Patent US6178225B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6178225B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for management of X-ray imaging facilities
Assignee: Edge Medical Devices Ltd
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Filing: 1999-06-04
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Granted: 2001-01-23
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Expires: 2019-06-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses a system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services including at least one digital X-ray imaging facility operative to provide digital images in response to X-ray exposures; a metering system associated with each of said at least one digital X-ray imaging facilities for metering the number of digital images produced thereby; and a service center, generating a billing output for each of the at least one digital X-ray imaging facilities in respect of the number of X-ray exposures provided thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Zur
- 👤 Debra Hakimian
- 👤 Dror Trumer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/56; A61B6/563; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61B2560/00; A61B2560/02; A61B2560/0266; A61B2560/0271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services comprising the steps of: installing at least a part of a digital X-ray imaging facility; generating digital images corresponding to X-ray exposures; metering the number of X-ray exposures produced by said digital X-ray imaging facility; and generating a billing output in respect of the number of X-ray exposures.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services comprising the steps of: installing at least a part of a digital X-ray imaging facility; generating digital images corresponding to X-ray exposures; metering the number of X-ray exposures produced by said digital X-ray imaging facility; and generating a billing output in respect of the number of X-ray exposures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 1 and wherein the metering step includes taking into account unacceptable exposures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 2 and wherein said metering step includes a decision step wherein an operator decides whether to accept an exposure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 1 and also including an archiving step wherein a generated digital image is retrievably stored.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities according to claim 4 wherein the archiving step includes transferring the generated digital image to a remote archive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 1 and wherein the metering step comprises remote metering via a communications network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 6 and wherein the remote metering includes communication via e-mail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 1 and wherein the metering step is responsive to at least one characteristic of an X-ray image produced by said facility.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 1 and also comprising the step of providing a hard copy of an X-ray image produced by an X-ray exposure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 1 and also comprising the step of preparing a statistical report covering at least some of the X-ray exposures produced by the facility.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services comprising: at least one digital X-ray imaging facility operative to provide digital images in response to X-ray exposures; a metering system associated with each of said at least one digital X-ray imaging facilities for metering the number of digital images produced thereby; and a service center, generating a billing output for each of the at least one digital X-ray imaging facilities in respect of the number of X-ray exposures provided thereby.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services comprising: at least one digital X-ray imaging facility operative to provide digital images in response to X-ray exposures; a metering system associated with each of said at least one digital X-ray imaging facilities for metering the number of digital images produced thereby; and a service center, generating a billing output for each of the at least one digital X-ray imaging facilities in respect of the number of X-ray exposures provided thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 11 and wherein the metering system takes into account unacceptable exposures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 12 and wherein the metering system is associated with a decision entry interface enabling an operator to decide whether to accept an exposure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 11 and wherein said service center also provides archiving services and generates billing output in accordance thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 11 and wherein the metering system is operative to communicate with the service center via a communications network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 15 and wherein the metering system communicates with the service center via an internet communication technology as described by a Request for Comment document.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 15 and wherein the metering system communicates with the service center by e-mail.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 11 and wherein the metering system is responsive to at least one characteristic of an X-ray image produced by said facility.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 11 and also comprising a hard copy output device providing a hard copy of an X-ray image produced by an X-ray exposure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system for management of X-ray imaging facilities and services according to claim 11 and also comprising a statistical report generator operative to preparing a statistical report covering at least some of the X-ray exposures produced by the facility.
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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) | 2004-01-23 | 2004-07-24 | 2005-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-07-24 | 2009-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-23 | 2012-07-24 | 2013-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |