Dynamic Touch Panel Interface for 3D Medical Image Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigating 3D and 4D medical images with current medical imaging systems is cumbersome and error-prone due to the use of separate rotary encoders for image manipulation, leading to potential misselection of planes or incorrect rotation directions.
Innovation Solution
A dynamically configurable touch panel that automatically configures its surface based on selected image display modes to define fields corresponding with medical images, allowing for joint touch inputs and gestures to manipulate images, reducing the complexity of image navigation and manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate rotary encoders are used for image manipulation, then precise control of image parameters is achieved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to multiple separate controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate rotary encoders (for zoom, parallel shift, X rotation, Y rotation, Z rotation) into a single touch panel interface. The touch panel processes multiple touch inputs simultaneously to achieve the same image manipulation functions, reducing the number of separate physical controls while maintaining precise control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel serves multiple functions that were previously handled by separate dedicated controls. A single touch panel can perform zooming, panning, and rotation operations through different touch gestures, making the control system more versatile and reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rotary encoders are used for image manipulation, then comprehensive control capability is achieved, but ease of operation worsens due to potential misselection and incorrect operation
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate controls are merged into a unified touch panel interface where all image manipulation functions are accessible through a single device. This eliminates the risk of selecting the wrong control among multiple encoders, as the touch panel provides visual feedback and contextual awareness of which function is being accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel provides visual feedback on the display showing which area is being touched and what manipulation function will be executed. This feedback mechanism helps operators confirm they are selecting the correct function before execution, reducing errors compared to tactile-only rotary encoders where misselection is more likely.
3Measurement precision
If traditional rotary encoders are used, then manual control precision is achieved, but productivity deteriorates due to cumbersome navigation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical rotary encoders with a touch panel interface that processes digital touch inputs. This substitution allows for more efficient image navigation through multi-touch gestures that can manipulate multiple parameters simultaneously, reducing the time and steps required compared to sequential rotary encoder adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel introduces a two-dimensional interaction surface compared to the one-dimensional rotary encoders. This allows operators to perform complex manipulations (combining zoom, pan, and rotation) through coordinated multi-touch gestures in a single operation, significantly improving navigation efficiency while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor receives a selection of an image display mode via a user input device. The image display mode defines a number of medical images for display. The processor configures a surface of a touch panel user input device to define a plurality of fields. Each of the plurality of fields corresponds with a different one of the medical images. The processor receives an input, via the touch panel user input device, which selects one of the plurality of fields of the surface of the touch panel user input device and commands the processor to manipulate a medical image corresponding with the selected one of the plurality of fields. The processor manipulates at least the medical image corresponding with the selected one of the plurality of fields at one or more display devices based at least in part on the input.