Hand-Held Ultrasound System

• US 20100145195A1
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hyun, Dong Gyu
• Application Number:
  US12/632,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145195A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• 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: G01S 7/52073 Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52082 involving a modular construction, e.g. a computer with short range imaging equipment modular ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/4411
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An embodiment of a hand-held ultrasound system is disclosed. The hand-held ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output receive signals. A body is sized to be held by a single hand of a user and has processing elements configured to form ultrasound images based on the receive signals and provide a preset touch screen menu. A touch screen, which is mounted on the body, includes a display and a touch panel with a touch response surface. The touch screen displays the ultrasound images and the preset touch screen menu for allowing the user to input user instructions. The preset touch screen menu is displayed on a display region of the display corresponding to proximity to a location of the touch panel touched by a finger of the user when the body is held by the single hand of the user.

Claims

1. A hand-held ultrasound system, comprising:

an ultrasound probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output receive signals;

a body configured and sized to be held by a single hand of a user and having processing elements for forming ultrasound images based on the receive signals and provide a preset touch screen menu; and

a touch screen mounted on the body including a display and a touch panel with a touch response surface, said touch screen being configured to display the ultrasound images and the preset touch screen menu for allowing the user to input user instructions, wherein the preset touch screen menu is displayed on a display region of the display corresponding to proximity to a location of the touch panel touched by a finger of the user when the body is held by the single hand of the user.

2. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein a weight of the hand-held ultrasound system is less than 1 Kg.

3. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the body includes:

an ultrasound data forming unit configured to form ultrasound data based on the receive signals;

an ultrasound image forming unit configured to form ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data;

a storage unit for storing the ultrasound data and the ultrasound images; and

a control unit configured to control a display operation of the touch screen.

4. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 3, wherein a display region of the touch screen is partitioned into:

a first display region disposed at a center portion of the display region to display the ultrasound image; and

a second display region disposed at both sides of the first display region to display the preset touch screen menu.

5. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein the touch panel is placed only over the second display region.

6. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein the preset touch screen menu includes a main menu including a plurality of items for image optimization and a sub menu for adjusting an image parameter corresponding to each of the items.

7. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein the body further includes a detecting unit operable to detect a status of the hand-held ultrasound system held by the user to thereby output a detection signal, and wherein the control unit is operable to control the display of the ultrasound image and the preset touch screen menu on the touch screen in response to the detection signal.

8. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 7, wherein the detecting unit includes sensors mounted on respective edges of the body for detecting any touch caused by a user'"'"'s hand to thereby output a detection signal indicative of which edge is held.

9. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to control the display of the ultrasound images and the present touch screen menu in response to the detection signal.

10. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 7, wherein the detecting unit includes a gravity sensor for detecting the status of the hand-held ultrasound system held by the user to thereby output a detection signal.

11. The hand-held ultrasound system of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to control the display of the ultrasound images and the present touch screen menu in response to the detection signal.