Voice-enhanced diagnostic medical ultrasound system and review station

Abstract

The preferred embodiments described herein relate to voice-enhanced diagnostic medical ultrasound imaging systems and review stations as well as to voice-related user interfaces. With these preferred embodiments, a user can interact with an imaging system or review station by issuing verbal commands instead of using a mouse, keyboard, or other user interface that requires physical manipulation by the user. This provides a very user-friendly interface, especially to those users who have difficulty navigating complex window and menu hierarchies or who have trouble manipulating pointing devices. This also improves patient flow and provides a more efficient report generation system. Voice feedback can also be used to allow the imaging system or review station to better communicate with a user.

54 . A method for using voice commands to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a voiced command from a voice input device of an ultrasound imaging system to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report;    (b) identifying a set of textual phrases associated with the section;    (c) converting the received voiced command into a textual phrase selected from the set of textual phrases identified in (b); and    (d) inserting the textual phrase selected in (c) into the section.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising receiving a voiced request to create an ultrasound examination report, the ultrasound examination report comprising a plurality of sections associated with a respective set of textual phrases.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising automatically displaying a set of available voice commands associated with the section.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving a voiced request for a display of a set of available voice commands associated with the section; and  
 (f) displaying the set of available voice commands associated with the section in response to the voiced request received in (e).  
 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein (a) comprises receiving a voiced command to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report displayed on an ultrasound imaging system.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein (a) comprises receiving a voiced command to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report displayed on an ultrasound review station.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving a voiced request to insert an image into a section of the ultrasound examination report; and  
 (f) inserting the image into the ultrasound examination report in response to the voiced request received in (e).  
 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving a voiced request to edit a section of the ultrasound examination report; and  
 (f) editing the section of the ultrasound examination report in response to the voiced request received in (e).  
 
     
     
         62 . A method for using voice commands to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a voiced command from a voice input device of an ultrasound review station to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report;    (b) identifying a set of textual phrases associated with the section;    (c) converting the received voiced command into a textual phrase selected from the set of textual phrases identified in (b); and    (d) inserting the textual phrase selected in (c) into the section.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising receiving a voiced request to create an ultrasound examination report, the ultrasound examination report comprising a plurality of sections associated with a respective set of textual phrases.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising automatically displaying a set of available voice commands associated with the section.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving a voiced request for a display of a set of available voice commands associated with the section; and  
 (f) displaying the set of available voice commands associated with the section in response to the voiced request received in (e).  
 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein (a) comprises receiving a voiced command to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report displayed on an ultrasound imaging system.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein (a) comprises receiving a voiced command to insert a textual phrase into a section of an ultrasound examination report displayed on an ultrasound review station.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving a voiced request to insert an image into a section of the ultrasound examination report; and  
 (f) inserting the image into the ultrasound examination report in response to the voiced request received in (e).  
 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving a voiced request to edit a section of the ultrasound examination report; and  
 (f) editing the section of the ultrasound examination report in response to the voiced request received in (e).  
 
     
     
         70 . A method for using voice commands to display a marker on an ultrasound image, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a voiced command from a user;    (b) converting the received voiced command into a marker displayable on a display device; and    (c) displaying the marker on an ultrasound image displayed on the display device.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein (b) comprises converting the received voiced command into at least one word, and wherein (c) comprises displaying said at least one word on an ultrasound image displayed on the display device.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein (b) comprises converting the received voiced command into at least one anatomical-identifying word, and wherein (c) comprises displaying said at least one anatomical-identifying word on an ultrasound image displayed on the display device.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein (b) comprises converting the received voiced command into a geometric shape, and wherein (c) comprises displaying the geometric shape on an ultrasound image displayed on the display device.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein an ultrasound image is associated with one of a plurality of study types, wherein each of said plurality of study types is associated with a respective set of markers, and wherein (b) comprises: 
 (b1) identifying a study type of the ultrasound image;    (b2) identifying a set of markers associated with the study type; and    (b3) converting the received voiced command into a marker selected from the set of markers identified in (b2).    
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 70  further comprising receiving a voiced command from a user indicating that a subsequent voiced command will be associated with a marker, said receiving occurring before (a).  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein (c) comprises displaying the marker on the ultrasound image at a position indicated by a pointer displayed on the ultrasound image.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein (c) comprises selecting a location on the ultrasound image to position the marker.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein (b) comprises converting the received voiced command into a plurality of markers, and wherein (c) comprises selecting a plurality of locations on the ultrasound image to respectively position each of the plurality of markers.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 70  further comprising: 
 (d) positioning a pointer over a marker displayed on the ultrasound image;  
 (e) receiving a verbal delete command from a user; and  
 (f) removing the marker from the ultrasound image in response to the received verbal delete command.  
 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 70  further comprising: 
 (d) positioning a pointer displayed on the ultrasound image over the marker;  
 (e) receiving a verbal copy command from the user;  
 (f) creating a copy of the marker in response to the received verbal copy command; and  
 (g) positioning the copy of the marker on another location of the ultrasound image.  
 
     
     
         81 . A method for providing voice data from a first to a second ultrasound device, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving voice data with a first ultrasound device;    (b) providing a second ultrasound device with the voice data received in (a); and    (c) with the second ultrasound device, converting the voice data into a command signal recognizable by a processor of the second ultrasound device, the first and second ultrasound devices being devices selected from the group of ultrasound devices consisting of an ultrasound imaging system and an ultrasound review station.    
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein (b) comprises: 
 (b1) transmitting the voice data received in (a) to a server coupled with the first and second ultrasound devices; and    (b2) with the server, transmitting the voice data received in (b 1 ) to the second ultrasound device.    
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein (b) comprises: 
 (b1) storing the voice data received in (a) on a portable storage device; and    (b2) providing the portable storage device to the second ultrasound device.    
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein (b) comprises transmitting the voice data received in (a) to the second ultrasound device via a communication link directly coupling the first and second ultrasound devices.  
     
     
         85 . A method for providing a command signal from a first to a second ultrasound device, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving voice data with a first ultrasound device;    (b) transmitting the voice data received in (a) to a server coupled with the first ultrasound device; and    (c) with the server, converting the voice data transmitted in (b) to a command signal recognizable by a processor of a second ultrasound device; and    (d) with the server, providing the command signal to the second ultrasound device, the first and second ultrasound devices being devices selected from the group of ultrasound devices consisting of an ultrasound imaging system and an ultrasound review station.    
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85  further comprising: 
 (e) with the server, providing the command signal to the third ultrasound device, the third ultrasound device being a device selected from the group of ultrasound devices consisting of an ultrasound imaging system and an ultrasound review station.  
 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the first ultrasound device comprises the second ultrasound device.