Method of sharing information in ultrasound imaging

Abstract

A method of sharing information about an ultrasound image including acquiring an ultrasound image of an object; identifying a sharing level associated with an external device for sharing the ultrasound image; and transmitting ultrasound information about the ultrasound image to the external device according to the identified sharing level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of sharing information by an ultrasound apparatus, the method comprising:
 acquiring an ultrasound image of an object;   identifying a sharing level associated with an external device for sharing the ultrasound image; and   transmitting ultrasound information about the ultrasound image to the external device according to the identified sharing level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound information is displayed on the external device in real-time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the external device includes a first device and a second device, and the transmitting comprises:
 transmitting first ultrasound information corresponding to a first sharing level of the first device, to the first device; and   transmitting second ultrasound information corresponding to a second sharing level of the second device, to the second device,   wherein the first sharing level is different from the second sharing level.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first device comprises a device of the object, and
 the second device comprises a device of a medical professional.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the ultrasound information comprises generating the ultrasound information by adding, to the ultrasound image, an annotation related to an entire ultrasound image or a portion of the ultrasound image. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the adding the annotation to the ultrasound image comprises:
 analyzing the ultrasound image;   recommending the annotation related to the entire ultrasound image or the portion of the ultrasound image based on a result of the analyzing; and   displaying the recommended annotation on the ultrasound image.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the adding the annotation to the ultrasound image comprises:
 displaying an annotation list;   receiving a selection of the annotation from the annotation list; and   displaying the selected annotation on the ultrasound image.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the displaying the selected annotation on the ultrasound image comprises:
 receiving a drag and drop input that comprises dragging the selected annotation to a region where the ultrasound image is displayed and dropping the selected annotation; and   displaying the selected annotation on the ultrasound image based on the drag and drop input.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a touch input of touching the annotation displayed on the ultrasound image for a predetermined length of time or longer;   activating the touched annotation to be moved;   receiving a drag input of the user on the touched annotation; and   moving the touched annotation according to the drag input of the user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 providing an activated annotation list about the annotation added to the ultrasound image on a region of a screen.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the ultrasound information comprises:
 selecting a region of interest (ROI) from the ultrasound image;   indicating an identification mark on the ROI; and   transmitting the ultrasound information including information about the ROI that is indicated by the identification mark to the external device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the indicating the identification mark comprises:
 adding a color to the ROI.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transmitting the second ultrasound information comprises:
 generating the second ultrasound information including at least one of analysis information about the ultrasound image provided by a technologist operating the ultrasound apparatus, measurement information with respect to the ultrasound image, and object information.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a message about the ultrasound image from the external device; and   displaying the received message on a screen.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 providing a chatting window for communicating with the second device on the screen;   receiving a user input about the ultrasound image through the chatting window;   transmitting the user input to the second device; and   receiving a response message to the user input, from the second device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 transmitting a request for confirmation of the second ultrasound information to the second device; and   receiving a confirmation message of the second ultrasound information from the second device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving control information from the second device; and   executing a control command corresponding to the control information.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the control information comprises at least one of:
 a control command for selecting and displaying another ultrasound image,   a control command for expanding or reducing the ultrasound image,   a control command for storing the ultrasound image,   a control command for three-dimensional (3D) rendering of the ultrasound image,   a control command for adding an annotation or a body marker,   a control command for measuring a region of interest, and   a control command for correcting the analysis information about the ultrasound image.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a list of external devices that are configurable to communicate with the ultrasound apparatus; and   receiving a selection of the external device from the list of external devices.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 requesting a server for an authentication of the external device; and   receiving information of the sharing level of the external device from the server, when the authentication has succeeded.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . A method of communicating with an ultrasound apparatus, the method comprising:
 displaying an ultrasound image list on a first region of a screen;   receiving a selection of an ultrasound image from the ultrasound image list;   displaying the selected ultrasound image on a second region of the screen; and   communicating with the ultrasound apparatus that has acquired the selected ultrasound image.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the displaying the ultrasound image list comprises:
 displaying the ultrasound list including a real-time ultrasound image transmitted from the ultrasound apparatus and an ultrasound image stored in advance.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the displaying the ultrasound image list further comprises:
 indicating an identification mark on the real-time ultrasound image to distinguish the real-time ultrasound image from the ultrasound image stored in advance.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the displaying the selected ultrasound image comprises:
 displaying, on a display of an external device, at least one of analysis information of a technologist operating the ultrasound apparatus about the selected ultrasound image, measurement information with respect to the selected ultrasound image, and object information, according to a sharing level associated with the external device, which identifies an authority of a user of the external device to review information about the ultrasound image.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the displaying the selected ultrasound image comprises:
 displaying a first pointer of the ultrasound apparatus and a second pointer of the external device on the selected ultrasound image.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the communicating comprises:
 providing a chatting window for communicating with the ultrasound apparatus on a third region of the screen;   receiving an input about the selected ultrasound image through the chatting window; and   transmitting the received input to the ultrasound apparatus.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the communicating comprises:
 receiving a request for confirmation of the selected ultrasound image from the ultrasound apparatus;   receiving confirmation information for the selected ultrasound image; and   transmitting the confirmation information to the ultrasound apparatus.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the transmitting the confirmation information comprises:
 displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving a confirmation input for the selected ultrasound image; and   receiving a confirmation input for the selected ultrasound image through the GUI.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the communicating comprises transmitting control information for controlling the ultrasound apparatus, to the ultrasound apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the transmitting the control information comprises transmitting at least one of:
 a control command for selecting and displaying another ultrasound image,   a control command for expanding or reducing the ultrasound image,   a control command for storing the ultrasound image,   a control command for three-dimensional (3D) rendering of the ultrasound image,   a control command for adding an annotation or a body marker,   a control command for measuring a region of interest, and   a control command for correcting the analysis information about the ultrasound image.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising communicating with an external device that displays the selected ultrasound image,
 wherein the external device is a device of an object being medically examined.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the communicating with the external device comprises:
 receiving a description of a medical professional about the selected ultrasound image; and   transmitting the description of the medical professional to the external device.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the description of the medical professional is displayed on the external device in real-time. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         36 . A communication method comprising:
 displaying an ultrasound image of an object on a screen of a first device which is a device of a medical professional;   receiving a description of the medical professional about the ultrasound image;   transmitting the description of the medical professional to a second device which is a device of the object; and   displaying the description provided by the medical professional on the second device.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the description by the medical professional is displayed on the second device in real-time, or stored in the second device. 
     
     
         38 . An ultrasound apparatus comprising:
 an ultrasound image obtainer configured to acquire an ultrasound image of an object;   a controller configured to identify a sharing level of an external device, which designates an authority of a user of the external device to review information about the ultrasound image; and   a communicator configured to transmit information about the ultrasound image to the external device, according to the sharing level.   
     
     
         39 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the external device includes a first device and a second device,
 the controller generates first ultrasound information corresponding to a first sharing level of the first device, and second ultrasound information corresponding to a second sharing level of the second device, and   the first sharing level is different from the second sharing level.   
     
     
         40 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the first device comprises a device of the object, and the second device comprises a device of a medical professional. 
     
     
         41 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising an image processor configured to add, to the ultrasound image, an annotation relating to an entire ultrasound image or a portion of the ultrasound image. 
     
     
         42 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a user input unit configured to receive a selection of an annotation from an annotation list displayed on the screen; and   a display configured to display the selected annotation on the ultrasound image.   
     
     
         43 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the user input unit receives a drag and drop input that comprises dragging the selected annotation to a region where the ultrasound image is displayed and dropping the selected annotation, and
 the display displays the selected annotation on the ultrasound image based on the drag and drop input.   
     
     
         44 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein, when a touch input of touching the annotation displayed on the ultrasound image for a predetermined length of time or longer is received, the controller activates the touched annotation to be moved,
 the user input unit receives a drag input of the user on the touched annotation, and   the display moves the touched annotation according to the drag input of the user.   
     
     
         45 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a display configured to provide an activated annotation list about the annotation added to the ultrasound image on a region of the screen. 
     
     
         46 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the controller generates the ultrasound information by selecting a region of interest (ROI) from the ultrasound image and adding a color to the ROI. 
     
     
         47 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the second ultrasound information comprises at least one of analysis information of a technologist operating the ultrasound apparatus about the ultrasound image, measurement information with respect to the ultrasound image, and object information. 
     
     
         48 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the communicator receives a message about the ultrasound image from the external device, and
 the controller controls a display to display the received message on a screen.   
     
     
         49 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a display configured to provide a chatting window for communicating with the second device on a screen; and   a user input unit configured to receive a user input about the ultrasound image through the chatting window,   wherein the communicator transmits the user input to the second device and receives a response message to the user input, from the second device.   
     
     
         50 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the communicator transmits a request for confirmation of the second ultrasound information to the second device and receives a confirmation message for the second ultrasound information from the second device. 
     
     
         51 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the communicator receives control information from the second device, and
 the controller executes a control command corresponding to the control information.   
     
     
         52 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a display configured to provide a list of external devices that are configurable to communicate with the ultrasound apparatus; and   a user input unit configured to receive a selection of the external device from the list of external devices.   
     
     
         53 . The ultrasound apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the communicator requests a server for an authentication of the external device, and receives information of the sharing level of the external device from the server, when the authentication has succeeded. 
     
     
         54 . A medical device comprising:
 a display configured to display an ultrasound image list on a first region of a screen, and display an ultrasound image selected from the ultrasound image list on a second region of the screen;   a communicator configured to communicate with an ultrasound apparatus that has acquired the selected ultrasound image in real time; and   a remote controller configured to remotely control the ultrasound apparatus via the communicator.   
     
     
         55 . The medical device of  claim 54 , wherein the ultrasound image list comprises a real-time ultrasound image transmitted from the ultrasound apparatus and an ultrasound image stored in advance. 
     
     
         56 . The medical device of  claim 55 , wherein the controller indicates an identification mark on the real-time ultrasound image to distinguish the real-time ultrasound image from the ultrasound image stored in advance. 
     
     
         57 . The medical device of  claim 54 , wherein the display displays at least one of analysis information of a technologist locally operating the ultrasound apparatus about the selected ultrasound image, measurement information with respect to the selected ultrasound image, and object information, according to a sharing level associated with the medical device, which designates an authority of a user of the medical device to review information about the ultrasound image. 
     
     
         58 . The medical device of  claim 54 , wherein the display displays a first pointer of the ultrasound apparatus and a second pointer of the medical device on the selected ultrasound image. 
     
     
         59 . The medical device of  claim 54 , further comprising a user input unit,
 wherein the display provides a chatting window for communicating with the ultrasound apparatus on a third region of the screen,   the user input unit receives an input about the selected ultrasound image through the chatting window, and   the communicator transmits the received input to the ultrasound apparatus.   
     
     
         60 . The medical device of  claim 54 , wherein the communicator receives a request for confirmation of the selected ultrasound image from the ultrasound apparatus, and transmits the confirmation information to the ultrasound apparatus. 
     
     
         61 . The medical device of  claim 60 , wherein the display displays a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive a confirmation input for the selected ultrasound image, from a user of the medical device, and transmit the confirmation input about the selected ultrasound image through the GUI, to the ultrasound apparatus. 
     
     
         62 . The medical device of  claim 54 , wherein the communicator transmits control information configured to control the ultrasound apparatus, to the ultrasound apparatus. 
     
     
         63 . The medical device of  claim 54 , further comprising a user input unit configured to receive a description of a medical professional about the selected ultrasound image,
 wherein the communicator transmits the description of the medical professional to a device of a user who is different from a user of the medical device.   
     
     
         64 . An ultrasound imaging method comprising:
 acquiring and generating an ultrasound image of an object by an ultrasound device;   generating ultrasound information about the ultrasound image;   transmitting the generated ultrasound image and ultrasound information to a first device and a second device, by the ultrasound device;   selecting a first number of pieces of the ultrasound information for a display on a screen of the first device, based on an associated authority level of the first device;   selecting a second number of pieces of the ultrasound information for the display on a screen of the second device, based on an associated authority level of the second device; and   displaying the ultrasound image and the first number of pieces of the ultrasound information on the screen of the first device and, substantially simultaneously, displaying the ultrasound image and the second number of pieces of the ultrasound information on the screen of the second device.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 prior to the transmitting, associating a first authority level with the first device, the first authority level indicating a limited authority to review the ultrasound image and the ultrasound information; and   associating a second authority level with the second device, the second authority level being different from the first authority level and indicating full access to review the ultrasound image and the ultrasound information.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 receiving results of an analysis, by a user of the second device, of the ultrasound image and the second number of pieces of the ultrasound information;   generating diagnostic information based on the results of the analysis; and   substantially simultaneously with the generating the diagnostic information, transmitting the generated diagnostic information to a user of the first device.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the ultrasound image displayed on the screen of the first device and on the screen of the second device are live ultrasound images obtained by the ultrasound device, and
 the first device and the second device are mobile devices disposed remotely from the ultrasound device.   
     
     
         68 . A method of sharing information in a medical imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
 acquiring a medical image of an object;   selecting an external device for sharing information about the medical image;   identifying a sharing level of the external device that is selected; and   transmitting the information about the medical image to the external device based on the sharing level.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the sharing level comprises information representing an authority of a user of the external device for checking the information about the medical image. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the external device comprises a first device and a second device, and the transmitting of the information comprises:
 transmitting first medical image information corresponding to a first sharing level of the first device to the first device; and   transmitting second medical image information corresponding to a second sharing level of the second device to the second device.