Patent Publication Number: US-2020281542-A1

Title: Image capture system using an imager code scanner and information management system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/815,646 filed on Mar. 8, 2019, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronically capturing images during medical examinations, medical procedures, such as surgeries, patient treatment, and patient monitoring for input into a patient&#39;s electronic medical record is a challenge for any medical documentation application. Currently, health care providers may use manual methods such as physically printing out a medical measurement reading, taping the printout to a paper record, and scanning the taped document to create an electronic document that can be input and stored into an Electronic Medical Record (EMR). This process is cumbersome, time-consuming, and susceptible to errors and omissions. Furthermore, this process may not be feasible or may be prohibited in certain environments, such as an operating room (OR). 
     For example, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines record the electrical signals of a heart. Many ECG machines are capable of displaying the electrical reading in real-time on a display and printing the electrical reading on a tracing strip that includes 10 to 12 heartbeats. Health care providers would like to capture and document ECG tracing strips or other images in a patient&#39;s EMR such as, but not limited to, anesthesia software, immediately prior to the start of surgery or any other time during patient care. The requirement to capture this data in the EMR is becoming increasingly important for medical and legal reasons as well as for reporting purposes, rather than primarily for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. For example, with regard to capturing the ECG strip, the intent is to illustrate the general heart rhythm condition of the patient prior to surgery. 
     Additionally, there may be a desire to facilitate the integration of other types of images into a patient&#39;s EMR. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more embodiments provide an electronic medical record (EMR) management system, including: a data server configured to store an EMR of a patient; an imaging device configured to capture an image medically related to the patient and transmit the captured image; and an information management system communicatively coupled to the imaging device and to the data server. The information management system is configured to receive the captured image from the imaging device, automatically associate the captured image to the patient, and store the captured image in the EMR of the patient in the data server. 
     One or more embodiments provide a method of recording medical image data using an imaging device being configured to capture and output images. The method includes initializing, by a user interface system, an image capture session in response to a first user input; generating, by the imaging device, a captured image in response to a second user input; automatically transmitting, by the imaging device, the captured image to the user interface system in response to generating the captured image, wherein the captured image is medically related to a patient; automatically associating, by the user interface system, the captured image to the patient upon receipt; and storing, by the user interface system, the received captured image in an electronic medical record (EMR) of the patient associated with the captured image. 
     One or more embodiments provide a method of recording medical image data in an electronic medical record (EMR) associated with a patient using an imaging device being configurable in a plurality of operation modes, including a code scanning mode and an image capture mode, wherein, in the code scanning mode, the imaging device is configured to detect a machine-readable code and output code information representative of the detected machine-readable code, and wherein, in the image capture mode, the imaging device is configured to output a captured image. The method includes initializing, by a user interface system, an image capture session in response to a first user input applied at the user interface system; determining, by the user interface system, a first operation mode of the imaging device, the first operation mode being an active one of the plurality of operation modes at a time the image capture session is initialized; storing, by the user interface system, the first operation mode in a memory device; determining, by the user interface system, whether the first operation mode is an image capture mode; on a first condition that the first operation mode is not the image capture mode, configuring, by the user interface system, the imaging device into the image capture mode; on a second condition that the first operation mode is the image capture mode, maintaining, by the user interface system, the imaging device in the image capture mode; generating, by the imaging device, the captured image in response to a first user input applied at the imaging device; automatically transmitting, by the imaging device, the captured image to the user interface system in response to generating the captured image, wherein the captured image is medically related to the patient; automatically associating, by the the user interface system, the captured image to the patient upon receipt; and storing, by the user interface system, the received captured image in the EMR associated with the patient. 
     One or more embodiments provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method of recording medical image data in an electronic medical record (EMR) associated with a patient using an imaging device being configurable in a plurality of operation modes, including a code scanning mode and an image capture mode, wherein, in the code scanning mode, the imaging device is configured to detect a machine-readable code and output code information representative of the detected machine-readable code, and wherein, in the image capture mode, the imaging device is configured to output a captured image. The method includes initializing, by a user interface system, an image capture session in response to a first user input applied at the user interface system; determining, by the user interface system, a first operation mode of the imaging device, the first operation mode being an active one of the plurality of operation modes at a time the image capture session is initialized; storing, by the user interface system, the first operation mode in a memory device; determining, by the user interface system, whether the first operation mode is an image capture mode; on a first condition that the first operation mode is not the image capture mode, configuring, by the user interface system, the imaging device into the image capture mode; on a second condition that the first operation mode is the image capture mode, maintaining, by the user interface system, the imaging device in the image capture mode; generating, by the imaging device, the captured image in response to a first user input applied at the imaging device; automatically transmitting, by the imaging device, the captured image to the user interface system in response to generating the captured image, wherein the captured image is medically related to the patient; automatically associating, by the the user interface system, the captured image to the patient upon receipt; and storing, by the user interface system, the received captured image in the EMR associated with the patient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are described herein making reference to the appended drawings. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a medical system for medical information acquisition and management in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a first graphical user interface (GUI) according to one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a second GUI according to one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of an image capture operation according to one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a termination process of a current image capture session according to one or more embodiments; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a dialog box for importing files into the second GUI according to one or more embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following, details are set forth to provide a more thorough explanation of the exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form or in a schematic view rather than in detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments. In addition, features of the different embodiments described hereinafter may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise. 
     Further, equivalent or like elements or elements with equivalent or like functionality are denoted in the following description with equivalent or like reference numerals. As the same or functionally equivalent elements are given the same reference numbers in the figures, a repeated description for elements provided with the same reference numbers may be omitted. Hence, descriptions provided for elements having the same or like reference numbers are mutually exchangeable. 
     In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “front”, “behind”, “back”, “leading”, “trailing”, etc., may be used with reference to the orientation of the figures being described. Because parts of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope defined by the claims. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense. Directional terminology used in the claims may aid in defining one element&#39;s spatial or positional relation to another element or feature, without being limited to a specific orientation. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     In embodiments described herein or shown in the drawings, any direct electrical connection or coupling, i.e., any connection or coupling without additional intervening elements, may also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling, i.e., a connection or coupling with one or more additional intervening elements, or vice versa, as long as the general purpose of the connection or coupling, for example, to transmit a certain kind of signal or to transmit a certain kind of information, is essentially maintained. Features from different embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments. For example, variations or modifications described with respect to one of the embodiments may also be applicable to other embodiments unless noted to the contrary. 
     In the present disclosure, expressions including ordinal numbers, such as “first”, “second”, and/or the like, may modify various elements. However, such elements are not limited by the above expressions. For example, the above expressions do not limit the sequence and/or importance of the elements. The above expressions are used merely for the purpose of distinguishing an element from the other elements. For example, a first box and a second box indicate different boxes, although both are boxes. For further example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could also be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     One or more aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program embodying methods/algorithms for instructing the processor to perform the methods/algorithms. Thus, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium may have electronically readable control signals stored thereon, which cooperate (or are capable of cooperating) with a programmable computer system such that the respective methods/algorithms are performed. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium can be, for example, a CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray disc, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a FLASH memory, or an electronic memory device. 
     Each of the elements of the present disclosure may be configured by implementing dedicated hardware or a software program on a memory controlling a processor to perform the functions of any of the components or combinations thereof. Any of the components may be implemented as a central processing unit (CPU) or other processor reading and executing a software program from a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory device. For example, instructions may be executed by one or more processors, such as one or more CPUs, digital signal processors (DSPs), general-purpose microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable logic arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic controller (PLC), or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry. Accordingly, the term “processor,” as used herein refers to any of the foregoing structures or any other structure suitable for implementation of the techniques described herein. A controller including hardware may also perform one or more of the techniques of this disclosure. A controller, including one or more processors, may use electrical signals and digital algorithms to perform its receptive, analytic, and control functions, which may further include corrective functions. Such hardware, software, and firmware may be implemented within the same device or within separate devices to support the various techniques described in this disclosure. 
     It will be appreciated that electrical connections described herein may be a wireless connection, a wired connection, or a combination thereof, and may be further referred to as a communication channel. A communication channel may be any known type of communication channel, non-limiting examples of which include wired communication such as coaxial cable and fiber-optic link to allow communication via Ethernet, and the like, wireless communication such as wireless network (IEEE 802.XX), cellular data service (3G/4G/5G), short-range communication technologies (e.g., Bluetooth, RFID, NFC, Zigbee), and the like and combinations thereof of wired communication and wireless communication, which enable transfer of information between connected devices. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the communication channels are not limited to these examples, and the communication channels could be implemented by other means within the capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     As stated above, electronically capturing an ECG tracing or other images such as pictures or ultrasound snapshots for input into any electronic record is a challenge. For example, there currently is no single standard for capturing ECG tracings and each brand of patient monitors uses their own proprietary protocols and practices. Moreover, a typical surgical suite has a plurality of different manufactured devices that capture output which needs to be implemented into the EMR system. 
     In addition, it may be desirable to acquire images of a patient to document a patient&#39;s current condition and store the images in the EMR. The images may be used to document a region of interest, for example, a dental condition prior to intubation or a surgical site prior to and/or subsequent to performing a medical procedure in order to establish a patient record of the procedure. However, a process for creating this electronic record is lacking. Furthermore, current information management systems do not enable easy and rapid retrieval of this information. 
     In addition, the ability to scan codes located on patient wristbands, medical equipment, medication, and medical fluid bags, such as intravenous (IV) fluid bags, blood bags, and other types of medicine bags or drip bags may be desirable. Such scanning may be useful for at least one of the following identification (ID): patient ID, equipment ID, medication ID, medical device ID (e.g., settings, implants, readouts, or the like), and medical fluid bag ID and entering such ID information into the patient&#39;s EMR. 
     Therefore, an image capturing system configured to capture both images and ID information for generating medical data, associating the generated medical data to a patient, and storing the medical data into the associated patient&#39;s EMR may be desirable. An information management system that can be used to manage this medical data may also be desirable. 
     One or more embodiments are directed to the capture of electronic images and/or videos using an imager to generate medical data that is associated with and ultimately stored in a patient&#39;s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and accessed and managed therefrom. An imager may be any imaging device capable of capturing an image, a video or audio, and includes by is not limited to a scanner, a camera, a phone, a tablet, a wearable device, a medical diagnostic device, a medical monitoring device, a medical therapeutic device, and the like. In one example, an imager may be a code scanner or code reader that is configured to scan or read machine-readable codes, such as one-dimensionally symbologies (e.g., barcodes), two-dimensional symbologies (e.g., Quick Response (QR) codes), radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, or the like, as well as capture images. In another example, an imager may be a medical device the includes a display (e.g., a medical diagnostic device, a medical monitoring device, a medical therapeutic device) that is capable of capturing screen images from the display (e.g., screenshots). In another example, an imager may be a medical device that is capable of outputting an image of medical data regardless of whether the medical device includes a display or not. 
     In the case that the imager is a code scanner, the code scanner includes a digital camera configured to obtain a digital image in response to user input, such as a user interacting with, manipulating, or otherwise engaging a button or a trigger mechanism. 
     The code scanner is selectively configurable in a code scanning mode and an image capture mode. During the code scanning mode, the code scanner is configured to analyze a machine-readable code and output code information. In the image capture mode, the code scanner is configured to capture an image and output the image, for example, without image processing and/or analysis. The code scanner may be communicatively coupled by an electrical connection to an information management system and may transmit data, including code information or a captured image, to the information management system. The information management system may be a computing system or other processing system that acquires code information and captured images and automatically associates at least the captured images to a patient and provides further options to store the captured images in the patient&#39;s EMR. The information management system may also automatically associate code information to a patient and provides further options to store the code information in the patient&#39;s EMR. The information management system may also be configured to automatically store the captured image in the patient&#39;s EMR in response to the information management system associating the captured image with the patient. 
     According to one example of code scanning mode, the code scanner is configured to acquire a digital image and analyze the digital image to detect the machine-readable code. In particular, the code scanner may be configured to read and identify machine-readable codes in the digital image, and generate code information representative of the scanned machine-readable code. The code information may be a unique sequence of numbers, characters, and/or bits. Thus, the code information is data representative of the unique machine-readable code. The code information may then be output from the code scanner to the information management system and/or to a database (e.g., a record system). The information management system or the database may then store the code information and/or convert the code information into identification (ID) information corresponding to a patient ID, equipment ID, medication ID, medical fluid bag ID, and the like, by cross-referencing the code information with ID information stored in the database. In particular, ID information stored in the database may be linked to a unique code, and the information management system may search the database for corresponding ID information based on the code information received from the code scanner. 
     The code scanner may be used to scan a code and characters corresponding thereto may be automatically inserted into a text field in a GUI. 
     For patient identification, a code may include a prefix or suffix that indicates that the code corresponds to patient identification. The information management system receives the code information from the code scanner and determines whether the code information includes the pre-assigned prefix or suffix that indicates that the code corresponds to a patient ID. If the prefix or suffix is present, the information management system identifies the patient according to the patient ID extracted from the code information. If the prefix or suffix is not present, the information management system determines that the code is not related to a patient ID, but instead related to another information type, for example, to a different ID type or to information to be inserted into a text field. 
     In image capture mode, the code scanner is configured to acquire a digital image and output the digital image into the information management system and/or the database. In this mode, the digital image is acquired and output without performing code recognition and analysis. 
     In one example, the code scanner may be used to capture electronic ECG tracings directly printed ECG tracings or from capturing an image of the ECG monitor. Given that health care providers may use a variety of—manufacturer-branded ECG monitors, the code scanner provides a viable solution for capturing of ECG tracings regardless of the manufacturer and for inputting the electronic ECG tracing into the patient record. 
     As a result, the code scanner may be incorporated into an image capturing system configured to capture both medical images and medical ID information for generating medical data, associating the medical data with a patient, and storing the medical data into the patient&#39;s EMR. Further embodiments also provide an information management system that can be used to access and manage these medical data. Medical images may include images generated by medical imaging devices related, but not limited, to magnetic resonance imaging (MM), X-ray, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound, dye imaging, and Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) imaging. In addition, medical images may include images of medical data in printable forms, such as printed ECG waveforms, and images associated with a patient (dental, body surface, implanted device, etc.). 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a medical system  100  for medical information acquisition and management in accordance with one or more embodiments. The medical system  100  includes an information management system (IMS)  102  comprising a user interface system  104  and a display device  106 . The user interface system  104  may be a computer having one or more processors and tangible computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. For example, user interface system  104  may store or have access to EMR software used for acquiring, accessing, and managing medical data pertaining to one or more patients. 
     The user interface system  104  may also include one or more input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, or a touchscreen, configured to be manipulated by a user for receiving user input. 
     The user interface system  104  may also include a controller configured to control one or more aspects of the user interface system  104  and/or an imager. For example, the controller may be integrated with a means for receiving user input and control one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) based on user input. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller may control one or more functions of an imager communicatively coupled to the user interface system  104  based on user input. 
     The user interface system  104  is operable to acquire and store patient data and other medical data, as well as to retrieve patient data and other patient data, and may further provide user interface instructions to one or more system components. The user interface system  104  is operable to receive captured images and automatically associate the captured images to a patient and provides further options to store the captured images in the patient&#39;s EMR. The user interface system  104  may be configured to transmit the captured images to a database or a data server  122  to be stored in the patient&#39;s EMR in response to a user input that follows the user interface system  104  associating the captured images to a patient. Alternatively, the user interface system  104  may be configured to automatically transmit the captured images to a database or a data server  122  to be stored in the patient&#39;s EMR in response to the user interface system  104  associating the captured image with the patient. The user interface system  104  may also be operable to receive code information, automatically associate the code information to a patient, and provide further options to store the code information in the patient&#39;s EMR. 
     The user interface system  104  is further operable to generate display data, such as one or more GUIs to be displayed on the display device  106 . A GUI may be used for the entering, storing, and retrieval of patient data and other medical data. 
     The display device  106  is any type of display or screen operable to display image data, including GUIs, captured images, and other data. The display device  106  is coupled to the user interface system  104  via connection  105  and is configured to display image data received from the user interface system  104 . For example, the display device  106  may be configured to display image data corresponding to the EMR software, including, but not limited to, GUIs, menu windows, application windows, dialog boxes, patient records and data, medical images, and the like. 
     The medical system  100  may include a code scanner  110  that is configurable in at least a code scanning mode and an image capture mode, as described above. While some embodiments may be described in the context of a code scanner  110 , it will be appreciated that other types of imagers capable of capturing images may be used. It will also be appreciated that while some types of imagers are capable of reading machine-readable codes, other types of images may not be configured with such functionality. Thus, the code scanner  110  is merely representative of one type of portable image capture device and other portable image capture devices may be used in the alternative to or in addition to the code scanner. 
     With respect to the code scanner  110 , the code scanner may be any type of imager that uses a camera to capture a digital image, detect a machine-readable code in the digital image, generate code information therefrom, and transmit the code information. The code scanner  110  includes a digital camera  111  and a user input element  112  (e.g., a button or trigger mechanism) configured to trigger an image acquisition of the digital camera  111  in response to user input. 
     The code scanner  110  may be coupled to the user interface system  104  via connection  113 , which may be a wired communication channel or a wireless communication channel. In particular, the code scanner  110  may receive control signals from the user interface system  104  to control and/or switch its operating mode. Thus, control signals may be received that configures the code scanner  110  into either the code scanning mode or the image capture mode. 
     Additional mechanisms for changing the operation mode of the code scanner  110  may also be provided. For example, machine-readable configuration codes may be used to trigger an operation mode reconfiguration of the code scanner  110 . For example, a machine-readable configuration code may be provided for each operation mode of the code scanner. When a machine-readable configuration code is read by the code scanner  110 , the read machine-readable configuration code is recognized as configuration information and the operation mode of the code scanner  110  is configured based on the analyzed machine-readable configuration code. 
     In addition, the code scanner  110  may transmit code information or digital images to the user interface system  104  depending on its current operation mode. The code scanner  110  is configured to automatically transmit either code information or a digital image to the user interface system  104  in response to a user input applied to the user input element  112 . The code scanner  110  may also be configured to receive a control signal from the user interface system  104  that initializes an image capture operation performed by the code scanner  110 . The code information and digital images may be further displayed on the display device  106 . 
     The medical system  100  further includes a network  120  that is coupled to the user interface system  104  via connection  121 , and a data server  122 , that is coupled to the network  120  via connection  123 . Network  120  may be any known communication network including a wireless network, a wired network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, and combinations thereof. 
     The code scanner  110  (i.e., the portable image capture device) may be coupled to the network  120  via connection  114 , which may be a wired communication channel or a wireless communication channel. The code scanner  110  may communicate with the user interface system  104  or any other device connected to the network  120  via connection  114 . 
     When communicating by way of network  120 , the user interface system  104  may perform such functions as link layer and physical layer outroute coding and modulation (e.g., DVB-S2 adaptive coding and modulation), link layer and physical layer inroute handling (e.g., IPOS), inroute bandwidth allocation and load balancing, outroute prioritization, web acceleration and HTTP compression, flow control, encryption, redundancy switchovers, traffic restriction policy enforcement, data compression, TCP performance enhancements (e.g., TCP performance-enhancing proxies, such as TCP spoofing), quality of service functions (e.g., classification, prioritization, differentiation, random early detection (RED), TCP/UDP flow control), bandwidth usage policing, dynamic load balancing, and routing. 
     The data server  122  is a memory device configured to store an EMR for each patient. Each EMR includes respective patient data and is assigned to a unique patient ID that is also stored on the data server  122 . The user interface system  104  is configured to access an EMR from the data server  122  via the network  120 , and the display device  106  is configured to display data from a retrieved EMR. In addition, the data server  122  is configured to store and update patient information received from the user interface system  104  via the network  120 . For example, the user interface system  104  may store patient data in a local memory or a cloud-based memory and transmit the patient data to the data server  122 . The data server  122  may receive code information, information derived from code information, digital images, and/or metadata pertaining to the digital images from the user interface system  104  as the patient data. Here, the code information and digital images are acquired by the code scanner  110 . 
     The medical system  100  may further include a medical device  130 . The medical device  130  may be any type of patient monitoring, diagnostic, or therapeutic equipment, including, but not limited to, an ECG machine, an ultrasound machine, vital signs monitoring machine, and the like. The medical device  130  may be configured to read a biometric, physiological, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic attribute of a patient and generate medical data in digital or printable formats. The medical device  130  may further include a display device  131  configured to display patient information (e.g., an ECG reading, an ultrasound reading, a vital sign reading, etc.). In addition, the medical device  130  may be configured to print a reading onto a printable medium such as paper or film. In one example, the medical device  130  may be an ECG machine configured to print an ECG tracing  132  during patient monitoring. In another example, the medical device  130  may be operable to capture screenshots of images displayed on the display device  131 , as is the case for ultrasound machines. Furthermore, the medical device  130  may be operable to acquire screenshots and output printed medical data. 
     Moreover, the medical device  130  may be optionally connected to the user interface system  104  via wired or wireless connection  133  and/or connected to the network  120  via wired or wireless connection  134 . As such, the medical device  130  may be configured to communicate with the user interface system  104  via connection  133  or  134  or any other device connected to the network  120  via connection  134 . In particular, the medical device  130  may be configured to transmit captured images (e.g., screenshots) to the user interface system  104  or to the data server  122 . In addition, the medical device  130  may receive a control signal from the user interface system  104  to initialize an image capture, to initialize a transmission of captured images or both. 
     When set into image capture mode, the code scanner  110  may be used to capture a picture of either the display device  131  or the ECG tracing  132  in order to record an image of medical data corresponding to a patient. This feature may be particularly useful when the medical device  130  is not capable of outputting data, and particularly, digital images, to the user interface system  104  and/or the data server  122 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI)  200  according to one or more embodiments. In particular, the GUI  200  is generated by the user interface system  104  in the course of running the EMR software, and is received by the display device  106  for display. GUI  200  displays a main menu for accessing, entering, and managing patient information. Thus, the GUI  200  may serve as a primary interface and access point to a patient&#39;s EMR. The GUI  200  is operable to receive user selections and inputs. 
     The GUI  200  may include a patient lookup and background information section  201 , including various data fields of patient information entry and lookup. 
     The GUI  200  may include tabs  202 - 207  used to navigate to different stages of care provided to a patient. For example, admissions tab  202  may include patient data relevant to an admission stage of a patient, pre-op tab  203  may include patient data relevant to a pre-operation stage of the patient, holding tab  204  may include patient data relevant to a holding stage of the patient, anesthesia tab  205  may include patient data relevant to administering anesthesia to the patient, a Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) tab  206  may include patient data relevant to a post-anesthesia stage or a post-operation stage of the patient, and an ECG tab  207  that enables a user to view captured images of ECG readings taken during the various stages of patient care in accordance with the one or more embodiments described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, captured ECG images may also be placed in an ECG section located within each tab  202 - 206 . These images may be placed in a tab that corresponds to the stage of care during which the image was taken. 
     It will be appreciated that the foregoing tabs merely serve as an example, and should be treated as non-limiting such that some tabs may be removed and additional tabs may be included. For example, other captured images tabs and non-operating room tabs may be provided. 
     The GUI  200  may include icons  211 - 214  that provide user access to various types of patient chart data, including lab results, assigned staff, medication history, and use, vital signs, etc. In addition, the GUI  200  includes an image capture mode icon  215  and a code scanning mode icon  216 . In response to a selection of the image capture mode icon  215  via user input, the user interface system  104  is configured to place the code scanner  110  into image capture mode if the code scanner  110  is currently in a different mode (e.g., code scanning mode) or maintain the code scanner  110  in the image capture mode if the code scanner  110  is currently in the image capture mode. The image capture mode icon  215  further includes an N symbol in parentheses. The N represents a number of images captured by the code scanner  110  that are currently saved and stored in the patient&#39;s EMR. 
     In addition, in response to a selection of the image capture mode icon  215  via user input, the user interface system  104  is configured to navigate the user to an image capture GUI  300  that will be further described in the context of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . In particular, the image capture GUI  300  is launched by the user interface system  104  in response to a selection of the image capture mode icon  215 . The launched GUI  300  is associated with a patient&#39;s EMR. Depending on its current operation mode, the user interface system  104  may reconfigure the code scanner  110  into image capture mode when the GUI  300  is launched. The GUI  300  is operable to receive user selections and inputs, and stores any saved data in the patient&#39;s EMR on the data server  122 . Thus, the GUI  300  is linked to the patient&#39;s EMR via network  120 . Images that are captured in the GUI  300  are automatically associated with a corresponding patient and are optionally stored in the patient&#39;s EMR based on further user input. 
     A selection of the code scanning mode icon  216  may set the code scanner  110  into code scanning mode, for example, for capturing ID information for identification purposes. 
     One of the operation modes of the code scanner  110  may be used by the user interface system  104  as a default mode. The default mode may be set by reading a machine-readable configuration code with the code scanner  110 . The user interface system  104  is configured to determine the default mode by reading out a mode value. For example, while the GUI  300  is inactive (i.e., closed), the user interface system  104  may set or maintain the code scanner  110  into its default operation mode. For example, if the code scanning mode is configured as the default operation mode, the user interface system  104  will automatically set the code scanner  110  into code scanning mode while GUI  300  is closed. code scanner Here, the code scanning mode icon  216  could be optional since closing GUI  300  will result in the code scanner  110  being configured into code scanning mode. 
     The code scanner  110  is configured into image capture mode by the user interface system  104  when the GUI  300  is launched. Once a user has navigated to the image capture GUI  300  via image capture mode icon  215 , the code scanner  110  is configured into image capture mode and the user may capture images using the code scanner  110  by manipulating the user input element  112 . Upon triggering an image capture, the code scanner  110  is configured to capture an image and automatically upload the captured image to the user interface system  104  where it will be displayed in the image capture GUI  300  and thusly associated with a patient. The user interface system  104  also records a timestamp (e.g., a capture date and time) for each image capture, and stores the time stamp with the captured image. For example, the timestamp may be attached or applied directly to the captured image and stored therewith. 
     Captured images are automatically stored in a local memory or a cloud-based memory of the user interface system  104 . However, these captured images may not be automatically stored on the data server  122  without further user action. Thus, a user may selectively determine which captured images viewable in GUI  300  should be saved to the data server  122 , which captured images viewable in GUI  300  should be discarded from the local or cloud-based memory, and which saved images viewable in GUI  300  should be removed from the data server  122 . As a result, a user may use the image capture GUI  300  not only to access captured images but also to manage the storage thereof within the patient&#39;s EMR. 
     The image capture GUI  300  may also include metadata fields that allow a user to enter and save metadata related to each captured image. 
     In response to a selection of the code scanning mode icon  216  via user input, the user interface system  104  is configured to place the code scanner  110  into code scanning mode if the code scanner  110  is currently in a different operation mode (e.g., image capture mode) or maintain the code scanner  110  in the code scanning mode if the code scanner  110  is currently in the code scanning mode. 
     By manipulating the image capture mode icon  215  and the code scanning mode icon  216 , a user is able to quickly switch between operation modes of the code scanner  110  such that barcodes and digital images can be taken as needed without a cumbersome process. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a GUI  300  according to one or more embodiments. In particular,  FIG. 3  illustrates the GUI  300  subsequent to multiple image captures performed using the code scanner  110 . 
     GUI  300  includes an image capture section  301 , a metadata section  302 , and a thumbnail section  303  that displays thumbnail images  330  of captured images. 
     When the GUI  300  is initially opened, the thumbnail section  303  displays thumbnails of any captured images there were obtained in a previous image capture session and saved in a patient&#39;s EMR in the data server  122 . 
     Additionally, each thumbnail image  330  may be selectively activated by default or by user input. For example, when an image is initially captured using the code scanner  110 , a thumbnail of that image is created by the user interface system  104  via the EMR software and automatically activated (i.e., selected or highlighted) for display in the image capture section  301 . Other previously captured images may be viewed in the image capture section  301  by selecting its corresponding thumbnail. 
     The thumbnail section  303  further includes scroll icons  331  and  332  that enable a user to scroll through the thumbnail images  330  in two scrolling directions (e.g., right and left directions). 
     Each thumbnail image  330  includes a data type section  333  that displays a data type corresponding to the thumbnail image. Additionally, an activated thumbnail may be differentiated from other inactive thumbnails by changing a color or the data type section  333 , for example. 
     Each thumbnail image  330  includes a selection box  334  that enables a user to select that particular thumbnail for deletion from the local memory and/or from the data server  122 . To further enable this feature, the thumbnail section  303  includes a delete icon  335 . Multiple thumbnail images  330  may be selected for deletion at a time. Here, multiple thumbnail images  330  are selected by activating respective selection boxes  334  and then deleted by subsequently clicking the delete icon  335 . Captured images that correspond to selected and deleted thumbnails are removed from the local memory as well as from the data server  122 , where applicable. 
     Each user may have different assigned permissions (e.g., read, write, and edit permissions) that authorize a user to delete captured images from the data server  122 . If a user does not have edit permission, the user interface system  104 , via the EMR software, will prevent the deletion of an image that is stored on the data server  122 . A read permission permits a user to view previously captured images that are stored on the data server  122 . A write permission permits a user to capture new images via the code scanner  110  and store them on the data server  122 . 
     The image capture section  301  includes an image viewing area  310  in which a captured image  311  is displayed. In particular, the image viewing area  310  displays an image that is active amongst the thumbnail images  330 . As noted above, when an image is initially captured using the code scanner  110 , a thumbnail of that image is created by the user interface system  104  via the EMR software and automatically activated for display in the image capture section  301 . 
     While a captured image is active, a user may enter metadata about the captured image in the metadata section  302 . For example, the metadata section  302  may include a label field  321  corresponding to label or title related to the subject of the captured image, a remarks field  322  corresponding to additional comments a user may have regarding the captured image, and a data type field  323  corresponding to an image type or category related to the captured image. In the latter case, types of images may be selectable from the data type field  323  (e.g., via a drop-down listing) and may be related to the type of medical diagnostic information recorded in the image. For example, fields available in the data type field  323  may also correspond to tabs  202 - 207  such that a captured image is also placed in an appropriate tab that corresponds to the tab designated in the data type field  323 . Here, the captured image  311  shown in this example is an image of an ECG tracing strip taken in anticipation of or during administration of anesthesia in an operating room. Thus, a user has chosen to label the image “OR Anesthesia” and selected “ECG” as the data type. The selected data type also appears in the data type section  333  of the corresponding thumbnail image  330 . 
     In addition, a timestamp  312  is applied to the captured image  311  and stored therewith. Thus, the time stamp  312  is also displayed in the image capture section  301  along with the captured image  311 . 
     The image capture section  301  includes a scanner ID field  313  that corresponds to the code scanner  110  currently connected to the user interface system  104  and a scanner status field  314  that indicates whether or not the code scanner  110  is ready to capture an image. 
     The image capture section  301  further includes additional icons, including an OK icon  315 , a save icon  316 , and a cancel icon  317 . 
     Manipulating (i.e., selecting) the OK icon  315  results in any images and corresponding metadata captured during an image capture session (i.e., any images captured while GUI  300  is active after selecting the image capture mode icon  215 ) to be transferred from local memory of the user interface system  104  to the data server  122  via network  120  and stored in the patient&#39;s EMR at the data server  122 . 
     Selecting the OK icon  315  further results in the EMR software exiting the GUI  300  and returning to the previous GUI (e.g., GUI  200 ). In other words, the EMR software exits the current image capture session. 
     Returning to the previous GUI further results in the user interface system  104  setting the code scanner  110  into an original or a previous operation mode the code scanner  110  was in at the time the user selected the image capture mode icon  215 . For example, this could be the default operation mode of the code scanner  110 . Thus, the code scanner  110  may be reverted back into code scanning mode in response to a selection of the OK icon  315 . Alternatively, if the image capture mode is the default operation mode, the code scanner  110  may remain in the image capture mode as the software exits from GUI  300  and returns to the previous GUI. If the image capture mode is the default operation mode, the code scanner  110  may be placed into code scanning mode via user manipulation of the code scanning mode icon  216 . 
     Manipulating the OK icon  315  may further result in any unsaved captured images, which were obtained during a current image capture session (i.e., not yet stored on the data server  122 ) and selectively removed using the delete icon  335 , to not be saved in the patient&#39;s EMR on the data server  122  and removed from the local memory of the user interface system  104 . 
     Manipulating the OK icon  315  may further result in any captured images, which have been previously saved to the data server  122  during the current image capture session (i.e., via the save icon  316 ) or during a previous image capture session and selectively removed using the delete icon  335 , to be removed from the patient&#39;s EMR on the data server  122 . 
     Manipulating the save icon  316  results in any images and corresponding metadata captured during an image capture session (i.e., any images captured while GUI  300  is active after selecting the image capture mode icon  215 ) to be transferred from local memory of the user interface system  104  to the data server  122  via network  120  and stored in the patient&#39;s EMR at the data server  122 . However, in contrast to the OK icon  315 , selecting the save icon  316  results in the EMR software remaining at the GUI  300  and further results in the code scanner  110  remaining in the image capture mode. In other words, the EMR software remains in the current image capture session. 
     Manipulating the save icon  316  may further result in any unsaved captured images, which were obtained during a current image capture session (i.e., not yet stored on the data server  122 ) and selectively removed using the delete icon  335 , to not be saved in the patient&#39;s EMR on the data server  122  and removed from the local memory of the user interface system  104 . 
     Manipulating the save icon  316  may further result in any captured images that have been previously saved to the data server  122  during the current image capture session (i.e., via the save icon  316 ) or during a previous image capture session and selectively removed using the delete icon  335  to be removed from the patient&#39;s EMR on the data server  122 . 
     Manipulating the cancel icon  317  results in any images and corresponding metadata captured during an image capture session not being saved at the data server  122  and possibly or eventually removed from or overwritten in the local memory of the user interface system  104 . As a result, unsaved images are not stored in the patient&#39;s EMR on the data server  122 . In addition, the EMR software exits the current image capture session, returns to the previous GUI (e.g., GUI  200 ), and sets the code scanner  110  into an original or a previous operation mode (e.g., a default operation mode) in a similar manner described in reference to the OK icon  315 . 
     Manipulating the cancel icon  317  may further result in canceling a removal or a deletion of any thumbnail images  330  that were removed using the delete icon  335  during the current image capture session. 
     The image capture GUI  300  may also include an import section  318  that includes a browse icon  319 . The browse icon  319  is configured to enable a user to search for external storage devices that have medical images or medical videos stored thereon. An external storage device may be either the medical device  130  or a portable image capture device, such as the code scanner  110 . By using the browse feature, a user may locate an external storage device, search for captured images (e.g., screenshots) and/or videos stored on the external storage device, and import selected images and/or videos into the GUI  300 . By performing an import, the imported images and videos are stored in the local or cloud-based memory of the user interface system  104  and displayed within the image viewing area  310 . The imported images and videos are also displayed in the thumbnail section  303  as a thumbnail image  330 . By performing an import, the imported images and videos are automatically associated with a patient and a user may further determine whether to save the imported images and videos into the patient&#39;s EMR on the data server  122 . 
     Clicking the browse icon  319  may launch an additional dialog window (i.e., dialog window  600  shown in  FIG. 6 . The dialog window  600  enables a user to select from one or more storage devices, including any external storage device connected to the user interface system  104  through a direct connection or the network  120 , and select image or video files stored on the selected storage device for importing to the user interface system  104  to be loaded into the GUI  300 . Once imported, an image or a video is automatically associated with a patient that corresponds to the open GUI  300 . 
     The image capture GUI  300  may also include a play icon  341  and a pause icon  342  that becomes enabled when a video is selected and displayed in the image viewing area  310 , thereby enabling a user to control the playback of the video. 
     A Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) file is comprised of one or more images and metadata that can be parsed. If a DICOM file (e.g., an ultrasound file) is selected through the browse function, the GUI  300  may be configured to show the images of the DICOM file as a slide show in the image viewing area  310 . The associated metadata could be also be shown in the image viewing area  310 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of an image capture operation  400  according to one or more embodiments. 
     In operation  405 , a current image capture session is initialized by the manipulation of the image capture mode icon  215 . As a result, image capture GUI  300  is launched by the user interface system  104  (via the EMR software) and displayed on the display device  106 . At this time, the GUI  200  may either remain open (e.g., underneath the image capture GUI  300 ) so that it remains accessible to the user or it may be closed. 
     In operation  410 , the user interface system  104  reads the original (i.e., current) operation mode of the code scanner  110  and saves a value corresponding to the original operation mode. The user interface system  104  may determine the original operation mode by obtaining operation mode status information from the code scanner  110 . The user interface system  104  may obtain the operation mode status information by sending a request to the code scanner  110  or may continuously receive the operation mode status information from the code scanner  110 . Each operation mode may be associated with a unique value. Thus, the user interface system  104  may store the value associated with the operation mode indicated in the operation mode status information in local memory. This saved value corresponds to the original operation mode the code scanner  110  was in just prior to a user selecting the image capture mode icon  215 . This saved value is also used during the termination process  500 . 
     In operation  415 , the user interface system  104  determines whether the saved value of the original operation mode (i.e., the mode at the time the current image capture session is initialized) corresponds to the image capture mode. In other words, the user interface system  104  determines whether the code scanner  110  is already in the image capture mode at the time the current image capture session was initialized. 
     If no, the process flow proceeds to operation  420  where the user interface system  104  configures the code scanner  110  into image capture mode. Once configured into image capture mode, the process flow proceeds to operation  425 , where the scanner status field  314  indicates that the code scanner  110  is ready to capture an image. 
     If yes, the process flow proceeds to operation  425  and the scanner status field  314  that indicates that the code scanner  110  is ready to capture an image. 
     In operation  430 , a digital image  311  is captured by the user interface system  104  in response to a user input applied to the user input element  112  of the code scanner  110  and displayed in the image viewing area  310  along with its timestamp  312 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a termination process  500  of a current image capture session according to one or more embodiments. 
     In operation  505 , the image capture GUI  300  begins to close and return to GUI  200  in response to a user manipulating either the OK icon  315  or the cancel icon  317 , thereby initializing the termination process  500  of the current image capture session. 
     In operation  510 , the user interface system  104  retrieves the saved value of the original operation mode obtained in operation  410  and determines whether the saved value corresponds to the image capture mode. 
     If no, the process flow proceeds to operation  515  where the user interface system  104  configures the code scanner  110  into the original capture mode associated with the saved value. For example, the code scanner  110  may be configured back into code scanning mode. After reconfiguring the operation mode of the code scanner  110 , the process flow proceeds to operation  520 . 
     If yes, the operation mode of the code scanner  110  is not altered and the process flow proceeds to operation  520 . 
     In operation  520 , the image capture GUI  300  is closed and the current image capture session is ended. 
     As a further option, if the GUI  200  was closed, minimized, or otherwise not viewable (e.g., in accordance with operation  405 ), the GUI  200  may be relaunched or made visible on the display device  106  in operation  525 . 
     In view of the above, the user interface system  104  may use EMR software and the code scanner  110  to perform code reading as well as to capture a digital image of medically relevant information and store the digital image in the patient&#39;s EMR. 
     For example, the IMS  102  may be an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) and the EMR software may be anesthesia management software used to manage, track, and record the anesthesia care of a patient. The EMR may be an anesthesia record or may include an anesthesia record as part of the patient&#39;s complete EMR. As noted above, ECG measurements and tracings are of particular interest in an anesthesia record to document that condition of the patient before, during, and after the administering of anesthesia to a patient. The quality of the ECG strip would be adequate for anesthesia purposes as the intent is to illustrate the general heart rhythm condition of the patient prior to surgery. As a result, an anesthesia provider can easily store digital ECG measurements in the patient&#39;s EMR and access this information at a later time. As such, the IMS  102  provides a functional means to document the ECG. Image capture of readings from an electroencephalogram (EEG) may also be useful. 
     It may also be desirable to document other types of medical data with image capture. For example, health care providers may wish to take time-stamped photographs of a patient&#39;s teeth prior to and after a surgical procedure to document the state of a patient&#39;s teeth in the course of performing dental work or inserting an intubation tube. Namely, images could be useful to demonstrate that a patient&#39;s teeth were damages prior to the procedure and not due to the procedure itself. 
     In addition, the disclosed image capture may be used to capture medical data and images shown on a display of an ultrasound machine or in an ultrasound printout. Thus, the medical system  100  may be used to incorporate ultrasound images into a patient medical record. 
     In addition, the disclosed image capture may be used to document surgical markings (e.g., incision markings) on a patient&#39;s body prior to a surgical procedure. 
     In addition, the disclosed image capture may be used to incorporate images of blood product bags and other medications into a patient medical record to document that the correct product was given to a patient. 
     In addition, the disclosed image capture can be a medical device such as an implantable medical device that illustrates attributes such as part serial no., condition, location of insertion into the patient, and the like. 
     Integration of the code scanner  110  also allows the opportunity to provide additional functionality such as performing both code scanning and image capture using a single scanning device. Additionally, images of barcodes may be captured and stored for future reference. 
     By creating a location to receive and store captured images in the patient&#39;s EMR, the proposed system and methods enable network-wide access to the captured images. In addition, the proposed system and method can be used regardless of the equipment being used or equipment manufacturer. As a result, a standardized process for capturing medical data through the use of the proposed image capture system may be implemented. The use of such systems and methods can, for example, occur in any medical environment such as the scene of a medical event, an ambulance, a hospital, or a doctor&#39;s office. 
     While various embodiments have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made which will achieve some of the advantages of the concepts disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art that other components performing the same functions may be suitably substituted. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be mentioned that features explained with reference to a specific figure may be combined with features of other figures, even in those not explicitly mentioned. Such modifications to the general inventive concept are intended to be covered by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
     Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, where each claim may stand on its own as a separate example embodiment. While each claim may stand on its own as a separate example embodiment, it is to be noted that—although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims—other example embodiments may also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent or independent claim. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended. Furthermore, it is intended to include also features of a claim to any other independent claim even if this claim is not directly made dependent on the independent claim. 
     It is further to be noted that methods disclosed in the specification or in the claims may be implemented by a device having means for performing each of the respective acts of these methods. For example, the techniques described in this disclosure may be implemented, at least in part, in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof, including any combination of a computing system, an integrated circuit, and a computer program on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. For example, various aspects of the described techniques may be implemented within one or more processors, including one or more microprocessors, DSPs, ASICs, or any other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry, as well as any combinations of such components. 
     Further, it is to be understood that the disclosure of multiple acts or functions disclosed in the specification or in the claims may not be construed as to be within the specific order. Therefore, the disclosure of multiple acts or functions will not limit these to a particular order unless such acts or functions are not interchangeable for technical reasons. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a single act may include or may be broken into multiple sub acts. Such sub acts may be included and part of the disclosure of this single act unless explicitly excluded.