Protocol controller for a medical diagnostic imaging system

Abstract

The embodiments described herein relate to a protocol controller for a medical diagnostic imaging system. In one embodiment, two or more distinct study protocols are active on a medical diagnostic imaging system at the same time. In another embodiment, control of a medical diagnostic imaging system is changed at each stage of a study protocol sequence to optimize study performance. In yet another embodiment, a protocol is created from a collection of macros that control a medical diagnostic imaging system. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A medical diagnostic imaging system comprising: 
 a storage device storing a study protocol comprising two or more stages; and a processor operative to change control of the medical diagnostic imaging system to optimize study performance at each stage of the study protocol.    
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the optimization improves image quality.  
   
   
       11 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the optimization improves study workflow.  
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the optimization changes annotations.  
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the optimization changes DICOM settings.  
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the change of control of the medical diagnostic imaging system comprises inserting a segment of a second study protocol into the first-mentioned study protocol.  
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 14 , wherein one of the first-mentioned and second study protocols comprises a stress echo protocol and the other comprises a contrast protocol.  
   
   
       16 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the medical diagnostic imaging system comprises an ultrasound imaging system.  
   
   
       17 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the processor implements a finite state machine.  
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the medical diagnostic imaging system further comprises a display device, and wherein the processor is operative to display an icon on the display device that represents an automated sequence of exam measurements, wherein the icon displays a name of a currently active measurement and a tool tip that displays a next measurement in the sequence.  
   
   
       19 . A medical diagnostic imaging system comprising: 
 a user interface; 
 a storage device storing a collection of macros for controlling one or more of the following: imaging system settings, the user interface, a display area on a display device, and  
   a system peripheral; and 
 a processor operative to receive user selection of two or more macros via the user interface and create a study protocol from the selected macros.  
   
   
   
       20 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein the collection of macros comprises at least one of the following: a clip capture macro, a clip playback macro, a workflow macro, and an acquisition sequence macro.  
   
   
       21 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the macros controls one or more of the following: transmit parameters and settings, receive parameters and settings, imaging mode, imaging parameters and settings, filters and processing specifics, signal processing options, post-processing options, frequency, harmonic, mode, pulse repetition frequency, and frame-rate.  
   
   
       22 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the macros controls one or more of the following: display control, number of views, annotation, a user interface page displayed in the display area, an active tool displayed in the display area, a cursor in the display area, and a number of views in the display area.  
   
   
       23 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the macros controls one or more of the following: system control, measurements and reports, annotations, pictograms, review and display features, user preferences, which user interface page is displayed, and which tool/cursor is active.  
   
   
       24 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the macros controls one or more of the following: a DICOM device, a CD, a DVD, a VCR, an MO drive, a printer, and a networked device.  
   
   
       25 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein the medical diagnostic imaging system comprises an ultrasound imaging system.  
   
   
       26 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein the processor implements a finite state machine.  
   
   
       27 . The invention of  claim 19 , wherein the medical diagnostic imaging system further comprises a display device, and wherein the processor is operative to display an icon on the display device that represents an automated sequence of exam measurements, wherein the icon displays a name of a currently active measurement and a tool tip that displays a next measurement in the sequence.