ULTRASONOGRAPH

• US 20100321324A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Masahiro, Okamoto, Yukiko, Sakai, Takashi, Fukai, Seiichi
• Granted Patent: US 10,687,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 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: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Disclosed is a technology that prevents a part of a touch panel-equipped display displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image from getting dirty with a fingerprint or scratch when using a drag operation to change the content of the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the touch panel-equipped display. According to this technology, the display screen is divided into an ultrasonic image area A1 which displays an ultrasonic image P and an operating part display area A2 which displays buttons (Fov, Pos, ROI, and Dop) for selecting a change to be made in the ultrasonic image P. The operating part display area A2 has a touch panel, and when a finger F selectively touches one of the displayed buttons and is dragged, the displayed image P of the ultrasonic image area A1 is changed on the apparatus side according to the selected changes and drag direction.

Claims

1. An ultrasonograph, comprising:

an ultrasonic signal transmitter/receiver transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal through an ultrasonic probe;

an image processing unit converting the ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic signal transmitter/receiver into an ultrasonic image;

a display including;

a first display area displaying the ultrasonic image converted by the image processing unit; and

a second display area displaying operation buttons for changing display content of the ultrasonic image displayed in the first display area, the display including a touch panel at least on the second display area; and

display control means which, when one of the operation buttons displayed in the second display area is touched and drag motion is made on the touch panel, changes the display content of the ultrasonic image displayed in the first display area based on a rule set for each of the operation buttons.

4. The ultrasonograph according to claim 1, wherein when a different operation button is touched while the drag operation is being performed on the touch panel from the operation button or a position in the drag area, the display control means disables a touch operation for the different operation button.

5. The ultrasonograph according to claim 4, wherein when the drag operation is finished after disabling the touch operation for the different operation button, the display control means enables the disabled touch operation for the different operation button.

8. The ultrasonograph according to claim 1, wherein when the first display area is touched, the display control means alerts an operator by displaying a warning message on the display screen not to touch the first display area or by causing the second display area to flash or change in brightness.

9. The ultrasonograph according to claim 1, further comprising:

a calculator calculating a distance between start and end points of a mouse cursor moved by the drag operation in the ultrasonic image, wherein

the display control means displays the distance in the ultrasonic image calculated by the calculating means in the first or second display area.

11. The ultrasonograph according to claim 1, wherein

the display includes an outer frame around the display screen, and

the second display area includes independent function areas at respective sides of an adjacent portion inwardly adjacent to the outer frame, functions independent of each other being assignable to the independent function areas.

12. The ultrasonograph according to claim 11, wherein the display control means is a controller capable of detecting a coordinate position of a specified point in any of the independent function areas pointed by an operator for the touch panel, and detecting moving speed or acceleration of the specified point to output a signal thereof.

13. The ultrasonograph according to claim 11, wherein the display control means is a controller capable of changing parameters expressed as continuous, discrete, or binary values with an operation in any of the independent function areas.

14. The ultrasonograph according to claim 13, wherein the display control means is a controller capable of detecting a relative or absolute position of the specified point in any of the independent function areas with respect to length of the outer frame or detecting an absolute or relative amount of movement of the specified point.

15. The ultrasonograph according to claim 11, wherein the controller allows the functions assigned to the independent function areas to be changed individually or collectively for the individual sides of the outer frame.

16. The ultrasonograph according to claim 15, wherein information on the function assigned to the independent function area adjacent to each side of the outer frame is displayed at the independent function area.

2. An ultrasonograph, comprising:

an ultrasonic signal transmitter/receiver transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal through an ultrasonic probe;

an image processing unit converting the ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic signal transmitter/receiver into an ultrasonic image;

a display including;

a first display area displaying the ultrasonic image converted by the image processing unit; and

a second display area displaying an icon for making a change instruction of the display content of the ultrasonic image displayed in the first display area and a drag area on which a drag operation is performed to change the direction of the display change, the display including a touch panel at least on the second display area; and

display control means which, when the icon is touched, displays the icon in the drag area and, when drag motion is made on the drag area, changes the ultrasonic image displayed in the first display area according to the change instruction of the icon and the drag direction in the drag area.

3. The ultrasonograph according to claim 2, wherein the display control means enables the drag operation even when the drag operation is performed from a drag start position in the drag area to a drag end position outside of the drag area on the touch panel.

6. The ultrasonograph according to claim 2 wherein when drag motion is started from the drag area and then is continuously stopped at an edge of the drag area, the display control means continues moving a cursor.

7. The ultrasonograph according to claim 2, wherein the display control means moves a cursor upon a drag operation in which a finger slides on the drag area.

10. The ultrasonograph according to claim 2, wherein

the display control means displays a finger image in the drag area as a guide for the drag operation together with the icon.

17. The ultrasonograph according to claim 2, wherein when a different operation button is touched while the drag operation is being performed on the touch panel from the operation button or a position in the drag area, the display control means disables a touch operation for the different operation button.

18. The ultrasonograph according to claim 2, wherein when the first display area is touched, the display control means alerts an operator by displaying a warning message on the display screen not to touch the first display area or by causing the second display area to flash or change in brightness.

19. The ultrasonograph according to claim 2, further comprising:

a calculator calculating a distance between start and end points of a mouse cursor moved by the drag operation in the ultrasonic image, wherein

the display control means displays the distance in the ultrasonic image calculated by the calculating means in the first or second display area.