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  Systems, methods and apparatus for image quality analysisUSPTO Application #: 20060056670Title: Systems, methods and apparatus for image quality analysis Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an image acquisition station transmits images that have been identified as having inadequate diagnostic quality to a computer system of an image quality consultant. The image quality consultant may develop recommendations on how to improve the quality, and the recommendations are communicated to appropriate personnel. (end of abstract) Agent: James D Ivey - Oakland, CA, US Inventor: Mohamed Ali Hamadeh USPTO Applicaton #: 20060056670 - Class: 382128000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Image Analysis, Applications, Biomedical Applications The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060056670. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to image quality review, and more particularly to a system for supporting medical image quality consultation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Image quality (IQ) is an important aspect of medical images. Without appropriate and satisfactory IQ, a radiologist cannot perform a reliable diagnosis using medical images. Unfortunately, some medical images may lack adequate diagnostic IQ. Causes of inadequate IQ include less than optimal acquisition parameters, patient positioning and/or image processing parameters. When such causes interfere with IQ, the radiologist may retake the images or try to reprocess the medical image using different image processing parameters until satisfactory IQ is attained. [0003] Radiologists often consult with medical imaging engineers or IQ consultants in the analysis of medical IQ. In one such scenario of IQ consultation, a radiologist at a medical imaging facility contacts the manufacturer of the medical imaging device about inadequate IQ of one or more medical images generated by the medical imaging device. In response, the manufacturer dispatches a field engineer to the site of the medical imaging facility. The field engineer copies the medical images to a compact disk read only memory (CDROM) and sends or brings the CDROM to an IQ expert at another location, usually at a location of the manufacturer. The IQ expert examines the images on the CDROM, and communicates suggestions on changes in the acquisition parameters, patient positioning or image processing parameters. [0004] In another consultation scenario, the radiologist at the medical imaging facility contacts the manufacturer of the medical imaging device about inadequate IQ of one or more medical images generated by the medical imaging device. In response, the manufacturer dispatches the field engineer to the site of the medical imaging facility. The field engineer contacts the manufacturer and possibly a customer support engineer at the manufacturer. In response the IQ expert and/or the customer support engineer at the manufacturer remotely accesses the images stored in an image acquisition workstation of the medical imaging device through a computer communicating over communication lines to the medical facility. The remote access is commonly referred to as insite connectivity. Thereafter, the IQ expert examines the images remotely, and communicates suggestions on changes in the acquisition parameters, patient positioning and/or image processing parameters to the medical facility. [0005] Unfortunately, the above process of medical IQ consultation is costly and slow. The above process requires on-site visits by field engineers that cost at least hundreds of dollars in travel and personnel cost to the manufacturer, and practically speaking, at least a few hours will lapse before the medical facility will receive suggestions on changes in the acquisition parameters, patient positioning and/or image processing parameters. Often, this time delay requires a return trip by the patient to the medical facility, which further delays to acquisition of medical images with diagnostic quality. [0006] For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a system of IQ consultation that reduces the cost of the consultation to the manufacturer of the medical imaging device. There is also a need for a system of IQ consultation that reduces the amount of time required to communicate suggestions on changes in the acquisition parameters, patient positioning and/or image processing parameters, thus increasing the opportunity to finalize or complete the imaging before the patient leaves the medical facility, which in turn decreases the amount of time to obtain a image of medical diagnostic quality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0007] The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein, which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. [0008] Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an image acquisition station transmits images that have been identified as having inadequate diagnostic quality to a computer system of an image quality consultant. The image quality consultant may develop recommendations on how to improve the quality, and the recommendations are communicated to appropriate personnel. [0009] In one aspect, a system to support image quality consultation includes an imaging device that is operable to generate an electronic image of a subject, a first image-review system that is operable to receive the electronic image from the imaging device, an anonymizer of the electronic image that is operable to receive the electronic image from the first image-review system, and operable to provide access to the anonymized electronic image, and a second image-review system that is operable to receive the anonymized electronic image from the imaging device and present the anonymized electronic image. [0010] In another aspect, the anonymized electronic image does not have the following patient information, name, birthdate, social security number, and patient number. [0011] In yet another aspect, an online customer support system includes a receiver of an anonymized electronic image, and a transmitter of at least one recommendation on how to improve the quality of the anonymized electronic image. [0012] In still another aspect, a human, such as a radiologist, selects an image from a graphical user interface of an image acquisition station, the image having been determined by the human as having non-diagnostic image quality, and the human selects a graphical user interface control indicating an instruction to transmit the image to an image quality consultant. [0013] In a further aspect, a human image quality consultant receives notice of receipt by a image-review system of an anonymized electronic image for image quality consultation, the consultant analyzes the anonymized image for recommendations on how to improve the quality of the anonymized electronic image, and communicates the recommendations to an image technician. [0014] Systems, clients, servers, methods, and computer-readable media of varying scope are described herein. In addition to the aspects and advantages described in this summary, further aspects and advantages will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by reading the detailed description that follows. [0015] By providing electronic access to diagnostic images that have non-diagnostic image qualithy by the image quality consultant expert in the automated manner of system with fewer intervening actions than conventional systems, such as dispatching a field engineer, valuable advice is provided to the medical image technician on how to improve the quality of those diagnostic images in more timely manner. The image quality consultant expert, upon reviewing the anonymized images can assess the situation and provide a set of recommendations/solutions to the medical image technician in a more timely manner. Hence, the medical facility who can attain diagnostic image quality of medical images by following the recommendations in a more timely manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system-level overview of an embodiment; [0017] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method performed by an acquisition workstation according to an embodiment; [0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method to support image quality consultation by a manufacturer of a medical imaging device; [0019] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the hardware and operating environment in which different embodiments can be practiced; [0020] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a particular implementation of an acquisition workstation; and Continue reading... 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