MAINTANANCE PREDICTION FOR A MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS

Abstract

A monitoring device for maintenance prediction for a medical imaging apparatus and a related method are described. First and second data sets of parameters of the medical imaging apparatus are measured over respective first and second periods by a data processing unit, one data set for each period. The second data set comprises data samples selected based on a trigger point. Operation modes of the medical imaging apparatus are identified based on the first set and the selected data samples. It is analysed whether there are corresponding operation modes, one operation mode for each data set. In a validation step it is validated whether the measured parameters in the first set and the selected data samples differ. Based on the outcome of the validation step, a feedback signal is issued, including maintenance prediction information.

Claims

1. A method of maintenance prediction for a medical imaging apparatus, the method comprising: measuring a first data set of at least one parameter relating to an operation of the medical imaging apparatus by at least one sensor, wherein the measuring of the first data set is performed over a predetermined first period of measurement time; analyzing the first data set to determine a plurality of operation modes, in which the medical imaging apparatus was during the measurement time, based on the measured parameter; measuring at least a second data set of the at least one parameter by the at least one sensor, wherein the measuring of the second data set is performed over a predetermined second period of measurement time; analyzing the second data set to determine at least one operation mode, in which the medical imaging apparatus was during the second measurement time; comparing the operation mode determined from the second data set with the plurality of operation modes of the first data set to identify the operation mode which corresponds to the operation mode determined from the second data set; validating whether values of the measured parameter of the first data set and the second data set differ from each other; generating a feedback signal based on a result of the validation wherein the feedback signal includes a maintenance prediction information for the medical imaging apparatus; and selecting data samples, at one or more predefined trigger points, from the second data set, wherein the analyzing the second data set comprises an analysis of only the selected data samples, wherein the comparing comprises comparing the data samples selected from the second data set with the plurality of operation modes of the first data set thereby identifying the operation mode which corresponds to the data samples determined from the second data set, and wherein the validating comprises validating whether values of the measured parameter of the compared data samples of the second data set and the operation modes of the first data set differ from each other.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measured parameter is at least one of: a vibration of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a vibration of the medical imaging apparatus, an acceleration of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, an acceleration of the medical imaging apparatus, a surrounding temperature of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a surrounding temperature of the medical imaging apparatus, a surrounding humidity of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a surrounding humidity of the medical imaging apparatus, a temperature of the medical imaging apparatus, a temperature of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a mechanical shock of the medical imaging apparatus, a mechanical shock of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a vacuum parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, an emitter parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, a power supply parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, an over/under voltage parameter of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, an over/under voltage parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, an over/under current parameter of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, an over/under current parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, a X-ray radiation parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, a rotation speed of a component of the medical imaging of the apparatus relative to the medical imaging apparatus, a rotation speed of the medical imaging apparatus, an electron beam parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, and a magnetic field parameter of the medical imaging apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined first period of measurement time corresponds to an active operating life of the medical imaging apparatus, and wherein the active operating life of the medical imaging apparatus is one week of active operation life of the medical imaging apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more trigger points is at least one of: a predefined rotation speed of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a predefined rotation speed of the medical imaging apparatus, a start-up of the medical imaging apparatus, a defined angle position of the medical imaging apparatus with respect to a gantry, a determined electrode beam focus of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a load exerted on a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a load exerted on the medical imaging apparatus, a predefined temperature of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, a predefined temperature of the medical imaging apparatus, a defined temperature range of the medical imaging apparatus, a predefined operation time of a component of the medical imaging apparatus, and a predefined operation time of the medical imaging apparatus.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying changes of the parameter of the second data set, and if changes are identified providing the feedback signal with an estimation of a maintenance based on the changes of the parameter of the second data set.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the data sets of the respective operation modes differ from each other, determining the parameter of difference from the data set and linking the parameter of difference to a respective component of the medical imaging device for maintenance prediction of the respective component, wherein the linking comprises linking the parameter to the position of the component in the medical imaging apparatus and/or geometrical position of the medical imaging apparatus with respect to a medical imaging system for operating the medical imaging device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing the second data set comprises analyzing the second data set to determine a plurality of operation modes of the medical imaging apparatus, wherein the plurality of operation modes of the second data set are compared with the plurality of operation modes of the first data set to identify the operation modes which corresponds to the operation modes determined from the second data set.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises applying a machine learning algorithm to the first data set, wherein the machine learning algorithm determines the plurality of operation modes.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: measuring a first data set of a plurality of parameters of the medical imaging apparatus by a plurality of sensors; measuring a second data set of a plurality of parameters of the medical imaging apparatus by a plurality of sensors, wherein for components of the medical imaging apparatus a respective sensor is provided; measuring a plurality of data sets of at least one parameter or of a plurality of parameters, wherein for each data set at least one operation mode of the medical imaging apparatus is determined, measuring at least one digital signal by at least one sensor to determine a status of the data processing.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined second period of measurement time depends on the selected trigger point and the parameter to be measured, wherein the selected trigger point is a start point of the predetermined second period of measurement time, wherein a selected range of the selected trigger point at least one of: a length of the predetermined second period of measurement time, and a drift over the predetermined second period of measurement time.

11. A monitoring device for maintenance prediction for a medical imaging apparatus, the device comprising: at least one sensor configured for measuring a first data set of at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus over a predetermined first period of measurement time and measuring a second data set of the at least one parameter by the at least one sensor over a predetermined second period of measurement time; and a processor configured to: analyze the first data set of the at least one parameter to determine a plurality of operation modes of the medical imaging apparatus based on the measured parameter; analyze the second data set to determine at least one operation mode in the second data set; compare the one operation mode determined from the second data set with the plurality of operation modes of the first data set for identifying the operation mode which corresponds to the operation mode determined from the second data set; validate whether values of the measured parameter of the first and second data set differ from each other; provide a feedback signal based on a result of the validation, wherein the feedback signal includes a maintenance prediction information; select data samples, at one or more predefined trigger points, from the second data set; compare the data samples selected from the second data set with the plurality of operation modes of the first data set to identify the operation mode which corresponds to the data samples determined from the second data set, and validate whether values of the measured parameter of the compared data samples of the second data set and the operation modes of the first data set differ from each other.

12. The monitoring device according to claim 11, wherein for a component of the medical imaging apparatus at least one sensor is provided for measuring a parameter of the component of the medical imaging apparatus, and wherein the component of the medical imaging apparatus to which the sensor is attached is at least one of: a motor, an emitter, a vacuum, a housing, a cooling medium, a cathode, an anode, a rotor, a stator.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The aspects defined above and further aspects of the present invention are apparent from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafter and are explained with reference to the examples of embodiment. The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to examples of embodiment but to which the invention is not limited.

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a method of maintenance prediction for a medical imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates a signal signature of a data set according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventing.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a further signal signature of a data set according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventing

[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a monitoring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of prediction for a medical imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method comprising the steps of measuring S1 a first data 201 set of at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus by at least one sensor, wherein the measuring of the first data set is performed over a predetermined first period of measurement time. The method further comprises the step of analyzing S2, by a data processing unit, the first data 201 set thereby determining a plurality of operation modes, in which the medical imaging apparatus was during the measurement time, based on the measured parameter. Further comprising the step of measuring S3 at least a second data set 202 of the at least one parameter by the at least one sensor, wherein the measuring of the second data set is performed over a predetermined second period of measurement time. Furthermore, the method comprises the step of analyzing S4, by the data processing unit, the second data set 202 thereby determining at least one operation modus, in which the medical imaging apparatus was during the second measurement time, and comparing the operation modus S5 determined from the second data set with the plurality of operation modes of the first data set by the data processing unit thereby identifying from the plurality of operation modes of the first data set the operation modus which corresponds to the operation modus determined from the second data set by the data processing unit. After the step S5 a validating step S6 is performed, by the data processing unit, validating whether values of the measured parameter of the first and second data set differ from each other, and generating S7 a feedback signal 111 based on the result of the validation by the data processing unit. The feedback signal 111 may be embodied as a maintenance prediction information for a user of the medical imaging apparatus and may be outputted afterwards by an indication unit to the user. Moreover, the method may comprise a measuring step S8 of a further (third or more) data set which measurement may be equal to the measurement of step S3. After measuring the further data set in step S8 the method may perform step S9 which comprises analyzing the further data set, wherein this step may be carried out equivalent to step S4. In step S10 the analyzed further data set may be compared with the first data set and/or it may be compared with second data set. The method steps S8 to S10 may be repeated for a non-limiting amount of data sets, wherein the data set analyzed and compared in step S10 may be compared with the first data set and/or any other previously analyzed data set. After the comparison of a data set they will be processed to a validation step S6 and a generation step S7 of the method.

[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates a signal signature of a data set of a medical imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a first measured data set 201 is illustrated measured over a first period of measurement time t. The illustration in FIG. 2 is only schematically and should not be referred to any specific measured parameter, this illustration should only indicate a possible signal signature of a measured data set. The first data set 201 may be measured for at least five different operation modes I to V. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in each operation mode the signature, the curve over the time, differs from each other. Preferably, the first data set 201 comprises all possible operation modes of the medical imaging apparatus, such that when compared with other measured data sets, the respective equal or similar operation modes in other data set may be determined.

[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates a further signal signature of a further data set of a medical imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a first measured data set 202 is illustrated and is measured over a second period of measurement time t. As can be seen in comparison with FIG. 2, the second period of measurement time is shorter that the first period of measurement time. When performing the step of comparing both data sets, the result may indicate that the second data set 202 comprises two operations modes I and II, which are similar to operation modes II and III of the first data set illustrated in FIG. 2. Points d and e in FIG. 3 and a to c in FIG. 2 respectively may indicate trigger points at which data samples may be selected. For instance, trigger point b may indicate a change of a positive signal to a negative signal (value), trigger point c may indicate a start of a signal form a zero curve to an increasing signal curve, wherein trigger point e may indicate a decrease of a signal curve (value). The respective trigger points for the data samples of the data set may be chosen by the user depending on the component and/or the parameter, which should be monitored, i.e. for which a maintenance prediction should be carried out.

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates a monitoring device 100 for maintenance prediction for a medical imaging apparatus 110 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The monitoring device 100 comprises at least one sensor 101 configured for measuring a first data set of at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus 110 over a predetermined first period of measurement time and measuring a second data set of the at least one parameter by the at least one sensor over a predetermined second period of measurement time. Further, it comprises a data processing unit 102 configured for analysing the first data set of the at least one parameter, thereby determining a plurality of operation modes of the medical imaging apparatus 110 based on the measured parameter, and configured for analysing the second data set thereby determining at least one operation modus in the second data set. Further, the data processing unit 102 may be configured for comparing the one operation modus determined from the second data set with the plurality of operation modes of the first data set for identifying from the plurality of operation modes of the first data set the operation modus, which corresponds to the operation modus, determined from the second data set. Further, it may be configured for validating whether values of the measured parameter of the first and second data set differ from each other, and for providing a feedback signal based on the result of the validation, wherein the feedback signal is embodied as a maintenance prediction information. The data processing unit 102 is configured for controlling the at least one sensor 101. As can be seen in FIG. 4 the illustrated monitoring device comprises at least two sensors 101a and 101b for measuring a parameter of the medical imaging apparatus 110. For example, the sensors 101a, 101b may be used for measuring the same and/or different parameters of the medical imaging apparatus 110. The medical imaging apparatus 110 is illustrated as a dotted line because the monitoring device 100 may be integrated in the medical imaging apparatus 110 or not. The data processing unit may be configured for controlling the sensors 101a, 101b, an indicating unit 105 and a storage unit 103. Further, the data processing unit 102 may be configured for storing the data received from the at least one sensor 101 and/or is configured for processing the stored data for at least one of the different data sets or preferably for all data sets of the medical imaging apparatus 110. The monitoring device 100 may comprise the storage unit 103 configured for storing the data received from the sensor 101, wherein the storage unit 103 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as a part of the monitoring device. Contrary, the storage unit 103 may be part of the data processing unit 102 or may be an extra external part, or may be cloud storage via an interface connection. The indicating unit 105 may be configured for indicating an optical and/or acoustical signal as a feedback signal based on the result of the validation of the data sets, wherein the signal is indicated to a user operating the monitoring device and/or the medical imaging apparatus. The indicating unit 105 may also be a signal to system control unit and the medical imaging apparatus (system) may indicate the signal and/or may be a remote signal via wired, and/or may be a wireless interface to external signal indication unit. Additionally, the data processing unit 102 may receive from an external trigger unit 104 respective signals, which may indicate the start or the end of an operation mode. The monitoring device 100 in FIG. 4 comprises a self-sustainable power supply 106 and may additionally be connected to the power supply 107 of the medical imaging apparatus, wherein the power supplies 106, 107 may interchangeable with each other.

[0059] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0060] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0061] 100 monitoring device [0062] 101a,b sensor [0063] 102 data processing unit [0064] 103 storage unit [0065] 104 trigger unit [0066] 105 indicating unit [0067] 106 self-sustainable power supply [0068] 107 power supply [0069] 110 medical imaging apparatus [0070] 111 feedback signal [0071] 201 first data set [0072] 202 second data set [0073] I-V operation modus [0074] t time [0075] a-e trigger points