Method and system for recording probe position during breast ultrasound scan

An apparatus for use with a breast ultrasound imaging system, said breast ultrasound imaging system generating ultrasound images responsive to scans taken by an ultrasound probe under the control of a user, comprising:

• a first display area for displaying a breast body marker and a probe icon to the user;
• a graphical input device for receiving graphical input commands from the user that manipulate the location and orientation of the probe icon relative to the breast body marker in a way that reflects the user's estimation of a current location and orientation of the ultrasound probe relative to a patient;
• and
• a processor programmed to compute, using the current location and orientation of the probe icon relative to the breast body marker, a text sequence that describes the user's estimation of the current location and orientation of the ultrasound probe relative to the patient;
• and
• a second display area for displaying said text sequence to the user.

A computer program product on a recordable medium for use in an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

• computer code for displaying a target icon to a user;
• computer code for displaying a probe icon to the user;
• computer code for receiving input signals from the user that manipulate a position of the probe icon relative to the target icon, the probe icon position corresponding to a user estimate of the position of an actual ultrasound probe being manipulated by the user relative to an actual target;
• computer code for using said ultrasound probe icon position to compute an alphanumeric sequence describing said user estimate of the actual ultrasound probe position;
• and
• computer code for displaying said alphanumeric sequence to the user for viewing in conjunction with an ultrasound image corresponding to the actual ultrasound probe position;
• whereby said alphanumeric sequence describing said user estimate of the actual ultrasound probe position is generated without requiring manual alphanumeric entry thereof by the user.

A method for automatically creating and displaying alphanumeric information indicative of relative positions of an imaging probe and a body being imaged with the probe, comprising:

• displaying to a user at a first display area (a) a body icon representing the body being imaged, and (b) a probe icon representing the probe;
• computer-processing information from the user manipulating a graphical computer input device to both (a) show relative movement of said probe icon and body icon at said first display, and (b) generate alphanumerical information indicative of relative positions of said probe and body;
• and
• displaying said alphanumerical information to the user at a second display area.