Comparative image review system and method

• US 20060238546A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agfa Healthcare Inc (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agfa Healthcare Inc (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Inventors: Handley, Carrie, Scorah, Edmund H., Rankin, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,859,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0045 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0079 Medical imaging device

Abstract

A comparative review system for displaying views associated with studies on first and second display areas according to a screen layout, a study view mode, and a hanging protocol. The screen layout is used to determine the number of display slots to display in the first and second display areas. This determination along with the study view mode is then used to determine whether to display a study in corresponding display slots associated with the first and second display areas. The number of display slots displayed, whether studies are displayed in corresponding display slots across displays, and the hanging protocol are used to determine which views to display within display slots. Each screen layout, study view mode and hanging protocol is associated with a comparative review mode, which in turn are combined into a comparative review sequence. The comparative review sequence allows for display and navigation through the various modes.

Claims

1. A comparative image review system for displaying a first series and a second series associated with a first study on first and second display areas according to a first comparative review mode having a first screen layout, a first study view mode, a first series view mode, and a first hanging protocol, said first screen layout containing at least one display slot, said system comprising:

(a) a memory for storing the first screen layout, the first study view mode, the first hanging protocol, and first and second series;

(b) a processor coupled to the memory for;

(I) using the first screen layout to determine the number of display slots to be associated with the first and second display areas, wherein the first study is displayed within at least one of the display slots;

(II) using the number of display slots determined in (I) and the first study view mode to determine whether to display the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(III) using the number of display slots determined in (I) and the first series view mode to determine whether to display the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area; and

(IV) using the number of display slots as determined in (I), the determinations in (II) and (III) and the first hanging protocol to determine which of, and the order in which, the first and second series of the first study are to be displayed within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first screen layout includes a definition of how many studies to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first screen layout also includes a definition of how many different series to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second series each include at least one image, and wherein the first screen layout also includes a definition of how many different images to display within the display slots of the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

5. The system of claim 1, also for displaying a second study, wherein the first study view mode requires the display of the first study within display slots associated with one of the first and second display areas and the display of the second study within display slots associated with the other of the first and second display areas.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first study view mode requires the display of the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth display areas, wherein the first study view mode requires the display of the first study within a display slot associated with the first display area and within corresponding display slots associated with said second, third and fourth display areas.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first series view mode requires the display of the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first series view mode requires the display of the first series within a display slot associated with the first display area and display of the second series within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein within the first display area are defined first and second display slots, and wherein the first hanging protocol defines an that the first series be ordered ahead of the second series such that the first series is displayed within the first display slot and the second series is displayed within the second display slot.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein if the first hanging protocol requires that a particular series of the first study be displayed in a particular display slot and if that particular series does not exist within the first study then nothing is displayed in that particular display slot.

12. The system of claim 1, also for displaying a third series and a fourth series associated with the first study, wherein said processor is also used to select at least one of the third and fourth series for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

13. The system of claim 1, also for displaying a second study, wherein said processor is also used to select the second study for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said processor is also used to pin the first study within a display slot of at least one of said first and second display areas, such that the first study remains in said display slot regardless of which of the first and second studies are selected for display.

15. The system of claim 1, also for displaying the first and second series associated with the first study on first and second display areas according to a second comparative review mode having a second screen layout, a second study view mode, a second series view mode, and a second hanging protocol, wherein said processor further:

(I) uses the second screen layout to determine the number of display slots to be associated with the first and second display areas, wherein

the first study is displayed within a display slot;

(II) uses the number of display slots as determined in (I) and the second study view mode to determine whether to display said at least one study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(III) uses the number of display slots determined in (I) and the second series view mode to determine whether to display the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area; and

(IV) uses the number of display slots as determined in (I), the determinations in (II) and (III) and the second hanging protocol to determine which of the first and second series of the first study are to be displayed within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first study is displayed within first and second display areas according to a comparative review sequence, said comparative review sequence comprising an arrangement of said first and second comparative review modes and wherein the first and second comparative review modes are sequentially activated within the comparative review sequence.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein if said processor has previously selected the first study and then applied the second comparative review mode and then selected the second study for display, then the first comparative review mode is automatically re-applied to the second study.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein a required study characteristic is associated with said first comparative review mode and said second comparative review mode and wherein said processor is further used for determining whether to apply the comparative review sequence to the first study by determining whether the first study possesses the required study characteristic.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said first comparative review mode is associated with a first required study type and said second comparative review mode is associated with a second required study type and wherein

said processor is further used for determining whether to apply the first comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the first required study type and if so, applying said first comparative review mode to the first study, and if not, then for determining whether to apply the second comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the second required study type and if so, applying said second comparative review mode and if not, then not applying either of the first and second comparative review modes.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first study is associated with a first patient and the second study is associated with a second patient, and wherein if the processor has previously selected the first study associated with the first patient and then selected the second study associated with the second patient, then the processor determines whether to apply the first or second comparative review mode based on whether the second study is the first or second required study type.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor also records dictation data in association with the first study, and when the recording of dictation data is complete, the processor causes the first comparative review mode to be applied to the second study.

22. A method for displaying a first and a second series associated with a first study on first and second display areas according to a first comparative review mode having a first screen layout, a first study view mode, a first series view mode, and a first hanging protocol, said first screen layout containing at least one display slot, said method comprising:

(a) storing the screen layout, the study view mode, the hanging protocol, and the first and second series;

(b) using the first screen layout to determine the number of display slots to be associated with the first and second display areas, wherein

the first study is displayed within at least one of the display slots;

(c) using the number of display slots as determined in (b) and the first study view mode to determine whether to display the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(d) using the number of display slots as determined in (b) and the first series view mode to determine whether to display the first series in both a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area; and

(e) using the number of display slots as determined in (b), the determinations in (c) and (d) and the first hanging protocol to determine which of, and in the order in which, the first and second series of the first study are to be displayed within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first screen layout includes a definition of how many studies to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first screen layout also includes a definition of how many different series to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second series each include at least one image, and wherein the first screen layout also includes a definition of how many different images to display within the display slots of the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

26. The method of claim 22, also for displaying a second study, wherein

the first study view mode requires the display of the first study within display slots associated with one of the first and second display areas and the display of the second study within display slots associated with the other of the first and second display areas.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the first study view mode requires the display of the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising third and fourth display areas, wherein the first study view mode requires the display of the first study within a display slot associated with the first display area and within corresponding display slots associated with said second, third and fourth display areas.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the first series view mode requires the display of the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the first series view mode requires the display of the first series within a display slot associated with the first display area and display of the second series within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein within the first display area are defined first and second display slots, and wherein the first hanging protocol defines that the first series be ordered ahead of the second series such that the first series is displayed within the first display slot and the second series is displayed within the second display slot.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein if the first hanging protocol requires that a particular series of the first study be displayed in a particular display slot and if that particular series does not exist within the first study then nothing is displayed in that particular display slot.

33. The method of claim 22, also for displaying a third series and a fourth series associated with the first study, wherein at least one of the third and fourth series are selected for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

34. The method of claim 22, also for displaying a second study, wherein

the second study is also selected for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first study is pinned within a display slot of at least one of said first and second display areas, such that the first study remains in said display slot regardless of which of the first and second studies are selected for display.

36. The method of claim 22, also for displaying the first and second series associated wisth the first study on first and second display areas according to a second comparative review mode having a second screen layout, a second study view mode, a second series view mode, and a second hanging protocol, further comprising:

(f) using the second screen layout to determine the number of display slots to be associated with the first and second display areas, wherein

the first study is displayed within a display slot;

(g) using the number of display slots as determined in (f) and the second study view mode to determine whether to display said first study both within in a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(h) using the number of display slots determined in (f) and the second series view mode to determine whether to display said first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area; and

(i) using the number of display slots as determined in (f), the determinations in (g) and (h) and the second hanging protocol to determine which of, and in the order in which, the first and second series of the first study are to be displayed within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first study is displayed within first and second display areas according to a comparative review sequence, said comparative review sequence comprising an arrangement of said first and second comparative review modes and wherein the first and second comparative review modes are sequentially activated within the comparative review sequence.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein if the first study has been previously selected followed by application of the second comparative review mode and then selection of the second study occurs, then the first comparative review mode is applied to the second study.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein a required study characteristic is associated with said first comparative review mode and said second comparative review mode and wherein it is determined whether to apply the comparative review sequence to the first study by determining whether the first study possesses the required study characteristic.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein said first comparative review mode is associated with a first required study type and said second comparative review mode is associated with a second required study type and wherein it is determined whether to apply the first comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the first required study type and if so, applying said first comparative review mode to the first study, and if not, then for determining whether to apply the second comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the second required study type and if so, applying said second comparative review mode and if not, then not applying either of the first and second comparative review modes.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the processor also records dictation data in association with the first study, and when the recording of dictation data is complete, the processor causes the first comparative review mode to be applied to the second study.

42. A comparative image review system for the display of a first series and a second series associated with a first study on first and second display areas according to a comparative review sequence, said system comprising:

(a) a memory for storing a plurality of comparative review modes, wherein each comparative review mode includes;

(I) a screen layout defining a number of display slots to be associated with the first and second display areas, wherein the first study is displayed within at least one of the display slots;

(II) a study view mode that can be used, along with the number of display slots as determined in (I), to determine whether to display the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(III) a series view mode that can be used, along with the number of display slots as determined in (I), to determine whether to display the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(IV) a hanging protocol that can be used, along with the number of display slots as determined in (I), the determinations in (II) and (III) to determine which of, and the order in which, the first and second series of the first study are to be displayed within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

(b) a processor coupled to the memory for;

(V) selecting at least two of the comparative review modes from the plurality of comparative review modes;

(VI) arranging the at least two comparative review modes in a particular order; and

(VII) creating the comparative review sequence from the arrangement in (VI) for application to the first study.

43. The comparative image review system of claim 42, wherein said processor is further utilized to:

(VIII) determine which comparative review mode within the comparative review sequence is active; and

(IX) display the first and second series associated with the first study within at least one display slot associated with the first and second display areas according to the active comparative review mode determined in (VIII).

44. The system of claim 42, wherein each screen layout includes a definition of how many studies to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein each screen layout also includes a definition of how many different series to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the first and second series includes at least one image, and wherein each screen layout also includes a definition of how many different images to display within the display slots of the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

47. The system of claim 42, also for displaying a second study, wherein at least one of the study view modes requires the display of the first study within display slots associated with one of the first and second display areas and the display of the second study within display slots associated with the other of the first and second display areas.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the study view modes requires the display of the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

49. The system of claim 42, further comprising third and fourth display areas, wherein at least one of the study view modes requires the display of the first study within a display slot associated with the first display area and within corresponding display slots associated with said second, third and fourth display areas.

50. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the series view modes requires the display of the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

51. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the series view modes requires the display of the first series within a display slot associated with the first display area and display of the second series within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

52. The system of claim 42, wherein within the first display area are defined first and second display slots, and wherein at least one of the hanging protocols defines that the first series be ordered ahead of the second series such that the first series is displayed within the first display slot and the second series is displayed within the second display slot.

53. The system of claim 42, wherein if at least one of the hanging protocols requires that a particular series of the first study be displayed in a particular display slot and if that particular series does not exist within the first study then nothing is displayed in that particular display slot.

54. The system of claim 42, also for displaying a third series and a fourth series associated with the first study, wherein said processor is also used to select at least one of the third and fourth series for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

55. The system of claim 43, also for displaying a second study, wherein

said processor is also used to select the second study for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein said processor is also used to pin the first study within a display slot of at least one of said first and second display areas, such that the first study remains in said display slot regardless of which of the first and second studies are selected for display.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein if the processor selects the first study and applies the active comparative review mode and then selects the second study for display, then the active comparative review mode will be applied to the second study.

58. The system of claim 42, wherein a required study characteristic is associated with each comparative review mode and wherein said processor is further used for determining whether to apply the comparative review sequence to the first study by determining whether the first study possesses the required study characteristic.

59. The system of claim 42, wherein a first comparative review mode is associated with a first required study type and a second comparative review mode is associated with a second required study type and wherein said processor is further used for determining whether to apply the first comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the first required study type and if so, applying said first comparative review mode to the first study, and if not, then for determining whether to apply the second comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the second required study type and if so, applying said second comparative review mode and if not, then not applying either of the first and second comparative review modes.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein the first study is associated with a first patient and the second study is associated with a second patient, and wherein

if the processor has previously selected the first study associated with the first patient and then selected the second study associated with the second patient, then the processor determines whether to apply the first or second comparative review mode based on whether the second study is the first or second required study type.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein the processor also records dictation data in association with the first study, and when the recording of dictation data is complete, the processor causes the first comparative review mode to be applied to the second study.

62. A method for the display of a first series and a second series associated with a first study on first and second display areas according to a comparative review sequence, said method comprising:

(a) storing a first comparative review mode and a second comparative review mode, wherein each comparative review mode includes;

(I) a screen layout defining a number of display slots to be associated with the first and second display areas, wherein the first study is displayed within at least one of the display slots;

(II) a study view mode that can be used, along with the number of display slots as determined in (I), to determine whether to display the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(III) a series view mode that can be used, along with the number of display slots as determined in (I), to determine whether to display the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area;

(IV) a hanging protocol that can be used, along with the number of display slots as determined in (I), the determinations in (II) and (III) to determine which of and the order in which the first and second series of the first study are to be displayed within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas;

(b) selecting at least two of the comparative review modes from the plurality of comparative review modes;

(c) arranging the at least two comparative review modes in a particular order; and

(d) creating the comparative review sequence from the arrangement in (VI) for application to the first study.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

(e) determining which comparative review mode within the comparative review sequence is active; and

(f) displaying at least one of the first and second series associated with the first study within at least one display slot within first and second display areas according to the active comparative review mode identified in (e).

64. The method of claim 62, wherein the screen layouts include a definition of how many studies to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the screen layouts also include a definition of how many different series to display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein the first and second series includes at least one image, and wherein the screen layouts also include a definition of how many different images to display within the display slots of the first and second display areas, said definition being specified in terms of rows and columns.

67. The method of claim 62, also for displaying a second study, wherein at least one of the study view modes requires the display of the first study within display slots associated with one of the first and second display areas and the display of the second study within display slots associated with the other of the first and second display areas.

68. The method of claim 62, wherein at least one of the study view modes require the display of the first study both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

69. The method of claim 62, further comprising third and fourth display areas, wherein at least one of the study view modes requires the display of the first study within a display slot associated with the first display area and within corresponding display slots associated with said second, third and fourth display areas.

70. The method of claim 62, wherein at least one of the series view modes requires the display of the first series both within a display slot associated with the first display area and within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

71. The method of claim 62, wherein at least one of the series view modes requires the display of the first series within a display slot associated with the first display area and display of the second series within a corresponding display slot associated with the second display area.

72. The method of claim 62, wherein within the first display area are defined first and second display slots, and wherein at least one of the hanging protocols defines that the first series be ordered ahead of the second series such that the first series is displayed within the first display slot and the second series is displayed within the second display slot.

73. The method of claim 62, wherein if at least one of the hanging protocols requires that a particular series of the first study be displayed in a particular display slot and if that particular series does not exist within the first study then nothing is displayed in that particular display slot.

74. The method of claim 62, also for displaying a third series and a fourth series associated with the first study, wherein at least one of the third and fourth series are selected for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

75. The method of claim 63, also for displaying a second study, wherein

the second study is also selected for display within the display slots associated with the first and second display areas.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the first study is pinned within a display slot of at least one of said first and second display areas, such that the first study remains in said display slot regardless of which of the first and second studies are selected for display.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the first study is selected for display using the active comparative review mode, and then the second study is selected for display, then the active comparative review mode will be applied to the second study.

78. The method of claim 62, wherein a required study characteristic is associated with each comparative review mode and wherein it is determined whether to apply the comparative review sequence to the first study by determining whether the first study possesses the required study characteristic.

79. The method of claim 62, wherein a first comparative review mode is associated with a first required study type and a second comparative review mode is associated with a second required study type and wherein it is determined whether to apply the first comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the first required study type and if so, applying said first comparative review mode to the first study, and if not, then for determining whether to apply the second comparative review mode to the first study by determining whether the first study is the second required study type and if so, applying said second comparative review mode and if not, then for not applying either of the first and second comparative review modes.

80. The method of claim 75, wherein the first study is associated with a first patient and the second study is associated with a second patient, and wherein

if the first study associated with the first patient has been selected and then the second study associated with the second patient is selected, then it is determined whether to apply the first or second comparative review mode based on whether the second study is the first or second required study type.

81. The method of claim 75, wherein the processor also records dictation data in association with the first study, and when the recording of dictation data is complete, the processor causes the first comparative review mode to be applied to the second study.