Unitary operator control for ultrasonic imaging graphical user interface

A system for controlling ultrasonic imaging comprising:

• an ultrasonic imaging controller operable to apply a plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations, the controller having a plurality of instructions for processing a plurality of image parameters to obtain ultrasound images;
• a user input device operable to provide selection input in response to a first user control, and further operable to provide parameters in response to a second user control, the user input device connected to the first user control and the second user control from a common operating position;
• and
• a graphical user interface (GUI) operable to receive the selection input corresponding to at least one of the ultrasonic imaging operations, and further operable to receive parameters in a range corresponding to the selected ultrasonic imaging operations.

A computer readable medium including instructions for controlling an ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• defining a plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations;
• defining a range of values corresponding to each of the ultrasonic imaging operations;
• selecting, via a first control, one of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations;
• selecting, via a second control, a parameter in the range of values corresponding to the selected ultrasonic imaging operation;
• and
• applying, via the ultrasonic imaging system, the selected ultrasonic imaging operation employing the selected parameter, the first control and the second control being operable from a common operating position.

A computer readable data transmission medium having program code for controlling an ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• a first portion of program code for defining a plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations;
• a second portion of program code for defining a range of values corresponding to each of the ultrasonic imaging operations;
• a third portion of program code for selecting, via a first control, one of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations;
• a fourth portion of program code for selecting, via a second control, a parameter in the range of values corresponding to the selected ultrasonic imaging operation;
• and
• a fifth portion of program code for applying, via the ultrasonic imaging system, the selected ultrasonic imaging operation employing the selected parameter, the first control and the second control being operable from a common operating position.

A computer program product for controlling and for displaying ultrasonic images in an ultrasonic imaging system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code therein, including program code which:

• defines a plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations;
• defines a range of values corresponding to each of the ultrasonic imaging operations;
• selects, via a first control, one of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations;
• selects, via a second control, a parameter in the range of values corresponding to the selected ultrasonic imaging operation;
• and
• applies, via the ultrasonic imaging system, the selected ultrasonic imaging operation employing the selected parameter, the first control and the second control being operable from a common operating position.

A graphical user interface for controlling and displaying ultrasound images and data, comprising:

• a graphical user interface element for displaying an ultrasonic image of a region of interest;
• a graphical user interface element for selecting one of a plurality of ultrasonic imaging operations;
• a graphical user interface element for selecting quantitative parameters corresponding to the ultrasonic imaging operations;
• and
• a graphical user interface element for controlling the selection of the graphical user interface elements.