Patient Data Transmission Unit for Medical Imaging Protocol Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical imaging examination protocols often fail to incorporate patient-specific data effectively, leading to inefficiencies and potential image quality issues due to missing information, and may compromise patient privacy and comfort.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for transmitting patient-specific data to an examination protocol adjustment unit via a software application, allowing for the provision of a user interface to input, store, and transmit data to adjust medical imaging protocols, particularly for computed tomography devices, reducing the need for direct questioning and improving protocol customization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If patient-specific data is gathered by questioning patients in the waiting room, then patient privacy is protected, but patient-specific data may not be gathered completely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient-specific data completenessVSAvoidpatient privacy protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A mobile data processing unit serves as an intermediary between the patient and the examination protocol adjustment unit. The mobile device collects patient-specific data through a user interface application, storing it temporarily before transmission. This intermediary approach allows comprehensive data collection without requiring direct patient questioning in the waiting room, thus maintaining privacy while improving data completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary data collection by providing a user interface on a mobile device that patients can use to input their specific data before the examination protocol is finalized. This preliminary action ensures that all necessary patient-specific information is gathered in advance, allowing the examination protocol to be adjusted accordingly without needing to question patients later during the examination preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If patient-specific data is gathered by questioning patients directly at the medical imaging apparatus, then complete patient-specific data can be obtained, but patient time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient-specific data completenessVSAvoidpatient occupation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile data processing unit enables patients to input their specific data in advance using the provided user interface application. This preliminary data collection occurs before the patient reaches the medical imaging apparatus, ensuring that the examination protocol can be adjusted based on complete patient-specific information without requiring additional questioning time at the apparatus, thus reducing overall patient occupation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional information systems are used to capture patient data, then commonly available information is recorded, but additional patient-specific information useful for examination planning is not captured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexamination protocol customizationVSAvoidinformation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile data processing unit serves multiple functions: it acts as a data collection interface for patients, a temporary storage device, and a transmission unit to the examination protocol adjustment unit. This multi-functional device enables the capture of additional patient-specific information beyond what conventional information systems record, while avoiding the need to significantly complicate the existing information system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile data processing unit functions as an intermediary layer between patients and the examination protocol adjustment unit. It collects comprehensive patient-specific data through its user interface, stores it locally, and transmits it when needed, thereby enabling enhanced examination protocol customization without requiring direct integration into or modification of the conventional information systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12125586B2Method for the transmission of patient-specific data to an examination protocol adjustment unit and patient data transmission unit

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A method is for the transmission of patient-specific data to an examination log adjustment unit. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a user interface via a software application; receiving patient-specific data of a patient via the user interface, the patient-specific data being based on an input into the user interface; storing the patient-specific data received; and transmitting the patient-specific data to the examination log adjustment unit, the examination log adjustment unit being embodied to adjust an examination log for a medical imaging examination of the patient based upon the patient-specific data.