Medical imaging apparatus which displays predetermined information in differentiable manner from others

• US 20040207661A1
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.), Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Akaki, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• 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 8/468 allowing annotation or message recording

Abstract

A medical imaging apparatus for generating medical information includes an input unit, a processor, and a display. The input unit is operated by a user and is configured to input an instruction. The processor is configured to process a first part of display information relating to the medical information based on the instruction so that the first part is displayed in a differentiable manner from others of the display information. The display is configured to display the processed first part and the others of the display information.

Claims

1. A medical imaging apparatus for generating medical information, comprising:

an input unit operated by a user and configured to input an instruction;

a processor configured to process a first part of display information relating to the medical information based on the instruction so that the first part is displayed in a differentiable manner from others of the display information; and

a display configured to display the processed first part and other display information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second input unit configured to input a second instruction for selecting a second part of the display information displayed in the display, and a second display configured to display the second part in accordance with the second instruction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display a menu list of the display information and the first part of the display information includes the display information selected in the menu list of the display information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display is further configured to display the menu list with a medical image when the medical image is included in the medical information.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical information includes a medical image.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and where in the first part of the display information includes a measurement parameter name in the measurement.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part of the display information includes a measurement parameter value resulting from the measurement.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part of the display information includes a calculation parameter name of a calculation based on a measurement parameter value resulting from the measurement.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part of the display information includes a calculation parameter value calculated based on a measurement parameter value resulting from the measurement.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display a pointer movable in accordance with the input unit and wherein, when the display information is displayed in the display, the processed first part includes a second part of the display information pointed by the pointer as the instruction.

11. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second input unit configured to designate a range of measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part includes a measurement result of the range of measurement.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the range is a distance.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the range is an area.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the range is an angle.

15. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second input unit configured to designate a range of measurement on theme medical image, and wherein the first part includes a track designating the range of measurement.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store a table relating a first item with its plurality of detailed items of the display information as a group, and where in the first part includes the plurality of detailed items related with the first item determined by the instruction.

17. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display is further configured to display a report including information resulting from a measurement on the medical image and wherein the first part includes a second part of the information included in the report.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store a table relating a first item with one or more second items of the display information, and wherein the display is further configured to display whether to select the first item or not and wherein, when the first item is selected by the instruction, the second items are processed as the first part by the processor.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished in color.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished in a character font.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished in a character style.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished in a boldface.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished by highlighting the first part.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished by displaying the others of the display information in a tinted manner.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished by blinking the first part.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished by adding another information to the first part.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished by underlining the first part.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished in a character size.

29. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differentiable manner is accomplished in a line type.

30. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display is further configured to display a menu list of annotation information given for the medical image as the display information and the first part of the display information includes the display information selected in the menu list of the annotation information.

31. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first part includes a second part of annotation information given for the medical image as the display information.

32. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display is further configured to display a menu list of body marks given for the medical image as the display information and the first part of the display information includes the display information selected in the menu list of the body marks.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a second input unit configured to input a second instruction for selecting a second part of the body marks from the menu list, and a second display configured to display the second part and the medical image in accordance with the second instruction, and wherein, when the second part includes the first part of the display information, the first part is displayed in the second display in a differentiable manner.

34. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the first part includes a first piece and a second piece of the display information, the first piece is displayed in a differentiable manner from the second piece.

35. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a varying unit configured to vary a degree of differentiation for the display of the first part.

36. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the processed first part and the others of the display information to an external equipment through a network.

37. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus.

38. A medical information processing apparatus for processing medical information generated in a medical imaging equipment, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the medical information;

an input unit operated by a user and configured to input an instruction;

a processor configured to process a first part of display information relating to the medical information based on the instruction so that the first part is displayed in a differentiable manner from others of the display information and to output the processed first part and other display information.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the apparatus is incorporated in the medical imaging equipment.

40. The apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the output processed first part and the output others to an external display equipment.

41. The apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a display configured to display the output processed first part and the output others.

42. A method of processing medical information generated in a medical imaging equipment, the method comprising steps of:

receiving an instruction input by a user;

processing a first part of display information relating to the medical information based on the instruction so that the first part is displayed in a differentiable manner from others of the display information; and

displaying the processed first part and other display information.

43. A computer program product on which is stored a computer program for processing medical information generated in a medical imaging equipment, the computer program having instructions, which when executed, perform steps comprising:

determining an instruction input by a user; and

processing a first part of display information relating to the medical information based on the instruction so that the first part is displayed in a differentiable manner from others of the display information.