Medical ultrasonic diagnostic system with upgradeable transducer probes and other features
US5603323A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/904
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A remotely upgradeable medical diagnostic ultrasound system is described which is upgradeable with a new transducer probe by means of air shipment of the upgrade hardware and remote transmission of upgrade data which controls operation of the probe. The ultrasound system includes a data communicator such as a network link or modem for receiving upgrade data from a remote location. A process for upgrading the system is provided whereby a communications link is established over a common carrier communications medium between the ultrasound system and a remote terminal, which transmits upgrade program data to the ultrasound system. The program data portion of an upgrade is provided via the communications link while the hardware portion of the upgrade is shipped by air freight to the user. In this way, an ultrasound upgrade can be provided to a user from a remote location in a matter of hours.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.