User control interface for an ultrasound processor

• US 6,468,212 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adalberto Vara
• Original Assignee: Adalberto Vara
• Inventors: Vera, Albert, Scott, Walter Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US09/148,093
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 705/3, 736/25--33, 378/98, 345/348, 345/349, 600/437, 600/440
• 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 8/463 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: G01S 7/52073 Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52074 Composite displays, e.g. split-screen displays; Combination of multiple images or of images and alphanumeric tabular information
• 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: G01S 7/52098 related to workflow protocols

Abstract

The virtual control user interface for an ultrasound processor includes a software driven display obtained from a memory unit in the ultrasound processor and displayed on a display monitor (part of the ultrasound processor) under control of a processor unit (which is also part of the ultrasound processor). The software driven display reveals images representative of hardware control configurations for other ultrasound processors. The images provided by the software driven display and displayed by on the display include: a plurality of gain control tactile user interfaces, a plurality of ultrasound image enhancement control tactile user interfaces and, at least one focused control tactile user interface. The software driven display has multiple menu levels for the display of the gain control images, the ultrasound images enhancement control images and the focused control image. The software driven display is also further configured to reveal images of more than one ultrasound processor. 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 a software command corresponding to the image proximally displayed on touch sensitive display monitor. Other features include the ability to recall previously scanned ultrasound images, to annotate recently acquired ultrasound images and provide 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. A computer system electronically coupled to an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound scan head and a scan head interface unit, said computer comprising:

a processor unit, a memory unit, a display monitor, a keyboard having a tactile user actuated control surface, an input/output interface for said display monitor and said keyboard, software in said memory unit for causing said processor unit to upload or download data from or to the ultrasound system;

software for operating an ultrasound system with predetermined operating and display parameters including focus, time gain compensation, gain, display colors, frequency probe adjustments, doppler settings and shot sequences; and

, a bus electronically coupling the ultrasound system to said processor unit, said memory unit, said display monitor, and said input/output interface for said display monitor and said keyboard;

said computer system including a virtual control user interface comprising;

software controls in said memory unit for manipulating, enhancing, annotating and post-processing images on said display monitor under the control of said processor unit and for storing said images, said images including live images of a hardware control configuration for a subject being viewed by the ultrasound system, or archived images of a hardware control configuration in said memory or retrieved from another ultrasound system or from an archival device;

said software controls including;

a plurality of computer driven gain control user interfaces,

a plurality of computer driven ultrasound image enhancement control user interfaces, and

at least one computer driven focus control user interface,

said software controls having multiple menu levels for display of (a) said plurality of gain control images, (b) said plurality of ultrasound images and (c) said focus control images, and

said software controls enabling the operating parameters of the ultrasound system and the display parameters of data from the ultrasound system to be altered by the user of said computer system to the predetermined operating and display parameters or to parameters desired by the user, said parameters including at least one of;

focus, time gain compensation, gain, display colors, frequency probe adjustments, DOPPLER settings and shot sequences.

2. A computer system electronically coupled to an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound scan head and a scan head interface unit, said computer comprising:

a processor unit, a memory unit, a display monitor, a keyboard having a tactile user actuated control surface, an input/output interface for said display monitor and said keyboard, software in said memory unit for causing said processor unit to upload or download data from or to the ultrasound system;

software for operating an ultrasound system with predetermined operating and display parameters including focus, time gain compensation, gain, display colors, frequency probe adjustments, doppler settings and shot sequences; and

, a bus electronically coupling the ultrasound system to said processor unit, said memory unit, said display monitor, and said input/output interface for said display monitor and said keyboard;

said computer system including a virtual control user interface comprising;

software controls in said memory unit for manipulating, enhancing, annotating and post-processing images on said display monitor under the control of said processor unit and for storing said images, said images including live images of a hardware control configuration for a subject being viewed by the ultrasound system, or archived images of a hardware control configuration in said memory or retrieved from another ultrasound system or from an archival device;

said software controls including;

a plurality of computer driven gain control user interfaces,

a plurality of computer driven ultrasound image enhancement control

user interfaces, and

at least one computer driven focus control user interface,

said software controls having multiple menu levels for display of (a) said plurality of gain control images, (b) said plurality of ultrasound images and (c) said focus control images;

said software controls enabling the operating parameters of the ultrasound system and the display parameters of data from the ultrasound system to be altered by the user of said computer system to the predetermined operating and display parameters or to parameters desired by the user, said parameters including at least one of;

focus, time gain compensation, gain, display colors, frequency probe adjustments, DOPPLER settings and shot sequences; and

a touch screen input converter responsive to a user'"'"'s touch on said touch sensitive display monitor to convert the tactile input into a software command corresponding to the image proximally displayed on said touch sensitive display monitor.