Medical imaging programmable custom user interface system and method

• US 20040109028A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McCabe, Laurence S., Stern, Steven J., Nock, Levin F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/771
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Methods and systems for a user to create a custom menu for medical imaging are provided. To maximize the ease of use and increase user efficiency, the user interface is tailored to a particular user or for a certain application. The user selects from various imaging parameters in a preprogrammed user interface displayed on a monitor or other display device. The selection is by collecting the desired items or by discarding undesired items. After selection, the desired items are displayed in a customized display state. This customized display state can be labeled and stored for later use. An assignable key is also provided. Imaging functions, such as a type of B-mode or Doppler imaging, are assigned to the key. Different or new functions may be later assigned to the key as the most used imaging functions change. Any customization may be different for different users of the same system, such as by saving the customization related to a log-on procedure.

Claims

1. A method for creating custom access in a medical imaging system comprising:

(a) selecting, with a user interface, one or more imaging options available to the user; and

(b) mapping selected ones of the imaging options for custom access.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the custom access comprises one or more soft controls including at least one of menus, radio buttons, soft buttons, and sliders;

and wherein the user interface is disposed on one of;

the medical imaging system keyboard, and a peripheral device connected to the medical imaging system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging options include one or more of:

imaging parameters, post-processing parameters, signal processing, data storage, system configuration and imaging functions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) comprises selecting with the user interface first and second imaging parameters from respective first and second preprogrammed menus, the first preprogrammed menu different than the second preprogrammed menu;

and wherein (b) comprises providing the first and second imaging parameters on a custom menu.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein (b) comprises copying to the custom menu wherein the custom menu comprises a single page.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein (a) comprises selecting imaging parameters comprising beamforming parameters.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein (a) comprises selecting imaging parameters comprising image processing parameters.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein (a) comprises selecting imaging parameters comprising filtering parameters.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein (a) comprises selecting imaging parameters comprising at least two from the group of:

beamforming parameters, image processing parameters and display objects.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein (a) comprises selecting the first imaging parameter comprising a modifiable imaging parameter.

11. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

(c) storing the custom menu after (b).

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(c) repeating (a) and (b) for a different custom menu; and

(d) storing the different custom menu after (c) associated with a different name.

13. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

(c) providing a selection tool;

wherein (a) comprises selecting with the selection tool.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein (c) comprises displaying selection buttons associated with imaging parameters of the first and second menus and wherein (a) comprises selecting the selection buttons for the first and second imaging parameters.

15. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

(c) displaying the custom menu on a display remote from a display connected with the user interface.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) comprises selecting one of at least two imaging functions, and wherein (b) comprises assigning a key on a keyboard to the one of the at least two imaging functions;

and further comprising;

(c) activating the one of the at least two imaging functions in response to the key.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(d) listing the at least two imaging functions on a feature list;

wherein (a) comprises selecting the one of at least two imaging functions from the feature list.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein (a) comprises selecting the one of at least two imaging functions from a list of at least six imaging functions;

further comprising;

(d) assigning another key of the keyboard to a second one of the at least six imaging functions, the other key different than the key of (b).

19. A system for a user to create a custom menu for medical imaging, the system comprising:

a user input;

a display operable to display a custom menu and first and second preprogrammed menus, the first and second preprogrammed menus including respective first and second imaging parameters, the first preprogrammed menu different than the second preprogrammed menu; and

a user interface processor operable copy the first and second imaging parameters to the custom menu in response to a user selecting with the f user input the first and second imaging parameters from the respective first and second preprogrammed menus.

20. A method for a user to create a custom menu in a medical imaging system, the method comprising:

(a) providing at least one menu having both a plurality of objects and a custom page;

(b) selecting by a user with a user input at least one of the plurality of objects; and

(c) providing the at least one of the plurality of objects on the custom page in response to (b).

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) displaying the custom page after (c), the custom page having a first set of objects different than any menu page available on the medical imaging system.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(e) modifying a variable corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects, the modification being on the custom page; and

(f) imaging with the medical imaging system, the imaging responsive to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

23. A system for a user customize keyboard functions for medical imaging, the system comprising:

a user input having a first key on a keyboard;

a display operable to display a menu of at least two imaging functions; and

a user interface processor operable to assign one of the at least two imaging functions to the first key in response to user selection with the user input.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a key designator labeled to correspond to the one of the at least two imaging functions.

25. A method for a user to configure the user interface of a medical imaging system, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a list of user options; and

(b) altering the list of user options in response to user input, the alteration increasing or decreasing a number of user options on the list; and

(c) displaying the altered list of user options.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein (b) comprises decreasing the number of user options on the list.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

(d) providing a log-on procedure with user identification;

(e) performing (c) in response to the user identification.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

(d) repeating (a), (b) and (c) as a function of imaging application, the lists one imaging application different than the list for a different imaging applications.