1. An air delivery system for a patient support including an inflatable support zone, the air delivery system comprising: an air supply,
a valve coupled to the air supply,
a pressure sensor operable to produce pressure signals indicative of air pressure with the support zone and an air system controller programmed to:
determine a target pressure for the support zone,
receive the pressure signals,
determine whether pressure in the support zone deviates from the target pressure based on the pressure signals,
if the fluid pressure is detected outside an acceptable range, determine a time period to elapse after the fluid pressure is detected outside the acceptable range and before adjusting pressure in the support zone, and
when the determined time period elapses and the fluid pressure has not returned to the acceptable range initiate a pressure adjustment in the support zone,
wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by defining a first range of pressures bounded by a first lower pressure limit and a first upper pressure limit and defining a second range of pressures bounded by (i) the first lower pressure limit and a second lower pressure limit that is lower than the first lower pressure limit or (ii) the first upper limit and a second upper pressure limit that is higher than the first upper limit, and comparing the pressure in the support zone to the first and second ranges of pressures.
2. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the target pressure includes an acceptable tolerance.
3. The air delivery system of claim 2, wherein the target pressure is determined based at least in part on a weight of a patient.
4. The air delivery system of claim 2, further comprising an angle sensor operable to produce an angle signal indicative of a value of an angle of the support zone relative to a longitudinal axis of the support zone, wherein the target pressure is determined based at least in part on the angle signal.
5. The air delivery system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further programmed to determine, based on at least one of the pressure signals and the angle signal, whether a person being at least partially supported by the support zone has changed positions.
6. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to monitor the fluid pressure within at least one fluid containing bladder configured to support at least a portion of the weight of a patient.
7. The air delivery system of claim 6, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid pressure within the at least one bladder by defining an acceptable range of fluid pressures; and adjusting the fluid pressure within the at least one bladder only when a fluid pressure value has been detected outside the acceptable range of fluid pressures and the time period following the detection of the fluid pressure value has elapsed without the fluid pressure within the at least one bladder returning to the acceptable range of fluid pressure values.
8. The air delivery system of claim 7, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid pressure within the at least one bladder by defining the time period to have a length that is greater than zero and variable up to a maximum value, and determining a difference between the fluid pressure value and the acceptable range of pressure values.
9. The air delivery system of claim 7, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid pressure within the at least one bladder by dynamically determining the length of the time period based on the difference between the fluid pressure value and the acceptable range of pressure values, and determining the length of the time period differently based on the amount of the difference between the fluid pressure value and the acceptable range of pressure values.
10. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to set the time period to a first value based on the second range of pressures and only adjust the pressure in the support zone if the pressure falls outside of the first range of pressures for the time period and the pressure falls in the second range of pressures for the time period.
11. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by defining a third range of pressures bounded by a third lower pressure limit that is lower than the second lower pressure limit and a third upper pressure limit that is higher than the second upper pressure limit, and comparing the pressure in the support zone to the first, second, and third ranges of pressures.
12. The air delivery system of claim 11, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by defining the time period for the third range of pressures to be shorter than the time period for the second range of pressures.
13. The air delivery system of claim 11, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by defining the time period for the second range of pressures to vary as a function of the stability of the pressure signals and defining the time period for the third range of pressures as a fixed value.
14. The air delivery system of claim 13, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by adjusting the pressure in the support zone only if the pressure maintains a stable value in the second range of pressures for the time period associated with the second range of pressures or the time period associated with the second range of pressures elapses without the pressure returning to the first range of pressures.
15. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by defining a plurality of ranges of pressures each bounded by a lower pressure limit and an upper pressure limit, defining a different time period for each of the plurality of ranges, and comparing the pressure in the support zone to the each of the plurality of ranges of pressures using the time period for the respective range.
16. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by changing the lower and upper pressure limits for each of the plurality of ranges over time in response to changes in one or more of: a weight of a patient positioned on the support zone, an angular position of the patient support, and a location of the patient on the patient support.
17. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by, after adjusting the fluid pressure, measuring the pressure, and in response to determining that the measured pressure deviates from an acceptable range of pressures for a second time period, initiating an adjustment of the pressure by a second amount.
18. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by defining the target pressure by a lower boundary value that is less than the target pressure and an upper boundary value that is greater than the target pressure, determining if the pressure needs to be increased or decreased to return the pressure to the target value, adjusting the pressure to the lower boundary value if the pressure needs to be decreased, and adjusting the pressure to the upper boundary value if the pressure needs to be increased.
19. The air delivery system of claim 1, wherein the air system controller is programmed to regulate the fluid within the support zone by setting the target pressure to a value that is not equidistant from the first upper and lower pressure limits.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sensor using in a medical imaging examination comprising:
a sensor body having an upper surface and a flat lower surface, said flat lower surface being divided into more than one portioned segment;
a plurality of sensors and test patterns embedded into said flat surface, within each said portioned segment;
wherein said sensors and test patterns in each said portioned segment, take predetermined quality assurance metrics, said quality assurance metrics including at least one of motion, contrast resolution, spatial resolution, radiation does, noise, and anatomic positioning, to optimize image acquisition during the medical imaging examination.
2. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a hole disposed within at least one said portioned segment.
3. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:
a wireless module which forwards said quality assurance metrics to an external database.
4. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:
a memory for saving data obtained on said quality assurance metrics.
5. A method of providing a quality assurance program for a medical imaging examination, comprising:
measuring quality assurance metrics, including at least one of motion, contrast resolution, spatial resolution, radiation does, noise, and anatomic positioning, using a quality assurance sensor, during the medical imaging examination;
performing an analysis of data from said quality assurance metrics, and comparing said data with norms for said quality assurance metrics data; and
providing quality assurance recommendations in real-time for adjustment of said quality assurance metrics during the medical imaging examination.
6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
providing passfail recommendations based upon predetermined image quality standards for said quality assurance metrics data.
7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
analyzing said quality assurance metrics data and providing recommendations for improvements in image quality.
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:
providing recommendations to optimize post-acquisition image processing.
9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
cross-referencing said quality assurance metrics data with institutional quality assurance databases to establish best practice guidelines.
10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:
receiving input from a radiologist or clinician regarding said quality assurance metrics data and said image quality.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
interpreting said input and said quality assurance metrics data; and
generating a quality assurance score based on said input and said quality assurance metrics data for said imaging quality of the medical imaging examination.
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
incorporating individual quality assurance scores into a comprehensive quality assurance score which selectively weights individual quality assurance metrics data to overall image quality.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
performing additional analysis of said quality assurance metrics data when said quality assurance score is not acceptable.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:
reviewing and analyzing actions taken by a technologist during the medical imaging examination; and
recommending further training for said technologist when said actions do not meet internal standards.
15. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:
determining quality control deficiencies in the medical imaging examination; and
correcting said deficiencies.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said deficiencies require recalibration of said quality assurance sensor.
17. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
generating an alert when said analysis and said comparison determines there is a discrepancy in said quality assurance metrics data; and
obtaining images from at least one quality assurance database to assist in classification of said discrepancy.
18. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
generating an alert when said quality assurance metrics analysis shows a quality assurance deficiency; and
recommending correcting measures to correct said deficiency, including retaking of the medical imaging examination after said corrective measures are taken.
19. The method according to claim 5, wherein default image acquisition parameters are provided prior to the medical imaging examination, with recommended exposure parameters and protocols based upon stored quality assurance metrics data.
20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
forwarding said quality assurance metrics data and said quality assurance scores to third party reviewers including peer groups, and professional institutional bodies.
21. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
cross-referencing said quality assurance metrics data and said quality assurance scores with stored clinical data to determine a relationship between said quality assurance metrics data and quality assurance scores and clinical outcomes.
22. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:
generating an alert whenever suboptimal quality assurance scores are identified, for review of said scores by involved third parties.
23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:
creating educational or training programs to correct any deficiencies in quality assurance, andor requiring mentoring or quality assurance certification programs to correct same.
24. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:
performing trending analysis of said actions, said quality assurance metrics data and said quality assurance scores.
25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:
performing trending analysis of said relationship between said quality assurance metrics data and quality assurance scores, and clinical outcomes.