Abstract: A guidance system (10) is provided for interactive image capture for use with a device (12) having a camera (14) with a camera lens(s) 16. The system (10) includes a housing (20) configured to be mounted on the device (12), and a light source (22) mounted in the housing (20). The housing (20) and the light source (22) are configured to project a lighted boundary (24) onto a surface (26) in response to a control signal, with the boundary (24) defining a region of image capture (27) by the camera (14). The light source (22) is configured to selectively project the boundary (24) in a first color and to selectively project the boundary (24) in a second color, with the first and second colors providing feedback information to a user regarding the statue of image capture by the camera.

Abstract: A network has a plurality of user accounts and a network enabled analysis system, which can receive selected information from a first user. A pattern can be established based on the received information, and responsive thereto a comparable pattern can be sought. A data base of patterns can be provided to which the established pattern can be compared using pattern recognition techniques. In one aspect, a processed pattern can be generated. The processed pattern can be compared to patterns of selected information received from other users in the network. In response to finding a comparable pattern, feedback can be provided to the first user.

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 guidance system (10) is provided for interactive image capture for use with a device (12) having a camera (14) with a camera lens(s) 16. The system (10) includes a housing (20) configured to be mounted on the device (12), and a light source (22) mounted in the housing (20). The housing (20) and the light source (22) are configured to project a lighted boundary (24) onto a surface (26) in response to a control signal, with the boundary (24) defining a region of image capture (27) by the camera (14). The light source (22) is configured to selectively project the boundary (24) in a first color and to selectively project the boundary (24) in a second color, with the first and second colors providing feedback information to a user regarding the statue of image capture by the camera.

Abstract: A system and method (10) are disclosed for providing home health care to a plurality of home health care patients (12) by utilizing the services of field nurses (14). The system (10) includes at least one centralized programmable processor (16) configured to respond to a field alert request (18) associated with one of the patients (12) by accessing an electronic database (20) for a patient dataset (22) specific to the patient (12) and automatically initiating a field alert in the form of a wireless communications signal (24) transmitting a portion or all of the patient dataset (22) to a wireless communications device 26 assigned to a field nurse (14).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided. The method includes the steps of an imaging device capturing an image of a display of a medical instrument, an image processor determining a location of a patient biometric measurement within the image, an optical character recognition module recognizing a set of alphanumeric characters within the determined location and a communication processor sending the recognized characters to a remotely located healthcare database.

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: 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: 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 method and apparatus are provided. The method includes the steps of an imaging device capturing an image of a display of a medical instrument, an image processor determining a location of a patient biometric measurement within the image, an optical character recognition module recognizing a set of alphanumeric characters within the determined location and a communication processor sending the recognized characters to a remotely located healthcare database.

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: An ultrasound imaging system is provided with virus protection. Each file that enters the system (via the hard disk or the networking port) is scanned to detect the presence of any virus in the file. Before each file is written to the hard disk of the scanner, the Checksum and Size of the file are verified, along with other virus-identifying attributes, to determine if the file is infected with a virus or if the file itself is a virus. If there is a discrepancy in either the Checksum or Size, then a dialogue box appears, warning the system operator that the file being installed may contain a virus. In order to provide additional protection for the ultrasound scanner, all processes starting to run on the scanner are monitored. Each time a new process is started on the scanner, virus protection monitoring software will suspend the process and search for encrypted data identifying the starting process in a Registry table.

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 scanner is programmed with the capability to send images via a parallel port and report data via a serial port to a remote device, both images and report data being identified by the same study identifier. In particular, the images are sent out an Ethernet port in DICOM format, while the report data is sent out an RS232 port in ASCII format. The scanner preferably includes memory storing a frame of image data belonging to a study and report data belonging to said study; a parallel port; a serial port; and a computer programmed to perform the following steps: joining a study identifier with the frame of image data; sending the frame of image data and the study identifier in a first format out the parallel port; joining the study identifier with the report data; and sending the report data and the study identifier in a second format out the serial port.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing lossy compression of digital images on a per image basis. The system user is able to manually vary the degree or level of compression applied to a frozen image frame using a rotary dial. Each resulting compressed image can be viewed in real-time on the display monitor. The user must determine the highest compression level which still provides an image having sufficient diagnostic quality in the region of interest. This concept can be applied to any imaging device which stores images in internal memory or sends images for storage to external memory.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for configuring an imaging system for communication with different remote devices having different requirements. A field engineer selects a prestored configuration file for a particular device from a configuration file library stored on the imaging system hard disk. The selection is made by selecting from a drop-down pick list of equipment identified by make and model. The pick list itself is constructed from information extracted from the configuration file library. The configuration data in the selected configuration file is used to construct a new configuration file, which is later saved to the hard disk. If the device is activated, a portion of the selected configuration file is also copied to an Attribute Control File, which is later saved to the hard disk. The installed configuration files and the Attribute Control Files for activated devices are then read into system memory when the imager is rebooted.

Abstract: A method and tool for producing an orientation marker on an image of a subject of interest displayed on an imaging system. The tool comprises a mechanism configured to obtain the image of the subject of interest. A means for interactively moving in real time, through the image. A means for selecting, in real time, a point on the image. A means for aligning guidelines on the selected point to define a region of the subject of interest. A means for determining, in real time, the in-plane orientation of the image relative to the defined region and the selected point, and displaying the image with the selected point and the defined region.

Abstract: A technique is provided for the displaying a visual aid tool to facilitate the review of image data which has undergone processing by one or more computer-implemented routines. In particular, the display of the visual aid tool does not obstruct structures of interest in the image which have been identified by the computer-implemented routines. The visual aid tool may allow the magnification of an identified structure, may display relevant information for reviewing the structure, and may allow toggling between result sets for different computer-implemented routines available to process the image data. In addition the visual aid tool may be customized to reflect the preferences or tendencies of individual operators.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for configuring computer tasks which construct data objects. The system user is able to configure these tasks by the simple expedient of clicking on a toggle switch displayed on a user interface screen or menu. In response to operation of the toggle switch, a selected one of a pair of attribute control files associated with the particular task will be utilized during object construction. The menu contains a list of the activated configured remote devices for the particular imaging system. Next to each device name is a virtual toggle switch (defaulted to OFF). In the OFF state, the task will be configured in accordance with the first attribute control file which is compliant with a first communications standard. If the user toggles the switch for a particular device to ON (this can be done on a per device basis), then the task will be configured in accordance with the second attribute control file which is compliant with a second communications standard.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an ultrasound imaging system at a remote location by obtaining an encrypted feature key from a central location (e.g., via telephone) and then inputting that feature key into the ultrasound imaging system using an operator interface (e.g., a keyboard). To validate the feature key, the ultrasound imaging system decrypts the encrypted data and then compares the decrypted data to validation data pre-stored in the system. If the decrypted data matches the validation data, then the optional feature identified by the feature key will be enabled each time the system is booted or initialized. Optionally, an expiration date can be associated with the activated option, after which date the feature will be disabled when the system is initialized. Similarly, an activated optional feature can be disabled at a remote location by the input of an encrypted key obtained from a central location.