Method and apparatus for detachable and configurable user interfaces for ultrasound systems

A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system comprising:

• a transducer coupled with a transmit beamformer and a receive beamformer;
• a processor coupled to issue commands to said transmit beamformer and to receive data from said receive beamformer;
• a wireless communication device coupled to said processor, said wireless communication device to receive a command from a detachable user interface and to communicate said command to said processor;
• and
• wherein said detachable user interface is dynamically configurable and comprised of at least one wireless control module to receive user input and to wirelessly transmit said user input to said wireless communication device as said command.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first detachable control module having wireless communication capability, a first internal power source, and a first mating surface;
• a second detachable control module having wireless communication capability, a second internal power source, and a second mating surface;
• and
• wherein said first and second detachable control modules are configured to operate as portions of an user interface to an medical imaging system, said user interface detachable from said medical imaging system.

A method comprising:

• determining a user interface configuration for a system, wherein said user interface configuration includes a user interface that is physically detached from said system during system operation;
• detaching a plurality of detachable control modules from said system;
• arranging said plurality of detachable control modules into said user interface configuration;
• enabling said plurality of detachable control modules to wirelessly communication commands to said system.