Multiple modality interface for imaging systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical imaging system comprising:
- a data acquisition system of a specific modality including at least one sensor for sensing signals of the specific modality emanating from an object being imaged wherein the modality is one of radiography, fluoroscopy, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography and computer tomography;
an interface usable with at least first and second acquisition systems where the first and second acquisition systems are of first and second different modalities, respectively, the interface linked to one of the first and second acquisition systems, the interface comprising;
a display;
a programmed data processor providing a uniform interface image on the display despite the linked acquisition system modality, the uniform interface image comprising;
a function navigation space including function icons corresponding to set of data acquisition procedures which are common to each of the first and second modalities wherein, at least one of the procedures that is common to the first and second modalities includes at least one procedure-specific subprocess;
a workspace adjacent the function navigation space for displaying, analyzing and manipulating images; and
a pointing device for selecting displayed icons;
wherein, when an icon is selected, the processor correlates the selected icon with a corresponding data acquisition activity and performs the activity.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A universal interface apparatus for use with any of several different imaging systems for facilitating a plurality of different imaging modalities, the interface including at least function icons in a function navigation space and a workspace, each of the function icons corresponding to a process which is common among all of the imaging modalities, the interface Also accessing data tables corresponding to specific workflow protocols for medical facility radiologists and/or for a medical facility in general, the tables identifying function icons and other icons for guiding a technologist through a properly orchestrated imaging process.
134 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A medical imaging system comprising:
-
a data acquisition system of a specific modality including at least one sensor for sensing signals of the specific modality emanating from an object being imaged wherein the modality is one of radiography, fluoroscopy, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography and computer tomography;
an interface usable with at least first and second acquisition systems where the first and second acquisition systems are of first and second different modalities, respectively, the interface linked to one of the first and second acquisition systems, the interface comprising;
a display;
a programmed data processor providing a uniform interface image on the display despite the linked acquisition system modality, the uniform interface image comprising;
a function navigation space including function icons corresponding to set of data acquisition procedures which are common to each of the first and second modalities wherein, at least one of the procedures that is common to the first and second modalities includes at least one procedure-specific subprocess;
a workspace adjacent the function navigation space for displaying, analyzing and manipulating images; and
a pointing device for selecting displayed icons;
wherein, when an icon is selected, the processor correlates the selected icon with a corresponding data acquisition activity and performs the activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A medical imaging method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a data acquisition system of a specific modality including at least one sensor for sensing signals of the specific modality emanating from an object being imaged wherein the modality is one of radiography, fluoroscopy, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography and computer tomography;
providing an interface usable with at least first and second acquisition systems wherein the first and second systems are of first and second modalities, respectively, the interface including a display;
linking the interface to one of the first and second acquisition systems;
providing a uniform interface image on the display despite the linked acquisition system modality, the uniform interface image including a function navigation space having function icons corresponding to data acquisition procedures that are common to each of the first and second modalities wherein, at least one of the procedures that is common to the modalities including at least one procedure-specific subprocess;
providing an icon selecting means on the display; and
when an icon is selected, correlating the selected icon with a corresponding data acquisition activity and performing the activity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A medical imaging system comprising:
-
a data acquisition system of a specific modality including at least one sensor for sensing signals of the specific modality emanating from an object being imaged wherein the modality is one of radiography, fluoroscopy, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography and computer tomography;
an interface usable with at least first and second acquisition systems, the systems of first and second modalities, respectively, the interface linked to one of the first and second acquisition systems and comprising;
a display; and
a programmed data processor providing a uniform interface image on the display despite the linked acquisition system modality. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A medical imaging system comprising:
-
at least one sensor for sensing signals of a specific modality emanating from an object being imaged wherein the modality is one of radiography, fluoroscopy, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography and computer tomography, at least first and second modalities including at least a set of common data acquisition procedures where at least a subset of the common procedures include procedure-specific subprocesses;
an interface usable with sensors of different modalities, the interface comprising;
a display;
a programmed data processor providing a uniform interface image on the display despite the modality of the at least one linked sensor, the uniform interface image comprising;
a function navigation space including function icons corresponding to data acquisition procedures which are common to each of the first and second modalities wherein, each procedure which is common to the modalities includes procedure-specific subprocesses;
a workspace adjacent the function navigation space for displaying, analyzing and manipulating images; and
a pointing device for selecting displayed icons;
wherein, when an icon is selected, the processor correlates the selected icon with a corresponding data acquisition activity and performs the activity.
-
Specification