Method and system for facilitating interaction between image and non-image sections displayed on an image review station such as an ultrasound image review station

• US 6,535,615 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Zachmann, Eric, Schmitter, Paul, Hastings, Jeffrey S., Rock, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tabatabai, Abolfazl
• Application Number:
  US09/283,099
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 382/133, 382/129, 345/163, 345/164, 345/156, 345/157, 600/437, 600/447, 600/452
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and system are provided for facilitating interaction between image and non-image sections displayed on an image review station. With the preferred embodiments, a user can interact with image and non-image sections without changing focus between the sections, thereby allowing the user to be much more efficient in the use of the medical image review station. In one presently preferred embodiment, an image review station processor determines which operation should be performed based on a position of a displayed pointer, regardless of which section is under focus. In another presently preferred embodiment, a user interface device is dedicated to either an image or non-image section such that input from the dedicated user interface device will be applied to the corresponding section regardless of which section is in focus. In a third presently preferred embodiment, the processor determines what operation will be performed based on the type of command received by a voice recognition user interface device, regardless of which section is under focus.

Claims

1. In a medical image review station displaying an image section, a non-image section, and a pointer positioned over the image or non-image section, wherein one of the image section and the non-image section is under focus and the other is not under focus, a method for executing a command from a user interface device without changing a focus between the image and non-image sections, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a command from a user interface device;

(b) determining whether a pointer is positioned over an image section or a non-image section;

(c) without changing focus between the image and non-image sections, executing an image section operation associated with the command in response to the pointer being positioned over the image section; and

(d) without changing the focus between the image and non-image sections, executing a non-image section operation associated with the command in response to the pointer being positioned over the non-image section.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises receiving a single-click command from a mouse and wherein (c) comprises selecting an image indicated by the pointer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises receiving a single-click command from a mouse and wherein (d) comprises positioning a text cursor in a location indicated by the pointer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises receiving a double-click command from a mouse and wherein (c) comprises enlarging an image indicated by the pointer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises receiving a double-click command from a mouse and wherein (d) comprises selecting a word indicated by the pointer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises receiving a single-click-and-drag command from a mouse herein (c) comprises making a measurement of an image along a click-and-drag sweep.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises receiving a single-click-and-drag command from a mouse and wherein (d) comprises selecting a range of text along a click-and-drag sweep.

8. In a medical image review station displaying an image section and a non-image section, a method for executing a command from a user interface device without changing a focus between the image and non-image sections, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a focus in a non-image section;

(b) receiving a command from a user interface device associated with an image section and not associated with the non-image section, said command being associated with an image section operation and not being associated with a non-image section operation; and

(c) without changing a focus from the non-image section to the image section, executing the image section operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein (b) comprises receiving a command from a scroll wheel of a mouse, and wherein (c) comprises executing an image scrolling operation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein (b) comprises receiving a command from a scroll wheel of a mouse, and wherein (c) comprises closing a current examination and automatically displaying a next examination.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining a next examination from a set of examinations based on examination location.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining a next examination from a set of examinations based on user preference.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining a next examination from a set of examinations based on a predicted priority scheme.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein (b) comprises receiving a command from a keyboard, and wherein (c) comprises executing an image scrolling operation.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein when focus is established in the non-image section in (a), the image section is not under focus.

16. In a medical image review station displaying an image section and a non-image section, a method for executing a command from a user interface device without changing a focus between the image and non-image sections, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a focus in an image section;

(b) receiving a command from a user interface device associated with a non-image section and not associated with the image section, said command being associated with a non-image section operation and not being associated with an image section operation; and

(c) without changing a focus from the image section to the non-image section, executing the non-image section operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein when focus is established in the image section in (a), the non-image section is not under focus.

18. In a medical image review station displaying an image section and a non-image section, a method for executing a command from a user interface element without changing a focus between the image and non-image sections, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a command from a voice recognition device, said command being associated with either an image section operation or a non-image section operation but not both;

(b) determining whether the command is associated with an image section operation or a non-image section operation;

(c) without changing a focus between the image and non-image sections, executing the image section operation in response to the command being associated with the image section; and

(d) without changing a focus between the image and non-image sections, executing the non-image section operation in response to the command being associated with the non-image section.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein (c) comprises executing an image scrolling operation.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein (d) comprises inserting a textual phrase into a field in an image report of the non-image section.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the image section and the non-image section is under focus and the other is not under focus.

22. A medical image review station comprising:

at least one monitor;

at least one user interface device; and

a processor coupled with said at least one monitor and said at least one user interface device, the processor being operative to display an image and a non-image section on said at least one monitor, wherein one of the image section and the non-image section is under focus and the other is not under focus;

the processor being further operative to execute an operation associated with a command received from said at least one user interface device regardless of which section is under focus.

23. The medical image review station of claim 22, wherein said at least one user interface device comprises a mouse.

24. The medical image review station of claim 22, wherein said at least one user interface device comprises a keyboard.

25. The medical image review station of claim 22, wherein said at least one user interface device comprises a voice recognition user interface device.