JP5259266B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a user interface that performs input using a pointer.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus converts electrical signals into ultrasonic waves using a vibrator, transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject, and receives ultrasonic waves reflected from the subject (hereinafter referred to as “ultrasonic echoes”). It has an ultrasonic probe that converts it into an electrical signal. An operator such as a doctor or a laboratory technician (hereinafter simply referred to as “operator”) holds an ultrasonic probe in one hand and performs an examination while pressing the ultrasonic probe against a subject. In addition, the operator may input information such as a patient ID and a patient name using a user interface while performing an examination. In this case, since one hand is blocked by the inspection, the operator must operate the user interface only with the remaining other hand.

  When inputting the above-described information in ultrasonic diagnosis, the operator refers to the image displayed on the monitor, and a pointer (such as an arrow or a cross mark, such as an arrow or a cross mark) Is moved using a trackball or the like. Then, the operator moves the pointer to the position of the input item to be input and presses the confirm button, thereby enabling input to the input item from the keyboard. Then, the operator inputs information into the input items that can be input. Next, the operator repeatedly inputs the above operation for the next input item. When the input of necessary information is completed, when the input information is confirmed and the operation is executed, the operator moves the pointer to the start button and presses the confirm button to send an execution command. When canceling input information or canceling the operation itself, the operator moves the pointer to a cancel button (same as a close button, etc.) and presses the confirm button to cancel. The inspection is continued or canceled by the operator performing such an operation.

  In recent years, as functions of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses increase, items displayed on a screen have also increased. For this reason, screens are increasing in size and definition. As the screen size increases, the amount of movement of the pointer increases, and as the screen becomes more detailed, the information displayed on one screen increases, and the pointer is moved to the button or character input area on the screen. Things are getting complicated. Therefore, it has been desired to improve the operability of input means such as a trackball.

  Conventionally, as a technique for improving the operability of the trackball, a technique for selecting a parameter type and inputting a value according to the amount of rotation of the trackball has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-238892

  However, when a patient is diagnosed using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the operator has an ultrasonic probe in one hand and obtains an image while applying it to the affected area as described above. For this reason, in order to press the start button, the cancel button, and the like after inputting the input item, the operator has to operate the pointing device with only one hand and position the pointer on each button. Therefore, it is difficult for the operator to press each button quickly and accurately. In particular, it is more difficult to accurately align the pointer with each button on a screen that has recently been increased in size and definition. Furthermore, the technique described in Patent Document 1 makes it easy to select parameters and input values. However, in order to press each button such as determination and cancellation, the pointer is moved to the location of the button with one hand as in the past. It must be moved and it is difficult to press those buttons quickly and accurately.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the pointer is automatically moved to the position of each soft key (for example, a determination button or a cancel button) by performing a simple operation on the pointing device. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 is an image which generates an ultrasonic image based on a transmission / reception unit which transmits / receives an ultrasonic wave via an ultrasonic probe and the received ultrasonic wave. A generating device, a pointing device for inputting movement information for moving a pointer displayed on the display means, and a soft key for performing a specific function and an input field for patient information and / or examination information on the display means. The input screen provided and the display control means for displaying the pointer and moving the pointer based on the movement information, the speed threshold, and the correspondence between the predetermined position on the input screen and the soft key are set in advance. The stored storage means and the movement information are received, the movement speed of the pointer is obtained, and when the pointer moves to the predetermined position, the movement speed If it exceeds the speed threshold, it is characterized in that and a pointer management means for moving the pointer to the position of the soft key corresponding to the predetermined position.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5 is a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives an ultrasonic wave via an ultrasonic probe, an image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on the received ultrasonic wave, and a display unit that displays the ultrasonic image A pointing device that inputs movement information for moving the pointer that is moved , an input screen having a plurality of input fields for inputting patient information and / or examination information on the display means, and the pointer. Display control means for moving the pointer based on the movement information, and input of the movement direction of the pointer during display of the input screen, and the pointer is moved to the nearest input field ahead of the movement direction And a pointer management means for making it possible.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6 is a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives an ultrasonic wave via an ultrasonic probe, an image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on the received ultrasonic wave, and a display unit that displays the ultrasonic wave A pointing device for inputting movement information for moving a pointer that has been moved, an input screen provided with a soft key for a patient information and / or examination information input field and a specific function on the display means, and together to display a pointer, the display control means for moving the pointer movement information based on a previously stored to that memory means the coordinates of the area around the soft keys displayed on the input screen, the screen It receives the location of the pointer on, when the pointer in the area around the moves, point to move the pointer to the softkey It is characterized in further comprising a management unit.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, when the pointer is moved to a predetermined position at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, the pointer is automatically moved to the position of a soft key such as a start button or a close button. Can be made. Accordingly, it is possible to move the pointer to the position of the soft key that is easily obtained with one hand on the input screen on which a large amount of information is displayed while operating the ultrasonic probe.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the fifth aspect, when the pointer is moved in a specific direction, the pointer can be automatically moved to the position of the nearest input field ahead of the moving direction. This makes it possible to move the pointer to the position of the input field that is easily obtained with one hand on the input screen on which a plurality of input fields are displayed on the large screen while operating the ultrasonic probe.

  According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the sixth aspect, when the pointer is moved to an area around the soft key such as the start button or the close button, the pointer can be automatically moved to the position of the soft key. . This makes it possible to easily move the pointer to the desired soft key position with one hand on the large screen and on the input screen where the soft key is displayed away from the input field while operating the ultrasonic probe. It becomes.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functions of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

  The user interface 006 includes a display unit 061 such as a monitor, an input unit 062 such as a keyboard and trackball 063, and a confirmation button 064 that is a confirmation key provided near the trackball 063. The trackball 063 corresponds to the “pointing device” in the present invention. The operator operates the trackball 063 while referring to the display unit 061 to move a pointer (also referred to as “marker” or “cursor” such as an arrow or a cross mark) displayed on the display unit 061 on the screen. Let In addition, the operator depresses a confirmation button 064 arranged on the input unit 062 together with the trackball 063, thereby confirming the input field where the pointer is aligned as an input location or a specific function where the pointer is aligned. A soft key to be held (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “soft key”) is pressed to execute a function of the soft key. In addition, the operator inputs characters, numbers, and the like on the screen displayed on the display unit 061 using the keyboard. Here, in the present embodiment, the track ball has been described as the pointing device, but this may be another pointing device such as a mouse.

  The display control unit 004 causes the display unit 061 to display an input screen for inputting patient information and examination information, and further for inputting examination start and examination cancellation. The display control unit 004 includes a coordinate determination unit 041 and further stores a display format 042 for each screen such as an input screen and a screen for displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image. The display control unit 004 corresponds to “display control means” in the present invention.

  The display control unit 004 has the position of each point on the monitor screen as two-dimensional coordinates. In the present embodiment, the display unit 061 has a screen in which 1600 pixels are arranged in the X direction and 1200 pixels are arranged in the Y direction. The display control unit 004 stores the coordinate information in the form of (X, Y) using the pixel position of each point on the screen in order to represent the two-dimensional position of each point on the screen. . Further, the display control unit 004 forms each input screen for inputting patient information, examination information, etc. as a display format 042 of the input screen, and a screen such as a soft key having a specific function such as a start button or a close button. The position information of the software component is stored in the aforementioned coordinates. The display control unit 004 uses the input screen display format 042 to display an input screen for inputting patient information and examination information on the display unit.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the input screen 200 displayed on the display unit 061 by the display control unit 004. The examination 201 represents one of the examinations displayed in the examination selection column. The input field 202 is an input field for inputting a patient ID, and is an example of the input field shown in the input area 206. When the examination 201 is selected from the examination selection column displayed in the input screen 200, the contents corresponding to the examination 201 are displayed in the input area 206. This is, for example, the input field 202. The start button 203 is a button (soft key) for starting an ultrasonic examination after inputting necessary information for each item, such as inputting a patient ID in the input field 202. The close button 204 is a button (soft key) for canceling the examination 201 being input and closing the input screen 200. In this embodiment, the screen as shown in FIG. 2 is described as an example of the input screen. However, this may be a screen of another format, for example, a format input screen having soft keys such as a cancel button and a decision button. But you can.

  The operator rolls the trackball 063 to move the position before moving the pointer 205 on the input screen 200 (hereinafter, may be referred to as “movement source”) and the moved position (hereinafter, referred to as “movement destination”). And the time required to move the pointer 205 from the movement source to the movement destination is input. In practice, the operator rolls the trackball 063 to count the number of rotations of the encoder built in the trackball 063, and the display control unit 004 moves in the X direction from the movement source on the XY coordinates of the screen. Find the distance. Further, the number of rotations of the encoder built in the trackball 063 is counted to determine the movement distance in the Y direction. Then, the movement distance in the X direction and the movement distance in the Y direction from the trackball 063 are input to the display control unit 004. The coordinate determination unit 041 adds the movement distance in the X direction and the movement distance in the Y direction that are input to the coordinates of the movement source of the pointer 205 to obtain the coordinates of the movement destination of the pointer 205. Then, the display control unit 004 causes the pointer 205 to be displayed at the coordinate position of the movement destination of the display unit 061.

  The movement of the pointer 205 by the display control unit 004 includes (1) normal movement (manual movement) and (2) automatic movement. (1) is a movement in which the input from the trackball 063 is reflected on the display on the display unit 061 as it is. (2) is to automatically move the pointer 205 to a specific position based on the input from the trackball 063. The display control unit 004 distinguishes between movements (1) and (2) according to an instruction from the pointer management unit 005. Hereinafter, the movement (2) will be described in detail.

  The display control unit 004 inputs a movement destination (hereinafter, referred to as “automatic movement destination” in order to avoid confusion with the input movement destination) to which the pointer 205 from the pointer management unit 005 described later is automatically moved. In response, the pointer 205 is displayed on the display unit 061 at the input coordinate position. That is, when the coordinates on the start button 203 are designated as the automatic movement destination of the pointer 205 from the pointer management unit 005, the display control unit 004 is displayed on the input screen 200 as shown by 307 in FIG. A pointer 205 is displayed on the display unit 061 over the start button 203. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the pointer 205 in the present embodiment. When the coordinates on the close button 204 are designated (coordinate information is input) as the automatic movement destination of the pointer 205 from the pointer management unit 005, the display control unit 004 displays the input screen 200 as indicated by 306 in FIG. The pointer 205 is displayed on the display unit 061 over the close button 204 displayed above.

  After the pointer 205 is moved onto the start button 203, if there is a confirmation input from the confirmation button 064, the display control unit 004 displays an examination screen for displaying an ultrasonic tomogram or the like on the display unit 061.

  Further, after the pointer 205 is moved onto the close button 204, if there is a confirmation input from the confirmation button 064, the display of the input screen of the selected examination is canceled and the input screen is closed on the display unit 061.

  The pointer management unit 005 stores the coordinates of the side of the input screen (the end portion of the screen) as a threshold value. In this embodiment, the pointer management unit 005 stores X = 0 as the minimum threshold value in the X direction and X = 1600 as the maximum threshold value in the X direction. Here, X = 0 represents the left side 301 in the input screen shown in FIG. 3, and X = 1600 represents the right side 302 in the input screen shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the pointer 205 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. Further, the pointer management unit 005 stores a speed threshold value that is a speed threshold value of the pointer 205 in advance. This pointer management unit 005 corresponds to “storage means” and “pointer management means” in the present invention.

  In addition, the pointer management unit 005 stores a correspondence table indicating the correspondence between the coordinate threshold and the corresponding coordinates on the automatic movement destination soft key. In the present embodiment, in the correspondence table, the coordinate threshold X = 0 corresponds to the coordinate on the close button 204 displayed on the input screen 200 as the coordinate on the automatic movement destination soft key. Further, the coordinate threshold X = 1600 corresponds to the coordinate on the start button 203 displayed on the input screen 200 as the coordinate on the automatic movement destination soft key.

  The pointer management unit 005 compares the pointer 205 after the movement obtained by the coordinate determination unit 041 with the stored threshold value, and the X coordinate after the movement of the pointer 205 is X = 0 or X = 1600. It is judged whether it is over. The case where the pointer 205 is moved from the movement source 305 in FIG. 3 will be specifically described. The pointer management unit 005 determines whether the pointer 205 moves and exceeds the side 301 as indicated by an arrow 303 in FIG. 3 or whether the pointer 205 moves and exceeds the side 302 as indicated by an arrow 304.

  When the pointer 205 exceeds the side 301 or the side 302, the pointer management unit 005 calculates the distance that the pointer 205 has moved from the movement destination to the movement source. Further, the pointer management unit 005 obtains the movement speed by dividing the distance from the movement source 305 to the movement destination by the time taken to move the pointer 205 from the movement source 305 to the movement destination input from the trackball 063. . In the present embodiment, the moving destination and the moving source of the speed calculation are moved at the point where the pointer 205 starts moving, and the point where the pointer 205 stops, that is, the point at the tip of the arrow 303 or the point at the tip of the arrow 304 is moved. Go ahead. Here, another point may be used as a reference for obtaining the moving speed. For example, an appropriate pointer position per unit time during the movement of the pointer 205 is acquired from the coordinate determination unit 041, and per unit time. A method of obtaining the moving speed by obtaining the distance moved may be used. This uses the moving speed during movement. In the operation of the pointer management unit 005, when the pointer 205 exceeds the side 301 or the side 302, the moving speed measured in advance is used in the determination described below. It will be.

  The pointer management unit 005 compares the calculated moving speed of the pointer 205 with the stored speed threshold value. When the calculated movement speed of the pointer 205 exceeds the speed threshold value, the pointer management unit 005 uses the information on the side of the input screen that the pointer 205 has exceeded (in this embodiment, either the side 301 or the side 302). Refer to the correspondence table. The pointer management unit 005 extracts the coordinates of the automatic movement destination of the pointer 205. Then, the pointer management unit 005 outputs, to the display control unit 004, a movement command for the pointer 205 and information on the coordinates of the automatic movement destination. For example, when the position of the pointer 205 exceeds the side 302 (threshold X = 1600), the pointer management unit 005 refers to the correspondence table on the start button 203 displayed on the input screen 200 as the automatic movement destination coordinates. The coordinates are extracted, and an execution command for moving the pointer 205 to the coordinates is output to the display control unit 004.

  The transmission / reception unit 002 transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject via the ultrasonic probe 001 when the start button 203 is pressed. Further, the transmission / reception unit 002 receives the ultrasonic echo reflected by the subject via the ultrasonic probe 001. This transmission / reception unit 002 is “transmission / reception means” in the present invention.

  The image generation unit 003 generates an ultrasonic tomographic image based on the ultrasonic echo received by the transmission / reception unit 002. The image generation unit 003 outputs the generated image to the display control unit 004. This image generation unit 003 is an “image generation unit” in the present invention.

  Next, the movement of the pointer 205 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the movement of the pointer 205 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Step S001: The display control unit 004 causes the display unit 061 to display an input screen for inputting patient information, examination information, and the like.

  Step S002: The operator inputs information using the user interface 006. At this time, the operator refers to the display unit 061 such as a monitor, inputs characters and symbols in the input field displayed on the input screen using the keyboard, moves the pointer 205 using the trackball 063, and confirms the button 064. Enter the confirmation.

  Step S003: The pointer management unit 005 receives the coordinate on the input screen where the pointer 205 is located from the coordinate determination unit 041, and the X coordinate of the coordinate exceeds the coordinate threshold value and is included in X ≦ 0 and 1600 ≦ X. Or whether it is included in 0 <X <1600. If the X coordinate of the pointer 205 is X ≦ 0 or 1200 ≦ X, the process proceeds to step S004. When the X coordinate of the pointer 205 is 0 <X <1200, the process returns to step S002 and the pointer management unit 005 waits for an input from the operator.

  Step S004: The pointer management unit 005 calculates the movement distance from the movement source coordinates and the movement destination coordinates input from the coordinate determination unit 041. Further, the pointer management unit 005 obtains the moving speed of the pointer 205 by dividing the calculated moving distance by the time taken to move from the moving source to the moving destination input from the trackball 063.

  Step S005: The pointer management unit 005 determines whether or not the moving speed exceeds the speed threshold. If the moving speed exceeds the speed threshold, the process proceeds to step S006. If the moving speed does not exceed the speed threshold value, the process returns to step S002 and the pointer management unit 005 waits for an input from the operator.

  Step S006: The pointer management unit 005 refers to the stored correspondence table and extracts the coordinates of the automatic movement destination corresponding to the coordinate threshold value that the pointer 205 has exceeded. Specifically, the pointer management unit 005 extracts the coordinates on the close button 204 displayed on the input screen 200 if the pointer 205 exceeds the side 301 as shown in FIG. If so, the coordinates on the start button 203 displayed on the input screen 200 are extracted.

  Step S007: The display control unit 004 displays the pointer 205 at the automatic movement destination coordinates input from the pointer management unit 005.

  Step S008: When the operator presses the confirm button 064 in a state where the pointer 205 is displayed over the start button 203 or the close button 204, the process proceeds to step S009. If the operator does not press the confirm button 064, the process returns to step S002, and the pointer management unit 005 waits for an input from the operator.

  Step S009: The display control unit 004 executes the function of the soft key (either the start button 203 or the close button 204) confirmed by the confirm button 064. Specifically, when the start button 203 is pressed, the display control unit 004 sends inspection start information to the integrated control unit 007. If the close button 204 is pressed, the examination input is canceled and the input screen is closed on the display unit 061.

  In the above, only the value of X is used as the coordinate threshold value, but the value of Y may be used. In this case, to use the side of the input screen, Y = 0 is the minimum threshold value in the Y direction, and Y = 1200 is the maximum threshold value in the Y direction. Here, Y = 0 is the upper side of the input screen shown in FIG. 3, and Y = 1200 is the lower side of the input screen shown in FIG.

  Further, the correspondence table does not need to correspond only one coordinate of the movement destination of the pointer to each side. For example, one side is divided into a plurality of regions (for example, divided into two) for each region. One coordinate of the movement destination of the pointer may be associated. A plurality of sides are combined into one region (for example, a combination of the side represented by X = 0 and the side represented by Y = 0 is defined as one region), and the pointer destination of each region is moved. One coordinate may be made to correspond. By dividing and combining the sides in this way, the pointer is moved to the position where the two soft keys of the start button and the close button are displayed in this embodiment, but two or more soft keys are displayed. Even in such a case, the pointer can be automatically moved to a soft key desired by the operator.

  As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment, the operator automatically moves the pointer to either the left or right of the input screen at a certain speed or higher to automatically move the pointer to either the start button or the close button. Can be moved. This makes it easy for the operator to operate the ultrasonic probe with one hand while operating the trackball with the other hand, without having to manually position the pointer over the start button or close button. It is possible to place the pointer on a button that is easily obtained by simple operation.

  In addition, since the pointer is automatically moved onto a desired soft key by a simple operation, the operator does not need to move the pointer over the long distance on the input screen displayed on the large screen toward the desired soft key. . Furthermore, even on a screen on which a large number of items are displayed, the operator does not need to search for a soft key from a large number of display items each time. Therefore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment can reduce the burden on the operator due to the complicated operation of the pointer.

[Second Embodiment]
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. A block diagram showing functions of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment is also shown in FIG. 1 as in the first embodiment. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment, a coordinate threshold is provided around a soft key (button). Therefore, in the following, the threshold value storage and the pointer operation in the pointer management unit 005 will be mainly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the pointer in the second embodiment.

  The display control unit 004 has the position of each point on the monitor screen as two-dimensional coordinates. In the present embodiment, the display unit 061 has a screen in which 1600 pixels are arranged in the X direction and 1200 pixels are arranged in the Y direction. The display control unit 004 stores the coordinates of each point on the screen as a two-dimensional coordinate position as (X, Y) as a pixel position. Further, the display control unit 004 forms each input screen for inputting patient information, examination information, etc. as a display format 042 of the input screen, and a screen such as a soft key having a specific function such as a start button or a close button. The position information of the parts is stored in the aforementioned coordinates. The display control unit 004 displays an input screen on the display unit 061 based on the stored display format 042. Further, the display control unit 004 receives the input from the operator's trackball 063 and moves the pointer 205 displayed on the input screen.

  The coordinate determination unit 041 receives the input of the movement distance in the X direction and the movement distance in the Y direction of the pointer 205 from the trackball 063, and adds the distances to the coordinates of the movement source, thereby coordinates of the current position of the pointer 205. Ask for. The coordinate determination unit 041 outputs the obtained coordinates of the pointer 205 to the pointer management unit 005.

  The display control unit 004 receives a move command to the coordinates on the start button 203 or the close button 204 input from the pointer management unit 005 described later, and moves the pointer 205 to the coordinates to display on the input screen 200. A pointer 205 is superimposed on the start button 203 or the close button 204 displayed.

  The display control unit 004 receives a confirmation input from the confirmation button 064 by the operator in a state where the pointer 205 is displayed over the start button 203 or the close button 204, and corresponds to each soft key (button). Perform the function.

  The pointer management unit 005 stores an area 501 around the start button 203 and an area 502 around the close button 204 as threshold values. For example, when the point 501a in the area 501 is (X1, Y1), the pointer management unit 005 stores the area 501 as X1 ≦ X ≦ 1600 and Y1 ≦ Y ≦ 1200.

  The pointer management unit 005 stores a correspondence table in which each area and the coordinates of the automatic movement destination of the pointer 205 corresponding to the area are described. Here, the coordinates of the automatic movement destination of the pointer 205 are the coordinates on the soft key included in each area on the input screen.

  When the pointer 205 moves as indicated by an arrow 504 and the current coordinates of the pointer 205 input from the coordinate determination unit 041 exceed the threshold and enter the area 501, the pointer management unit 005 refers to the correspondence table and starts the start button The coordinates of the automatic movement destination on 203 are obtained. In order to move the pointer 205 onto the start button 203 as indicated by a dotted arrow 506, the pointer 205 sends the obtained coordinates of the automatic movement destination on the start button 203 and an effective command to move to the coordinates to the display control unit 004. Output. Here, exceeding the threshold indicates that the XY coordinates of the pointer 205 are in a state satisfying X1 ≦ X ≦ 1600 and Y1 ≦ Y ≦ 1200. When the pointer 205 moves as indicated by an arrow 505 and the coordinates of the pointer 205 input from the coordinate determination unit 041 exceed the threshold and enters the area 502, the pointer management unit 005 indicates the pointer as indicated by a dotted arrow 507. In order to move 205 to the close button 204, the coordinates on the close button 204 and the effective command to move to the coordinates are output to the display control unit 004.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the soft key that is the object of the pointer movement is two buttons, the start button and the close button. However, this may be a single soft key or a cancel button, a decision button, or the like. It is also possible to make the pointer move automatically by making more soft keys included symmetrical.

  Next, the movement of the pointer 205 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the movement of the pointer 205 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Step S001: The display control unit 004 causes the display unit 061 to display an input screen for inputting patient information, examination information, and the like.

  Step S002: The operator inputs information using the user interface 006. At this time, the operator refers to the display unit 061 such as a monitor, inputs characters and symbols in the input field displayed on the input screen using the keyboard, moves the pointer 205 using the trackball 063, and confirms the button 064. Enter the confirmation.

  Step S003: The pointer management unit 005 receives the coordinate on the input screen where the pointer 205 is located from the coordinate determination unit 041, and determines whether the X coordinate of the coordinate has exceeded the coordinate threshold value and has entered the region 501 or the region 502. to decide. For example, if the pointer 205 is positioned at X1 ≦ X ≦ 1600 and Y1 ≦ Y ≦ 1200, it is determined that the area 501 has been entered. If the coordinates of the pointer are located in the area 501 or the area 502, the process proceeds to step S004. When the X coordinate of the pointer is located outside the area 501 or the area 502, the process returns to step S002 and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus waits for an input from the operator.

  Step S004: The pointer management unit 005 refers to the correspondence table and extracts coordinates for moving the pointer 205 corresponding to the area where the pointer 205 is located.

  Step S005: The display control unit 004 displays the pointer 205 at the coordinates input from the pointer management unit 005.

  Step S006: When the operator presses the confirm button 064 in a state where the pointer 205 is displayed over the start button 203 or the close button 204, the process proceeds to step S007. If the operator does not press the confirm button 064, the process returns to step S002 and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus waits for the operator's input.

  Step S007: The display control unit 004 executes the function of the soft key (either the start button 203 or the close button 204) confirmed by the confirm button 064. Specifically, when the start button 203 is pressed, the display control unit 004 sends inspection start information to the integrated control unit 007. If the close button 204 is pressed, the examination input is canceled and the input screen is closed on the display unit 061.

  As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the operator puts the pointer in an area around each soft key, the pointer is automatically moved to the soft key. As a result, the pointer overlaps the soft key only by the operator approaching around the soft key, and the pointer can be easily aligned with the soft key having the function to be executed.

[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. A block diagram showing functions of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment is also shown in FIG. 1 as in the first embodiment. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment, the pointer automatically moves to the input field in the moving direction of the pointer. Therefore, hereinafter, the movement of the pointer in the pointer management unit 005 will be mainly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the pointer in the third embodiment.

  The display control unit 004 has the position of each point on the screen of the monitor that is the display unit 061 as two-dimensional coordinates. In the present embodiment, the display unit 061 has a screen in which 1600 pixels are arranged in the X direction and 1200 pixels are arranged in the Y direction. The display control unit 004 stores the coordinates of each point on the screen as a two-dimensional coordinate position as (X, Y) as a pixel position. Further, the display control unit 004 forms each input screen for inputting patient information, examination information, etc. as a display format 042 of the input screen, and a screen such as a soft key having a specific function such as a start button or a close button. The position information of the parts is stored in the aforementioned coordinates. For example, the input field 601 shown in FIG. 7 stores the coordinates of the point 601a in the input field 601 as (Xa, Ya) and the coordinates of the point 602b as (Xb, Yb). Based on these coordinates, Xa ≦ X ≦ Xb, The area surrounded by Ya ≦ Y ≦ Yb is stored as the input field 601. Similarly, in the input field 602 shown in FIG. 7, the coordinates of the point 602a are (Xc, Yc), the coordinates of the point 602b are (Xd, Xd), and the area of the input field 602 is Xc ≦ X ≦ Xd, Yc ≦ Y ≦ Yd. Further, in the input field 603 shown in FIG. 7, the coordinates of the point 603a are (Xe, Ye), the coordinates of the point 603b are (Xf, Xf), and the area of the input field 602 is Xe ≦ X ≦ Xf, Ye ≦ Y ≦ Yf. Other input fields are represented in the same manner. The display control unit 004 displays the input screen on the display unit 061 based on the display format 042 stored as described above.

  Further, the display control unit 004 receives the input from the operator's trackball 063 and moves the pointer 205 displayed on the input screen.

  The coordinate determination unit 041 receives the input of the movement distance in the X direction and the movement distance in the Y direction of the pointer 205 from the trackball 063, and adds the distances to the coordinates of the movement source, thereby coordinates of the current position of the pointer 205. Ask for. The coordinate determination unit 041 outputs the obtained coordinates of the pointer 205 to the pointer management unit 005.

  The display control unit 004 receives a movement command to an automatic movement destination coordinate input from a pointer management unit 005 described later, and moves the pointer 205 to the coordinate.

  The display control unit 004 receives the confirmation input from the confirmation button 064 by the operator in a state where the pointer 205 is displayed over the input field, and makes the input field ready for input.

  The pointer management unit 005 acquires coordinates representing the area of each input field from the display format 042 that the display control unit 004 has. For example, the pointer management unit 005 acquires the above-described Xa ≦ X ≦ Xb and Ya ≦ Y ≦ Yb as coordinates representing the area of the input field 601. Similarly, the pointer management unit 005 acquires coordinates representing the area of other input fields such as the input field 602 and the input field 603.

  The pointer management unit 005 has a correspondence table in which the correspondence between each input field and the coordinates on the input field corresponding to the input field is described. The coordinates on this input field become the coordinates of the automatic movement destination when the pointer 205 is moved to each input field.

  Further, the pointer management unit 005 acquires the movement source coordinates and the movement destination coordinates of the position of the pointer 205 input from the coordinate determination unit 041. The pointer management unit 005 determines whether the coordinates of the input destination are within the area of the input field where the pointer 205 is currently located. For example, when the pointer 205 is in the input field 601, it is determined whether or not the coordinates of the destination to which the pointer 205 is input are included in Xa ≦ X ≦ Xb and Ya ≦ Y ≦ Yb.

  When the coordinates of the movement destination of the pointer 205 are included in Xa ≦ X ≦ Xb and Ya ≦ Y ≦ Yb, the pointer management unit 005 issues an instruction to move the pointer 205 to the coordinates of the movement destination to the display control unit 004. Output. In this case, the pointer 205 simply moves within the input field 601.

  When the coordinates of the movement destination of the pointer 205 are not included in Xa ≦ X ≦ Xb and Ya ≦ Y ≦ Yb, the pointer management unit 005 obtains a straight line connecting the movement source coordinates of the pointer 205 and the movement destination coordinates. Here, the destination is not the destination to be actually moved, but the position of the pointer 205 already moved in the middle of moving toward the destination. When the obtained straight line is extended in the movement direction of the pointer 205 (the movement direction can be determined based on whether the movement of the X coordinate from the movement source to the movement destination is a positive direction or a negative direction). First, ask the input field to hit first. For example, when information indicating that the pointer 205 moves in the direction of the straight line 604 is input when the pointer 205 is in the input field 601, when the straight line 604 is extended, the input field 602 is first reached. Here, in order to determine whether or not a straight line passes through the input field 602, it is determined whether or not the straight line for which the coordinates Xc ≦ X ≦ Xd and Yc ≦ Y ≦ Yd of the area of the input field 602 pass. That's fine. Similarly, in order to determine whether or not a straight line passes through the area of the input field 603, whether or not the obtained straight line passes through the coordinates Xe ≦ X ≦ Xf and Ye ≦ Y ≦ Yf of the area of the input field 603 is determined. Just judge. These can be performed in the same manner for other input fields.

  In this way, when the straight line that first obtained the input field 602 passes, the pointer management unit 005 extracts the input field 602. Similarly, when the pointer 205 is in the input field 601 and the pointer 205 moves like a straight line 605, the pointer management unit 005 extracts the input field 603. When the pointer 205 is in the input field 602 and the pointer 205 moves like a straight line 606, the pointer management unit 005 extracts the input field 603.

  The pointer management unit 005 refers to the correspondence table based on the extracted input field, and acquires coordinates that are automatic movement destinations to the input field. For example, when the input field 603 is extracted, the pointer management unit 005 acquires coordinates located on the input field 603 displayed on the input screen.

  The pointer management unit 005 outputs a command for moving the pointer 205 to the acquired coordinates to the display control unit 004.

  Next, the movement of the pointer 205 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the movement of the pointer 205 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Step S001: The display control unit 004 causes the display unit 061 to display an input screen for inputting patient information, examination information, and the like.

  Step S002: The operator inputs information using the user interface 006. At this time, the operator refers to the display unit 061 such as a monitor, inputs characters and symbols in the input field displayed on the input screen using the keyboard, moves the pointer 205 using the trackball 063, and confirms the button 064. Enter the confirmation.

  Step S003: The pointer management unit 005 receives the coordinates on the input screen where the pointer is located from the coordinate determination unit 041, and determines whether or not the coordinates are included in the area of the input field where the pointer 205 is currently located. If the coordinates of the pointer 205 are included in the current input field, the process proceeds to step S004. If the coordinates of the pointer 205 are not included in the current input field, the process returns to step S002 and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus waits for an operator input.

  Step S004: The display control unit 004 moves the pointer 205 to the input destination coordinate. Thereafter, the process returns to step S002.

  Step S005: The pointer management unit 005 obtains a straight line connecting the movement source coordinates and the movement destination coordinates input from the coordinate determination unit 041.

  Step S006: The pointer management unit 005 obtains the nearest input field through which the obtained straight line passes.

  Step S006: The pointer management unit 005 refers to the stored correspondence table and extracts the coordinates of the automatic movement destination corresponding to the obtained input field.

  Step S007: The display control unit 004 displays the pointer 205 at the automatic movement destination coordinates input from the pointer management unit 005.

  Step S008: When the operator presses the confirm button 064 in a state where the pointer 205 is displayed so as to overlap the input field, the process proceeds to Step S009. If the operator does not press the confirm button 064, the process returns to step S002 and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus waits for the operator's input.

  Step S009: The display control unit 004 displays an input field where the pointer 205 is located so that input is possible.

  As described above, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the pointer exceeds the end of the input field where the current position is, the pointer is automatically set to the nearest input field in the moving direction. Can be moved. As a result, the operator does not need to manually move the pointer to the next input field, and the pointer can be easily moved between the input fields.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the above embodiment, the pointer is automatically moved when the input screen is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, an ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed on the display unit during the ultrasonic diagnosis. Therefore, the pointer does not move automatically during the operation, and the influence on the ultrasonic diagnosis which is the original work is suppressed.

Block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention Example of input screen The figure for demonstrating the movement of the pointer in 1st Embodiment Flowchart of pointer movement in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment The figure for demonstrating the movement of the pointer in 2nd Embodiment Flowchart of pointer movement in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment The figure for demonstrating the movement of the pointer in 3rd Embodiment Flowchart of pointer movement in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment

Explanation of symbols

001 Ultrasonic probe 002 Transmission / reception unit 003 Image generation unit 004 Display control unit 041 Coordinate determination unit 042 Display format 005 Pointer management unit 006 User interface 061 Display unit 062 Input unit 063 Trackball 064 Confirm button

Claims (6)

A transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves via an ultrasonic probe;
Image generating means for generating an ultrasonic image based on the received ultrasonic wave;
A pointing device for inputting movement information for moving the pointer displayed on the display means;
An input screen provided with an input field for patient information and / or examination information and a soft key for performing a specific function, and the pointer on the display means, and a display for moving the pointer based on the movement information Control means;
Storage means for storing in advance a speed threshold and a correspondence between the predetermined position on the input screen and the soft key;
When the movement information is received, the movement speed of the pointer is obtained, and the movement speed exceeds the speed threshold when the pointer moves to the predetermined position, the soft key corresponding to the predetermined position Pointer management means for moving the pointer to a position;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: The display control means has coordinate information of points on the input screen, and outputs the coordinate information of the pointer on the input screen to the pointer management means,
The pointer management means stores the coordinate information of the side of the input screen as a threshold value, and when the coordinate information of the pointer exceeds the threshold value as the pointer moves out of the input screen The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pointer is determined to have moved to the predetermined position. When a plurality of the soft keys and the pointer is displayed on the display means by said display control means,
Said pointer management means stores a correspondence between the sides of the input screen has been divided and stored in a plurality of regions, further plurality of regions and the previous SL plurality of soft keys, the pointer of the region The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when moved to one, the pointer is moved to the position of the soft key corresponding to the area .   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a trackball. A transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves via an ultrasonic probe;
Image generating means for generating an ultrasonic image based on the received ultrasonic wave;
A pointing device for inputting movement information for moving the pointer displayed on the display means;
A display control means for displaying the input screen having a plurality of input fields for inputting patient information and / or examination information on the display means and the pointer, and for moving the pointer based on the movement information;
Pointer management means for receiving an input in the direction of movement of the pointer while the input screen is displayed, and for moving the pointer to the input field closest to the end of the movement direction;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: A transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves via an ultrasonic probe;
Image generating means for generating an ultrasonic image based on the received ultrasonic wave;
A pointing device for inputting movement information for moving the pointer displayed on the display means;
An input screen provided with an input field for patient information and / or examination information and a soft key for performing a specific function, and the pointer on the display means, and a display for moving the pointer based on the movement information Control means;
Storage means for storing in advance the coordinates of the area around the soft key displayed on the input screen;
Pointer management means for receiving an input of the position of the pointer on the screen and moving the pointer to the soft key when the pointer moves into the surrounding area;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: