Multimode video controller for ultrasound and X-ray video exchange system

• US 6,152,877 A
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Masters, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/212,876
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 348/441, 348/571, 600/407, 600/410, 600/437, 600/425
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0135 involving interpolation processes interpolation-based image scaling G06T3/4007; interpolation for video coding H04N19/587, H04N19/59

Abstract

Systems and methods for exchanging ultrasound and X-ray video signals are disclosed. The system may select an analog X-ray input signal from, for example, either a fluoroscopic or roadmap video signal according to user input. The analog X-ray input signal is digitized and converted using the appropriate video conversion factors to a standard high-resolution format suitable for display on, for example, an intravascular ultrasound monitor. The digitized X-ray signal is electrically isolated from the graphics cards operating the intravascular ultrasound display. The system also digitizes high-resolution ultrasound video and converts it to a format suitable for display on a hospital X-ray monitor. The converted and digitized ultrasound video is electrically isolated from the hospital X-ray monitors.

Claims

1. A system for conversion of video, comprising:

a first analog to digital converter for digitizing a first analog video signal, said first analog video signal formatted according to a first video format, said first analog to digital converter outputting a first digitized video signal according to said first video format;

a first video converter unit for converting said first digitized video signal into a first converted digitized video signal formatted according to a second video format;

a graphics card and frame grabber, said graphics card receiving said first converted digitized video signal;

a first isolator, said first isolator electrically isolating said first converted digitized video signal and said graphics card;

a second analog to digital converter for digitizing a second analog video signal, said second analog video signal formatted according to said second video format, said second analog to digital converter outputting a second digitized video signal formatted according to said second video format

a second video converter unit for converting said second digitized video signal to a converted second digitized video signal formatted according to said first video signal;

a digital to analog converter for converting said converted second digitized video signal into a converted second analog video signal;

a second isolator, said second isolator electrically isolating said second converted digitized video signal and said digital to analog converter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first video format is chosen from a plurality of hospital X-ray video formats, and wherein said second video format is a high resolution standard video format, said system further comprising:

a system controller, said system controller coupled to said first and second video converters and controlling said first and second video converters via a subset of video conversion factors, said subset of video conversion factors chosen from a plurality of subsets of video conversion factors, said system controller choosing said subset of video conversion factors appropriately for said first video format.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a memory associated with said system controller, said memory storing said plurality of subsets of video conversion factors, and wherein a given subset of video conversion factors corresponds to a particular choice of said plurality of hospital X-ray video formats.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a video switch for selecting said first analog video signal from either a fluoroscopic video signal or a roadmap video signal;

said video switch outputting said first analog video signal to said first analog to digital converter, and said video switch responsive to command signals from said system controller.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said subset of video conversion factors includes video gain settings.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said subset of video conversion factors includes X-ray monitor horizontal width and vertical position settings.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said subset of video conversion factors includes gamma correction settings.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said subset of video conversion factors includes X-ray monitor DC settings.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein said subset of video conversion factors includes video scan rates.

10. A method of for conversion of video comprising the steps of:

entering an indicia identifying a laboratory;

digitizing a first analog X-ray video signal formatted according to a first video format to form a first digitized X-ray video signal;

selecting a first set of video conversion factors according to said indicia, said first set of video conversion factors appropriate for X-ray monitors in said laboratory;

converting said first digitized X-ray video signal to form a first converted digitized X-ray video signal formatted according to a second high-resolution video format;

electrically isolating said first converted digitized X-ray video signal from an IVUS display device;

displaying said first converted video signal on said IVUS device;

digitizing an IVUS analog video signal formatted according to said second high-resolution video format to form a second digitized IVUS video signal;

converting said second digitized IVUS video signal using said first set of video conversion factors to form a second converted digitized IVUS video signal formatted according to said first video format;

electrically isolating said second converted digitized video signal from a laboratory X-ray display; and

displaying said second digitized IVUS video signal on said laboratory X-ray device.

11. A system for conversion of video, comprising:

means for digitizing a video signal, said means for digitizing coupled to a first analog video signal and a second analog video signal, said first video signal formatted according to a first video format, said second video signal formatted according to a second video format, said means for digitizing forming a first digitized video signal from said first analog video signal and a second digitized video signal from said second analog video signal;

means for converting video signals coupled to said first and second digitized video signals, said means converting said first digitized video signal using a first set of video conversion factors to form a first converted digitized video signal according to said second video format, said means converting said second digitized video signal to form a second converted digitized video signal according to said first video format, and

means for controlling said means for converting video signals, said means for controlling commanding said means for converting video signals to select said first set of video conversion factors according to an identifying indicia input to said means for controlling.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

means for electrically isolating said first and second converted video signals.