Active overlay system and method for accessing and manipulating imaging displays
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed in general to imaging technologies and more particularly to medical imaging and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) having an image display wherein system features and functions are provided to a user via active overlays located over displayed images. A system and method are provided to imbed an ability to interact with an image by activating traditional annotations that are displayed in conjunction with an image in a PACS. Users are able to access program functionalities in an improved, quicker, accurate and more intuitive means. More specifically, the present invention relates to providing the capability to customize multiple context menus, and flatten the command hierarchy of an imaging system. The present invention also provides the ability to “overload” current text and graphic annotations that are already displayed within an image of interest.
1. A computing system for providing access to one or more program functions for interacting with and manipulating a digital image, the system comprising:
a memory for storing a digital image and computer-executable instructions;
a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device; and
a processor configured for executing the computer-executable instructions to perform the following steps:
displaying the digital image on the display;
providing an overlay of one or more annotated fields superimposed on the digital image displayed on the display, wherein the one or more annotated fields correlate to one or more informational items;
the one or more informational items comprising at least one of parameters and values relating to the display of the digital image;
activating the one or more annotated fields, wherein the activated one or more annotated fields are selectable using the user interface selection device to accept direct input of a value for the correlated one or more informational items;
wherein the movement of the user interface selection device over any of the activated one or more annotated fields results in an indicia being displayed on the display indicating that the activated one or more annotated field can receive the direct input of the value;
allowing for the selection of the activated one or more annotated field that is associated with the display of the indicia using the user interface selection device;
allowing for direct input of the value in the selected activated annotated field; and
utilizing the value to provide data to the one or more program functions to thereby interact with and manipulate the digital image.
2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the value provided to the one or more program functions provides for at least one of:
a display of related digital images; or
a display of related documents.
3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the value provided to the one or more program functions circumvents shortcuts to software menu items for providing access to other images, relational information, or selections of digital image slices.
4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the digital image includes at least one of a multi-spectral image or a radiology report.
5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of an identification and specification of the one or more annotated fields, or activation of the one or more annotated fields, is customizable by a user.
6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the one or more informational items are stored in the memory as meta-data associated with the digital image.
7. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the value is utilized to manipulate image visualization parameters.
8. A system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising providing bounds checking on the value.
9. A system in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising utilizing the value to provide data to the one or more program functions and thereby access application or system features.
10. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia is mutable by a user either globally or for each of the activated one or more annotated fields.
11. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein activation is provided by overloading the one or more annotated fields.
12. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the activated one or more annotated fields are customizable by a user on a roaming profile basis in a computer network.
13. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia includes flashing the activated one or more annotated fields.
14. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia includes displaying the activated annotated fields with a vibrational effect.
15. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia includes encircling the activated one or more annotated fields with a line.
16. A computing system for providing an active overlay image for interacting with and manipulating a digital image, the system comprising:
a memory for storing a digital image and computer-executable instructions;
a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device; and
a processor configured for executing the computer-executable instructions to perform the following steps:
displaying the digital image on the display;
providing a textual or graphical overlay of one or more annotated fields superimposed on the digital image displayed on the display, wherein the one or more annotated fields correlate to one or more image informational items;
the one or more image informational items comprising parameters and values relating to the display of the digital image;
activating the one or more annotated fields, wherein the one or more activated annotated fields are selectable using the user interface selection device to accept direct input of a value for the correlated one or more image informational items;
defining a bounding region around the textual or graphical overlay of the digital image, wherein placement of the user interface selection device within the bounding region provides an indication to an application program and results in a visual indicia being displayed on the display; and
wherein the indication initiates a feature of the application program that is selectable using the user interface selection device to manipulate the digital image.
17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the initiated feature of the application program is a toolbar option.
18. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the initiated feature of the application program is a context menu operation.
19. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the context menu operation is a zoom operation, and wherein a user specifies a zoom factor value for the digital image.
20. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the indication to the application program results from a user's cursor hovering within the bounding region.
21. A system in accordance with claim 20 , further comprising outlining the one or more annotated fields to provide an indication to a user that the one or more annotated fields is activated and responsive to a click or other selection by the user.
22. A system in accordance with claim 21 , further comprising displaying available value selections in a dropdown list from which a new parameter is selectable for the one or more annotated fields that support value entries.