MUTLIPHASE LIFETIME MONITORING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention concerns a monitoring device for monitoring a medical imaging apparatus, a medical imaging apparatus comprising a monitoring device and a method for evaluating a functionality of a medical imaging apparatus. The monitoring device comprises a sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus. Further, it comprises a data processing unit for receiving data from the sensor and for analyzing the received data thereby evaluating based on the analyzed data, during at least one life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus, whether a functionality of the medical imaging apparatus is maintained. The sensor is configured for measuring the parameter of the medical imaging apparatus during different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus. The data processing unit is configured for determining the present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus and is configured for controlling the at least one sensor based on the determined present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for monitoring a medical imaging apparatus, the monitoring device comprising: at least one sensor configured for measuring at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus; a processor configured for receiving data from the at least one sensor and for analyzing the received data to evaluate, during at least one life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus, whether a functionality of the medical imaging apparatus is maintained; wherein the at least one sensor is configured for measuring the parameter of the medical imaging apparatus during different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus; wherein the processor is configured for determining the present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus, and is configured for controlling the at least one sensor based on the determined present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus.

2. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluating of the functionality of the medical imaging apparatus comprises evaluating whether an existing functionality of the medical imaging apparatus is maintained, and confirming whether the functionality can be provided.

3. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus are at least one of: a phase of mounting the medical imaging apparatus, a phase before transporting the medical imaging apparatus, a phase of transporting and storing the medical imaging apparatus, a phase of operating the medical imaging apparatus, and a phase of maintenance of the medical imaging apparatus, wherein for some or each phase, the processor is configured for controlling the at least one sensor based on the parameter values measured in the respective life cycle phase.

4. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one 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, and, if in the phase of operating or maintenance 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 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.

5. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus are determined depending on the measured parameter of the at least one sensor, determined autonomously by the monitoring device, determined based on an external trigger, wherein the external trigger comprises at least one of a manual activation, and an external sensor signal received by the processor.

6. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for controlling a signal condition of the sensor and/or an analysis of the measured parameter based on the determined life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus.

7. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured for measuring a plurality of parameters of the medical imaging apparatus, wherein the at least one of the plurality of parameters 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, an 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.

8. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is configured for evaluating a plurality of functionalities of the medical imaging apparatus during the different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus.

9. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a self-sustainable power supply, and/or wherein the monitoring device is configured for being connected to a power supply of the medical imaging apparatus.

10. The monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured for indicating an optical and/or acoustical signal when the measured parameter of the medical imaging apparatus differ from a predetermined signal signature, wherein the predetermined signal signature depends on the phase of the life cycle.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. A method for evaluating functionality of a medical imaging apparatus, the method comprising: using measured data of at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus by at least one sensor of a monitoring device; using received data from the at least one sensor by a processor of the monitoring device; analyzing the received data by the processor of the monitoring device to evaluate, during at least one life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus, whether a functionality of the medical imaging apparatus is maintained; using the measured parameter of the medical imaging apparatus by the sensor during different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus; determining the present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus by the processor; controlling or generating control signals for the at least one sensor, by the processor, based on the determined present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: evaluating whether an existing functionality of the medical imaging apparatus is maintained, and confirming whether the medical imaging apparatus is capable of providing the functionality; controlling, by the processor, a data acquisition rate of the sensor and/or an analysis of the measured parameter based on the determined life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus; measuring a plurality of parameters of the medical imaging apparatus by the at least one sensor; measuring at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus by a plurality of sensors; evaluating a plurality of functionalities of the medical imaging apparatus during the different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus, wherein the different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus are at least one of: a phase of mounting the medical imaging apparatus, a phase before transporting the medical imaging apparatus, a phase of transporting and storing the medical imaging apparatus, a phase of operating the medical imaging apparatus, and a phase of maintenance of the medical imaging apparatus, and the method further comprises controlling for each phases the at least one sensor based on the parameter to be measured in the respective life cycle phase by the processor of the monitoring device.

15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] 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.

[0060] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a monitoring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0061] FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a method for determining a functionality of a medical imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0062] FIG. 1 illustrates a monitoring device 100 for monitoring a medical imaging apparatus 110 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] The monitoring device 100 comprises at least one sensor 101 configured for measuring (values of) at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus 110. Further, it comprises a data processing unit 102 configured for receiving data from the at least one sensor 101 and for analyzing the received data thereby evaluating based on the analyzed data, during at least one life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus 110, whether a functionality of the medical imaging apparatus 110 is maintained.

[0064] The sensor 101 is configured for measuring the parameter of the medical imaging apparatus 110 during different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus 110. The data processing unit 102 is configured for determining the present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus 110 and is configured for controlling the at least one sensor 101 based on the determined present life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus 110.

[0065] As can be seen in FIG. 1 the illustrated monitoring apparatus 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 105. 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 life cycle phases, or preferably for all life cycle phases 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. 1 as a part of the monitoring device. Alternatively, the storage unit 103 may be part of the data processing unit 102, or may be an external part, or may be a cloud storage accessible via an interface connection.

[0066] The indicating unit 105 may be configured for indicating an optical and/or acoustical signal when the measured values of the parameter of the medical imaging apparatus 110 differ from a predetermined signal signature, 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 an 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 a life cycle phase. The monitoring device 100 in FIG. 1 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.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method for evaluating functionality of a medical imaging apparatus 110 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] The method comprises the step S1 of measuring data including values of at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus 110 by at least one sensor 101 of a monitoring device 100.

[0069] The method further comprises step S2 of receiving data from the at least one sensor 101 by a data processing unit 102 of the monitoring device 100.

[0070] In step S3 the received data is analyzed by the data processing unit 102 of the monitoring device 100. The method comprises step S4 of evaluating, based on the analyzed data, during at least one phase of life cycle LC of the medical imaging apparatus 110, whether a functionality of the medical imaging apparatus 110 is maintained.

[0071] After the evaluation step S4, an output 220 may be generated indicating whether the functionality is maintained or not (shown in FIG. 2 by Y yes, functionality is maintained, and N no, functionality may not be maintained). The output 220 may also be any kind of acoustical or optical indicator capable of indicating the result of the evaluation, for instance a display.

[0072] Further, the measuring step S1 of the parameter of the medical imaging apparatus 110 by the sensor 101 may be conducted during different phases of the life cycle LC of the medical imaging apparatus 110.

[0073] After step S4 the method further comprises step S5 of determining the present phase of life cycle LC of the medical imaging apparatus by the data processing unit 102.

[0074] The step S5 may comprise generating an output 221 indicating the respective determined life cycle LC phase. Afterwards, the method comprises step S6, controlling the at least one sensor 101, by the data processing unit 102, based on the determined present life cycle LC phase of the medical imaging apparatus 110.

[0075] Additionally, the method may comprise step S7 of evaluating whether an existing functionality of the medical imaging apparatus 110 is maintained and, if applicable, confirming whether medical imaging apparatus 110 is continuously (or for a certain time period) capable of providing the functionality, wherein an output 222 may be generated depending on the evaluation result of step S7.

[0076] The method steps described hereinabove may be carried out during at least one life cycle LC phase, and they may be carried out for different phase of life cycles LC.

[0077] The generated outputs 220-222 may be caused to be displayed for a user by the indicating unit via a graphics display on any kind of computer display device. In an optional further step, based on the determined life cycle phase and/or measured parameter value(s), a lifetime and/or (need for) maintenance prediction is computed for the imaging apparatus. This can be done by the data processing unit 102, or the prediction task may be outsourced to another data processing unit.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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

[0080] 100 monitoring device [0081] 101a, b sensor [0082] 102 data processing unit [0083] 103 storage unit [0084] 104 trigger unit [0085] 105 indicating unit [0086] 106 self-sustainable power supply [0087] 107 power supply [0088] 110 medical imaging apparatus [0089] 220-222 output