JP2007503241A - Review mode graphic user interface for ultrasound imaging systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The acquired ultrasound image [110] can be displayed at full size, and appropriate review mode control buttons [212, 214] can also be displayed, thereby maintaining easy and convenient use. An improved review mode graphic user interface (GUI) [340] that can be disclosed is disclosed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system, and more particularly to a graphic user interface (GUI) used in a review mode of a display device of an ultrasound imaging system.

  There are at least two modes of use in an ultrasound imaging system. These two modes of use are: a live imaging mode in which the system operator captures one or more ultrasound images of the subject and a review of the ultrasound images previously acquired by the operator and the acquired ultrasound images. This is a review mode in which annotations can be added. During the live imaging mode, the operator concentrates on obtaining an appropriate image of the area of interest and the display screen of the ultrasound imaging system is the ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound system or so that the operator obtains a better image. Based on the current input to the ultrasound transducer, the display screen of the ultrasound imaging system displays a live full screen image so that other components can be manipulated. After the operater acquires images during live imaging mode, the operator reviews, analyzes and annotates the acquired images during review mode. In the review mode, the display screen of the ultrasound imaging system displays the acquired images after the images acquired from the storage device are retrieved.

  An example of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image is shown in FIG. 1, in which the display screen 100 displays a full-screen fetal ultrasound image. Hereinafter, the expression “image” refers to a single image, a group of images, or an image group in chronological order. Often, the full screen image 110 also has a boundary 120 around the ultrasound image proper 130. In the following, the expression “ultrasound image property” refers to the part of the full-screen image that displays the actual image, for example the cone part showing the fetal image of FIG. In the live imaging mode, the full screen image 110 also has data about the subject, the region of the body being imaged, the time, the imaging mode used and other details related to imaging. This data typically takes the form of characters and icons that are positioned relative to the outer edge of the full screen image 110 so as not to interfere with the ultrasound image proper 130. This superimposed data is also acquired and stored when an image or series of consecutive images are acquired by the ultrasound imaging system.

  In the review mode, the operator needs to operate the ultrasonic image property 130 and make an annotation. To do so, the operator needs access to various controls, many of which are incorporated into a review mode graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the display screen of the ultrasound imaging system. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary review mode GUI 210 displayed on the display screen 100. The review mode GUI 210 is a screen cursor such as a function button 212 and has various controls that can be operated by an operator when used. These function buttons can be used for various operations (for example, acquired images). Or retrieving a series of images, storing an image that was annotated and modified by the operator during review mode, retrieving current learning in an imaging ultrasound system, attaching an image to a report, etc.) A screen cursor and an image view control button 214 that are used to initiate a sequence of images that control how the operator views the sequence of images (eg, playing a sequence of images, a specific frame / Stop a series of images in an image, a specific image / frame to see Selecting a having an image used to be, etc.) to select a speed for returning to play, and an image view control button, the.

  However, the review mode GUI 210 needs to have those review mode control buttons that take up space on the display screen 100, so the space in the display screen 100 that is available to display the acquired full screen image is in the display window 240. The display window is much smaller than the full screen of the display screen 100. In conventional ultrasound imaging systems, the image is reduced to fit within the display window of the acquired full screen image review mode GUI. In the exemplary FIG. 2, the acquired full screen image 110 is reduced in size to 2/3 or less to fit within the display window 240 of the review mode GUI as a reduced image 230.

  The reduced size of the reduced image 230 inevitably leads to a reduction in the quality of the image itself. Often, the subject and imaging data superimposed on the acquired full screen image 110 are too small to be recognized in the reduced image 230. The quality of the reduced image means that details in the acquired full-screen image 110 are lost in the reduced image 230 and lead to less reliable analysis by the operator during the review mode. For example, the operator's ability to accurately measure the size of an object in the reduced image 230 is adversely affected by sacrificing such details.

  To correct this problem, other conventional ultrasound imaging systems either overlay the review mode control button directly on the acquired full screen image or remove the review mode control button completely from the display screen. However, overlaying the review mode control button on the acquired full-screen image risks the risk of the review mode control button covering the target area of the acquired full-screen image or the review mode control available on-screen. Risk of impairing functionality by limiting the number. Furthermore, removing any review mode control button from the display screen makes it difficult to determine which mode the ultrasound imaging system is in. Having these review mode control buttons executed by other input means makes it difficult for the user to both manipulate the image and understand what is visible, which is counterintuitive.

  Therefore, there is a need for a review mode GUI that can provide sufficient detail of an acquired full screen image while not compromising the ease and convenience of an on-screen review mode control button.

  The present invention provides a review mode GUI for an ultrasound imaging system having a live imaging mode in which an ultrasound image of a subject is acquired by the ultrasound imaging system and a review mode in which the acquired ultrasound image is reviewed by a user. I will provide a. When ultrasound images are acquired in live imaging mode, they are large enough to fill the display screen of the ultrasound imaging system. When the acquired full-screen ultrasound image is retrieved and displayed in the review mode GUI of the present invention (obviously in review mode), the full-size search ultrasound image is shown in the display window of the review mode GUI. The display window of the review mode GUI allows the user to change a portion of the acquired full screen ultrasound image displayed in the display window, i.e., any of the full screen ultrasound images at full screen size during the review mode. It has a scroll bar so that you can see the part. Therefore, the review mode GUI according to the present invention maintains the original quality and resolution of the acquired full screen ultrasound image, and the simplicity of GUI control for manipulating the acquired full screen ultrasound image during the review mode and Ease can still be maintained.

  Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are configured for illustrative purposes only, and are not a limitation of the present invention, but are a reference to the appended claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, they are intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and methods described below.

  In general, the present invention is directed to a review mode GUI in an ultrasound imaging system where the acquired full screen image can be viewed at the original resolution during the review mode, and therefore the details of the imaging object as well as on The ease and intuitive simplicity of the screen review mode control buttons are not compromised. In particular, the present invention is able to show the acquired full-screen image as a whole with a pan function that allows the user to control which part of the full-screen image is shown in the display window of the review mode GUI. A review mode GUI having a display window is provided.

  A screenshot of the review mode GUI 310 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, a display window 340 having both a vertical scroll bar 342 and a horizontal scroll bar 344 replaces the prior art display window 240 with the review mode GUI of FIG. The size of the display window 340 allows only a portion 111 of the acquired full screen image 110 to be shown in the review mode GUI 310, but the scroll bars 342 and 344 are not the other Allows the operator to pan the acquired full screen image 110 so that the part can be seen.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the review mode GUI shown in FIG. 3 uses scroll bars 342 and 344 to apply a pan function to the user, other means can also be used in accordance with the present invention. For example, four GUI buttons, shown as arrows pointing in the upward, downward, rightward and leftward directions, can be positioned in the review mode GUI inside or outside the display window. In such an embodiment, the user clicks on one of those arrows and uses the cursor, thereby causing the displayed position to pan relative to the full screen image in the direction shown. In addition, the cursor itself can provide a means for the user to pan over full screen pixels. In such an embodiment, the user can position the cursor at the position of the full-screen image displayed in the display window and click at that position to “grab” that position. After the image is “grabbed”, the user moves the image in either direction (and thereby pans against the full-screen image) in the same way he or she has moved the cursor (eg, by moving the mouse) )Is possible.

  In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the default view of the display window 340 is in the center of the acquired full screen image 110, ie, automatically appears in the display window of the review mode GUI when the operator retrieves the acquired full screen image. Located in the center of the search full screen image. From the default center position, the operator can pan to any other region of interest in the acquired full screen image.

  For example, FIG. 3 shows a default view with a central position 111 of the acquired full screen image 110 in the display window 340. If the operator wants to see some overlay data (not shown) that often appears on the upper right side of the full screen image, the operator displays it at a position 112 on the upper right side of the acquired full screen image 110 as shown in FIG. Scroll bars 342 and 344 can be used to change the view of window 340. Data is typically superimposed on the upper right side or upper left side of the full screen ultrasound image (above the ultrasound image property), but the data is also at the edge of the full screen image or at the boundary in the ultrasound image property. It can be positioned. In any of those cases, the review mode GUI 310 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention allows the operator to view a portion of the full screen image at the original size and resolution of the image.

  The following example illustrates some of the advantages of a review mode GUI according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. One use of an ultrasound imaging system is the “wall scoring method”. The ultrasound image reviewer performs a wall scoring method when reviewing an ultrasound image of the heart wall by giving a “score” to that portion of the heart wall that reflects the reviewer assessment of the movement of the portion. The wall scoring numbers are in the range of 0-7. '1' indicates that the part is standard, while other values in the numerical range indicate that the part is abnormal. When performing the wall scoring method, the reviewer first selects a portion of the heart wall through the review mode GUI and then selects or displays the appropriate scoring.

  In a prior art review mode GUI such as GUI 210 in FIG. 2, the reviewer must perform wall scoring using a reduced image such as the image in GUI 210. Reduced images reduce the evaluation of the wall scoring system in order to reduce the reviewer's ability to select an appropriate part, or to determine the relative health of that part, with reduced image quality and reduced size. In contrast, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a review mode GUI, such as GUI 310 in FIGS. 3 and 4, which allows the reviewer to view the entire full screen image during wall scoring. The pan mode window of the review mode GUI of the present invention provides a reviewer that has the ability to review the entire image and retrieve the region of interest and view the region of interest at the original resolution and size of the full screen image. Prior art systems (1) discard the review mode GUI or (2) reduce the image to fit within the review mode GUI, but not both (1) and (2) Provided.

  In conclusion, at least some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art are listed. The following list is intended to fully describe the advantages of the present invention, whatever its form or manner, or to limit the scope of the co-filed claims directed to the present invention. Not done.

  First, the review mode GUI gives the operator a view of the acquired full screen image at the original size and resolution. For this reason, the image quality is not degraded and the operator can perform an accurate measurement. Second, the present invention maintains the advantage of having a review mode control button on the display screen, and further gives the operator access to a full size full screen ultrasound image. The review mode GUI also makes it clear that the system is currently in review mode, unlike systems that display acquired full screen images at full size in review mode. Third, the present invention allows the operator to separate and focus the area of interest while temporarily hiding other parts from the view. For example, in the default view, the center position of the acquired full-screen image is shown in the display window, and therefore any data can be superimposed on the boundary and upper area of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image during blocking. Furthermore, it enables the operator to focus on the ultrasound image properties. When an operator needs such data, the operator can scroll to full screen to see the data.

  Thus, although the basic novel features of the present invention as applied to the preferred embodiment have been shown, described in detail, and pointed out, the forms and details of the illustrated apparatus and their operation are illustrated. It will be understood that various omissions, additions and changes in can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, all combinations of elements and / or method steps that perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same result are expressly intended to be within the scope of the invention. . Furthermore, the steps of structures, elements and / or methods described and / or illustrated in connection with embodiments of the present invention or disclosed forms may be any other disclosure, description or suggestion as a general method of design selection. It should be recognized that it can be incorporated in schemes and embodiments. It is therefore intended to be limited as defined by the appended claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of a typical ultrasound imaging system during a live imaging mode showing a full screen image of a subject. FIG. FIG. 2 illustrates a display screen of a prior art ultrasound imaging system displaying a review mode graphic user interface (GUI) used to review a full screen image acquired during live imaging of FIG. FIG. 2 is a display screen of an ultrasound imaging system displaying a review mode GUI according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, used to review a full screen image acquired during live imaging in FIG. And the display window 340 of the review mode GUI 310 shows a display screen with a default view of the central portion 111 of the acquired full-screen image 110. FIG. 2 is a display screen of an ultrasound imaging system displaying a review mode GUI according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display screen used to review the acquired full screen image from FIG. It is a figure which shows the display screen scrolled using the scroll bars 342 and 344 in order to see the upper right side part 112 of the image in the display window 340. FIG.

Claims (20)

A method of providing a review mode graphic user interface (GUI) on a display screen of an ultrasound imaging system, wherein the ultrasound imaging system is in at least two modes:
A live imaging mode in which an ultrasound image of a subject is acquired by the ultrasound imaging system and a review mode in which at least one acquired ultrasound image is searched by a user, wherein the review mode GUI is configured by the user to have a full screen size; Live imaging mode and review mode, which allows to view the acquired ultrasound image at;
Having a method,
Acquiring and storing an ultrasound image in a live imaging mode, wherein the acquired ultrasound image is sized such that the acquired ultrasound image fills the screen of the display device of the ultrasound imaging system; And displaying a portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image in the review mode display window after the acquired full-screen ultrasound image is stored, wherein the displayed portion is Displayed in full screen size in the display window;
A method characterized by
The display window has a pan function that allows a user to change the acquired full-screen ultrasound image displayed in the display window, whereby the user can acquire the acquired full-screen at full screen size during review mode. Any part of the screen ultrasound image can be seen;
A method characterized by that.   The method of claim 1, wherein the acquired full-screen ultrasound image comprises one of a single ultrasound image, a plurality of images, or a series of temporally continuous images. .   The method of claim 1, wherein the pan function comprises at least one scroll bar, at least one arrow button, and at least one cursor function.   4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one scroll bar is a first scroll bar positioned at a lower edge of the display window and a second scroll bar positioned at one of the left or right end of the display window. And a scroll bar.   4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one cursor function has a cursor function, in which the cursor temporarily selects a portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image. The cursor movement results in a corresponding movement of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image, thereby changing the portion displayed in the display window of the review mode GUI.   The method of claim 1, wherein the display window of the review mode GUI is sized such that the display portion of the display window has most of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image. how to.   The method of claim 1, wherein the review mode GUI further comprises a function button and an image view control button.   2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image first appears in the display window in the review mode, the display portion being a central portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image. A method characterized in that   The method of claim 1, wherein data is superimposed on a portion of the acquired full screen ultrasound image during a live imaging mode, and the superimposed data is stored with the acquired full screen image. A method characterized by.   10. The method of claim 9, wherein the overlaid data includes information related to the subject in the ultrasound image, subject area to be imaged, time and date, imaging mode used and live imaging. A method comprising: details relating to said imaging performed during a mode.   11. The method of claim 10, wherein the superimposed data takes the form of characters and icons positioned with respect to an outer edge of the ultrasound image. An ultrasound imaging system having at least two modes, a live imaging mode in which an ultrasound image of a subject is acquired by the ultrasound imaging system and a review mode in which at least one acquired ultrasound image is searched by a user There:
A display device having at least one display screen;
A storage device for storing an ultrasound image acquired in a live imaging mode, wherein the acquired ultrasound image is sized such that the acquired ultrasound image fills at least one display screen of the display device A storage device; and at least one hardware, software and firmware for generating a review mode graphic user interface (GUI) on at least one display screen, the review mode GUI having at least a display window; At least one hardware, software and firmware;
An ultrasound imaging system having
The display window has a pan function that allows a user to change the acquired full-screen ultrasound image displayed in the display window, whereby the user can acquire the acquired full-screen at full screen size during review mode. Any part of the screen ultrasound image can be seen;
An ultrasonic imaging system characterized by that.   13. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12, wherein the acquired full screen ultrasound image comprises a single ultrasound image, a plurality of images, or a series of temporally continuous images. Ultrasonic imaging system.   The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 12, wherein the pan function includes at least one scroll bar, at least one arrow button, and at least one cursor function.   13. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12, wherein the display window of the review mode GUI has a size such that the display portion of the display window has most of the acquired full screen ultrasound image. Ultrasound imaging system characterized by   13. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12, wherein the display portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image first appears in the display window in the review mode, and the display portion is the acquired full-screen ultrasound image. An ultrasound imaging system characterized by being a central part of the system. A computer readable storage medium having a program of instructions for execution by a processor connected to a display device and at least partially controlling the display device, wherein the program is a review mode graphic user interface (GUI) The review mode GUI is a computer readable storage medium for retrieving acquired full-screen ultrasound images, and the program of the instructions is:
Instructions for providing a review mode GUI having at least a display window for displaying the acquired full-screen ultrasound image;
A command to display a portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image in the display window of the review mode GUI, the display portion being displayed at a full screen size in the display window; and a pan function to the user The pan function has at least the ability for a user to change the portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image displayed in the display window, and therefore the acquisition at full-screen size during review mode Instructions that allow the user to view any part of the full-screen ultrasound image;
A computer-readable storage medium characterized by comprising:   18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the acquired full screen ultrasound image comprises one of a single ultrasound image, a plurality of images, or a series of temporally continuous images. A computer-readable storage medium.   18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the display window of the review mode GUI has a size such that the display portion of the display window has most of the acquired full screen ultrasound image. A computer-readable storage medium. 18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for displaying a portion of the acquired full screen ultrasound image in a display window of the review mode GUI are:
Instructions for displaying a central portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image as the display portion when the display portion of the acquired full-screen ultrasound image first appears in the display window of the review mode GUI;
A computer-readable storage medium characterized by comprising:

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