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Patent US7945450 - Method for monitoring radiology machines, operators and examinations - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe method of creating at least one standard protocol or pattern about the operator, the patient, the examination and/or the machine being used. Monitoring, creating and recording data about at least one of them during the actual performance of the examination. Next, compare this data to a standard protocol...http://www.google.com/patents/US7945450?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7945450 - Method for monitoring radiology machines, operators and examinationsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7945450 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/865,696Publication dateMay 17, 2011Filing dateMay 29, 2001Priority dateOct 6, 1995Also published asUS6282513, US20020010395Publication number09865696, 865696, US 7945450 B2, US 7945450B2, US-B2-7945450, US7945450 B2, US7945450B2InventorsGlenn G. StrawderOriginal AssigneeStrawder Glenn GExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (21), Non-Patent Citations (14), Referenced by (4), Classifications (13), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod for monitoring radiology machines, operators and examinations
This is a divisional application of my application Ser. No. 09/220,064 filed Dec. 23, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,513 entitled A Quality Assurance Method for a Machine and an Operator which is a continuation-in-part application of my prior application Ser. No. 08/720,036 filed Sep. 27, 1996, now abandoned entitled Method For Measuring Patient Radiation Dose, which claims the benefit of my provisional application Ser. No. 60/004,891 filed Oct. 6, 1995, entitled Patient Dose Monitoring Method.
The word �examination� refers to all steps and procedures for taking the desired number of x-rays or pictures of a part of a human body, animal or other object.
1. In this first example the technologist will make an examination of the lumbar spine series wherein the patient's movements caused a motion error in one of the pictures. The exposure data recorded for the examination may be as follows:
2. In this example computer 60 may analyze the exposure data of the examination and conclude that the extra exposure in the series was due to the patient breathing during the exposure which is called �a motion error� in Radiology. The technologist enters into keyboard 64 before the examination starts, the name of the patient and the type of examination (lumbar spine) to be performed. The technologist enters into keyboard 64 the time the examination is started. The technologist positions the patient body part 90 for the first view in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the first view which is the AP view. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter of the input to the x-ray machines to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or second exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the second view which is the right oblique view in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter of said input to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or third exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the third view which is the left oblique view in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist uses the same parameter setting for the left oblique view that was used for the prior right oblique view for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or fourth exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the fourth view which is the lateral view. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or fifth view and exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the view for the fifth view which is the spot view. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist goes and develops the series of x-rays. The technologist notices on the developed picture that the patient breathed on the lateral or fourth view in the series and must retake this particular view or picture. The technologist returns to the room and repositions body part 90 correctly for the retake of the lateral view. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of view this sixth exposure is being delivered for which is the lateral view again. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used again. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist this time changes two of the parameters levels for the exposure. This change in parameters shortens or reduces the time of the exposure to help eliminate the possibility of the patients breathing habits causing a problem this time. The technologist presses a button to signal the computer when the examination is completed. The technologist may input in computer 60 the time the examination ends. The computer looks that time up in the memory and then multiples the excess time, over the standard amount, by the hourly rate of the technologist. The standard number of exposure (views or positions of the body part 90) to complete the examination of the lumbar spine in the above example is five (5). Computer 60 results may show that the extra (sixth) exposure, added to the examination, was due to involuntary movement of body part 90. Let's say that computer 60 finds that there are two lateral positions labeled in the series. And that although each of the positions have an exposure that will produce similar contrast and detail of the body part 90 being x-rayed one of them has a much shorter exposure time period setting then the other. Computer 60 may further find that the electrical current in milliamperes (MA), flowing to the x-ray tube 10 for the second exposure setting is much larger than the Ma. parameter control dial station for the first (original) setting and that the duration of the time of the exposure for the second setting is reduced substantially compared to the time frame of the first setting. Computer 60 may conclude that the increased or higher Ma. station used for the second exposure setting is done to shorten the time duration for the second exposure setting to eliminate the possibility of demonstrating patient motion during this repeat or retake picture. Computer 60 may further conclude that the motion error was involuntary and that the operator made technical changes to correct the movement problem. Computer 60 may conclude that the added expenses to the examination can not be charged to the patient's bill and that the hospital must absorb this added expense in performing the examination. It is important to know that a technologist may choose to change and/or exchange various parameter levels to eliminate the possibility of a motion error occurring and many other problems. Therefore, computer 60 may review and analyze a parameter being changed in many different ways.
3. In this example computer 60 may analyze the exposure data of the exam and conclude that the extra exposure was due to the fact that the physician in charge of the matter needed an additional view (or picture) of a particular area to help diagnosis the case. The technologist enters into keyboard 64 before the examination starts, the name of the patient and the type of body part 90 (lumbar spine examination) to be performed. The technologist may manually enter via keyboard the start time of the examination or this may be done electronically by computer 60. The technologist positions the patient body part 90 for the first view in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the first view which is the AP view. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or second exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the second view which is the right oblique view in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or third exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the third view which is the left oblique view in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist uses the same parameter setting for the left oblique view that was used for the prior right oblique view for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or fourth exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the fourth view which is the lateral view. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist returns to the room, repositions body part 90 for the next or fifth view and exposure in the series. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of the view for the fifth view which is the spot view. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist sets each parameter of the input of the x-ray machine 10 to its correct level for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist goes and develops the series of x-ray pictures. The technologist may show the developed pictures to the physician who asked the technologist to take one more x-ray of a particular area at a certain rotation. The technologist returns to the room and repositions body part 90 for the extra or additional view. The technologist enters in computer 60 the name of this sixth view or exposure which is called, �extra view�. The technologist enters in computer 60 a number for the size for the film to be used for the extra view. Computer 60 will include the cost of the film size based on the standard information in its ROM. The technologist set the parameters to there correct levels for the exposure and takes the x-ray. The technologist presses a button to signal the computer 60 when the examination is completed. The technologist inputs in computer 60 the time the examination ends. The computer 60 looks that time up in the memory and then multiples the time, over the standard amount, by the hourly rate of the technologist. The standard number of exposure (positions) to complete the examination of the lumbar spine series in the above example is five (5). Computer 60 may conclude that the extra picture and drugs was needed to help further interpret the case and the patient should be billed for all added expenses to the examination.
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(new cost perspectives of diagnostic imaging), Hospitals, v64, n21, p24(10) Dialog File 149, Access No. 01247919, Nov. 1990.13 *Pickens et al., "Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of charge capture by a radiology information system", Journal of Dignal Imaging, p. 49-53, Dialog File 155, Access No. 06570191, Feb. 1990.14See attached "Notice".* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8731961 *Jul 26, 2012May 20, 2014Ai Cure TechnologiesMethod and apparatus for verification of clinical trial adherenceUS8781856 *Jul 26, 2012Jul 15, 2014Ai Cure Technologies LlcMethod and apparatus for verification of medication administration adherenceUS20120296666 *Jul 26, 2012Nov 22, 2012Ai Cure Technologies LlcMethod and Apparatus for Verification of Medication Administration AdherenceUS20120310671 *Jul 26, 2012Dec 6, 2012Ai Cure Technologies LlcMethod and Apparatus for Verification of Clinical Trial Adherence* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification705/2, 702/19, 250/363.02International ClassificationG06Q10/00, G01T1/161, G06Q50/00, G01N33/483Cooperative ClassificationG06Q50/24, G06Q50/22, G06Q10/04European ClassificationG06Q10/04, G06Q50/24, G06Q50/22Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 24, 2014REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services