Remote Supervision of Medical Imaging for Expert Staff Shortages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern medical imaging workflows face inefficiencies due to a shortage of experienced technologists, particularly in remote or rural locations, leading to long waiting times and workflow inefficiencies, as expert staff input is required for imaging procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for performing medical imaging procedures under remote supervision, enabling expert operators to interact with imaging modalities via a communication channel, allowing remote setting of parameters and real-time guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If expert operators are physically present in the scanner room during imaging procedures, then imaging procedures can be performed with expert guidance, but the availability of expert staff is insufficient and waiting times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical presence of expert operators in the scanner room with a remote communication system. The imaging modality is equipped with a communication interface that enables remote interaction with expert operators via audio, video, and data channels, eliminating the need for physical co-presence while maintaining expert guidance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication channel as an intermediary between the imaging modality and the expert operator. This intermediary system transmits control signals, visual feedback, and communication data between the remote expert and the imaging system, enabling expert supervision without physical presence.
2Manufacturing precision
If expert operators are physically present to monitor and guide imaging procedures, then imaging quality can be maintained, but workflow efficiency decreases due to time-consuming measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical monitoring and manual control by expert operators with an automated remote control system. The imaging modality can be controlled remotely through software interfaces, allowing multiple procedures to be monitored and adjusted simultaneously without requiring physical presence for each procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables a single expert operator to perform multiple imaging procedures simultaneously through the remote communication system. The expert can switch between different imaging modalities and patients via the communication interface, making the expert resource multi-functional and significantly increasing productivity.
3Productivity
If multiple imaging procedures are performed simultaneously with remote expert supervision, then productivity increases, but the complexity of coordinating multiple communication channels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into separate functional channels: audio communication for verbal interaction, video for visual feedback, and data channels for control signal transmission. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each channel and simplifies the overall system architecture by dividing complex communication tasks into manageable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of the imaging modality's control interface and display output that can be accessed simultaneously by multiple expert operators. Each expert receives a replicated view of the imaging parameters and controls, allowing concurrent supervision without requiring physical duplication of the imaging equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method is for performing at least one medical imaging procedure using an imaging modality. The medical imaging procedure is performed under remote supervision. An embodiment of the method includes acquiring with a computing unit data on the medical imaging procedure to be performed; acquiring with the computing unit data on at least one expert operator, located at a workplace remote from the imaging modality; matching data on the medical imaging procedure with data on the expert operator; assigning at least one expert operator to the medical imaging procedure based on the matching; and providing a communication channel between the imaging modality and the remote workplace.