Movable Touch Control Panel for Ergonomic Ultrasound Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasound imaging systems face ergonomics and usability issues due to fixed touch screens that are often positioned at elevated angles, requiring clinicians to operate with extended arms and awkwardly angled wrists, which can be suboptimal for tasks like typing and annotation.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode touch screen interface with a movable touch control panel that can pivot between elevated and lowered positions, allowing different user interfaces to be displayed automatically, improving ergonomic access and reducing user reach and wrist strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the touch screen is positioned at an elevated angle to provide display visibility, then the display visibility is improved, but the ergonomics deteriorates requiring extended arms and awkward wrist angles
Solution Approach 1:
The touch control panel is made dynamically adjustable through a pivot mechanism that allows it to rotate between a first position (elevated angle for display visibility) and a second position (lowered angle for ergonomics). This enables the system to adapt its configuration based on the user's needs, resolving the contradiction between display visibility and ergonomic operation.
2Device complexity
If the touch control panel is positioned in a fixed elevated position to maintain system simplicity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the usability deteriorates for tasks like typing and annotation
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism enables the touch control panel to dynamically adjust between positions, providing optimized ergonomics for different tasks (typing, annotation, viewing) while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical implementation through a single rotational degree of freedom.
3Productivity
If the touch display automatically changes user interface based on position to improve workflow continuity, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the position of the touch control panel and autonomously switches between different user interfaces (first user interface in elevated position, second user interface in lowered position) without requiring manual user input. This self-service capability maintains workflow continuity and improves productivity while the complexity is managed through automated position sensing and interface switching logic.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods for operating an ultrasound system with a multi-mode touch screen interface. An ultrasound system according to the present disclosure may include a movable base and a control panel supported by the movable base. The control panel may include a plurality of manual controls provided on a support surface and a touch control panel movably coupled to the support surface. The touch control panel may include a touch display configured to provide a touch-sensitive user interface. The touch control panel may be movable between a plurality of positions at which the touch display is at different angles relative to the support surface. The touch display may be configured to automatically change a user interface provided on the touch display responsive to movement of the touch display to any of the plurality of positions.