Method of measuring a biomagnetic field, method of analyzing a measured biomagnetic field, method of displaying biomagnetic field data, and an apparatus therefor

• US 7,433,506 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiroyuki, Tsukada, Keiji, Kawasaki, Takafumi, Machida, Kazuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang; Duy M
• Application Number:
  US11/717,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20070154077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382131-132, 382/320, 600/409, 600/410, 324/248
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/243 specially adapted for magnetocardiographic [MCG] signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/10 Plotting field distribution ; Measuring field distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis

Abstract

A display method for a magnetic field measuring apparatus which includes detecting a magnetic field generated from a biotest sample by a plurality of magnetic sensors and displaying measurement data obtained on the basis of the detected magnetic field in any display mode, which further comprises displaying an operating information display screen, the operating information display screen having a processing function display section selecting an operation menu including a biotest sample list, data measurement or data analysis; a biotest information display section; and a data display area.

Claims

1. A display method for a magnetic field measuring apparatus which comprises detecting a magnetic field generated from a biotest sample by a plurality of magnetic sensors and displaying measurement data obtained on the basis of the detected magnetic field in any display mode, which further comprises displaying an operating information display screen, the operating information display screen having a processing function display section selecting an operation menu including a biotest sample list, data measurement or data analysis;

a biotest information display section; and

a data display area.

2. The display method of claim 1, wherein

the data display area is capable of being switchable between a biotest sample information display screen that is divided vertically and a magnetic field map display screen that is divided horizontally;

the biotest sample information display screen has a biotest sample list display section arranged at the lower portion thereof and a data display section on a biotest sample selected in the biotest sample list display section, the data display section being arranged at the lower portion of the biotest sample information display screen;

the magnetic field map display screen has an analysis data display section, arranged on the left side thereof, for displaying waveforms measured through the plurality of magnetic sensors and an operating area display section, arranged on the right side of the magnetic field map display screen, for performing an operation for processing the waveform displayed in the analysis data display section; and

the biotest sample information display screen and the magnetic field map display screen are switchably displayed on the basis of selection of the operating menu in the processing function display section.

3. The display method of claim 2, wherein the data display section is displayed in a list form having item information indicative of measured raw data or averaged data.

4. The display method of claim 2, wherein the processing function display section includes menu items to be selected which are arranged side by side, the menu items to be selected each have sub-menu items to be selected which are displayed at a predetermined position on the basis of selection of a corresponding menu item to be selected, and on the basis of selection of a sub-menu item to be selected, the processing function display section accepts an instruction for performing an operation corresponding to the selected sub-menu item to be selected.

5. The display method of claim 3, wherein the processing function display section includes menu items to be selected which are arranged side by side, the menu items to be selected each have sub-menu items to be selected which are displayed at a predetermined position on the basis of selection of a corresponding menu item to be selected, and on the basis of selection of a sub-menu item to be selected, the processing function display section accepts an instruction for performing an operation corresponding to the selected sub-menu item to be selected.

6. The display method of claim 2, wherein the processing function display section includes an operation menu item used to register biotest sample information, and when the operation menu item is selected, a biotest sample registration screen accepting entry of the biotest sample information to be registered is newly displayed on the operating information display screen.

7. The display method of claim 3, wherein the processing function display section includes an operation menu item used to register biotest sample information, and when the operation menu item is selected, a biotest sample registration screen accepting entry of the biotest sample information to be registered is newly displayed on the operating information display screen.

8. The display method of claim 4, wherein the processing function display section includes an operation menu item used to register biotest sample information, and when the operation menu item is selected, a biotest sample registration screen accepting entry of the biotest sample information to be registered is newly displayed on the operating information display screen.

9. The display method of claim 5, wherein the processing function display section includes an operation menu item used to register biotest sample information, and when the operation menu item is selected, a biotest sample registration screen accepting entry of the biotest sample information to be registered is newly displayed on the operating information display screen.

10. The display method of claim 6, wherein the biotest sample registration screen has a registration button for registering a plurality of input items entered and an exit button for clearing the biotest sample registration screen, and each input item is registered as the biotest sample information with a click of the registration button so that the input item is cleared for preparation of reentry after registration of the input item.

11. The display method of claim 2, wherein the selection of the operating menu is performed on the basis of an operation of a touch panel arranged on the operation information display screen.

12. The display method of claim 1, which comprises displaying in the data display area channels specifying the plurality of magnetic sensors, selecting a menu item for manual adjustment as the operation menu to newly display a manual adjustment screen for setting bias currents and offset voltages of the magnetic sensors on the operation information display screen, and modifying a bias current and an offset voltage of a magnetic sensor specified on the basis of selection of a corresponding channel.

13. The display method of claim 12, wherein the manual adjustment screen has portions displaying channel numbers of the channels by which the magnetic sensor are specified, the bias currents, and the offset voltages;

a key setting up the bias current and offset voltage; and

a key canceling the bias current and the offset voltage.

14. The display method of claim 1, wherein the operation menu includes a menu item for automatic diagnosis, and the display method further comprises, on the basis of selection of the menu item for automatic diagnosis, newly displaying on the operation information display screen an automatic diagnosis screen specifying a minimum amplitude value, center value and cycle of a characteristic curve on each magnetic sensor as diagnostic conditions, and searching a channel unsuitable for measurement on the basis of the specified diagnosis conditions.

15. The display method of claim 1, wherein the automatic diagnosis screen has input portions entering parameters representative of the minimum amplitude value, center value and cycle, check boxes validating automatic diagnoses of the parameters entered through the input portions, a button performing the automatic diagnosis, and a button canceling the entered parameter.

16. The display method of claim 1, wherein the data display area is capable of being switched to a magnetic field map screen that is divided horizontally;

the magnetic field map screen has an analysis data display section arranged on the left side thereof in which waveforms measured through the plurality of magnetic sensors are displayed;

an operating area display section, arranged on the right side of the analysis data display section, for performing an operation for processing the waveform displayed in the analysis data display section;

the operating area display section includes a menu item for a heat flash of the magnetic sensor; and

the display method further comprises, on the basis of selection of the menu item for the heat flash, newly displaying a heat flash operation screen accepting selection of a magnetic sensor on the operation information display screen.

17. The display method of claim 16, wherein the heat flash operation screen includes channels selecting the magnetic sensors, a key excising the heat flash, and a key canceling the heat flash.