Context-Adaptive Imaging Controller for Menu-Free Radiology Review
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional workstation controllers for healthcare professionals, particularly radiologists, are limited in functionality and ergonomics, leading to inefficiencies and distractions that can result in errors during image review and diagnosis due to the need to frequently navigate menus and access various functions, which can lead to longer review times and increased wait times for patients.
Innovation Solution
A healthcare information controller with a minimalist design that keeps frequently used functions within easy reach, allowing radiologists to perform tasks without looking away from their display, featuring a scroll wheel, touch button controls, and navigation/diagnostic controls that are context-based and user-programmable, minimizing desk space and reducing time spent on 'housekeeping' tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional workstation controllers with comprehensive function sets are used, then all healthcare information manipulation functions are available, but the controller complexity increases and radiologists must frequently navigate menus causing distractions
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is divided into multiple independent control elements including a scroll wheel for navigation, touch buttons for selection, and dedicated function keys for common operations. This segmentation allows each element to have a specific, simple function while collectively providing comprehensive healthcare information manipulation capabilities, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves as an intermediary device between the radiologist and the comprehensive healthcare information system. It provides a simplified interface that mediates access to complex functions through intuitive controls, allowing radiologists to manipulate diverse healthcare information without directly interacting with the underlying system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If radiologists frequently navigate menus and access various functions on conventional controllers, then all required operations can be performed, but review time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed with preliminary positioning of commonly used functions within easy reach of the radiologist's hand. The scroll wheel and touch buttons are arranged to allow intuitive navigation without requiring the radiologist to search for controls or change hand position, enabling immediate access to required operations and maintaining high review efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller design allows radiologists to perform operations through natural, self-evident gestures such as scrolling and touching, without requiring memory of complex command sequences or menu structures. The controls serve themselves by being intuitively arranged, reducing cognitive load and maintaining focus on image review.
3Ease of operation
If radiologists look away from the display to operate conventional controllers, then control functions can be accessed, but diagnostic accuracy may decrease due to distractions
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is positioned and designed so that all essential controls are within the radiologist's natural reach zone without requiring head or eye movement away from the display. The scroll wheel and touch buttons are arranged at an ergonomic position that allows operation while maintaining visual focus on the medical images, creating an equipotential working condition where control access does not compromise diagnostic accuracy.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple displays are provided for radiologists to view images, then viewing capability is enhanced, but desk space is consumed and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a multi-functional device that consolidates navigation, selection, annotation, and other control functions into a single compact unit. This universal design allows the controller to provide enhanced operational capability without requiring additional display devices or desk space, resolving the contradiction between viewing capability and space utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for viewing and manipulating digital images. One example apparatus includes a controller configured to receive user input via a plurality of context-adaptive button controls, each of the plurality of context-adaptive button controls being associated with at least one function for viewing and manipulating digital images. The controller configured to determine at least one context of the digital medical images and change the at least one function for viewing and manipulating digital images based on the determined context.