Fleet Control of Heterogeneous MR-Scanners via Centralized Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of heterogeneous MR-scanner systems in healthcare organizations leads to challenges in consistency and management, requiring specific knowledge for each system, complicating software updates, and resulting in lengthy downtimes and complex software rollout processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling a fleet of MR-scanner systems using a user interface on an external device, which generates protocols and sequences based on system attributes, allowing for standardized operation and decoupling the user interface from the MR-scanner systems, enabling simultaneous operation and centralized software updates without on-site technicians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple heterogeneous MR-scanner systems are deployed to increase diagnostic capacity, then the diagnostic capability and productivity of the healthcare organization is improved, but the complexity of system management and operation increases, requiring specific knowledge for each system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal user interface that can operate multiple heterogeneous MR-scanner systems through a single standardized interface. The external device communicates with different MR-scanner systems using standardized protocols, allowing one interface to control multiple systems with different hardware configurations and software versions, thereby reducing the need for operator-specific training and simplifying fleet management
2Reliability
If software updates are rolled out for each MR-scanner system individually to maintain system performance, then the software functionality is improved, but the time and effort required for updates increases, resulting in lengthy downtimes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple MR-scanner systems into a single fleet managed through one external device. Software updates can be applied centrally to the external device, which then manages the updated functionality across all connected MR-scanner systems. This approach allows simultaneous updating of multiple systems without requiring individual on-site technician visits, significantly reducing total update downtime while maintaining current system performance through continued access to existing functionality
3Reliability
If on-site technicians are deployed for software updates to ensure proper installation, then the reliability of software installation is improved, but the operational downtime and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service software updates through the external device, which can automatically receive and install software updates without requiring on-site technician intervention. The external device manages its own software updates and can coordinate with the MR-scanner system fleet to apply updates during periods of minimal impact, allowing the system to update itself while maintaining high availability and reducing the need for facility shutdowns
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for controlling a fleet of MR-scanner systems by means of a user interface. Each MR scanner system in the fleet of MR scanner systems comprises a hardware layer having a plurality of electronically controllable components and mechanical components to perform an MR measurement and capture MR-scanner raw data, a Measurement And Reconstruction System (MARS) computing unit configured to implement a measurement framework using a sequence to calculate real-time instructions and transmit these instructions to the components of the hardware layer for controlling the MR-scanner system, and a communication interface for communicating with an external device. Each MR scanner system has system attributes, which are transmitted to the external device via the communication interface.