Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a touch screen user interface (122) and a touch screen controller (148). The touch screen user interface includes a touch panel (124). The touch panel includes a plurality of different clusters (510-522) of controls including a first cluster (512) in first sub-region and with a tactile control and one or more other cluster (510 and 514-522) in one or more other different sub-regions and with soft controls. The touch screen controller visually renders the one or more other clusters in the one or more different sub-regions spatially arranged with respect to each other based on a predetermined control cluster configuration for the touch screen user interface. The one or more other clusters include controls that correspond to different groupings of ultrasound imaging operations of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An instrument guide (104) for a probe head (702) of an ultrasound imaging probe (106) that includes a transducer array (114) with a plurality of transducer elements (116) and an image plane. The instrument guide includes a probe support region (122) having a long axis (202) and configured to receive the probe head. The instrument guide further includes a first guide bracket (212) extending from a first side of the support region in a direction of the long axis. The instrument guide further includes a second guide bracket (230) extending from a second side of the support region in a direction transverse to the long axis. The instrument guide further includes a first guide (128) disposed in the first guide bracket. The instrument guide further includes a second guide (126) disposed in the second guide bracket.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal from a first touch screen control in response to invocation of the first touch screen control. The first touch screen control is a control from a first cluster of touch screen controls of a plurality of different clusters of touch screen controls of an ultrasound imaging system touch screen user interface. The method further includes identifying a type of the first touch screen control based on the signal. The method further includes obtaining a control configuration for the touch screen controls based on the type of control. The method further includes constructing a control layout for the touch screen user interface based on the configuration. The method further includes visually rendering the control layout via the touch screen user interface.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a console (132) of an ultrasound imaging system (102), a first signal indicative of actuation of a touch control (128) of a touch screen user interface (122) of the ultrasound imaging system, wherein the touch control is one of a plurality of different touch controls of the ultrasound imaging system. The method further includes identifying, with a processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the touch control from the plurality of different touch controls based on the first signal. The method further includes identifying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, a graphic representation of the touch control based on the identification of the touch control. The method further includes visually displaying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the graphic representation on a display monitor concurrently with displaying an image.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array with at least one transducer element. The system further includes an echo processor that processes ultrasound echo signals received by at least one transducer element, producing an image of scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes memory that stores a plurality of 3D pictogram, each representing different anatomical regions of a subject. The system further includes a pictogram processor that identifies a 3D pictogram of the plurality of 3D pictogram corresponding to the scanned tissue of interest. The 3D pictogram includes a 3D pictorial representation of an anatomical region including the scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes a display monitor. The system further includes a rendering engine that displays the image and the 3D pictogram via the display monitor. The 3D pictogram is overlaid over a pictogram region of the displayed image.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal from a first touch screen control in response to invocation of the first touch screen control. The first touch screen control is a control from a first cluster of touch screen controls of a plurality of different clusters of touch screen controls of an ultrasound imaging system touch screen user interface. The method further includes identifying a type of the first touch screen control based on the signal. The method further includes obtaining a control configuration for the touch screen controls based on the type of control. The method further includes constructing a control layout for the touch screen user interface based on the configuration. The method further includes visually rendering the control layout via the touch screen user interface.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a touch screen user interface (122) and a touch screen controller (148). The touch screen user interface includes a touch panel (124). The touch panel includes a plurality of different clusters (510-522) of controls including a first cluster (512) in first sub-region and with a tactile control and one or more other cluster (510 and 514-522) in one or more other different sub-regions and with soft controls. The touch screen controller visually renders the one or more other clusters in the one or more different sub-regions spatially arranged with respect to each other based on a predetermined control cluster configuration for the touch screen user interface. The one or more other clusters include controls that correspond to different groupings of ultrasound imaging operations of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a probe (104) with a transducer array (106) with at least one transducer element (108). The ultrasound imaging system further includes a console (112) with a controller (124) and an echo processor. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a display monitor (122). The ultrasound imaging system further includes a touch screen user interface (128), including: a touch panel (130) with a first major surface (402, 1402) and a first recess (408, 1408) in the first major surface; and at least one touch sensitive control (134) disposed in the recess. A method includes sensing a first physical contact with a touch control recessed in a surface of a touch screen user interface, generating a signal indicative of the gesture, sensing a second physical contact with the touch control recessed in the surface of the touch screen user interface, and performing a predetermined action based on the first and second physical contact.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a console (132) of an ultrasound imaging system (102), a first signal indicative of actuation of a touch control (128) of a touch screen user interface (122) of the ultrasound imaging system, wherein the touch control is one of a plurality of different touch controls of the ultrasound imaging system. The method further includes identifying, with a processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the touch control from the plurality of different touch controls based on the first signal. The method further includes identifying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, a graphic representation of the touch control based on the identification of the touch control. The method further includes visually displaying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the graphic representation on a display monitor concurrently with displaying an image.

Abstract: An instrument guide (104) for a probe head (702) of an ultrasound imaging probe (106) that includes a transducer array (114) with a plurality of transducer elements (116) and an image plane. The instrument guide includes a probe support region (122) having a long axis (202) and configured to receive the probe head. The instrument guide further includes a first guide bracket (212) extending from a first side of the support region in a direction of the long axis. The instrument guide further includes a second guide bracket (230) extending from a second side of the support region in a direction transverse to the long axis. The instrument guide further includes a first guide (128) disposed in the first guide bracket. The instrument guide further includes a second guide (126) disposed in the second guide bracket.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a vector flow imaging processor that processes ultrasound data representing structure flowing through a tubular object and generates vector flow imaging information for a region of interest of the tubular object that is indicative of the structure flowing through a tubular object based thereon and processing circuitry that determines at least one parameter for Doppler imaging based on the vector flow imaging information.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array with at least one transducer element. The system further includes an echo processor that processes ultrasound echo signals received by at least one transducer element, producing an image of scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes memory that stores a plurality of 3D pictogram, each representing different anatomical regions of a subject. The system further includes a pictogram processor that identifies a 3D pictogram of the plurality of 3D pictogram corresponding to the scanned tissue of interest. The 3D pictogram includes a 3D pictorial representation of an anatomical region including the scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes a display monitor. The system further includes a rendering engine that displays the image and the 3D pictogram via the display monitor. The 3D pictogram is overlaid over a pictogram region of the displayed image.