Apparatus which displays medical trend graph and related information

• US 20050096540A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• 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: Ooshima, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/44 Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52073 Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including an ultrasound probe, an image processor, a measurement processor, a graph processor, and a display. The ultrasound probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers and is configured to insonify and receive an echo signal resulting from the insonification. The image processor is coupled to the ultrasound probe and is configured to prepare image data based on the echo signal. The measurement processor is coupled to the image processor and is configured to conduct a measurement on the image data with respect to a predetermined parameter. The graph processor is coupled to the measurement processor and is configured to prepare a trend graph based on the measurement when the insonification and the image preparation are conducted more than one time. The display is coupled to the graph processor and is configured to display the trend graph with related information in a time phase on the trend graph.

Claims

1. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, comprising:

an ultrasound probe having a plurality of piezoelectric transducers configured to insonify and receive an echo signal resulting from an insonification;

an image processor coupled to the ultrasound probe and configured to prepare image data based on the echo signal;

a measurement processor coupled to the image processor and configured to conduct a measurement on the image data with respect to a predetermined parameter;

a graph processor coupled to the measurement processor and configured to prepare a trend graph based on the measurement when the insonification and an image preparation are conducted more than one time; and

a display coupled to the graph processor and configured to display the trend graph with related information in a time phase on the trend graph.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit operative by a user and configured to designate the time phase, wherein the display is configured to display the related information in the designated time phase in response to a designation from the input unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input unit includes a user-operative device configured to position a cursor on the display, and wherein the display displays the related information in the time phase designated by the cursor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the displayed related information represents a first content when the cursor is positioned at the time phase without a click-on operation by the user-operative device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the displayed related information represents a second content different from the first content when the cursor is positioned at the time phase with a single click-on operation by the user-operative device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the displayed related information represents a third content different from the first content and the second content when the cursor is positioned at the time phase with a double click-on operation by the user-operative device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit configured to be operable by a user, wherein the display is configured to display the related information in the time phase which is predetermined as an initial time phase in response to a first input operation of the input unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the initial time phase is a latest time phase of the trend graph.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the time phase is changed in response to a second input operation of the input unit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit configured to be operable by a user and configured to change a first content of the related information to a second content of the related information.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a key input unit configured to be operable by a user and configured to designate the time phase.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a key input unit configured to be operable by a user and configured to change a first content of the related information to a second content of the related information.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit configured to be operable by a user, wherein,

the display unit is configured to display the related information in the time phase which is predetermined as an initial time phase without the input unit, and

the time phase is changed in response to the input unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a touch command screen coupled to the display and configured to input second information from a user, wherein the time phase is changed in response to the second information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a touch command screen coupled to the display and configured to input second information in accordance with a user'"'"'s touch to the touch command screen, wherein the related information is changed from a first content to a second content in response to the second information.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to sense at least one of a position and a movement of a user, wherein the time phase is changed in accordance with the sensor.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a user, wherein the related information is changed from a first content to a second content in accordance with the sensor.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mouse unit configured to designate the time phase based on information specifying the time phase selected through a right mouse button of the mouse unit, wherein the display displays the related information in the time phase designated by the mouse unit.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related information is superimposed on the trend graph on the display.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related information is displayed in parallel with the trend graph on the display.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameter is a parameter to measure a growth of an unborn baby when the ultrasound probe insonifies towards the unborn baby.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the graph processor and configured to store a normal value of the predetermined parameter, wherein the graph processor is configured to prepare the trend graph based on the normal value and on a measurement value measured by the measurement processor with respect to the predetermined parameter.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the graph processor is further configured to prepare a second trend graph based on a measurement by the measurement processor with respect to a parameter other than the predetermined parameter, and

the second trend graph is displayed with the trend graph.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a measurement value measured by the measurement processor with respect to the predetermined parameter in the time phase, a normal value of the predetermined parameter in the time phase, and a date of the insonification is displayed as the related information.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a measurement value measured by the measurement processor with respect to a parameter other than the predetermined parameter in a time phase identical to the time phase is displayed as the related information.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display the related information in a field of one of a pop-up window and a tool tip window.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display an image based on the image data in the time phase as the related information.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit configured to input a text data for the time phase, wherein the text data is displayed as the related information.

29. A medical imaging apparatus for use in a medical examination, comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire biological information;

an image processor coupled to the acquisition unit and configured to prepare image data based on the biological information;

a measurement processor coupled to the image processor and configured to conduct a measurement on the image data with respect to a predetermined parameter;

a graph processor coupled to the measurement processor and configured to prepare a trend graph based on the measurement when the acquisition and an image preparation are conducted more than one time; and

a display coupled to the graph processor and configured to display the trend graph with related information in a time phase on the trend graph.

30. A display apparatus, comprising:

an entering unit configured to enter a trend graph prepared based on medical information acquired more than one time by a medical apparatus and configured to enter related information in a time phase on the trend graph; and

a display coupled to the entering unit and configured to display the trend graph with the related information.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the related information includes the medical information.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the entering unit includes a receiver configured to receive the trend graph and the related information through a communication network.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the entering unit includes a disk driver configured to read out the trend graph and the related information from a memory medium in which the trend graph and the related information are recorded.

34. A display apparatus, comprising:

an entering unit configured to enter medical information acquired more than one time by a medical apparatus and related information relating to a time phase of an acquisition of the medical information;

a graph processor coupled to the entering unit and configured to prepare a trend graph based on the medical information; and

a display coupled to the entering unit and the graph processor, and configured to display the trend graph with the related information.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the related information includes the medical information.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the entering unit includes a receiver configured to receive the medical information and the related information through a communication network.

37. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the entering unit includes a disk driver configured to read out the medical information and the related information from a memory medium in which the medical information and the related information are recorded.

38. A method of displaying data corresponding to biological information, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of biological information;

preparing a plurality of image data based on the plurality of biological information;

conducting a plurality of measurements on the plurality of image data with respect to a predetermined parameter;

preparing a trend graph based on the plurality of measurements; and

displaying the trend graph with related information in a time phase on the trend graph.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

designating a time phase on the trend graph; and

displaying the related information in the time phase of the trend phase.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein displaying the trend graph with related information includes superimposing the related information on the trend graph.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein displaying the trend graph with related information includes displaying the related information parallel to the trend graph.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein acquiring the plurality of biological information includes acquiring biological information of an unborn baby at different times.

43. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

storing a normal value of the predetermined parameter, wherein preparing the trend graph includes preparing the trend graph based on the normal value and on the plurality of measurements.

44. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

preparing a second trend graph based on a second plurality of measurements measured with respect to a parameter other than the predetermined parameter; and

displaying the second trend graph with the trend graph.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein displaying the trend graph with related information includes displaying the related information as at least one of one of the measurements in a time phase of the trend graph, a normal value of the predetermined parameter in the time phase, and a date of an acquisition of biological information.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein displaying the trend graph with related information includes displaying the related information as a measurement value measured with respect to a parameter other than the predetermined parameter.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein displaying the trend graph with related information includes displaying the related information in a field of one of a pop-up window and a tool tip window.

48. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

inputting a text data for a time phase of the trend graph; and

displaying the text data as the related information.

49. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, comprising:

an ultrasound probe having a plurality of piezoelectric transducers configured to insonify and receive an echo signal resulting from an insonification;

an image processor coupled to the ultrasound probe and configured to prepare image data based on the echo signal;

a measurement processor coupled to the image processor and configured to conduct a measurement on the image data with respect to a predetermined parameter;

a graph processor coupled to the measurement processor and configured to prepare a trend graph based on the measurement and on previous measurements; and

means for displaying the trend graph along with related information in a time phase on the trend graph.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for displaying includes means for superimposing the related information on the trend graph at the time phase.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for displaying includes means for displaying the related information in parallel to the trend graph at the time phase.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for displaying includes means for selecting the time phase on the trend graph.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for displaying includes means for selecting a type of the related information.

54. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the computer usable medium that, when executed, causes a computer to:

prepare a plurality of image data based on a plurality of acquired biological information;

conduct a plurality of measurements on the plurality of image data with respect to a predetermined parameter;

prepare a trend graph based on the plurality of measurements; and

control a display unit to display the trend graph with related information in a time phase on the trend graph.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

control the display unit to display the related information in the time phase of the trend phase in response to a user designation of the time phase.

56. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

control the display unit to superimpose the related information on the trend graph.

57. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

control the display unit to display the related information parallel to the trend graph.

58. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

store a normal value of the predetermined parameter; and

prepare the trend graph based on the normal value and on the plurality of measurements.

59. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

prepare a second trend graph based on a second plurality of measurements measured with respect to a parameter other than the predetermined parameter; and

control the display unit to display the second trend graph with the trend graph.

60. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

control the display unit to display the related information as at least one of one of the measurements in a time phase of the trend graph, a normal value of the predetermined parameter in the time phase, and a date of an acquisition of biological information.

61. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

control the display unit to display the related information as a measurement value measured with respect to a parameter other than the predetermined parameter.

62. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said computer readable program code, when executed, further causes said computer to:

control the display unit to display the related information in a field of one of a pop-up window and a tool tip window.