Ultrasonic imaging system and controlling method thereof

• US 10,610,202 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fu, Zhengpeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Cattungal, Sanjay
• Application Number:
  US15/269,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 600437-469
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/58 Testing, adjusting or calibrating the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a system and method for ultrasonic imaging. The method includes receiving a user-defined control gesture and associating the control gesture with a function selected by a user; forming a control gesture signal and function association database; when the ultrasonic imaging system is in normal operation, receiving a current control gesture signal and matching the current control gesture with a control gesture in the database to determine a function associated with the matched control gesture; and controlling the ultrasonic imaging system to perform the associated function. According to the present disclosure, it is very convenient for users to define customized control gestures according to their personal operation routines and habits.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an ultrasonic imaging system, comprising:

when the ultrasonic imaging system is in a mode of associating gestures with functions of the ultrasonic imaging system;

acquiring a control gesture signal by at least one of;

in response to a user performing a control gesture, automatically selecting a control gesture signal from a pre-stored control gesture signal database corresponding to the performed control gesture;

receiving a user selection of a control gesture signal from a series of displayed control gestures from the pre-stored control gesture signal database;

or

receiving a custom control gesture signal in response to the user performing a custom gesture;

receiving a user selection of at least one function from a plurality of function options, said function options including one or more function keys on a control panel and/or a one or more functions from a menu on a user interface wherein the at least one selected function selected is a function of the ultrasonic imaging system;

associating the acquired control gesture signal with the at least one selected function to obtain an association correlation between the control gesture signal and the selected function;

repeating the steps of acquiring a control gesture signal, receiving a user selection of the at least one function, and associating the acquired control gesture signal with the at least one selected function to establish a control gesture signal and function association database, wherein the database stores multiple control gesture signals and association correlations; and

when the ultrasonic imaging system is in normal operation;

receiving a current control gesture signal for a gesture performed by the user;

searching in the control gesture signal and function association database for a control gesture signal matching the current control gesture signal to obtain a matched control gesture signal;

determining at least one function associated with the matched control gesture signal according to the association correlation of the matched control gesture signal; and

controlling the ultrasonic imaging system to execute the at least one function associated with the matched control gesture signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control gesture signal is a signal generated by a slide operation of the user on a touch screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control gesture signal is a signal generated by a body motion sensor which detects body movement of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control gesture signal and function association database comprises at least one control gesture signal and an association correlation between the control gesture signal and a function of the ultrasonic imaging system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected function comprises a plurality of selected functions, and wherein acquired control gesture signal is associated with the plurality of selected functions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control gesture signal and function association database is stored in a remote apparatus accessible to the ultrasonic imaging system via a network.

5. An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

a data processing unit;

at least one input unit connected to the data processing unit,

wherein, when the ultrasonic imaging system is in a mode of associating gestures with functions of the ultrasonic imaging system, the data processing unit is configured to;

acquire a control gesture signal using the at least one input unit by at least one of;

in response to a user performing a control gesture, automatically selecting a control gesture signal from a pre-stored control gesture signal database corresponding to the performed control gesture;

receiving a user selection of a control gesture signal from a series of displayed control gestures from the pre-stored control gesture signal database;

or

receiving a custom control gesture signal in response to the user performing a custom gesture;

receive a user selection of at least one function from a plurality of function options using the at least one input unit, said function options including one or more function keys on a control panel and/or a one or more functions from a menu on a user interface, wherein the at least one selected function selected is a function of the ultrasonic imaging system;

associate the acquired control gesture signal with the at least one selected function to obtain an association correlation between the control gesture signal and the selected function;

repeating the acquiring of a control gesture signal, the receiving of a user selection of the at least one function, and the associating of the acquired control gesture signal with the at least one selected function to establish a control gesture signal and function association database, wherein the database stores multiple control gesture signals and association correlations;

wherein, in normal operation, the data processing unit is further configured to;

receive a current control gesture signal from the at least one input unit;

search for a control gesture signal matching the current control gesture signal in the control gesture signal and function association database to obtain a matched control gesture signal;

determine at least one function associated with the matched control gesture signal according to the association correlation of the matched control gesture signal; and

controls the ultrasonic imaging system to perform the at least one function associated with the matched control gesture signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one input unit is a touch screen.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one input unit is a body motion controller.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the control gesture signal and function association database comprises at least one control gesture signal and an association correlation between the control gesture signal and a function of the ultrasonic imaging system.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one selected function comprises a plurality of selected functions, and wherein acquired control gesture signal is associated with the plurality of selected functions.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the control gesture signal and function association database is stored in a remote apparatus accessible to the ultrasonic imaging system via a network.