Medical video display system

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2016-193722 filed on Sep. 30, 2016 and No. 2017-130412 filed on Jul. 3, 2017 in the Japanese Patent Office, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated in its entirety b reference.

This invention relates to a medical Video display system.

In recent fields of surgery including endoscopic surgery, there are a variety of methodologies by which surgery is conducted not only by observing affected areas by bare eyes, but also by viewing a video that is captured by an imaging device pertaining to medical equipment, and displayed on a monitor.

In this sort of surgery, two or more modes of capturing images of affected areas may occasionally be used, needing suitably charging the videos to be output to the monitor. In some cases, the videos thus captured during surgery are recorded for use in clinical studies and so forth.

Techniques of this sort have been described, for example, in JP-A-1110-98708 and JP-A-2004-312468.

JP-A-1110-98708 discloses a device that includes a matrix switch for selecting and changing video signals, and an on-screen controller for superposing a title signal representing character, figure and so forth on the selected video signal. More specifically this device is characterized by its ability to select and change the matrix switch, and at the same time, to change display on the on-screen controller.

JP-A-2004-312468 describes a video system used for surgery, by which endoscopic video signal and ultrasonic video signal can respectively be played back on different monitors, or recorded in different recorders. This device is characterized in that it has a discrimination unit that discriminates types of video equipment (cameras) whose video signals were output on a group of monitors, by receiving specific information from such video equipment, making it possible to display the state of connection of the plurality of video equipment.

The prior art device and system described in JP-A-H10-98708 and JP-A-2004-312468 have, however, suffered from poor operability, and have required a certain level of skill for proper manipulation.

This invention was conceived in consideration of the problem, and is to provide a medical video display system with an improved operability for displaying medical videos.

According to this invention, there is provided a medical video display system that includes an entry unit through which one, or two or more surgical videos are, entered; and control unit that distributes one video entered through the entry unit and displays it on each of a touch panel and a monitor, the control unit allows the touch panel, having the video displayed thereon, to display an operation screen or an operation icon for accepting an operation directed to the monitor.

According to this invention, it now becomes possible to suitably operate, but without viewing, a video being displayed on the monitor, only by viewing a video being displayed on the touch panel.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of a certain preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a medical video display system according to an embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are drawings illustrating specific examples of a display screen of a touch panel and a display screen of a monitor.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are drawings illustrating a specific example of division formats regarding the display screen of the monitor.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic drawings illustrating a method of manipulation on the touch panel.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged vie illustrating a zoom-in panel.

An embodiment of this invention will be explained below, referring to the attached drawings. In these drawings, all similar constituents will have the same reference sings, so as to suitably avoid repetitive explanation.

<Constituents Contained in Medical Video Display System 100 >

First, components contained in a medical video display system 100 will be explained refining to FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a medical video display system 100 according to this embodiment.

Arrows in FIG. 1 point sources and destinations of videos transferred among the individual components. The arrows are therefore not always required to agree with actual send/receive operations.

The medical video display system 100 has a changeover device 110 , a work station 120 , a distribution device 130 , a touch panel 140 , and a plurality of monitors 150 (first monitor 151 , second monitor 152 , and third monitor 153 ).

The changeover device 110 functions as an entry unit through which one, or two or more surgical videos are entered.

The work station 120 and the distribution device 130 cooperatively function as the control unit that distributes one video entered through the changeover device 110 and displays it on each of the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 , and, allows the touch panel 140 , having the video displayed thereon, to display an operation screen or an operation icon for accepting an operation directed to the monitor 150 .

Now the “video” means a set of still images that continuously change, which are successively played back as if a pictured object is moving. This is synonymous to “movie”.

What is called “video” in the description regarding the embodiment may include file data (moving picture data) displayed as video, after suitably processed, on the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 :

The “surgical video” means videos regarding surgery performed as a medical action. Specific examples of the “surgical video” include videos captured by an imaging device pertaining to medical equipment such as endoscope, and videos output from a measuring instrument that measures the state of a patient.

Now “distributes one video” means that one video is output to a plurality of destinations. For example, this applies to an event in which a video captured by an endoscope (not illustrated) is entered into the work station 120 , and the work station 120 then outputs acts the entered video to each of the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 . This alternatively applies to an event in which video is entered through the work station 120 into the distribution device 130 , and the distribution device 130 then outputs the entered video to each of the first monitor 151 , the second monitor 152 and the third monitor 153 .

When “distributing one video”, the same output format, or different output formats may be used for a plurality of destinations. For example, the work station 120 in this embodiment employs a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) as the output format both for the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 . It suffices that the output format described above is a mere example. The output format may suitably be determined depending, for example, on specification of the destination.

The changeover device 110 functions to accept entry of surgical videos, and to select and change videos to be displayed on the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 , among the thus entered videos. This function is also called “switching”. The videos to be displayed on the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 are selected through an operation screen P 3 or operation icons I 1 to I 6 displayed on the touch panel 140 , details of which will be given later.

The work station 120 outputs the video to each of the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 , while keeping them in synchronization. The “synchronization” means that both displayed videos change at the same time, but allowing a time lag due to process delay on each component.

The work station 120 functions to change a display mode of the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 in response to operations accepted by the touch panel 140 , and to send a request to the changeover device 110 to output the selected video.

The distribution device 130 functions to distribute the video output from the work station 120 to plurality of monitors 150 .

The touch panel 140 is an electronic device having a display device and a locater device combined therein. The touch panel 140 functions to display the video output from the work station 120 , and to accept an operation by recognizing a display position touched by an operator, and a way of touching.

The monitor 150 is a display device, and functions to display the video output from the work station 120 . The monitor 150 in this embodiment is a collective term for the first monitor 151 , the second monitor 152 and the third monitor 153 .

The size and weight of the touch panel 140 are preferably smaller than those of the monitor 150 . The touch panel 140 is preferably portable to the close vicinity of the operator since the device is intuitively manipulable by the operator who watches thereon the video, meanwhile, the monitor 150 is only good enough to be installable at a place where it is easily recognizable, and is less necessarily portable as compared with the touch panel 140 .

The monitor 150 preferably has a display area larger than that of the touch panel 140 . This is because the touch panel 140 is good enough to be recognizable by an operator, whereas display on the monitor 150 is preferably viewable by a plurality of surgical staffs.

Note, however, that the size and weight of the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 may suitably be selectable depending on an environment where the medical video display system 100 is used, even allowing that the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 will have equivalent sizes and/or weights.

<Displays on Touch Panel 140 and Monitor 150 , and manipulation of Displays>

Next, displays on the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 , and manipulation of the displays will be explained referring to FIG. 2A to FIG. 13 .

FIGS. 2A to 2C are drawings illustrating one specific example of a display screen of the touch panel 140 and a display screen of the monitor 150 . FIGS. 3A to 3D are drawings illustrating one specific example of a separation style of the display screen of the monitor 150 . FIG. 4A to FIG. 12B are schematic drawings for explaining how to manipulate the touch panel 140 . FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a zoom-in panel EX 3 .

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C , the display screen of the monitor 150 contains a main screen P 1 and a sub-screen P 2 , and the display screen of the touch panel 140 contains an operation screen P 3 , a main screen P 4 and a sub-screen P 5 .

FIG. 2A illustrates one scene at a certain point in time, where different videos are displayed on the main screen P 1 and the sub-screen P 2 of the monitor 150 . As illustrated in FIG. 2A , the sub-screen P 2 is overlaid on the main screen P 1 .

FIGS. 3A to 3D illustrate exemplary layouts of the main screen P 1 and the sub-screen P 2 on the display screen of the monitor 150 . FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary layout where the display screen of the monitor 150 is used solely for the main screen P 1 (full-screen). FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary layout where the main screen P 1 is displayed over the entire display screen of the monitor 150 , with the sub-screen P 2 overlaid on the right lower portion of the main screen P 1 . FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary layout Where the main screen P 1 is displayed over the entire display screen of the monitor 150 , with the sub-screen P 2 overlaid on the left lower portion of the main screen P 1 . FIG. 3D illustrates an exemplary layout where the main screen P 1 is displayed over the entire display screen of the monitor 150 , with the sub-screens P 2 overlaid both on the right and left lower portions of the main screen P 1 , that is, an exemplar layout having two sub-screens P 2 overlaid on one main screen P 1 .

Note that the embodiment of this invention is not limited to the layouts illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3D . For example, three or more sub-screens P 2 may be overlaid on the main seen P 1 , or the entire display screen of the monitor 150 may be equally divided solely by the sub-screens P 2 (bisection, quadrisection, etc.).

FIG. 2B illustrates a scene where a video synchronized with the main screen P 1 at this point in time is displayed on the main screen P 4 of the touch panel 140 , and, a video synchronized with the sub-screen P 2 at this point in time is displayed on the sub-screen P 5 of the touch panel 140 . FIG. 2B illustrates a scene where the operation screen P 3 is zoomed in on the touch panel 140 .

FIG. 2C illustrates a scene where a video synchronized with the main screen P 1 at this point in time is displayed on the main screen P 4 of the touch panel 140 , and, a video synchronized with the sub-screen P 2 at this point in time is displayed on the sub-screen P 5 of the touch panel 140 . FIG. 2C illustrates a scene where the operation screen P 3 is zoomed out on the touch panel 140 .

As illustrated in FIG. 4A , the operation screen P 3 , being zoomed out, has an up-pointing indicator P 33 at the lower center portion thereof. Upon touching the up-pointing indicator P 33 , the operation screen P 3 is zoomed in. As illustrated in FIG. 4B , operation screen P 3 , being zoomed in, has a down-pointing indicator P 32 at the upper center portion thereof. Upon touching the down-pointing indicator P 32 , the operation screen P 3 is zoomed out.

The operation screen P 3 displayed on the touch panel 140 contains a thumbnail P 31 of the videos entered through the changeover device 110 . In other words, the operation screen P 3 will have displayed thereon all videos entered through the changeover device 110 , regardless of whether the operator selected any of them or not.

The work station 120 allows the touch panel 140 to display thereon a video that is selected, by a touch operation accepted by the touch panel 140 , from the videos contained in the thumbnail P 31 , separately from the thumbnail P 31 , and also allows the monitor 150 to display the selected video.

The thumbnail is a list of videos. In this embodiment, all videos entered through the changeover device 110 are made viewable, without omission, in the thumbnail P 31 on the operation screen P 3 , where each video is synchronized with the videos displayed car the main screen P 1 and the sub-screen P 2 . Such embodiment is, however, a mere example. Each video displayed on the thumbnail P 31 on the operation screen P 3 may have a content just enough to gasp a point thereof (the opening part or title of the video, etc.)

Although FIG. 2B and some other drawings illustrate exemplary screens where the thumbnail P 31 contains three videos, the number of videos includable in the thumbnail P 31 may suitably be increased or decreased.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B , depending on a layout of the main screen P 4 and the sub-screen P 5 on the touch panel 140 , the videos displayed on the main screen P 4 and the sub-screen P 5 would be hidden by the operation screen P 3 overlaid thereon. As a solution, the display of the operation screen P 3 is preferably transparent to some degree. With such solution, the videos displayed on the main screen P 4 and the sub-screen P 5 will be viewable, even if the main screen P 4 and the sub-screen P 5 are overlaid with the operation screen P 3 .

Manipulation for selecting the video displayed on the operation screen P 3 (thumbnail P 31 ) will further be detailed referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B . Note that a finger-shaped pointer illustrated in FIG. 5A conveniently represents an action of touching by the operator, and does not appear on the actual screen of the touch panel 140 . The same will apply to finger-shaped pointers H 2 to H 8 in the description below.

For example, given that the operation screen P 3 has displayed therein video M 1 , video M 2 and video M 3 , and the operator touched the video M 2 once (see FIG. 5A ). The work station 120 then allows the touch panel 140 to display operation icon I 1 , operation icon I 2 and operation icon I 3 , so as to be overlaid on the video M 2 (see FIG. 5B ).

When the operation icon I 1 is touched, the work station 120 allows the main screen P 4 to replace the video being displayed thereon with the video M 2 , to thereby display the video M 2 on the main screen P 4 .

When the operation icon I 2 is touched, the work station 120 allows the main screen P 4 to display the video M 2 to full screen, regardless of the display mode of the main screen P 4 .

When the operation icon I 3 is touched, the work station 120 allows the touch panel 140 to newly create the sub-screen P 5 so as to be overlaid on the main screen P 4 , and to display the video M 2 on the sub-screen P 5 . The position where the sub-screen P 5 is created may preliminarily be set, typically as illustrated previously in FIGS. 3A to 3D . If the sub-screen P 5 has already been created, the work station 120 may allow the sub-screen P 5 to replace the video, being displayed thereon at this point in time, with the video M 2 , and to thereby display the video M 2 on the sub-screen P 5 .

The operator can select the video listed in the operation screen P 3 (thumbnail P 31 ) alternatively by the operation below.

FIG. 6A illustrates an operation of moving the video M 3 , being displayed on the operation screen P 3 , to the main screen P 4 (action depicted by an arrow A 1 and a finger-shaped pointer H 3 ), while keeping the video M 3 touched (action depicted by a finger-shaped pointer H 2 ). This sort of operation will be referred to as “drag operation” in this embodiment.

Upon acceptance of such operation by the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 can create the sub-screen P 5 at the position where the video M 3 was dragged to, so as to be overlaid on the main screen P 4 , thereby displaying the video M 3 on the sub-screen P 5 . Now, there can be seen on the display screen of the touch panel 140 , as if the video M 3 was moved firm the operation screen P 3 to the sub-screen P 5 .

The drag operation may also be used in the process below.

FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary operation of moving the video M 3 , being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 , from the lower right portion to the upper left portion of the main screen P 4 (action depicted by an arrow A 2 and a finger-shaped pointer H 5 ), while keeping the video M 3 touched (action depicted by a finger-shaped pointer H 4 ). Also this sort of operation will be referred to as “drag operation” in this embodiment.

Upon acceptance of such operation by the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 can move the display position of the sub-screen P 5 (video M 3 ) (see FIG. 7B ).

To summarize, these two display processes based on the drag operation may be briefed as below.

That is, the work station 120 is designed to enable moving of the display position of the video, being displayed in a part of the display area of the touch panel 140 , in response to the drag operation accepted by the touch panel 140 . The work station 120 can also move the display position of video on the monitor 150 , corresponding to the movement of the display position of video, in response to the drag operation accepted by the touch panel 140 (See, e.g., FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B ).

The drag operation may also be used fir the process below.

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary operation of moving a corner (or outer frame) of the sub-screen P 5 outward (lower right direction in FIG. 8A ) (action depicted by an arrow A 3 and a finger-shaped pointer H 7 ), while keeping the corner touched (action depicted by a finger-shaped pointer H 6 ). Also this sort of operation will be referred to as “drag operation” in this embodiment.

Upon acceptance of such operation by the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 can allow the sub-screen P 5 (video M 3 ) to enlarge the outer frame thereof (see FIG. 8B ).

Although not illustrated, when the touch panel 140 accepts an operation of moving a corner (or outer flame) of the sub-screen P 5 inward the work station 120 can allow the sub-screen P 5 to reduce the size thereof.

To summarize, these display processes based on the drag operation may be briefed as below.

The work station 120 is designed to enable enlargement or reduction of the video, being displayed in the display area of the touch panel 140 , in response to the drag operation accepted by the touch panel 140 . The work station 120 can also zoom in/out the video on the monitor 150 , corresponding to the enlargement or reduction of video in response to the drag operation (Compare, e.g., FIG. 2A with FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C ).

Upon acceptance of a pinch operation by the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 enables a process below. Now the “pinch operation” means an operation activated by two fingers that are placed on two points in the display area of the touch panel 140 , and are moved so as to widen or narrow the distance between the two points being touched.

FIG. 9A illustrates an exemplary pinch operation, in which two points in the display area of the sub-screen P 5 , having the video M 3 displayed thereon, are touched and the distance between these two points is then widened (action depicted by an arrow A 4 and a finger-shaped pointer H 9 ).

Upon acceptance of the pinch operation by the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 can allow the sub-screen P 5 to zoom in a part of the video M 3 , while keeping the contour size thereof unchanged (see FIG. 9B ). A finger-shaped pointer H 10 illustrated in FIG. 9B depicts an operation of widening the distance between the two points being touched, from the distance specified by the finger-shaped pointer H 9 .

The touch panel 140 in this embodiment allows for zooming within the range from the actual scale up to three-fold magnification. The range is, however, an exemplary one, instead allowing magnification beyond three-fold, or reduction below the actual scale.

Upon acceptance of such pinch operation, a zoom-in panel EX 1 is displayed beside the sub-screen P 5 , which contains a current magnification. For example, the zoom-in panel EX 1 illustrated in FIG. 9A indicates that the video M 3 is displayed in its actual scale at this point in time. Meanwhile, the zoom-in panel EX 1 illustrated in FIG. 9B indicates that the video M 3 is displayed with three-fold magnification at this point in time.

When the video M 3 is displayed on the sub-screen P 5 at a magnification beyond the actual scale, in response to the pinch operation as described above, a status icon ST 1 indicating that the video is being magnified appears at a corner of the sub-screen P 5 . This is an expedient for those who do not take part in the pinch operation (for example, viewers of the monitor 150 on which the video is displayed in synchronization with the touch panel 140 ), notifying that the video M 3 is displayed in a magnification mode (not in the actual size).

Although the above description mating reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B dealt with the enlargement and reduction of the video M 3 , being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 , by the pinch operation, there may be another design in which the video M 2 , being displayed on the main screen P 4 , may be zoomed in/out by the same pinch operation.

Upon acceptance of the drag operation, with two points in the display area kept touched on the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 can go into the process below.

FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary operation of moving two touch points, which are given on the video M 3 partially zoomed-in by the pinch operation, in the lower left direction (action depicted by an mow A 5 and a finger-shaped pointer H 11 ), while keeping the two points touched. Also this sort of operation will be referred to as “drag operation” in this embodiment.

Upon acceptance of such drag operation by the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 can allow the sub-screen P 5 to move the display position of the video M 3 being displayed thereon. For example, the sub-screen P 5 , illustrated in FIG. 10A so as to display the center portion of the video M 3 , can now display the left lower portion of the video M 3 as illustrated in FIG. 10B , as a result of acceptance of the drag operation described above. A finger-shaped pointer H 12 in FIG. 10B depicts that the touch position has been moved to the left and downward from the touch position indicated by the finger-shaped pointer H 11 .

Upon acceptance of such pinch operation, a zoom-in panel EX 2 is displayed beside the sub-screen P 5 , which contains a current display position of the video M 3 . For example, the zoom panel EX 2 illustrated in FIG. 10A indicates that the center portion of the video M 3 is displayed at this point in time, with the aid of a position teaching frame EX 21 displayed at the center of the zoom-in panel EX 2 . Meanwhile, the zoom-in panel EX 2 illustrated in FIG. 10B depicts that the display position of the video M 3 has been moved to the left and downward, as a result of movement of the position teaching frame EX 21 to the left and downward in the zoom-in panel EX 2 .

With such design, the display position of the video M 3 is clearly taught also to those who do not take part in the drag operation (for example, viewers of the monitor 150 on which the video is displayed in synchronization with the touch panel 140 ).

Although the above description, making reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B , dealt with an exemplary case where the video M 3 being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 is moved by the drag operation, there may be another design in which the video M 2 , being displayed on the main screen P 4 , is movable by the same drag operation.

Upon acceptance of the rotating operation by the touch panel 140 , with the display area thereof touched at two points, the work station 120 can go into the process below.

FIG. 11A illustrates an exemplary operation of rotating the two touched points, which are given on the video M 3 displayed on the sub-screen P 5 (action depicted by an arrow A 6 and a finger-shaped pointer H 13 ). This sort of operation will be referred to as “rotating operation” in this embodiment.

Upon acceptance of such rotating operation by the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to rotate the display position of the video M 3 , being displayed thereon, 90° in the direction of rotating; operation. For an exemplary case illustrated in FIG. 11A where the rotating operation of the video M 3 being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 is given clockwise, the video M 3 will appear in the sub-screen P 5 in a 90° clockwise rotation (see FIG. 11B ). A finger-shaped pointer H 14 illustrated in FIG. 11B depicts that the two touch position have been rotated clockwise from the two touch positions indicated by the finger-shaped pointer H 13 .

Upon acceptance of such rotating operation, a status icon ST 2 indicating that the video is being rotated appears at a corner of the sub-screen P 5 . This is an expedient for those who do not take part in the rotating operation (for example, viewers of the monitor 150 on which the video is displayed in synchronization with the touch panel 140 ), notifying that the video M 3 is displayed in a rotation mode.

Although the above description making reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B dealt with an exemplary case where the video M 3 , being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 , is rotated by the rotating operation, there may be another design in which the video M 2 , being displayed on the main screen P 4 , is rotatable by the same rotating operation.

Although the above description, making reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B , dealt with an exemplary case where the video M 3 , being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 , is rotated clockwise, the video M 3 may be rotated 90° counterclockwise, when the touch panel 140 accepts a counterclockwise rotating operation.

Although the above description, making reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B , dealt with an exemplary case where the video M 3 was rotated 90° to be displayed on the sub-screen P 5 after a single time of acceptance of the rotating operation by the touch panel 140 , the video M 3 may further be rotated 90° every time the rotating operation is accepted by the touch panel 140 . More specifically, the video M 3 may be rotated 180° as a result of acceptance of the rotating operation repeated twice, may be rotated 270° as a result of acceptance of the rotating operation repeated three times, and may be rotated 360° (original position) as a result of acceptance of the rotating operation repeated four times.

To summarize, the display processes based on the individual operations (pinch operation, drag operation, and rotating operation) that are made on the sub-screen, needing such two-point touching as described above with reference to FIG. 9A to FIG. 11B , are as follows.

The work station 120 can allow the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 to display the video thereon, while dividing the display area of each of them into the main screen, and the sub-screen overlaid on the main screen, and, when the video is displayed on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 , can allow the sub-screen to change the display mode thereof, in response to an operation made on the sub-screen. The work station 120 at this time distributes the video, being displayed on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 , to the monitor 150 , and allows the monitor 150 to display it on the sub-screen thereof, enabling that a change in the display mode in response to the operation made on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 is reflected in the display mode of the sub-screen of the monitor 150 (See, e.g., FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B ).

For example, in response to the pinch operation made on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 , the video being displayed therein may be zoomed in/out while keeping the contour size of the sub-screen unchanged, and, corresponding to the zooming in/out of the video on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 in response to the pinch operation made thereon, the video being displayed on the sub-screen of the monitor 150 may be zoomed in/out while keeping the contour size of the sub-screen unchanged.

Alternatively, in response to the drag operation made on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 , the display position of the video being displayed on the sub-screen may be moved while keeping the display position in the sub-screen unchanged, and, corresponding to the movement of the display position of the video on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 in response to the pinch operation made thereon, the display position of the video being displayed on the sub-screen of the monitor 150 may be moved, while keeping the display position on the sub-screen unchanged.

Still alternatively, in response to the rotating operation made on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 , the video being displayed on the sub-screen may be rotated while keeping the display angle of the sub-screen unchanged, and, corresponding to the rotation of the display angle of the video on the sub-screen of the touch panel 140 in response to the operation made thereon, the video being displayed on the sub-screen of the monitor 150 may be rotated while keeping the display angle of the sub-screen unchanged.

The individual operations made on the sub-screen, needing such two-point touching as described above with reference to FIG. 9A to FIG. 11B , are also applicable to the main screen. That is, when the video is displayed on the main screen of the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 can allow the main screen to change the display mode thereof, in response to an operation made on the main screen. The work station 120 at this time distributes the video, being displayed on the main screen of the touch panel 140 , to the monitor 150 , and allows the monitor 150 to display it on the main screen thereof, enabling that a change in the display mode in response to the operation made on the main screen of the touch panel 140 is reflected in the display mode of the main screen of the monitor 150 .

For example, the video being displayed on the main screen may be zoomed in/out, in response to the pinch operation made on the main screen of the touch panel 140 , and, corresponding to the zooming in/out of the video on the main screen of the touch panel 140 in response to the pinch operation made thereon, the video being displayed on the main screen of the monitor 150 may be zoomed in/out.

Alternatively in response to the drag operation made on the main screen of the touch panel 140 , the display position of the video, being displayed on the main screen of the touch panel 140 , may be moved, and corresponding to the movement of the display position of the video on the main screen of the touch panel 140 in response to the pinch operation made thereon, the display position of the video being displayed on the main screen of the monitor 150 may be moved.

Still alternatively, in response to the rotating operation made on the main screen of the touch panel 140 , the video being displayed on the main screen may be rotated, and, corresponding to the rotation of the display angle of the video on the main screen of the touch panel 140 in response to the operation made thereon, the video being displayed on the main screen of the monitor 150 may be rotated.

Besides the operations described above, the touch panel 140 can also accept the operations below.

For example, with the main screen P 4 and the sub-screen P 5 displayed on the touch panel 140 , upon touching the sub-screen P 5 by an operator, the work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to display an operation icon I 4 , an operation icon I 5 , an operation icon I 6 , and an operation icon I 7 so as to be overlaid on the video M 3 being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 , just like when the video listed in the thumbnail P 31 is touched (see FIG. 12A ).

When the operation icon I 4 is touched in this situation, the work station 120 allows the main screen P 4 to replace the video M 3 , being displayed thereon, with the video M 2 to be displayed instead, and allows the sub-screen P 5 to replace the video M 2 , being displayed thereon, with the video M 3 to be displayed instead (not illustrated).

When the operation icon I 5 is touched in this situation, the work station 120 allows the touch panel 140 to enlarge the video M 3 to full screen, regardless of the display mode of the main screen P 4 (not illustrated).

When the operation icon I 6 is touched in this situation, the work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to disappear from above the main screen P 4 (not illustrated). That is, the work station 120 allows the touch panel 140 to display the main screen P 4 only.

When the operation icon I 7 is touched in the scene illustrated in FIG. 12A , the work station 120 allows the touch panel 140 to display the zoom-in panel EX 3 beside the sub-screen P 5 . A finger-shaped pointer H 15 in FIG. 12A depicts that the operator touches the operation icon I 7 .

The zoom-in panel EX 3 contains operation icons I 8 to I 20 (see FIG. 13 ).

When the operation icon I 8 is touched, the work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to rotate the video M 3 , being displayed thereon, 90° clockwise. That is, a process same as that carried out in response to the rotating operation described above will take place. When the operation icon I 9 is touched, the work station 120 allows the video M 3 , being rotated, to return back to the original position. The operation icon I 9 can return not only the video M 3 having been rotated as a result of the operation made on the operation icon I 8 , but also the video M 3 having been rotated as a result of the rotating operation described above, back to the original position.

When the operation icon I 10 is touched, the work station I 20 allows the video M 3 being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 to invert laterally. When the operation icon I 11 is touched, the work station 120 allows the video M 3 being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 to invert vertically. When the operation icon 112 is touched, the work station 120 allows the video M 3 being laterally or vertically inverted to return back to the original position.

When the operation icon I 13 is touched, the work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to increase the brightness (luminance) of the video M 3 being displayed thereon, and when the operation icon I 14 is touched, work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to reduce the brightness of the video M 3 being displayed thereon. When the operation icon I 15 is touched, the work station 120 allows the video M 3 , being displayed with the brightness increased or decreased from the reference value, to recover its reference value. A numeral that appears between the operation icon I 13 and the operation icon I 14 represents the brightness of the video M 3 , where 0 (zero) represents the reference value.

When the operation icon I 16 is touched, the work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to increase the contrast (light-dark ratio) of the video M 3 being displayed thereon, and when the operation icon I 17 is touched, the work station 120 allows the sub-screen P 5 to reduce the contrast of the video M 3 being displayed thereon. When the operation icon I 18 is touched, the work station 120 allows the video M 3 , being displayed with a contrast increased or decreased from the reference value, to recover its reference value. A numeral that appears between the operation icon I 16 and the operation icon I 17 represents the contrast of the video M 3 , where 0 (zero) represents the reference value.

When the operation icon I 19 is touched, the work station 120 initializes all parameters adjustable on the zoom-in panel EX 3 (display angle, display position, inversion, brightness and contrast of the video M 3 ) to the original values. When the operation icon I 20 is touched, the work station 120 allows the zoom-in panel EX 3 to close (return back to the state shown in FIG. 12A ).

Regarding the operation icon I 8 , among all operation icons illustrated in FIG. 13 , the paragraph above described that it activates an operation same as the aforementioned rotating operation. Also operations on other operation icons may be substituted by other simple operations on the touch panel 140 (operations accessible without showing the operation icons). For example, the video M 3 being displayed on the sub-screen P 5 may be allowed to vary its brightness or contrast, by tracing the edge of the sub-seen P 5 (touching a certain point on the edge and moving the finger along the edge).

Although the operation icons illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B , and FIG. 13 were those appear on the sub-screen P 5 when the operator touches the sub-screen P 5 , there may be other operational icons separately displayed in the main screen P 4 when the operator touches the main screen P 4 . The operation icons displayed in the main screen P 4 are those for changing the display mode of the main screen P 4 .

Since the display on the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 may be changed through the operations described above, so that the operator intuitively manipulate the display on the monitor 150 (main screen P 1 and sub-screen P 2 ) with improved manipulability.

The above-described operations on the touch panel 140 are mere examples. Operations acceptable on the touch panel 140 in this embodiment, and changes in the display on the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 , resulted from the accepted operations, are not limited to those described above.

The work station 120 preferably allows the monitor 150 to display thereon neither the operation screen P 3 nor the operation icons I 1 to I 20 (including the zoom-in panel EX 3 that contains the operation icons I 8 to i 20 ). That is, according to a preferred design of the work station 120 and in the process of distributing the video both to the touch panel 140 and the monitor 150 , the work station 120 can make the operation screen P 3 and the operation icons I 1 to i 20 attachable only to the video to be distributed to the touch panel 140 , but always not attachable to the video to be distributed to the monitor 150 .

This is because the operation screen P 3 and the operation icons I 1 to I 20 are mere expedients for accepting the operations, and are intrinsically unnecessary for the monitor 150 that is not a device for accepting operations, and because display of them on the monitor 150 may degrade recognizability of the video.

Having described the embodiment of this invention referring to the attached drawings this invention encompasses various modified embodiments and improved embodiments so long as the objective of this invention will be fulfilled, without being limited by the embodiment described above.

Having described that three display devices—the first monitor 151 , the second monitor 157 and the third monitor 153 —correspond to the monitor 150 in the aforementioned embodiment, this embodiment is not limited thereto.

For example, this invention may be implemented by an embodiment having one touch panel 140 and one monitor 150 , where the distribution device 130 in the aforementioned embodiment is omissible.

Having described that the distribution device 130 in the aforementioned embodiment distributes the video that is output from the work station 120 , only to a plurality of display devices (first monitor 151 , second monitor 152 and third monitor 153 ), the distribution device 130 may also distribute the video to devices other than the display devices.

For example, distribution device 130 may distribute the video that is output from the work station 120 , to a recording device (not illustrated) for recording the video.

Having exemplified, in the specific examples illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 13 , only the case where the operation screen P 3 is displayed in an enlarged or reduced manner on the touch panel 140 , the operation screen P 3 is not always necessarily displayed on the touch panel 140 .

For example, when the touch panel 140 accepts an operation of moving the operation screen P 3 , while being kept toughed by the operator, out of the display screen of the touch panel 140 , the work station 120 may make the operation screen P 3 hidden. This operation is also referred to as “swipe operation”.

Having described the embodiment on the premise of the components illustrated in FIG. 1 , the individual components in this invention will suffice if they are formed to implement their functions. The individual components in this invention are therefore not necessarily independent entities, instead allowing that a plurality of components are combined to form a single member, that a single component is composed of a plurality of members, that a certain component is a part of other component, and that a part of a certain component and a part of another component form a common part.

According to this invention, there is provided a medical video display system with improved operability in manipulation regarding display of medical videos.

This embodiment encompasses the technical spirits below:

(1) A medical video display system that includes:

an entry unit through which one, or two or more surgical videos are entered; and

control unit that distributes one video entered through the entry unit and displays it on each of a touch panel and a monitor,

the control unit allows the touch panel, having the video displayed thereon, to display an operation screen or an operation icon for accepting an operation directed to the monitor.

(2) The medical video display system according to (1),

wherein the control unit is designed to enable moving of a display position of the video, being displayed on a part of a display area of the touch panel, in response to a drag operation accepted through the touch panel, and

to enable moving of the display position of the video also on the monitor, corresponding to the moving of the display position of the video in response to the drag operation.

(3) The medical video display system according to (1),

wherein the control unit is designed to enable zooming in/out of the video being displayed on the display area of the touch panel, in response to the drag operation accepted through the touch panel, and,

to enable zooming in/out the video also on the monitor, corresponding to the zooming in/out of the video in response to the drag operation.

(4) The medical video display system according to (1),

wherein the control unit

can allow each of the touch panel and the monitor to display the video thereon, while dividing the display area into a main screen and a sub-screen that is overlaid on the main screen,

can allow the sub-screen of the touch panel to change a display mode thereof, when the video is displayed on the sub-screen, in response to an operation made on the sub-screen, and

distributes the video, being displayed on the sub-screen of the touch panel, to the monitor, and allows the monitor to display it on the sub-screen thereof, enabling that a change in the display mode made on the sub-screen of the touch panel is reflected in the display mode of the sub-screen of the monitor.

(5) The medical video display system according to (4),

wherein the control unit

can allow the main screen of the touch panel to change a display mode thereof, when the video is displayed on the main screen, in response to an operation made on the main screen, and

distributes the video, being displayed on the main screen of the touch panel, to the monitor, and allows the monitor to display it on the main screen thereof, enabling that a change in the display mode made on the main screen of the touch panel is reflected in the display mode of the main screen of the monitor.

(6) The medical video display system according to (4),

wherein the control unit

can allow the touch panel to zoom in/out the video, when displayed on the sub-screen thereof, in response to an operation made on the sub-screen, while keeping the contour size of the sub-screen unchanged, and

can allow the monitor to zoom in/out the video, being displayed on the sub-screen thereof, corresponding to the zooming in/out of the video on the sub-screen of the touch panel in response to a pinch operation made thereon, while keeping the contour size of the sub-screen of the monitor unchanged.

(7) The medical video display system according to (4),

wherein the control unit

can allow the touch panel to move the display position of the video, when displayed on the sub-screen thereof, in response to an operation made on the sub-screen, while keeping the display position of the sub-screen unchanged, and

can allow the monitor to move the display position of the video, being displayed on the sub-screen thereof, corresponding to the moving of the display position of the video on the sub-screen of the touch panel in response to a pinch operation made thereon, while keeping the display position of the sub-screen of the monitor unchanged.

(8) The medical video display system according to (4),

wherein the control unit

can allow the touch panel to rotate the video, when displayed on the sub-screen thereof, in response to an operation made on the sub-screen, while keeping a display angle of the sub-screen unchanged, and

can allow the monitor to rotate the video, being displayed on the sub-screen thereof, corresponding to the rotation of the display angle of the video on the sub-screen of the touch panel in response to an operation made thereon, while keeping the display angle of the sub-screen of the monitor unchanged.

(9) The medical video display system according to (1),

wherein the operation screen that appears on the touch panel contains a thumbnail of the video entered through the entry unit, and

the control unit allows the touch panel to display thereon a video that is selected, by a touch operation accepted by the touch panel, from the videos contained in the thumbnail, separately from the thumbnail, and allows also the monitor to display the selected video.

(10) The medical video display system according to (1), wherein the control unit allow the monitor to display thereon neither the operation screen nor the operation icon.

(11) The medical video display system according to (1), wherein the monitor has a larger display area than the touch panel has.