WIRELESS IMAGING SYSTEM
A wireless imaging system comprising: a scanner for creating an image of an interior portion of an object; a guidance system for using an image of an interior portion of an object to provide guidance to an individual with respect to the object; the scanner comprising an on-board wireless communication unit, and the guidance system comprising an on-board communication unit, the on-board wireless communication unit of the scanner and the on-board communication unit of the guidance system being configured to wirelessly transfer images created by the scanner directly to the guidance system.
1 . A wireless imaging system comprising:
a scanner for creating an image of an interior portion of an object;
a guidance system for using an image of an interior portion of an object to provide guidance to an individual with respect to the object;
the scanner comprising an on-board wireless communication unit, and the guidance system comprising an on-board communication unit, the on-board wireless communication unit of the scanner and the on-board communication unit of the guidance system being configured to wirelessly transfer images created by the scanner directly to the guidance system.
2 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the object comprises organic tissue.
3 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the object comprises at least one from the group consisting of piece of luggage, a handbag, a backpack, a package, and a shipping container.
4 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the scanner comprises at least one from the group consisting of a CT machine, an MRI machine, a PET machine, a SPECT machine, and an ultrasound machine.
5 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the scanner is mobile.
6 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 5 wherein the scanner moves relative to the object during scanning.
7 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the scanner is a fixed-position scanner.
8 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the guidance system comprises at least one from the group consisting of a surgical navigation system, a surgical robotics system, a surgical planning system, and another system utilizing image data to provide guidance.
9 . A wireless imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the on-board wireless communication unit of the scanner and the on-board communication unit of the guidance system are configured to transfer images created by the scanner directly to the guidance system using at least one from the group consisting of a Wireless IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n transfer system, a Bluetooth system, an Infrared (IR) system and another communication system.
10 . A method for providing images to a guidance system, the method comprising:
providing a wireless imaging system comprising:
a scanner for creating an image of an interior portion of an object;
a guidance system for using an image of an interior portion of an object to provide guidance to an individual with respect to the object;
the scanner comprising an on-board wireless communication unit, and the guidance system comprising an on-board communication unit, the on-board wireless communication unit of the scanner and the on-board communication unit of the guidance system being configured to wirelessly transfer images created by the scanner directly to the guidance system;
creating an image of an interior portion of an object using the scanner; and
wirelessly transferring the image created by the scanner to the guidance system.
11 . A method according to claim 10 wherein the object comprises organic tissue.
12 . A method according to claim 10 wherein the object comprises at least one from the group consisting of piece of luggage, a handbag, a backpack, a package, and a shipping container.
13 . A method according to claim 10 wherein the scanner comprises at least one from the group consisting of a CT machine, an MRI machine, a PET machine, a SPECT machine, and an ultrasound machine.
14 . A method according to claim 13 wherein the scanner is mobile.
15 . A method according to claim 14 wherein the scanner moves relative to the object during scanning.
16 . A method according to claim 14 wherein the scanner is a fixed-position scanner.
17 . A method according to claim 10 wherein the guidance system comprises at least one from the group consisting of a surgical navigation system, a surgical robotics system, a surgical planning system, and another system utilizing image data to provide guidance.
18 . A method according to claim 9 wherein the on-board wireless communication unit of the scanner and the on-board communication unit of the guidance system are configured to transfer images created by the scanner directly to the guidance system using at least one from the group consisting of a Wireless IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n transfer system, a Bluetooth system, an Infrared (IR) system and another communication system.