Medical imaging apparatus which displays predetermined information in differentiable manner from others

• US 8,046,707 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.), Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Akaki, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIENER, ERIC A
• Application Number:
  US10/745,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20040207661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,857 Days
• Field of Search: 382128-134, 382/154, 600/439, 715/764, 715/761, 715/767
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• 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

Abstract

A medical imaging apparatus for generating medical information includes an input unit, a processor, and a display. The input unit is operated by a user and is configured to input an instruction. The processor is configured to process a first part of display information relating to the medical information based on the instruction so that the first part is displayed in a differentiable manner from others of the display information. The display is configured to display the processed first part and the others of the display information.

Claims

1. A medical imaging apparatus for generating medical information regarding a plurality of measurement parameters, comprising:

a plurality of input units including a measurement parameters selection menu screen, a keyboard, and a track ball operable by a user and configured to selectively input an instruction for selecting measurement parameters among the plurality of measurement parameters to be displayed in an emphasized manner on a processed medical image;

a plurality of scan converters configured to execute measuring processes and to output mapped signals based on the instruction associated with the selected measurement parameters;

a plurality of interfaces including a video interface configured to output the mapped signals to a monitor, a printer interface configured to output the mapped signals to a printer, and a network interface configured to output the mapped signals to a remote medical imaging apparatus through a network;

a processor configured to generate a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of body symbols that depict a position and direction of a probe of the medical imaging apparatus on a human body, wherein the graphical user interface allows a user to select one of the body symbols, and at least one of the body symbols is displayed in an emphasized manner;

a first display configured to display the processed medical image associated with the selected measurement parameters, wherein the one of the body symbols selected by the user is displayed on the processed medical image;

a first setting unit configured to set a first part of display information among medical information of the selected measurement parameters to be displayed in the emphasized manner from non-selected measurement parameters; and

a display controller configured to automatically display the first part of the display information of the selected measurement parameters in the emphasized manner on the first display of the processed medical image, which is a different display than the measurement parameters selection menu, and on a second display of another image, subsequent to the first display of the processed medical image, without reselecting measurement parameters to be emphasized such that the selected measurement parameter is always displayed in the emphasized manner whenever the display controller causes the processed medical image or the another image to be displayed on or printed by either one or more of the monitor, the printer, and the remote medical imaging apparatus which are selected by the plurality of interfaces.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second input unit configured to input a second instruction for selecting a second part of the display information displayed in the first display, and a second display configured to display the second part in accordance with the second instruction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first display is further configured to display a menu list of the display information, and

the display controller controls the first part of the display information selected in the menu list of the display information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first display is further configured to display the menu list with a medical image when the medical image is included in the medical information.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical information includes a medical image.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part of the display information includes a measurement parameter name in the measurement.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part of the display information includes a measurement parameter value resulting from the measurement.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part of the display information includes a calculation parameter name of a calculation based on a measurement parameter value resulting from the measurement.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to implement a measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part of the display information includes a calculation parameter value calculated based on a measurement parameter value resulting from the measurement.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display a pointer movable in accordance with the input unit and wherein, when the display information is displayed in the first display, the processed first part includes a second part of the display information pointed by the pointer as the instruction.

11. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second input unit configured to designate a range of measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part includes a measurement result of the range of measurement.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the range is a distance.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the range is an area.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the range is an angle.

15. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second input unit configured to designate a range of measurement on the medical image, and wherein the first part includes the range of measurement.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store a table relating a first item with its plurality of detailed items of the display information as a group, and where in the first part includes the plurality of detailed items related with the first item determined by the instruction.

17. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first display is further configured to display a report including information resulting from a measurement on the medical image and wherein the first part includes a second part of the information included in the report.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store a table relating a first item with one or more second items of the display information, and wherein the first display is further configured to display whether to select the first item or not and wherein, when the first item is selected by the instruction, the second items are processed as the first part by the processor.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished in color.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished in a character font.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished in a character style.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished in a boldface.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished by highlighting the first part.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished by displaying the others of the display information in a tinted manner.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished by blinking the first part.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished by adding another information to the first part.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished by underlining the first part.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished in a character size.

29. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized manner is accomplished in a line type.

30. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first display is further configured to display a menu list of annotation information given for the medical image as the display information and the first part of the display information includes the display information selected in the menu list of the annotation information.

31. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first part includes a second part of annotation information given for the medical image as the display information.

32. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first display is further configured to display a menu list of body marks given for the medical image as the display information and the first part of the display information includes the display information selected in the menu list of the body marks.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a second input unit configured to input a second instruction for selecting a second part of the body marks from the menu list, and a second display configured to display the second part and the medical image in accordance with the second instruction, and wherein, when the second part includes the first part of the display information, the first part is displayed in the second display in a differentiable manner.

34. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the first part includes a first piece and a second piece of the display information, the first piece is displayed in a emphasized manner from the second piece.

35. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a varying unit configured to vary a degree of emphasizing for the display of the first part.

36. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the first part and the others of the display information to an external equipment through a network.

37. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus.

44. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second processor configured to be constructed so as to execute a measurement of the medical image, wherein

the input unit is constructed so as to perform an input operation by designating items of the measurement, and

the first part is displayed in an emphasized manner regardless of execution of the designated items of the measurement.

38. A medical information processing apparatus for processing medical information regarding a plurality of measurement parameters generated in a medical imaging equipment, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the medical information;

a plurality of input units including a measurement parameter selection menu screen, a keyboard, and a track ball operated by a user and configured to selectively input an instruction for selecting measurement parameters among the plurality of measurement parameters to be displayed in an emphasized manner on a processed medical image;

a plurality of scan converters configured to execute measuring processes and to output mapped signals based on the instruction associated with the selected measurement parameters;

a plurality of interfaces including a video interface configured to output the mapped signals to a monitor, a printer interface configured to output the mapped signals to a printer, and a network interface configured to output the mapped signals to a remote medical imaging apparatus through a network;

a first setting unit configured to set a first part of display information among medical information of the selected measurement parameters to be displayed in the emphasized manner from non-selected measurement parameters, and to output the first part and other display information; and

a processor configured to generate a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of body symbols that depict a position and direction of a probe of the medical imaging apparatus on a human body, wherein the graphical user interface allows a user to select one of the body symbols, and at least one of the body symbols is displayed in an emphasized manner;

a display controller configured to automatically display the first part of the display information of the selected measurement parameters in the emphasized manner on a first display of the processed medical image, different than the measurement parameters selection menu, and on a second display of another image, subsequent to the first display of the processed medical image, without reselecting measurement parameters to be emphasized such that the selected measurement parameter is always displayed in the emphasized manner whenever the display controller causes the processed medical image or the another image to be displayed on or printed by either one or more of the monitor, the printer, and the remote medical imaging apparatus which are selected by the plurality of interfaces, wherein the one of the body symbols selected by the user is displayed on the processed medical image.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the apparatus is incorporated in the medical imaging equipment.

40. The apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the first part and the other display information to an external display equipment.

41. The apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a display configured to display the output first part and the output other display information.

42. A method of processing medical information regarding a plurality of measurement parameters generated in a medical imaging equipment, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction input by a user selectively through a plurality of input units including a measurement parameters selection menu screen, a keyboard, and a track ball for inputting the instruction that selects measurement parameters among the plurality of measurement parameters to be displayed in an emphasized manner on a processed medical image;

executing, with a plurality of scan converters, measuring processes and outputting mapped signals based on the instruction associated with the selected measurement parameters;

selectively outputting the mapped signals with a plurality of interfaces including a video interface that outputs the mapped signals to a monitor, a printer interface that outputs the mapped signals to a printer, and a network interface that outputs the mapped signals to a remote medical imaging apparatus through a network;

setting a first part of display information among medical information of the selected measurement parameters to be displayed in the emphasized manner from non-selected measurement parameters;

generating a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of body symbols that depict a position and direction of a probe of the medical imaging apparatus on a human body, wherein at least one of the body symbols is displayed in an emphasized manner;

receiving, through the graphical user interface, a user selection of one of the body symbols; and

automatically displaying the first part of the display information of the selected measurement parameters in the emphasized manner on a first display of the processed medical image, different than the measurement parameters selection menu, and on a second display of another image, subsequent to the first display of the processed medical image, without reselecting measurement parameters to be emphasized such that the selected measurement parameter is always displayed in the emphasized manner whenever the display controller causes the processed medical image or the another image to be displayed on or printed by either one or more of the monitor, the printer, and the remote medical imaging apparatus which are selected by the plurality of interfaces, wherein the one of the body symbols selected by the user is displayed on the processed medical image.

43. A non-transitory computer readable storage product on which is stored a computer program for processing medical information regarding a plurality of measurement parameters generated in a medical imaging equipment, the computer program having instructions, which when executed, perform steps comprising:

determining an instruction input by a user selectively through a measurement parameters selection menu screen, a keyboard, and a track ball for inputting the instruction that selects measurement parameters among the plurality of measurement parameters to be displayed in an emphasized manner on a processed medical image; and

executing, with a plurality of scan converters, measuring processes and outputting mapped signals based on the instruction associated with the selected measurement parameters;

selectively outputting the mapped signals with a plurality of interfaces including a video interface that outputs the mapped signals to a monitor, a printer interface that outputs the mapped signals to a printer, and a network interface that outputs the mapped signals to a remote medical imaging apparatus through a network;

setting a first part of display information among medical information of the selected measurement parameters to be displayed in the emphasized manner from non-selected measurement parameters;

generating a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of body symbols that depict a position and direction of a probe of the medical imaging apparatus on a human body, wherein at least one of the body symbols is displayed in an emphasized manner;

receiving, through the graphical user interface, a user selection of one of the body symbols; and

automatically displaying the first part of the display information of the selected measurement parameters in the emphasized manner on a first display of the processed medical image, different than the measurement parameters selection menu, and on a second display of another image, subsequent to the first display of the processed medical image, without reselecting measurement parameters to be emphasized such that the selected measurement parameter is always displayed in the emphasized manner whenever the display controller causes the processed medical image or the another image to be displayed on or printed by either one or more of the monitor, the printer, and the remote medical imaging apparatus which are selected by the plurality of interfaces, wherein the one of the body symbols selected by the user is displayed on the processed medical image.