Ultrasound remote monitoring, operating and training system

Abstract

The present invention is a method, system, and apparatus used to transmit information to an individual and or receiver who is not located at the actual ultrasound procedure that may monitor, communicate, and assist in the procedure in real time as well as provide protocols for specific procedures; wherein the ultrasound machine communicates to a receiver operational information such as but not limited to audio, visual, performance, and so forth; wherein the information may be received in real time to another party not located at the site of the procedure who may assist with the procedure, training, protocols, and so forth; and wherein the receiver may then transmit back to the ultrasound machine specific directions as well as communicate with the ultrasound operator.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an ultrasound machine in a first geographic location adapted to transmit an ultrasonic image in real time, as it is acquired during a veterinary procedure with the ultrasound machine by an operator of the ultrasound machine;   a first communication device in the first geographic location;   a computer in a second geographic location in communication with the ultrasound machine and adapted to receive and display said ultrasonic image in the second geographic location in real time and adapted to remotely control an operation of the ultrasound machine in real time for the veterinary procedure based on an input of a sonographer at the second geographic location; and   a second communication device in the second geographic location for real time communication with said first communication device, wherein the real time communication includes audio feedback of the sonographer in the second geographic location for the veterinary procedure for the operator in the first geographic location.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input of the sonographer is based on the displayed ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio feedback is based on the displayed ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio feedback communication is in response to a real time communication from the first communication device indicative of an inquiry of the operator of the ultrasound machine for the veterinary procedure. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the audio feedback communication is based on the inquiry. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a video camera in the first geographic location adapted to transmit a video of an acquisition of the ultrasound image, wherein the computer is further adapted to receive and display the video in the second geographic location in real time.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the input of the sonographer is based on the video. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the audio feedback is based on to the video. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, in real time and by a computing system in a first geographic location, an ultrasound image produced with an ultrasound machine in a second geographic location during a veterinary procedure by an operator of the ultrasound machine;   displaying, in real time and by the computer, the ultrasound image in the first geographic location;   transmitting, in real time and by the computer, a control signal to the ultrasound machine that controls an operation of the ultrasound machine, wherein the control signal is based on an input of a sonographer at the first geographic location; and   transmitting, in real time and by a first communication device in the first geographic location, a communication to a second communication device in the second geographic location, wherein the communication includes audio feedback of the sonographer in the first location for the veterinary procedure for the operator in the second geographic location.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the input of the sonographer is based on the displayed ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the audio feedback of the sonographer is based on the displayed ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the audio feedback of the sonographer is in response to a real time communication from the second communication device to the first communication device indicative of an inquiry of the operator of the ultrasound machine for the veterinary procedure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the audio feedback communication is based on the inquiry. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, in real time and by the computer, a video of an acquisition of the ultrasound image by a video camera in the second geographic location; and   displaying, in real time and by the computer, the video in the first geographic location.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein input of the sonographer is based on the video. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the audio feedback of the sonographer is based on the video. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, in real time and by a computing system in a first geographic location, an ultrasound image produced with an ultrasound machine in a second geographic location during a veterinary procedure by an operator of the ultrasound machine;   receiving, in real time and by the computer, a video of an acquisition of the ultrasound image by a video camera in the second geographic location;   displaying, in real time and by the computer, the ultrasound image and the video in the first geographic location; and   transmitting, in real time and by a first communication device in the first geographic location, a communication to a second communication device in the second geographic location, wherein the communication includes audio feedback of a sonographer in the first location for the veterinary procedure for the operator in the second geographic location.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the audio feedback of the sonographer is based one or more of the ultrasound images and the video. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the audio feedback of the sonographer is in response to a real time communication from the second communication device to the first communication device indicative of an inquiry of the operator of the ultrasound machine for the veterinary procedure. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the audio feedback communication is based on the inquiry. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 transmitting, in real time and by the computer, a control signal to the ultrasound machine that controls an operation of the ultrasound machine, wherein the control signal is based on an input of a sonographer at the first geographic location.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein input of the sonographer is based on one or more of the ultrasound images and the video.