Abstract: Methods for use in, e.g., in-patient care computing environment, for user-centric (e.g., in-patient-centric) selection of at least one menu item are provided. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may include receiving a plurality of menu item identifiers, each menu item identifier being associated with a different menu item, associating the menu item identifiers with an electronic record associated with an in-patient, displaying the menu item identifiers on at least one patient-viewable display device, and receiving a user selection of at least one of the menu item identifiers. If desired, the method may additionally include filtering the menu item identifiers based on at least one criterion derived from the electronic record to create a set of filtered menu item identifiers and displaying the set of filtered menu item identifiers on the patient-viewable display device rather than the plurality of menu item identifier.

Abstract: Methods for use in, e.g., in-patient care computing environment, for displaying clinically-related in-patient information on at least one patient-viewable display device are provided. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may include receiving a clinical order associated with an in-patient, automatically generating one or more tasks based on the clinical order received, and automatically displaying the task(s) on the patient-viewable display device. If desired, the method may additionally include associating the clinical order and the task(s) with an electronic record associated with the in-patient (e.g., an electronic medical record), and accessing the electronic record to obtain the one or more tasks for display on the patient-viewable display device.

Abstract: A wire bolt comprising an elongated section of wire rope with a section of threaded stud attached to each end is disclosed for use in reinforcing concrete structures. Part of the wire rope portion is coated with a substance to prevent that portion from bonding with the concrete. The threaded rod portion can be attached within the concrete by epoxy or attached to the concrete by appropriate mechanical means. The wire bolt can be attached to a concrete building structure during initial construction of a structure or retrofit into existing structures. Wire bolts should be installed in areas susceptible to shear or bending failure and serve to prevent the concrete sections from separating in a seismic event.

Abstract: Wood framed walls of buildings are strengthened against destructive wind and seismic forces by a threaded hold-down rod attached to the structure top plate and anchored to the building foundation. The foundation structure may be concrete or other floor joist or the like. The threaded rod is normally used in a system that attaches at top and bottom of studs at approximately every fourth or fifth stud along all load-bearing walls. The threaded rod system comprises two sections of threaded rod connected to the structure by way of a nut and washer at the top plate and embedded in the foundation at the bottom. A short section of threaded rod is embedded in the foundation and a coupling nut connects the short section to the remaining threaded rod section near the bottom plate. The short section may be manufactured of galvanized steel or stainless steel to avoid corrosion where fastened to a pressure treated bottom plate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for managing large data sets (or studies) transferred from at least one acquisition device to a study process server in order to transfer the data sets to at least one review station. The method includes transferring a selected subset of the existing data sets to each review station, monitoring each review station for a login, and populating the review station with studies from at least one relevant working set upon detecting the login. In an alternate embodiment, the method may include sorting each received study into an appropriate working set, selecting a subset of the collected set of studies from at least one working set, and distributing the selected subset of studies to each review station.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel technique and is particularly useful in medical imaging, although a number of fields may benefit from its application. In one aspect of the technique, a user identifies anomalies or, more generally, features in at least two different comparable images either by computer aided techniques or by manual identification. Once the features are identified they are numbered, sized, and a key location for the feature, such as the middle of an anomaly, may be estimated. Once this location is determined, a location marker is used to perform registration of the images. When comparisons are to be conducted, then, the registration is used to effectively anchor the images with respect to one another to facilitate paging between the images and reduction of eye movement.

Abstract: The present technique provides a novel method and apparatus for generating a multi-media patient summary which integrates patient information including a wide range of information having disparate formats and originating from isolated systems. The multi-media may be delivered to care providers and patients for use in medical diagnosis and care. The contents of the multi-media patient summary may be tailored to meet the needs of the specific care provider, and may include, for example, clinical data, patient demographics, and reference materials. The summary may be a digital file that encapsulates patient information having formats, such as text, images, sound files, video, waveforms, hypertext links, and so forth. The file may be encrypted and require a proprietary or non-proprietary reader to view. Additionally, the flow of information may be bi-directional between the multi-media patient summary and users of the summary.

Abstract: Film-based images can be scanned in a conventional manner, then digitally designated and “cut” from the digital file resulting from the scan. These selected images can then be collated and registered as individual images, or slices in certain contexts, allowing them to be assembled in various presentations, such as in stack mode with digitally-acquired images. The resulting collated files can then be stored by the user as a new series of images. The technique thus greatly facilitates the access and comparison of the images regardless of the originating medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel technique designed to provide a front-end graphical user interface for voice interaction, displaying a list of voice commands that can be used within a control scope of a medical system and that change depending on where the user is in the system. The user is presented with a quick reference guide to available commands without being overwhelmed. “Contextual voice cues” (CVC) provide a non-intrusive dynamic list of available commands to the user which automatically pop-up and change depending on the screen or mode the user is in. An indicator, such as a feedback light, may show whether a voice command is accepted. The technique may be utilized with medical information and diagnostic systems such as picture archival communication systems (PACS), ultrasound modalities, and so forth. Implementation of the technique should increase clinician adoption rates of voice recognition control and thus advance improvements in clinician workflow.

Abstract: A wireless device, such as a Bluetooth mobility pin is coupled to a biometric device, such as a thumb scanner, providing for wireless communication with a system to which access is desired. The thumb scanner provides a reliable and secure signal based upon biometric measurements, the signal being provided to the pin, which is then uniquely coded to the accessed system. When a workstation or other device having a compatible antenna receives the signal from the pin, the workstation accesses identification data and allows for login of the user based upon the highly secure biometric measurements, and the wireless connection between the pin and the system. The pin will not send the required code unless the coded user of the pin succeeds in scanning the thumbprint or other biometric measurement basis.

Abstract: Some configurations of the present invention provide a method for reducing eye fatigue that includes adjusting an intensity of an essentially white light source behind a display device to set an ambient light level in a room behind the display device, and adjusting an intensity of a blue light source disposed beside the display device to dilate pupils of the eyes of a viewer of the display device.

Abstract: A reconfigurable multiwavelength network element includes a first demultiplexer unit for demultiplexing a first multiplexed optical signal from a first optical fiber into a first plurality of optical outputs; a second demultiplexer unit for demultiplexing a second multiplexed optical signal from a second optical fiber into a second plurality of optical outputs; a first multiplexer unit having first optical inputs for receiving signals to be multiplexed together; a second multiplexer unit having second optical inputs for receiving signals to be multiplexed together; and a cross-connect unit having first and second portions, the first portion directing signals received from at least a first one of the first plurality of optical outputs and a first one of the second plurality of optical outputs to a first one of the first optical inputs and a first one of the second optical inputs, the second portion directing signals received from at least a second one of the first plurality of optical outputs and a second one

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for the wavelength division multiplexing/asynchronous transfer mode (WDM/ATM) operation of high-capacity optical communication networks. The optical components of the network can transport vast amounts of information, while the ATM-based electronics provides data processing, and information distribution. The capacity of the communications network to reconfigure and rearrange itself is maximized through wavelength translation of its data signals using a limited set of fixed-wavelength channels. The system incorporates an optical fiber communication network ring, or several optical fiber communication network rings that are connected to each other, through which data signals are transmitted and received. Optical WDM cross-connecting switch devices 4a-4e connect adjacent optical fiber rings 3a, 3b to each other, and control the routing of the data signals into and out of the optical fiber rings 3a, 3b.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for large scale asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching utilizing tunable lasers and fixed-tuned receivers are provided. The apparatus, an optical switch, includes a plurality of input modules for receiving ATM cells to be switched and a plurality of output modules for outputting the switched ATM cells. The optical switch also includes an optical transmission network for optically transmitting each ATM cell from an input module to a particular output module, and a contention resolution device in electrical communication with the plurality of input modules for selecting the ATM cells from the plurality of input modules to be switched. Preferably, each output module includes a plurality of fixed-tuned receivers and each input module includes a plurality of tunable lasers. The fixed-tuned receivers of each output module are tuned to a particular wavelength so as to pass only those ATM cells optically received from the optical transmission network at the particular wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical telecommunications system capable of setting up connections between particular pairs of subscriber stations. Illustratively, the Fourier components of radiation pulses produced in a first specific subscriber station are independently phase modulated in accordance with a predetermined code chosen so that the radiation pulse can be detected only in a second specific subscriber station.