Ultrasound Apparatus Dynamic Control Overlay
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses face challenges in maintaining user focus on the main screen while accessing control items, leading to divided attention between the ultrasound image and control panels, which can disrupt the scanning process.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound apparatus with multiple display units, where a first display shows the ultrasound image and a second display shows control items, utilizing sensors to track the input tool's location and dynamically select and display relevant control items and indicators on the first display, ensuring they overlay the image without obstructing it, and allowing for different display formats and transparency adjustments based on user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control items are displayed on a separate second display, then control accessibility is improved, but user attention is divided between the main ultrasound image and control panel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control items from the second display with the first display by detecting the input tool location on the second display and projecting the corresponding control items and indicators onto the first display. This allows users to access control items while maintaining focus on the ultrasound image, resolving the contradiction between control accessibility and attention focus.
2Productivity
If control items are overlaid on the ultrasound image, then operational efficiency is improved, but image visibility may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting the transparency of control items based on their position relative to the ultrasound image. Control items are displayed with modified transparency characteristics in specific regions to ensure they do not obstruct the underlying medical image while remaining visible to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color and transparency changes to differentiate control items from the ultrasound image. By adjusting the visual properties of control items (transparency, color intensity), the system maintains image visibility while ensuring control items are sufficiently visible for operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Provided is an ultrasound apparatus including a first display configured to display an ultrasound image; an input device including a second display that is different from the first display and configured to display a plurality of control items related to the ultrasound image, and at least one sensor configured to detect the location of a user's hand or an input tool with respect to the second display; and a controller configured to select at least one control item from among the plurality of control items based on the detected location, and to control the first display to display the selected at least one control item and an indicator representing the detected location together with the ultrasound image.