Abstract:
A health care information input apparatus comprising: 
     a substantially rectangular housing having a front wall; 
     a computer having memory mounted in said housing; 
     a touch screen mounted on said front wall of said housing and connected to said computer; 
     a bar code scanner mounted in said housing and having a scanning face which is mounted on said front wall of said housing adjacent to said touchscreen, said bar code scanner connected to said computer; and 
     a network interface socket mounted on said housing and connected to said computer; 
     wherein information input at said touch screen and at said bar code scanner are stored in said computer memory for transmission via said network interface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to health care information and imaging systems and relates more particularly to a remote health care information input apparatus which is networked with a storage phosphor radiography system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In conventional film/screen radiography, the radiology procedure can follow the following scenario. 1. A requisition is filled out by a radiologist (or other health care professional) ordering a specific x-ray exam to be performed on a patient. The requisition is sent to the radiology department. 2. A technologist takes the requisition, one or more x-ray film cassettes, and positions the patient at an x-ray source. 3. The technologist performs the exam and the x-ray film(s) is exposed to x-rays which have been projected through a body part(s) of the patient. 4. The requisition is taped to the cassette and the exposed film is taken to a dark room to be developed. 5. At the darkroom a preprinted information card is flashed on to the film. Such information includes the patient name, patient ID number, patient birth date, health care facility name, current time and date, etc. 6. The film is processed and the technologist verifies that a good image has been recorded. 7. A sticker is applied to the film which records the date, time of exposure, exposure technique (kilovolts, milliamps, distance). 8. The finished x-ray film(s) are placed on a light box for review and diagnosis by a radiologist or physician. 
     Because of the inherent disadvantages of conventional radiography (as outlined above) in the acquisition, storage and transmission of patient x-ray images, a digital storage phosphor radiography system has come into use. In such a system, a storage phosphor contained in a cassette, is exposed to an x-ray image of a body part of a patient in the same manner as in conventional film-screen radiography. The exposed storage phosphor is read out in a storage phosphor reader to produce a digital x-ray image of the patient&#39;s body part. The digital x-ray image can then be processed to improve the image, displayed at a high resolution display station for review and diagnosis by a radiologist, transmitted to a remote location for display, stored in image storage, or sent to a radiographic printer for reproduction in visual form on film. 
     As with film-based radiography, storage phosphor radiography requires the matching of an x-ray image with a patient. In one known storage phosphor radiography system, patient information is entered into a workstation and is transferred to a magnetic card (See: U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,242, issued Feb. 3, 1987, inventor Kimura). After an exposure on a storage phosphor is made, a technologist places the cassette containing the exposed storage phosphor in a reader and transfers the corresponding patient information into the reader by swiping the patient&#39;s magnetic card through an associated magnetic card reader. Problems arise from double entry of patient information where such information has already been entered in a hospital information system when the patient entered the hospital, and from maintaining proper ordering of the storage phosphor cassettes and the patient information. 
     In another known storage phosphor radiography system (U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,355, issued May 23, 1995, inventor Weil), a hand-held bar code scanner is used to scan into the scanner bar code information relating to storage phosphor ID, patient ID, technologist ID, exam data, exposure technique, etc. The scanned information is then transferred to the storage phosphor reader at a bar code scanner download station located at the reader. Although this system is useful for the purposes for which it was intended, it would be desirable for the technologist not to have to carry a hand-held bar code scanner along with the storage phosphor cassettes, which can be quite bulky and heavy. Moreover, downloading of the information at a storage phosphor reader can be time consuming, where other technologists may be lined up wanting to do the same thing. It would also be desirable to reduce the amount of information that a technologist must enter for each cassette, if some of such information already exists in a HIS/RIS (Hospital Information System/Radiology Information System) that is accessible over a network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a solution to the problems discussed above. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a health care information input apparatus comprising: 
     a substantially rectangular housing having a front wall; 
     a computer having memory mounted in said housing; 
     a touch screen mounted on said front wall of said housing and connected to said computer; 
     a bar code scanner mounted in said housing and having a scanning face which is mounted on said front wall of said housing adjacent to said touchscreen, said bar code scanner connected to said computer; and 
     a network interface socket mounted on said housing and connected to said computer; 
     wherein information input at said touch screen and at said bar code scanner are stored in said computer memory for transmission via said network interface. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a health care information system comprising: 
     a storage phosphor reader for converting a latent x-ray image 
     stored in an exposed storage phosphor into a digital x-ray image, wherein said x-ray image represents a body part of a patient; 
     a workstation connected to and located near said storage phosphor reader for processing digital x-ray images from said reader; and 
     a health care data input apparatus located remote from but connected to said workstation for inputting patient information and/or x-ray exam information relating to exposed storage phosphors to be read by said storage phosphor reader; said apparatus including: 
     a substantially rectangular housing having a front wall; 
     a computer having memory mounted in said housing; 
     a touch screen mounted on said front wall of said housing and connected to said computer; and 
     a bar code scanner mounted in said housing and having a scanning face which is mounted on said front wall of said housing adjacent to said touchscreen, said bar code scanner connected to said computer; 
     wherein information relating to an exposed storage phosphor can be inputted by a user into said apparatus either by means of said touch screen interface or by means of said bar code scanner, and wherein said apparatus transmits said information to said workstation for storage, so that said information can be linked to a digital x-ray image read from said exposed storage phosphor by said storage phosphor reader. 
     Advantageous Effect 
     The present invention has the following advantages. 
     1. Patient information and/or x-ray exam information relating to an exposed storage phosphor may be entered remote from a storage phosphor reader but easily transmitted over a network link thereto. 
     2. A technologist carrying several exposed storage phosphor cassettes can scan a cassette ID barcode directly into a remote information input station without needing to carry a separate bar code scanner. 
     3. Patient information and/or x-ray exam information can be inputted into an information system either through a touch screen or a bar code scanner. 
     4. A user can scan a requisition ID bar code which causes the display of HIS/RIS information on a remote information input apparatus that has been downloaded from the HIS/RIS system to a storage phosphor radiography system central database. 
     5. A user can view limited patient information at a remote information input apparatus to be stored in a storage phosphor radiography system central database. 
     6. A user can enter x-ray exam information relating to a storage phosphor at a remote information input apparatus which is matched with a storage phosphor cassette at any storage phosphor reader on a networked system including the input apparatus. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an x-ray exposure of a storage phosphor. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage phosphor cassette including a cassette ID barcode. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a requisition showing requisition ID barcode and patient ID barcode. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a technologist badge showing technologist ID barcode. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a health care information and imaging system according to an aspect of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a health care information input apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 7-10 are block diagrams of systems incorporating the present invention. 
     FIGS. 11-22 are diagrammatic views of exemplary touch screen displays useful in explaining the present invention. 
     FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a barcode chart including barcodes for x-ray exam features and technique parameters. 
     FIGS. 24-28 are diagrammatic views of exemplary touch screen displays useful in explaining the setup feature of information input apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagrammatic view of an x-ray exposure exam. As shown, x-ray source 10 projects a beam of x-rays through body part 14 (e.g., abdomen) of patient 16. An x-ray image of the body part 14 is stored in storage phosphor 18 contained in cassette 20. As shown in FIG. 2 cassette 20 includes a storage phosphor ID bar code 22. 
     Before the x-ray exam is carried out, a technologist will have received a requisition to carry out specific x-ray exams on a patient. FIG. 3 shows a requisition sheet 30 having a requisition ID bar code 32 and a patient ID bar code 34, as well as other patient information and information relating to the x-ray exam to be carried out. The technologist who carries out the x-ray exam has an ID badge 40 (FIG. 4) which has a technologist ID bar code 42. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a storage phosphor radiography system incorporating the present invention. As shown, the system includes storage phosphor reader 50, image processing workstation 52, and remote health care information input apparatus 54. Reader 50 has a slot for receiving a storage phosphor cassette 20 containing an exposed storage phosphor 18. The cassette 20 can be manually loaded into slot 56 or can be loaded from a stack of cassettes 20 by a cassette autoloader (not shown). Reader 50 also has a display 58 and a user input keyboard 60. 
     Reader 50 scans an exposed storage phosphor 18 to convert a stored x-ray image in phosphor 18 into an electrical x-ray image which is digitized. 
     An exemplary storage phosphor reader is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,806, issued Dec. 27, 1994, inventor Hejazi. The user input keyboard 60 (or other user input device, such as a touch screen) can be used to enter information relating to the x-ray image such as exam information, x-ray technique, etc. Reader 50 reads the cassette ID bar code 22 and links the entered information with the read x-ray image by means of the cassette ID. 
     The digital x-ray image produced by reader 50 is transmitted to image processing workstation 52 where it is stored. Workstation 52 includes a user input keyboard 62, a display 64, and (not shown) internally mounted in housing 66, a central processing unit (CPU), digital memory such as a magnetic hard drive, RAM, and ROM, etc. The memory stores image processing software routines which automatically process a digital x-ray image from reader 50. The user input 62 can be used to enter user selectable image processing parameters, as well as patient information relating to storage phosphor cassettes to be loaded into reader 50. Workstation 52 also functions as the central database for the system and when linked to a HIS/RIS system stores patient information from the latter system relating to storage phosphor cassettes processed by the storage phosphor radiography system. 
     According to one feature of the present invention, remote information input apparatus 54 includes a rectangular housing 70 having a depth dimension D which is substantially less than its length dimension L and its height dimension H. Housing 70 has a front wall 72. A touch screen user interface 74 is mounted on front wall 72. Also mounted on front wall 72 below touch screen 74 is the scanning face 76 of a bar code scanner 78. 
     A block diagram of apparatus 54 is shown in FIG. 6. As shown, apparatus 54 includes touch screen user interface 74, bar code scanner 78 with scanning face 76, CPU 80, RAM 82, ROM 84, hard drive 86, connected by bus 87. An ethernet port 88 provides an ethernet link to workstation 52 via link 90. The operation of apparatus 54 will be described below. 
     FIG. 5 shows one storage phosphor information imaging system according to the present invention. FIG. 7 shows another system where a HIS/RIS 100 is connected to the system of FIG. 5 by ethernet link 102. HIS/RIS 100 is a hospital information system (HIS) and/or a radiology information system (RIS) which stores all or some of the following information, requisition ID, patient ID, patient name, patient date of birth, patient body part to have x-ray exam. FIGS. 8 and 9 show expanded networks including several readers 50, workstation 52, and apparatus 54. 
     The operation of apparatus 54 will now be described. Information relating to requisition ID, technologist ID, patient ID, x-ray exam, and exam technique may be entered at apparatus 54 either by touch screen 74 or bar code scanner. If bar code scanner 78 is used, the patient ID barcode 34, and requisition ID bar code 32 can be scanned from requisition 30 (FIG. 3), the technologist ID bar code 42 can be scanned from the technologist badge 40 (FIG. 4), the cassette ID bar code 22 can be scanned from cassette 20 (FIG. 2), and exam info and exam technique can be scanned from a card 110 as shown in FIG. 23. The information entered into apparatus 54 is transmitted to workstation 52 over link 90. 
     Some or all of this information can also be entered into apparatus 54 by touchscreen 74. FIGS. 10-22 are screens displayed on touch screen 64 which are useful in explaining entry of information. FIG. 10 shows the main screen with the following touch actuable fields: Requisition ID 200; Patient ID 202; Cassette ID 204; exam info--Body part 206, Projection 208, Position 210, Orientation 212; Technologist ID 214; and Exam technique info--kVp 216, mAs 218, Distance 220. Also included are Clear screen button 222, End patient Exam Send Info button 224, and End Cassette Send Information button 226. Display area 228 displays Patient ID, Patient Name, Date of Birth, Exam date, Exam Time. 
     FIG. 11 also shows a main screen as in FIG. 10, but without the technique fields 216-218. 
     When one of the Requisition ID field 200, Patient ID field 202, Technologist Field ID 214 are touched, a QUERTY--style alphanumeric keyboard screen is displayed next (FIGS. 12, 13, 19, respectively) to enable entry of this information. When one of the Cassette ID field 204, kVp field 216, mAs field 218, Distance field 220 are touched, a numeric keypad screen is displayed next (FIGS. 14, 20, 21, 22, respectively) to enable entry of this information. When one of the Body Part field 206, Projection Field 208, Position field 210, Orientation field 212 are touched, an array of available options are displayed next (FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 18, respectively) to enable entry of this information. The information entered is then sent by link 90 to workstation 52 to be stored for subsequent linkage with a corresponding x-ray image when the storage phosphor storing the image is read by reader 50. 
     It will be understood that any item of information can be entered either by bar code scanner 76/78 or by touch screen 74. 
     In most cases, the user will approach information input apparatus with exposed cassettes and a requisition form for each cassette or set of cassettes for each patient. In a HIS/RIS configuration, the user will scan the requisition ID bar code from the requisition form, or enter it via the touch screen interface. In a non-HIS/RIS configuration, the user will scan the patient ID bar code or enter it via the touch screen. The user will then scan the cassette ID from the exposed cassette that corresponds to the requisition. The user will then make sure that the body part and projection are completed as well as any other pertinent fields. The user then presses the End Cassette/Send Information button to scan another cassette for the same requisition (same patient), or press the End Patient (send information) button to begin entering data for a new patient. 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
     10 x-ray source 
     12 x-ray beam 
     14 body part 
     16 patient 
     18 storage phosphor 
     20 cassette 
     22 storage phosphor ID bar code 
     30 requisition sheet 
     32 requisition ID bar code 
     34 patient ID bar code 
     40 ID badge 
     42 technologist ID bar code 
     50 storage phosphor reader 
     52 image processing workstation 
     54 remote health care information input apparatus 
     56 slot 
     58 display 
     60 user input keyboard 
     62 user input keyboard 
     64 display 
     66 housing 
     70 rectangular housing 
     72 front wall 
     74 touch screen user interface 
     76 scanning face 
     78 bar code scanner 
     79 bracket 
     80 CPU 
     81 wall 
     82 RAM 
     84 ROM 
     86 hard drive 
     87 bus 
     88 ethernet port 
     90 link 
     100 HIS/RIS 
     102 ethernet link 
     110 card 
     200 requisition ID button 
     202 patient ID button 
     204 cassette ID button 
     206 exam info--body part button 
     208 projection button 
     210 position button 
     212 orientation button 
     214 technologist id button 
     216 exam technique info--kVp button 
     218 mAs button 
     220 distance button 
     221 set up button 
     222 clear screen button 
     224 end patient exam send info button 
     226 end cassette send information button 
     228 display area button 
     300 calibrate screen button 
     302 diagnostics button 
     304 network setup button 
     306 configuration button 
     308 set date/time button 
     310 shutdown button 
     312 done button