# US 2014/0194742 A1 · Ultrasound imaging system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194742 A1 - Document ID: US20140194742A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/136,166 - Filed: 2013-12-20 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-28 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Subin Sundaran Baby Sarojam; Mohandas Vasudevan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194742A1 ## CPC - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - A61B 8/4254: {using sensors mounted on the probe} - A61B 8/4427: {Device being portable or laptop-like} - A61B 8/4466: {involving deflection of the probe} - A61B 8/462: {characterised by constructional features of the display} - A61B 8/467: {characterised by special input means} - A61B 8/52: {Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves} - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors - G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range - G06F 3/0487: using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser - A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements} - G06F 2203/04806: Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An ultrasound imaging system and method includes performing a gesture with a scan system and detecting the gesture based on data from a motion sensing system in the scan system. The motion sensing system includes at least one sensor selected from the group of an accelerometer, a gyro sensor and a magnetic sensor. The ultrasound imaging system and method also includes performing a control operation based on the detected gesture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling an ultrasound imaging system, the method comprising: operating the imaging system in a selected mode of operation; performing a gesture with a scan system; detecting the gesture based on data from a motion sensing system in the scan system, wherein the motion sensing system includes at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyro sensor, and a magnetic sensor; and performing at least one control operation of the imaging system based on the detected gesture in each mode of operation of the imaging system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging system is operating in an image acquisition mode and a probe is being positioned on an imaging area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein detecting the gesture in the image acquisition mode comprises translating gestures of the scan system to control operation instructions for the probe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises mapping the motion sensing system data to corresponding probe movement to perform probe control operations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein performing at least one control operation of the probe comprises providing a motion control system adapted to be connected to the probe for implementing the control operation instructions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein performing at least one control operation of the probe comprises providing a communication channel configured to communicate the control instructions to the probe or to the motion control system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein performing at least one control operation of the probe comprises adjusting a head of the probe based on the detected gesture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein performing at least one control operation of the probe comprises adjusting the direction or intensity of a beam from the probe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: operating the imaging system in an image processing mode; wherein at least one of functionality of the scan system or the steps in image processing are controlled using gestures detected based on data from the motion sensing system in the scan system. ### Claim 10 A method of controlling an ultrasound imaging system, the method comprising: inputting a command to select a mode of operation; displaying an image on a scan system; performing a gesture with the scan system; detecting the gesture based on data from a motion sensing system associated with the scan system, wherein the motion sensing system includes at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyro sensor, and a magnetic sensor; maneuvering a probe based on the detected gesture; and acquiring an image data by maneuvering the probe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein detecting gestures comprises: translating gestures of the scan system to control operation instructions for the probe; and communicating the instructions through a communication channel to the probe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprises operating the imaging system in an image processing mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: detecting gestures of the scan system; and converting the gestures to predefined user input instructions for processing the image data acquired. ### Claim 14 An ultrasound imaging system comprising: a probe, wherein the probe comprises: a movable head, at least one transducer element disposed in the head, and a motion control system configured to control at least the head or the transducer element; and a scan system in communication with the probe, wherein the scan system comprises: a housing; a display; a motion sensing system attachable to the display or to the housing; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive data from the motion sensing system and to interpret the data as a gesture, and translate the gestures to probe control instructions in a first mode of operation of the imaging system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 14, wherein the motion sensing system comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyro sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 14, further comprising a hand-held ultrasound imaging system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to perform the control operation of the probe based on the gesture in a first mode of operation and the processor is configured to perform image processing instructions in a second mode of operation based on the gestures of the scan system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 17, wherein the motion sensing system comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer, a gyro sensor and a camera. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 17, wherein the processor further comprises a memory for storing predefined user input instructions for processing the image data corresponding to the gestures of the scan system.