USER INTERFACE FOR ULTRASOUND SYSTEM

• US 20090012394A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hobelsberger, Petra, Duda, Walter
• Application Number:
  US12/112,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20090012394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• 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 8/466 adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467

Abstract

A user interface for an ultrasound system is provided. The ultrasound system includes the user interface having at least one user control member and a display having a plurality of virtual display elements displayed thereon when a virtual pointer is positioned over an image displayed on the display. A function controlled by the at least one user control member is determined based on a selected one of the plurality of virtual display elements.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system, comprising:

a user interface having at least one user control member; and

a display having a plurality of virtual display elements displayed thereon when a virtual pointer is positioned over an image displayed on the display and wherein a function controlled by the at least one user control member is determined based on a selected one of the plurality of virtual display elements.

2. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user control member is configured to be operated to select one of the plurality of virtual display elements using the virtual pointer.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user control member comprises a trackball.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display only the selected one of the virtual display elements.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein the display is configured to display the other display elements when one of (i) an adjustment using the at least one user control member is completed and (ii) a button corresponding to the user control member is activated.

6. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of virtual display elements comprise icons representative of the corresponding controlled function.

7. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of virtual display elements are displayed only when the virtual pointer is positioned over an image that can be changed.

8. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of virtual display elements are changed based on one of a mode of operation and a mode of visualization.

9. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the display automatically displays the plurality of virtual display elements when the virtual pointer is positioned over the image.

10. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the virtual display elements are displayed adjacent the image.

11. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the selected one of the plurality of virtual display elements is highlighted.

12. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the function controlled by the at least one user control member comprises an adjustment.

13. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein an icon representing the selected one of the plurality of virtual display elements changes based on an input from the at least one user control member.

14. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display a virtual representation of the at least one user control member along with at least one indicated function corresponding to at least one user control member and one or more buttons associated with the at least one user control member.

15. The ultrasound system of claim 1, further comprising:

a portable ultrasound unit including the user interface and the display.

16. An ultrasound system, comprising:

an ultrasound volume probe for acquiring one of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound data and four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound data; and

a portable control unit having a user interface and a display, the ultrasound volume probe connected to the portable control unit, and wherein manipulation of one of the 3D ultrasound data and 4D ultrasound data is provided by a single user control member of the user interface.

17. The ultrasound system of claim 16, wherein the single user control member comprises a trackball.

18. The ultrasound system of claim 16, wherein the display is configured to display a plurality of selectable virtual display elements and a type of manipulation provided by the single user control member is determined based on a selected one of the plurality of selectable virtual display elements.

19. The ultrasound system of claim 16, wherein the user interface does not include rotary controls and the manipulation is performed without the use of the rotary controls.

20. A method for controlling an ultrasound probe using a portable ultrasound system, comprising:

receiving a user input selecting one of a plurality of virtual display elements on a display on the portable ultrasound system; and

configuring a user control member of the portable ultrasound system based on the received user input to control an operation of the portable ultrasound system.