Processing of Medical Signals

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method in which real-time ubiquitous imaging is feasible in local areas, such as inside a clinic, hospital room or doctor office. This is achieved by designing a wireless network having a central processing server with, for example, distributed broadband acquisition and video bus capability. Remote access is possible using store-and-forward image transfer over a wide area network. With these capabilities, a physician can use a handheld transducer (such as an ultrasound transducer) as a basic tool to facilitate diagnostic decisions similar to the way a stethoscope is used today.

1 . A system for medical treatment, said system comprising:
 at least one common processor;   a plurality of spaced apart receivers, each said receiver adapted for receiving wireless signals from at least one medical transducer, each said receiver in physical proximity to the transducer from which it receives said wireless signals; and   at least one communication link between said receivers and said server such that data contained in any wireless signal received by a receiver is communicated over said link to said server.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 control within said processor for analyzing received data from individual ones of said transducers independent from data received from any other transducer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said transducers are in different locations and wherein said control further comprises:
 memory for storing analyzed data from each transducer separate from analyzed data from any other transducer. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said transducers are in different locations and wherein said control further comprises:
 communications capability for communicating back to a particular location at least a portion of said analyzed data, said portion based on signals received from a transducer of said particular location. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said control is operable to forward at least some of said received data on a transducer by transducer basis. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said other location is a person knowledgeable with respect to said forwarded data. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said other location comprises:
 communication links for sending data to a location associated with said forwarded data. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least some of said transducers send sound energy into a patient and receive sound energy echoes back from said patent and wherein said data sent from said transducer to said receiver comprise at least a portion of said sound energy received from a patient. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each said transducer has a display associated therewith and wherein said data is displayed on said display from said remote location. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said data received by said processor from each transducer is ultrasound imaging data. 
     
     
         11 . A method of examining a patient comprising:
 positioning a transducer with respect to a patient so as to obtain electronic signals from selected locations of said patient; said signals capable of analization for diagnostic purposes;   transmitting obtained ones of said electronic signals to a processor, said processor arranged to receive electronic signals from transducers located at a plurality of different locations; and   transmitting from said processor to a location of a transducer image data processed by said processor, said processor data for displaying images based on real-time obtained data from said transducer at said location.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said transmitting is wireless. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said wireless transmission is in two links, with a first link between a node and at least one transducer location; and a second link is between said node and said processor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the transmission process for each link is different. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said processor can receive said signals from a plurality of said transducers concurrently. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 transmitting to a third party at least a portion of said data received from a transducer at a particular location. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said third party is an expert in diagnosing medical conditions based on said data received from said transducer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 transmitting data from said third party to said particular location of said transducer. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said last-mentioned transmitted data comprises information from said third party useful for medical treatment of said patient at said particular location.