Method and user interface for the graphical presentation of medical data

• US 8,595,653 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Glaser-Seidnitzer, Karlheinz, Kling, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, RYAN S
• Application Number:
  US12/420,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 715/862
• US Class Current: 715/862
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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
• 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

In a method and a device for the implementation of a medical examination via a user interface of at least one imaging device determination and input of a group of measurement parameters take place via an input device of the user interface. Spatially resolved image information are generated with the at least one imaging device depending on the group of measurement parameters. The image information is stored on a storage medium. The image information is presented as data symbols on a screen of the user interface. Multiple data symbols are presented in a predetermined arrangement on the screen for a medical assessment. An interest value is generated for each of the multiple data symbols with enlarged or reduced presentation of data symbols with higher interest value occurring relative to adjacent data symbols with lower interest value, such that the arrangement of the data symbols with lower interest value in n columns and m rows and at their respective size is maintained.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a medical examination via a user interface of a medical imaging device, comprising the steps of:

determining a group of measurement parameters for implementing a medical examination and entering said group of measurement parameters into of a user interface of a medical image data acquisition device;

with said medical imaging device, acquiring spatially resolved image information dependent on said group of measurement parameters, and storing said spatially resolved image information on a storage medium;

accessing said spatially resolved image information from said storage medium and presenting said spatially resolved image information as a plurality of multi-pixel medical images on a single display screen of the user interface, in an arrangement of n columns and m rows with each multi-pixel medical image having a predetermined size on said single display screen for a medical assessment;

via an indicator device that interacts with said display screen, designating one of said multi-pixel medical images as a selected image;

in said user interface, assigning said selected image a highest interest value and automatically generating respective interest values for each of the multi-pixel medical images, other than said selected image, that are dependent on and below said highest interest value; and

presenting all of said plurality of multi-pixel medical images in said arrangement on said single display screen based on said interest values, and presenting only said selected image with the highest interest value at said display screen in an enlarged form larger than said predetermined size, and shrinking other multi-pixel medical images among said plurality of multi-pixel medical images, having a high interest value but not said highest interest value, to a size smaller than said predetermined size.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising generating said interest value to decrease with a distance between respective ones of the multi-pixel medical images and a position of said selected image on said single display screen.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising presenting said multi-pixel medical images in an arrangement selected from the group consisting of a one-dimensional list, a two-dimensional grid, and a three-dimensional coordinate system.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising presenting said selected image having said highest interest value in said enlarged form superimposed over said other multi-pixel medical images having said size smaller than said predetermined size.

4. A device for implementing a medical examination via a user interface of a medical imaging device, comprising:

a processor;

an input unit configured to allow entry into said processor of a group of measurement parameters for implementing a medical examination with a medical image requisition device operate by said processor;

said processor being configured to operate said medical image acquisition device to acquire spatially resolved image information dependent on said group of measurement parameters;

a storage medium which said spatially resolved image information is stored;

a display having a single display screen;

said processor being configured to access said spatially resolved image information from said storage medium and to present said spatially resolved image information as a plurality of multi-pixel medical images on said single display screen, in an arrangement of n columns and m rows with each multi-pixel medical image having a predetermined size on said single display screen;

said input unit comprising a user-operate indicator and said processor being configured to allow user interaction via said indicator with said display screen to designate one of said multi-pixel medical images as a selected image;

said processor being configured to assign said selected image as highest interest value and to automatically generate respective interest values for each of the multi-pixel medical images other than said selected image that are dependent on and below said highest interest value, present only said data image with the highest interest value at said display screen in an enlarged form larger than said predetermined size, and to shrink other multi-pixel medical images among said plurality of multi-pixel medical images, having a high interest value but not said highest interest value, to a size smaller than said predetermined size.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said processor is configured to generate said interest value based on a distance between the respective multi-pixel medical images and a position of said selected image on said single display screen.

8. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said processor is configured to present said selected image having said highest interest value in said enlarged form superimposed over other multi-pixel medical images having said size smaller than said predetermined size.

6. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium encoded with programming instructions for implementing a medical examination via a computerized user interface of a medical imaging device, said programming instructions causing said user interface to:

receive a group of measurement parameters for implementing a medical examination with a medical image acquisition device in communication with said user interface;

operate said medical image acquisition device to acquire spatially resolved image information dependent on said group of measurement parameters, and store said spatially resolved image information on a storage medium;

access said spatially resolved image information from said storage medium and present said spatially resolved image information as a plurality of multi-pixel medical images on a single display screen of the user interface, in an arrangement of n columns and m rows with each multi-pixel medical image having a predetermined size on said single display screen for a medical assessment;

interact with a user-manipulated indicator on said single display screen to select one of said multi-pixel medical images in said presentation as a selected image;

assign said selected image as highest interest value and to automatically generate respective interest values for each of the multi-pixel medical images other than said selected image that are dependent on and below said highest interest value; and

present said multi-pixel medical images in said arrangement on said single display screen based on said interest values, with only said selected image with the highest interest value presented at said display screen in an enlarged form larger than said predetermined size, and with other multi-pixel images among said plurality of multi-pixel medical images, having a high interest value but not said highest interest value, shrunk to a size smaller than said predetermined size.

9. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 6 wherein said programming instructions cause said user interface to present said selected image having said highest interest value in said enlarged firm superimposed over other multi-pixel medical images having said size smaller than said predetermined size.