Patent ID: 7109986

Claim:
A viewing device for viewing at least one image transparency having an associated tracking memory, the viewing device comprising: an illumination device having at least one viewing surface adapted to present at least one illumination pattern; at least one radio frequency read write device for obtaining electronic data stored in the tracking memory of an image transparency positioned proximate to the viewing surface said tracking memory having a set of access privileges stored therein; at least one display device for viewing at least one electronic image related to said at least one image transparency; and a viewing area radio frequency read write device adapted to send a first electromagnetic field into a viewing area and to receive a second electromagnetic field sent from at least one radio frequency transponder associated with at least one viewer in response to the first electromagnetic field, said second electromagnetic field having information stored in a memory of the at least one radio frequency transponder, said stored information including information from which viewing privileges can be determined; and a control processing unit adapted to receive said obtained data from said associated tracking memory and to use the obtained data for forming the at least one electronic image, said control processing unit being adapted to use information obtained from the tracking memory to define access privileges required for viewing patient related data, without reference to external data sources, and to determine viewing privileges for any identified viewer from information provided in any received second electromagnetic field, said control processing unit being adapted to prevent the illumination device and the display device from facilitating viewing of an image transparency, other patient related images, or patient related content unless the defined access privileges correspond to the determined viewing privileges.