General Electric Company

Ge Medical Technology Services, Inc.

Ge Medical Systems

Ge Medical Global Technology Company, LLC

Hubert Anthony Zettel

Karamjeet Singh

Lawrence E Ploetz

Thomas Leroy Lamoureux

Richard Frowein

Henry John Hummel, Jr

James F Kohli

Sunil Melepatt Palliyal

John Heinen

Dave Mehring

Daniel I Kerpelman

Daniel Eduardo Groszmann

Paul Lawrence Mullen

Ianne Mae Howards Koritzinsky

Winnie C Durbin

Kun Zhang

Crispian L Sievenpiper

Deborah Ann Babula

Diane Marie Miesbauer

Tina Kapur

Scott McOlash

David Thomas Mehring

George Peter Gesior

Kenneth Lawrence Accardi

George Tzortzos

Timothy D Butler

Rick Frowein

Michael E Kelly

Steven John Fleming

David Lee Southgate

A system and method to remotely enable software based options for a trial period in remote equipment is disclosed. The invention includes receiving and authenticating a user, and receiving an option-enabling request from the user specifying the particular option requested to be enabled in a particular piece of equipment at a remote location. A system I.D. is validated, and the system ensures that the option has not already been enabled at least once before, and if it has not, a software enabling key is generated and sent to activate the option in the remote equipment.

Method and system to remotely enable software-based options for a trial period

A technique for exchanging data between networked medical diagnostic systems of a medical institution is provided. The diagnostic systems may include imaging systems, data management systems, monitors, and so forth, connected to an internal network of the institution. A data communications control system is connected to the internal network and receives data from the systems, transmits data to a remote service provider via an external network, and routes data received through the external network back to the diagnostic systems.

Medical facility communications topology

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing metal artifact in image reconstruction. In at least one embodiment, the method for reducing metal artifacts in image reconstruction comprises collecting at least one uncalibrated image (an X-ray or fluoroscopic image for example) and calibrating the at least one uncalibrated image, forming at least one calibrated fluoroscopic image. A patient to transmitter transform is computed using at least the at least one calibrated image. A reconstructed volume is formed using at least a patient to transmitter transform. At least two of the at least one calibrated fluoroscopic image, the patient to transmitter transform and the reconstructed volume may be combined, forming at least one display image. This image may then be displayed, using a display device for example.

Method and apparatus for metal artifact reduction in 3D X-ray image reconstruction using artifact spatial information

A system is provided for remotely servicing medical diagnostic systems. The diagnostic systems may include a range of modalities and system types. A remote service facility may be contacted by the diagnostic systems, or may contact the diagnostic systems via a network link. Service requests, messages, protocols, data and log files, and so forth, may be transmitted between the diagnostic systems and the service facility. The service requests are handled by the service facility interactively with the medical diagnostic systems. The diagnostic systems are thereby apprised of the status of service requests, service reports, and so forth. A uniform interface and platform are provided for facilitating interactive communications of service requests and data between the diagnostic systems and the service facility.

Medical diagnostic system service method and apparatus

A technique is provided for servicing a plurality of medical diagnostic systems remotely. The systems are coupled to an internal network of a medical institution or facility. A data communications control system serves to link the institution to a remote service provider via an external network. Service requests and data are generated at the systems or at the control system. The requests are then transmitted to the remote service provider via the control system, and responses to the requests are received by the control system for distribution to the diagnostic systems. The technique permits systems to be remotely serviced which may not be equipped for separate communication via external networks, reduces infrastructure and costs, and facilitates the coordination of service needs of the institution.

Integrated interactive service to a plurality of medical diagnostic systems

Systems and methods for enabling universal remote access and display of diagnostic images acquired by diagnostic imaging equipment, independent of the identity of the vendor that manufactured the equipment. One system includes a local area network; a scanner capable of sending objects formatted in accordance with a communications protocol, each object incorporating at least one image frame; and a data capture device connected to the local area network and programmed with data capture software to capture an object originating from the scanner in response to that scanner being specified as an object of diagnosis. This system further includes a communications channel, e.g., a virtual private network, for connecting the data capture device to a central service facility. The preferred communications protocol is DICOM. In response to an instruction from the service center, the data capture device on the LAN captures image files from a malfunctioning scanner and forwards them to the service center for diagnosis.

System and method for universal remote access and display of diagnostic images for service delivery

A system and method are disclosed for providing access over a computer network to system documentation at an online central service facility. A user is required to enter identifying indicia prior to accessing the online central service facility, the facility having at least one documentation database containing product and/or service data therein. The identifying indicia can include a user identification and a password, for example, and are matched with user data stored in a user database in the online central service facility to authenticate the user before providing user access into a document management system. Also, the user is checked to further determine what particular product and/or service data the user is entitled to. Such particular product or service data is then delivered to the user.

Method and apparatus for limited online access to restricted documentation

A method and a system for delivery of protected software applications to remote systems from a central service facility wherein delivery is managed on the basis of the community membership of the remote system user. Business rules are utilized to determine whether a particular authenticated user seeking access to a protected software application from a particular remote site should be authorized. A multiplicity of web servers are programmed to allow selective access to one or more resident software applications by remote system users via a network. Access is managed by a central policy server based on user and system information and community definitions stored in a database. The policy server communicates with each web server via an agency module incorporated in the web server. The agency module intercepts requests for access from remote system users and then interfaces with the policy server. If the remote system user has input an authentic identification code, the policy server then applies the business rules to determine whether the requesting remote system user is authorized to access the protected software being requested.

Method and apparatus for community management in remote system servicing

A system for managing replacement of x-ray tubes, such as in medical diagnostic systems, includes circuitry for monitoring operating parameters of the x-ray tubes, and circuitry for analyzing the monitored parameters and scheduling for tube replacement based upon predicted failure. The scheduling circuitry may be located in a remote service center and is linked to the diagnostic systems via a network connection. A failure prediction circuit may be located at the remote service center or local to the diagnostic system. Upon identifying a predicted tube failure, replacement of the tube is scheduled and shipment of a replacement tube is ordered. Service personnel may be notified automatically to coordinate tube replacement. Electronic messages may be transmitted to the service personnel and to personnel in the facility where the x-ray tube is installed to notify all parties of the scheduled tube replacement.

X-ray tube replacement management system

A graphical image display provides improved image presentation due to potential removal of background data which would otherwise degrade presentation of the region of interest and due to automatic adjustment of image brightness and contrast based on operator preference. Statistical analysis of the image data is employed. The invention is particularly useful in medical diagnostic imaging.

Image display having automatic image adjustment

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Hubert Anthony Zettel