191 results about "Radiology studies" patented technology

The present invention provides catheter apparatus and catheterization methodology for generating an arteriovenous fistula or a veno-venous fistula on-demand between closely associated blood vessels and at a chosen anatomic site in-vivo. The catheter apparatus is preferably employed in pairs, each catheter of the pair being suitable for percutaneous introduction into and extension through a blood vessel. The catheterization methodology employs the catheter apparatus preferably in conjunction with conventional radiological techniques in order to place, verify, and confirm a proper alignment, orientation, and positioning for the catheters in-vivo prior to activating the perforation means for generating a fistula. The invention permits the generation of arteriovenous fistulae and veno-venous fistulae anatomically anywhere in the vascular system of a patient; nevertheless, the invention is most desirably employed in the peripheral vascular system as exists in the extremities of the body to aid in the treatment of the patient under a variety of different medical ailments and pathologies.

The present invention comprises systems, methods, and means for sending data across a network. Intelligent Image Distributions (IID) systems and methods are also disclosed. Systems, methods, and means for a HawkNet, a transmission control protocol, are likewise disclosed. A description of such systems handling DICOM radiology studies is presented along with a complete system for handling such studies.

Apparatus, systems, and methods to improve imaging quality control, image processing, identification of findings, and generation of notification at or near a point of care are disclosed and described. An example imaging apparatus includes a processor to at least: evaluate first image data with respect to an image quality measure; when the first image data satisfies the image quality measure, process the first image data using a trained learning network to generate a first analysis of the first image data; identify a clinical finding in the first image data based on the first analysis; compare the first analysis to a second analysis, the second analysis generated from second image data obtained in a second image acquisition; and, when comparing identifies a change between the first analysis and the second analysis, trigger a notification at the imaging apparatus regarding the clinical finding to prompt a responsive action.

The present invention relates to method for assisting a user in generating an itemised medical report from at least one medical image. The at least one medical image is displayed in a display area of single computer display unit. In the same display area, a sub-region containing a checklist specific to the one or more images is displayed. Items from the checklist can be de-selected. This checklist comprises a list of selectable items, each item representing an organ, structure, or abnormality that has to be checked by the user. Linked to each item in the checklist is a default statement that is a pre-prepared statement indicative of the normality of the item. The default statement is not displayed by default as part of the checklist. The user can select an item from the checklist for providing comments by dictation thereon responsive to an observation in the radiological image. At the end of the image analysis, an editable itemised medical report is generated containing each item of the checklist as a heading and either the dictated comment or the default statement associated with the item as an observation. The editable itemised medical report is rapidly and accurately generated, information is confined to a single screen reducing the look-away time and general discomfort over time for the user.

Related free-text documents, a corpus, are used to empirically derive a semantic knowledge base through a method in which documents are segmented into unique sentences, and then used to define sentential propositions which are arranged in a knowledge hierarchy. The method takes compound natural language sentences and transforms them to simple sentences by a process that is a part of the invention. A knowledge editor enables a domain expert using the methods of the invention to map the sentences in the corpus to sentential proposition(s). The resulting knowledge base can be used to semantically analyze documents in data mining and decision support applications, and can assist word processors or speech recognition devices. The invention is illustrated in connection with radiology reports, but it has wide applicability.

A digital, flat panel, two-dimensional x-ray detector moves reliably, safely and conveniently to a variety of positions for different x-ray protocols for a standing, sitting or recumbent patient. The system makes it practical to use the same detector for a number or protocols that otherwise may require different equipment, and takes advantage of desirable characteristics of flat panel digital detectors while alleviating the effects of less desirable characteristics such as high cost, weight and fragility of such detectors.

The present specification discloses systems and methods for patient monitoring using a multitude of display regions, at least two of which have the capability to simultaneously display real time patient waveforms and vital statistics as well as provide display for local and remote software applications. In one example, a primary display shows real time patient waveforms and vital statistics while a customizable secondary display shows trends, cumulative data, laboratory and radiology reports, protocols, and similar clinical information. Additionally, the secondary display can launch local and remote applications such as entertainment software, Internet and email programs, patient education software, and video conferencing applications. The dual display allows caregivers to simultaneously view real time patient vitals and aggregated data or therapy protocols, thereby increasing hospital personnel efficiency and improving treatment, while not compromising the display of critical alarms or other data.

The invention includes: a locating system; a computer, interfaced to the locating system and interpreting the positions of tracked objects in a generic computer model of a patient's hip geometry; a software module, executable on the computer, which defines the patient's pelvic plane without reference to previously obtained radiological data, by locating at least three pelvic landmarks; and a pelvic tracking marker, fixable to the pelvic bone and trackable by the locating system, to track in real time the orientation of the defined pelvic plane. Preferably, the system also includes a femoral tracking marker, securely attachable to a femur of the patient by a non-penetrating ligature and trackable by the locating system to detect changes in leg length and femoral offset.

Embodiment methods of treating a human or animal patient using a remotely controlled robotic catheter device inserting a handle of a catheter into a handle controller, inserting the catheter tubular portion into a resealable delivery channel forming a sterile barrier to a sled base, engaging a tip of the catheter with a sterile introducer disposed at an end of the sled base and engaged with the patient's body, positioning the catheter into the patient's body by remotely sending commands to the tele-robotic device to cause the sled member to advance toward the patient's body, and performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure on the patient using the catheter. Diagnostic or therapeutic procedures may include a mapping procedure, an ablation procedure, an angioplasty procedure, a drug delivery procedure; an electrophysiology procedure, a radiological procedure, and a medical device implantation or positioning procedure.

A system configuration and techniques for optimizing schedules and associated use predictions of a multiple resource planning workflow are disclosed herein, applicable to environments such as radiologist scheduling in a teleradiology workflow. In one embodiment, a series of computing engines and components are provided to allow detailed forecasting and the generation of customized recommendations for scheduling and other resource usage scenarios. This forecasting can factor resource efficiencies, changes in resource demand volume, resource specialties, resource usage preferences, expected future events such as the removal or addition of resources at future times, and other resource availability or usage changes. The forecasts may be further enhanced through the use of historical data models and estimated future data models. Additionally, a calendar and other tools may be presented through a user interface to allow forecast and scenario customization based on selection of a series of future dates.

A method and system for integrating radiological and pathological information for cancer diagnosis, therapy selection, and monitoring is disclosed. A radiological image of a patient, such as a magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), or ultrasound image, is received. A location corresponding to each of one or more biopsy samples is determined in the at least one radiological image. An integrated display is used to display a histological image corresponding to the each biopsy samples, the radiological image, and the location corresponding to each biopsy samples in the radiological image. Pathological information and radiological information are integrated by combining features extracted from the histological images and the features extracted from the corresponding locations in the radiological image for cancer grading, prognosis prediction, and therapy selection.

A CT- or MRT-assisted image acquisition, image archiving and image rendering system allows generation, storage, post-processing, retrieval and graphical visualization of computed or magnetic resonance tomography image data that, for example, can be used in the clinical field in the framework of radiological slice image diagnostics as well as in the framework of interventional radiology. Moreover, a method implemented by this system allows reproduction of patient-specific examination parameters of an initial examination implemented by means of computed or magnetic resonance tomography imaging in the framework of CT or MRT follow-up examinations (“follow-ups”), for example in a post-operative tumor examination implemented under slice image monitoring in connection with a histological tissue sample extraction (biopsy) implemented under local anesthesia or a minimally-invasive intervention implemented for tumor treatment. Acquisition, measurement, 2D and / or 3D reconstruction parameters from a radiological initial examination of the patient conducted by means of CT, PET-CT or MRT as well as position data to establish the position adopted by this patient on the examination table of a computed tomography or magnetic resonance tomography apparatus are electronically documented, retrievably and persistently stored, and are automatically reused given subsequent CT-, PET-CT- or MRT-based monitoring examinations, or CT-controlled or MRT-controlled interventional or operative procedures.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for interactive protocoling between a healthcare information system and a diagnostic imaging system / modality. Certain embodiments provide a method for interactive protocoling between healthcare information and diagnostic imaging systems including viewing available scanning protocols for a diagnostic imaging system and associating a patient scanning order with one or more of the available scanning protocols for the diagnostic imaging system. Certain embodiments provide an interface enabling interactive protocoling between healthcare information and diagnostic imaging systems. The interface includes a protocol list including available scanning protocols for a diagnostic imaging system and a dialog for accepting input from a user to specify one or more of the available scanning protocols from the protocol list. The dialog is configured to associate an order for scanning a patient using the diagnostic imaging system with the one or more specified scanning protocols.

A teleradiology image processing system configured to receive, process, and transmit radiology read requests and digital radiology image data is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a radiology processing system includes a series of processing components configured to receive digital radiology data from a medical provider, extract relevant information and radiology scan images from the digital radiology data, and initiate and control a workflow with a qualified remote radiologist who ultimately performs a read of the radiology scan images. Further embodiments also facilitate data processing within the image processing system in response to medical facility rules and preferences; translation or conversion of digital images to other formats; compilation of patient and medical facility data obtained from the digital radiology data into medical records or data stores; assignment of radiology studies within a teleradiology workflow in response to licensing and credentialing rules; and billing functions in response to completed reads by the remote radiologist.

An imaging method for radiologically guiding an instrument during medical interventions on an object comprising:providing a first image of said object followed byproviding updated images on-the-fly during the intervention to an operator by measuring an undersampled set of projections of said object and reconstructing said updated image based on changes between said first image or an update of said first image and said undersampled set of projections. The invention further relates to particular uses of the method and a system for radiologically guiding medical interventions on an object, comprisingmeans to provide a first image of the object;an imaging apparatus measuring undersampled sets of projections;processing means in communication with the imaging apparatus for providing updated images on-the-fly during the intervention by reconstructing said updated image based on changes between said first image or an update of said first image and said undersampled set of projections.

In a method for the obtaining a tomosynthesis image for a more selective detection of radiology signs, a dose distribution strategy is proposed. The strategy is defined as a function of a substantially uniform depth-of-focus for a variety of sizes and classes of radiology signs. This strategy is coupled with a digital filtering aimed at ensuring optimum propagation of the signal-to-noise ratio beyond the frequency spectrum. This digital filtering is done by means of a class of adaptive filters required to control the propagation of the noise during the reconstruction. The filter to be applied to each projection of the X-ray tube (4) depends on the dose assigned to this projection.

A system for guiding a user's physical examination of a patient and for generating a transcript. The system comprises: a screen requesting patient identification information, wherein the patient identification information excludes a patient name and further requesting patient medical history information; a screen requesting vital signs information; a screen requesting selection of an anatomical region of the patient for examination, wherein the user selects an anatomical region responsive to the request; a screen providing a plurality of possible observed symptoms related to the selected anatomical region, wherein the user selects one or more of the possible observed symptoms; a screen presenting possible findings that may be observed during the physical examination, wherein the user selects one or more of the possible findings based on the physical examination and a screen displaying a patient transcript responsive to information entered into the previous screens

A system and method for automatically setting image viewing context. The system and method perform the steps of extracting image references and body parts associated with the image references from a report, mapping each of the body parts to an image viewing context so that image references associated are also associated with the image viewing context, receiving a user selection indicating an image to be viewed, determining whether the user selection is one of the image references associated with the image viewing context and displaying the image of the user selection

The method of creating at least one standard protocol or pattern about the operator, the patient, the examination and / or the machine being used. Monitoring, creating and recording data about at least one of them during the actual performance of the examination. Next, compare this data to a standard protocol to produce certain results or findings about either the revenues and expenses surrounding the exam, the operators performance and skill levels during the exam, the productivity of the machine and operator, etc. Networking the data from more then one machine to a central computer and performing various analyzes, computations and / or calculations on the data from the various machines. The results will provide individual as well as combined totals for all of the machines in a department that download data to the computer.

An x-ray device comprises means for the production of at least one standard projection image of the object in which presumed suspect zones corresponding to radiological signs are represented by markers. The device comprises means for the production of a digital volume of markers in which 3D markers are created in order to represent presumed suspect zones of the object. It also comprises means of re-projection of the 3D markers in the standard projection image in order to confirm the presence of the markers or eliminate or add the markers of the projection image is necessary.

A system for guiding a user's physical examination of a patient and for generating a transcript. The system comprises: a screen requesting patient identification information, wherein the patient identification information excludes a patient name and further requesting patient medical history information; a screen requesting vital signs information; a screen requesting selection of an anatomical region of the patient for examination, wherein the user selects an anatomical region responsive to the request; a screen providing a plurality of possible observed symptoms related to the selected anatomical region, wherein the user selects one or more of the possible observed symptoms; a screen presenting possible findings that may be observed during the physical examination, wherein the user selects one or more of the possible findings based on the physical examination and a screen displaying a patient transcript responsive to information entered into the previous screens.

A closed-loop method of communicating information about a condition includes the steps of storing a profile information in a database, the profile information including at least a contact information pertaining to each of a plurality of persons to be notified and information regarding at least one mode of communication to reach each of the persons to be notified, providing a computer system in data communication with the database, the computer system providing access to a user to create and update at least the profile information in the database and to generate an alert, communicating the alert to one of the persons to be notified using the at least one mode of communication, communicating the alert to another one of the persons to be notified in the event that a threshold for communicating the alert to at least one of the person to be notified is reached.

Computerized methods, systems, and user interfaces for handling one or more radiology orders are provided. Such methods, systems, and user interfaces allow a radiologist, radiological technician, or other healthcare professional to efficiently review and approve, modify, or reject electronic requests from ordering physicians to have patients undergo radiological examination. Such methods, systems, and user interfaces also allow regulators to audit the radiology vetting process to ensure that proper review of radiological examination requests is being conducted. Computerized methods, systems, and user interfaces for automatic electronic notification of ordering physicians of modified or cancelled radiological examination requests are also provided.

In a method for the obtaining a tomosynthesis image for a more selective detection of radiology signs, a dose distribution strategy is proposed. The strategy is defined as a function of a substantially uniform depth-of-focus for a variety of sizes and classes of radiology signs. This strategy is coupled with a digital filtering aimed at ensuring optimum propagation of the signal-to-noise ratio beyond the frequency spectrum. This digital filtering is done by means of a class of adaptive filters required to control the propagation of the noise during the reconstruction. The filter to be applied to each projection of the X-ray tube (4) depends on the dose assigned to this projection.

This invention describes how to modify a fibrin-binding protein, such as tPA, with a contrast agent, such as iodine. This substance could then be given to a patient suspected of having a blood clot by an intravenous route, and then detected by a radiographic study at a short pre-determined time later. Appropriate therapy is started immediately as determined by the radiographic study.

A system is disclosed using a data-driven approach to objectively measure the diagnostic accuracy and value of diagnostic imaging reports using data captured routinely as part of the electronic health record. The system further utilizes the evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of individual radiologists (imagers), subspecialty sections, modalities, and entire departments based on a comparison against a “precision diagnosis” rendered by other clinical data sources such as pathology, surgery, laboratory tests, etc.

This invention relates to a particle detector comprising counting means (4). The detector comprises: means (7b) of creating an electrical pulse (Vb) from a detected particle, forming an inhibition. signal inhibiting at least one neighboring detector to prevent the neighboring detector from detecting the same particles, and means (8, 9) of inhibiting the detection of particles under the action of an inhibition signal originating from at least one neighboring detector. Some applications of the invention are in the radiology field (X-ray, radioscopy).

A method of cardiac radiological examination for coronarography comprises the steps of:a) introducing contrast medium simultaneously in the left coronary artery and in the right coronary artery from the aortic root and, in parallel,b) acquiring a sequence of dynamic images of the propagation of the contrast medium in the left and right coronary arteries with a displacement of the image plane, during the acquisition of said images, along a determined trajectory (E28). The contrast medium can be introduced in a cyclic manner during the acquisition of dynamic images, each cycle of introduction corresponding to a phase of closure of the aortic valve in the cardiac rhythm. 3D and 4D images with optimal efficiency can be obtained in the use of contrast medium. An injection device for producing the above cycles is synchronized with the introduction of the contrast medium.