Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/46—Arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
  • A61B6/461—Displaying means of special interest
  • A61B6/462—Displaying means of special interest characterised by constructional features of the display
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/56—Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
  • A61B6/563—Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings involving image data transmission via a network
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
  • G02B27/017—Head mounted
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/05—Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves 
  • A61B5/055—Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging

Definitions

• the current method of reading radiological materials such as digital x- ray images, computed tomography (CT) images, or magnetic resonance (MR) images involves viewing the images on high-resolution monitors in controlled environments. It is necessary to view the images in high resolution both to ensure the quality of diagnosis and to comply with the ACR standards.
• the controlled environments generally include the reduction of visual distractions and ambient light. For example, hospitals may provide radiological reading stations in specially designated low light rooms. This method has several disadvantages. For instance, the high- resolution monitors provide a large expense relative to a common computer monitor, driving up the cost of viewing stations.
• the viewing stations are in designated environmentally controlled rooms with set numbers of viewing stations, there is a limit imposed upon the number of radiologists who can use the viewing stations at a given time, negatively impacting throughput.
• radiologists are geographically limited in where they can perform their work, namely at a hospital that has a radiological reading room. This also negatively impacts throughput.
• the investment necessary to set up a radiology reading room can prohibit smaller clinics from providing on-site reading, which is a particular concern for digital mammography applications.
• Radiographic images are acquired.
• the acquired images are retrieved by a remote computing device.
• the images are then viewed on a remote viewing device.
• Figure 1 is a remote radiographic reading system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 is an alternative preferred embodiment of a remote radiographic reading system of the present invention
• Figure 3 is the remote radiographic reading system of Figure 2 shown being employed by a doctor;
• Figure 4 is a laser projecting an image onto the retina of an eye of a user in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 5 is an example of a set of images viewable using a radiographic reading system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 6 is a block diagram of a radiographic reading system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 7 is a flowchart of a method of remotely reading radiographic images in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• the present invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages as well as others.
• the present invention provides a system and method for remotely reading radiological images, including 3-D images.
• a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes using a direct retinal impingement head-mounted display unit 10 to view images.
• the head-mounted display unit 10 uses a laser 12 to project an image upon the retinas 14 of the eyes 16 of the radiologist 18.
• the head- mounted display unit 10 also reduces ambient light and visual distractions, eliminating the need for the controlled environment of a radiological reading room.
• the invention provides for a controlled reading environment that is portable.
• radiological images are acquired using an acquisition device 20 such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner or a Computed Tomography scanner.
• the radiographic images are retrieved from a server and storage device 22, such as employed in a PACS system 24, using a remote computer 26 coupled to the head-mounted display unit 10.
• the retrieval can be accomplished for example by logging directly into a hospital network 28 such as a Hospital Information System (HIS) or Radiology Information System (RIS), as shown in Figure 1.
• the retrieval can be accomplished by receiving, though a transceiver 30, a broadcast signal such as commonly used in cellular communication technology 32, as shown in Figure 2.
• the remote computer 26 is a conventional notebook computer modified to support the head-mounted display unit 10, as shown in figure 1.
• the computer 26 is a belt-hung computer, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
• a radiographic image or set of images is first acquired, as in step 36, and stored, as in step 38.
• the radiologist then retrieves at least one image, either from a remote server 24 and storage 22 or from a local storage unit 34, for example a CD-ROM, coupled to the head-mounted display computer 26, as in step 40.
• the radiologist 18 retrieves a set of related images, and views them on the display, as in step 42.
• the radiologist selects a configuration with which to view the images, including which images to display simultaneously and the relative size and position of each image, as in step 44.
• the radiologist then manipulates the images as required for viewing, as in step 46.
• the radiologist may adjust contrast settings, select a level of zoom, or apply other desired manipulations such as image processing algorithms.
• the radiologist analyzes the images, as in step 48, and records the findings and diagnosis, as in step 50. This can include adding annotation directly to the image files, as in step 52.
• the findings can then be appended to the patient record for record keeping and diagnosis, as in step 54.
• the configurations are chosen, the images are manipulated, and the annotation is added using an interface device 56 such as a one-hand joystick (shown in Figure 1).
• an interface device 56 such as a one-hand joystick (shown in Figure 1).
• a virtual reality glove shown in Figures 2 and 3
• a keyboard or voice commands, and hence are within the scope of the present invention.
• the interface device 56 interacts with the images and a graphical user interface 58, shown on Figure 5, which can include buttons and menus.
• the radiological reading method includes viewing at least one image while performing surgery.
• a doctor could use the present invention to produce an x-ray overlay of the patient to aid in the surgery.
• the above described methods and apparatus have the important advantage that they allow a radiologist to view radiological images in a remote location while maintaining a controlled viewing environment. The radiologist can then teleconference with doctors and hospital staff who can provide the direct patient care in response to the remote diagnosis.
• the use of a direct retinal impingement head-mounted display unit also provides the additional advantages of an extremely bright image and a reduction in eye strain, among other advantages.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)
• Radiography Using Non-Light Waves (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-10-17 AU AU2002213256A patent/AU2002213256A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-10-17 WO PCT/US2001/032252 patent/WO2002033681A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-10-17 EP EP01981626A patent/EP1326534A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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