Methods and systems for a display interface for diagnostic medical imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9980703-B2
Application number	US-201514659752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2015
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

An ultrasound imaging system and method is provided that includes an ultrasound probe configured to acquire ultrasound data for a region of interest and a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe configured to generate one or more ultrasound images from the ultrasound data. The ultrasound imaging system and method further provide a curved housing shaped to extend along a curvature angle, the curved housing includes a front panel having a curved touchscreen having at least a first interface section, a second interface section, and a third interface section formed integral with one another. The first interface section and the third interface section are positioned at different display angles with respect to each other. The first interface section is also configured to display one or more ultrasound images, and the third interface section includes one or more user selectable icons to control the ultrasound probe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
an ultrasound probe configured to acquire ultrasound data for a region of interest;
a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe configured to generate one or more ultrasound images from the ultrasound data;
a curved housing shaped to extend along a curvature angle, the curved housing includes a front panel having a curved touchscreen, wherein the curved touchscreen has at least a first interface section, a second interface section, and a third interface section formed integral with one another, wherein the first interface section and the third interface section are positioned at different display angles with respect to each other, the first interface section configured to display the one or more ultrasound images and the third interface section includes one or more user selectable icons to control the ultrasound probe.

2. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the curved touchscreen includes an eye tracking module comprising an image sensor configured to determine an eye height of a user, wherein the eye tracking module is configured to adjust a position of the first interface section on the curved touchscreen based on the eye height of the user.

3. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising an arm mount coupled to the curved housing, the arm mount configured to adjust a vertical position and a rotational position of the curved touchscreen.

4. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 3 , further comprising a position handle coupled to the arm mount having a first trigger and a second trigger, wherein the vertical position of the curved touchscreen is adjustable when the first trigger is activated, and the rotational position of the curved touchscreen is adjustable when the second trigger is activated.

5. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first interface section and the third interface section are positioned relative to the curved touchscreen to have biasing angles based on a visual direction of a position of an eye of the user, the biasing angles are configured to increase at least one of a contrast ratio or a luminosity.

6. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the curved housing is configured to be flexible such that the curvature angle formed by the curved housing is adjustable.

7. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an examination chair; and
an arm mount coupled to the examination chair and the curved housing.

8. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7 , wherein a position of the arm mount is adjustable around the examination chair.

9. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7 , wherein the examination chair includes an adjustable backrest configured to change positions based on a select ultrasound examination procedure received from the second interface section of the curved touchscreen.

10. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a retractable hook coupled to the curved touchscreen such that the retractable hook is adjustable in an outward and inward position, responsive to the retractable hook in the inward position a view of the retractable hook is obstructed by the curved touchscreen.

11. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a peripheral support structure coupled to the curved housing, wherein the peripheral support structure is configured to hold the ultrasound probe.

12. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the curved touchscreen includes an organic light emitting diode display.

13. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein one or more user selectable icons of the second interface section is reconfigured based on one or more acquisition settings of the ultrasound probe.

14. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the second interface section is positioned between the first interface section and the third interface section, wherein the third interface section includes acquisition setting such as initiating ultrasonic pulses, adjusting a sensitivity, adjusting the ultrasonic pulses, or adjusting the dynamic range of the ultrasound probe.

15. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the curved touchscreen includes first, second, and third displays, the first display corresponding to the first interface section, the second display corresponding to the second interface section, and the third display corresponding to the third interface section.

16. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a cover-glass configured to provide a continuous glass surface area for the curved touchscreen.

17. A portable ultrasound imaging system comprising:
an ultrasound probe configured to acquire ultrasound data from a region of interest;
a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe configured to generate one or more ultrasound images from the ultrasound data;
a movable cart having a plurality of wheels;
a curved housing shaped to extend along a curvature angle, the curved housing includes a front panel having a curved touchscreen, wherein the curved touchscreen has at least a first interface section, a second interface section, and a third interface section formed integral with one another, wherein the first interface section and the third interface section are positioned at different display angles with respect to each other, the first interface section configured to display one or more ultrasound images and the third interface section includes one or more user selectable icons to control the ultrasound probe; and
an arm mount coupled to the curved touchscreen and the movable cart, the arm mount configured to adjust a vertical position and a rotational position of the curved touchscreen with respect to the movable cart.

18. The portable ultrasound imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the curved touchscreen includes first, second, and third displays provided within the first interface section, the second display, and the third display, respectively, and wherein the first interface section and the third interface section are positioned relative to the curved touchscreen to have different biasing angles based on a visual direction of a position of an eye of the user, the different biasing angles configured to increase at least one of a contrast ratio or a luminosity.

19. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
an examination chair having a support rail positioned around a head portion of the examination chair;
an ultrasound probe configured to acquire ultrasound data from a region of interest;
a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe configured to generate one or more ultrasound images from the ultrasound data;
a curved housing shaped to extend along a curvature angle, the curved housing includes a front panel having a curved touchscreen, wherein the curved touchscreen has at least a first interface section, a second interface section, and a third interface section formed integral with one another, wherein the first interface section and the third interface section are positioned at different display angles with respect to each other, the first interface section is configured to display one or more ultrasound images and the third interface section includes one or more user selectable icons to control the ultrasound probe; and
an arm mount coupled to the curved housing and the support rail of the examination chair, wherein the arm mount is traversable along the support rail.

20. The ultrasoun

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Wodecki Lionel

Classifications

• A61B8/4405

  Device being mounted on a trolley · CPC title

• A61B8/4427

  Device being portable or laptop-like · CPC title

• A61B8/467

  characterised by special input means · CPC title

• A61B8/462 Primary

  characterised by constructional features of the display · CPC title

• A61B8/465

  adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus · CPC title