User interface for handheld imaging devices

• US 20060116578A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zonare Medical Systems Incorporated (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Zonare Medical Systems Incorporated (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grunwald, Sorin, McLaughlin, Glen W., Stanson, Robert, Batool, Ailya, Hom, Soo
• Application Number:
  US11/336,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/440
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8981 Discriminating between fixed and moving objects or between objects moving at different speeds, e.g. wall clutter filter
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A Graphical User Interface (GUI) for an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system has operational modes and the GUI has corresponding icons, tabs, and menu items image and information fields. The User Interface (UI) provides several types of graphical elements with intelligent behavior, such as being context sensitive and adaptive, called active objects, for example, tabs, menus, icons, windows of user interaction and data display and an alphanumeric keyboard. In addition the UI may also be voice activated. The UI further provides for a touchscreen for direct selection of displayed active objects. In an embodiment, the UI is for a medical ultrasound handheld imaging instrument. The UI provides a limited set of hard and soft keys with adaptive functionality that can be used with only one hand and potentially with only one thumb.

Claims

1. A user interface for a handheld ultrasound system, the user interface comprising:

a graphical user interface configured to present to a choice of display modes, one of the display modes configured to display an anatomically correct image that represents flow as motion of a speckled pattern.

2. An ultrasound system comprising:

an ultrasound imaging device capable of operating in a plurality of operation modes, wherein at least one of the operation modes is selected from a group of operation modes; and

a user interface comprising an auto optimize mode configured to automatically optimize a display of the ultrasound imaging device by adjusting one or more settings selected from the group consisting of;

gain, contrast, compression maps, position of an image on the display, edge enhancement, persistence, flash suppression, or baseline shift, in accordance with a plurality of parameters selected by a user of the ultrasound imaging device.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is capable of simultaneously operating in each of the operation modes of the group of operation modes.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is operating in an image selection mode.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein the image selection mode comprises a plurality of image viewing modes.

6. The ultrasound system of claim 5, wherein the image viewing mode comprises a B-mode.

7. The ultrasound system of claim 5, wherein the image viewing mode comprises an M-mode.

8. The ultrasound system of claim 5, wherein the image viewing mode comprises a power Doppler mode.

9. The ultrasound system of claim 5, wherein the image viewing mode comprises a continuous wave Doppler mode.

10. The ultrasound system of claim 5, wherein the image viewing mode comprises a pulsed wave Doppler mode.

11. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is operating in an image acquisition mode.

12. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is operating in a system configuration mode.

13. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is operating in a measure and annotate mode.

14. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is operating in an archiving mode.

15. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is operating in a system services mode.

16. An ultrasound system comprising:

a display and control unit comprising;

a graphical user interface comprising active elements responsive to an operation mode of the ultrasound system, and to a record of prior user choices;

a screen for displaying the graphical user interface; and

an auto optimize button, menu item, or icon to automatically optimize the graphical user interface by adjusting one or more settings selected from the group consisting of;

gain, contrast, compression maps, position of an image on the display, edge enhancement, persistence, flash suppression, or baseline shift, in accordance with a plurality of parameters selected by a user; and

a transducer unit for receiving and transmitting ultrasonic signals, the transducer unit communicatively coupled to the display and control unit.

17. The ultrasound system of claim 16 further comprising a docking unit configured for recharging the display and control unit.

18. The ultrasound system of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a virtual keyboard.