Methods and apparatus for controlling the display of medical images

• US 7,058,901 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Cui, Tongzhe, Hafey, Christopher, van den Hoven, Ton, Chang, Paul Joseph, Lionetti, David
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, RYAN R
• Application Number:
  US10/696,733
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/629, 345/650, 345/661, 345/660, 345/157, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 715/792, 715/838
• US Class Current: 715/792
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A navigation rectangle controls display of medical images in a multi-display system. Multiple thumbnail sized medical images are displayed on a control panel. Each navigation rectangle encompasses one or more thumbnail size medical images on the control panel. In turn, images, corresponding to the thumbnail size medical images encompassed by the navigation rectangle, are displayed on a monitor that corresponds to the navigation rectangle. The user may fully move the navigation rectangle to select any images within an exam, and the user may resize the navigation rectangle to include or exclude images. The user may move images in and out of the navigation rectangle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling display of medical images, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of thumbnail size medical images on a control panel;

displaying, on said control panel, a first navigation rectangle that encompasses a first set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor;

displaying, on a first display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images;

displaying, on said control panel, a second navigation rectangle that encompasses a second set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor; and

displaying, on a second display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said second set of thumbnail size medical images.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying images for at least one medical exam on said control panel, said images for said medical exam comprising a plurality of said thumbnail size medical images;

receiving user input to select at least one thumbnail size medical image of a medical exam for a navigation rectangle;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, a navigation rectangle that encompasses said thumbnail size medical image for said medical exam selected; and

displaying, on a display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said thumbnail size medical image.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to replace at least one thumbnail size medical image of a medical exam with at least one different thumbnail size medical image of said medical exam;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, a new navigation rectangle that encompasses said different thumbnail size medical image selected; and

displaying, on a display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said different thumbnail size medical image.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to select at least one additional thumbnail size medical image;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, a new navigation rectangle that encompasses said additional thumbnail size medical image selected; and

displaying, on a display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said additional thumbnail size medical image.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying, on a first display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images comprises the step of displaying a plurality of medical images, each in a window pane on said first display.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the step of displaying, in a portion of a thumbnail image on said control panel, a pane icon that identifies a location of a pane for said corresponding medical image displayed on said display.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to reposition at least one thumbnail size medical image within said navigation rectangle;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, said navigation rectangle that encompasses said repositioned thumbnail size medical image; and

displaying, on a display, said medical images in an order that corresponds to said repositioned thumbnail size medical images.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of virtual monitors for a single display;

displaying, on said control panel, a first navigation rectangle that encompasses a first set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor;

displaying, within a first virtual monitor on said display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images;

displaying, on said control panel, a second navigation rectangle that encompasses a second set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor; and

displaying, within a second virtual monitor on said display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said second set of thumbnail size medical images.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to bind at least two navigation rectangles;

receiving user input to conduct an operation on said two navigation rectangles;

conducting, in response to said input, said operation on both of said navigation rectangles displayed on said control panel; and

conducting said operation so as to effectuate two monitors that correspond to said two navigation rectangles bound.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of window panes on a display, such that said window panes divide said display into a plurality of sections;

displaying a plurality of medical images, each in a window pane of said display;

receiving user input to generate a segment for at least two window panes;

receiving user input to conduct an operation on said segment;

conducting, in response to said input, said operation on said segment displayed on said control panel; and

conducting said operation so as to effectuate said two window panes that correspond to said segment.

14. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising an input device for receiving user input to select at least one additional thumbnail size medical image, and wherein:

said control panel for displaying, in response to said user input, a new navigation rectangle that encompasses said additional thumbnail size medical image selected; and

said display for displaying at least one medical image that corresponds to said additional thumbnail size medical image.

15. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said display for displaying a plurality of medical images, each in a window pane on said display.

16. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said control panel for displaying, in a portion of a thumbnail image, a pane icon that identifies a location of a pane for said corresponding medical image displayed on said display.

17. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising an input device for receiving user input to reposition at least one thumbnail size medical image within said navigation rectangle;

and wherein;

said control panel for displaying, in response to said user input, said navigation rectangle that encompasses said repositioned thumbnail size medical image; and

said display for displaying said medical images in an order that corresponds to said repositioned thumbnail size medical images.

18. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said display further comprising a plurality of virtual monitors;

said control panel for displaying a first navigation rectangle that encompasses a first set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control panel;

said first virtual monitor for displaying at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images;

said control panel for displaying a second navigation rectangle that encompasses a second set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control panel; and

said second virtual monitor for displaying at least one medical image that corresponds to said second set of thumbnail size medical images.

19. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

input device for receiving user input to bind at least two navigation rectangles and for receiving user input to conduct an operation on said two navigation rectangles; and

software for conducting, in response to said input, said operation on both of said navigation rectangles displayed on said control panel, and for conducting said operation so as to effectuate two monitors that correspond to said two navigation rectangles bound.

20. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of window panes displayed on said display, such that said window panes divide said display into a plurality of sections, each window pane for displaying a medical image;

input device for receiving user input to generate a segment for at least two window panes and for receiving user input to conduct an operation on said segment;

software for conducting, in response to said input, said operation on said segment displayed on said control panel, and for conducting said operation so as to effectuate said two window panes that correspond to said segment.

11. A medical informatics system comprising:

control panel for displaying a plurality of thumbnail size medical images, for displaying a first navigation rectangle that encompasses a first set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor, and for displaying a second navigation rectangle that encompasses a second set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor;

first display, coupled to said control panel, for displaying at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images; and

second display for displaying at least one medical image that corresponds to said second set of thumbnail size medical images.

12. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 11, further comprising input device, coupled to said control panel, for receiving user input to select at least one thumbnail size medical image of a medical exam for a navigation rectangle;

and wherein;

said control panel further for displaying images for at least one medical exam, said images for said medical exam comprising a plurality of said thumbnail size medical images;

said control panel for displaying in response to said user input, a navigation rectangle that encompasses said thumbnail size medical image for said medical exam selected; and

said display for displaying at least one medical image that corresponds to said thumbnail size medical image.

13. The medical informatics system as set forth in claim 12, further comprising an input device for receiving user input to replace at least one thumbnail size medical image of a medical exam with at least one different thumbnail size medical image of said medical exam, and wherein:

said control panel for displaying, in response to said user input, a new navigation rectangle that encompasses said different thumbnail size medical image selected; and

said display for displaying, on a display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said different thumbnail size medical image.

21. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a plurality of thumbnail size medical images on a control panel;

displaying, on said control panel, a first navigation rectangle that encompasses a first set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor;

displaying, on a first display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images;

displaying, on said control panel, a second navigation rectangle that encompasses a second set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor; and

displaying, on a second display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said second set of thumbnail size medical images.

22. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

displaying images for at least one medical exam on said control panel, said images for said medical exam comprising a plurality of said thumbnail size medical images;

receiving user input to select at least one thumbnail size medical image of a medical exam for a navigation rectangle;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, a navigation rectangle that encompasses said thumbnail size medical image for said medical exam selected; and

displaying, on a display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said thumbnail size medical image.

23. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to replace at least one thumbnail size medical image of a medical exam with at least one different thumbnail size medical image of said medical exam;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, a new navigation rectangle that encompasses said different thumbnail size medical image selected; and

displaying, on a display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said different thumbnail size medical image.

24. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to select at least one additional thumbnail size medical image;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, a new navigation rectangle that encompasses said additional thumbnail size medical image selected; and

displaying, on a display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said additional thumbnail size medical image.

25. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, wherein the step of displaying, on a first display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images comprises the step of displaying a plurality of medical images, each in a window pane on said first display.

26. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 25, further comprising the step of displaying, in a portion of a thumbnail image on said control panel, a pane icon that identifies a location of a pane for said corresponding medical image displayed on said display.

27. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to reposition at least one thumbnail size medical image within said navigation rectangle;

displaying, on said control panel, in response to said user input, said navigation rectangle that encompasses said repositioned thumbnail size medical image; and

displaying, on a display, said medical images in an order that corresponds to said repositioned thumbnail size medical images.

28. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of virtual monitors for a single display;

displaying, on said control panel, a first navigation rectangle that encompasses a first set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor;

displaying, within a first virtual monitor on said display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said first set of thumbnail size medical images;

displaying, on said control panel, a second navigation rectangle that encompasses a second set of thumbnail size medical images comprising at least one of said thumbnail size medical images displayed on said control monitor; and

displaying, within a second virtual monitor on said display, at least one medical image that corresponds to said second set of thumbnail size medical images.

29. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input to bind at least two navigation rectangles;

receiving user input to conduct an operation on said two navigation rectangles;

conducting, in response to said input, said operation on both of said navigation rectangles displayed on said control panel; and

conducting said operation so as to effectuate two monitors that correspond to said two navigation rectangles bound.

30. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of window panes on a display, such that said window panes divide said display into a plurality of sections;

displaying a plurality of medical images, each in a window pane of said display;

receiving user input to generate a segment for at least two window panes;

receiving user input to conduct an operation on said segment;

conducting, in response to said input, said operation on said segment displayed on said control panel; and

conducting said operation so as to effectuate said two window panes that correspond to said segment.