PC based ultrasound device with virtual control user interface

• US 6,063,030 A
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adalberto Vara
• Original Assignee: Adalberto Vara
• Inventors: Marcinka, John W., Vara, Albert, Dhein, Robert L., Glenn, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M
• Application Number:
  US09/124,172
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/440-447, 600/449, 73/625, 73/626, 73/620, 348/163
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• 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 8/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52033 Gain control of receivers for seismic signals G01V1/245
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52053 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52071 Multicolour displays; using colour coding; Optimising colour or information content in displays, e.g. parametric imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52073 Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• 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: G01S 7/52098 related to workflow protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 : ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

The PC based ultrasound system utilizes a standard PC central processing unit or CPU (an Intel 486 processor or better), standard PC memory storage and retrieval components, a scan conversion board and a video processing board, all disposed and electronically linked to the bus in the computer. Additionally, the analog drive and return scan video signals are sent to and received from a video processing and motor control unit. The video processing and motor control unit is coupled to an ultrasound scan lead or probe. The virtual control user interface for the ultrasound system includes a software driven display obtained from memory. The software driven display reveals images representative of hardware control configurations for many different ultrasound processors. The images provided by the software driven display include: gain control tactile user interfaces, image enhancement control tactile user interfaces, focus control tactile user interface, multiple menu levels for gain control, image enhancement, and focus controls. In a further embodiment, the virtual control user interface is used in conjunction with a touch sensitive user input screen and the virtual control user interface includes a touch screen input command converter responsive to a user'"'"'s touch on the touch sensitive display monitor to convert the tactile input into software commands. Other features include the ability to recall previously scanned ultrasound images, annotate recently acquired ultrasound images, preferably in color, electronically transfer the images to other peripheral computer equipment, and display a checklist for medical protocol involved in the ultrasound medical techniques. The medical protocol is loaded as pull down or pop up menu available to the user.

Claims

1. An ultrasound device with a virtual control user interface electronically couple to an ultrasound scan head comprising:

a display monitor;

a keyboard;

a personal computer data and communications bus;

a central processing unit (CPU), a memory unit, and an input/output interface for said display monitor and said keyboard, all physically and electronically plugged into said bus;

a scan head converter and driver coupled between said bus and said ultrasound scan head;

a virtual control user interface including a software driven display, obtained from memory and displayed on said display monitor under the control of said CPU, revealing images representative of a hardware control configuration for another ultrasound processor;

said images including;

a plurality of gain control tactile user interfaces,

a plurality of ultrasound image enhancement control tactile user interfaces, and,

at least one focus control tactile user interface,

said software driven display having multiple menu levels for display of said plurality of gain control images, said plurality of ultrasound image enhancement control images and said focus control image, said software driven display further configured to reveal images of more than one ultrasound processor; and

,

means for controlling said scan head based upon said virtual control user interface and for processing scan head data signals.