Ergonomic display and activation in handheld medical ultrasound imaging device

Abstract

In an embodiment, an medical device is disclosed. The medical (imaging) device comprises a housing configured for handheld use, a transducer array, a display coupled to the housing, a plurality of sensors distributed about a periphery of the housing and configured to detect when a hand of an operator is positioned around the housing, and a computing device disposed within the housing, wherein the computing device is in communication with the transducer array, the display, and the sensors. The computing device is operable to: monitor the sensors, determine whether a reading from a first sensor at a first edge of the periphery of the housing exceeds a threshold, set the first edge as a primary edge based at least in part on the reading from the first sensor, and orient the display such that the primary edge is at the bottom of the display.

1 . An ultrasound device, comprising:
 a housing configured for handheld use;   an ultrasound transducer array coupled to the housing and configured to obtain ultrasound data while positioned adjacent to a body of a patient;   a display coupled to the housing and arranged to display medical information derived from the obtained ultrasound data;   a plurality of sensors distributed about a periphery of the housing and configured to detect when a hand of an operator is positioned around the housing; and   a computing device disposed within the housing, wherein the computing device is in communication with the ultrasound transducer array, the display, and the plurality of sensors, the computing device operable to:   monitor the plurality of sensors;   determine whether a reading from a first sensor of the plurality of sensors at a first edge of the periphery of the housing exceeds a threshold;   set the first edge as a primary edge based at least in part on the reading from the first sensor; and   orient the display such that the primary edge is at the bottom of the display.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasound device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further operable to:
 switch the ultrasound device from a sleep mode to an active mode in response to determining that the reading from the first sensor exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The ultrasound device of  claim 2 , wherein the ultrasound device expends only enough power to monitor the plurality of sensors while in the sleep mode. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasound device of  claim 2 , wherein the computing device is further operable to:
 power on the display in response to switching the ultrasound device from the sleep mode to the active mode.   
     
     
         5 . The ultrasound device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further operable to:
 determine that the first edge is gripped by a thumb of the operator based on at least in part on the reading from the first sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The ultrasound device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further operable to:
 determine that a reading from a second sensor at a second edge indicates that the second edge is gripped by a finger of the operator other than the thumb.   
     
     
         7 . The ultrasound device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further operable to:
 determine that a reading from a third sensor at a third edge indicates that the third edge is gripped by an interdigital webbing of the operator's hand.   
     
     
         8 . The ultrasound device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are capacitance sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasound device of  claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer, wherein the computing device is operable to set the first edge as the primary edge based at least in part on a reading from the accelerometer. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasound device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is operable to:
 activate the ultrasound transducer array to obtain ultrasound data.   
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a handheld ultrasound device, comprising:
 monitoring, by a computing device of the handheld ultrasound device, a plurality of sensors distributed about a periphery of a housing of the handheld ultrasound imaging device;   determining, by the computing device, whether a reading from a first sensor at a first edge of the housing exceeds a threshold;   setting, by the computing device, the first edge as a primary edge based at least in part on the reading from the first sensor; and   orienting, by the computing device, a display of the handheld ultrasound device such that the primary edge is at the bottom of the display.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising switching, by the computing device, the handheld ultrasound device from a sleep mode to an active mode in response to determining that the reading from the first sensor exceeds the threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein setting the first edge as the primary edge comprises determining, by the computing device, that the first edge is gripped by a thumb of an operator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining that the first edge is gripped by the thumb of the operator comprises determining that the reading from the first sensor exceeds the reading from a second sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining that the first edge is gripped by the thumb of the operator comprises referencing a stored handedness preference.