MULTI-FINGER TOUCH ADAPTATIONS FOR MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEMS

• US 20100293500A1
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fork, Michael J., Cragun, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,677,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for presenting image slices in a windowing environment based on multi-touch user input, the image slices generated by an imaging system. A series of image slices may be provided that represent a view of an object. A gesture may be defined based on at least a count of fingers represented in multi-touch user input. Further, the defined gesture may be associated with a corresponding action for manipulating an image slice. Multi-touch user input may be received. Upon determining that the received multi-touch user input includes the defined gesture, the corresponding action may be performed on an image slice of the series to generate a resultant image slice. The resultant image slice may be output via an output device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting image slices in a windowing environment based on multi-touch user input, the image slices generated by an imaging system, the method comprising configuring one or more processors to perform an operation comprising:

providing a series of image slices representing a view of an object;

defining a gesture based on at least a count of fingers represented in multi-touch user input;

associating the defined gesture with a corresponding action for manipulating an image slice;

receiving multi-touch user input;

upon determining that the received multi-touch user input includes the defined gesture, performing the corresponding action on an image slice of the series to generate a resultant image slice; and

outputting the resultant image slice via an output device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the imaging system is a medical imaging system, and wherein the object comprises part of a living organism.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the action is selected from at least one of adjusting brightness of an image slice, adjusting contrast of an image slice, scrolling an image slice, moving from an image slice to a next image slice, combining two image slices, and linking two image slices;

and wherein the defined gesture specifies a configuration of fingers represented in multi-touch user input, wherein the configuration of fingers is selected from at least;

(i) an absolute position of the fingers;

(ii) a relative position of the fingers; and

(iii) movement of the fingers.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the count of fingers determines an image slice on which to perform the action.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the action is scrolling an image slice, and wherein the count of fingers determines how finely to scroll the image slice.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the operation further comprises:

defining two modes for manipulating image slices, each mode modifying an attribute of a corresponding action, wherein the attribute determines behavior of the action; and

selecting, from the two modes, a mode based on the received multi-touch user input;

wherein the count of fingers determines an image slice on which to perform the action, and wherein the action is performed according to the attribute of the selected mode.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the operation further comprises:

defining two thumb positions comprising a first thumb position and a second thumb position, wherein the first mode is selected if the received multi-touch user input includes a first thumb position, and wherein the second mode is selected if the received multi-touch user input includes a second thumb position.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the operation further comprises:

defining a thumb gesture for changing modes; and

changing the mode if the received multi-touch user input includes the thumb gesture.

9. A computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for presenting image slices in a windowing environment based on multi-touch user input, the image slices generated by an imaging system, comprising:

providing a series of image slices representing a view of an object;

defining a gesture based on at least a count of fingers represented in multi-touch user input;

associating the defined gesture with a corresponding action for manipulating an image slice;

receiving multi-touch user input;

upon determining that the received multi-touch user input includes the defined gesture, performing the corresponding action on an image slice of the series to generate a resultant image slice; and

outputting the resultant image slice via an output device.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the imaging system is a medical imaging system, and wherein the object comprises part of a living organism.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the action is selected from at least one of adjusting brightness of an image slice, adjusting contrast of an image slice, scrolling an image slice, moving from an image slice to a next image slice, combining two image slices, and linking two image slices;

and wherein the defined gesture specifies a configuration of fingers represented in multi-touch user input, wherein the configuration of fingers is selected from at least;

(i) an absolute position of the fingers;

(ii) a relative position of the fingers; and

(iii) movement of the fingers.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the count of fingers determines an image slice on which to perform the action.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the action is scrolling an image slice, and wherein the count of fingers determines how finely to scroll the image slice.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises:

define two modes for manipulating image slices, each mode modifying an attribute of a corresponding action, wherein the attribute determines behavior of the action; and

select, from the two modes, a mode based on the received multi-touch user input;

wherein the count of fingers determines an image slice on which to perform the action, and wherein the action is performed according to the attribute of the selected mode.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the operation further comprises:

define two thumb positions comprising a first thumb position and a second thumb position, wherein the first mode is selected if the received multi-touch user input includes a first thumb position, and wherein the second mode is selected if the received multi-touch user input includes a second thumb position.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the operation further comprises:

define a thumb gesture for changing modes; and

change the mode if the received multi-touch user input includes the thumb gesture.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program, which when executed by the processor is configured to perform an operation for presenting image slices in a windowing environment based on multi-touch user input, the image slices generated by an imaging system, the operation comprising;

providing a series of image slices representing a view of an object;

defining a gesture based on at least a count of fingers represented in multi-touch user input;

associating the defined gesture with a corresponding action for manipulating an image slice;

receiving multi-touch user input;

upon determining that the received multi-touch user input includes the defined gesture, performing the corresponding action on an image slice of the series to generate a resultant image slice; and

outputting the resultant image slice via an output device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the imaging system is a medical imaging system, and wherein the object comprises part of a living organism.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the action is selected from at least one of adjusting brightness of an image slice, adjusting contrast of an image slice, scrolling an image slice, moving from an image slice to a next image slice, combining two image slices, and linking two image slices;

and wherein the defined gesture specifies a configuration of fingers represented in multi-touch user input, wherein the configuration of fingers is selected from at least;

(i) an absolute position of the fingers;

(ii) a relative position of the fingers; and

(iii) movement of the fingers.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the count of fingers determines an image slice on which to perform the action.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the action is scrolling an image slice, and wherein the count of fingers determines how finely to scroll the image slice.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the operation further comprises:

defining two modes for manipulating image slices, each mode modifying an attribute of a corresponding action, wherein the attribute determines behavior of the action; and

selecting, from the two modes, a mode based on the received multi-touch user input;

wherein the count of fingers determines an image slice on which to perform the action, and wherein the action is performed according to the attribute of the selected mode.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the operation further comprises:

defining two thumb positions comprising a first thumb position and a second thumb position, wherein the first mode is selected if the received multi-touch user input includes a first thumb position, and wherein the second mode is selected if the received multi-touch user input includes a second thumb position.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the operation further comprises:

defining a thumb gesture for changing modes; and

changing the mode if the received multi-touch user input includes the thumb gesture.