewer API calls are required.

[0080] In a third embodiment, arrangement 100 is capable of receiving technical service life 108 of imaging device 101 (or second technical service life 503 of the second imaging device 102) by at least one of the above-mentioned methods: via the API of time counter 501 (or the API of second time counter 502), or in composite file 505.

[0081] FIGURE 6 shows the utilization of data repository 103 in arrangement 100, in which data set 107 shown in first view 301 and second view 302 has been supplemented with a new additional piece of information 303 and / or additional data sets 304.

[0082] In first view 301, data set 107 describing the same imaging device has been supplemented with at least one of the following additional pieces of information: a device type 600, a brightness value 601, a color temperature 602, a number of days of use 603, a remaining time 604, an average (value) 605, a moving average 606, or a connection status 607. Each additional piece of information 303, or other information describing the imaging device or its state, is displayable through a user interface of arrangement 100.The first additional piece of information, device type 600, indicates what kind of imaging device is concerned. It is noted that device type 600 is not needed when the imaging devices processed in arrangement 100 are of the same type, e.g. diagnostic displays, in which case device type 600 is a diagnostic device. Other alternatives for device type 600 include a computed tomography device, an X-ray imaging device, a magnetic-resonance imaging device, or an ultrasound device. New imaging devices are continuously being developed, and therefore device type 600 is not limited to the imaging devices mentioned above.

[0083] Of the additional pieces of information, brightness value 601 and color temperature 602 are obtainable via an API interface or, alternatively, from the composite file. Brightness value 601 and color temperature 602 provide the user of arrangement 100 with useful information regarding the condition of the diagnostic display or other imaging device. Data set 107 comprises imaging-device-specific information.

[0084] In addition to data set 107, arrangement 100 has at its disposal parameters which can stored and which are updatable, such as a brightness threshold value. If brightness value 601 reaches the brightness threshold value, the arrangement may react to the situation.

[0085] Number of days of use 603, i.e., the number of days during which the imaging device has been in use, is in one embodiment a count value calculated by arrangement 100, which began to increase from the day on which the imaging device was taken into use.

[0086] The technical service life illustrated in connection with FIG. 1 indicates how many hours the imaging device has been in use since it was taken into use.

[0087] Remaining time 604 indicates how many operating hours the diagnostic display still has left among the primary displays. Remaining time 604 is obtained by subtracting the technical service life from the maximum number of hours related to the diagnostic display. For example, if the maximum number of hours of the diagnostic display is 20000 hours and its technical service life is 12500 hours, the remaining time is 7500 hours.

[0088] Average 605 indicates how many hours the imaging device has been used on average per day. Average 605 is obtained by dividing the value representing the technical service life by the value representing number of days of use 603.Moving average 606 indicates how many hours per day the imaging device has been used on average during N days. If the N value is e.g. 30, moving average 606 is calculated from the current day backwards for N days, i.e. 30 days. Moving average 606 reveals a trend. In other words, when moving average 606 is compared with average 605, a possible deceleration or acceleration in the wear of the imaging device can be detected. The N value is, in addition to the brightness threshold value, another example of a parameter used by the arrangement.

[0089] Connection status 607 indicates whether the technical service life was successfully obtained from the service-life counter during the previous attempt. There are various reasons why the technical service life may not be obtained. One possible reason is a situation in which the USB cable of the diagnostic display is disconnected, in which case the problem results from the absence of a data-communication connection.

[0090] In second view 302, data set 107 describing the same the imaging device has been supplemented with at least one of the following additional data sets: photographs of location 608 or previous measurement results 609.

[0091] Photographs of location 608 provide information about the lighting conditions of the location of the imaging device, in particular of the diagnostic display. If the diagnostic display is placed next to a window, the above-mentioned high brightness value 601 may result from a large amount of sunlight. In other words, the user has increased the brightness because of the sunlight.

[0092] Previous measurement results 609 are useful in such manner that they can be compared with the most recent measurement results of the imaging device. In addition, on the basis of previous measurement results 609, statistics relating to all imaging devices may be compiled.

[0093] The management unit of arrangement 100 is configured to compile a statistic describing an imaging device or a plurality of imaging devices by using at least one of the following pieces of information: an identifier of the imaging device, location information, technical service life, an additional piece of information (i.e., one of items 600-607), or an additional data set (608, 609).FIGURE 7 shows the actions included in a verification and removal process 700 for an imaging device. More precisely, FIG. 7 illustrates the interaction between a tester, i.e. a person testing the diagnostic display, and the arrangement in accordance with the invention, viewed from the perspective of the arrangement.

[0094] As the first action of verification and removal process 700, it is examined whether the imaging device is a diagnostic display 701. If the imaging device is a diagnostic display, it is next examined whether the imaging device is a primary display 702 or not.

[0095] If the condition “primary display” is true, the diagnostic display will be subjected, by the tester, to the measurements intended for primary displays, namely primary measurements 703.

[0096] In general, a due date is set by the arrangement for primary measurements 703, by which date an employee of the staff is expected to perform one or more measurements.

[0097] On the basis of the measurement result or results obtained from primary measurements 703, a test 704 either succeeds or fails (YES or NO in the figure). If test 704 succeeds, verification and removal process 700 ends.

[0098] If test 704 fails, then in one embodiment the diagnostic display will be subjected to the measurements intended for secondary displays, more briefly referred to as secondary measurements 705.

[0099] Secondary measurements 705 may be performed immediately after the primary measurements 703. Alternatively, a due date may be set for secondary measurements 705 by which they must be performed. On the basis of the measurement result(s) eventually obtained from secondary measurements 705, a second test 706 either succeeds or fails.

[0100] Testing of diagnostic displays is subject to numerous national regulations, and therefore even mandatory tests differ from one country to another. Examples of such tests include a visual test and a backlight test. In general, various types of errors may be revealed during a test, and only certain errors are interpreted as critical errors. A critical error means that test 704 or second test 706 performed for the diagnostic display fails.

[0101] If second test 706 succeeds, a usage marking 707 is made for the diagnostic display, after which verification and removal process 700 ends.Usage marking 707 affects in the arrangement such that the management device of the arrangement issues a lifecycle notification, and as a result of this lifecycle notification, a change of intended use is performed for the diagnostic display. Thereafter, the diagnostic display is no longer a primary display but a secondary display.

[0102] If second test 706 fails, in one embodiment the next action directed to the diagnostic display is a removal 708. In other words, the lifecycle of the diagnostic display in the arrangement ends, and verification and removal process 700 also ends.

[0103] In another embodiment, a failed second test 706 leads to a fault-repair action being performed on the diagnostic display (by a hospital technician) either immediately or by a specified date.

[0104] At some later stage, removal 708 again becomes actual and is carried out. After that the diagnostic display may still remain usable in veterinary applications.

[0105] The imaging device handled in verification and removal process 700 may, of course, be something other than diagnostic display 701. Then a device type is examined. In FIG. 7, it is next examined whether the device type is an X-ray device 709.

[0106] If the condition “X-ray device” is true, the imaging device will be subjected, by the tester, to the quality-assurance measurements intended for X-ray devices, namely X-ray measurements 710.

[0107] On the basis of the measurement result or results obtained from X-ray measurements 710, an X-ray test 711 either succeeds or fails. If X-ray test 711 succeeds, verification and removal process 700 ends.

[0108] If X-ray test 711 fails, then in one embodiment the imaging device, i.e. the X-ray device, will be subjected to removal 708.

[0109] The device type handled in verification and removal process 700 may be something other than a diagnostic display or an X-ray device. In branch 712, it is examined whether another device type is concerned, and the quality-assurance procedure intended for that device type is performed etc.FIGURE 8 shows a flowchart for lifecycle management of an imaging device. In one embodiment, the flowchart includes processes performed by the management device of the arrangement, including transfer process 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 and verification and removal process 700 illustrated in FIG. 7. The flowchart does not include all processes performed by the management device but illustrates activity related to the invention.

[0110] In one embodiment, the arrangement operates in a message-based manner such that messages are used as triggers. In the flowchart, the first process is: examine trigger 801. If the trigger originates from a clock 802, in other words, the arrangement has generated the trigger on the basis of the time of day, it is next examined whether a testing threshold value has been reached 803.

[0111] When the condition “testing threshold value reached” is true, the next process is: issue a task notification 804. This process results in a work order that has a predefined content relating to testing or cleaning, after which the handling of the imaging device specified in the trigger ends for the time being. The arrangement is intended for lifecycle management of numerous devices, and thus the next trigger will likely relate to some other imaging device.

[0112] At some point, a trigger again appears for the same imaging device that was handled in process “issue a task notification 804.” It is assumed that, as a result of the issued task notification, the tester has logged in to test the imaging device in question. This time, the trigger does not originate from the clock and it is not an alarm 805. Instead, it has been generated in the arrangement through the user interface by a tester 806. More precisely, the tester has made a selection in the user interface that causes verification and removal process 700 to start in the arrangement. Assuming that the imaging device does not need to be removed from the arrangement, it is next examined (by the management device of the arrangement) whether a transfer threshold value has been reached 807.

[0113] When the condition “transfer threshold value reached” is true, transfer process 400 is initiated in the arrangement. In the process following transfer process 400, a transfer or usage entry 808 is examined. If a transfer entry has been made, it originates from transfer process 400. Correspondingly, if a usage entry has been made, it originates from verification and removal process 700.When the condition “transfer or usage entry” is true, a lifecycle process 809 is initiated in the arrangement. Lifecycle process 809 produces, as its result, one or two lifecycle notifications, asin FIG. 1. The number of lifecycle notifications depends on whether a transfer marking, a usage marking, or both markings have been made.

[0114] In one embodiment, the lifecycle notification is a work order concerning the transfer of the imaging device to a new location when a transfer entry has been made. If the imaging device is a diagnostic display, a usage entry may have been made for it at which time the work order includes a reference to the change of intended use associated with FIG.

[0115] 2. In other words, the diagnostic display henceforth belongs to the secondary displays.

[0116] When the lifecycle notification is a work order directed to a designated employee, it is assumed that the arrangement has access to calendar information of the employees. Then the arrangement is capable of assigning the work order, for example, to an employee who has available time to carry out the work order as soon as possible.

[0117] In another embodiment, the lifecycle notification is not a work order but it contains the information needed for such a work order, such as the identifier of the diagnostic display and the new placement location.

[0118] As mentioned above, one type of trigger is alarm 805 received by arrangement 100. In that case, the next process in the flowchart is: issue task notification 804. This time, the process does not concern testing or cleaning of the imaging device, but reacting to the alarm. One example of an alarm is a situation in which the brightness of the diagnostic display has reached the brightness threshold value. Another example of an alarm cause is the connection status mentioned in FIG. 6, which indicates that the USB cable of the diagnostic display is disconnected. In both examples, the task notification issued in connection with alarm 805 concerns fault investigation.

[0119] To save the employee’s time, it is sometimes possible to include in the task notification at least one additional task that is to be performed at the present location of the imaging device or at its new location.

[0120] The invention is defined within the scope of the appended patent claims.

Claims

Claims1. An arrangement (100) for managing lifecycles of imaging devices, comprisingat least an imaging device (101) and a second imaging device (102),a data repository (103),a management device (104) equipped with a processor and a memory, anda plurality of time counters (105) for measuring technical service lives of the imaging devices, each time counter comprising a processor and a memory; and in the arrangement (100), the data repository (103) is configured toreceive identifiers and location information of the imaging devices, including an identifier and location information (106) of the imaging device (101), andstore, in data sets, information relating to the imaging devices, including an identifier, location information (106), and a technical service life (108) stored in a data set (107) of the imaging device (101),c h a ra c t e ri z e d in that in the arrangement (100) the management device (104) is configured toperform, on the basis of the data sets stored in the data repository (103), a comparison of technical service lives of the imaging devices between the imaging device (101) and at least the second imaging device (102),make a selection of the second imaging device (102) when, according to the comparison, the technical service life of the second imaging device (102) is smaller than the technical service life (108) of the imaging device (101), andissue a lifecycle notification (109) relating to the imaging device (101), the lifecycle notification comprising at least information on transferring the imaging device (101) to a new location which is a present location of the second imaging device (102).

2. The arrangement according to claim ^ c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the arrangement (100) the management device (104) is configured toissue a lifecycle notification (109) relating to the imaging device when the technical service life (108) reaches a transfer threshold value.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the arrangement (100) the management device (104) is configured toissue a task notification (110) relating to the imaging device (101) when the technical service life (108) reaches a testing threshold value or due to an alarm (805), the task notification (110) comprising at least one of the following tasks: a user test, a technical test, another test, scheduled maintenance, cleaning, fault investigation, fault repair.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the arrangement (100) the management device (104) is configured toinclude in the task notification (110) at least one additional task located at the location of the imaging device or at a new location of the imaging device.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the data repository (103) is further configured to receive a second identifier (201) for the imaging device, the second identifier being one of the following identifiers: an NFC (near field communication) identifier, an NFC tag, a barcode, a QR (quick-response) code, a UWB (ultra-wideband) code, or another code readable by a reader device.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the data set (107) in the data repository (103) comprises at least one additional piece of information (303) for the imaging device.

7. The arrangement according to claims 5 and 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the additional piece of information (303) is one of the following pieces of information: the second identifier (201), a device type (600), a brightness value (601), a color temperature (602), a connection status (607), information relating to the technical service life (108), including a number of days of use (603), a remaining time (604), an average (605), a moving average (606).

8. The arrangement according to claim ^ c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the data set (107) in the data repository (103) comprises at least one additional data set (304) for the imaging device.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the additional data set (304) is one of the following data sets: a measurement log (305), photographs of the location (608), or previous measurement results (609).

10. The arrangement according to claims 6 and 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the management unit of the arrangement (100) is configured tocompile a statistic describing the imaging device or a plurality of imaging devices by using at least one of the following pieces of information: the location information (106), the technical service life (108), the additional piece of information (303), the additional data set (304).

11. The arrangement according to claim ^ c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the management device (104) is configured to make the selection such that the selection is directed to the imaging device having the smallest technical service life.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the arrangement (100) the data repository (103) is configured to receive the technical service life (108) of the imaging device by at least one of the following methods:via an API (application programming interface) of a time counter (501, 502) included in the plurality of time counters (105),in a composite file (505) together with at least one technical service life of another imaging device.

13. The arrangement according to claim ^ characteri z e d in thatthe lifecycle notification (109) issued by the arrangement (100) relates to the imaging device (101) which is a diagnostic display, the management device (104) being configured toissue a second lifecycle notification (111) when a test (704) relating to primary displays fails and a second test (706) relating to secondary displays succeeds,the second lifecycle notification comprising at least a change of intended use of the diagnostic display from a primary display to a secondary display.

14. The arrangement according to claims 1 and 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in thata lifecycle process (809) performed by the management device (104) produces as its result at least one of the following notifications:the lifecycle notification (109),the second lifecycle notification (111).

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