Medical Measuring System and Method

• US 20130120297A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Merritt, Fergus, Cohen, Asher, De Jong, Duane, Litzza, Gerald Lea, Cheline, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0487 Special user inputs or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 : Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

A method of performing measurements on medical images with a bedside controller includes receiving, through a touch-sensitive display on the bedside controller, a user measurement input on an image displayed on the display, the user measurement input including a start point defined by a point of initial contact with the touch-sensitive display and an end point defined by a point of last contact with the touch-sensitive display. The method also includes selecting a measurement mode based on a shape of the user measurement input and calculating a measurement value associated with the user measurement input based on the measurement mode.

Claims

1. A method of performing measurements on medical images with a bedside controller, the method comprising:

receiving, through a touch-sensitive display on the bedside controller, a user measurement input on an image displayed on the display, the user measurement input including a start point defined by a point of initial contact with the touch-sensitive display and an end point defined by a point of last contact with the touch-sensitive display;

selecting a measurement mode based on a shape of the user measurement input; and

calculating a measurement value associated with the user measurement input based on the measurement mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the measurement mode includes selecting one of a diameter measurement mode and an area measurement mode based on the shape of the user measurement input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the measurement mode includes:

determining whether any intervening points along the user measurement input between the start point and the end point fall outside of a boundary threshold;

selecting the diameter measurement mode if none of the intervening points fall outside of the boundary threshold; and

selecting the area measurement mode if at least one intervening point falls outside of the boundary threshold.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein selecting the diameter measurement mode includes drawing a straight line between the start point and the end point;

and

wherein calculating the measurement value includes calculating the length of the straight line.

5. The method of claim 3,

wherein selecting the area measurement mode includes connecting the start point and the end point to create a bounded object;

and

wherein calculating the measurement value includes calculating the area of the bounded object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the measurement mode includes:

calculating a distance between the start point and the end point of the user measurement input on the image;

comparing the distance to a threshold; and

selecting a measurement mode based on the comparison.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting a measurement mode based on the comparison includes selecting an area-point mode if the distance is less than the threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the area-point mode includes:

interpreting subsequent user measurement inputs as points; and

connecting the points to create a bounded object;

wherein calculating the measurement value includes calculating the area of the bounded object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a measurement mode includes choosing a measurement mode between one of a diameter mode, an area-point mode, and an area-draw mode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user measurement input includes detecting contact on the touch-sensitive display from one of a stylus and a body part.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user measurement input includes detecting contact on the touch-sensitive display through one of a sterile drape and a glove.

12. A bedside controller, comprising:

a housing, the housing including self-contained mounting structure;

a touch-sensitive display disposed within a surface of the housing and configured to display images and receive user input on the surface;

a processor disposed within the housing;

a communication module disposed within the housing, communicatively coupled to the processor, and configured to transmit and receive medical data from a processing system; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage module disposed within the housing, communicatively coupled to the processor, and including a plurality of instructions stored therein and executable by the processor, the plurality of instructions including;

instructions for receiving, through the touch-sensitive display, a user measurement input on an image displayed on the display;

instructions for selecting a measurement mode based on a shape of the user measurement input; and

instructions for calculating a measurement value associated with the user measurement input based on the measurement mode.

13. The bedside controller of claim 12, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to accept user input through a sterile drape.

14. The bedside controller of claim 12, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to accept user input from gloved touch.

15. The bedside controller of claim 12, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to provide haptic feedback to a user.

16. The bedside controller of claim 12, wherein the housing is fluid resistant.

17. The bedside controller of claim 12, wherein the communication module is a wireless communication module.

18. The bedside controller of claim 12, including a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, the battery being configured to provide power to the non-transitory computer readable storage module, the communication module, the processor, and the touch-sensitive display.

19. The bedside controller of claim 18, wherein the bedside controller is configured to dock to a processing system and draw power therefrom to recharge the battery.

20. The bedside controller of claim 12, wherein the instructions for selecting the measurement mode include instructions for selecting one of a diameter measurement mode and an area measurement mode based on the shape of the user measurement input.

21. The bedside controller of claim 20, wherein the instructions for selecting the measurement mode include:

instructions for determining whether any intervening points along the user measurement input between the start point and the end point fall outside of a boundary threshold;

instructions for selecting the diameter measurement mode if none of the intervening points fall outside of the boundary threshold; and

instructions for selecting the area measurement mode if at least one intervening point falls outside of the boundary threshold.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein the instructions for selecting the diameter measurement mode include instructions for drawing a straight line between the start point and the end point;

and

wherein the instructions for calculating the measurement value include instructions for calculating the length of the straight line.

23. The method of claim 21,

wherein the instructions for selecting the area measurement mode include instructions for connecting the start point and the end point to create a bounded object;

and

wherein the instructions for calculating the measurement value include instructions for calculating the area of the bounded object.

24. The bedside controller of claim 12, wherein the instructions for receiving a user measurement input include instructions for receiving a start point defined by a point of initial contact with the touch-sensitive display and an end point defined by a point of last contact with the touch-sensitive display.

25. The bedside controller of claim 24, wherein the instructions for selecting the measurement mode include:

instructions for calculating a distance between the start point and the end point of the user measurement input on the image;

instructions for comparing the distance to a threshold; and

instructions for selecting a measurement mode based on the comparison.

26. A medical measuring system, comprising:

a medical sensor device configured to gather medical data from a patient;

a processing system communicatively coupled to the medical sensor device and operable to receive the medical data from the medical sensor device, the processing system being further operable to transform the medical data into medical images representative of the patient; and

a bedside controller communicatively coupled to the processing system and operable to receive the medical images from the processing system and display the medical images on a touch-sensitive display, the bedside controller being further configured to receive, through the touch-sensitive display, a user measurement input on a medical image displayed on the display, select a measurement mode based on a shape of the user measurement input, and calculate a measurement value associated with the user measurement input based on the measurement mode.

27. The medical measuring system of claim 26, wherein the bedside controller is configured to select one of a diameter measurement mode and an area measurement mode based on the shape of the user measurement input.

28. The medical measuring system of claim 26, wherein the bedside controller is configured to receive a user measurement input start point defined by a point of initial contact with the touch-sensitive display and a user measurement input end point defined by a point of last contact with the touch-sensitive display.

29. The medical measuring system of claim 28, wherein the bedside controller is further configured to calculate a distance between the start point and the end point of the user measurement input on the image, compare the distance to a threshold, and select a measurement mode based on the comparison.

30. The medical measuring system of claim 26, wherein the bedside controller is configured to control the commencement and termination of a recordation of medical data captured by the medical sensor device.