Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a system and method in which real-time ubiquitous imaging is feasible in local areas, such as inside a clinic, hospital room or doctor office. This is achieved by designing a wireless network having a central processing server with, for example, distributed broadband acquisition and video bus capability. Remote access is possible using store-and-forward image transfer over a wide area network. With these capabilities, a physician can use a handheld transducer (such as an ultrasound transducer) as a basic tool to facilitate diagnostic decisions similar to the way a stethoscope is used today.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a divisional of co-pending, commonly assigned, patent application Ser. No. 10/847,643 entitled “PROCESSING OF MEDICAL SIGNALS,” filed May 17, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiments of this disclosure are directed to medical diagnostic and/or treatment systems and more particularly to systems and methods for the ubiquitous processing of medical signals originating from medical equipment at diverse locations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Similar to the development of PCs in computing and cellular telephones in mobile communication, system miniaturization can bring high performance to medical diagnostic equipment. Even sophisticated imaging devices, such as obtained by portable ultrasound transducers, are available at the point-of-care. 
     For ubiquitous imaging, it is necessary that the imaging system transducer be easily moved from patient to patient and thus it must have a high degree of portability. Such systems however, typically have limited network connectivity and storage and generally lack the capability of accessing patient files or other relevant medical information that reside within a hospital information system. 
     As any new technology or application evolves, new operational issues and demands from users arise. Some of these issues are: image quality, user interface, display size, battery power, packaging, system size and weight, transducer size and weight, image analysis and connectivity. When images are involved high performance (i.e., sharp images, detailed analysis, etc.) is demanded. The requirement of high performance, however, typically increases the complexity of system design and is generally in conflict with the requirement of smaller system size necessary for mobility. 
     One way to reduce the system size and weight is through elimination of system features and imaging functions. However, by doing so this will also result in possible undesirable reduction of clinically efficacy. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a system and method in which real-time ubiquitous imaging is feasible in local areas, such as inside a clinic, hospital room or doctor office. This is achieved by designing a wireless network having a central processing server with, for example, distributed broadband acquisition and video bus capability. Remote access is possible using store-and-forward image transfer over a wide area network. With these capabilities, a physician can use a handheld transducer (such as an ultrasound transducer) as a basic tool to facilitate diagnostic decisions similar to the way a stethoscope is used today. 
     In one embodiment, a handheld ultrasound imaging system is constructed similar in size to a cellular handset. The imaging system has wireless connectivity, using, for example, a low cost CMOS process for implementing imaging functions with signal processors. This enables medically relevant information to be accessible by the handheld ultrasound device and also allows images acquired from the handheld device to be transferred and retrieved from a number of locations while the signals are processed from a location common to all of those locations. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a multi-room system where processing of data from many rooms is performed centrally; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a portable transducer device; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a monitor; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  show diagnostics performed remotely by different specialist; and 
         FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of a flow chart of system operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment  10  of a ubiquitous system having a high performance back-end processing server, such as a central control and processor  16 . Processor  16  is used in conjunction with transducer devices, such as devices  21 , which can move from room to room or from office to office as one or more physicians ( 101 - 104 ) moves about. Signals  13  to and from each device  21  are transmitted, for example, via antenna  22  (room  1 ) to trans/receiver  12 - 1  and to/from trans receiver  12 - 1  and server  16  via antenna  15  and transmission path  14 - 1 . Transmission path  14 - 1  can be wireless or wireline or a combination thereof. Also, receiver (radio access point)  12 - 1  can serve a plurality of rooms or locations or could serve a particular room, as shown by ( 12 - 1 ,  12 - 2 ,  12 - 3 ,  12 - 01 ,  12 - 02 ). 
     The processing power of process  16  (which acts as a server) is designed to be capable of simultaneously processing data received from multiple radio access points. In return, if desired, processed signals, usually containing images are communicated back to the proper room for display. For example, display  23  in room  1  shows image  18 - 1  taken from the patient by Dr.  101  in room  1 , while display  23  in room  3  shows image  18 - 3  taken by Dr.  102  in room  3 . Similarly, Dr.  103  in office  1  can view images taken from office  1  via display  23  at office  1 . 
     This operation may be accomplished by implementing multiple ASICs and multiplexing switches in parallel in server  16  which can be interfaced to an acquisition bus and to video bus as will be discussed. The bandwidth of these buses is designed to be broad enough to support the simultaneous processing of image data received from the various radios of multiple devices  21 . The bandwidth also preferably supports sending data to multiple monitors  11  concurrently. Memory  17  operates in conjunction with server  16  to match data from a particular room with data flowing to that room and with other stored data as necessary. 
     The user interface for image controls is preferably easily accessible by the user to facilitate roaming between rooms. This can be done by making the transducer independent of the monitor as will be discussed with respect to  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     Each radio access point ( 12 - 1 ,  12 - 2 ,  12 - 3 ,  12 - 01 ,  12 - 02 ) can be implemented by any radio having sufficient bandwidth. For example, a 7.5 GHz ultra wide band (UWB) radio band, spanning from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz, broadband personal area network applications. This 7.5 GHz band contains 13 bands to support multi-user application as described in the 802.15.3Ga proposal. Each UWB radio band could support a data rate of 110 Mb/sec at a range of 10 meters. There are also a total of 300 MHz in 12 bands available from 802.11a UNII band and three 22 MHz bands available for 802.11a and 802.11b ISM band. 802.11a, g, b are developed for wireless local are network applications. They cover more range than the UWB; however, they have lower data rates and consume more power. For short distance communication, UWB is specified to consume 100 MW for 110 Mbps rate at 10 meters whereas the WLAN 802.11a and 802.11.8 radios typically consume 1 to 2 watts and cover a range of 30-100 meters at 54 Mbps. Since the handheld scanhead is battery-powered, power consumption is an important design factor to the usability of handheld ultrasound. Technologies useful in providing power efficient and portable medical diagnostic equipment are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,722,412 dated Mar. 3, 1998 and 6,471,651 dated Oct. 29, 2003, each commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     The recent release of third generation mobile services 3G provides much greater bandwidth to cellular handsets. The CDMA 1xEVDO allows a rate of 2.4 Mbps downlink and greater than 384 kbps uplink for data transfer. Availability of 3G enables E-mail, World Wide Web and other Internet based services through mobile handsets. However, the bandwidth of 3G radio is not yet broad enough for implementation of the radio access point to support the real-time imaging applications. 3G radio, however, could be found useful in a variety of tele-ultrasound applications based on the store-and-forward method discussed herein. 
     Let us now assume that UWB radio is chosen for implementation of radio access points, such as  12 - 1 , in the wireless ultrasound network shown in  FIG. 1 . A single UWB radio access point may cover a range of 10 meters at a rate of 110 Mbps. Additional access points may be placed at different distances to ensure overlapped radio coverage of all scanning rooms of interest. In the embodiment shown, each room has a unique access point, but rooms can share access points. Physicians may scan patients in any room using a handheld ultrasound device  21 . The device need not contain a monitor if a monitor  23  is also installed (or available) in that scanning room. Many physicians may scan patients in different rooms simultaneously by time-sharing back-end processor  16 , assuming proper bandwidth is available in the wireless network. 
     Since the image file system is located centrally, all images are buffered in processor  16  and can easily be archived, for example in memory  17 , or forwarded to various locations via communication(s) link  19 , which could be the Internet or any other transmission system. The system of a preferred embodiment is always on and ready and thus a physician may start scanning a patient immediately after the handheld transducer&#39;s power is turned on and may do so in any scanning room. The physician may have access to medically relevant information available in the network, such as patient history, lab reports, pharmaceutical, insurance information and medical resources for assisting in making a diagnosis at the point-of-care. This information can be obtained via communication link  19  or from one or more memory  17 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows one embodiment  21  of a handheld transducer containing imaging electronics integrated with transducer  201  inside a package approximately 6.5″×2.75″×1.25″ in size. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the electronics are partitioned into four processing blocks; transmit/receive (Tx/Rx)  202 , digital beam former (DBF)  203 , digital signal processor (DSP)  204  and radio  205 . Power is in the form of battery  206 . 
     Pulser circuits, high voltage multiplexor circuits, low noise time gain control amplifiers are integrated into Tx/Rx  202 . Multiple A/D converters, digital beamforming circuits and control logic are integrated in DBF  203 . DSP  204  comprises circuits utilized for echo and flow signal processing and include analytic signal detection and compression, multi-rate filtering, and moving target detection capabilities. In a preferred embodiment, DBF  203 , DSP  204  and BE  205  would be implemented using digital CMOS ASICS and mixed-signal technologies and Tx/Rx  202  would be implemented based on high-voltage and bipolar technology. The total weight of the scanhead module in one embodiment is 11.4 ounces. Excluding the housing, transducer  21 , in one embodiment, weighs about 7.9 ounces. The peak power consumption is approximately 9.2 watts. Average power consumption with power management is approximately 5.15 watts. 
     Note that while a wireless transducer is shown, the transducer could be hardwired to the common processor or to a relay point and then the communication could be wireless to the processor. 
       FIG. 2B  shows display  23  having screen  220  for display of data including image data, a power source, such as battery  221 , and input  222  for receipt of data to be displayed. Input  222  can be hard wired or a wireless input or a combination of both. The input can come from the output of device  21 , for example from antenna  22 , or from processor  16  ( FIG. 1 ). When data comes from device  21 , BE  205  is preferably provided for processing the data for proper display. Image processing, scan conversion and video processing are implemented in BE  205 , which supports many image manipulation functions. In addition, a general purpose embedded microprocessor may be integrated in BE  205  for user interface control, image analysis and measurement. According to embodiments, when the data comes from processor  16 , the “backend” processing is accomplished in processor  16  and need not be repeated at display  23 . 
     For video streaming, a substantial amount of data bandwidth is needed and it has been found that the bandwidth required for transmitting the “un-compressed” color VGA video in real time may exceed 200 Mbps. Video stream techniques are now well-known and can be employed in this system. 
     In order to integrate wireless technology and ultrasound, one important task is to analyze the required data rates at different stages in the ultrasound image formation process to determine a system partition so that the available radio bandwidth may be most efficiently utilized. Such a determination according to one embodiment begins with an examination of data rates required for acquiring a sequence of ultrasound image frames at three different bus locations with respect to transducer  21 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . These locations are RF bus  210 , acquisition bus  211  and video bus  232  ( FIG. 2B .) 
     RF bus  210 : Significant radio bandwidth is required over link  210 . For example, if the beamformed RF signals from transducer  201  are sampled at 20 MHz and digitized into 16 bits, then the required data transfer rate may exceed 320 Mbps. Currently (UWB) appears to be the only broadband radio link that supports this rate. However, the covering range for UWB radio at this rate is only about 4 meters. 
     Acquisition bus  211 : Only moderate radio bandwidth is required at link  211 . Thus, since the beamformed RF signal is filtered, decimated and detected in DSP processor  204 , the bandwidth is greatly reduced at this point. For example, assuming there are 128×512 pixels in one image frame and eight bits per pixel, to transmit 30 frames/sec of image data prior to scan conversion, the data rate is about 16 Mbps. This is about a factor of ten reduction in data rate as compared to that at link  210 . 
     Video bus  232 : the data rate increases again at link  232  ( FIG. 2B ) after the image lines are scanconverted into video frames. The data rate may reach 85,221 Mbps depending upon the color image frame format. Clearly, partitioning the system at link  211  requires the least overall bandwidth for interconnection between transducer  21  and video processing. 
     Establishing a point-to-point communication from device  21  using partitioning at link  211  sets up a basic imaging system with a single transducer. More than one scanhead may simultaneously access central processor  16  (or display  23 ) provided that the radio bandwidth and processing power for backend process are available. 
     Returning for a moment to  FIG. 1 . It has been discussed that readings using an ultrasound device or from any other type of device and taken from different rooms or from different offices can be transmitted either directly or through an intermediary transport system to central control processor  16 . Central control and processor  16  can then perform analysis image enhancement and any other type of processing required. This processing could, for example, include comparing the presently obtained data to previously obtained data from memory  17  or from an external source via the internet or otherwise. This data then can be sent back, either hard wired or wireless via path  19  or via the transmission path from antenna  15  to the appropriate display  23  in the room in which the data is being taken from the patient. Thus, data from room  1  would of course would be returned to display  23  in room  1 , while data from office  2  would be returned to display  23  in office  2 . The data, as its being obtained and sent from a location, can be tagged so that processor  16  knows from where the data is coming and to where it is to be returned. At the same time, or at a different time, the data that is brought into processor  16  from the various different offices and rooms can also be transmitted to different experts, either in the same facility or remotely anywhere in the world. This transmission could be, for example, via output  19  which can be the internet, wireless, or wireline transmission. 
     For example, assume that a sonogram of a gall bladder is being taken from a patient in, for example, room  2  of  FIG. 1 . This information could be received by processor  16  analyzed therein and transmitted to gall bladder expert  301  at location  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The gall bladder expert, using equipment in his or her office, would then review the data, compare it to other data, and send back analysis and even a treatment course, if desired. This can all be done in real time, if desired. Expert  301  may use keyboard  34 , and computer  32 . 
     If for example, the sonogram or any other instrument were being used by a physician say in office  1  to look at the heart of a patient, then processor  16  could determine that this is a heart issue and send the information to heart expert  401  at location  40  and the heart expert then could respond as discussed above. 
       FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of flow chart  50  for controlling the ubiquitous system. This control could occur via processor  16 . Process  501  determines if a new signal is arriving from a patient. If its not a new signal, processing continues via process  510 . If it is a new signal process  502  determines the identity of the sending unit, or process  503  determines the identity and location of the patient. This information can be provided by keyboard, spoken message or otherwise from an examining attendant with respect to the patient. 
     Process  504  determines, if desired, the signal type, i.e. whether it is sound, MRI, Xray, etc. that is being received. Process  505 , if desired, determines the image area, i.e. heart, kidney, gall bladder, thyroid, etc. This determination can be made either by the attending physician or by spoken word, key input or by processor  16  analyzing the data to determine what area is being scanned. 
     The signal is then processed by process  510  as discussed above with respect to backend processing and additional processing can be utilized, if desired. 
     Process  511  performs diagnostic operations on the data and could also optionally retrieve previous records, normal records for comparison, or any other type of records. Process  512  determines whether to send the signal to the patient&#39;s room and if that option is selected then the signal is sent to display  23  in the patient&#39;s room for real time viewing by the attending physician. 
     Process  513  is an optional process to determine if the signal should be sent to an expert. If it should be sent to an expert then the proper expert is selected. This selection can be done automatically by signal comparison or otherwise or by a code that is selected by the attending physician. Process  516  and process  517  selects and sends the signal to the specialty expert. 
     The specialty expert was discussed with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4  and many such experts can be available and utilized across different areas or within a single area. Process  515  is utilized when a single expert is utilized for different types of signals and the expert can further direct the signal or diagnose the situation in real time him or herself. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.