US6101407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for remotely viewing and configuring output from a medical imaging device
Assignee: Carestream Health Inc
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Filing: 1998-02-13
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Granted: 2000-08-08
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Expires: 2018-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for remotely viewing and configuring output from a medical imager is described. A medical imager having an embedded web server generates an HTML document according to medical images received from various medical modalities. Imaging information is communicated in the HTML document to allow a remote machine to manipulate the images and display the images in a manner that accurately represents their printed output by the imager. The invention thus provides accurate viewing of the medical images from a remote machine and facilitates remote configuration of the medical imager. Other advantages include the ability to easily select conversion mechanisms best suited for specific requirements of the hospital's medical modalities without traveling to the hospital and burdening medical staff. The present invention also allows for remote monitoring of operation statistics such as usage of imaging media and other supplies.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Groezinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:20
CPC Classifications
G; G16; G16H; G16H30/00; G16H30/40; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/92; Y10S128/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A medical imaging system comprising: a medical modality for generating an input image having input pixel data and imaging information; a medical imager communicatively coupled to the medical modality for receiving the input image from the medical modality, wherein the medical imager selects a conversion mechanism in order to enhance a desired characteristic of the input image including one of contrast or density from a first plurality of stored conversion mechanisms based on the imaging information and applies the selected conversion mechanism to the input pixel data to generate output pixel data for forming an output image on an imaging element, and further wherein the medical imager includes a web server for generating an HTML document containing the imaging information and pixel data representative of the input pixel data; and a client machine communicatively coupled to the medical imager for receiving the HTML document form the medical imager, wherein the client machine includes an interface for displaying the pixel data contained within the HTML document.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A medical imaging system comprising: a medical modality for generating an input image having input pixel data and imaging information; a medical imager communicatively coupled to the medical modality for receiving the input image from the medical modality, wherein the medical imager selects a conversion mechanism in order to enhance a desired characteristic of the input image including one of contrast or density from a first plurality of stored conversion mechanisms based on the imaging information and applies the selected conversion mechanism to the input pixel data to generate output pixel data for forming an output image on an imaging element, and further wherein the medical imager includes a web server for generating an HTML document containing the imaging information and pixel data representative of the input pixel data; and a client machine communicatively coupled to the medical imager for receiving the HTML document form the medical imager, wherein the client machine includes an interface for displaying the pixel data contained within the HTML document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is a web browser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the pixel data of the HTML document is a copy of the output image data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the pixel data of the HTML document is a copy of the input image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the client machine includes a second plurality of stored conversion mechanisms, and further wherein the client machine selects a conversion mechanism of the second plurality of conversion mechanisms based on the image information of the HTML and applies the selected conversion mechanism of the second plurality of conversion mechanisms to the contained pixel data of the HTML document to generate display image data for displaying on the interface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 5, wherein the conversion mechanism of the medical imager and the conversion mechanism of the client machine each include at least one lookup table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 5, wherein the conversion mechanism of the medical imager and the conversion mechanism of the client machine each include at least one transfer function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the web server communicates the selected conversion mechanism of the first plurality of conversion mechanisms to the client machine, and further wherein the client machine applies the selected conversion mechanism to the contained pixel data for generating display image data for displaying on the interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the HTML document contains operating statistics of the medical imager including at least a count of used imaging elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the medical imager includes a modem for communicating with the client machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the client machine and the medical imager communicate using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the HTML document received by the client machine contains a hypertext link for receiving the contained pixel data from the medical image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the medical imager is connected to a network having at least a second medical imager, and further wherein the second medical imager generates a second HTML document and communicates the second HTML document to the client machine through the network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
A medical imaging system comprising: a plurality of medical modalities for generating input images having input pixel data; a plurality of medical imagers for forming output images based on the input pixel data of the input images, wherein the medical imagers and the medical modalities are interconnected by a network for communicating the input images form the medical modalities to the medical imagers, wherein each medical imager applies a conversion mechanism in order to enhance a desired characteristic of the input image, including one of contrast or density to the input pixel data to generate output image data for forming on the image element, and further wherein the pixel data of the HTML document is a copy of the output image data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
A medical imaging system comprising: a plurality of medical modalities for generating input images having input pixel data; a plurality of medical imagers for forming output images based on the input pixel data of the input images, wherein the medical imagers and the medical modalities are interconnected by a network for communicating the input images form the medical modalities to the medical imagers, wherein each medical imager applies a conversion mechanism in order to enhance a desired characteristic of the input image, including one of contrast or density to the input pixel data to generate output image data for forming on the image element, and further wherein the pixel data of the HTML document is a copy of the output image data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the interface is a web browser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the pixel data of the HTML document is a copy of the input image data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 16, wherein the client machine stores a plurality of conversion mechanisms and applies at least one conversion mechanism to the contained pixel data of the HTML document to generate display image data for displaying on the interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 16, wherein the web server communicates a conversion mechanism to the client machine, and further wherein the client machine applies the conversion mechanism to the contained pixel data for generating display image data for displaying on the interface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for configuring a medical imager having a plurality of stored conversion mechanisms in order to enhance a desired characteristic of the input image including one of contrast or density comprising the steps of; accessing a web server of the medical imager with a web browser executing on a remote client machine communicatively coupled to the medical imager; commanding the medical imager to receive an input image having input pixel data and image information from a medical modality; commanding the medical imager to generate an HTML document containing the imaging information and pixel data representative of the input pixel data of the input image; receiving the HTML document from the web server of the medical imager; selecting one of the plurality of the conversion mechanisms of the medical imager based on the pixel data and the imaging information of the HTML document; and commanding the medical imager to apply the selected conversion mechanism to subsequent input images from the medical modality to form output images on an imaging element.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for configuring a medical imager having a plurality of stored conversion mechanisms in order to enhance a desired characteristic of the input image including one of contrast or density comprising the steps of; accessing a web server of the medical imager with a web browser executing on a remote client machine communicatively coupled to the medical imager; commanding the medical imager to receive an input image having input pixel data and image information from a medical modality; commanding the medical imager to generate an HTML document containing the imaging information and pixel data representative of the input pixel data of the input image; receiving the HTML document from the web server of the medical imager; selecting one of the plurality of the conversion mechanisms of the medical imager based on the pixel data and the imaging information of the HTML document; and commanding the medical imager to apply the selected conversion mechanism to subsequent input images from the medical modality to form output images on an imaging element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the selecting step includes the step of displaying the contained pixel data of the HTML document on the client machine according to the imaging information of the HTML document.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-08 | 2004-02-07 | 2004-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-08 | 2008-02-07 | 2008-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-08 | 2012-02-07 | 2012-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |