USER INTERFACE AND VIEWING WORKFLOW FOR MAMMOGRAPHY WORKSTATION

• US 20090185732A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Three Palm Software
• Original Assignee: Three Palm Software
• Inventors: Tabár, László, Zhang, Heidi, Heffernan, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,803,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/30 Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• 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

Abstract

This invention provides a simple user interface and sequencing viewing method for a mammography interpretation workstation. In particular, the invention includes the method and apparatus that moves the source images and the associated data using two-level of pre-fetching and caching mechanism, sequences the reading workflow (including worklist, hanging protocol, viewing sequencing), draws markup using electronic grease pan, and automatically generates the recall forms and screening reports. The user interface operates on single button and mouse wheel style to maximize the radiologists'"'"' efficiency.

Claims

1. In a system that provides user interfaces for radiologists to effectively and efficiently perform mammography interpretation task, a method for reading mammogram images, comprises:

two-level of caching mechanism in order to open a study immediately;

image screens and navigation screen;

visual configuration user interface for end-user to define the viewing sequence and hanging protocols;

image display;

user interface for reading images;

recall and screen report generation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said the viewing sequence comprises:

overall viewing step to display current standard 4-view mammograms and prior standard 4-view mammograms on the image screen;

assess image quality step to display current study in 2-view hanging protocol; and

to markup any quality issue if any; and

to make correction if possible; and

to communicate the quality issue with acquisition system according to communication standard;

current and prior comparison step to display same view from current and prior exams on the image screen;

systematic perception viewing step to overlay the mask graphics over a pair of images;

full-resolution all pixel viewing step to sequentially display all regions of the image in actual pixel;

finding markup and review step for generating reports.

3. The method of claim 2, each viewing step wherein said the viewing sequence:

can be configured to include and exclude in the view sequence;

single button click user interface to step through each viewing step (including the hanging protocol sequence).

4. The method of claim 2, the hanging protocols for each viewing step comprise:

2×

4 layout for current and prior mammograms, or standard 4-view mammograms plus extra view mammograms;

1×

2 layout for a pair of mammograms either bilateral, or unilateral, or same view of current and prior exams;

1×

4 layout for standard 4-view mammograms

any layout for user defining any hanging protocol.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said the overview step and the current and prior comparison step, user configured stepping user interface comprises:

stepping user interface to step through each prior exam;

stepping user interface to loop through each prior exam.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said systematic perception masks, comprises:

oblique mask align to the pectoral muscle overlay on two bilateral MLO mammograms or same MLO view of current and prior mammograms;

horizontal mask overlay on any bilateral mammograms or same view of current and prior mammograms;

vertical mask overlay on a pair of CC mammograms.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said oblique mask and vertical mask, can be moved toward nipple or toward chestwall with user defined step distance.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said horizontal mask can be moved toward top or toward bottom of image edges with user defined step distance.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said systematic perception masks, can be drawn in user defined graphic style, comprises:

opacity of the mask;

border color of the mask;

border thickness of the mask;

mask angle and size.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said full-resolution all pixel viewing, comprises:

automatically calculate the path to scan a full resolution image;

user interface to systematically move a region window along the calculated path to view the image in full-resolution;

visual feedback using transparent graphic to track the regions that have been viewed.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating reports, comprises:

user interface to markup lesion finding using electronic grease pen;

screen capture of the markup and images;

location of the lesion markup;

type of the lesion markup;

markup assessment;

recall procedures.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said image display, comprises:

chest wall and/or tissue or muscle alignment using a breast mask bounding box;

present images using configured hanging protocol;

high-light images from current exam;

display clinical text information on opposite of chestwall.