User interface and method for displaying information in an ultrasound system

• US 20070259158A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Friedman, Zvi, Hansen, Gunnar, Lysyansky, Peter, Goldenberg, Sergei
• Application Number:
  US11/418,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20070259158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/195.100
• 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: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

A user interface and method for displaying information in connection with an ultrasound system are provided. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically displaying information during medical image processing is provided. The method includes determining an image view for a displayed image generated from acquired scan data and determining text to display in connection with a marker displayed on the displayed image based on the determined image view. The text indicates a region of the displayed image to identify with the marker. The method further includes displaying automatically the determined text in connection with the marker on the displayed image.

Claims

1. A method for automatically displaying information during medical image processing, the method comprising:

determining an image view for a displayed image generated from acquired scan data;

determining text to display in connection with a marker displayed on the displayed image based on the determined image view, the text indicating a region of the displayed image to identify with the marker; and

displaying automatically the determined text in connection with the marker on the displayed image.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving a user input indicating a current image view.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising automatically determining a current image view based on an acquired image.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the determining comprises determining an order for displaying text based on the image view.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving an indication of a selected operation to be performed and determining text to display based on the selected operation.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the selected operation is an automatic determination of an endocardial border of a heart.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the text corresponds to points on the heart to be identified to determine the endocardial border.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising automatically changing the displayed text after a region on the displayed image is identified.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising associating the text with the marker such that the text moves with the marker.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing text indicating portions of the image based on the selected regions.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising changing the positioning of the text based on the orientation of the image.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 further comprising determining the orientation of the image based on the identified regions.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the displayed image is a static image.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the displayed image is a moving image in a cine loop.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising determining a number of image frames to display based on a received indication of a reference image frame and a number of additional frames to display in the cine loop.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein determining a number of image frames to display is based on a selected percentage of a heart cycle.

17. A method for automatically displaying status information during medical image processing, the method comprising:

determining a status of a current processing operation;

determining a status of an overall processing operation; and

providing an indication of the status of the current processing operation and the overall processing operation on a displayed segment status indicator.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising shading at least one segment of the status indicator upon determining that a status of the current processing operation is in a completed processing state or a completed acquisition state.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising highlighting an edge of at least one segment of the status indicator upon determining that a status of the current operation is in a non-completed processing state or a non-completed acquisition state.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein two opposing segments of the status indicator correspond to a single processing operation.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein the single processing operation correspond to processing a single image view of an acquired medical image.

22. A medical image display comprising:

an image portion displaying an image from an acquired medical imaging scan; and

a non-image portion displaying information relating to the displayed image, the non-image portion including a status indicator having a plurality of segments indicating a status of an operation performed in connection with the displayed image.

23. A medical image display in accordance with claim 22 wherein the status indicator comprises a plurality of segments configured to be one of automatically shaded and highlighted based on a processing status.

24. A medical image display in accordance with claim 22 wherein the non-image portion comprises labels identifying portions of the displayed image, the labels automatically inverting when an image view of the displayed image is inverted.

25. A medical image display comprising:

an image portion displaying an image from an acquired medical imaging scan;

a non-image portion displaying information relating to the displayed image; and

a virtual marker and associated text displayed on the image portion, the associated text automatically displayed based on a determined image view of an image displayed in the image portion, the text indicating a region of the displayed image to identify with the marker.

26. A medical image display in accordance with claim 25 wherein an order for displaying the text is based on the determined image view.