SYSTEM AND USER INTERFACE FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENTS AND POSITION OF AN IMAGING SUSBSYSTEM IN A MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to medical imaging. More specifically the subject matter relates to controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem in a medical imaging device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Medical environments, such as hospitals, include multiple medical devices that are used for different medical purposes on a subject or patient for example taking a medical image of a subject's anatomy. An x-ray system relies on a tone and a light to indicate that an x-ray exposure is in progress. The image exposure device, or hand switch, is often attached to a cord, which is in signal communication with a control console of the x-ray system. An operator commonly makes the exposure from a remote location, using the hand switch. The hand switch can be also used for performing other operations in the x-ray system say for instance changing orientation of x-ray detectors, and adjusting the intensity of x-rays emission.

[0003] The imaging subsystem of the x-ray system needs to be oriented with respect to the subject to capture the required medical images. The imaging subsystem is oriented at different positions using a control unit for example a joystick, a hand switch and so on. In some x-ray systems a touch screen interface may be provided with different user interface (UI) elements that can be selected by the user to re-orient the imaging subsystem with respect to the subject. However identifying and selecting these UI elements may be difficult due to their layout and interaction and sometimes errors and delays may occur while controlling the orientation of the imaging subsystem. The UI elements presented may be only the most frequently used and standard UI elements that may be used to control the orientation of the imaging subsystem. Thus there is a need for an improved system and user interface for presenting UI elements for orienting the image subsystem of the medical imaging device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.

[0005] As discussed in detail below, embodiments of the invention include a medical image management system for image storage and retrieval is disclosed.

[0006] In an embodiment system for articulating and controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem in a medical imaging device is disclosed. The system includes a processor for providing a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem, wherein a UI element corresponds to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem; controlling angular position of the imaging subsystem in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements; and a memory communicably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores the plurality of UI elements.

[0007] In another embodiment a medical imaging device having an imaging subsystem for capturing medical images of a subject is disclosed. The medical imaging device includes a user interface, a processor for providing a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem in the user interface, wherein a UI element corresponds to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem; controlling angular position of the imaging subsystem in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements; and a memory communicably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores the plurality of UI elements.

[0008] In yet another embodiment a method of visually controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem of a medical imaging device is disclosed. The method includes presenting a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem in a user interface of the medical imaging device, wherein a UI element corresponds to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem; and controlling angular position of the imaging subsystem in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an exemplary x-ray system in accordance to an embodiment;

[0010] FIGURE 2 is a block diagrammatic representation of a system for articulating and controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem in a medical imaging device in accordance to an embodiment;

[0011] FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of a user interface presenting multiple user interface elements in accordance to an embodiment; and

[0012] FIGURE 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of visually controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem of a medical imaging device in accordance to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0014] To the extent that the figures illustrate diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division between hardware circuitry. One or more of the functional blocks (e.g., processors or memories) may be implemented in a single piece of hardware (e.g., a general purpose signal processor or random access memory, hard disk, or the like) or multiple pieces of hardware. Similarly, the programs may be standalone programs, may be incorporated as subroutines in an operating system, may be functions in an installed software package, and the like. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

[0015] As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments "comprising" or "having" an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.

[0016] Although the various embodiments are described with respect to an X-ray system, the various embodiments may be utilized with any suitable medical imaging system, for example, an interventional and diagnostic imaging system, computed tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and or the like.

[0017] A system for controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem in a medical imaging device is disclosed. The system includes a processor for providing a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem, wherein a UI element corresponds to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem; articulating and controlling angular position of the imaging subsystem in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements; and a memory communicably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores the plurality of UI elements.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an x-ray system 100. An x-ray machine 102 is configured to transmit x-ray radiation and receive the transmitted x-ray radiation having passed through a subject 104. The X-ray machine also includes an imaging subsystem 108 in the form of a C-arm. An operator's x-ray console 106 is in signal communication with the x-ray machine 102, the console 106 being configured to control the x-ray machine 102 and interpret the received x-ray radiation to provide at least one x-ray image. A hand switch 110 (referred to as an image exposure device or a control device) is in signal communication with the console 106 via one of a switch cord and a wireless connection, and is configured to communicate with the console 106 to prepare the x-ray machine 102 to take an x-ray exposure. The hand switch 108 may be used for preparing the X-ray machine 102 for image exposure and therefore referred to as the image exposure device. The hand switch 110 may be used for other operations in the X-ray machine 102 and hence may be referred to as the control device. The hand switch 110 is also configured to communicate with the console 106 to initiate the x-ray exposure by the x-ray machine 102. In an embodiment, the hand switch 110 is configured to be held by an operator 112 of the x-ray machine 102. The operator 112 may be in a different room and use the hand switch 110 to operate the x-ray machine 102 even though it is shown in FIG. 1 that operator 112 is located near to the subject 104. In an embodiment, the hand switch 110 is in signal communication with the x-ray console 106 via a wireless connection or a wired connection.

[0019] The X-ray machine 102 may also include a control unit (e.g. a joystick or a toggle device) used to change the orientation of the imaging subsystem 108. In another embodiment the X-ray machine 102 may include a touch screen based user interface presenting multiple user interface (UI) elements for controlling the orientation of the imaging subsystem 108. Each UI element may be associated with an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 108. For example once a UI element is selected the imaging subsystem 108 may move at a 30° angle from a default position of the imaging subsystem 108. A touch screen based user interface 114 and/or the control unit may be configured in the console 106 and controlled by a user i.e. the operator. In another embodiment the touch screen based user interface and/or the control unit may be configured or arranged at a table of the X-ray machine 102. The imaging subsystem 108 may be moved at different orientations e.g. angiographic projections. The angiographic projections may include but are not limited to a left anterior oblique view (LAO), a right anterior oblique view (RAO), cranial angulation, a caudal angulation, long axial oblique view, craniocaudal posteroanterior angulation, steep LAO, mid LAO, shallow LAO, Hepato-clavicular view, and left pulmonary artery view. Each UI element of the multiple UI elements may be associated with an angiographic projection. Different angiography projections are required to analyze an anatomy i.e. a heart of the subject. More specifically to analyze different coronary branches of the anatomy.

[0020] While an embodiment has been described having a control unit and/or a touch screen based user interface in communication with an x-ray machine, it will be appreciated that the scope of this disclosure is not so limited, and that the invention will also apply to other medical systems that may use the control unit and/or a touch screen based user interface, such as an interventional and diagnostic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and computer aided tomography systems, for example.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagrammatic representation of a system 200 for controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem 202 in a medical imaging device 204 in accordance to an embodiment. The medical imaging device 204 may be an X-ray machine, a C-arm imaging device, a magnetic resonance imaging, a computer aided tomography system and so on. The system 200 includes a processor 206 configured to provide a plurality of user interface (UI) elements 208 arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem 202. A UI element may correspond to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem 202. The preset angular movement may be an angiographic projection (also known as angulation) for example a left anterior oblique view (LAO), a right anterior oblique view (RAO), cranial angulation, a caudal angulation, long axial oblique view, craniocaudal posteroanterior angulation, steep LAO, mid LAO, shallow LAO, Hepato-clavicular view, and left pulmonary artery view. A user may select a UI element of the multiple UI elements for controlling an angular position of the imaging subsystem 202. A memory 210 may store all these angiographic projections. For example when the user (i.e. the operator) selects a UI element associated with LAO then the imaging subsystem 202 re-orients from a current position to LAO position for analyzing the anatomy of the subject. At this position the imaging subsystem 202 transmits imaging rays i.e. X rays to the anatomy to obtain a medical image at LAO position. In an embodiment the orientation of the imaging subsystem 202 may be changed using a control unit 212 once the UI element associated with the LAO is selected. The control unit 212 may be a hardware switch, a joystick, a toggle switch, a handle unit and so on that can be operated by the user after selecting the required orientation i.e. angiographic projection using an associated UI element of the multiple UI elements 208.

[0022] The system 200 may be an integral part of the medical imaging device 204. In another embodiment the system 200 may be configured separately from the medical imaging device 204. Further another UI element may be selected by the user for reorienting the imaging subsystem 202 to its previous angular position. The previous angular position may be achieved by an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 202. Moreover in another embodiment a UI element may be selected by the user for reorienting the imaging subsystem 202 to a predefined angular position. The predefined angular position may be a home position of the imaging subsystem 202. The home position may be a standard angular position of the imaging subsystem 202 that may be configured. The standard position may be defined by the operator. In another instance the standard position may be a factory defined position of the imaging subsystem 202. All these orientations or angular positions or angiographic projections are achieved by angularly moving the imaging subsystem 202. The medical imaging device 204 also includes a user interface 214 for presenting the UI elements 208 that can be used by the user to orient the imaging subsystem 202 at different angular positions.

[0023] Now turning to FIG. 3 illustrating a user interface 300 presenting multiple UI elements for controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem 202 in a medical imaging device 204 according to an embodiment. The UI elements are arranged in four sectors (i.e. four quadrants) formed by two axes. The four quadrants are quadrant 306, a quadrant 308, a quadrant 310 and a quadrant 312. A first axis 314 represents movement of the imaging subsystem from a left anterior oblique position to a right anterior oblique position. A second axis 316 represents movement of the imaging subsystem from a cranial position to a caudal position. The quadrant 306 represent CRA-LAO quadrant where all the angiographic projections described by the craneal and left anterior oblique angles are shown. The quadrant 308 represent CRA-RAO quadrant where all the angiographic projections described by the craneal and right anterior oblique angles are shown. The quadrant 310 represent CAU-RAO quadrant where all the angiographic projections described by the caudal and right anterior oblique angles are shown. The quadrant 312 represent CAU-LAO quadrant where all the angiographic projections described by the caudal and left anterior oblique angles are shown. The UI elements are arranged and presented in these four quadrants. In an embodiment a patient reference image 318 may be presented in the UI 300. This image enables the user (i.e. the operator) to visualize the angiographic projections i.e. angular movements with respect to the patient reference image 318. The patient reference image 318 enables the user to visualize the angles with respect to the subject or the patient lying on the table of the medical imaging device 304.

[0024] A UI element 220 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. CRA 30 and RAO 10. This indicates that the imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with a 30° cranial angulation and 10° right anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject. The UI element 322 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. lateral and RAO 30. This indicates that the imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with a lateral 30° right anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject. Further the UI element 324 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. CAU 30 and RAO 40. This indicates that the imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with a 30° caudial angulation and a 30° right anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject. The UI element 326 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. CAU 30 and RAO 10. This indicates that imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with 30° caudial angulation and 10° right anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject. The UI element 328 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. CRA 0 and CAU 0. This indicates that the imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with 0° cranial angulation and 0° caudial angulation. It may be appreciated the angiographic projections described herein is accordance to an embodiment and other embodiments of this disclosure can include other angiographic projections without limiting from the scope of this disclosure.

[0025] Moreover the UI element 330 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. CRA 30 and LAO 40. This indicates that the imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with 30° cranial angulation and 40° left anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject. The UI element 332 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. CAU 30 and LAO 45. This indicates that the imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with 30° cranial angulation and 45° left anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject. Further the UI element 334 represents an angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302 i.e. lateral LAO 50. This indicates that the imaging subsystem 302 needs to have an angular movement with 50° left anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject in a lateral angle. If the user selects an UI element i.e. the UI element 320, then the imaging subsystem 302 may perform an angular movement with a 30° cranial angulation and 30° right anterior oblique view of the anatomy of the subject. As these UI elements are arranged with respect to the patient reference image 318 the user can visualize the angiographic projections with respect to the subject or the patient and thus will be able to operate the imaging subsystem 302 in a more convenient manner. Further even though the user interface such as the user interface 300 is shown to include four quadrants and two axes it may be envisioned that more than four quadrants and two axes may be present and accordingly the UI elements may be arranged in these quadrants.

[0026] The user interface 300 may also include a UI element 336 that when activated by the user the imaging subsystem 302 moves from a current angular position to a previous angular position. For example the imaging subsystem 302 may be in an angular position i.e. CRA 30° and RAO 10° and then move to an angular position i.e. lateral and RAO 30. In this case the UI element 336 can be selected by the user to move back the imaging subsystem 302 to the angular position CRA 30 and RAO 10. Further the imaging subsystem 302 may have a predefined position i.e. a home position or a default position for instance CRA 0° and CAU 0°. After the imaging subsystem 302 moves to the angular position i.e. CRA 30 and RAO 10, the user can select a UI element 338 to move back the imaging subsystem to the home position. It may be envisioned that the user interface 300 is shown to include multiple UI elements as shown in FIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment however the user interface 300 may include other UI elements for controlling the movements of the imaging subsystem 302 in other embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 400 of visually controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem of a medical imaging device according to an embodiment. In this method at block 402 a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem in a user interface of the medical imaging device is presented. A UI element of the plurality of UI elements correspond to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem. The UI elements are arranged in four sectors with respect to two axes. A UI element is associated with a preset angular position with respect to the two axes. The preset angular position may be an angiographic projection (also known as angulation) for example a left anterior oblique view (LAO), a right anterior oblique view (RAO), cranial angulation, a caudal angulation, long axial oblique view, craniocaudal posteroanterior angulation, steep LAO, mid LAO, shallow LAO, Hepato-clavicular view, and left pulmonary artery view as described with respect to FIG. 3.

[0028] At block 404, angular position of the imaging subsystem is controlled in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements.

A UI element of the plurality of UI elements may be selected by the user to move the imaging subsystem 302 to a desired angular position or to execute a desired angular movement of the imaging subsystem 302. Another UI element of the plurality of UI elements may be associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a previous imaging location. Further another UI element may be associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a predefined position i.e. a home position and a default position.

[0029] The various embodiments and/or components, for example, the modules, or components and controllers therein, also may be implemented as part of one or more computers or processors. The computer or processor may include a computing device, an input device, a display unit and an interface, for example, for accessing the Internet. The computer or processor may include a microprocessor. The microprocessor may be connected to a communication bus. The computer or processor may also include a memory. The memory may include Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM), flash drive or memory and/or solid state drives. The computer or processor further may include a storage device, which may be a hard disk drive or a removable storage drive such as a floppy disk drive, optical disk drive, and the like. The storage device may also be other similar means for loading computer programs or other instructions into the computer or processor.

[0030] As used herein, the term "computer" or "module" may include any processor-based or microprocessor-based system including systems using microcontrollers, reduced instruction set computers (RISC), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), logic circuits, and any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functions described herein. The above examples are exemplary only, and are thus not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term "computer".

[0031] The computer or processor executes a set of instructions that are stored in one or more storage elements, in order to process input data. The storage elements may also store data or other information as desired or needed. The storage element may be in the form of an information source or a physical memory element within a processing machine.

[0032] The methods described in conjunction with figures can be performed using a processor or any other processing device. The method steps can be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readable instructions) stored on a tangible computer readable medium. The tangible computer readable medium may be for example a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), any other computer readable storage medium and any storage media. Although the method of visually controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem of a medical imaging device is explained with reference to the flow chart of figures, other methods of implementing the method can be employed. For example, the order of execution of each method steps may be changed, and/or some of the method steps described may be changed, eliminated, divide or combined. Further the method steps may be sequentially or simultaneously executed for visually controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem of a medical imaging device.

[0033] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any computing system or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

We Claim:

1. A system for controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem in a
medical imaging device, wherein the system comprises:
a processor for:
providing a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem, wherein a UI element corresponds to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem;
articulating and controlling angular position of the imaging subsystem in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements; and
a memory communicably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores the plurality of UI elements.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to arrange the plurality of UI elements in at least four sectors with respect to at least two axes, a UI element is associated with a preset angular position with respect to the at least two axes.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a first axis of the at least two axes represent movement of the imaging subsystem from a left anterior oblique position to a right anterior oblique position, and a second axis of the at least two axes represent movement of the imaging subsystem from a cranial position to a caudal position.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a UI element of the plurality of UI elements is associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a previous angular position.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein a UI element of the plurality of UI elements is associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a predefined position.

6. A medical imaging device having an imaging subsystem for capturing medical images of a subject, the medical imaging device comprising:

a user interface; a processor for:
providing a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem in the user interface, wherein a UI element corresponds to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem;
articulating and controlling angular position of the imaging subsystem in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements; and
a memory communicably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores the plurality of UI elements.

7. The medical imaging device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to arrange the plurality of UI elements in at least four sectors with respect to at least two axes, a UI element is associated with a preset angular position with respect to the at least two axes.

8. The medical imaging device of claim 7, wherein a first axis of the at least two axes represent movement of the imaging subsystem from a left anterior oblique position to a right anterior oblique position, and a second axis of the at least two axes represent movement of the imaging subsystem from a cranial position to a caudal position.

9. The medical imaging device of claim 7, wherein a UI element of the plurality of UI elements is associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a previous angular position.

10. The medical imaging device of claim 7, wherein a UI element of the plurality of UI elements is associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a predefined position.

11. The medical imaging device of claim 1 further comprises a control unit for controlling the movement of the imaging subsystem with respect to the subject based on the selected UI element, wherein the imaging subsystem is moved to achieve the preset angular movement.

12. A method of visually controlling movements and position of an imaging subsystem of a medical imaging device, the method comprising:
presenting a plurality of user interface (UI) elements arranged based on a patient position with respect to the imaging subsystem in a user interface of the medical imaging device, wherein a UI element corresponds to a preset angular movement of the imaging subsystem; and
articulating and controlling angular position of the imaging subsystem in response to receiving a user input selecting a UI element of the plurality of UI elements.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprises arranging the plurality of UI elements in at least four sectors with respect to at least two axes, a UI element is associated with a preset angular position with respect to the at least two axes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a first axis of the at least two axes represent movement of the imaging subsystem from a left anterior oblique position to a right anterior oblique position, and a second axis of the at least two axes represent movement of the imaging subsystem from a cranial position to a caudal position.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a UI element of the plurality of UI elements is associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a previous angular position.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a UI element of the plurality of UI elements is associated with moving the imaging subsystem to a predefined position.