Voice-enhanced diagnostic medical ultrasound system and review station

• US 6,743,175 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Greenberg, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US10/306,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/407-471, 735/95--30, 367/7, 367/11, 367/130, 367/138, 713/182, 713/189, 713/201, 705/2, 705/3, 705/59, 704/256, 704/257, 704/235, 704/260, 345/8, 345/418, 345/348, 345/356, 345/853, 128/916, 601/2, 601/3, 707/512, 707/514, 707/104, 707/502
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52023 Details of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/063 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The preferred embodiments described herein relate to voice-enhanced diagnostic medical ultrasound imaging systems and review stations as well as to voice-related user interfaces. With these preferred embodiments, a user can interact with an imaging system or review station by issuing verbal commands instead of using a mouse, keyboard, or other user interface that requires physical manipulation by the user. This provides a very user-friendly interface, especially to those users who have difficulty navigating complex window and menu hierarchies or who have trouble manipulating pointing devices. This also improves patient flow and provides a more efficient report generation system. Voice feedback can also be used to allow the imaging system or review station to better communicate with a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing an ultrasound imaging system with voice information, the method comprising:

(a) identifying a user of an ultrasound imaging system;

(b) providing a server coupled with the ultrasound imaging system with the identity of the user; and

(c) with the server, providing the ultrasound imaging system with voice information associated with the user, wherein the voice information correlates a set of command signals recognizable by the ultrasound imaging system with an associated set of respective voice signals from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises providing a server in an ultrasound network coupled with the ultrasound imaging system with the identity of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises providing a server integral with the ultrasound imaging system with the identity of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice information further correlates a set of voice output signals transmitted by the ultrasound imaging system with an associated set of voice phrases reproducible by a voice output device of the ultrasound imaging system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising (d) providing the server with a change to the voice information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises:

(a1) receiving identification information from the user; and

(a2) identifying the user based on the received identification information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein (a1) comprises receiving verbal identification information from the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein (a1) comprises receiving verbal identification information from the user in response to an identification request from the ultrasound imaging system.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein (a1) comprises receiving non-verbal identification information from the user.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) receiving a voice signal from the user; and

(e) using the voice information, determining a command signal that is correlated to the received voice signal.

11. A method for providing an ultrasound review station with voice information, the method comprising:

(a) identifying a user of an ultrasound review station;

(b) providing a server coupled with the ultrasound review station with the identity of the user; and

(c) with the server, providing the ultrasound review station with voice information associated with the user, wherein the voice information correlates a set of command signals recognizable by the ultrasound review station with an associated set of respective voice signals from the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein (b) comprises providing a server in an ultrasound network coupled with the ultrasound review station with the identity of the user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein (b) comprises providing a server integral with the ultrasound review station with the identity of the user.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the voice information further correlates a set of voice output signals transmitted by the ultrasound review station processor with an associated set of voice phrases reproducible by a voice output device of the ultrasound review station.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising (d) providing the server with a correction to the voice information.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein (a) comprises:

(a1) receiving identification information from the user; and

(a2) identifying the user based on the received identification information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein (a1) comprises receiving verbal identification information from the user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein (a1) comprises receiving verbal identification information from the user in response to an identification request from the ultrasound review station.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein (a1) comprises receiving non-verbal identification information from the user.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(d) receiving a voice signal from the user; and

(e) using the voice information, determining a command signal that is correlated to the received voice signal.

21. A method for using voice commands to assign a function to an ultrasound imaging system or ultrasound review station user interface, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a voiced command from a user;

(b) converting the received voiced command into a function;

(c) assigning the function to a user interface device on one of an ultrasound imagine system and ultrasound review station; and

(d) performing the function in response to a signal from the user interface device on said one of the ultrasound imaging system and ultrasound review station.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein (c) comprises assigning the function to a user interface device, the user interface device being depressible.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein (c) comprises assigning the function to a user interface device, the user interface device being movable.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein (c) comprises assigning the function to a user interface device, the user interface device being depressible and movable.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein (c) comprises assigning the function to a user interface device built into an ultrasound transducer, and wherein (d) comprises performing the function in response to a signal from the user interface device built into the ultrasound transducer.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein (c) comprises assigning the function to a user interface device removably coupled with an ultrasound transducer, and wherein (d) comprises performing the function in response to a signal from the user interface device removably coupled with the ultrasound transducer.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein (c) comprises assigning the function to a user interface device selected from a group of user interface devices consisting of a wheel, a ball, a knob, a button, and a slider.