Operator interface for a medical diagnostic imaging device
AssigneeGE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
InventorsIlan Lifshitz, Doron Hess
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for providing operator control over a medical diagnostic device includes the steps of assigning each device function in a preselected device function set that implements a preselected medical diagnostic device to at least one function activation area on an image display. Subsequently, the method monitors a touchscreen for a touch, and determines a selected activation area based on the touch and the function activation area. Once the selected activation area is determined, the method performs a device function associated with the selected activation area.
Claims23
In a medical diagnostic device, an operator interface for providing operator control over device functions of the medical diagnostic device, the operator interface comprising:
- a monitor producing an image display;
- a touchscreen disposed in front of the monitor;
- a memory storing device function sets, the device function sets each comprising a plurality of device functions, at least one of the device functions comprising direct control over an electromechanical subsystem of the medical diagnostic device, the device function sets providing complete control over a preselected medical diagnostic device;
- a plurality of activation areas defined on the touchscreen, the plurality of activation areas providing access to all the device function sets, each activation area being associated with at least one device function;
- a processor coupled to the touch screen for detecting a touch on the touchscreen that identifies a selected activation area, the processor performing the device function associated with the selected activation area;
- a data recording device coupled to the processor, the data recording device being external to the medical diagnostic device, the device function sets including the device functions that implement the data recording device, the plurality of activation areas including at least one of play, pause, record, fast forward and stop for controlling the data recording device.
A method for providing operator control over a medical diagnostic device, the method comprising:
- defining function activation areas on an image display comprising a touchscreen through which device functions may be selected, at least one of the device functions comprising direct control over an electromechanical subsystem of the medical diagnostic device, the device functions being included in device function sets including a keyboard function for general purpose input, the image display displaying each keyboard key defined by one of a rectangular box and pixel area, the function activation areas providing access to all the device functions providing control over a preselected medical diagnostic device;
- monitoring the touchscreen for a touch;
- determining a selected activation area based on the touch and the function activation areas;
- and
- performing a device function associated with the selected activation area.
An ultrasound imaging system providing touchscreen based operator control, the ultrasound imaging system comprising:
- an ultrasound scanner coupled to an acoustic power unit;
- a processor coupled to a memory and the ultrasound scanner;
- a monitor coupled to the processor for providing an image display;
- a touchscreen disposed in front of the monitor and coupled to the processor;
- a plurality of activation areas defined on the touchscreen, wherein each device function is obtainable through at least one of the activation areas, device function sets including all the device functions that implement a preselected medical diagnostic device, at least one of the device functions comprising direct control over an electromechanical subsystem of the ultrasound imaging system, the device function sets further including a keyboard function for general purpose input, the monitor displaying each keyboard key defined by one of a rectangular box and pixel area;
- and
- wherein the processor is responsive to detect a touch on the touchscreen that identifies a selected activation area, the processor performing the device function associated with the selected activation area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.